Are elves dominating anime?

On a popular anime commentary forum, Japanese fans are engaged in a heated debate about the growing number of recent and upcoming series featuring elves. This phenomenon has caught the attention of the community due to the abundance of these types of characters in the medium.

Elves, known for their grace, elegance, and connections to nature, are creatures from mythology and fantasy that have gained popularity in popular culture, especially anime and video games. These creatures are often portrayed as immortal beings with magical abilities, pointed ears, and a special connection to forests and wildlife.

The appeal of the elves as protagonists lies in their enigmatic beauty, their fascinating magical world, and their potential to explore themes such as nature, coexistence with other species, and the conflicts between modernity and tradition. In addition, their distinctive aesthetic and connection to fantasy make them attractive characters for a wide audience, from those interested in adventure stories to fans of magic and the supernatural.

However, some fans express concern about the glut of series featuring elves as protagonists, arguing that it could lead to market saturation and a lack of diversity in characters and plots. They suggest that the anime industry should explore a wider range of themes and genres to maintain freshness and originality in its productions.

Despite divided opinions, the phenomenon of series with elf protagonists continues to gain momentum in the anime community in Japan and around the world. With continued interest in fantasy and magic, it's likely we'll see more of these captivating characters on screens in the near future. And for example, all of the following recent and upcoming series have elfs as main characters:

I'm an S-Rank "Behemoth" Monster, but I'm Living as a Pet of an Elf Girl.

An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride.

Nihon and Youkoso Elf-san. (Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!).

Elf-san wa Yaserarenai. (Plus-Sized Elf).

Sousou no Frieren.
Dungeon Meshi.
Edomae Elf (Otaku Elf).
Isekai Ojisan (Uncle from Another World).
Kono Healer, Mendokusai (Don't Hurt Me, My Healer!).
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.
I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level.
Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu (How Not to Summon a Demon Lord).
Leadale no Daichi nite (In the Land of Leadale).

And of course, there was no shortage of comments:

"It's simply because the Japanese love elves."
"They're all stories that I stopped reading, and eventually they had anime adaptations."
"Elves usually appear in isekai stories."
"And why doesn't anyone like brown elves?"
"Well, if you're going to do fantasy, you should make elves."
"The value of elves went up a lot with the popularization of The Lord of the Rings. They are portrayed as greedy, superior to humans."
"The fantasy that died out in the '90s is booming again."
"Frieren and Marcille hit the nail on the head, the rest is rubbish."
"Why not a sensational dark elf with a body of dynamite?"
"The elves are gifted and long-lived, but they don't have many active warriors. Sousou's men are not strong because they are battle maniacs."