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<insert smart text here about what the themes-category is about>
'''Themes''' describe the very central elements important to the anime stories. They set the backdrop against which the protagonists must face their challenges. Be it School Life, present Daily Life, Military action, Cyberpunk, Law and Order detective work, Sports, or the Underworld. These are only but a few of the more typical backgrounds for anime plots. Add to that a Conspiracy setting with a possible tragic outcome, the Themes span most of the imaginable subject matter relevant to anime.
{{missing}}


[[Category:Definitions]]
=Themes — Subcategories=
 
==Art... (4)==
=Subcategories=
{{eyecatch|Details|The '''4''' subcategories are explained here: [[Categories:Themes:Art]]}}
== Art ==
'''Art''' plays an important part in the story and has central meaning to the characters (e.g. valuable paintings, or sculptures). Alternately the protagonists show a degree of artistic skill, e.g. as painters, sculptors, dress-makers, potters, musicians, composers, designers, etc. The anime will then centre on the development of those skills, from the unrecognized dilettante stages, right up to the moment of (commercial) breakthrough.
{{missing}}
:''Examples: {{a|2835|Hachimitsu to Clover}}, {{a|5099|Iblard Jikan}}, {{a|2822|Gallery Fake}}


==Coming of Age==
==Coming of Age==
{{missing}}
In the strict sense the '''Coming of age''' describes a young person's transition from adolescence to adulthood. In anime the term is used in a more general sense where the protagonists have to face a challenge, make an important decision in their life, take on responsibility, or learn a lesson, and by overcoming these obstacles they reach a higher level of maturity.
:''Examples: {{a|286|Majo no Takkyuubin}}, {{a|5909|Toradora!}}, {{a|2835|Hachimitsu to Clover}}


==Conspiracy==
==Conspiracy==
The conspiracy thriller (or paranoid thriller) is a subgenre of the thriller which flourished in the 1970s in the US (and was echoed in other parts of the world) in the wake of a number of high-profile scandals and controversies (most notably Vietnam, the assassination of President Kennedy, Chappaquiddick and Watergate), and which exposed what many people regarded as the clandestine machinations and conspiracies beneath the orderly fabric of political life.
The '''conspiracy''' thriller (or paranoid thriller) is a sub-genre of the thriller which flourished in the 1970s in the US (and was echoed in other parts of the world) in the wake of a number of high-profile scandals and controversies (most notably Vietnam, the assassination of President Kennedy, Chappaquiddick and Watergate), and which exposed what many people regarded as the clandestine machinations and conspiracies beneath the orderly fabric of political life.


The protagonists of conspiracy thrillers are often journalists or amateur investigators who find themselves (often inadvertently) pulling on a small thread which unravels a vast conspiracy that ultimately goes "all the way to the top".<br />
The protagonists of conspiracy thrillers are often journalists or amateur investigators who find themselves (often inadvertently) pulling on a small thread which unravels a vast conspiracy that ultimately goes "all the way to the top".<br>
(''Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_thriller'')
(''Source: [[Wikipedia:Conspiracy thriller|Wikipedia]]'')


==Cooking==
==Cooking==
Anime in the '''cooking''' genre will center on the production of different kinds of food, including baking, but also gourmet meals and anything in between.
Anime in the '''cooking''' genre will centre on the production of different kinds of food, including baking, but also gourmet meals and anything in between.
 
:''Examples: {{a|434|Chuuka Ichiban}}, {{a|3453|Cooking Papa}}, {{a|2429|Yakitate!! Japan}}''
:''Examples: {{a|434|Chuuka Ichiban}}, {{a|3453|Cooking Papa}}, {{a|2429|Yakitate!! Japan}}''


==Cyberpunk==
==Cyberpunk==
'''Cyberpunk''' focuses on computers or information technology, usually coupled with some degree of breakdown in social order. The plot often centres on a conflict among hackers, artificial intelligences, and mega corporations, tending to be set within a near-future dystopian Earth.<br/>
'''Cyberpunk''' focuses on computers or information technology, usually coupled with some degree of breakdown in social order. The plot often centres on a conflict among hackers, artificial intelligences, and mega corporations, tending to be set within a near-future dystopian Earth. ''(Paraphrased from [[Wikipedia:Cyberpunk|Wikipedia]])''
''Paraphrased from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberpunk''
:''Examples: {{a|61|Ghost in the Shell}}, {{a|99|Serial Experiments Lain}}, {{a|166|Appleseed}}''
 
:''Examples: {{a|61|Ghost in the Shell}} {{a|99|Serial Experiments Lain}} {{a|166|Appleseed}}''


