High school epic?

Ken-Ohki · December 29th, 2007, 05:54 PM

Is there an anime high school epic? An epic is generally thought of as a story where the narrative is more important than it's characters. For example Lord of the Rings, it does have main characters but it's the story which is the focus and not any of it's characters. Or War and Peace which deals more with the invasion of Russia than it does with the character of Napoleon. Harry Potter is not an epic because Harry is the main focus of the story not the overall narrative itself.

At least that's one take on the term epic and one which I'm using now. So is there a high school epic in anime? Something where school life itself is the focus or the characters are less important than the day to day happenings of the school?

I think it would be fun to see one.

Lord Timaeus · December 29th, 2007, 06:06 PM

Bleach, maybe? Granted, the majority of it doesn't take place in high school, but it's about all I can think of right now.

There's also potentially Mai-HiME and its spinoffs, but I'm not all that familiar with them.

goddessofanime · December 29th, 2007, 06:08 PM

Bleach? But there's also some focus on characters.

Lord Timaeus · December 29th, 2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goddessofanime

Bleach? But there's also some focus on characters.

Well, what the OP is asking for is a bit of a rarity to me, so certain stretches are to be expected.

**Holy Knight** · December 29th, 2007, 06:23 PM

I can only think of...

School Rumble
Azumanga Daioh
Cromartie High School
Mai-Hime

Then there's all the anime dealing with high school romance.

However, everything listed so far is all character driven, since it would make sense that the appeal of an anime placed in a high school would have its characters as main interest.

Caster13 · December 29th, 2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Timaeus

Bleach, maybe? Granted, the majority of it doesn't take place in high school, but it's about all I can think of right now.

There's also potentially Mai-HiME and its spinoffs, but I'm not all that familiar with them.

Mai-Otome is one giant yuri fest.

SuiDream · December 29th, 2007, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenpachi

Mai-Otome is one giant yuri fest.

And it's AWESOME!

Anyway, the only anime I can think of that might qualify would be My-Hime. I'm having a difficult time trying to think of something like the OP asked. My-Hime is the closest thing I can think of.

IsaacBrock · December 29th, 2007, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holy Knight

I can only think of...

School Rumble
Azumanga Daioh

These are both as character driven as they come.

Ken-Ohki · December 29th, 2007, 10:20 PM

Hmm, I'm imagining something like Tokimeki Memorial without a main character or delete the main girls of Lucky Star or Manabi Straight and just follow the goings on of the class. There may just not be such a thing.

Phantom · December 29th, 2007, 10:24 PM

Easily the The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. School shows by nature cannot have a epic story in the same way like TTGL but this has the most epic school story you will find.

Chousho · December 29th, 2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken-Ohki

Hmm, I'm imagining something like Tokimeki Memorial without a main character or delete the main girls of Lucky Star or Manabi Straight and just follow the goings on of the class. There may just not be such a thing.

I was going to suggest Azumanga Daioh or Lucky Star, but if you want just the general class, then... you wouldn't really get too much of an interesting story if you didn't at least know some of the characters.

-- edit--

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkerueNeves

These are both as character driven as they come.

I wouldn't really consider Azumanga Daioh "as character driven as they come". It's more a situational/slice of life type of series than anything else. Yes, Osaka is a little spacey and Yukari can't drive, but that's about as far as it goes.

Mr. Referee · December 30th, 2007, 12:21 AM

When I think of anime with school, one of the first to come to mind is Negima.

DazarGaidin · December 30th, 2007, 04:04 AM

Sketchbook Full Colors...and it is hella boring (but somehow in a good way, i get really relaxed and mellow watching it, good artwork and cute characters). It might seem real character driven at first cause it takes place thru first person perspectives sometimes but generally it just shows the happenings of the art school, students and even neighborhood cats.

I guess you could say its artsy fartsy

Stelok · December 30th, 2007, 05:00 AM

I second The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

I think I can suggest Strawberry Eggs and GTO. Both of the series focus on the narrative of the story in which the teacher tries to teach to a classroom full of angsty teenage rebels who are wary of the grown-ups.

GTO focuses on the story more often than on Onizuka's character. And Strawberry Eggs focuses on the way of teaching in the school classroom as often as the character of Hibiki and Fuuko or their relationship as teacher and student or the point of a cross-dressing teacher.

I also recommend Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei, which tells humorous but contrasting perspectives about despair and hope.

Prof.Nosebleed · December 30th, 2007, 06:52 PM

You can't get more epic than Azumanga Daioh....

But....

How about high school fighting series like Real Bout High School, Ikkitousen, or Tenjho Tenge?

