Group photos in anime

[pianocello]

There's one cliche that I've noticed in anime:
Specifically whenever there's a scene where the main cast members gather together to take a group photo, this usually means two things:
(1)This is probably going to be one of the last few times they are together as a group.
(2)One or more characters in the photo will not survive.

This cliche especially holds true if it's an anime where the risk of death is always there. It only does not hold true if it's the type of anime where there's never the risk of death (such as slice-of-life comedies). Without giving too many spoilers, I've seen this happen in Fushigi Yugi, Chrono Crusade, Blood+ . I'm making a listing of the anime that this cliche is used.Any more to add? Also, I'd also love to hear some thoughts on this cliche.

[roastedpekingduck]

There was a group photo from Now and Then, Here and There in one of the episode previews. That was most cheerful moment in the entire series. :cry:

[Peter_JR]

Gate Keepers had a group photo just before a member betrayed them.

[Mark]

If one person (or more) is looking at another person and not the camera, they will either die or get into a really messy love triangle.

And a group picture was used well in Ranma 1/2: It's taken at the second movie and called back later in one of the OAV's. I never expected the picture to ever resurface.

[Redcoffin]

There's a group photo in Gall Force. And we know what happened there...

[Fencedude]

Kimi ga Nozomu Eien.

[ohtori_akio]

Never thought of this before... quite interesting... The stereotype seems to ring true in a lot of series I adore, Utena being one of the strongest in this sense. Sailor Moon also does this a few times but it doesnt necessarily have the same implications (see the second movie I think). But you have to also admit that group photos are typically used in anime as a reminiscent of better times (Chance Pop Sessions, Fruits Basket, ROD the TV and Fancy Lala being examples). The action of taking a photo is also shown quite rarely in anime, the fact that the photos exist or pop up later on add that meaning that you have picked... Again, an interesting concept ;)

[aquapermanence]

In Black Heaven, one of Oji's former bandmates had a group photo with the girls from El Hazard. :D spoiler
He then died and was brought back as an enemy cyborg.

[Collectonian]

I think Gungrave might count - since none of them in the photo survived by the end; with the first three dying pretty quick. I just can't remember if they actually took the photo during the series.