Why the "Childhood Friend" Always Loses

Summary

The video explores the recurring anime trope where childhood friends often lose out to new, more dynamic characters in romantic relationships. Using examples like 'Nisekoi' and 'Toradora,' the discussion delves into why these childhood friends usually don't win, citing their familiar and sometimes bland characteristics compared to the fresh, exciting traits of new characters. The host also invites viewers to share their thoughts and examples of anime where the childhood friend either wins or loses, aiming to spark a discussion on this prevalent theme in anime and manga.

Takeaways

• 🕰️ The concept of 'best girl' in anime and manga is not a new phenomenon and dates back to shows from the 70s and 80s.
• 📺 Audiences have long debated over the 'best girl', often comparing the main character's childhood friend to a new love interest introduced in the story.
• 👫 In many anime and manga, the childhood friend is often portrayed as losing out in the romantic stakes to a new character introduced later in the series.
• 💔 The 'childhood friend' trope often involves a character who is more basic in design, with common features like black or brown hair, contrasting with the new, more dynamic character.
• 🌟 The new character typically has a more striking personality or appearance, which can overshadow the childhood friend and attract the main character's attention.
• 🔄 The dynamic often changes when a new character is introduced, prompting the childhood friend to take action and try to win the main character's affection.
• 🤔 The script suggests that the audience may find the new character more interesting and relatable, which may influence their perception of the 'best girl'.
• 🎭 The script uses 'Nisekoi' as an example, highlighting the contrast between the childhood friend Onodera and the new character Chitoge, and how this affects the main character's feelings.
• 📚 The childhood friend is often introduced as a safe, familiar presence in the main character's life, which can lead to a sense of comfort but also complacency.
• 💡 The new character's introduction can act as a catalyst for change, shaking up the status quo and prompting the main character to reconsider their feelings.
• 🎉 The script concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on the 'childhood friend' trope and to comment on other anime where this dynamic is present.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?

The main topic discussed in the video script is the 'best girl' debate in anime and manga, particularly focusing on the trope of the childhood friend often losing out to a new character introduced in the story.

Why does the speaker believe that the 'best girl' debate goes back further than commonly thought?

The speaker believes that the 'best girl' debate goes back further because they can imagine people in the 70s and 80s watching older anime like 'Romeo x Juliet' or 'Urusei Yatsura' and debating about their favorite female characters.

What is the general pattern the speaker observes in anime and manga regarding the childhood friend character?

The speaker observes that in many anime and manga, the childhood friend character is often introduced first but ends up losing to a new character who appears later in the story, especially in terms of romantic interest.

What are some examples of anime where the childhood friend character is contrasted with a new character?

The script mentions 'Nisekoi' as an example where the childhood friend, Onodera, is contrasted with the new character, Chitoge, who has a different personality and appearance.

Why does the speaker think the new character often wins over the main character's heart?

The speaker thinks the new character often wins because they bring something new and different to the table, which can be a fresh breath of air for both the main character and the audience.

What does the speaker mean by the childhood friend being 'cucked'?

In the context of the script, 'cucked' is used to describe the situation where the childhood friend character is overlooked or loses out in the romantic aspect to a new character.

What are some of the character traits that the speaker associates with the childhood friend type?

The speaker associates the childhood friend character with traits like having a more basic design, such as regular uniform, black or brown hair, and being more familiar and comfortable to the main character.

How does the speaker describe the dynamic between the main character and the new character in the story?

The speaker describes the dynamic as one where the new character often has a different personality, a different way of treating the main character, and a fresh perspective that can lead to a new romantic interest.

What is the speaker's opinion on the 'childhood friend' trope in anime and manga?

The speaker's opinion is that the 'childhood friend' trope often puts the childhood friend at a disadvantage from the start and usually leads to them losing out in the end.

Can you provide examples of anime where the childhood friend character does not lose out in the end?

The speaker mentions 'Golden Time' and 'Waiting in the Summer' as examples where the childhood friend character might not lose out in the end.

What does the speaker suggest about the audience's perception of the new character versus the childhood friend?

The speaker suggests that the audience, like the main character, might be more drawn to the new character due to their novelty and different characteristics, which can overshadow the childhood friend.