Study Shows We're in the 'Age of Elves'

A Twitter user has caused a stir on social media by presenting a detailed graph listing the number of anime that have included elves (or also elves) as characters, whether main or secondary. According to their analysis, as of April 2024, 572 anime have been broadcast that meet this characteristic, with a notable increase in recent years, with the period after 2016 being the one that registers the highest number of productions. The year 2018 stands out with a total of 47 productions.

The annotations in this chart do not list any particular title, but rather clarify some key moments that surely influenced the popularity of elven characters within the industry:

November 1983 – Comptiq magazine debuts.
January 1988 – Dragon Magazine, specializing in chapter-based light novels, debuts.
October 1989 – Publication of "Slayers" begins.
May 1990 – RPG Magazine debuts.
1993 ~ 1994 – The period of fantasies with seinen themes begins.
1995 – Broadcast of "Neon Genesis Evangelion".
1997 – The popularity of the "night-slot" grows.
April 2004 – Shousetsuka ni Narou, the site where anyone can upload their own standalone novel, is established.
2012 – Broadcast of "Sword Art Online".
2017 – "Narou-kei" reaches its peak of popularity. He refers to franchises born from independent novels, he is also credited with the massive diffusion of isekai.
2023 – Broadcast of "Sousou no Frieren".
2024 – "Dungeon Meshi" broadcast.

The success and popularity of elves in popular culture can be attributed in part to the influence of iconic literary works such as J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." This masterpiece of epic fantasy introduced the Western world to a vast universe filled with magical creatures, including elves.

In the anime industry, elves have gained enormous popularity thanks to their unique aesthetics and magical attributes. Their delicate appearance, large eyes, and pointed ears make them irresistible to many viewers. In addition, their connection to magic and nature offers endless narrative possibilities, making them versatile characters that can accommodate a wide variety of plots and genres.

The massive increase in the number of anime featuring elves as characters could also be attributed to the rise of the isekai genre during the same period. Isekai, which literally means "different world," are stories in which the main characters are transported to a parallel or alternate world, where they often encounter fantastical creatures such as elves, fairies, and dragons. This subgenre has seen an explosive rise in popularity in recent years, leading to a corresponding increase in demand for related content, including anime that feature elves as an integral part of the plot.

The phenomenon of elves in anime continues to capture the imagination of viewers and fuel the creativity of content creators. With more and more productions exploring this fascinating universe, it seems that elves will remain a constant and beloved presence in the anime world for a long time to come.

Source: Otakomu