Settings in anime: Going to school

[Lego]

A while back I made a thread about what type of setting people liked in "their" shows and what show exemplified this setting. So I figured that I would make a thread about a certain setting. I've always been a fan of the school setting. Be it a normal school like in Tsukihime, Onegai Teacher, GTO, FLCL, or a "fantasy" school like a Mai Otome and its ilk.

I guess I like the school setting because of things like GTO. You have people who have to act/behave a certain way during the day, then once they leave, you get interesting stories. Especially in something like GTO. So after thinking about how the school setting is used(mostly romance), I started to list a couple titles that use the school setting for more then one episode/scene. With a majority of anime characters being teenagers, it kind of makes sense.

But it got me thinking: What shows/scenes/episodes use the school setting the best? and Why do some people prefer/like the school setting over others(besides the uniforms of course heh)?

[Chacranajxy]

Full Metal Panic does a school setting really, really well. Especially in Fumoffu.

[Dagger]

I like the school setting in Maria-sama ga Miteru. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

The school is practically a character in its own right. Since so much of the show takes place there, it really helps reinforce the desired atmosphere of purity, nostalgia and separation from more sordid aspects of the outside world. The elegance & modesty of the uniforms add to that.

Plus, Lillian's customs and rituals are what drive Marimite's core plot. All of that is integrated so well and emphasized so much that the scenes outside of school--e.g., at Yumi's house--almost come unexpectedly. It feels like a boarding school without actually being one.

[Lego]

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Chacranajxy said:
Full Metal Panic does a school setting really, really well. Especially in Fumoffu.

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FMP is another really good example of a school setting. Especially since some students live "double lives" outside of school, as seen in FMP.

[something]

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Lego said:
But it got me thinking: What shows/scenes/episodes use the school setting the best? and Why do some people prefer/like the school setting over others(besides the uniforms of course heh)?

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The school setting is of course horribly overdone, but I don't use that as reason to condemn any show in that setting without watching it. After all, looking at my current top 10, some of my absolute favorite shows are primarily centered around a traditional school (Azumanga Daioh, My~HiME, Kare Kano), involve students in multiple scenes at school (Serial Experiments: Lain, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Full Moon wo Sagashite), or take place in a, er, "alternative" school (Stellvia). Only Scrapped Princess, Nadesico and Crest/Banner of the Stars have nothing to do with school, from my top 10.

But some pretty crappy, generic, boring, worthless anime has been set in schools too, and the main problem is the love of cliche. But, eh, I just don't watch (or well, quickly ditch) those shows =P Problem solved!

So, the school setting is fine but as with anything, there needs to be some hook that will pull me in -- a great plot twist, an amazing art style, or most commonly, a great character (almost always female).

[nakimushi]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Utena yet.

The dramatic design of the campus and the overly-dramatic entrance to the dueling arena are half the fun of the show, in my opinion.

[NeoMM]

Marmalade Boy worked extremely well with the soap opera romance aspect of anime. The fact that all the characters HAD to see each other every day made the pace of the show go quickly with many twists and turns. If the creators didn't make the school an important place for the plot to move forward, the show might not have been as enjoyable. After all, half the enjoyment of Marmalade Boy is the roller coaster ride that you go on through it to see what happens

[Lego]

True disarm. But of course you could say that for any setting as many of them have been used countless times. But I do agree with you. Most of the time the setting will make me at least give the title a look, but if there isn't a good plot device or etc, I won't watch it just because of the setting.

[Sensuifu]

Ah! My Goddess TV
Boys Be...
IMMSE /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif

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Lego said:
True disarm. But of course you could say that for any setting as many of them have been used countless times.

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Oh no doubt, but I would think that modern school settings, even putting aside non-traditional schools, has got to be the most common setting. It might have changed in recent years, but I would assume two of the others would just be "future space" quite simply, and samurai Japan. Or something.

[Lego]

True. Thats why I think when it comes to the school setting, or any setting, only a few shows do it well. GTO and FMP are great in their school settings. The same as Gundam is in space and etc.

Gokusen just nails the real-life Japanese school environment down. Well, okay, there aren't a lot of Japanese teachers getting into fights everyday, but... /images/graemlins/wink.gif I love how this was told from the teacher's perspective for once. Very amusing, considering where my place of employment is... /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Oniisama e... was great for detailing school politics.

[mrgazpacho]

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Lego said:
You have people who have to act/behave a certain way during the day, then once they leave, you get interesting stories.


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Interestingly, it's almost the opposite in Azumanga Daioh, where everyone just behaves as usual - especially the erratic Yukari-sensei, who even skips class to buy computer games /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

Nyamo does indeed loosen her professional veneer outside, with dire consequences for a giant bottle of sake and Chiyo-chan's delicate ears /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Citizen Klaus]

If you use the words "school" and "anime" in the same sentence, then the implied subject has to be To Heart. Ever since the first game came out on the PC, it's been the seminal ren-ai series. For an entire generation of fans, Akari, Shiho, Multi, Serika, Tomoko, Aoi, Kotone, Lemmy, Rio, and Serio have become characters that will live forever in our hearts (and in thousands of private doujinshi collections around the world).

To Heart (along with Tokimeki Memorial and Sentimental Graffiti) is one of the holy trilogy of ren-ai games that pretty much every modern bishoujo series can trace its lineage back to. If it weren't for those three titles, we might never have seen anything from Key, Type-Moon, Nitro+, or any of the other popular game developers. We probably wouldn't even have a "harem" anime genre to talk about (curb your enthusiasm, people).

For me, To Heart is also responsible for my love of the school setting in bishoujo and ren-ai titles. I suppose it's because I discovered the series at a time when I needed a fantasy to distract me from everything that was happening at school here in the real world. Because of that, To Heart will always be a special series for me, and the definitive example of the school setting in anime, games, and manga.

[mk2000]

I think most shows featuring teens have a lot of the plot driven by the events and interactions at school.

I can think of a few in which school is barely mentioned or seen, though.

In Initial D for example, we know Takumi is in school but barely see any interaction with the rest of the student body (apart from Natsuki, Itsuki).

I mean, we never see anybody in school mention the fact that Takumi is a rising star in drifting, or hear about his school grades or clubs.

Heck, even his Tofu delivery is an after thought and more of a plot device to allow him to practice with his AE86 everyday. We never see him interacting with the hotel clients he delivers Tofu for.

The show's "school" instead is his place of work (Gas Station) and the racing roads.