Every anime fan knows that there are tropes that can be found in almost every series, but which are the ones that we see the most? Here is Ranker's list of the most blatant anime cliches. These funny anime cliches transcend genres and demographics, as they can be found in just about every series that's out there. Admittedly some of these tropes can be found in plenty of fictional works that aren't necessarily anime, but the idea here was to include only cliches that anime fans will really understand. We invest so much of our time watching these series, and understanding these inside jokes is our reward! If you have an obvious anime cliche that is missing from the list, let us know in the comments and we might just add it!
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The Beach Episode
In a lot of anime, there is a filler episode that revolves around all the characters going to the beach (or sometimes a pool) to hang out and have a good time. There is one reason and one reason only that the beach episode exists....fan service. The girls are scantily clad in their sexy bathing suits, and the guys have their shirts off to show off their abs and muscles. Thanks beach episode! I always wondered what my favorite female character looked like half naked!
The Bad Guys That Turn Good
Ah yes, the character that for the first 50 or so episodes is extremely evil, but eventually switches over and becomes a good guy. To be fair this usually only happens in Shonen Jump series, where characters like Vegeta (DBZ), Renji (Bleach), Gaara (Naruto), and Franky & Nico Robin (One Piece) all eventually made the switch from foe to friend. If you're starting a long series and there is a bad guy that you wish was good, don't worry! Chances are they'll probably end up on the winning team eventually.
Yelling The Name Of Your Special Attack As You Do It
One does not simply do their special move without yelling the name of it. That is pretty much the #1 golden rule of anime. Whether it's "Kamehameha," "Final Flash," "Rasengan," "Sharingan," "Gum Gum Pistol," or anything else, it's an unwritten law that a character must shout the name of their attack before they actually use it. Does it make it 10x more obvious that the attack is coming? Yes. Does it ever actually matter? No, no it does not.
Hero Always Has Enourmous Appetite
What is it about anime characters and their insatiable appetites? The two names that come to mind are Goku and Luffy, but it certainly doesn't stop there. Remember that episode of Samurai Champloo, when Fuu gorged herself during an eating contest? The sad part is that she accidentally threw in the towel and didn't even end up winning. For whatever reason overeating in anime is a staple in almost every series, but who can blame the characters? The food always looks so damn good.
Thinking The Enemy Is Dead When They Clearly Aren't
This is probably one of the most notorious cliches on this list, purely in terms of how often it happens it anime. Here's how it always, ALWAYS goes down:
1. Good guy delivers "final blow" to enemy
2. One of his companions says, "you did it!"
3. The enemy reveals they aren't hurt at all
I can pretty much guarantee you that if you ever hear a character say "Alright, you did it!" that the bad guy is 100%, without a doubt, not dead.
The Overpowering Sound of Cicadas
What's the best way an anime can let you know it's supposed to be summer time? If you answered, "add extremely loud cicada noises that loop over and over again," then you are absolutely correct! Every anime veteran has recognized this trope in at least one series they've watched, and it's become somewhat of a joke within the anime community.
The Pervert Character
Sanji, Master Roshi, Jiraya...this is just scratching the surface when talking about perverted anime characters who are obsessed with women. Hell, even the original Pokemon series had a pervert in Brock, who couldn't help but swoon over the Nurse Joys and Office Jennys of the world. A pervert's #1 weakness will always be beautiful women, even in battle.
Female Characters With Giant Boobs
This one is basically unavoidable. If you watch anime, then you've seen at least a dozen girls whose breasts are inconceivably too big for their body. Some shows have more gratuitous fan serivce than others (looking at you High School of the Dead) but regardless, it's something that isn't going away anytime soon.
The Exaggerated Facial Expresions
Whether it's shock, embarrassment, excitement, or anger, many anime characters will put on a completely ridiculous face to express how they're feeling. Sometimes it's tiny eyes to express confusion, while other times it's an extreme blush to show that they're smitten. All I know is don't call Edward Elrich short, or you might see an example of this.
The More You Glow, The Stronger You Are
This is a simple rule of anime that cannot be disputed. The more you are glowing, the stronger you are. Have you ever seen Krillin glow? Didn't think so.