The Weekly W: Where? The Impact of the Setting

Hey all! So if you haven't noticed yet, we're covering the big W's for stories, each with a distinct post.  We've already touched on Who and Why.  In the upcoming weeks we'll delve into some other key elements of storytelling, but for now, let's discuss Where and it's importance in story-crafting.

Location is very important.  It sets the tone for where a story is going, and gives us a better idea of what to expect.  Let's take a look atone of our favorite settings in anime, and what things we can expect from them.



High Schools are a favorite setting in anime.  They provide a convenient reason for the characters to spend time together, and allow for frequent interaction between characters who don't get along. It may seem like all high school anime are similar, but in fact, there is a lot of variety in what kinds of stories are told at high schools.

Code Geass

This high school has some neat features that should be noted.  It is set back from the town, and is a large building with fountains, intersecting paths on the lawns, and a few courtyards.  All of these elements can also be seen in this high school as well.

Ouran High School Host Club

These two shows are very different, but have a few things in common.  Their schools are private academies for those of high status.  The characters often like to have dramatic scenes, and take advantage of the landscaping.  The main characters are all in a school club together.  In Code Geass, the plot requires much more subterfuge, and different tones, and so, the anime uses multiple locations for the different aspects of the show. In OHSHC, the Host Club frequently utilizes new backdrops and locations as well, but more for the aesthetic appeal than any real plot necessity. Ironically, neither show really has much to do with school at all. 

Moving on to our next common location: Apartment complexes.

Darker than Black

Darker than Black uses Hei's apartment as a place to lie low between the major action scenes, and also as a contrast between Hei and the everyday life going on around him.  Most of the important scenes in this series take place outside of the apartment, when Hei is interacting with the other characters.

Welcome to the NHK

While Welcome to the NHK also makes use of an apartment complex as a major location, it is used in a different way.  A lot of internal dialogue happens in this series, and Sato, a hikikomori, spends a lot of time in his apartment.  The scenes outside of the apartment are important too, but Sato's internal struggle to leave the safety of his apartment is often more important for character development.

Our final location of the week is the workplace.  Every workplace is different, and so is every job, but in many cases, it is the people there which create the atmosphere.

Psycho-Pass

Psycho-pass takes place in a futuristic society, centering around police protecting society from those identified by the system as being potential threats.  The headquarters is dark, with some really awesome tech (I love the glowing blue in this series), and is a convenient location to discuss the latest case, do research, or live.  Even when the characters are away, the serious nature of the work(place) continues to influence their relationships.

Working!

In contrast to the serious, darkly lit, high tech HQ in Psychopass, we have a lighter series for contrast here.  The Wagnaria family restaurant is the main setting for Working.  This series is hilarious and has a light tone.  The restaurant is brightly lit, and the employees are quirky, cute, and occasionally violent.  It's laid-back atmosphere is the perfect setting for this comedic series.

Locations in anime can be varied, and help set the tone for the relationships between the characters and the show as a whole.  From high schools to apartment complexes, to workplaces, we can see that locations can have a big impact on the series.  We can also see that each location can be used in different ways depending on what kind of tone is desired.  Settings in anime are important, but it is what the characters do within them that truly matters.

Hope Burns Bright