==Daily Life==
==Daily Life==
{{missing}}
The antics of the protagonists do not take place in some exotic setting or time, but in everyday life. When not "at the job" this means getting up in the morning, making meals, house cleaning, going shopping or out to eat, visiting the bath house or spa, leisure activities in the spare time, etc. The time "on the job" for students is [[Categories:Themes:School Life|School Life]], for others working in their profession. '''Daily Life''' is basically a synonym for everything normal, repetitive, and trivial happening to your average person.
{{eyecatchLight|1|Note|As soon as the protagonists are doing "professional" jobs - e.g. as Bounty Hunters or Detectives, etc. - in non-normal settings they are not performing trivial everyday work, thus this tag does '''not''' apply!}}
:''Examples: {{a|370|Houhokekyo Tonari no Yamada-kun}}, {{a|5435|Myself; Yourself}}''


==Law and Order==
==Law and Order==
{{missing}}
Where there is "wealth", there are criminals. It is up to the civil law enforcement, i.e. detectives, [[Categories:Cops|Police]] or [[Categories:Special Squads|Special Squads]], to keep the lawless activities in the real world or in cyberspace under control.
{{EyecatchLight|Note|Do not confuse this with [[Categories:Military|Military]] presence.}}
:''Examples: {{a|441|A.D. Police}}, {{a|61|Ghost in the Shell}}, {{a|493|Burn Up! Excess}}, {{a|353|HeatGuy J}}''


===Cops===
===Cops===
{{missing}}
The '''police''' (civil servants) are the good guys in the battle against crime. Though they try hard, they are usually outclassed by super-criminals or criminal organizations in anime, requiring the help of special units or some lone hero.
:''Examples: {{a|420|Armitage III}}, {{a|441|A.D. Police}}''


===Special Squads===
===Special Squads===
{{missing}}
The '''Special Squads''' are called in when the police is completely outclassed, e.g. fighting criminal syndicates. These special forces are trained to combat specific forms of crime, e.g. the anti-cyber-crime division.


==Military==
There are several such squads: Whereas ''Section 9'' of ''Ghost in the Shell'' is an official government organisation, there are also "benevolent" vigilante groups like the ''Knight Sabers'' (''Bubblegum Crisis'').
The anime concerns an organised armed force, and its members. Said body should have both the equipment and hierarchy found in military groups, and should ideally be actively utilising their power against an opponent. Characters are either employed as professional soldiers or enlisted on a volunteer basis, for ideological reasons.


'''Note:''' Just because the anime contains a bunch of soldiers or a tank, unless that is actually what the anime is '''about''', you might not want to add this genre.
Criminal syndicates also have their special forces e.g. "death squads".
:''Examples: {{a|98|Kenpuu Denki Berserk}}, {{a|2535|Zipang}}''
:''Examples: {{a|247|Koukaku Kidoutai Stand Alone Complex}}, {{a|345|Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040}}''


===Airforce===
==Military... (3)==
Anime with this category, like anime with Military as category concerns an organised armed force, but with the difference that they should primarily conduct aerial warfare.
{{eyecatch|Details|The '''3''' subcategories are explained here: [[Categories:Themes:Military]]}}
The anime concerns an organised armed force, and its members. Said body should have both the equipment and hierarchy found in military groups, and should ideally be actively utilising their power against an opponent. Characters are either employed as professional soldiers or enlisted on a volunteer basis, for ideological reasons.


'''Note:''' Just because the anime contains a bunch of planes or similar, unless the anime is actually '''about''' a fighting airforce, you might not want to add this genre.
{{eyecatchLight|Note|Just because the anime contains a bunch of soldiers or a tank, unless that is actually what the anime is '''about''', you might not want to add this genre.}}
:''Examples: {{a|111|Sentou Yousei Yukikaze}}, {{a|581|Last Exile}}''


===Feudal Warfare===
:''Examples: {{a|98|Kenpuu Denki Berserk}}, {{a|2535|Zipang}}''
{{missing}}
 
===Navy===
As with Airforce and Military, this category is for anime that concerns an organised armed force, but it conduct naval or space warfare.
 
