We Need More Anime Originals And Less Adaptations and Sequels And Reboots

The majority of the titles we're currently engaging in are either the anime adaptations of manga or visual novels, or sequels and reboots of the existing anime series. That is understandable: the IPs that already have a history also have an existing fanbase, which makes gaining popularity easier. But now the number of original shows that are not based on anything is dwindling, and that's concerning.

For quite some time, anime adaptations of the existing media were considered work-for-hire projects for the studios, bringing in the cash flow that allowed the studios to work on their original concepts. But now it seems that this capitalistic approach has won over creativity. The adaptations of huge and popular titles take less creative risks, especially considering that now they are also catered not only to the local audience but also to the international market. This results in high production quality and a huge hype around the already popular franchises, but also resembles modern Hollywood, that uses already successful titles as a stepping stone for sequels and adaptations that become more and more bland with each iteration.

Anime studios are playing it safe, choosing things that will definitely make them some money, relying on the tried and true plots and existing fans, and turning the industry into something akin to modern comic book movies. This approach is logical in our modern, cash-driven world, but it doesn't make it feel any less dire.

There are a lot of risks concerning the development of a fully original anime title: the authors will have to fight for their audience, and developing a franchise from scratch is a hard and tedious task. Probably the last anime original that was able to successfully expand its influence was Psycho-Pass, which aired in 2012. The most significant flop of the anime originals in recent years was Yuri!! On Ice, which supposedly didn't make enough money for Mappa to continue developing the franchise, despite having plans to do so.

But creating an anime original that does not rely on any existing story gives the authors a lot of creative freedom. This can be both a blessing and a curse. And with the current state of the anime industry, studios can't make risky decisions if they want to stay afloat, and cannot take on some passion projects alongside cash cows. That leaves us with a bunch of safe bets, titles that expand on the existing IPs instead of creating new ones.