Line #230 JustForFun/RulesOfAnime


1	->''"First rule of ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': You let your enemy finish their long monologue no matter how many flashbacks or conversations with themselves they have."''
2	-->--'''Kakashi''', ''WebVideo/NarutoTheAbridgedSeries''
3
4	In case this site hasn't made it obvious already, there are a lot of JapaneseMediaTropes. It is common to joke in [[TheAbridgedSeries anime parodies]] that these are the "Rules of Anime" that cannot be broken no matter how ridiculous to maintain RuleOfCool or RuleOfDrama. The joke is most often delivered this way: character "A" points out the stupidity of an event, and character "B" responds: "Anime Rule number "X"..."
5
6	See also JustForFun/TheUniversalGenreSavvyGuide.
7
8	''Anime Cafe'' has a [[http://abcb.com/laws/ compiled list of these laws, complete with pseudoscientific names for them all]]. Since most of these correspond to tropes on Website/ThisVeryWiki, the list is reproduced here for [[{{Pothole}} your convenience.]] A longer list is available [[http://web.archive.org/web/20181122040516/http://www.cs.utah.edu/~duongsaa/more_htm/jk_100animeRules.htm here]].
9
10	'''[=#=]1 - Law of Metaphysical Irregularity'''
11	* The normal laws of physics [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality do]] [[ArtisticLicensePhysics not apply.]]
12
13	'''[=#=]2 - Law of Differentiated Gravitation'''
14	* Whenever someone or something [[InASingleBound jumps]], is thrown, or otherwise is rendered airborne, gravity is reduced by a factor of 4. Some things have been known to "Float" for a few seconds before plummeting to hit the ground, vehicle, or someone’s cranium.
15
16	'''[=#=]3 - [[SoundInSpace Law of Sonic Amplification]] (First Law of Anime Acoustics)'''
17	* In space, loud sounds, like explosions, are even louder because there is no air to get in the way.
18
19	'''[=#=]4 - [[SpaceFriction Law of Constant Thrust]] (First Law of Anime Motion)'''
20	* In space, constant thrust equals constant velocity.
21
22	'''[=#=]5 - [[ImpossiblyGracefulGiant Law of Mechanical Mobility]] (Second Law of Anime Motion)'''
23	* The larger a mechanical device is, the faster it moves. [[HumongousMecha Armored mecha]] are the fastest objects known to human science.
24
25	'''[=#=]6 - Law of Temporal Variability'''
26	* Time is not a constant. Time stops for the hero whenever he does something [[RuleOfCool 'cool' or 'impressive'.]] Time slows down [[DeathIsDramatic when friends and lovers are being killed]] and speeds up whenever there is a fight.
27
28	'''[=#=]7 - First Law of Temporal Mortality'''
29	* 'Good Guys' and 'Bad Guys' both die in one of two ways - either [[DroppedABridgeOnHim so quick they don't even see it coming]], or [[DeathIsDramatic it's a long drawn out affair]] where the character [[ContemplateOurNavels gains much insight to the workings of society, human existence,]] [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking or why the toast always lands butter side down.]]
30
31	'''[=#=]8 - Second Law of Temporal Mortality'''
32	* It takes some time for bad guys to die... regardless of physical damage. Even when the 'Bad Guys' are killed so quickly they didn't even see it coming, it takes them a while to realize they are dead. This is attributed to the belief that being evil damages the Reality Lobe of the brain.
33
34	'''[=#=]9 - [[FightUnscene Law of Dramatic Emphasis]]'''
35	* Scenes involving extreme amounts of action are depicted with either still frames or black screens with a slash of bright color (usually red or white).
36
37	'''[=#=]10 - [[RepeatCut Law of Dramatic Multiplicity]]'''
38	* Scenes that only happen once, for instance, a 'Good Guy' kicks the 'Bad Guy' in the face, are seen at least 3 times from 3 different angles.
39
40	'''[=#=]11 - [[StuffBlowingUp Law of]] [[MadeOfExplodium Inherent Combustibility]]'''
41	* Everything explodes. Everything.
42	** First Corollary - [[PreExplosionBuildup Anything that explodes bulges first.]]
43	** Second Corollary - Large cities are the most explosive substances known to human science. [[TheTokyoFireball Tokyo]] in particular seems to be the most unstable of these cities, sometimes referred to as "The Matchstick City".
44
45	'''[=#=]12 - Law of Phlogistatic Emission'''
46	* Nearly all things emit light from fatal wounds.