'''Note:''' Just because the anime contains warships, submarines or spaceships, unless it is actually '''about''' those armed forces, you might not want to add this genre.
:''Examples: {{a|3522|Tactical Roar}}, {{a|361|Ao no 6-gou}}''
 
== Monster Training ==
{{missing}}


== Music ==
==Proxy Battles==
{{missing}}
In our terms, a proxy battle is a battle where humans use creatures/robots to do the fighting for them, either by commanding those creatures/robots or by simply evolving them/changing them into battle mode. Often the training aspect is also involved, or in some cases the proxies are nothing more than holographic representatives of some other variation of competition (like for example a card game). While many popular shounen anime fit under this category, it's not limited to shounen anime.
:''Example: {{a|595|Bakuten Shoot Beyblade}}, {{a|230|Pocket Monsters}}, {{a|234|Digimon Adventure}}, {{a|2061|Yuu Gi Ou: Duel Monsters}}, {{a|133|Dragon Drive}}''


=== Band ===
==School Life... (6)==
{{missing}}
{{eyecatch|Details|The '''6''' subcategories are explained here: [[Categories:Themes:School Life]]}}
Since a large part of the anime audience still takes part in school life or is visiting college, it is only natural to choose a setting the audience can identify with, be it elementary, middle, or high school. For the older viewers a college setting with more mature real-life problems is appropriate. And since clubs take up so much time in the lives of students, these are obviously also important.


=== Idol ===
==Sports... (11)==
{{missing}}
{{eyecatch|Details|The '''11''' subcategories are explained here: [[Categories:Themes:Sports]]}}
 
== Performance ==
{{missing}}
 
==School==
{{eyecatch|Note|Explanation of the 6 subcategories are available here: [[Categories:Themes:School]]}}
{{missing}}
 
== Sports ==
'''Sports''' anime revolves around a ''recreational'' physical activity or skill. In addition they often adhere to certain genre conventions, the emphasis on ''training'' and ''practice'' in preparation for ''competition'', characters desire for ''self improvement'', and pursuit of a specific goal.
'''Sports''' anime revolves around a ''recreational'' physical activity or skill. In addition they often adhere to certain genre conventions, the emphasis on ''training'' and ''practice'' in preparation for ''competition'', characters desire for ''self improvement'', and pursuit of a specific goal.
The different subcategories of sports should be used when the anime specifically is about one of those activities:
===Baseball===
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball Baseball] is like a complicated version of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rounders Rounders]. It involves hitting a ball with a stick, then running around a field. Big in the US, and like many things the Japanese took it up eagerly to avoid being nuked for a third time.
:''Examples: {{a|241|Touch}}, {{a|2168|Major}}''
===Basketball===
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball Basketball] is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netball Netball] for men, the ''real'' game that encourages dribbling and other such uncouth behaviour that was sanitised out of the ladies' version. However, it is itself woosy compared to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulama_game Ulama], as the losing side are seldom publicly sacrificed.
:''Examples: {{a|590|Slam Dunk}}, {{a|430|I'll/CKBC}}''
===Combat===
Involves a violent conflict whose goal is to establish dominance over an opponent.
:''Examples: {{a|2921|Ueki no Housoku}}, {{a|997|Ayane-chan High Kick}}''
====Boxing====
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing Boxing] involves puching someone until their brains fall out, then challenging them to a rematch. Many boxers survive successfully for years with no central nervous system at all, to the bafflement of medical science.
:''Examples: {{a|1457|Ashita no Joe}}, {{a|129|Hajime no Ippo}}''
====Judo====
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo Judo] is a frightening sport, in that it's not always the biggest strongest person that wins. Being thrown flat on your back and forced to sumbit by girl who's shorter and younger that you is certainly a humbling experience.
:''Examples: {{a|806|Yawara!}}, {{a|766|Kurenai Sanshiro}}''
===Driving===
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_racing Driving] involves driving in a competitive manner. Note that just driving to get groceries does not suffice, unless one does it like Takumi Fujiwara in {{a|135|Initial D}}.
:''Examples: {{a|135|Initial D}}, {{a|55|ex-Driver}}''
===Football===
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_%28soccer%29 Football] involves kicking a ball in order to score a goal, while the other team tries to stop you by kicking the ball in the other direction to score a goal of their own. Note that this is not American Football.
:''Examples: {{a|1840|Aoki Densetsu Shoot!}}, {{a|612|Hungry Heart - Wild Striker}}''
===Golf===
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf Golf] is the most pointless sport ever invented.
:''Examples: <none?>''
===Gymnastics===
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnastics Gymnastics] used to just be thought of as an excuse for ogling women in skimpy costumes. However, the march of progress has lead to a great reduction in the mammaries that made this an interesting prospect, leading to a disallutionment with the sport.
:''Examples: {{a|635|Kaleido Star}}, {{a|1347|Shintaisou (Kari) The Animation: Yousei-tachi no Rondo (warning: Hentai)}}''
===Tennis===
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis Tennis] is yet another sport involving hitting a ball. Were it not for the copious amounts of grass involved in certain varieties, it seems hard to imagine that people would pay it any attention at all.
:''Examples: {{a|56|Tennis no Ouji-sama}}, {{a|1072|Ace wo Nerae!}}''
===Volleyball===
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volleyball Volleyball] is a game best played on sand and half naked. Though it can be played indoors, this loses the magic somehow.
:''Examples: {{a|2852|Attacker You!}}, {{a|757|Attack No. 1}}''


