The Absolute Worst Way to Write Fights

Summary

This video script explores the flaws of power levels in storytelling, especially in anime and manga. It argues that power levels, popularized by shows like *Dragon Ball Z*, reduce the impact of fights by turning them into predictable numbers games. Instead, more engaging battles arise from strategy, creativity, and character development, as demonstrated in *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure*. The script emphasizes how tactical, unpredictable confrontations, where characters rely on intelligence rather than sheer strength, create more compelling narratives. Ultimately, the video advocates for eliminating power levels to make fights more dynamic and meaningful.

Takeaways

• 😀 Power levels can detract from the excitement of a fight by reducing it to a predictable numbers game, rather than emphasizing strategy, character development, or emotional stakes.
• 😀 Fights in stories are meant to achieve something through force, and the way they’re executed can enhance the narrative by engaging the audience through tension, drama, and stakes.
• 😀 The introduction of power levels in anime, notably in Dragon Ball Z, was meant as a critique of quantifying strength but ultimately became ingrained in anime culture as a lazy way to define victory.
• 😀 Power levels often strip away the creativity and unpredictability of battles, turning them into simple calculations rather than dynamic, engaging conflicts.
• 😀 When fights rely solely on power scaling, they lose the element of surprise and tension, and the outcome is often predictable before the battle even begins.
• 😀 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is highlighted as an example of a series where battles are driven by strategy, adaptability, and intelligence rather than raw strength, making them far more engaging.
• 😀 JoJo’s fights are framed as puzzles, where the protagonists must analyze, adapt, and use their abilities creatively to overcome obstacles, emphasizing unpredictability.
• 😀 Power rankings, as seen in series like Jujutsu Kaisen or Bleach, offer a middle ground between power levels and free-form combat, giving audiences a sense of scale without reducing battles to simple numerical comparisons.
• 😀 The use of power rankings helps avoid infinite escalation, providing a natural ceiling for a character’s abilities and preventing the endless, unsustainable growth of power seen in series like Dragon Ball.
• 😀 Fights are more compelling when they are driven by clever tactics and the characters' growth in terms of versatility, rather than simply their ability to destroy bigger things or achieve arbitrary power-ups.
• 😀 The best fights aren’t about raw strength, but about who’s smarter, craftier, and more determined, with the narrative stakes and character depth driving the tension and outcome.

Q & A

What is the main issue with using power levels in fights, according to the script?

The main issue with using power levels in fights is that they reduce the narrative complexity and tension. They make battles predictable, as the character with the higher power level usually wins, which eliminates suspense and creativity.

How does the Dragon Ball Z franchise influence the use of power levels in anime?

Dragon Ball Z popularized the concept of power levels with the iconic 'It's over 9000!' line. The scouters used in the series helped audiences measure strength, but the series also subtly critiqued this by showing how power levels are often inaccurate and don't fully reflect a character's true strength.

What role do power levels play in 'The Seven Deadly Sins' and how do they impact the story?

In 'The Seven Deadly Sins,' the introduction of power levels using a device called Balor's Eye drained the tension from fights. Rather than relying on strategy or unique abilities, the power levels made the outcome predictable, reducing the engagement in battles.

What example from 'The Seven Deadly Sins' does the script use to highlight how power levels diminish fight quality?

The example of Gil Thunder throwing his spear and Motus catching and throwing it back demonstrates how a fight can convey character strength without the need for power levels or explicit numbers. This moment, full of strategy and skill, is contrasted with later battles where power levels dominate.

What alternative to power levels does the script suggest for creating compelling fights?

The script suggests using strategy, creativity, and tension to make fights engaging. It uses JoJo's Bizarre Adventure as an example, where battles are based on clever uses of abilities and tactics rather than just raw power, ensuring that outcomes are unpredictable.

What makes JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's fights unique compared to traditional Shonen anime?

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is unique because it focuses on puzzles and strategy in battles. Characters must use their abilities creatively to counter opponents' powers, and the tension comes from the unknown elements of each fight, rather than a difference in raw strength.

How does the concept of 'Stand Stats' in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure differ from traditional power levels?

Stand Stats in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure are more about ranking abilities within a broader category rather than assigning specific numerical values. This system allows for more flexible and dynamic storytelling, where the focus is on how abilities are used rather than just their raw strength.

Why does the script consider JoJo's Bizarre Adventure to be a better example of fight writing compared to power level-based stories?

The script considers JoJo's Bizarre Adventure a better example because it emphasizes strategy, intelligence, and adaptability in fights. The unpredictability of how a fight will end, driven by tactical decisions, makes battles far more engaging than those determined by raw power or fixed numbers.

What is the core problem with fights that rely solely on raw power, as discussed in the video?

Fights that rely solely on raw power tend to become formulaic and predictable. The outcome is often determined by the strongest fighter, reducing the narrative stakes and making the fight less engaging for the audience.

What is the significance of 'Power Rankings' in modern Shonen anime, and how do they differ from traditional power levels?

Power Rankings categorize characters into tiers based on their overall strength, offering a middle ground between power levels and free-form scaling. Unlike power levels, which give exact numeric values, power rankings allow for dynamic and unpredictable fights by grouping characters into broader categories without revealing exact strength numbers.