Could anime exist under one universe?

[Kage Kisaragi]

Could you organize 20 or all anime within one universe?

Would you read some of your favorite titles if they did this?

In most cases its fairly simple, you can simple write that some anime happen in different time periods or in different parts of the world, or even on another planet, on a different plane but for the most part do you think it would allow for more unique and better stories or make them worse?

[The Xenos]

No. Of course not. It wouldn't make a lick of sense. Why the hell would or should anime be lumped into one world? It's one of the benefits of Japanese anime and manga publishing. In manga, they don't have a shared world held together by cooperate and that creators both create and own the manga themselves.

Even Marvel and DC, never mind Dark Horse all the smaller American publishers don't fit in one universe. Hell, even DC comics doesn't. (Frickin' return of the multiverse.)

The closest thing I can think of is some Shonen Jump video games like Jump All Stars when various characters from that magazine were tossed in together. Yet that's not cannon and doesn't aim to make sense. It's about as much sense as Marvel vs Capcom or.. shudder.. the upcoming DC vs Mortal Kombat.

Also, I remember hearing there was an official DBZ and One Piece crossover called Cross Epoch.

[OverMaster]

If we are allowed to rewrite the backstories a bit without altering the series too much, sure. Otherwise, it's just an impossible merging. And even then, it only would work with some series (can you REALLY imagine a Berserk/Pokemon shared universe??).

[Nik Hasta]

Also, I remember hearing there was an official DBZ and One Piece crossover called Cross Epoch.

Yeah, Cross Epoch was only a short story and took place on neither the DBZ on One Piece worlds, it was on a completely new world.

No manga and anime could not be combined into one world, too much world ending stuff happening, too many time periods, too many different settings.

[The Xenos]

And therein lies the wonderful diversity of anime and manga. Despite trends, cliches, and popular thought, it's all really a very mixed bag if you look at it.

[Bakasama]

I don't know, mixing characters and plots from 20 different random anime/manga sounds like a continuity nightmare to rival Crisis on Infinite Earths.

[Hikari Tsukishiro]

20 series is possible. Super Robot Wars and NamcoxCapcom has done it.
But those are video games with the anime series characters in them.

[Ghost]

Could you organize 20 or all anime within one universe?

Probably, if I find the right ones and is allowed to gloss over some continuity details. The trick would be to find titles that share a similar style and mood.

20 sounds a bit much, though. But I guess one might make it easer by including stuff like the CLAMP multiverse, the Takahashiverse, or other titles from the same creator that encompass more or less the same world over multiple series.

Would you read some of your favorite titles if they did this?

I don't see why not, just so long as the original mangaka still gets to do what he or she wants with their own story.

In most cases its fairly simple, you can simple write that some anime happen in different time periods or in different parts of the world, or even on another planet, on a different plane but for the most part do you think it would allow for more unique and better stories or make them worse?

Honestly, I think a shared manga/anime universe would mostly just lead to less originality. I wouldn't say it's a very practical idea.

[sun tzu]

Hm...I could be completely off-base, but didn't Tezuka claim that he thought of most of his stories as having the same cast of characters in different settings?
...I know that Gosho Aoyama seems fond of using alternate versions of his characters, anyway.
I imagine stuff like that could be used for a "parallel worlds" kind of thing...

[Nik Hasta]

Hm...I could be completely off-base, but didn't Tezuka claim that he thought of most of his stories as having the same cast of characters in different settings?
...I know that Gosho Aoyama seems fond of using alternate versions of his characters, anyway.
I imagine stuff like that could be used for a "parallel worlds" kind of thing...

Look at CLAMP's Tsubasa Reversoir Chronicles, reusing characters abounds!

[arp2008]

I'd Iike to see Bleach and Naruto cross over. I think they're similar enough for characters from both universes to halve some pretty nice, epic fights.

[Darth Joker]

20... probably, yes.

All anime? That would be a continuity nightmare of epic proportions.

A somewhat shared anime universe would be fun to behold, but it would have to be done in such a way that each individual anime brings something important to the table (so... huge differences in power levels might be a bad idea - i.e. mixing DBZ with Pokemon), and that the cosmologies of each anime used in the shared anime universe are compatible with one another (i.e. mixing The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya with Tenchi Muyo! could be a real problem here, for example).

[wchua24]

20...that is allot just try making each story of that to become one...that would be crazy...:eek:

[Alex L]

You can make a few work via timeline.

Off the top of my head, you can place Chobits in the very near future (less than 100 years from today), Cowboy Bebop in the near- to mid-future, the Gundam franchise well after that, and Trigun even further after that.

