Hit 1000 anime watched and it changed my mind about short series

I always thought short 12 episode anime were just incomplete stories that left you hanging. But after I crossed 1000 shows on my list last month, I realized some of my favorites are actually the short ones. Stuff like Hinamatsuri and Barakamon proved that you can get a full satisfying arc in just one cour. The milestone made me go back and check my ratings, and I found 80% of my 10 out of 10s were under 26 episodes. It completely flipped my opinion on what makes a show worth watching. Anyone else find that shorter series hit harder for them?

3 comments

3 Comments

terry_carter152mo ago

Wait, you're saying shorter shows actually leave you satisfied instead of frustrated?

andrew_rodriguez2mo ago

Shorter shows force writers to cut all the filler and get to the point, which is actually harder to do well than stretching things out. The best example I can think of is Fleabag - two perfect seasons with no dead episodes or pointless subplots dragging it down. That tight structure leaves you wanting more but feeling complete rather than cheated out of your time.

angela_grant1mo ago

My writing skills could barely fill a three minute sitcom, so I have nothing but respect for anyone who can pull off a tight season. Fleabag is definitely the gold standard, but I also think the first season of The Good Place did it well. Short and tight, then they stopped before it got tired. Honestly, most shows would benefit from someone coming in and just deleting the middle eight episodes.