December 29th, 2007, 05:54 PM	#1
Ken-Ohki 馬鹿 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The other side Posts: 3,283	High school epic? Is there an anime high school epic? An epic is generally thought of as a story where the narrative is more important than it's characters. For example Lord of the Rings, it does have main characters but it's the story which is the focus and not any of it's characters. Or War and Peace which deals more with the invasion of Russia than it does with the character of Napoleon. Harry Potter is not an epic because Harry is the main focus of the story not the overall narrative itself. At least that's one take on the term epic and one which I'm using now. So is there a high school epic in anime? Something where school life itself is the focus or the characters are less important than the day to day happenings of the school? I think it would be fun to see one. __________________ "Carrots huh? Eat enough of those someday you'll grow up to be a spaceship." WORSHIP THE COMIC

December 29th, 2007, 06:08 PM	#3
goddessofanime Urban Legend Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: BACK ONLINE Posts: 22,309 Blog Entries: 23	Bleach? But there's also some focus on characters. __________________ Book blog!http://nogara40.wordpress.com/ Avatar: Mokochii from the soon to be It's Your Fault that I"M Not Popular. My Little Hikkomori Can't Be This Cute

December 29th, 2007, 06:23 PM	#5
Holy Knight The Vampiric Knight Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6,320 Blog Entries: 5	I can only think of... School Rumble Azumanga Daioh Cromartie High School Mai-Hime Then there's all the anime dealing with high school romance. However, everything listed so far is all character driven, since it would make sense that the appeal of an anime placed in a high school would have its characters as main interest. __________________ Young riders choose a destination. Old riders choose a direction. ~Proverb

December 29th, 2007, 10:20 PM	#9
Ken-Ohki 馬鹿 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The other side Posts: 3,283	Hmm, I'm imagining something like Tokimeki Memorial without a main character or delete the main girls of Lucky Star or Manabi Straight and just follow the goings on of the class. There may just not be such a thing. __________________ "Carrots huh? Eat enough of those someday you'll grow up to be a spaceship." WORSHIP THE COMIC

December 29th, 2007, 10:24 PM	#10
Phantom Hands off! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Britannia Posts: 3,019	Easily the The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. School shows by nature cannot have a epic story in the same way like TTGL but this has the most epic school story you will find. __________________ My Anime List "Now back to Boob-o-nauts"

December 29th, 2007, 06:06 PM	#2
Lord Timaeus Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Kamina City, WA, kicking Renton to the curb Posts: 3,428	Bleach, maybe? Granted, the majority of it doesn't take place in high school, but it's about all I can think of right now. There's also potentially Mai-HiME and its spinoffs, but I'm not all that familiar with them.

December 30th, 2007, 12:21 AM	#12
Mr. Referee Wandering Enigma Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Fort McMurray, AB Posts: 523	When I think of anime with school, one of the first to come to mind is Negima. __________________ My Collections: DVD - Blu-Ray - Manga - Video Games My Site: Orange Otaku -- Forums

December 30th, 2007, 04:04 AM	#13
DazarGaidin =^..^= Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: WV, USA Posts: 10,196 Blog Entries: 10	Sketchbook Full Colors...and it is hella boring (but somehow in a good way, i get really relaxed and mellow watching it, good artwork and cute characters). It might seem real character driven at first cause it takes place thru first person perspectives sometimes but generally it just shows the happenings of the art school, students and even neighborhood cats. I guess you could say its artsy fartsy __________________ The Third - FMP! - R.O.D. (TV) - kanon 06 - Planetes Natsume - Steins;Gate - Nodame Cantabile - Dennou Coil My Kid Friendly Anime List \| My Anime List

December 30th, 2007, 05:00 AM	#14
Stelok king of despair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ang Pilipinas Posts: 2,197	I second The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. I think I can suggest Strawberry Eggs and GTO. Both of the series focus on the narrative of the story in which the teacher tries to teach to a classroom full of angsty teenage rebels who are wary of the grown-ups. GTO focuses on the story more often than on Onizuka's character. And Strawberry Eggs focuses on the way of teaching in the school classroom as often as the character of Hibiki and Fuuko or their relationship as teacher and student or the point of a cross-dressing teacher. I also recommend Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei, which tells humorous but contrasting perspectives about despair and hope.

December 30th, 2007, 06:52 PM	#15
Prof.Nosebleed Go Team Nyamo! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: On Campus Posts: 2,337	You can't get more epic than Azumanga Daioh.... But.... How about high school fighting series like Real Bout High School, Ikkitousen, or Tenjho Tenge? __________________ *MEMBER OF TEAM NYAMO. FOR GREAT JUSTICE.* "Therefore, those people who say that they can't jack off to anime must have something wrong with their brains! Otherwise, they're just trying to act cool!" -Madarame Harunobu, Genshiken *Make your own "motivator": bighugelabs.com/flickr/motivator