Haven't finished the series yet, but Baccano! seems to take place in 19th century America, so again no contradictions there.

Plenty of series that aren't too high on the power scale can take place concurrently. Each of the Key series (Kanon, Clannad, Air) can take place in different cities, and since Japan is never reduced to a smoldering crater there's no conflict.

Same with Hikaru no Go, maybe Fushigi Yuugi (never seen it, but am under the impression events take place in an alternate universe), Maison Ikkoku.

So yes, it can be done -- but as to whether there would be any benefit to doing so, I can't see any.

[Dark Soul # 7]

If you ignore some continuity issues, alter timelines a little and maybe compeltly remove certain characters you could put 20 animes into one I'd think.

The question is which 20 animes to pick.

[The Xenos]

Clearly you start with Berserk and Cardcaptor Sakura..

[Alex L]

Clearly you start with Berserk and Cardcaptor Sakura..

Sure, why not?

(Seriously.)

DC publishes both Superman, and a title where Miss Martian is seconds away from being [expletived] by truckers at a highway rest stop.

Fantastic Four, Runaways, and Punisher all happen within the Marvel Universe.

[OverMaster]

Clearly you start with Berserk and Cardcaptor Sakura..

Seriously, the trick would be to just have them happening in different ages of the same continuity. Much like Jonah Hex and the Legion of Super-Heroes technically do share an universe.

[SilverDagger]

can you REALLY imagine a Berserk/Pokemon shared universe??

That's about all that needs to be said!!

[Kevinroc]

That's about all that needs to be said!!

Berserk + Pokemon = Narutaru. :frown:

[The Xenos]

You know, bringing up DC and especially the Legion doesn't help the idea one bit. Hell, we got three contradicting Legion histories right now. A shared universe, unless controled by one author or small group, does not work. DC and Marvel are continuity nightmares. Let all these anime and manga just be.

[OverMaster]

You know, bringing up DC and especially the Legion doesn't help the idea one bit. Hell, we got three contradicting Legion histories right now. A shared universe, unless controled by one author or small group, does not work. DC and Marvel are continuity nightmares. Let all these anime and manga just be.

Honestly, though, as long as good stories are had, and you aren't a 'continuity freak', that sort of inconsistences, when they don't go overboard, aren't actually annoying, IMHO.

[The Xenos]

I just think that corperately run comics should remain a thing of the past. Manga, thankfully is more creator owned and controled, at least compared to DC and Marvel. I know even manga, espeically big titles, have editorial influence. Yet they still are more creator controled than Marvel and DC. I guess Dark Horse would be a more apt comparison.

Shared universes mandated by corperate decree don't work well. For example, DC couldn't make Countdown to Final Crisis and one of its spin offs actaully match Final Crisis. The same character is killed three times with no explaination. Author of Final Crisis, Morrison said he turned in his script for Final Crisis before either story was written and they still got it wrong.

Meanwhile, shared universes by creator decree seem to be a bit better. That Clamp series sounds decent. Hellboy has various books. Kirkman has some loose shared universe at Image. (I think Image's model a good example of what you said Overmaster.)

[Ghost]

IThat Clamp series sounds decent.

CLAMP has XXHOLiC and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle running parallel to each other, occasionally intersecting, leading to oddities and Deus Ex Machina in Tsubasa that you only understand by reading XXHOLIC.

Also, the Mokona have been shown to hold telepathic conversations between their respective manga.

I just think that's an awesome way of writing.

[Lester C.]

If you have many characters from one genre it might work. However if you mix up genres not so much. For instance a minor character from DBZ would be way overpowered if he were to show up in a mecha universe anime.

[Ghost]

If you have many characters from one genre it might work. However if you mix up genres not so much. For instance a minor character from DBZ would be way overpowered if he were to show up in a mecha universe anime.

That's not a question of genre, it's a question of.... well, powerlevels.

Personally, I think the genres are less important then how well the series fit together stylistically and thematically.

[Kage Kisaragi]

We need a Caramelldansen break.. Let's Go!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJhnyVZMUsY

[stelok]

Only CLAMP could cram all anime/manga within one universe called Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles.

[Kevinroc]

Only CLAMP could cram all anime/manga within one universe called Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles.

Tsubasa's about a multiverse. There is more or less a normal CLAMP universe where all the characters live (but at different points in that universe's timeline).

[Melbourne Mew Mew]

If you have many characters from one genre it might work. However if you mix up genres not so much. For instance a minor character from DBZ would be way overpowered if he were to show up in a mecha universe anime.

Depends WHICH mecha universe. Patlabor? Definitely. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagaan? Not so sure on that one.