Storytelling is more important than the story itself.
Summary:
Even generic plots can be interesting because they are delivered in a cool way.
On the other hand, convoluted and interesting plots can fumble the execution.
Demon Slayer is one of the shows with a generic premise that is executed properly through the right pacing and tangible build-up.
Humor in Kaguya-sama helps make the generic romantic story become one of the best ones.
We often stumble upon anime with pretty simple premises that end up being extremely captivating and exciting. But why? What makes them so engaging? What makes us watch another battle shounen that is centered around the idea of a chosen one accumulating more and more power to defeat evil, or any other cliché thing?
Generic ideas can be delivered in a cool way
The magic lies in the execution of this story. Even the simplest plot can be supported by so many details and nuances that will make it enjoyable. On the other hand, a convoluted plot can be executed badly, which happens quite often, too: we know the shows that offered us something interesting from the very beginning but then started to fade, either through the pacing or through the change of focus: some people blame Hell's Paradise (Jigokuraku) for that, others state that To Your Eternity (Fumetsu no Anata e) went through the similar problem.
One of the examples of a simple story executed greatly is Demon Slayer (Kimetsu No Yaiba). It chooses a risky path of trading the consistency of the whole story for the more localized events within that story, and so far, it works well. The anime adaptation elevates that, as the manga story can feel a bit bland, but combined with the perfectly executed animation in action scenes, this simple premise shines.
One of the things Demon Slayer does right, aside from the animation, is the pacing. It doesn't feel like it stalls much, and the dynamic of this story is changing constantly, offering you proper build-up to the important events and hype during the battles.
Turn it up to 11
Another example is Kaguya-sama: Love Is War (Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen), in which two high school kids love each other but deny themselves the possibility of confessing. The premise is super simple and has been done numerous times, but the way it's executed in the story is amazing. The interaction between the characters elevates this simple plot, adding a very special type of humor to the tried-and-true rom-com cliches.
This pattern, where the characterization and storytelling can eclipse the generic plot, occurs quite often in anime, so even if the synopsis of the show sounds boring, don't rush to put it aside: maybe the writers added something to make it captivating.
Storytelling is more important than the story itself.
Summary:
Even generic plots can be interesting because they are delivered in a cool way.
On the other hand, convoluted and interesting plots can fumble the execution.
Demon Slayer is one of the shows with a generic premise that is executed properly through the right pacing and tangible build-up.
Humor in Kaguya-sama helps make the generic romantic story become one of the best ones.
We often stumble upon anime with pretty simple premises that end up being extremely captivating and exciting. But why? What makes them so engaging? What makes us watch another battle shounen that is centered around the idea of a chosen one accumulating more and more power to defeat evil, or any other cliché thing?
Generic ideas can be delivered in a cool way
The magic lies in the execution of this story. Even the simplest plot can be supported by so many details and nuances that will make it enjoyable. On the other hand, a convoluted plot can be executed badly, which happens quite often, too: we know the shows that offered us something interesting from the very beginning but then started to fade, either through the pacing or through the change of focus: some people blame Hell's Paradise (Jigokuraku) for that, others state that To Your Eternity (Fumetsu no Anata e) went through the similar problem.
One of the examples of a simple story executed greatly is Demon Slayer (Kimetsu No Yaiba). It chooses a risky path of trading the consistency of the whole story for the more localized events within that story, and so far, it works well. The anime adaptation elevates that, as the manga story can feel a bit bland, but combined with the perfectly executed animation in action scenes, this simple premise shines.
One of the things Demon Slayer does right, aside from the animation, is the pacing. It doesn't feel like it stalls much, and the dynamic of this story is changing constantly, offering you proper build-up to the important events and hype during the battles.
Turn it up to 11
Another example is Kaguya-sama: Love Is War (Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen), in which two high school kids love each other but deny themselves the possibility of confessing. The premise is super simple and has been done numerous times, but the way it's executed in the story is amazing. The interaction between the characters elevates this simple plot, adding a very special type of humor to the tried-and-true rom-com cliches.
This pattern, where the characterization and storytelling can eclipse the generic plot, occurs quite often in anime, so even if the synopsis of the show sounds boring, don't rush to put it aside: maybe the writers added something to make it captivating.
