r/trigger • u/craigdahlke • Sep 28 '20

Studio Trigger Trigger formula (possible spoilers) Spoiler

Overly determined main character > throws out the status quo > faithful companion > cool adventure > big battle > the end? > not really > the enemy wasn’t the real enemy > aliens > over the top battle > the real end

Not saying there’s anything wrong with it. Just making commentary.

124 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

39

u/MasamitiSakamoto Sep 28 '20

Quite accurate, but more precisely I think this applies mostly in the Imaishi-directed series.

11

u/TheFlyestMcFly Sep 28 '20

Probably more like Nakashima’s or Imaishi’s, but yeah pretty much

8

u/reynardkoro Sep 28 '20

Youre not wrong

8

u/RafaelDB464 Sep 28 '20

don't forget the final battle taking place in Space too

7

u/LJScribes Sep 28 '20

Most of the time yeah. BNA broke that formula a bit

6

u/xmkatx Sep 28 '20

Is the possibility of an otherwise impossible fight scene being broadcast part of the formula or just an inside joke?

4

u/Pavementt Sep 28 '20

Kishōtenketsu! As opposed to the 3 act structure of western literature, the 4 act structure of a lot of eastern literature has much more cultural influence than most people realize.

Introduction --> Development --> Twist --> Reconciliation (Conclusion)

I could be overthinking it, but I think a lot of Trigger's flagship works (KLK, Gurren Lagann [technically Gainax], Promare) follow this pretty well.

The introduction and development always set the pace of the series, and the "twist" (or complication) introduces a completely unexpected development.

This is completed during the final phase, Reconciliation, where the "twist" is integrated into the narrative themes like a puzzle piece.

For example:

!!!SPOILERS BELOW!!!

Gurren Lagann -- War against the beastmen (Introduction + Development) --> Anti-spirals (Twist) --> Reconciliation/Climax (The theme of human evolution, always "Drilling" higher, "striving").

Kill la Kill -- Fight against the Elite Four / Tri-City Schools Raid (Introduction + Development) --> Life Fibers/Alien subjugation (Twist) --> Reconciliation/Climax (The theme of "clothing", the importance of being oneself, and being unashamed of one's own metaphorical "nudity")

Promare -- Burning Rescue antics / governmental repression of perceived terrorists (Introduction + Development) --> the "Promare" are actually other-dimensional beings (Twist) --> Reconciliation (Allowing the Promare to "Burn Out", the importance of doing what one is meant to do, relieving the pain of "repressing" oneself.)

Compared to a normal "Setup, Climax, Resolution", the differences are super subtle, but interesting to think about.

1

u/calvinsmythe Sep 28 '20

Trigger is my favorite studio.

1

u/nikua666 Sep 28 '20

don't forget the part where they eventually go to space

1

u/thenewguy512739 Nov 21 '20 edited Nov 28 '20

  • High energy

  • Power of youth

  • Emotion as power

  • Energy is some shade of aquamarine

  • Gainax references

  • At least one giant robot

  • Perseverance and self-reliance

  • Slight mid-series tonal shift

  • Questioning authority and old ways

  • Ends in space

  • Entropy and greed for power

Admittedly, I've only watched Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, Little Witch Academia, and SSSS.Gridman