History CerebusSyndrome / AnimeAndManga

* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ'' initially starts out with the old monster of the week routine with plenty of campy slapstick comedy. It followed from the very dark and serious ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'', and Tomino was already in the habit of following up dark and tragic shows with comedic ones. Then episode 18 rolls around and the story starts picking up momentum, and the comic mischief is eventually displaced by more serious content. By the end, the stakes are high, the villains are dangerous and there are no entirely good factions, but it never gets quite as dark as ''Zeta''.

* ''Manga/GushingOverMagicalGirls'': As early as chapter 5, VillainProtagonist Magia Baiser's fights with the heroic Tres Magia start causing graphic injuries on all parties involved and she becomes unapologetic about her sexual assaults of her "playmates". With the introduction of [[KnightOfCerebus Lord]]'s Legion, several characters are explicitly attempting to kill each other.

* ''Manga/RomanticKiller'': In its latter half, the show shifts from being a romantic comedy to a more serious drama. This is thanks to the characters learning of Tsukasa's backstory for being stalked by an older woman who even managed to break into his house and drug him, and being forced to contend with the re-emergence of that stalker into his life. The comedy from prior episodes is still present, but it now serves as brief moments of levity in midst of this new story arc, with deep-seated trauma and physical danger that the older woman threatens him and his friends with being played completely straight.

* ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'' started its slide towards {{Shounen}} action series once the [[AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil Student Police]] were introduced, and when [[BrokenBird Ruby]] was introduced in the Witch's Hill arc it was clear what direction the story was taking. Multi-issue story arcs replaced the MonsterOfTheWeek. Then [[TheWoobie Mizore]] joined the cast. Once Tsukune TookALevelInBadass [[spoiler:thanks to his ghoul powers]], the move was complete. The second season continues this as it gradually becomes DarkerAndEdgier as the series goes on. Though this should be noted as only happening in the manga, in the anime the second season continues to be a Romance Comedy.

* ''Manga/YourLieInApril'' isn't the most cheerful series -- it deals heavily with childhood trauma and child abuse -- but it's still quite optimistic and sweet. Once [[spoiler:Kaori is hospitalized]] it becomes increasingly more grim until it ends in a DownerEnding

* ''Manhwa/TheBreaker'' started out as a fairly lighthearted action {{manhwa}} with plenty of comedy thrown in, but gradually got more serious as a major character's DarkAndTroubledPast (and its present consequences) comes to light. By Volume 10 the humor is entirely gone, and another major character has been killed off.

* ''Anime/YukiYunaIsAHero'' starts off as a cute MagicalGirlWarrior anime with an unusual emphasis on SliceOfLife elements. There's nothing too dark, until not even halfway in when the girls [[spoiler:each lose a physical ability as a result of using their [[SuperMode Mankai]]. Fu is blind in one eye, Itsuki can't speak, Yuuna can't taste anything, and Mimori is deaf in one ear (on top of already being wheelchair bound).]] They think it's temporary but later learn it's not after meeting [[spoiler:Sonoko. Sonoko was a character in the prequel light novel who was Mimori's friend and a Hero as well, but Mimori lost her memory permanently and Sonoko is bed bound and is covered in bandages. It turns out MagicalGirl's are sacrifices to [[WorldTree Shinju-sama]]]]. The series gets increasingly grim until it ends on [[spoiler:a ''chipper'' note. Everyone's disabilities are fixed, and everything seems happy now, though the sequel material leaves room for more darkness]].

** ''Manga/ShimejiSimulation'' is a more pronounced example of the trope being played. Similarly while it started in what seems to be a slice of life venture in a surreal world between Shijima and Majime, [[spoiler:Chapter 30 is where the manga's WhamEpisode plays out, after Big Sis managed to alter West Yomogi into an AcidTripDimension]]. TheReveal then shows [[spoiler:the world that both Shijima and Majime are in is nothing more than a simulated reality within a computer, as per the existence of no accidents occurring within the town itself]]. While the manga still retained some of its comedic and light-hearted nature, [[spoiler:the change caused by Big Sis is so permanent that it had more drastic effects during Chapter 40, with her clone being on the loose of giving humans the ability to change themselves in a whim]]. Since Chapter 30, while the characters still have fairly comedic moments, the effects of that said chapter shows the manga's true nature. Chapter 44 is where [[spoiler:Shijima goes into a DarkestHour period after realising that she has a dreaded fear of being merged with Majime and losing her identity, while also crying to herself after she casted her own friend out.]]

* ''Manga/HoshikuzuTelepath'': The series was initially your typical ''Magazine/MangaTimeKirara {{iyashikei}}'', a sweet, life-affirming ''{{yonkoma}}'' about shooting for the stars (literally) as four girls form a space rocket research club to brainstorm ways to get self-proclaimed stranded alien Yuu Akeuchi home. Then, in the span of a single page in chapter 21, it abruptly veers from fluffy comedy into emotional drama about regret and frustration, and stays there. Although later it does bring the comedy back, it's balanced with the anguished drama in such a way that the characters (Yuu in particular) come across as {{Stepford Smiler}}s for indulging in goofy ''yonkoma'' comedy with their friends and then turning around and angst-ing in secret.

