Right? In the West, every single piece has to appeal to everyone. Meanwhile in Japan they seem to be content with reaching a more limited audience, in exchange for creating an authentic piece of a story.
Your last point is interesting, especially when it comes to how communal and societal duties are valued higher in Asia than in the West, but they still have an industry that is far more individualistic than Western media. It's fucked, I tell you.
I actually think a huge reason why Jujutsu Kaisen is so successful is because it knows its own bounds. It's super competently done when it comes to everything is does, but it also doesn't try to be more than what it is. It's not mean-spirited and doesn't try to insult anyone. Yes, it is self-aware when it comes to shounen as a genre, but in a friendly and loving way.
Which is why I think it's awesome.
Only seen like 15 eps of Demon Slayer, so I don't know much about it, but I suspect it's something similar.
Also, with both, I just love how the main characters are such good kids. Simple, nice, not bratty or conceited. Most of my entertainment is books, I am a literature slut, but the way Western authors write teenagers is fucking awful. They are such nasty little shits and they have no consequences coming.
So that's why I find Yuuji Itadori to be hugely refreshing. Kid is such a little brother type, it's insane.
I just love how the main characters are such good kids. Simple, nice, not bratty or conceited.
That's one of my favorite things about anime really. It's seems like most of the kid characters at least try to be good people. I was just having to explain this to some family last weekend. I've got one little cousin who's into anime and also really shy and when she's not around they talk about her like she's some weird freak. They were saying she should watch "normal" shows, so I had to educate them a bit that anime is full of good stuff for kids. Demon Slayer funny enough is her favorite show, and it's full of work hard to earn what you want, do the right thing, fight for those you care about, etc. Waaay better than the awful western stuff aimed at that group.
Right? I absolutely love how in that story, the love between the boy and his sister is a central point. it's so adorable how he interacts with his little sister, who is basically "sick".
Funny enough, that should be a message normally SJW type scream about supporting; supportive and loving relationships and understanding towards people who are disabled/ill/have issues.
Also, it's so pretty. No noodle limbs, no intentionally repulsive art style.
The patterns and colours of the clothes are so gorgeous. All the characters have their personal pattern/colour combos. I totally get why it appeals to young girls.
(it's also marketing genius, so much room for subtle and everyday-life-compatible merch)
I saw some of the merch in person too, you're spot on with that. Cousin was wearing a Zenitsu hoodie, which to generally everyone is a colorful yellow sweatshirt. Although I'm pretty sure I made her day when the first thing I said was "Zenitsu". That wasn't all of it either, so if one kid is any indication they made some good money off selling that stuff at Christmas.
That's so cute, she sounds like a good kid. Back in school I was thretened by some other girl for being a weeb shit (she wanted to "kick my ass"), so I guess it's good at least the merch is less cringe now.
My friend saw some kid on a beach wearing a shirt that had the main dude's pattern. It was cool, weirdo took a sneaky photo too. :D
Meanwhile in Japan they seem to be content with reaching a more limited audience
Sometimes but it also includes the broader appeal in other ways.
Using some of the more popular Anime/Mange out there, Naruto, Bleach, and MHA all have far, far larger cast lists than most Western Comics do these days.
Justice League is 7 core members with the occasional cameos of what is the Justice League "Unlimited" members showing up as needed by plot despite those characters always being present. There are even spinoffs like Justice League Dark dealing with magical stories that the main comic doesn't really touch on but overall it's still the same collective group they just get compartmentalized for Western consoomers.
Meanwhile Bleach had the core characters of Ichigo, Rukia, Orihime, Chad, Uryu, and eventually Renji, the vice captain of the 6th Division [of 13, plus the Kido corps and "assassination" group which one of the 13 Division captains also runs].
So roughly 5 "main" characters floating around the protagonist. Then you have as secondary characters every other captain and vice captain of the remaining 13 Divisions, so that's roughly another 26 characters, then the occasional 3rd seat for some Divisions who were recurring, like Yumichika, then you had the Espada and later the Wandenreich creating a massive character list that the fandom knew all the names of.
Same thing happens with Naruto and Boruto since it's essentially "Ninja School: The Musical Shonen" . Main team of 3 including the titular protag, their captain, several other teams of classmates, their captains. The various bad guys they fight over the years including some that were only around for a few issues and were at the very, very start of things.
MHA again does this since it's an actual classroom format, so the protag's class of 1-A has 20 "main characters", their teacher, whatever mentors characters in the class have amongst the staff: All Might, Endeavor, Hawks, Best Jeanist, Midnight, Present Mic, etc, other characters: Mirio, Nejire, Amajiki, Eri, Hatsume, etc. Then there's their neighboring class 1-B which shows up from time to time and gets more facetime as things progress. And then finally there are the villains.
One of the most beloved "minor" MHA classmates outside of the main protags is Mashirao Ojiro because he ticks a lot of the traditionally honorable traits that Japan favors. He recuses himself from an ongoing contest after he feels the way he progressed through previous rounds was done in ways that meant he hadn't actually done anything or was ethically fair because he was literally mind controlled onto a winning team.
"I know this is a great opportunity. And I know how stupid it must seem to throw it away... but this final tournament... everyone else made it here by their own strength. Yet I'm standing here, and I don't even know how or why. I just can't take it."
He's the closest character in the series to the Monkey King/Son Goku/Sun Wukong trope so many Japanese/Asian stories cover because of his appearance and behavior at times [his superpower is a literal prehensile tail he uses for combat]. Readers love him something fierce.
