Generally speaking, Summer ’18 has been a fairly good season of anime, so far. We’ve had several highly anticipated sequels that have, in my opinion, proven themselves to be worth the wait as well as several enjoyable standalone shows, such as Banana Fish, Hanebado!, and Cells at Work. But, more than being both solid and entertaining, Summer ’18 has been a cracking season in terms of its portrayal of women…
Something that has increasingly come to my attention over the years I’ve spent watching anime is the awkwardness that so very often pervades the interactions between casts of characters. Conversations are often far too polite, stiff even, in spite of the fact that the characters have usually known each other for a very long time. This is most obvious when the cast is made up mostly of female characters. There is a disturbing lack of that light-hearted ridicule that I myself am regularly subject to by my few friends, or observe so often in the friendship of others. And sometimes when a character attempts to turn something another character says or does into a joke, that can often come across as awkward too due to the character on the receiving end of the joke’s aggressive overreaction to it. I’m thinking pretty much every interaction Sunohara ever had with Tomoyo here! And, if you couldn’t tell from the fact that I’m writing a post focusing on the very subject, that’s something that bothers me somewhat.
I’ve categorised couples using two terms for years now. A couple is either fluffy, or smutty. Now, let me start by explaining what I mean by these terms…
A fluffy couple is just that, fluffy. Fluffy couples are generally accompanied by an armada of sparkles, bubbles and pink cherry blossom, no matter what the season may be.
Prime example:
I know the word ‘smut’ implies obscenity but, I use the term loosely to describe couples who don’t waste an entire series delicately skirting around one another, a couple that isn’t afraid of public displays of affections, a couple secure enough in one another’s presence to even go as far as to, wait for this- have fun! Smutty couples should have chemistry, like, under the right conditions, they’ll gladly rip off each other’s clothes. So, when you think about, these couples really are obscene, at least, in comparison to fluffy couples!
Prime example:
So why are smutty couples better? Fluffy couples often have whole series dedicated solely to their budding ‘relationship’; therefore if the pair’s reluctance hinders any progression whatsoever in their relationship the show becomes stale and difficult to sit through, very quickly. Not only do fluffy couples bore me, they also anger me! It’s so frustrating when two people who like one another can’t even look each other in the eyes without blushing! Since I brought it up previously, let me use Kimi Ni Todoke as an example once more. The show revolves around the relationship between Sawako and Kazehaya but, even after 25 episodes they’ve done little more than talk! Lelouch discovered and mastered the power of the Geass and lead a major rebellion that shaped the course of history in that time! Each and every one of their interactions was plagued by a pervading sense of awkwardness, something that I, personally, don’t find entertaining…
It is far more interesting to watch a couple with chemistry!
In a smutty couple, man and woman stand on equal grounds, both are confident and assertive, both know what they want and intend to get it- this often creates an interesting dynamic between the two. There is nothing more satisfying than when an individual takes their partner’s words, subverts them and retorts using an equally cutting remark! Whilst some interpret this as animosity, I disagree- the ability to poke fun at one another is extremely important in a relationship, as it means you’re secure and comfortable enough in one another’s presence to know whatever is said will never be taken to heart, it’s just banter! Shows with smutty couples usually have amazingly tight, well-thought out scripts all ‘round as the timing of the character’s jibes must be given much consideration for them to have any impact, therefore, over time, I’ve come to associate these couples with cleverer, more entertaining shows, making them, by far, the superior type of couple in my eyes.
Though, as I’ve become more experienced in regards to anime, it has become harder and harder to categorise couples. What about couples where one character possesses fluffy characteristics, whilst the other, smutty? And what about abusive, dysfunctional couples? Is it really fair of me to sort couples into just two categories? Am I really right in assuming that, after examining merely two types of couple, smutty couples are superior? Feel free to let me know your thoughts on the subject!
Watashi Wa Bucho!! 