I honestly have no idea, is it they need to publish a ep but like don’t have enough funding? I have zero idea.

What is the purpose of filler in anime? I have always seen filler in long running anime such as Naruto and One Piece but never fully understood why these sort of anime had filler episodes when they already have tons of content to adapt with. One piece is a very clear example of this imo.

So I’ve been watching anime for almost 5 years and still don’t know what constitutes a “filler episode.” I’ve heard so many people talk about em, but never explain how it is filler. Would love y’all’s opinion on it

Yes Because Anime filler often gets a bad reputation for several reasons, but opinions on it can vary widely among fans. Here are some common reasons why many viewers are against filler content:

1. Pacing Issues: Filler episodes can disrupt the pacing of the story. Fans may feel that fillers slow down the narrative momentum, especially if they are eager to see the main plot unfold.

2. Quality Concerns: Filler episodes are sometimes perceived as lower in quality compared to episodes that adapt the original source material (like manga or light novels). This can be due to less investment in writing, animation, and character development.

3. Character Consistency: Fillers may introduce scenarios that do not align with character development or established lore, leading to inconsistencies that frustrate viewers who are invested in the characters.

4. Viewer Expectations: Many fans watch anime to follow a specific storyline. When fillers deviate from the main plot, it can create a feeling of disappointment or confusion, especially if the fillers are not well-integrated.

5. Time Investment: Anime series can have many episodes, and fillers add to the total runtime. Some viewers prefer series that get to the point more quickly, especially if they are watching multiple shows.

6. Binge-Watching Culture: With the rise of streaming services, many viewers binge-watch series. Fillers can feel like unnecessary padding when consuming a show this way, making the experience feel less cohesive.

While fillers can provide some fun side stories or character exploration, their reception largely depends on their execution and how they fit within the larger narrative. Some fans appreciate fillers for character development and world-building, while others prefer a tighter focus on the main story. Ultimately, the presence of filler can lead to mixed feelings among viewers, and opinions will vary based on individual preferences.

Imagine you’re really getting into the story, and at one point there’s a climax where your favorite character is about to die, or fight a character you’re excited about

And then out of no where - the next 3 episodes are full of “filler”.

Wouldn’t that bother you, after having all that excitement built up only for the filler to sweep it under the rug for 3 or so episodes?

That’s why some people hate filler.

Filler is done incorrectly by some creators. Timing is everything.

But on the other hand: filler is OK as long as it doesn’t disrupt, ruin the moment, or tear down the quality of a show. Or even better is when filler somehow fits into the anime story, even if a little.

1. Since most of them are written by the producers of the anime, they’re lower quality than most of the canon arcs, with notable exceptions. They’re basically professionally produced fan fiction.
2. They’re non-canon, so what happens in those episodes has no impact on the main storyline. They introduce characters who are never seen again and involve events that aren’t mentioned outside of the episode.
3. Looking at it cynically, they have no purpose but to allow the manga to get farther ahead of the anime. The fact that seasonal anime generally don’t have filler episodes goes to show how unnecessary they are.

The thing about fillers is that its not actually a part of the canon story - but rather made to ensure they keep the time slot (tv channel) while the manga is being written/drawn+ (or even to earn more money by making the series longer or other). Sometimes it can be interesting.. and at other times it can ruin the actual series (at least in part).

Take Bleach for example - I did enjoy the show.. but well - over time the repeated plots (even entire seasons where basically the same thing happens over and over and over again) and useless episodes got the better of me to be honest and I lost interest.

Bleach was an anime series that ran from 2004 to 2012.

In total 366 episodes of Bleach were aired.

With a total of 166 reported filler episodes, Bleach has a high filler percentage of 45%.’ Essentially almost half of the episodes are fillers!

They are often put between arcs, or in the middle of an arc, and story progression is halted, which can be a big turnoff, especially if the next part of the anime has been hyped or you're looking forward to it.Also, they usually bring in characters people don't know and/or don't care about, so people don't really want to watch these episodes with these characters.

filler episodes do make the show less enjoyable. If you already know that what you’re watching is filler, it can feel like a distraction or a waste of time, and there’s often a noticeable dip in quality in the writing, both in regards to the stories and the characters. Part of the reason why Dragon Ball’s Chi-Chi has such a bad reputation in the fandom is because of all the filler episodes that fanderize her into a constantly irrational and irritable nag, when she’s actually fairly sweet and patient in the manga.

