Antagonists in anime

[balladbird]

*Note: The purpose of this writing is not to criticize anyone, nor any specific piece of work.  It's just observational, and based upon my own opinions.  No offense is meant toward anyone.  Also, as usual, when I LJ cut the work, my formatting screwed up... being computer illiterate sucks, sometimes.  >.<  Sorry for the ugly result.*

By now,

Comments

[lady_leia_solo]

I'm just waiting to read your story. I've always wanted to be a writer though. There is something about the villians, that I have an undeniable attraction. I can't say why though. Like for example Darth Varder. How come he's way more popular than his son the hero Luke Skywalker. Personally I thought Luke was a whiny bitch.

[xmurcielagox]

I tend to be the opposite. I envy those who write because I always felt that words brought out the depth of a character better than some pretty picture. At least with writing you can make the character move, think, and act whereas a drawing just sits there. So to me, I was always envious of those who could write.

[hinodeh]

Hmm, you've quite a lot to say and I generally agree.
Though there are stories which are good despite the fact that the villains are just some sort of amorphous non-sentient force of destruction. In this case the heroes' personalities and problems need to be very good, though, and their struggles and adventures particularly engaging and the reader must believe that they are really in danger.

On villain type three: I agree that fleshing those out and making them believable characters is damn hard. Haven't really found the solution yet but one thing I've learned is that none does and thinks evil stuff 24/7.
Yes, your villains is a murderous sociopath, but in his spare time he also likes taking long walks and painting. (So I guess that makes him a "Mad Artist", no? XD)
Plus there are probably plenty of people who he never hurt for one reason or another or who think fondly of him, perhaps even if they know him well.
And he must have (or had) a family and people he grew up with.

[balladbird]

Well, as I love to say about anything, there are exceptions to every rule, and opinions are always just opinions at the end of the day. ^^

I've personally never encountered a story that lacked a human face for its antagonists that I was able to enjoy fully, but my inner fanboy requires a villian like that for me to be content, so that's as much a fault for me as anything to do with the story.

[hinodeh]

You know what I've always wanted to ask you?

What kind of good guys/main characters do you usually enjoy? ;)

[balladbird]

that's a tough one... I don't usually get along with lead characters, because depending on the genre there are too many limitations on the kind of person they can be.

With that in mind, I suppose my favorite leads would be the ones who have more moral ambiguity, and who aren't portrayed as the "right" or "pure" but just another perspective of the whole.

A good anime example, though his borderline incestuous fascination made him harder for me to like, and I typically prefer his elder brother, who was attempting the very same thing, in the end, is Lelouch from Code Geass.

Also, older protagonists tend to be much deeper and easier for me to appreciate, because they lack the posturing and whininess of shonen teen leads. Dr. Tenma of Monster is an example of one of these, since he technically embodies many traits common amongst leads, but being a middle-aged brain surgeon, he fits the role more naturally.

[karasunomai]

Hohoho, I knew you were going to list Kabuto as an example for Villain Type #2.

Ahh, but anyway, I really like this. I always say I like to write fanfiction and all that jazz, but I don't actually think about how I do it or even why. So it's interesting to get a little insight on how someone else (you) likes to go about things (in general). Btw, did you ever get those artists you were wokring with to make a finished project for your manga? I read the summary on BA and it looked like something worth checking out.

[balladbird]

Nope, sadly they couldn't find time to commit since I'd need more work more quickly, and I haven't found suitable replacements yet. >.<

I will one day! It sucks not having the artistic talent needed to fulfill your own vision, though.

[hinodeh]

Do my eyes deceive me or is that a Kyoko Karasuma icon? <3

[karasunomai]

*gasps* It is! I only recently got to read the first chapter of the series. Do you know anywhere onlinee where I can read the rest of it?

[sidonzo]

I found this a very good read! I also like to read how other people develop their stories. For me often time I have just a certain scene in my head and I build from there. As I write I find the characters develop their own voices and stories and I just write down what they tell me. So characters tend to be the most important to me, then the plot and then lastly their world.