==Tragedy==
==Tragedy==
'''Tragedy''' is a form of drama characterized by seriousness and dignity, usually involving a conflict between a character and some higher power, such as the law, the gods, fate, or society.
'''Tragedy''' is a form of drama characterized by seriousness and dignity, usually involving a conflict between a character and some higher power, such as the law, the gods, fate, or society.
:''Examples: {{a|332|Hotaru no Haka}}, {{a|3573|Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora}}, {{a|1002|Gunslinger Girl}}''
:''Examples: {{a|332|Hotaru no Haka}}, {{a|3573|Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora}}, {{a|1002|Gunslinger Girl}}''


==Underworld==
==Underworld... (3)==
{{missing}}
{{eyecatch|Details|The '''3''' subcategories are explained here: [[Categories:Themes:Underworld]]}}
 
The underworld we talk about here is not to be confused with the place where people are believed to go after they die, but the general term for organized crime. It is a shady world, unknown to most people, where illegal things like murder, smuggling, drug dealing and similar are happening daily. Groups known to be acting in this world are for example the Mafia or the yakuza.
===Bounty Hunters===
:''Examples: {{a|3395|Black Lagoon}}, {{a|1018|Crying Freeman}}, {{a|998|Mezzo DSA}}
{{missing}}
 
===Mafia===
{{missing}}


====Yakuza====
{{missing}}


[[Category:Definitions]]
{{cat-tree-safe}}
[[Category:Anime Categories]]

Latest revision as of 13:46, 10 February 2010

Categories Navigation: Categories:Themes

Category Weight + to ***
For all the categories in this section choose (if applicable) a weight between + (seldom) to *** (abundant) denoting how often the specific category occurs in the anime.

Themes describe the very central elements important to the anime stories. They set the backdrop against which the protagonists must face their challenges. Be it School Life, present Daily Life, Military action, Cyberpunk, Law and Order detective work, Sports, or the Underworld. These are only but a few of the more typical backgrounds for anime plots. Add to that a Conspiracy setting with a possible tragic outcome, the Themes span most of the imaginable subject matter relevant to anime.

Themes — Subcategories

Art... (4)

Details The 4 subcategories are explained here: Categories:Themes:Art

Art plays an important part in the story and has central meaning to the characters (e.g. valuable paintings, or sculptures). Alternately the protagonists show a degree of artistic skill, e.g. as painters, sculptors, dress-makers, potters, musicians, composers, designers, etc. The anime will then centre on the development of those skills, from the unrecognized dilettante stages, right up to the moment of (commercial) breakthrough.

Examples: Hachimitsu to Clover, Iblard Jikan, Gallery Fake

Coming of Age

In the strict sense the Coming of age describes a young person's transition from adolescence to adulthood. In anime the term is used in a more general sense where the protagonists have to face a challenge, make an important decision in their life, take on responsibility, or learn a lesson, and by overcoming these obstacles they reach a higher level of maturity.

Examples: Majo no Takkyuubin, Toradora!, Hachimitsu to Clover

Conspiracy

The conspiracy thriller (or paranoid thriller) is a sub-genre of the thriller which flourished in the 1970s in the US (and was echoed in other parts of the world) in the wake of a number of high-profile scandals and controversies (most notably Vietnam, the assassination of President Kennedy, Chappaquiddick and Watergate), and which exposed what many people regarded as the clandestine machinations and conspiracies beneath the orderly fabric of political life.

The protagonists of conspiracy thrillers are often journalists or amateur investigators who find themselves (often inadvertently) pulling on a small thread which unravels a vast conspiracy that ultimately goes "all the way to the top".
(Source: Wikipedia)

Cooking

Anime in the cooking genre will centre on the production of different kinds of food, including baking, but also gourmet meals and anything in between.