Examples of Japanese animated works [[CerebusSyndrome getting progressively more serious]].

** ''Manga/ShimejiSimulation'' is a more pronounced example of the trope being played. Similarly while it started in what seems to be a slice of life venture in a surreal world between Shijima and Majime, [[spoiler:Chapter 30 is where the manga's WhamEpisode plays out, after Big Sis managed to alter West Yomogi into an AcidTripDimension]]. TheReveal then shows [[spoiler:the world that both Shijima and Majime are in is nothing more than a simulated reality within a computer, as per the existence of no accidents occurring within the town itself]]. While the manga still retained some of its comedic and light-hearted nature, [[spoiler:the change caused by Big Sis is so permanent that it had more drastic effects during Chapter 40, with her clone being on the loose of giving humans the ability to change themselves in a whim]]. Since Chapter 30, while the characters still have fairly comedic moments, the effects of that said chapter shows the manga's true nature. Chapter 44 is where [[spoiler:Shijima goes into a DarkestHour period after realising that she has a dreaded moment of disappearing when she casted out Majime in the previous chapter.]]

** ''Manga/ShimejiSimulation'' is a more pronounced example of the trope being played. Similarly while it started in what seems to be a slice of life venture in a surreal world between Shijima and Majime, [[spoiler:Chapter 30 is where the manga's WhamEpisode plays out, after Big Sis managed to alter West Yomogi into an AcidTripDimension]]. TheReveal then shows [[spoiler:the world that both Shijima and Majime are in is nothing more than a simulated reality created by the Gardener, as per the existence of no accidents occurring within the town itself]]. While the manga still retained some of its comedic and light-hearted nature, [[spoiler:the change caused by Big Sis is so permanent that it had more drastic effects during Chapter 40, with her clone being on the loose of giving humans the ability to change themselves in a whim]]. Since Chapter 30, while the characters still have fairly comedic moments, the effects of that said chapter shows the manga's true nature. Chapter 44 is where [[spoiler:Shijima goes into a DarkestHour period after realising that she has a dreaded moment of disappearing when she casted out Majime in the previous chapter.]]

** ''Manga/ShimejiSimulation'' is a more pronounced example of the trope being played. Similarly while it started in what seems to be a slice of life venture in a surreal world between Shijima and Majime, [[spoiler:Chapter 30 is where the manga's WhamEpisode plays out, after Big Sis managed to alter West Yomogi into an AcidTripDimension]]. TheReveal then shows [[spoiler:the world that both Shijima and Majime are in is nothing more than a simulated reality created by the Gardener, as per the existence of no accidents occurring within the town itself]]. While the manga still retained some of its comedic and light-hearted nature, [[spoiler:the change caused by Big Sis is so permanent that it had more drastic effects during Chapter 40, with her clone being on the loose of giving humans the ability to change themselves in a whim]]. Since Chapter 30, while the characters still have fairly comedic moments, the effects of that said chapter shows the manga's true nature. Chapter 44 is where [[spoiler:Shijima goes into a DarkestHour period after realising that she has dreaded moment of disappearing when she casted out Majime in the previous chapter, which becomes a deconstruction of her existential crisis.]]

** ''Manga/GirlsLastTour'' started off as a calm and peaceful adventure between the protagonists across what looked like a dead city, [[spoiler:until the Kettenkrad finally breaks in Chapter 44]]. This marked a significant change [[spoiler:as both Chito and Yuuri began their long and dark ascent to the highest layer while sacrificing everything in their possession]]. Yuuri also jokes less and Chito contemplates more of the outcome of the negative aspects of their journey than anything else. The final nail in the coffin is when [[spoiler:the highest layer is nothing more than a barren wasteland, putting the series to a BittersweetEnding and with Chito and Yuuri's efforts to an almost naught]].
** ''Manga/ShimejiSimulation'' is a more pronounced example of the trope being played. Similarly while it started in what seems to be a slice of life venture in a surreal world between Shijima and Majime, [[spoiler:Chapter 30 is where the manga's WhamEpisode plays out, after Big Sis managed to alter West Yomogi into an AcidTripDimension]]. TheReveal then shows [[spoiler:the world that both Shijima and Majime are in is nothing more than a simulated reality created by the Gardener, as per the existence of no accidents occurring within the town itself]]. While the manga still retained some of its comedic and light-hearted nature, [[spoiler:the change caused by Big Sis is so permanent that it had more drastic effects during Chapter 40, with her clone being on the loose of giving humans the ability to change themselves in a whim]]. Since Chapter 30, while the characters still have fairly comedic moments, the effects of that said chapter shows the manga's true nature. Chapter 44 is where [[spoiler:Shijima goes into a DarkestHour period after realising that she has dreaded moment of disappearing when she casted out Majime in the previous chapter, which becomes a deconstruction of someone's existential crisis.]]

