Found out most popular shonen anime have the exact same plot structure and it kind of ruined things for me

I was reading this breakdown on a blog called "Anime Structure Deep Dive" last week and they laid out how like 80% of shonen anime follow the tournament arc formula even when they aren't actually tournaments. The writer mapped out 15 shows including My Hero Academia, Naruto, and Black Clover and showed how they all hit the same 5 story beats within the first 20 episodes. I got really curious and checked my own favorites and yeah, Dragon Ball and One Piece both have that pattern too where the hero gathers friends, faces a rival, then has a big showdown with a main villain. It kinda made me feel weird about watching new shows now because I keep spotting the formula before it happens. Has anyone else had that moment where knowing the structure made shows feel less exciting?

3 comments

3 Comments

henry_anderson5415h ago

Maybe the formulas just work because they tap into how we tell stories naturally.

henry15014h ago

Started off thinking the same way you did actually. Used to defend Naruto and Bleach as totally unique stories. Then a buddy showed me how the Chunin Exams arc and the Soul Society arc both have the exact same "hero gets stronger, loses a friend, then wins with a power boost" structure. Hit me pretty hard when I went back and watched them side by side. The tournament arc in Dragon Ball Z and the Forest of Death arc in Naruto are basically the same episode with different paint jobs. That blog opened my eyes in a way I didn't really want, but can't unsee now.

ray56212h ago

Nah the Chunin exams and Forest of Death comparison is a bit off though. The Forest of Death is way more about survival and teamwork than the tournament format. Chunin exams actually have multiple stages while the Soul Society arc is more of a rescue mission with some fights mixed in. The structure might feel similar but the actual arcs play out pretty different when you look at the details.