Those don’t really let the plots of anime progress much, and ar emostly there for momey grabs.

Some anime with huge amount of fillers are Naruto,Bleach,Detective Conan,etc

The thing is; nobody really watches fillers and skips them, because they’re not part of the storyline and they can be meaningless most of the time.

Because many people skip filler episodes, it’s a waste of money for the studio that produced the anime. If you think about it - one anime episode is at least $100,000 - filler or canon.

The other issue is most people don’t know if an anime episode is filler unless it’s marked as filler, and they question things like “how is this related to the story?” Some TV channels streams anime with filler episodes (if the anime have fillers), which can be annoying.

aren't canon by the storyline progression. A lot of times characters are introduced that are never seen again, the main characters get powers that are never used again, and in general it confuses people who haven't read the manga and know that it's filler.

1. the scriptwriters usually aren’t as good at story-telling as the original author
2. they may accidentally take the character or story in the wrong direction and so make it harder for them to reconcile the anime with the original material later on.

The thing is, fillers are something that doesn’t deliver into contributing the main plot and gives much to be desired, it most of the time isn’t something that will turn into something bigger and after finishing it, most of the short adventures of a filler will probably be long forgotten if it’s a long series and the long fillers most likely would remembered but it somewhat feels like ‘wasted time’ as a series goes “look, we couldn’t think of anything for the moment so here’s an extensively long adventure” then after gaining more source material, idea on what to do next or just to ‘fill in the anime’ they go “Alright, playtime’s over, now where were we?” it somewhat feels, useless and unnecessary. Also, fillers usually doesn’t really deliver the same enjoyment or satisfaction as the main plot does and although it’s the same cast and universe, it doesn’t feel the same.

filler episodes in anime are often a concern because they deviate from the original story, leaving fans eager for plot progression disappointed.

There’s an intense and insanely interesting battle going on, the episode ended with two attacks colliding, you’re itching to find out who comes out on top, and then boom, filler

Inspired by this hooking tweet thread and blog post: https://www.tumblr.com/matt0044/797189257003515904?source=share

I feel like episodic narratives with breather episodes often create a sense of normality to return to. Heroes might get power ups or upgrades but often spread across individual stories to give time to their daily lives.

I often bring up Sailor Moon S as an example in two ways: the Inners and Outers revealing each other’s identities as well as Sailor Saturn’s reveal.

The former was packaged into a Minako focused episode that seemed goofy up until the final act where Usagi has to transform in front of Haruka and Michiru as well as vice versa. This feel impactful because we were use to the dramatic irony of them being friends as civilians but uncertain allies in battle. Suddenly everything changes.

The latter pays off on Hotaru’s innate powers that manifest during her worse seizures against Daimons. We’re constantly wondering what her story is until the symbol for Saturn appears and reveals that she’d not only Dr. Tomoe’s daughter but a Sailor Senshi. The Outer Senshi going all out on her speaks volumes alone.

It’s that sense of security balanced with a sense of uncertainty that too few viewers these days tend to underrate. I doubt either of these moments would have the same pop if they streamlined things. Hell, Sailor Moon Crystal garnered criticism on that front. Though I feel that having each arc be twenty-six episodes would’ve help things.

But broadening out, I feel like there’s a very clean divide between those I’ve seen on Tumblr who express their mourning for filler episodes being a dying breed and those on Twitter who often bemoan filler episodes as a show is released weekly on television.

Especially when I’ve been viewing certain Disney TV Animation projects from Amphibia to The Owl House since Gravity Falls got me on the wagon. The derogatory term of Filler was often out of yearning for another lore drop, another big character moment and what have you.

There was vocal expression of impatience of those who just couldn’t enjoy an episode in isolation. Even when that episode would later turn out to have stealthily set up aspects of a future episode or finale.

Remember when Old Man McGucket was just a wacky prospector.

Remember when The Plantar’s bunker in Season 1 was just there?

Yet on Tumblr, there are many active post advocating for more filler episodes and 20 episode long seasons. There’s recognition of how we missed the forest for the trees. And I’ve always wanted to study this.

I feel like this harkens to the age old cliche: “You never know what you had until it’s gone.” We all those those time wasting fillers for granted and got our wish for our shows to “stop dancing around this arc already.”

Personally speaking, I don’t fully agree that these “8 hour movies” lack slower moments or character development. The best ones, the ones Netflix canned only for petitions to pop up, tend to do well to merge plot with characters like a movie or novel would.

