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A Twitter user has caused a stir on social media by
presenting a detailed graph listing the number of animes that have included elves (or
also elves) as characters , whether main or secondary. According to
their analysis, until April 2024, 572 anime that meet this
characteristic have been broadcast , with a notable increase in recent
years, with the period after 2016 being the one that records the largest number
of productions. Highlighting the year 2018 with a total of 47
productions.
The annotations of this graph do not list any particular
title, but rather clarify some key moments that surely influenced the
popularity of elven characters within the industry:
- November
1983 – Comptiq magazine debuts.
- January
1988 – Dragon Magazine debuts, specializing in chapter-based light novels.
- October
1989 – “Slayers” begins publishing.
- May
1990 – RPG Magazine debuts.
- 1993
~ 1994 – The period of fantasies with seinen themes begins.
- 1995
– “Neon Genesis Evangelion” broadcast.
- 1997
– The popularity of the “night-slot” grows, that is, anime broadcast at
night on television.
- April
2004 – Shousetsuka ni Narou, the site where anyone can upload their own
independent novel, is established.
- 2012
– “Sword Art Online” broadcast.
- 2017
– “Narou-kei” reaches its peak of popularity. It refers to franchises born
from independent novels, it is also credited with the massive
dissemination of isekai.
- 2023
– Broadcast of “Sousou no Frieren”.
- 2024
– “Dungeon Meshi” broadcast.
The success and popularity of female elves in
popular culture can be attributed in part to the influence of iconic literary
works such as JRR Tolkien's “The Lord of the Rings.” This
masterpiece of epic fantasy introduced the Western world to a vast universe
filled with magical creatures, including elves.
In the anime industry, female elves have gained enormous
popularity thanks to their unique aesthetics and magical attributes. Their
delicate appearance, large eyes and pointed ears make them irresistible to many
onlookers. Additionally, their connection to magic and nature offers
endless narrative possibilities, making them versatile characters that can
adapt to a wide variety of plots and genres.
The massive increase in the number of anime
featuring elves as characters could also be attributed to the rise of the
isekai genre during the same period. Isekai, which literally
means “different world,” are stories in which the main characters are
transported to a parallel or alternate world, where they often encounter
fantastical creatures such as elves, fairies, and dragons. This
subgenre has seen an explosive rise in popularity in recent years, leading to a
corresponding increase in demand for related content, including animes that
feature elves as an integral part of the plot.
The phenomenon of elves in anime continues to capture the
imagination of viewers and fuel the creativity of content creators. With
more and more productions exploring this fascinating universe, it seems that
elves will continue to be a constant and beloved presence in the world of anime
for a long time to come.
Source: Otakomu