47
48	'''[=#=]13 - Law of Energetic Emission'''
49	* There is always an [[SuckingInLines energy build up]] (commonly referred to as an energy 'bulge') before Mecha or space craft weapons fire. Because of the explosive qualities of weapons, it is believed that this is related to the Law of Inherent Combustibility.
50
51	'''[=#=]14 - Law of Inverse Lethal Magnitude'''
52	* The destructive potential of any object/organism is inversely proportional to its mass.
53	** First Corollary - [[CuteBruiser Small and cute]] will always overcome [[MonstrosityEqualsWeakness big and ugly]]. Also known as the [[Anime/ProjectAKo A-Ko]] phenomenon.
54
55	'''[=#=]15 - [[BottomlessMagazines Law of Inexhaustibility]]'''
56	* No one ''ever'' runs out of ammunition. That is of course unless they are cornered, out-numbered, out-classed, and unconscious.
57
58	'''[=#=]16 - Law of Inverse Accuracy'''
59	* The accuracy of a 'Good Guy' when operating any form of fire-arm [[ImprobableAimingSkills increases as the difficulty of the shot increases.]] The accuracy of the 'Bad Guys' when operating fire-arms decreases when the difficulty of the shot decreases. ([[ImperialStormTrooperMarksmanshipAcademy Also known as the Storm Trooper Effect]]) Example: A 'Good Guy' in a drunken stupor being held upside down from a moving vehicle will always hit, and several battalions of 'Bad Guys' firing on a 'Good Guy' standing alone in the middle of an open field will always miss.
60	** First Corollary - [[ConservationOfNinjutsu The more 'Bad Guys' there are, the less likely they will hit anyone or do any real damage.]]
61	** Second Corollary - Whenever a 'Good Guy' is faced with insurmountable odds, the 'Bad Guys' line up in neat rows, allowing the hero to take them all out with a single burst of automatic fire and then escape.
62	** Third Corollary - Whenever a 'Good Guy' is actually hit by enemy fire, it is in a [[StandardBleedingSpots designated]] 'Good Guy Area', usually a [[OnlyAFleshWound flesh wound]] in the shoulder or arm, which restricts the 'Good Guy' from doing anything more strenuous than driving, firing weaponry, using melee weapons, operating heavy machinery, or doing complex martial arts maneuvers.
63
64	'''[=#=]17 - Law of Transient Romantic Unreliability'''
65	* [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross Minmei]] is a bimbo.
66
67	'''[=#=]18 - Law of Hemoglobin Capacity'''
68	* The human body [[OverdrawnAtTheBloodBank contains over 12 gallons of blood]], sometimes more, [[HighPressureBlood under high pressure.]]
69
70	'''[=#=]19 - Law of Demonic Consistency'''
71	* Demons and other supernatural creatures have at least three eyes, loads of fangs, tend to be yellow-green or brown, but black is not unknown, and can only be hurt by bladed weapons.
72
73	'''[=#=]20 - Law of Militaristic Unreliability'''
74	* Huge galaxy-wide armadas, entire armies, and large war machines full of cruel, heartless, bloodthirsty warriors can be stopped and defeated with a single insignificant example of a [[PowerOfFriendship caring]]/[[PowerOfLove loving]] emotion or a [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross song.]]
75	** First Corollary (from Adam Barnes) - Whenever a single war machine (mecha, starship, etc.) goes up against an entire army, the army always loses.
76
77	'''[=#=]21 - Law of Tactical Unreliability'''
78	* Tactical geniuses aren't....
79
80	'''[=#=]22 - Law of Inconsequential Undetectability'''
81	* People never notice the little things... like missing body parts, or wounds the size of Seattle.
82
83	'''[=#=]23 - Law of Juvenile Intellectuality'''
84	* [[CompetenceZone Children are smarter]] [[AdultsAreUseless than adults.]] [[BrattyHalfPint And almost always twice as annoying.]]
85
86	'''[=#=]24 - Law of Americanthropomorphism'''
87	* Americans in anime appear in one of two roles, either as a really nasty skinny 'Bad Guy' or a big stupid 'Good Guy'.
88	** First Corollary - The only people who are more stupid than the big dumb Americans are [[BlindIdiotTranslation the American translators.]] (Sometimes referred to as the Green Line Effect)
89	** Second Corollary - The only people who are more stupid than the American translators are [[{{Macekre}} the American editors]] [[MoralGuardians and censors.]]
90
91	'''[=#=]25 - Law of Mandibular Proportionality''' (from A. Hicks, Tom Williams, and Ben Leinweber)
92	* The size of a person's mouth is directly proportional to the volume at which they are speaking or eating.
