Well, ya know, folks, this whole thing about anime and stagnation, it’s like watchin’ a pot of water not boil. All this talk about opportunities being killed, it’s just like when you’re sittin’ there waitin’ for somethin’ to happen, and nothin’ ever does. But let me tell ya, in the world of anime, stagnation sure does a number on characters and plotlines, just like weeds takin’ over a garden if ya don’t tend to it.
Take, for instance, them stories where folks get thrown into other worlds. Ain’t that somethin’? I’ve seen it time and time again. It’s like the heroes get plopped into some foreign land and right off the bat, they start to gain powers. But here’s the kicker—if they just sit around and let things happen without pushin’ forward, that’s when the story starts to die. You know, there’s a fine line between movin’ forward and standin’ still like an old mule at the fence.
Now, there’s this one anime I remember, “Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and…”. Folks think it’s all about gaining power, but what really messes with the plot is how the characters don’t make no moves, they don’t go after what they want. It’s like them sittin’ by the fire, waitin’ for somethin’ to happen instead of stirrin’ the pot themselves. And that’s where stagnation comes in. The moment ya stop tryin’, that’s the moment opportunity slips right through your fingers.
What’s the big deal with stagnation in anime?
Well, if ya ask me, stagnation in anime is like a plant that don’t get no water. It withers up and dies, and the audience don’t wanna watch somethin’ that ain’t growin’. Characters who ain’t doin’ nothin’ are just sittin’ ducks, waitin’ for life to happen to ’em. But real good anime, it makes them characters fight for somethin’, whether it’s power, survival, or just figuring out what’s next. The longer they stay stagnant, the less chance they got of ever makin’ it anywhere.
Now, I know some of ya might be sayin’, “Well, some animes take their time, they don’t always gotta rush things.” And sure, that’s true! But even if it takes time, there’s gotta be some kind of progression. Like when you plant seeds—ya gotta water ‘em, ya gotta care for ‘em, and ya gotta see ‘em grow. Otherwise, you’re just wastin’ time. And that, my dear, is what stagnation does to opportunities. It wastes ‘em.
Look at this one anime “I’m Quitting Heroing” — a fine example of how things go sideways.
This one here is about a hero who just up and quits. Now, most folks might think that quitting is a sign of weakness, but in this show, it’s about a character lookin’ for a new path, a way to grow beyond what he was before. But, see, if he had just stayed stagnant, he wouldn’t have gotten nowhere. He’d be like one of them old trees in the forest, just standin’ there, not doin’ nothin’. But instead, he finds a way to break through and shake things up. That’s what makes it worth watchin’. Stagnation might kill the opportunity for others, but for him, it was the push he needed.
Heroes, power, and the risks of standin’ still
In a lot of anime, the hero’s journey is the heart of the whole story. Ya can’t have no hero if they’re stuck in the mud, now can ya? A hero needs to move, needs to face challenges, needs to grab opportunities by the horns and make somethin’ of ‘em. If the hero doesn’t do that, well, then the whole show’s gonna stagnate, and what’s the point of watchin’ someone just sit around? Opportunities come and go, and if the character don’t make no move, they’ll miss it.
Now, what about them shows that dive deep into the meaning of life? Ya know, them philosophical animes, where characters wonder about their purpose and all that. I ain’t sayin’ it’s a bad thing to have deep thoughts, but if you just sit around thinkin’ all day without actin’, you ain’t gonna get nowhere. The trick is to balance thinkin’ and doin’. Them animes that explore existentialism, well, they still gotta show the characters movin’, doin’ somethin’. Or else, they might as well be like an old rooster that don’t lay eggs no more—just stuck in the past.
What can we learn from this?
Well, I reckon what we can learn from all this talk about stagnation is that in life, and in anime, if ya stop pushin’, ya stop growin’. The opportunities in a story—or in life, for that matter—don’t just fall in your lap. Ya gotta go after ‘em, ya gotta move, ya gotta get out there and take risks. Even if things don’t always work out, ya gotta keep tryin’. Just like in them animes where folks get transported to another world, they can’t sit still and wait for the world to hand ‘em everything. They gotta grab life by the reins and make somethin’ of it.
So, to all ya anime lovers out there, next time you watch somethin’, take note of the characters. Are they movin’ forward, or are they just standin’ there? Stagnation kills opportunity, and that’s a lesson we can all use—whether it’s in anime, or in life.
Tags：[Stagnation, Anime Opportunities, Hero’s Journey, Failure Frame, I’m Quitting Heroing, Existential Anime, Moving Forward in Anime]
