We're tired! Recurring Themes in anime that are done way too much?

[Strata Spartan]

Ya know...things that are recycled over and over again. Also, I mean I wouldn't really care if a certain anime/manga theme is done over again, don't you think there should be some imagination and creativity behind it?

The dark version of the main character of the story
^ Even though this theme has been presented over and over again, I rather enjoy seeing this. Why? Well because when this happens, you can relate to the main character a bit more, for they are not the perfect traditional hero. It's possible for them to become corrupted. That and more times than not, they fight 10X better than the main protagonist. Here are some examples.

^ Dark Megaman (Megaman NT Warrior)

^ Hollow Ichigo (Bleach)

^Dark Naruto (Naruto Shippuden)


The strong elderly pervert
I've seen this a whole entire bunch. Meh.

^ Master Roshi (Dragonball Z) and Jiraiya (Naruto) are perfect examples to this.

Unusually powerful children/teens
^ As the anime/manga story starts off, usually more often than not the main and supporting characters are ridiculously powerful children or teens. I have examples of this too.

^ Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho): 14 years old, and yet he is a powerhouse

^ Heero Yuy (Gundam Wing): 15 years old

^ Kid Goku (Dragonball) Can you say...ridonculously powerful as a child?

^ Itachi Uchiha (Naruto): He was made Chief ANBU captain at 14 friggin years old!


Damsel in distress?
^ A recurring theme that just won't go away. Talk about beating a dead horse. This is seriously done over and over and over again. The writers of manga/anime are constantly letting one of there supporting ladies or main heroine get kidnapped, but meh...I guess if it ain't broke then don't fix it. I mean lets face it...this theme is everywhere and not only in manga but also in literature, folk tales, art, video games, etc.
Examples

^ Kagome Higurashi (Inuyasha)

^ Orhime Inoue (Bleach)

^ Keiko Yukimura (Yu Yu Hakusho)

^ Rain Mikamura (G Gundam)


Flashbacks...flashbacks are everywhere
This theme wouldn't be such a nuisance if the following did NOT happen:
1. A flashback within a friggin flashback!
2. The flashback is for a character no one particularly likes. Cult following.
3. The flashback is super long! Like ridiculously long!
4. It's a flashback that has occured more than twice. (Seriously...how many friggin times are we gonna see the Uchiha Massacre?!?!?)


Dynamic antagonist turns into a supporting protagonist
^ I like this one a whole bunch whether it has been done many times or not. I mean...I don't want them to become a "goody two shoes", but it is nice to see a really wicked character try to redeem themselves by assisting the good guys. It's like an atonement. It's chill to see this. Examples.

^ Vegeta (Dragonball Z): He shows you that despite the many people he has slaughtered, it's not too late to become redeemed. That and he's went from bad guy, to good guy, to bad guy, and to good guy again. He was totally unpredictable which makes a character really interesting!

^ Lady Kayura (Ronin Warriors): She was rotten to the core till the very end of the series where she ends up betraying Talpa, her former master.

^ Gaara (Naruto): Gaara in my opinion has had the best character development because of this. He was psychotic....then became a good guy, then achieved the main characters long life goal before him becoming Kazekage, and then finds out that he was loved by his mother as a child. He's so human now.

-----------------------------------------------------
Well which is your least favorite recurring theme? What's your most favorite?
Was there a recurring theme in anime/manga that I didn't mention and you would like to talk about? By all means have the floor.

Thoughts. Discuss if you so desire...

[HashiramaDescendant]

A young OP kid, like Itachi, is the best recurring theme and there is no worst IMO.

[KGB Kakuzu]

I guess every old man being a pervert...the rest aren't that bad to be honest!

[BlackVegeta]

I honestly like all of them.

[Drakengard]

It sounds more like a Shonen theme to me IMO

Seinen manga tend to have a different direction.

[Supermacaquecool]

Nice thread
I'm tired of the damsel in distress...What a waste of panels! :1 If they're not going to do anything interesting/useful, it'd be better if they didn't appear at all.
Which I like? The dark version of the main character.
You didn't mention it tends to happen that for some random reason (trust, friendship or so) Good always overcomes evil...Would like to see some plot twists.

[Sasunarufan13]

The damsel in distress theme I dislike the most. The women in that position are so freaking helpless, it's frustrating. And the old man being a pervert - it seems that most old men become automatically perverts if you go by the manga world LOL