By the way, Ichigo is 15 years old

[Wio]

Discuss...

[Datenshi]

Demographic survey of Shonen Jump readers (graph - percentage x age):

http://www.animeforum.com/image/9726649d5d05e524f4.gif

[wowzabunny]

hmm he doesnt actaully look 15, but most animes are like that they are young but look older.
there are 15 year olds in my school who look older too

[Wio]

Demographic survey of Shonen Jump readers (graph - percentage x age):

http://www.animeforum.com/image/9726649d5d05e524f4.gif
I think you need to watch Bleach.

[Datenshi]

I think you need to watch Bleach.

Why, because I missed how concerned anime in general is with realism the first time around? Luffy from One Piece is 17, Zoro and Sanji are 19. On the other hand, many hentai material have characters who are obviously underage but are supposed to be 18. All I'm saying is, age is arbitrary and usually there are practical purposes involved.

[wowzabunny]

Why, because I missed how concerned anime in general is with realism the first time around? Luffy from One Piece is 17, Zoro and Sanji are 19. On the other hand, many hentai material have characters who are obviously underage but are supposed to be 18. All I'm saying is, age is arbitrary and usually there are practical purposes involved.
that pretty much sums it up

[Wio]

Why, because I missed how concerned anime in general is with realism the first time around? Luffy from One Piece is 17, Zoro and Sanji are 19. On the other hand, many hentai material have characters who are obviously underage but are supposed to be 18. All I'm saying is, age is arbitrary and usually there are practical purposes involved.
Because I think you would like it.

Oh yeah, by the way... it makes sense that Luffy is 17 and Sanji is 19. OP doesn't take place during modern times, and they pretty much look that age anyway. They haven't done anything to suggest they should be older either.

I dun care about art or Shounen Jump. I'm talking about the fact that Ichigo is 15.

[tsujigiri15]

Ichigo is 15 so he can be a high school student -to add to the comedy value? Also, having protagonists in high school makes sense, cos viewers can generally relate to that - either they are about to go there, already there or have been there - so its common ground for most viewers/readers. And *perverted brain takes over* all the fussing about ichixruki/ichi*ori is academic for another year where I live (if you are being dirty minded)

I suppose if one were to cast reality aside for a moment (ignoring the fact ichigo is 15 to help market appeal) it shows he has had to mature quickly cos of the events in his life. And some people are fully grown at 15, so that part is just convenient - zangetsu doesnt have to have the additional power of growing with the user...

[Wio]

I suppose if one were to cast reality aside for a moment (ignoring the fact ichigo is 15 to help market appeal) it shows he has had to mature quickly cos of the events in his life. And some people are fully grown at 15, so that part is just convenient - zangetsu doesnt have to have the additional power of growing with the user...
Yes, Ichigo is more mature than I am. He's got balls of steel and he never hesitates to protect the things he values. He's 5 years younger than me.

But, for the sake of making Bleach better, does anyone think Kurosaki and friends should have been 17+?

[animesnob]

Ichigo is 15 so he can be a high school student -to add to the comedy value? Also, having protagonists in high school makes sense, cos viewers can generally relate to that - either they are about to go there, already there or have been there - so its common ground for most viewers/readers. And *perverted brain takes over* all the fussing about ichixruki/ichi*ori is academic for another year where I live (if you are being dirty minded)

I suppose if one were to cast reality aside for a moment (ignoring the fact ichigo is 15 to help market appeal) it shows he has had to mature quickly cos of the events in his life. And some people are fully grown at 15, so that part is just convenient - zangetsu doesnt have to have the additional power of growing with the user...


I understand that having protagonists in high school helps the viewers (most being arouind the same age I guess) to relate more, but I think anime writers get a little carried away by constantly putting anime teenagers in adult situations. No, I'm not talking about fighting, but just day to day living situations. In a lot of anime shows, the parents are killed off, and the kid is left to fend for himself/herself. Like Tohru from Fruits Basket who was living in a tent for a short period of time, and Ash (who actually had a mom that was still living) from Pokemon traveling around the country with a couple of kids not much older than he. What's with that?

I just think writers get a little carried away trying to put anime teens into adult situations, 'cause I don't buy it. And look at Naruto when the show first started. Why was he a mere 12 years old?

[Wio]

I just think writers get a little carried away trying to put anime teens into adult situations, 'cause I don't buy it. And look at Naruto when the show first started. Why was he a mere 12 years old?
It's because at 12 years old you know enough Kanji to do the things Naruto does.

[tsujigiri15]

Yes, Ichigo is more mature than I am. He's got balls of steel and he never hesitates to protect the things he values. He's 5 years younger than me.

But, for the sake of making Bleach better, does anyone think Kurosaki and friends should have been 17+?

No, I'm not talking about fighting, but just day to day living situations. In a lot of anime shows, the parents are killed off, and the kid is left to fend for himself/herself. Like Tohru from Fruits Basket who was living in a tent for a short period of time, and Ash (who actually had a mom that was still living) from Pokemon traveling around the country with a couple of kids not much older than he. What's with that?

I think both of these are basically saying the same thing - Ichigo's life could be made more convincing were he that much older. But given all the shinigami are like 50+ anyways a few years wouldnt make a difference I dont think. Especially as 2 extra years in school would not prepare you for all the shingami, arrancar, hollows and all the rest of it!

But yes, I think the number of 'absent parents' in anime is excessive, but it seems to be one of those conventions, similar to the fact very few guys actually have nosebleeds when they see breasts. But I cant pretend I like it - you mentioned fruits basket, but Orihime is in a similar position to Tohru when you think about it. I dunno, if I met these kids in real life, Id be concerned, but as it is, I dont mind them taking on the sorta bizarre 'half and half' approach the do...

So I guess my answer is no overall - but qualified with a 'they could raise the average age of the protagonists without doing any harm, but its not really necessary'

[Datenshi]

But yes, I think the number of 'absent parents' in anime is excessive, but it seems to be one of those conventions, similar to the fact very few guys actually have nosebleeds when they see breasts. But I cant pretend I like it - you mentioned fruits basket, but Orihime is in a similar position to Tohru when you think about it. I dunno, if I met these kids in real life, Id be concerned, but as it is, I dont mind them taking on the sorta bizarre 'half and half' approach the do...
13-15 is an age where most boys (well, especially boys, when those angry hormones start kicking in) begin to rebel against their parents, and feel a desire to become more independent. The fact that most of these characters have no parents are simply a reflection of this desire (it just wouldn't be "cool" if these kids are fighting for their lives one minute and having their moms call them to see if they're okay the next). It's escapism, pure and simple.

[Haine Rammsteiner]

He looks to be around seventeen or eighteen, but I suppose it was the way Kubo's art style is. Makes him look older than he really is. ._.