The realm of Japanese animation is a vast and diverse entity, and while anime covers an impressive variety of genres, it is also known for having a formidable list of tropes, conventions, running jokes, and visual gags that appear time and again. Some of the cheaper ones might be dismissed as mere clichés, but others are beloved staples of anime.
Shonen fiction is known for messages such as "never give up on your dreams" and "the power of friendship," while shojo is known for empowering girls. But some anime conventions and traditions transcend these boundaries, and many of them are beloved staples that help make modern anime what it is.
10 Many Characters Have Colorful Hair
Even down-to-earth slice-of-life anime are guilty of this, but it's especially true of fantasy series where anything goes. Yu-Gi-Oh!, in particular, is notorious for giving its characters oversized, colorful hairstyles (and outfits to match). In the world of anime, it's a bit dull if everyone were to have everyone dark hair.
Many protagonists have vivid hair to set them apart, from Naruto Uzumaki's shocking blond hair to Natsu Dragneel's pink locks, and Ichigo Kurosaki's carrot-orange hair (which other characters actually comment on). Most of the time, this is the character's natural hair color and not the result of hair dye or a salon visit.
9 Getting Hit On The Head Without Consequence
Some anime conventions are surprisingly violent, but they are usually employed for humorous effect, and the recipient rarely suffers serious injuries. A common example involves a character getting hit on the head, either with a bare fist, a giant wooden mallet, or even a rolled-up newspaper.
Most often, a boy will get whacked on the head as punishment for something pervy he said or did or in retaliation for a prank. The recipient doesn't usually suffer concussions or other ill effects. Though, in real life, head injuries are always serious.
8 There's Always A Good Cook On Hand
Cooking is always a good skill for young adults to have, and some anime characters really take this to heart. Some anime characters are humorously bad chefs who can't tell an egg whisk from a spoon, but others are inexplicably good chefs, and most anime series have at least one.
Remarkably, most of these good cooks aren't even professional chefs or students at culinary schools. They are simply good at cooking, and they impress their friends or roommates with impeccably good meals, with or without being asked. These characters are often gentle and compassionate in nature, but not always.
7 Many Anime Shows Have A Cute Mascot Character
Although Pikachu is the best-known mascot in all of anime, many other anime series have their own Pikachu, even in series that don't focus on cute animals or supernatural beings. In Naruto, Kakashi Hatake can summon talking animals, including the adorable Pakkun, and that's just one example.
In Fruits Basket, most of the Sohmas are their own mascots, such as Yuki Sohma turning into a cuddly rat, and Bleach bends this trope a bit with Kon, the talking stuffed lion toy.
6 The Mighty Student Council
Student clubs and school councils are a fine way for fictional and real students to practice their management and leadership skills, but anime student councils take it to a whole new level. There is an unspoken rule that any given student council in anime dwarfs the Japanese government itself in power and influence.
Animated shows such as Kakegurui and Kill La Kill depict all-powerful student councils that all students either fear or respect, and these councilors rule over their schools like tyrants. Not even the adults on staff can challenge their power.
5 Hanging Out On The Roof
A group of friends can meet up anywhere: someone's house, the mall, the arcade, even the park. But most anime characters opt to meet up on their school's roof, and incredibly, the door is nearly always unlocked, and the school's staff don't mind at all.
Characters often meet on the roof to share lunch and have a private conversation, either about crushes, homework, or something more dramatic. These characters can savor a fresh breeze and check out the panoramic view of Tokyo or their rustic Japanese hometown.
4 The Kyoto School Trip
Many anime series take place in high school so the average viewer can identify with the character. Inevitably, the animated characters will take a class trip somewhere fancy, usually Kyoto, the cultural hub of Japan. Before long, the students will find themselves on a train headed to Kyoto for a good time.
A school trip provides a fresh change of venue while showing off the real-life attractions of Kyoto, and characters might pursue their romantic interests there or resolve an ongoing mystery or problem. They might also get lost and struggle to find their way back to the class.
3 Characters Might Shrink Into Chibi Form
"Chibi" roughly means "short person," and the chibi visual gag is absolutely everywhere in anime, even appearing in serious shows once in a while. Some anime characters are legitimately designed to be short and round, while others merely look that way for a one-time visual gag. They might turn chibi for a line or two, then resume their normal height.
Characters might even emit a poof of smoke and a sound effect when they morph into chibi mode, and they might jump around, wave their arms, or even cry comically. Characters might turn chibi if they are excited, annoyed or frightened, or otherwise emotionally stirred.
2 Anime Characters Often Sweat Heavily
Many anime characters sweat heavily for normal reasons, such as due to the blistering summer weather or if they are performing martial arts. But that's just the start. It's common to see anime characters sweating heavily simply because they are nervous, stressed, embarrassed, or otherwise distressed.
Real people sweat like that too, but anime characters take it to a new extreme, comically showing dozens of bright blue sweatdrops racing along their face, hair, or their entire body to show just how distressed they are. Rarely does this sweat seem to be physically real, though; it's just a visual cue.
1 Characters Turn Blue When They Are Dismayed Or Sad
Even the most well-animated series cannot express fine detail on a character's face to convey subtle emotions, so some tried-and-true visual cues are used, such as a series of vertical blue lines to represent a character's sadness or dismay.
These lines might appear on a blue field over the character's forehead and eyes, or the lines will simply be added to the character's face, without that blue field. Either way, the character's sadness will be quite clear.