Examples: Chuuka Ichiban, Cooking Papa, Yakitate!! Japan

Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk focuses on computers or information technology, usually coupled with some degree of breakdown in social order. The plot often centres on a conflict among hackers, artificial intelligences, and mega corporations, tending to be set within a near-future dystopian Earth. (Paraphrased from Wikipedia)

Examples: Ghost in the Shell, Serial Experiments Lain, Appleseed

Daily Life

The antics of the protagonists do not take place in some exotic setting or time, but in everyday life. When not "at the job" this means getting up in the morning, making meals, house cleaning, going shopping or out to eat, visiting the bath house or spa, leisure activities in the spare time, etc. The time "on the job" for students is School Life, for others working in their profession. Daily Life is basically a synonym for everything normal, repetitive, and trivial happening to your average person.

Note As soon as the protagonists are doing "professional" jobs - e.g. as Bounty Hunters or Detectives, etc. - in non-normal settings they are not performing trivial everyday work, thus this tag does not apply!
Examples: Houhokekyo Tonari no Yamada-kun, Myself; Yourself

Law and Order

Where there is "wealth", there are criminals. It is up to the civil law enforcement, i.e. detectives, Police or Special Squads, to keep the lawless activities in the real world or in cyberspace under control.

Note Do not confuse this with Military presence.
Examples: A.D. Police, Ghost in the Shell, Burn Up! Excess, HeatGuy J

Cops

The police (civil servants) are the good guys in the battle against crime. Though they try hard, they are usually outclassed by super-criminals or criminal organizations in anime, requiring the help of special units or some lone hero.

Examples: Armitage III, A.D. Police

Special Squads

The Special Squads are called in when the police is completely outclassed, e.g. fighting criminal syndicates. These special forces are trained to combat specific forms of crime, e.g. the anti-cyber-crime division.

There are several such squads: Whereas Section 9 of Ghost in the Shell is an official government organisation, there are also "benevolent" vigilante groups like the Knight Sabers (Bubblegum Crisis).

Criminal syndicates also have their special forces e.g. "death squads".

Examples: Koukaku Kidoutai Stand Alone Complex, Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040

Military... (3)

Details The 3 subcategories are explained here: Categories:Themes:Military

The anime concerns an organised armed force, and its members. Said body should have both the equipment and hierarchy found in military groups, and should ideally be actively utilising their power against an opponent. Characters are either employed as professional soldiers or enlisted on a volunteer basis, for ideological reasons.

Note Just because the anime contains a bunch of soldiers or a tank, unless that is actually what the anime is about, you might not want to add this genre.
Examples: Kenpuu Denki Berserk, Zipang

Proxy Battles

In our terms, a proxy battle is a battle where humans use creatures/robots to do the fighting for them, either by commanding those creatures/robots or by simply evolving them/changing them into battle mode. Often the training aspect is also involved, or in some cases the proxies are nothing more than holographic representatives of some other variation of competition (like for example a card game). While many popular shounen anime fit under this category, it's not limited to shounen anime.

Example: Bakuten Shoot Beyblade, Pocket Monsters, Digimon Adventure, Yuu Gi Ou: Duel Monsters, Dragon Drive

School Life... (6)

Details The 6 subcategories are explained here: Categories:Themes:School Life

Since a large part of the anime audience still takes part in school life or is visiting college, it is only natural to choose a setting the audience can identify with, be it elementary, middle, or high school. For the older viewers a college setting with more mature real-life problems is appropriate. And since clubs take up so much time in the lives of students, these are obviously also important.

Sports... (11)

Details The 11 subcategories are explained here: Categories:Themes:Sports

Sports anime revolves around a recreational physical activity or skill. In addition they often adhere to certain genre conventions, the emphasis on training and practice in preparation for competition, characters desire for self improvement, and pursuit of a specific goal.

Tragedy

Tragedy is a form of drama characterized by seriousness and dignity, usually involving a conflict between a character and some higher power, such as the law, the gods, fate, or society.

Examples: Hotaru no Haka, Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora, Gunslinger Girl

Underworld... (3)

Details The 3 subcategories are explained here: Categories:Themes:Underworld

The underworld we talk about here is not to be confused with the place where people are believed to go after they die, but the general term for organized crime. It is a shady world, unknown to most people, where illegal things like murder, smuggling, drug dealing and similar are happening daily. Groups known to be acting in this world are for example the Mafia or the yakuza.

Examples: Black Lagoon, Crying Freeman, Mezzo DSA


This category branch is reasonably firmly settled.
Though some renaming and rearrangement may take place, and more categories might be added later as required, no significant changes should occur. As such, please try and use this branch whenever adding categories to an anime.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.anidb.net/index.php?title=Categories:Themes&oldid=14759"