93
94	'''[=#=]26 - Law of Feline Mutation''' (from A. Hicks)
95	* Any half-cat/half-human mutation will invariably:
96	# [[{{Catgirl}} Be female]]
97	# Possess [[UnusualEars ears]] and sometimes a tail as a genetic mutation
98	# [[{{Stripperiffic}} Wear as little clothing as possible]], if any
99
100	'''[=#=]27 - Law of Conservation of Firepower''' (from Tom Williams)
101	* Any powerful weapon capable of [[GameBreaker destroying/defeating an opponent in a single shot]] will invariably [[TooAwesomeToUse be reserved and used only as a last resort.]]
102
103	'''[=#=]28 - [[FallingIntoTheCockpit Law of Technological User-Benevolence]]''' (from Tom Williams)
104	* The formal training required to operate a spaceship or mecha is inversely proportional to its complexity.
105
106	'''[=#=]29 - [[PowerGlows Law of Melee Luminescence]]''' (from Tom Williams)
107	* Any being displaying extremely high levels of martial arts prowess and/or violent emotions emits light in the form of a [[BattleAura glowing aura]]. [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience This aura is usually blue for 'good guys' and red for 'bad guys'.]] This is attributed to Good being higher in the electromagnetic spectrum than Evil.
108
109	'''[=#=]30 - Law of Non-Anthropomorphic Antagonism''' (from Tom Williams)
110	* All [[WhatMeasureIsANonCute ugly]], [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman non-humanoid]] alien races are [[AlwaysChaoticEvil hostile]], and usually hell-bent on destroying humanity for some obscure reason.
111
112	'''[=#=]31 - [[WorldOfTechnicolorHair Law of Follicular Chromatic Variability]]''' (from Spellweaver)
113	* Any color in the visible spectrum is considered a natural hair color. This color can change without warning or explanation.
114
115	'''[=#=]32 - Law of Follicular Permanence'''
116	* Hair in anime is pretty much indestructible, and can resist any amount of meteorological conditions, energy emissions, physical abuse, or explosive effects and still look perfect. The only way to hurt someone's hair is the same way you deal with demons... with bladed weapons!
117
118	'''[=#=]33 - Law of Topological Aerodynamics (First Law of Anime Aero-Dynamics)'''
119	* ''Any'' shape, no matter how convoluted or odd-looking, is automatically aerodynamic.
120
121	'''[=#=]34 - Law of Probable Attire''' (from various sources)
122	* Clothing in anime follows certain predictable guidelines.
123	** Female characters wear [[{{Stripperiffic}} as little clothing as possible,]] regardless of whether it is socially or [[ExposedToTheElements meteorologically]] appropriate. Any female with an excessive amount of clothing [[ClothingDamage will invariably have her clothes ripped to shreds or torn off somehow.]] If there is no opportunity to tear off the aforementioned female's clothes, then she will inexplicably take a shower for [[{{Fanservice}} no apparent reason]] (also known as the Gratuitous ShowerScene).
124	** Whenever there is a [[DramaticWind headwind]], male characters invariably wear [[BadassCape long cloaks]] that don't hamper movement and billow out dramatically behind them.
125	** [[ExposedToTheElements First Corollary: Cryo-Adaptability]] - All anime characters are resistant to extremely cold temperatures, and do not need to wear heavy or warm clothing in snow.
126	** [[BreastPlate Second Corollary:]] [[ThongOfShielding Indecent Invulnerability]] (from Nyctomania) - Bikinis render the wearer invulnerable to any form of damage.
127
128	'''[=#=]35 - Law of Musical Omnipotence'''
129	* Any character capable of musical talent (singing, playing an instrument, etc.) is automatically capable of doing much more "simple" things, like piloting mecha, fighting crime, stopping an intergalactic war, and so on...especially if they have never attempted these things before.
130
131	'''[=#=]36 - [[FiveManBand Law of Quintupular Agglutination]]''' (from Daniel Mikula)
132	* Also called "The Five-man Rule", when "Good Guys" group together, it tends to be in groups of five. There are five basic positions, which are:
133	# [[TheHero The Hero/Leader]]
134	# [[LoveInterest His Girlfriend]]
135	# [[TheLancer His Best Friend/Rival]]
136	# [[TheBigGuy A Hulking Brute]]
137	# A Dwarf/[[TagalongKid Kid]]
138	* Between these basic positions are distributed several attributes, which include:
139	** Extreme Coolness
140	** [[TheSmartGuy Amazing Intelligence]]
141	** [[BrattyHalfPint Incredible Irritation]]
142
143	'''[=#=]37 - [[HammerSpace Law of Extradimensional Capacitance]]''' (from Jason Bustard)
144	* All anime females have an extradimensional storage space of variable volume somewhere on their person from which they can instantly retrieve any object at a moment's notice.