But it does feel like we lost something...

I get that they try to keep the pace slow as to not catch up to the manga, but wouldn’t filler episodes or arc work ? Sure it may be considered pointless by some but with how amazing the fan letter ep was toei proved they could produce side episodes that can be sometimes more entertaining than slowing the anime progression of the story.

For example just an episode following entirely the population of an arc ( ex : water seven or dressrosa ) living their everyday life could be pretty enjoyable imo

They could animate some of the cover stories as well since they are made by oda they shouldn’t contradict anything he does after that.

I remember as a kid, around 4 or 5, from the Caribbean i had to save my money up and buy anime from roadside vendors. I would have to make sure the order was correct because each cd would have about 5-7 episode but sometimes the vendor wouldn’t have certain episode so I had to skip those. Back then I had no idea what a filler episode was, all I can remember is being extremely confused but so immersed that I came to the conclusion that they were apart of the storyline but probably flashbacks. But these fillers gave me the chance to understand some of the lesser known characters more. For example, Hinata in the OG Naruto (the fillers made it so obvious she was gonna be the one for Naruto) or Bleach’s zanpakuto filler: made me understand the dynamic between Ichigo, zangetsu and white alot more. All that said (probably too much lol) fillers aren’t all automatically bad, though I admit a lot of them may seem that way. But, some may give you a chance to explore the verse and the characters of the shows more in my opinion. Thanks for reading all this if you did.

Yes Because Anime filler often gets a bad reputation for several reasons, but opinions on it can vary widely among fans. Here are some common reasons why many viewers are against filler content:

1. Pacing Issues: Filler episodes can disrupt the pacing of the story. Fans may feel that fillers slow down the narrative momentum, especially if they are eager to see the main plot unfold.

2. Quality Concerns: Filler episodes are sometimes perceived as lower in quality compared to episodes that adapt the original source material (like manga or light novels). This can be due to less investment in writing, animation, and character development.

3. Character Consistency: Fillers may introduce scenarios that do not align with character development or established lore, leading to inconsistencies that frustrate viewers who are invested in the characters.

4. Viewer Expectations: Many fans watch anime to follow a specific storyline. When fillers deviate from the main plot, it can create a feeling of disappointment or confusion, especially if the fillers are not well-integrated.

5. Time Investment: Anime series can have many episodes, and fillers add to the total runtime. Some viewers prefer series that get to the point more quickly, especially if they are watching multiple shows.

6. Binge-Watching Culture: With the rise of streaming services, many viewers binge-watch series. Fillers can feel like unnecessary padding when consuming a show this way, making the experience feel less cohesive. While fillers can provide some fun side stories or character exploration, their reception largely depends on their execution and how they fit within the larger narrative. Some fans appreciate fillers for character development and world-building, while others prefer a tighter focus on the main story. Ultimately, the presence of filler can lead to mixed feelings among viewers, and opinions will vary based on individual preferences.

Imagine you’re really getting into the story, and at one point there’s a climax where your favorite character is about to die, or fight a character you’re excited about

And then out of no where - the next 3 episodes are full of “filler”.

Wouldn’t that bother you, after having all that excitement built up only for the filler to sweep it under the rug for 3 or so episodes?

That’s why some people hate filler.

Filler is done incorrectly by some creators. Timing is everything.

But on the other hand: filler is OK as long as it doesn’t disrupt, ruin the moment, or tear down the quality of a show. Or even better is when filler somehow fits into the anime story, even if a little.

1. Since most of them are written by the producers of the anime, they’re lower quality than most of the canon arcs, with notable exceptions. They’re basically professionally produced fan fiction.
2. They’re non-canon, so what happens in those episodes has no impact on the main storyline. They introduce characters who are never seen again and involve events that aren’t mentioned outside of the episode.
3. Looking at it cynically, they have no purpose but to allow the manga to get farther ahead of the anime. The fact that seasonal anime generally don’t have filler episodes goes to show how unnecessary they are.

The thing about fillers is that its not actually a part of the canon story - but rather made to ensure they keep the time slot (tv channel) while the manga is being written/drawn+ (or even to earn more money by making the series longer or other). Sometimes it can be interesting.. and at other times it can ruin the actual series (at least in part).

Take Bleach for example - I did enjoy the show.. but well - over time the repeated plots (even entire seasons where basically the same thing happens over and over and over again) and useless episodes got the better of me to be honest and I lost interest.

