Have you readers ever heard of Xin? It was a flash animation series that ran on Newgrounds from 2003 to 2006, created by NG users Lifepoint1 and Maxmao 2002.
Link to youtube playlist XIN: The Series HERE
It’s a high school drama/martial arts anime where you follow students rebelling against the opressive high school hierarchy with kung fu violence.
The most notable thing to me about this series is that in this setting literally everyone is a kung fu badass. And I do mean EVERYONE!
All the students know kung fu. The teachers know kung fu. The janitor knows kung fu. Literally everybody’s kung fu fighting in this violent animation series about anarchy versus tyranny in a high school environment. And that gets me to the ”…or anything else” part of this article. This element got me thinking about settings where every single character shares this one overarching skill or discipline.
In Xin it’s everyone knows kung fu, right? How about a setting where everyone is really good with guns and everyone's got em' (Like a hardcore Western, am I right?). Or where everyone has psychic powers and can read each others minds. Or where everyone knows how to use a jetpack and flies around with one on their back everyday.
There’s something amusing as well as intriguing about the idea of every character having and mastering this one skill. They may vary in degrees of mastery and technique, but they all got it. It would be a world where you would have to be really good at that one skill in order to keep up, since everything in that world would revolve around that one skill, and you would always be measured in how efficient you are in that one skill (breath!!!).
Like, it would be really hard to intimidate anyone in this kind of setting. Imagine moving into this town, not knowing fencing, where everyone knows fencing. Even your ol’ granny neighbour knows fencing! Even the descent fencers are considered weak in these parts, what thus that make you!?
Sounds like that could be a cool idea for a story, and I’m leaving it up for grabs😉
But what do you think of this sort of thing? Should everbody be kung fu fighting (… or anything else) in a setting, or does that concept sound a bit too over the top for you? Have you created a setting like that, perhaps?
As usual, leave a comment with all of your thoughts below. You ALL know how to do that, don’t you???XD XD
Helixfinger out!
When Everybody's Kung Fu Fighting... Or Anything Else
Andreas_Helixfinger at 12:00AM, Feb. 20, 2022
5 likes!
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Andreas_Helixfinger at 7:25AM, Feb. 21, 2022
@kawaiidaigakusei - For the better one would hope. Though I could see that change things for the worse as well. It depends on the overall attitude that would come with it I think.
Andreas_Helixfinger at 7:16AM, Feb. 21, 2022
@Ozoneocean - It is an interesting approach to this kind of setting. Like a Karate Kid kind of character who knows he/she can't fully step with these karate crazies and has to really think outside of the box to make it through the end of it all.
Andreas_Helixfinger at 7:12AM, Feb. 21, 2022
@hushicho - That is how it would usually work and is mostly how it works in Xin as well. To be honest not every single character in Xin is seen engaging in a fight, the main characters are the ones we see fight most of the time. But you do get the feeling throughout the series that being exposed to violence, and having to grow a knack for fighting and martial combat in order to stem the tide of violence, is the norm in each and every school in the setting.
Andreas_Helixfinger at 6:51AM, Feb. 21, 2022
@Kou the mad - I just watched an episode of that. I could get hooked on that👍
kawaiidaigakusei at 10:12PM, Feb. 20, 2022
I have not heard of Xin, but I definitely remember Newgrounds. I do wonder how a martial arts curriculum that focuses on discipline, focus, and drive would change the current landscape.
Ozoneocean at 8:55PM, Feb. 20, 2022
The odd ones out can be the few who can't do it. Some animes do this sort of thing or at least approach it- with the main character finding alternative ways to compete. I love those stories.
Ozoneocean at 8:53PM, Feb. 20, 2022
Love this idea XD
hushicho at 5:12PM, Feb. 20, 2022
I think a lot depends on the kind of story you want to tell. It can be really thrilling to have a group of badass fighters fighting another group of badass fighters -- look at Kunio-kun and his friends! Those are always fun games. Though honestly, if you're writing a story that revolves around fighting, the most prominent characters are probably going to be fighting and they're going to be better than any average person is in our world. If they're not at the start, they likely will become better, even if only out of necessity. Most characters in a world where things are extensively decided by physical conflict will probably at least know enough to get out before a situation gets worse.
Kou the Mad at 2:51PM, Feb. 20, 2022
If you want another old Newgrounds recommendation (That's on Youtube.), check out 'Zelda: Untold Origins.'.