Summary: S2 trash, also known as Season 2 trash, is a term used to describe anime series that were produced during the second season of a particular show, and are often criticized for being of lower quality than their first season counterparts. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what makes an anime series S2 trash, and explore some of the reasons why these shows are often seen as lacking in comparison to their earlier seasons.
1. Decreased Budget and Production Time
One of the most common reasons why S2 trash exists is that many anime series are given a smaller budget and less production time for their second season. This is because first seasons are often used as a test run to gauge audience interest, and if a show isn’t particularly successful, the production company may not see as much value in investing more funds into a subsequent season. As a result, the animation quality may not be as high, and episodes may be rushed or contain shortcuts to save time and money.
Another factor to consider is that the companies may put more resources into developing new properties rather than working on sequels that may not be perceived as something with similar potential to earn popularity as the initial season. The decreased budget would therefore be allocated to help produce new shows rather than invest in previous seasons that were not entirely appreciated by fans.
However, while decreased production values can be disappointing, it’s important to remember that not all shows suffer from this issue. Some series are able to maintain their quality even with a smaller budget, and viewers may still enjoy the story and characters despite any obvious flaws in the animation or pacing.
2. Struggle with Storytelling and Character Development
Another possible reason why S2 trash may exist is that writers and directors may have difficulty coming up with fresh and engaging stories for their characters beyond the first season’s arcs. Similarly, creating unique character development can be challenging as the characters in any show would have already developed into their fullest form by the end of the previous season, leaving little room to explore these personalities further.
Aside from that, follow-up seasons may have to navigate around the fact that much of a show’s central conflicts and plotlines were resolved in the first season, which makes it difficult to come up with subsequent conflicts that don’t feel repetitive or contrived. Issues such as balancing the existing fanbase and attracting potential new viewers also contribute significantly to S2 trash since continuing with the previous themes might turn pre-existing fans off while shifting the focus might make the show unrelatable.
As a result, writers may resort to reusing some elements of previous seasons, or introduce new plotlines that may not be as thoughtful or well-received. This can lead to a lack of coherence in later seasons, or one of the causes of fans denoting anime as “trash”.
3. The Expectations on the Second Season of an Anime
Sometimes, the issue with S2 trash is that people create unreasonable expectations for what a second season should be like. They’d expect it to adopt the feel of the former season but with variations that resuscitate their interest in the series. In doing this, they paint the season into a corner, making anything less than perfect to look like trash. When these high expectations aren’t met because makers of the show failed to live up, some fans react with disappointment, claiming that it’s inferior to the previous episodes, even though it’s pretty good by itself.
Also, sometimes the passion people have for the anime is such that any change to what their ideal version of the second season looks like, would be deemed unfitting or not worth the effort. This could place an overwhelming pressure on the makers of the show to come up with something new and exciting without necessarily contradicting the previous storyline or disappointing fans.
The expectations of fans shouldn’t be belittled, but it should be acknowledged that some of these expectations might be unreasonable, therefore, causing the perception of series being S2 trash.
4. Changes in Studio, Direction, or Staff
Sometimes, a second season of an anime may fall sub-par in production due to a singular change in a crew member or studio. It is known that most anime productions involve different studios or directors to embark on each season of multiple seasons shows. In order to ensure quality is maintained, the transition between each studio or director comes with its set of guidelines to follow, though sometimes, some individuals or groups may fall short due to their disinterest or inexperience.
Additionally, studios carry their own unique style and way of doing things, and when a show switches studios between subsequent seasons it can lead to mixed results, as the new studio attempts to put its stamp on the visuals and storytelling. A change of staff or direction to oversee the series also has the potential danger of making the anime lose its initial flavor that probably drew the fans in for the first season.
With any change made to the crew, there is always a possibility that what was fun and quirky in the first season could be lost, which can create a sense of regret and disappointment in the subsequent season.
5. Rushed Production Schedule or Adaptation to a new Medium
Lastly, another factor that causes S2 trash is when multiple seasons get approved without regard to sufficient time in between the previous season’s closing. A common reason for this happening is when a show is an adaptation from a manga or a light novel and the animation studio catches up with the source material; this puts them in a position where they have to create an alternative story or put the production on hold until there is enough material to continue the story.
They can, however, stave off stories and rely on pre-existing backstories and the like to buy themselves time before the manga or light novel progresses. While waiting, in a bid to release more content, studios may end up putting out rushed episodes that lack in quality; this can be easily noticed in the poorly executed scenes that revert previous character progress in a bid to come up new ideas on how to engage viewers.
Additionally, given that the shows are adaptations, there is always a risk of feeling inadequate when compared with their source materials. Often times, the anime adaptation might be superior to the manga or the light novels as the art style and music enhance it, though, when they start rushing, it’ll become obvious that the impeccable nature is lost.
Conclusion
S2 trash, is a term that refers to anime series that are often perceived as having inferior quality compared to their first seasons. There are several reasons why these shows may fall short, from decreased budgets and short schedules to changes in direction, studios, and staffs, expectations set by fans, or just difficulty in storytelling and character development. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that not every second season is categorically “trash”. Ultimately, the opinions within the fandom play a significant role in the designation of S2 trash.
The industry should consider reasonable allocation of resources – such as balance in budget expenditure and increased production time- to ensure that the second seasons produce quality content that is well-received by the viewers. Moreover, writers and studios also play a role in ensuring they maintain the uniqueness of the show through great character development and gripping plotlines. The fact that there’s the possibility of producing great second seasons proves that with proactive measures, S2 trash can be turned around to enthusiasm and anticipation.
