[General] What's the most important aspect of an anime?

I searched a few pages back into the forum and couldn't find anything like this, if I'm wrong however just lock and delete the thread.

What would you say is the most important aspect of an anime (poll above)? There are a lot of things that make an anime a brilliant one, but which is the most essential? I'd personally say an interesting story. Although, I don't think you could have an interesting story without good character development. And a soundtrack is also incredibly important.

Let me know your thoughts :)

(I specifically say anime because manga's can't really have a soundtrack or stiking visuals in terms of animation).

I meant MUST have in the poll question, sorry for the typo!

Manga's can have really good drawings.

There is no most important aspect. Good and great anime have all of those features you listed and do them well to varying levels. That said, imagine an anime with great characters, art, music and an extremely boring story or horribly written story. The anime loses most of its appeal then doesn't it? The best series have all the elements and even more than whats on your list and without one or more of them the anime won't be great.

I honestly have to agree with brok3n butterfly with every aspect of an anime being just as important as the rest, but for the sake of the poll I voted the story.

/thread

If i hate it or not.

To be honest, I don't care about visuals or animation.
Star Wars taught me what a good movie shouldn't have.
Although it is nice to see, what I like more is a good story,
complex and funny characters, and a memorable soundtrack.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say I personally would prefer having a kick-ass soundtrack over all, but having any of the other aspects is a welcomed perk.

My personal 5 favorite anime songs are in order from first to last; #1 Lilium, the 1st opening for Elfen Lied, #2 would be Inner Universe, the first season opening for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, #3 is Ride on Shooting Star, the opening for Fooly Cooly, #4 is Tabi no Tochuu, the opening to Spice and Wolf, and finally #5 is Ready Steady Go, the second opening for Full Metal Alchemist.

Feel free to critique as much as you want on anything I discussed.

Basically the best will incorporate all of the above

It depends on the anime in question, but in general it's interesting characters and story. Visuals are important too, but I can overlook it when it's not so good, if it has other qualities that hook me.

I voted for character development simply because I think characters are the ones who create the story. Character development and story work hand in hand, hence in most cases good characters = good story

Can't really argue with this. It's truer than true.

Keeping the theme of the anime is rather important, if you ask me. Say something is a Slice of Life anime/manga, but then suddenly shifts to sci-fi with absolutely no warning whatsoever, would you keep watching it? I certainly wouldn't. As interesting as sci-fi is to me, I'd rather not just go from watching something completely normal to something futuristic and sci-fi...y.

Another thing is keeping characters in a serious battle- or war-themed anime alive. I'm not saying to kill everybody, but keeping every single unique character (on the protagonist's side) alive solely because they have a name and a face is absurd. Character close to the protagonist died? It's something that should be expected to happen sooner or later in war. Let the characters experience grief over losing someone with a face and name, dammit! No last minute saves, ass pulls, etc. Although this is more of me complaining than something truly important, I believe death should happen. Dog Days is the exception, because it's Dog Days and has an in-universe excuse.

No ass pulls at all. I'm talking to you, *insert anime with a deus ex machina here*.

You need a good story line! Character and others are important but you use the story to catch the audiences attention and make them want to find out what happens next. Its what can keep an anime on top: conflict, backstory, suprises, and sudden deaths of fav characters! keeps veiwers on thier toes

I think an anime can get away with a crappy plot so long as they have good character design/development. I mean, it worked for Clannad.

>A deep, interesting story.

I've always been a story driven guy....... until I watched Bakemonogatari.
Bakemonogatari doesn't have exactly have the best story ever but it have some of the best visuals I have seen. And the dialog is appealing and intelligent.

>Good character design / development.

This is always a plus.

>Striking visuals / animation.

I have dropped a lot of anime because the visuals are shit.

>Brilliant Soundtrack.

I don't pay to much attention to the music. Other then the OP/ED.

>Other (elaborate below)
>Comedy, Randomness.

Reason why Nichijou, Azumanga Daioh etc etc are as popular as they are.


Even if the animation in FLCL (Fooly Cooly) is incredible cheap. And the story..... does FLCL even have a story? It's still a very good anime, why? Because it's too random to even know what's going on.

It's got to be the story. Everything else just has to be amazing if the story is lacking to even keep me interested. Frankly like RPGs I'm in for the story and characters.

You do know that they spent 26 episodes worth of budget on that thing.

I still think it looks bad. Seen worse.

Usually on topics of this nature I vote for the 'Deep and interesting storyline' option but lately ive been watching Tari Tari and I just dont care about ANY of the characters in this anime. (Theres just NOTHING to them)

The story sucks balls too so far but no doubt there'll be some sort of incredible dramatic twist eventually... Hopefully! :(

So ive voted for Good character design/Development this time around.