Bleach was an anime series that ran from 2004 to 2012.

In total 366 episodes of Bleach were aired.

With a total of 166 reported filler episodes, Bleach has a high filler percentage of 45%.’ Essentially almost half of the episodes are fillers!

They are often put between arcs, or in the middle of an arc, and story progression is halted, which can be a big turnoff, especially if the next part of the anime has been hyped or you're looking forward to it.Also, they usually bring in characters people don't know and/or don't care about, so people don't really want to watch these episodes with these characters.

filler episodes do make the show less enjoyable. If you already know that what you’re watching is filler, it can feel like a distraction or a waste of time, and there’s often a noticeable dip in quality in the writing, both in regards to the stories and the characters. Part of the reason why Dragon Ball’s Chi-Chi has such a bad reputation in the fandom is because of all the filler episodes that fanderize her into a constantly irrational and irritable nag, when she’s actually fairly sweet and patient in the manga.

Those don’t really let the plots of anime progress much, and ar emostly there for momey grabs.

Some anime with huge amount of fillers are Naruto,Bleach,Detective Conan,etc

The thing is; nobody really watches fillers and skips them, because they’re not part of the storyline and they can be meaningless most of the time.

Because many people skip filler episodes, it’s a waste of money for the studio that produced the anime. If you think about it - one anime episode is at least $100,000 - filler or canon.

The other issue is most people don’t know if an anime episode is filler unless it’s marked as filler, and they question things like “how is this related to the story?” Some TV channels streams anime with filler episodes (if the anime have fillers), which can be annoying.

aren't canon by the storyline progression. A lot of times characters are introduced that are never seen again, the main characters get powers that are never used again, and in general it confuses people who haven't read the manga and know that it's filler.

1. the scriptwriters usually aren’t as good at story-telling as the original author
2. they may accidentally take the character or story in the wrong direction and so make it harder for them to reconcile the anime with the original material later on.

The thing is, fillers are something that doesn’t deliver into contributing the main plot and gives much to be desired, it most of the time isn’t something that will turn into something bigger and after finishing it, most of the short adventures of a filler will probably be long forgotten if it’s a long series and the long fillers most likely would remembered but it somewhat feels like ‘wasted time’ as a series goes “look, we couldn’t think of anything for the moment so here’s an extensively long adventure” then after gaining more source material, idea on what to do next or just to ‘fill in the anime’ they go “Alright, playtime’s over, now where were we?” it somewhat feels, useless and unnecessary. Also, fillers usually doesn’t really deliver the same enjoyment or satisfaction as the main plot does and although it’s the same cast and universe, it doesn’t feel the same.

filler episodes in anime are often a concern because they deviate from the original story, leaving fans eager for plot progression disappointed.

There’s an intense and insanely interesting battle going on, the episode ended with two attacks colliding, you’re itching to find out who comes out on top, and then boom, filler

Yes Because Anime filler often gets a bad reputation for several reasons, but opinions on it can vary widely among fans. Here are some common reasons why many viewers are against filler content:

1. Pacing Issues: Filler episodes can disrupt the pacing of the story. Fans may feel that fillers slow down the narrative momentum, especially if they are eager to see the main plot unfold.

2. Quality Concerns: Filler episodes are sometimes perceived as lower in quality compared to episodes that adapt the original source material (like manga or light novels). This can be due to less investment in writing, animation, and character development.

3. Character Consistency: Fillers may introduce scenarios that do not align with character development or established lore, leading to inconsistencies that frustrate viewers who are invested in the characters.

4. Viewer Expectations: Many fans watch anime to follow a specific storyline. When fillers deviate from the main plot, it can create a feeling of disappointment or confusion, especially if the fillers are not well-integrated.

5. Time Investment: Anime series can have many episodes, and fillers add to the total runtime. Some viewers prefer series that get to the point more quickly, especially if they are watching multiple shows.

6. Binge-Watching Culture: With the rise of streaming services, many viewers binge-watch series. Fillers can feel like unnecessary padding when consuming a show this way, making the experience feel less cohesive. While fillers can provide some fun side stories or character exploration, their reception largely depends on their execution and how they fit within the larger narrative. Some fans appreciate fillers for character development and world-building, while others prefer a tighter focus on the main story. Ultimately, the presence of filler can lead to mixed feelings among viewers, and opinions will vary based on individual preferences.

