Not restricted to anime: Anime In Laws

This trope needs a new more general name. It's basically just about In-Laws that interfere with the couple's happiness. This is not a concept confined to anime, but the opaque and media specific title has kept it there.

Agreed. Meddling In Laws would probably work well for this one.

Meddling In Laws as the new name I approve of, I cannot beleive this attempted to be an anime specific thing.

If not for the fact that I get along with mine (sadly, my wife has some issues with certain maternal members of my side of the family), I'd suggest just using In Laws as the name. Meddling In Laws looks perfect to me.

Meddling In Laws FTW.

EDIT

Wait, not so fast. We already have Obnoxious In-Laws. How is this trope even different, aside form the the fact that it mentions Magical Girl? Heck, this trope even lists two types of Anime In-Laws with the first being sinkholed to Obnoxious In-Laws... So...

Should this just be merged with Obnoxious In-Laws?

Also, I really agree that In Laws being problematic is in no way particular to Japanese culture in general and Anime in particular.

edited 15th Jul '11 1:50:50 PM by Auxdarastrix

Obnoxious In-Laws are in-laws you don't like. This is in-laws that want to stop you from getting together with the object of your affection.

Who the heck thought this was anime exclusive? I don't think it is even particularly common in anime in the first place.

And, yeah, I see no difference from that to Obnoxious In-Laws. Nor do I see why Anime In-Laws even mention Magical Girl Friend in the first place.

PS:Ninja'd. Thanks. We need, then, find a name that is not easily confused with Obnoxious In-Laws (which I believe iti s a super trope).

edited 15th Jul '11 2:03:55 PM by Heatth

Hmm, looking at it, I see one big problem with <Anything> In-laws, and that's the fact that they aren't your in-laws until you're married. The heart of this one seems to be that they're obstructing the relationship, hoping to never become your in-laws at all.

I also see another big problem with the trope. It's lumping two very different type of characters together: the ones who dislike and are actively trying to end the relationship, and the ones who approve of the relationship and impede it by being pushy.

edited 15th Jul '11 2:15:44 PM by Madrugada

Preventative In Laws? Protective Love Interest Family?

This trope is the parents in Meet The Parents. They don't want you to be in-laws and they often set up impossible challenges for you to meet.

Lovers Obstructive Parents?

or Love-Obstructing Parents.

There is now a single proposition rename crowner on this subject here.

I think the current name is not very good since I do not think this kind of thing just happens in anime series and I find the name kind of awkward in general.

I agree with Madrugada though. I feel like the second bullet point in the trope description should be split off into its own trope page.

edited 15th Jul '11 5:13:31 PM by LouieW

A gay friend of mine (in a state with no, IIRC, equal marriage laws) calls his boyfriend's parents the in-laws. Should I tell him he's wrong and to stop? :)

When I was in a long-term, committed, but not-legally-binding relationship, I referred to her parents as "the out-laws", but we weren't actually seeking legal recognition, which may have made it easier to joke about.

(Back on topic) In this particular case, though, I think all of the words in the name are incorrect. Which may be some sort of record. :)

edited 15th Jul '11 6:35:24 PM by Xtifr

It is a completely in-accurate title. That's probably why it's performing so badly.

Also, does this trope really need Magical Girlfriend to work? I really think we can remove that qualification.

Well the Magical Girlfriend version tend to be the extremely over powered types like they could destroy earth at a whim there is no reasoning with them as you are just a Unlucky Everydude, the only thing kinda controlling them is the Magical Girlfriend. (same could be said though for the normal girlfriend's extremely rich' parents who could be just as ruthless IE Aoi's in Ai Yori Aoshi or Nagi's grandfather in Hayate No Gotoku.)

And there is the devious, depraved, Manipulative Bitch or just plain doing it for the kicks types like Please Teacher.

edited 16th Jul '11 12:10:56 AM by Raso

Yeah, it doesn't really matter who the girl friend is as long as her parents have enough power in some way to make you miserable.

They are never actually In Laws though which is an issue I have though. If they reach the In Laws stage its something completely different and different set of tropes.

edited 16th Jul '11 1:30:33 AM by Raso

Yeah, all that in mind I'm wondering who voted to keep this title.

Haha not a freaken clue.... The person who made the trope?

As it is when we get the defining and junk down I think we should copy it over to YKTTW for 3 days and get examples first (as that's where people look for this.) then copy it back over to the trope page.

Oh, I completely agree. This really should have more examples from more media. The title is just scaring them all away.

I really want to call this something along the lines of Cock Blocking Parents, but I need a term that's a little less offensive.

That kinda name works (though yeah not as harsh would be preferred.)

There are a few platonic (or kinda platonic in a subtext only way) examples where it's more of a master (the Magical Girl, Rich Girl or whatever.) and servant (Unlucky Everydude.) come to mind but yeah it's the same thing. they don't like you and they have power and the only thing stoping them is the girl. But nothing is stopping them from going manipulative.

edited 16th Jul '11 8:18:01 AM by Raso

Yeah, the same situation happens in more mundane situations as well, but it's definitely a theme in both Western and Eastern media. It just shouldn't be confined to Magicalgirl Friend.

edited 16th Jul '11 8:10:04 AM by shimaspawn