UlasanAnime.com – Whether good writing in anime truly matters is a complex question with no simple answer.
It’s hard to say.
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Personally, I appreciate well-crafted writing, whether it’s subtle and clever or overtly exaggerated. The key is competence; knowing what you’re doing, even if it’s obvious from a mile away.
In this regard, many anime are competently written, but only a select few achieve greatness or stand out as truly exceptional. Looking at this season’s offerings, something like Nagi no Asukara serves as a good example of strong writing, while Wizard Barristers could benefit from significant improvement.
On this level, writing undeniably makes a difference. However, its impact might be most pronounced at the extremes. In the vast middle ground, numerous adaptations exist with varying degrees of quality, where execution often overshadows the script itself. Original works, on the other hand, can be a mixed bag. Zvezda, for instance, boasts a high-concept premise, but its success hinges on near-perfect execution. Conversely, Wake Up, Girls! presents a clean and simple narrative, yet faces considerable challenges in its realization.
If we disregard these nuances and focus solely on metrics like MAL rankings, the picture might change. This is partly why I believe writing’s significance diminishes in the middle tier. It also likely contributes to the common complaints about the prevalence of moe-centric anime or those relying on formulaic, episodic slice-of-life narratives. These shows often fare well, much like appreciating the detailed layouts of a telecom animator’s work, as described by Ben from Anipages. In such cases, excellent execution makes the writing feel like mere icing on the cake.
In essence, writing in anime can be likened to playing a strategy game, with both micro and macro elements. While strong macro-level planning typically leads to success, the current trend seems to lean in the opposite direction.
I wonder if this is an “otaku” phenomenon, perhaps explaining the appeal of shows like Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere.
However, to circle back, even a straightforward, kid-friendly show like Gundam Build Fighters demonstrates a successful, intelligent macro formula. Even if its writing is merely average, it suggests that fundamental understanding of the craft is crucial before even putting pen to paper.
