One Piece is probably the best example of an Anime that spans several decades and has the greatest, interconnected story of any anime. However, MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen misses the series that have individual, standalone episodes.
Anyone who has been on MeinMMO in the anime section for a while probably knows, that I am a big fan of One Piece. The series has accompanied me since my childhood; after all, it has been around for many years.
Over this period, an interconnected story unfolds, where some things were hinted at at the beginning of the series – and no one knew that these might become important.
Meanwhile, there are numerous theories regarding the identities of secret characters or special abilities. Therefore, fans are currently paying attention to every sentence and detail that is mentioned in the anime and manga.
Since such a successful anime has emerged from the pirate adventure, more and more series are jumping on the hype train to become the next big One Piece. However, I miss a type of anime that is becoming increasingly rare in the market.
Semi-episodic animes are appearing less frequently
I currently miss the really good, semi-episodic animes. I don’t care how long they run or what the story is. What matters is that they have individual episodes or short arcs that tell a complete story.
However, there should still be an overarching thread that is occasionally picked up or plays an important role in the grand finale. Two examples come to mind that have implemented this perfectly:
- In Cowboy Bebop, the crew chases a new bounty in almost every new episode. In the background, we learn more about protagonist Spike Spiegel and his connection to Vicious, culminating in a grand finale. Perfection.
- Detective Conan solves a new murder case in each new episode. Occasionally, we learn who the “men in black” are and how the relationship between Conan and Ran develops.
Cowboy Bebop is a short anime that has already completed the concept fully. Detective Conan even runs longer than One Piece and still hasn’t completed its story, yet consistently focuses on “Semi-Episodes”.
There are many more examples like Death Parade or Violet Evergarden that follow a similar concept. But for several years now, such animes have been disappearing from the scene. Of course, there are still occasionally series that are semi-episodic, but especially in the action area, this is quite rare.
Such animes offer many advantages over series with a large, interconnected story that plays an important role in every episode. They provide a much easier entry point and are more “pause-friendly” than One Piece, Naruto, and other representatives.
In such large animes, it happens that after major episodes, one might not remember every detail. Even if one misses an episode or doesn’t pay attention properly, it becomes harder to follow the story.
Little anime snacks in between
I enjoy watching such “anime snacks” when I’m painting figures, building my Lego sets, or just doing a little housework. Let me explain this with the example of Detective Conan: If I get briefly distracted, it’s no drama because Conan reveals every detail at the end of each episode that he used to catch the murderer.
Additionally, the anime uses auditory signals when an important hint is dropped. Then I know I need to pay a little attention, and afterward, I can continue painting, building, or cleaning calmly.
With Cowboy Bebop, it’s the same: I don’t need to catch every shootout; the result at the end of the episode is what matters to me. What’s important is that I hear what the characters say to be able to follow the story loosely. This way, I also catch every witty remark from the crew. That’s why I usually watch such series in German.
Also, I prefer to watch such series at bedtime over big blockbusters like One Piece. Because I don’t need to rewind if I’ve missed an important detail because I fell asleep in the middle of the episode. I can just continue with the next episode or catch up at a later time.
Such animes give me a sense of “achievement” at the end of each episode. I have completed a little story or a small arc for myself and don’t have to wait months with a nasty cliffhanger.
Don’t get me wrong: I love both anime formats, both the demanding, interconnected animes and those with self-contained episodes. I only wish there would be more of such semi-episodic series, especially in the action genre.
However, what gives me hope is: Frieren – After the journey ends is at least moving in the direction of such an anime and is currently achieving great success. There are standalone episodes or mini-arcs that can be watched separately.
If you miss a small detail here, it doesn’t mean you won’t understand the entire plot anymore. Because the big goal, the end of the journey, always remains in the background and runs throughout the entire anime.
In Detective Conan, you might only miss that the little master detective has received a new gadget. With them, he can solve the cases even more easily. What the best tools are that he has received over the years, you can see on MeinMMO: The 5 coolest gadgets from Detective Conan in the Power Ranking
