As I previously mentioned in my previous post, Vanguard G has some problems with not only the writing, but its presentation. While I mentioned what are these, I only mentioned a few solutions. This time, I will do my best to show all the details about the characters of G's protagonists, compare them Season by Season, then even show you my own version of those characters (or "how would I do them if I was in charge").
Let's start with Tokoha Anjou, because, in my opinion, her character suffered the most since Vanguard G's Season 1. Originally, she was a character that's only motivation was to become as good as her brother and step out of her brother's shadow. Her "Vanguard", Ahsha, started to bloom and develop its own personality, just like Tokoha herself, who after realizing what makes it to become her own self, an identity without connected to her brother, THEN realizing what her own quest shall be ASIDE from having the fear that she won't be noticed except as the sister of Mamoru, is a promising writing for that specific character.
Now let's skip one season, and let's see what happened.
On the quest of her own personal salvation and becoming that strong, independent person that she wanted to be... somehow everything she learnt was forgotten for the next season. To the top it off, her role as a cardfighter is even decreased to the level that the only fights she has are either out of screen, or simply has no role or impact in the main storyline at all. The only achievement she had is her odd victory against Christopher, and THAT didn't matter at all, as he wasn't the real boss of that specific quest after all.
Her impact worsened so much that her own side-plot doesn't matter at all, only used as a filler, and her new ace was revealed in a joke fight.
At the moment, in the series, all the female characters are slowly, but surely becoming support characters that are only there to either "cheer" the main protagonist(s), or simply have as much impact as some other secondary characters (like Team Trinity Dragon).
Originally, her "Avatar", Ahsha represented herself not just in visual style, but also had a metaphorical meaning: the blooming of Tokoha was meant to show how much he improved not just as a cardfighter, but as a human being. Learning from her own mistakes, learning how to make friends and how to find herself is something that is represented by the cards and cardfights - or at least, it was supposed to be in the previous season.
Now, Neo Nectar and its "Ranunculus" archetype is only a visual representation of feminine outlook. In other words: Tokoha is using Ahsha because it is a female unit. She is using Neo Nectar because it is "so cute". While it was indeed the first indicator for her to choose Ahsha, at least there were more details about how she "grew" and how she got attached to that specific card (just like how Shion is attached to Altmile and Chrono is Chronojet). Tokoha used to be Ahsha. She's now only using Ahsha. There's a slight difference in metaphores (or more precisely, the lack of messages) that makes her character bland.
Let's see one of my OCs in contrast to her, and you will see what are the problems with her. (Keep it in mind that some of these mistakes they made are just poor choices, and not fatal plot holes. They can easily be fixed just by a few new details and making her active again instead of being a passive viewer of the events.)
This is Nora, a character I designed recently for my own Vanguard story. Since that story I have in my mind is really realistic and has no supernatural elements at all (not even Psyqualia), it is purely about slice of life and character drama. However, because it is also about cardfighting, showing character development is not that easy. That's where (in my opinion) cardfight and character development should fuse sometimes. In order to show what your character is, you have to show them at the moment they're fighting, when they are revealing their true selves.
In this specific story, the characters are all over 16+ (some of them are even older than 20+), so some serious topics can and will be mentioned. Nora's character development (her need - the true goal she needs to fight for and what she really needs to achieve; in contrary to her goal, which is the temporary success in her "evolution") is based around independence. It is really similar to Tokoha's goal of becoming her own selves, yet still different. Unlike Tokoha, Nora starts as a non-cardfighter who has no relation to it at the beginning. She's an average girl who doesn't find her place at all in this world, and she feels lonely. She has a bad relationship with her parents, and because she doesn't know what to do and how to do (anything), she finds herself in relationships after relationships.
Her character sounds cliché, until the moment he joins to the "local Card Capital" after quitting an abusive relationship and literally escaping from her boyfriend, who used to beat up her when he was drunk. After telling her story to Kevin (one of the other protagonists), he invites her to the local he's attending just to relax a bit. After seeing all the players, she wants to try it herself, and she fails. A lot. Not because she has no talent, but because she occasionly asks Kevin for an advice, and she isn't comfortable with the clan she's playing (Bermuda Triangle). Then, Kevin asks her to try out each decks to find what she feels comfortable with. While the encouragement of Kevin helps her to find her own personality (and later Cardfight itself helps her to improve herself in many ways), it was actually her who took the responsibility and started her own journey, and going forward in becoming a famous player.
Unlike Tokoha, her role as a Cardfighter has nothing to do with having a family member. It was indeed from a friend as an encouragement, but she was the person who accepted the invitation, and she was the person who started to practice to become a great player who attends in national and international championships. For Nora, Cardfight is not only a way to express herself, but also a metaphore of finding your true "persona" (Avatar) and starting building your own character from null to become an independent person without the guide of anyone else.
Also, there is one huge difference between them. While Tokoha kept Ahsha, Nora indeed decided to change the deck she was playing to something that truly reflects her goal, her origins, and her emotions that she feels about her past, present, and even future.
This is her avatar and ace card.
Narukami in general represents "the storm" she had to experience during her past, while "Eradicators" representing her present by loyalty and faith. Why Sweep Command, though? Because he is an inspiration, according to the lore of the game. Her need to become somewhat important made her realize to become an "idol" herself, a champion, a true warrior who not only uses her cards, but leads them into a victorious battle.
While Tokoha herself is far from being a warrior - in fact, she's indeed a different character with different potential, the "void" of her current presence is quite sad. She has been demoted to a minor character whose only appearance is only as a filler, and a secondary player next to the big boys.
I used my own character as an example that every character has a potential to improve. All we need for Tokoha is more active role-taking (in similar way how she did in the Zoo G Quest), having impact of her victories, and the most important: fighting for not only her team, but for herself in some way. While there is still some unfinished business with her character for this season, the problem is that the show take a direction that only concentrates on Chrono and Shion, and their own different stories, instead of showing the story of Try3, like G Season 1 did.
Tokoha is far from being a flawed character - in fact, as I said several times, she has lots of potential. The main problem is that they're wasting this potential with questions that are either already answered, or they just simply don't care about her, because the other characters stole the show and having their own spot.
The next part will talk about Chrono (and Shion will be mentioned too), but not just their own sagas, but their "old and new relation with Try3".
Kind regards,
Sheo
I am nore curious as to your fanfic than the actual point of the article atm....could you perhaps link me to the site u posted the fic?
ReplyDeleteIt's currently not available in English, but I'm working on the translation. As soon as it's available, I will post it for sure! :)
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