And that's just three of the bigger series which are like this. Anime/manga casts are massive compared to a lot of Western media and quite often those massive casts are recurring throughout a series from start to finish.
Right? In the West, every single piece has to appeal to everyone. Meanwhile in Japan they seem to be content with reaching a more limited audience, in exchange for creating an authentic piece of a story.
Your last point is interesting, especially when it comes to how communal and societal duties are valued higher in Asia than in the West, but they still have an industry that is far more individualistic than Western media. It's fucked, I tell you.
I actually think a huge reason why Jujutsu Kaisen is so successful is because it knows its own bounds. It's super competently done when it comes to everything is does, but it also doesn't try to be more than what it is. It's not mean-spirited and doesn't try to insult anyone. Yes, it is self-aware when it comes to shounen as a genre, but in a friendly and loving way.
Which is why I think it's awesome.
Only seen like 15 eps of Demon Slayer, so I don't know much about it, but I suspect it's something similar.
Also, with both, I just love how the main characters are such good kids. Simple, nice, not bratty or conceited. Most of my entertainment is books, I am a literature slut, but the way Western authors write teenagers is fucking awful. They are such nasty little shits and they have no consequences coming.
So that's why I find Yuuji Itadori to be hugely refreshing. Kid is such a little brother type, it's insane.
That's one of my favorite things about anime really. It's seems like most of the kid characters at least try to be good people. I was just having to explain this to some family last weekend. I've got one little cousin who's into anime and also really shy and when she's not around they talk about her like she's some weird freak. They were saying she should watch "normal" shows, so I had to educate them a bit that anime is full of good stuff for kids. Demon Slayer funny enough is her favorite show, and it's full of work hard to earn what you want, do the right thing, fight for those you care about, etc. Waaay better than the awful western stuff aimed at that group.
Right? I absolutely love how in that story, the love between the boy and his sister is a central point. it's so adorable how he interacts with his little sister, who is basically "sick".
Funny enough, that should be a message normally SJW type scream about supporting; supportive and loving relationships and understanding towards people who are disabled/ill/have issues.
Also, it's so pretty. No noodle limbs, no intentionally repulsive art style.
The patterns and colours of the clothes are so gorgeous. All the characters have their personal pattern/colour combos. I totally get why it appeals to young girls.
(it's also marketing genius, so much room for subtle and everyday-life-compatible merch)
I saw some of the merch in person too, you're spot on with that. Cousin was wearing a Zenitsu hoodie, which to generally everyone is a colorful yellow sweatshirt. Although I'm pretty sure I made her day when the first thing I said was "Zenitsu". That wasn't all of it either, so if one kid is any indication they made some good money off selling that stuff at Christmas.
That's so cute, she sounds like a good kid. Back in school I was thretened by some other girl for being a weeb shit (she wanted to "kick my ass"), so I guess it's good at least the merch is less cringe now.
My friend saw some kid on a beach wearing a shirt that had the main dude's pattern. It was cool, weirdo took a sneaky photo too. :D
Sometimes but it also includes the broader appeal in other ways.
Using some of the more popular Anime/Mange out there, Naruto, Bleach, and MHA all have far, far larger cast lists than most Western Comics do these days.
Justice League is 7 core members with the occasional cameos of what is the Justice League "Unlimited" members showing up as needed by plot despite those characters always being present. There are even spinoffs like Justice League Dark dealing with magical stories that the main comic doesn't really touch on but overall it's still the same collective group they just get compartmentalized for Western consoomers.
Meanwhile Bleach had the core characters of Ichigo, Rukia, Orihime, Chad, Uryu, and eventually Renji, the vice captain of the 6th Division [of 13, plus the Kido corps and "assassination" group which one of the 13 Division captains also runs]. So roughly 5 "main" characters floating around the protagonist. Then you have as secondary characters every other captain and vice captain of the remaining 13 Divisions, so that's roughly another 26 characters, then the occasional 3rd seat for some Divisions who were recurring, like Yumichika, then you had the Espada and later the Wandenreich creating a massive character list that the fandom knew all the names of.
Same thing happens with Naruto and Boruto since it's essentially "Ninja School: The
MusicalShonen" . Main team of 3 including the titular protag, their captain, several other teams of classmates, their captains. The various bad guys they fight over the years including some that were only around for a few issues and were at the very, very start of things.MHA again does this since it's an actual classroom format, so the protag's class of 1-A has 20 "main characters", their teacher, whatever mentors characters in the class have amongst the staff: All Might, Endeavor, Hawks, Best Jeanist, Midnight, Present Mic, etc, other characters: Mirio, Nejire, Amajiki, Eri, Hatsume, etc. Then there's their neighboring class 1-B which shows up from time to time and gets more facetime as things progress. And then finally there are the villains. One of the most beloved "minor" MHA classmates outside of the main protags is Mashirao Ojiro because he ticks a lot of the traditionally honorable traits that Japan favors. He recuses himself from an ongoing contest after he feels the way he progressed through previous rounds was done in ways that meant he hadn't actually done anything or was ethically fair because he was literally mind controlled onto a winning team.
He's the closest character in the series to the Monkey King/Son Goku/Sun Wukong trope so many Japanese/Asian stories cover because of his appearance and behavior at times [his superpower is a literal prehensile tail he uses for combat]. Readers love him something fierce.
And that's just three of the bigger series which are like this. Anime/manga casts are massive compared to a lot of Western media and quite often those massive casts are recurring throughout a series from start to finish.