145	** [[HyperspaceMallet First Corollary (The Hammer Rule)]] - The most common item stored is a heavy mallet, which can be used with unerring accuracy on any male who deserves it. Other common items include costumes/uniforms, power suits/armor, and large bazookas.
146
147	'''[=#=]38 - Law of Hydrostatic Emission'''
148	* Eyes tend to be rather large in anime. [[OcularGushers This is because they contain several gallons of water, which may be instantaneously released at high pressure through large tear ducts.]] The actual volume of water contained in the eyes is unknown, as there is no evidence to suggest that these reservoirs are actually capable of running out. The reason water tends to collect in the eyes is because anime characters only have one large sweat gland, which is located at the back of the head. When extremely stressed, embarrassed, or worried, this sweat gland exudes [[SweatDrop a single but very large drop of sebaceous fluid.]]
149
150	'''[=#=]39 - Law of Inverse Attraction'''
151	* Success at finding suitable mates is inversely proportionate to how desperately you want to be successful. The more you want, the less you get, and vice versa.
152	** [[TruthInTelevision First Corollary]] - Unfortunately, this law seems to apply to {{Otaku}} in the real world...
153
154	'''[=#=]40 - [[{{Nosebleed}} Law of Nasal Sanguination]]''' (from Ryan Pritchard and Jason Aylen)
155	* When sexually aroused, males in anime don't get erections, they get {{nosebleed}}s. No one's sure why this is, though... the current theory suggests that larger eyes means smaller sinuses and thinner sinus tissue (see Law [=#=]38 above). Females don't get nosebleeds, but invariably get one heck of a [[LuminescentBlush blush]] along the cheeks and across the nose, suggesting a lot of blood flow to that region.
156
157	'''[=#=]41 - Law of Xylolaceration''' (from Lyndon Harris)
158	* Wooden or bamboo swords are [[LethalJokeItem just as sharp as metal swords, if not sharper.]]
159
160	'''[=#=]42 - Law of Juvenile Omnipotence''' (from Erin Alia)
161	* [[CompetenceZone Always send]] [[KidHero a boy]] to do a man's job. [[AdultsAreUseless He'll get it done in half the time]] [[{{Wangst}} and twice the angst.]]
162
163	'''[=#=]43 - [[ThereIsNoRuleSix Law of Triscaquadrodecophobia]]'''
164	* There is no Law [=#=]43.
165
166	'''[=#=]44 - [[CallingYourAttacks Law of Nominative Clamovocation]]''' (from Luiko-Ysabeth and Adrian Hsiah)
167	* The likelihood of success and damage done by a martial arts attack is directly proportional to the volume at which the full name of the attack is announced.
168	** [[SoLastSeason Exception Clause #1]]: If an attack works well on its first use, it will be far less effective on future uses. If it works ''perfectly'' on its first use, it will never work again.
169	** [[TheWorfBarrage Exception Clause #2]]: An "ultimate" technique will inevitably be replaced with something ''more'' ultimate.
170	** [[TemptingFate Exception Clause #3]]: Announcing that your attack has "never been survived, escaped, countered or defeated" ensures that its intended target is about to become the first person to survive, escape, counter or defeat it.
171
172	'''[=#=]45 - [[TransformationIsAFreeAction Law of Uninterruptible Metamorphosis]]''' (from R. A. Hubby)
173	* Regardless of how long or involved the transformation sequence or how many times they've seen it before, any 'Bad Guys' witnessing a mecha/hero/heroine transforming are too stunned to do anything to interrupt it.
174
175	'''[=#=]46 - [[PaperThinDisguise Law of Flimsy Incognition]]''' (from Conrad Knauer)
176	* Simply changing into a costume or wearing a teensy mask can make you utterly unrecognizable to even your closest friends and relatives.
177
178	'''[=#=]47 - [[BuxomBeautyStandard Law of Early Blooming]]'''
179	* At least one female must have large breasts.
180
181	'''[=#=]48 - [[GoodScarsEvilScars Law of Scars]]'''
182	* If a character has a scar, [[EveryScarHasAStory there will always be a long, usually angsty, emotional story behind it]].
183
184	'''[=#=]49 - [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness Law of Holy-Mother-How-Do-I-Pronounce-That?]]'''
185	* All rules of anime must have unnecessarily complex names that are impossible to pronounce.
186
187	'''[=#=]50 - Law of Academic Seating Placement'''
188	* The main character in a Highschool '''MUST''' always at one point of another, [[ConvenientlySeated sit in the third row window on the left side]].
