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Relationship Cliches turned upside down

From User	Message Body
CynicallyOp	Post #585404
Member 12:42 am, Jan 28 2013 Posts: 76	I tend to over-analyze things, but relationship dynamics seem to be getting a tad repetitive. If you know something that breaks away from typical relationship patterns, post it PLEASE! However, I do not enjoy anything sexual (usually). Also I'm trying to lay off the romance because I've become a tad intolerant, but all types of relationships (platonic, romantic, antagonistic, ect) are welcome. Also remember cliche's AREN'T bad in my mind, it's just the matter in which they are done. I know there is always something like Reverse Cliche and many other topics, but they're either too specific or too broad for me to bump. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUGGEST SOMETHING THAT OPPOSES THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES! The below is merely me ranting. This post has been revised so there might be contradiction to what other posters have suggested. This post has been revised to clarify statements, but also to amend the impossibility of my requests. Thank you for your time _________________________________________________ ___ Let me start off by reiterating that stereotypes are not bad (at least in non-racial or ones based on sexual orientation). As a matter a fact many relate to stereotypes because of the truth they hold in reality or just because that's what they grew up seeing (whether in real life or media). Let's take Parent and Child relationship cliches for instance. They usually play out in three ways: The mother/father burdens the child with copious amounts of love thus spoiling the child or causing resentment because the child believes to parent to be hiding something or sugarcoating the issues. Examples Spirited Away/ Yubaba and her son Soul Eater/ Death Scythe and Maka The parent is neglectful or abusive in some fashion and the child either takes it or becomes hateful. Examples: Hot Blooded Woman/ Haji and her mom Yu Yu Hakusho/ Yusuke and Atsuko Ranma 1/2/ Genma and Ranma That or the parents are pretty open-minded and easygoing to the point they come off as immature and the child either stays in immature along with them or seeks some emotional growth solo. Examples: DBZ: Gohan and Goku's relationship Ouran High School Host Club/ Haruhi and Ryouji Pokemon ...that or they're dead (or non-existent). Oyasumi Punpun is the only work I know of that kind of meshes all the three above together and gives a breathtaking yet depressing real-life memo that parents and children are human. Last edited by CynicallyOp at 10:51 pm, Apr 4
whitespade	Post #585430
Member 6:32 am, Jan 28 2013 Posts: 226	Kimi Wa Pet
CynicallyOp	Post #585524
Member 2:37 am, Jan 29 2013 Posts: 76	Thank you whitespade. Sadly, I've already read Kimi wa Pet. Perhaps I should go into more depth and list what I've already read. Again, thank you for your response. ^ ^
AnamNesis	Post #585530
Member 4:14 am, Jan 29 2013 Posts: 36	Due to my lack of sleep, I can't really understand your request too too well, but I will try to give you a few ^^ Heroine Shikkaku - This could be any girl. Imagine being a heroine of a love story. Hatori also believed that one day she would get married to her childhood friend, Rita. But that's not how the world works! This is a hilarious comedy that honestly paints a painful unrequited love story of this young girl! My opinion: Rather interesting, the main female has spunk and gets hit a lot but the story gets kinda annoying as it goes along. Be prepared for the antagonist's side of the story! Gozen 3-ji no Muhouchitai - Momoko, who dreams of becoming an illustrator, finds employment in an ultra fast-paced office that specializes in designing pachinko parlors!! With the office running a yakuza-like business and employing a designer who has a habit of suddenly stripping in the middle of the night, Momoko believes that the company employees are a bit... no, definitely eccentric!! She continues pulling all-nighters, unable even to return home... And in the midst of that cigarette smoke-filled office, where women's authority takes a step back, she asks herself, "Why am I here?" My opinion: I haven't read it in a long time but It's a really good read. This is all I can think off as of right now. I'll come back if I think of anything else. ^^" ________________ Strength is survival. Knowledge is evolution.
p3pelepe	Post #585531
Member 5:00 am, Jan 29 2013 Posts: 293	For #2, how about the first story of Ore x Yome?
