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. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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.

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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 [img]/images/graemlins/sweat200.gif[/img]

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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.