Imagine you’re really getting into the story, and at one point there’s a climax where your favorite character is about to die, or fight a character you’re excited about

And then out of no where - the next 3 episodes are full of “filler”.

Wouldn’t that bother you, after having all that excitement built up only for the filler to sweep it under the rug for 3 or so episodes?

That’s why some people hate filler.

Filler is done incorrectly by some creators. Timing is everything.

But on the other hand: filler is OK as long as it doesn’t disrupt, ruin the moment, or tear down the quality of a show. Or even better is when filler somehow fits into the anime story, even if a little.

1. Since most of them are written by the producers of the anime, they’re lower quality than most of the canon arcs, with notable exceptions. They’re basically professionally produced fan fiction.
2. They’re non-canon, so what happens in those episodes has no impact on the main storyline. They introduce characters who are never seen again and involve events that aren’t mentioned outside of the episode.
3. Looking at it cynically, they have no purpose but to allow the manga to get farther ahead of the anime. The fact that seasonal anime generally don’t have filler episodes goes to show how unnecessary they are.

The thing about fillers is that its not actually a part of the canon story - but rather made to ensure they keep the time slot (tv channel) while the manga is being written/drawn+ (or even to earn more money by making the series longer or other). Sometimes it can be interesting.. and at other times it can ruin the actual series (at least in part).

Take Bleach for example - I did enjoy the show.. but well - over time the repeated plots (even entire seasons where basically the same thing happens over and over and over again) and useless episodes got the better of me to be honest and I lost interest.

Bleach was an anime series that ran from 2004 to 2012.

In total 366 episodes of Bleach were aired.

With a total of 166 reported filler episodes, Bleach has a high filler percentage of 45%.’ Essentially almost half of the episodes are fillers!

They are often put between arcs, or in the middle of an arc, and story progression is halted, which can be a big turnoff, especially if the next part of the anime has been hyped or you're looking forward to it.Also, they usually bring in characters people don't know and/or don't care about, so people don't really want to watch these episodes with these characters.

filler episodes do make the show less enjoyable. If you already know that what you’re watching is filler, it can feel like a distraction or a waste of time, and there’s often a noticeable dip in quality in the writing, both in regards to the stories and the characters. Part of the reason why Dragon Ball’s Chi-Chi has such a bad reputation in the fandom is because of all the filler episodes that fanderize her into a constantly irrational and irritable nag, when she’s actually fairly sweet and patient in the manga.

Those don’t really let the plots of anime progress much, and ar emostly there for momey grabs.

Some anime with huge amount of fillers are Naruto,Bleach,Detective Conan,etc

The thing is; nobody really watches fillers and skips them, because they’re not part of the storyline and they can be meaningless most of the time.

Because many people skip filler episodes, it’s a waste of money for the studio that produced the anime. If you think about it - one anime episode is at least $100,000 - filler or canon.

The other issue is most people don’t know if an anime episode is filler unless it’s marked as filler, and they question things like “how is this related to the story?” Some TV channels streams anime with filler episodes (if the anime have fillers), which can be annoying.

aren't canon by the storyline progression. A lot of times characters are introduced that are never seen again, the main characters get powers that are never used again, and in general it confuses people who haven't read the manga and know that it's filler.

1. the scriptwriters usually aren’t as good at story-telling as the original author
2. they may accidentally take the character or story in the wrong direction and so make it harder for them to reconcile the anime with the original material later on.

The thing is, fillers are something that doesn’t deliver into contributing the main plot and gives much to be desired, it most of the time isn’t something that will turn into something bigger and after finishing it, most of the short adventures of a filler will probably be long forgotten if it’s a long series and the long fillers most likely would remembered but it somewhat feels like ‘wasted time’ as a series goes “look, we couldn’t think of anything for the moment so here’s an extensively long adventure” then after gaining more source material, idea on what to do next or just to ‘fill in the anime’ they go “Alright, playtime’s over, now where were we?” it somewhat feels, useless and unnecessary. Also, fillers usually doesn’t really deliver the same enjoyment or satisfaction as the main plot does and although it’s the same cast and universe, it doesn’t feel the same.

filler episodes in anime are often a concern because they deviate from the original story, leaving fans eager for plot progression disappointed.

There’s an intense and insanely interesting battle going on, the episode ended with two attacks colliding, you’re itching to find out who comes out on top, and then boom, filler