The List
7 Genre Trends of 2016 So Far
by Lynzee Loveridge,
Each season, viewers are treated to over 20 new shows ranging from the latest entry in a long-established fanservice comedy, a pseudo-political gritty sci-fi set in the not so distant future, or super-powered teens doing their super-powered thing. It's the flavors: the setting and window dressings around these familiar concepts that change out.
We're halfway through 2016, with most of the July season and a cursory view of October in sight. What trends, or flavors, have dominated the year so far and what kind of predictions can we make about the remainder based on that? Many of the shows we're seeing green-lit are a direct response to recent tent-pole shows that moved units, whether its home video, manga volumes, magazines, video game tie-ins or other merchandise. Production companies attempt capture this phenomenon over and over.
Nostalgia-Based If you've paid attention merchandise sales over the last few years, it seems like every big hit of the 90s is getting a fresh coat of paint for its 20+ year anniversary. Cardcaptor Sakura anime project.
Physically Transported to a Fantasy-Game Style World A fish-out-of-water protagonist who finds himself in, by some contrivance, in a world of swords of sorcery has existed for a long time. Before And you thought there is never a girl online?. Arguably, you can also credit the recent fantasy-style mobile game anime adaptations to the same trend.
Magic Battle School This is possibly the most by-the-books trend showing the least amount of variation. 2016 did not invent the elite school magic powered teens and as a theme, it seems content to continue to be exactly what it sounds like with protagonists and romantic interests that are easily interchangeable. Whether you find this rote or not, we've gotten incarnations of these already this year, five if you want to count Masō Gakuen H×H will carry the torch into July where it will inevitably be ed again.
Cheer Boys!!) on the slate this year.
Male Idols STARMYU (although it's getting a second season anyway).
Mystery Before you say "mystery isn't a trend, it's a genre in and of itself!", note that it was easily the most ignored. For many years, sleuthing fans made due with Trickster are also heavily mystery influenced. Unfortunately, The Lost Village can't decide whether its reveling in its own B-movie ridiculousness or is just really, really bad.
Food "How does food bond people together?" This is a question anime seems particularly concerned with lately and several shows this year are attempting to answer that question in varying levels. Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari (Poco's Udon World) use cuisine as vessel to connect and show love for children.
The old poll: Which of these club managers is the most attractive?
- Kiyoko Shimizu (Haikyu!!) 19.5%
- Iroha Isshiki (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!) 15.3%
- Gou/Kou Matsuoka (Free!) 14.6%
- Sen "Ice Witch" Yarizui (Ben-To) 7.9%
- Hitoka Yachi (Haikyu!!) 5.4%
- Sawako Yamanaka (K-ON!) 5.4%
- Satsuki Momoi (Kuroko's Basketball) 5.0%
- Riko Aida (Kuroko's Basketball) 3.3%
- Nagisa Furukawa (CLANNAD) 2.6%
- Mamori Anezaki (Eyeshield 21) 2.5%
- Renge Hōshakuji (Ouran High School Host Club) 2.4%
- Nene Mōri (Princess Nine) 2.2%
- Mako Mankanshoku: (Kill la Kill) 2.2%
- Ayako (Slam Dunk) 1.8%
- Yukino Yukinoshita (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!) 1.6%
- Minami Kawashima (Moshidora) 1.3%
- Miki Kanzaki (Yowamushi Pedal) 1.1%
- Minami Asakura (Touch) 1.1%
- Nao Charlotte) 1.1%
- Chiyo Shinooka (Big Windup!) 1.0%
When she isn't compiling lists of tropes, topics, and characters, Lynzee works as the Interest Editor for Anime News Network and posts pictures of her son on Twitter @ANN_Lynzee.
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