There are countless reasons to be an anime fan, but there are also a number of hurdles that are prominent within the medium of animation, including the necessity for filler content. There's an extra level of freedom and versatility that accompanies anime due to the eclectic genres that it explores and the heightened styles of animation that are used to bring these stories to life.
The presence of filler material is a common feature of long-running anime series that audiences have learned to live with, even though filler ultimately doesn't serve a greater purpose to the story. Filler material has a bad reputation, but it's not something to completely write off. In fact, there are circumstances where it can actually be an asset.
9 Filler Allows The Manga To Get Further In The Story
Audiences may lament a lengthy span of filler material, but filler is typically not something that's done unless there's an important reason for it. The primary purpose for anime filler is to allow the corresponding manga to get further ahead in its story and give the anime more material to adapt. The alternative is the anime forging its own path ahead in the narrative, which can have disastrous consequences and permanently derail an arc. Filler is fundamental because it helps the manga and original author catch their breath and maintain quality.
8 Filler Is An Opportunity To Introduce Original Characters
There are plenty of different approaches that can be taken with filler, but it's usually a good opportunity to introduce new and original characters. These new characters can help the anime's universe expand and develop important aspects that don't conflict with the larger narrative. There are many instances where characters who are created for anime filler are met with such warm receptions that they're properly brought into the series' canon later on. New filler characters help creators figure out what the audience is really interested in.
7 Filler Helps Relieve Pressure After A Heavy Story Arc
Filler is prevalent in shonen and shojo series, which contain plenty of dramatic story arcs where the heroes have to overcome tremendous evil. Oftentimes, these arcs experience casualties along the way. Filler can be the perfect chance for characters to catch their breath after experiencing hardship and allow the audience to recalibrate before the next big conflict.
Non-stop action can be exhausting so filler helps action-packed moments stand out without robbing them of their weight. Sometimes a major story arc only makes a big impact because of the filler material that comes before and after it.
6 Filler Can Act As A Springboard For A Movie Or Spin-Off
Telling even larger stories through cinematic endeavors has become increasingly common for long-running anime. Anime movies can adapt manga and source material, but they're more frequently an occasion for anime-original content that can't fit within the anime itself. Since there's often a connection between filler and anime movies, filler can test the waters for certain concepts, environments, or characters that could potentially get their own movie or spin-off. Previous filler is a smart way for anime audiences to watch a movie and already have a familiarity with what's going on.
5 Filler Can Improve A Battle Sequence
Filler material sometimes comes in the forms of entirely new story arcs, but it's also an approach that can be used to extend and augment existing elements of the series. Using filler to enhance an important battle sequence is a prime use of anime filler since it can extend the battle and give more depth to the fight. Battles shouldn't be dragged out for too long, but when filler is properly incorporated, it can make a battle even more epic. There are some powerful showdowns that absolutely benefit from being extended across a series of episodes.
4 Filler Can Be Used To Fill In Plot Holes
Not only can filler be used to explore completely new material, but it's also able to serve a more functional purpose and actually cover up the series' previous mistakes. Long-running anime frequently and naturally stumble upon some inconsistencies and plot holes.
Filler can help fix these problems and make it look like it was always part of the plan. While filler likes to take radical leaps and do something new, some of filler's best examples are when it's casually utilized for continuity purposes and to strengthen the series as a whole.
3 Filler Allows The Series To Experiment With Genres
Completely changing up the series' genre for a brief experiment is one of many approaches that anime filler can take. Filler carries a level of independence that allows it to take stylistic risks that would otherwise not happen in the series. This can cause tonal misfires, but it also provides some of the biggest unexpected delights from a series. Filler that accentuates comedy in a somber series or pushes a sillier program into the horror genre can turn out to be a needed change of pace.
2 Filler Provides An Opportunity To Surprise the Manga Readers
Fans watching their favorite manga moments come to life in animation is one of the perks of watching an anime series adaptation of a popular manga. However, there's a natural degree of disappointment when the audience knows everything that's going to happen in the story. Big events in anime sometimes don't have same impact as when they were first experienced in the manga. Filler allows an anime's story to feel new again and keeps hardcore manga audiences surprised with additional material. A faithful adaptation is important, but everyone loves a good surprise.
1 Filler Can Be Crucial For Pacing
Pacing is a fundamental element that's often underestimated in anime. Compelling characters and satisfying plot twists are useless if they get dragged down with unnecessary padding and poor structure. Anime gets a level of hindsight that's not present in the original manga since the production team already knows what's ahead. This means that anime can change the sequence of events, foreshadow what's to come, or introduce new obstacles between major events if it will improve the plot's overall pacing. There's tremendous pressure in knowing where filler should be inserted and for how long.