CynicallyOp	Post #590069
Member 2:30 am, Mar 9 2013 Posts: 76	Stuff I like that sort of fits: #1 Kamisama Hajimemashita- The male is totally tsundere, but it'd only work if the girl was more abrasive and a "jerk". But sadly Nanami despite her flaws is a total sweetheart. Darn. It's a reverse in Slayers and Black Lagoon. The males aren't tsundere -sigh- The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi I typically like stuff like this is small doses. Don't know why, but I end up watching the anime from time to time. RIN-NE He's a bit of a tsundere, but it's almost a flip as in he's all nice to the girl whereas he's not so nice to others. Whereas the girl is not a jerk with a heart of gold and doesn't fit neatly into the average manga girl spectrum. They're an aversion to the Takahashi couple...which is a big deal. I could be wrong, since I'm just digging into it. Hot Blooded Woman #2 Kimi Wa Pet OrexYome- Not the "adoring" I had in mind, but works and it's a great read. Thanks p3pelepe! #3 Shitsuren Chocolatier--Not really a perfect match. Ouran Host Club Much better fit. Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun #4 Aforementioned Kuwabara/Yusuke from Yu Yu Hakusho though a much better and lampshaded example Sasuke/Naruto from Naruto. Sesshomaru/Inuyasha from Inuyasha. Nearly anyone in media history with both an inferiority and superiority complex. Live Action Example: House! #5 Detective Conan Fits like half of what I'm looking for only the guy only acts OOC at times,,,,we know it's not part of his behavior from the beginning. Live Action series Bones almost is a fit because of the reasons, but I hardly call the character doing so "stupid" or ditzy. #6 Aforementioned Soul Eater, Monster, KAMI NO KODOMO, FMA, Oyasumi Punpun Less darker example...Sailor Moon Life Action examples could be: Cold Case, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and Criminal minds. While they might dislike their parents in these it's ideal that they don't "hate" them or are completely indifferent to them which is what I much desire. #7 Loveless I liked it in the beginning only though, but I thought it'd be good to list it as an example. Or a lot of stuff listed under "child care" where a female has to come to terms with becoming a mother/care giver although it lacks the whole question of who the "mother"...some examples I found that fit were too ecchi to my liking. #8 Monster- Tries to do a good thing, patient becomes symbol of a path of righteousness....look what happened. Are there any more examples anyone can think of?
MiraW.	Post #590169
Member 10:10 pm, Mar 9 2013 Posts: 74	Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun for number 6.
CynicallyOp	Post #593654
Member 1:49 am, Apr 4 2013 Posts: 76	BUMP!
sculamio	Post #593658
Lost Cow Member 2:51 am, Apr 4 2013 Posts: 25	Still not really sure what you're looking for, but here goes... Sakamichi no Apollon No real tsunderes here! The main trio has a fairly common dynamic (2 guys and a girl) but their relationships are portrayed...differently from usual and have a surprising amount of depth. It also centers heavily on jazz (!) and life in the 1960s. I highly recommend it. Dokuhime You seem to like rather "dark" series, and if so, you'll probably like this one. The relationships in here subvert/avert most cliches and have surprises everywhere. Once you get past the 1st chapter, there isn't too much romance. Instead, there's the deliciously ambiguous relationship between 3 princes and their poison princess. Tamashii no Futago and Shigeshoushi are also great. Heck, just check out MIHARA Mitsukazu. Any manga by IKETANI Rikako. Really. Every single one I've read has unique relationships. I particularly recommend you check out Six Half where the amnesiac protagonist starts out having no idea what her true relationships are. It's part mystery, part coming of age story, and engrossing beyond its original premise. Futago and Bitou Lollipop are also pretty awesome. Cheese in the Trap It's the suspicious protagonist in this one who's always kept guessing at the real personality of the main guy and his convoluted relationships. This is no cliche shoujo romance, though and is spattered with mystery, flashbacks, and kickass moments. *edit* Looks like you've already checked it out. If you're willing to sit through an anime, there's also Gankutsuou and Baccano (also has a light novel, but I haven't read it). The first is an adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo (greatest revenge story of all time!) set in the future. The characters' relationships are incredibly intertwined, and although they're fairly easy to guess at, the angst and drama of their portrayal is incredible. The animation is very unique, and the story avoids most anime cliches (it's based off a western story after all). Japanese dub ftw (mostly b/c the narrator always opens in French )! Baccano consists of 3 intertwining stories centered on immortal (!) Italian mafia, and has flashbacks and time skips everywhere. If you can keep track of everything, it's an incredible story with rewarding character relationships and awesome animation. I'd recommend the English dub, simply because you can hear all the New York accents. If you need any more incentive to watch it, there is a train called The Flying Pussyfoot and a character named Jacuzzi Splot. Just sayin'. Last edited by sculamio at 3:34 am, Apr 4
sculamio	Post #593660
Lost Cow Member 3:00 am, Apr 4 2013 Posts: 25	Also, if you just want to look in general, it's a good idea to check out webtoons. They tend to have more original plots/character relationships than manga (which often get stuck in common plot holes).
chineserider	Post #593663
Persona non grata Member 3:30 am, Apr 4 2013 Posts: 1439	I'm just throwing a few titles out there, as I'm not sure if they quite fit what you're looking for. Ouroboros in that revenge becomes justice, and two opposites (in personality and situation) are partners, more like crime brothers really Cat Street shoujo example the pairing is not obvious until it becomes so, and quite a refreshing take on a coming-of-age story (sorta). Oboreru Knife honestly there isn't enough scanlated chapters to predict where this will go, but at this point the relationship hasn't been steady, and the "love" is too difficult a concept to be understood by the characters, despite their own beliefs. ________________ Nulla in mundo pax sincera "Always go too far, because that's where you'll find the truth." - Albert Camus