** ''Manga/ShimejiSimulation'' is a more pronounced example of the trope being played. Similarly while it started in what seems to be a slice of life venture in a surreal world between Shijima and Majime, [[spoiler:Chapter 30 is where the manga's WhamEpisode plays out, after Big Sis managed to alter West Yomogi into an AcidTripDimension]]. TheReveal then shows [[spoiler:the world that both Shijima and Majime are in is nothing more than a simulated reality created by the Gardener, as per the existence of no accidents occurring within the town itself]]. While the manga still retained some of its comedic and light-hearted nature, [[spoiler:the change caused by Big Sis is so permanent that it had more drastic effects during Chapter 40, with her clone being on the loose of giving humans the ability to change themselves in a whim]]. Since Chapter 30, while the characters still have fairly comedic moments, the effects of that said chapter shows the manga's true nature. Chapter 44 is where [[spoiler:Shijima goes into DarkestHour mode after realising that she has dreaded moment of disappearing when she casted out Majime in the previous chapter.]]

** ''Manga/ShimejiSimulation'' is a more pronounced example of the trope being played. Similarly while it started in what seems to be a slice of life venture in a surreal world between Shijima and Majime, [[spoiler:Chapter 30 is where the manga's WhamEpisode plays out, after Big Sis managed to alter West Yomogi into an AcidTripDimension]]. TheReveal then shows [[spoiler:the world that both Shijima and Majime are in is nothing more than a simulated reality created by the Gardener, as per the existence of no accidents occurring within the town itself]]. While the manga still retained some of its comedic and light-hearted nature, [[spoiler:the change caused by Big Sis is so permanent that it had more drastic effects during Chapter 40, with her clone being on the loose of giving humans the ability to change themselves in a whim]].

** ''Manga/ShimejiSimulation'' is a more pronounced example of the trope being played. Similarly while it started in what seems to be a slice of life venture in a surreal world between Shijima and Majime, [[spoiler:Chapter 30 is where the manga's WhamEpisode plays out, after Big Sis managed to alter West Yomogi into an AcidTripDimension]]. TheReveal then shows [[spoiler:the world that both Shijima and Majime are in is nothing more than a simulated reality created by the Gardener, as per the existence of no accidents occurring within the town itself]]. While the manga still retained some of its comedic and light-hearted nature, [[spoiler:the change caused by Big Sis is so permanent that it had more drastic effects during Chapter 40, with her clone being on the loose of giving humans the ability to change themselves into a whim]].

** ''Manga/GirlsLastTour'' started off as a calm and peaceful adventure between the protagonists across what looked like a dead city, [[spoiler:until the Kettenkrad finally breaks in Chapter 44]]. This marked a significant change [[spoiler:as both Chito and Yuuri began their long and dark ascent to the highest layer while sacrificing everything in their possession]]. Yuuri also jokes less, contemplating more of the outcome of the negative aspects of their journey than anything else. The final nail in the coffin is when [[spoiler:the highest layer is nothing more than a barren wasteland, putting the series to a BittersweetEnding and with Chito and Yuuri's efforts to an almost naught]].

** ''Manga/GirlsLastTour'' started off as a calm and peaceful adventure between the protagonists across what looked like a dead city, [[spoiler:until the Kettenkrad finally breaks in Chapter 44]]. This marked a significant change [[spoiler:as both Chito and Yuuri began their long and dark ascent to the highest layer while sacrificing everything in their possession]]. The final nail in the coffin is when [[spoiler:the highest layer is nothing more than a barren wasteland, putting the series to a BittersweetEnding and with Chito and Yuuri's efforts to an almost naught]].

** ''Manga/ShimejiSimulation'' is a more pronounced example of the trope being played. Similarly while it started in what seems to be a slice of life venture in a surreal world between Shijima and Majime, [[spoiler:Chapter 30 is where the manga's WhamEpisode plays out, after Big Sis managed to alter West Yomogi into an AcidTripDimension]]. TheReveal then shows [[spoiler:the world that both Shijima and Majime are in is nothing more than a simulated reality created by the Gardener, as per the existence of no accidents occurring within the town itself]]. While the manga still retained some of its comedic and light-hearted nature, [[spoiler:the change caused by Big Sis is permanent that it had more drastic effects during Chapter 40, with her clone being on the loose of giving humans the ability to change themselves into a whim]].

* In sharp contrast to most of the Main/{{Iyashikei}} gerne, the works of Creator/{{Tsukumizu}}, ''Manga/GirlsLastTour'' and ''Manga/ShimejiSimulation'', definitely get more serious and focused compared to their more relaxed beginnings, to where their {{Deconstruction}} elements start to become more clear.