189
190	Some other frequent jokes on the "Rules of Anime" are:
191	* [[TalkingIsAFreeAction Let your enemy ''finish'' his long monologue before you attack.]]
192	* Don't interrupt a flashback.
193	* Don't question the transitional phase and/or plotholes.
194	* [[MegatonPunch The girls hit harder than the villains.]]
195
196	'''[=#=]51 - [[OnlyICanKillHim Law of the only one needed]]'''
197	* Only the main character can defeat the leader of the antagonists.
198
199	'''[=#=]52 - [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Law of Proportion between Supernaturality and Adolescence]]'''
200	* If you are older than 17 and nothing interesting ever happened to you, never had a [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend not-girlfriend]] [[MagicalGirlfriend from space]], never engaged in any kind of [[BattleAura Ki based fight]] or generally just led a boring life until your 18's, you'll never meet that kind of opportunity again, since it is scientifically proven that all interesting stuff happens only to high-schoolers.
201
202	'''[=#=]53 - Law of Inverse Blusterality'''
203	* In a duel or a competition between two characters, the amount of time each character spends boasting about his competence is actually inversely proportional to his actual competence in this particular duel. In other words, the person who brags less will win. Using body language or facial expressions to express smugness does not apply to law 53.
204
205	'''[=#=]54 - Law of Tangible Power'''
206	* If spiritual energy or some variant exists, the protagonist and/or the antagonist will have sufficient amounts of it so that it's presence can be felt.
207	** If this energy is possessed by most (or all) ordinary people, the named characters will have above average control over it and the protagonist will be in a class of his/her own.
208
209	'''[=#=]55 - Law of the Scorned'''
210	* Even a [[MadeOfIron tough as nails]] or [[NighInvulnerability superpowered]] (male) protagonist is vulnerable to a stiff slap from [[{{Tsundere}} his love interest]].
211
212	'''[=#=]103 - [[{{Ecchi}} Law of H]] '''
213	* Enjoy your {{Fanservice}}, but do not try to take any further peeks in an {{Ecchi}} comedy anime. Attempts will result in painful experiences ranging from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT6h5oxlK_w having various objects thrown in your face]] to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmISsxwgX6Y a pink elephant dropping out of the sky and landing right on top of you]].
214
215	'''[=#=]105 - Law of Amorous Tragedy '''
216
217	* In the beginning, if you find that you "CannotSpitItOut", but throughout mutual trials and adventures you finally tell her how you feel, understand that she will eventually have to [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice her life because of some ancient rule]] or to [[BecauseDestinySaysSo fulfill some prophecy that is her birthright]]. Try as you might to talk her out of it, it will be pointless, as her entire being hinges on her suicide/heroic sacrifice. Or she could succumb to the mysterious illness that she alluded to when you first met her. Rest assured that the two of you will be parting soon after attempting to build a life together.
218
219	'''[=#=]106 - Law of Superiority of Bladed Weapons '''
220
221	* In any Shonen anime, characters who use swords will be able to fight either on par with or much better than [[GunsAreWorthless an opponent with a gun]]. The reasons for such phenomena are: Cutting through bullets so well that the remnants either fly in different directions or lose almost all momentum, martial arts that give the user superhuman abilities, or the gunman will either be a talentless mook, or someone who seems to only miss through bad luck.
222
223	'''[=#=]107 - [[MistakenForGay Law of Homoerotic Accidental Tendencies]]'''
224
225	* At the very least, one pair of two same-sex characters will have an accident that places them in a seemingly-compromising position or get themselves in a situation where it can be misconstrued that the two are in a gay, and to a far, far lesser extent, lesbian relationship.
226
227	'''[=#=]108 - [[ShippingGoggles Law of Fandom Subtext Perceptions]]'''
228
229	* At least one group of an anime's fans will see romantic subtext between two characters, no matter who they are or if the characters in question met or even know who the other one is. Actual canonical romantic subtext notwithstanding. Related to rule 109.
230
231	'''[=#=]109 - [[FoeYayShipping Law of Opposing Characters]] In Relation to Internet {{Rule 34}} '''
232
233	* If any character has an opposing character, such as a rival or an arch-nemesis, with them both being almost exclusively two male characters, there is guaranteed to be fanart and fanfiction shipping the two together, regardless on whether or not the two characters like, dislike, or even flat-out hate each other. Exceptions cannot and ''will not'' exist.
234
235	'''[=#=] 110 - Law of Proportionate Badass Entrances'''
236
237	* In a battle, the party with the most epic entrance, no matter how incompetent, is the most likely to win.

Context JustForFun / RulesOfAnime