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Lighter and Softer: Difference between revisions
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** Though in reality it's only slightly Lighter and Softer than some of the SDGundam stuff that preceded it...
** Both ''[[Mobile Fighter G Gundam|G Gundam]]'' and ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ|Gundam ZZ]]'' were created intentionally this way as lighthearted breaks from their grim predecessors ''[[Zeta Gundam]]'' and ''[[Mobile Suit Victory Gundam|Victory Gundam]]''.
* ''[[Stitch!]]'', the anime adaptation of ''[[Lilo and Stitch (Disney film)|Liloand Stitch]]'' and ''[[Lilo
* Though not a real case, ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' is considered to be this for ''Dragon Ball Z'' among those who didn't know it came first. Ironically, the ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' manga is rated T for teen while ''[[Dragon Ball]] Z'' is for all ages.
** Granted violence isn't the worst part of ''Dragonball'', which contains more inappropriate elements than Dragonball Z.
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* The ''[[Getter Robo]]'' 70's anime series removes the batshit insane elements the original manga had. Ryouma becomes a virtuous, [[Hot-Blooded]] straightforward hero, while Hayato becomes the archetypical 'cool guy' loner... all in high school setting. They're still [[Hot-Blooded]], though. But just try to compare that version to the latter closer-to-manga versions (Shin vs Neo, Armageddon, NEW)... where they're both [[Ax Crazy]] [[Sociopathic Hero]]es with the side order of [[Hot-Blooded]].
* The 1972 anime adaptation of ''[[Devilman]]'' was considerably Lighter and Softer in comparison with the original manga: Lots of changes to the story were made, the violence and nudity were considerably toned down, comic relief was included, and the most of the character who{{spoiler|died at the end of the manga are still alive in the last chapter of the first anime series, which also has a [[Bittersweet Ending]] instead of the tragic conclusion of the manga.}}
* ''[[Soul Eater]]'''s sidestory manga from the same mangaka ''[[Soul Eater Not!]]'' appears to be a twist of this from the first three chapters. It is focused on a period prior to Sid becoming a zombie (an event from Chapter 1 of the manga) and looks at how new normal academy students (instead of how badass seniors) fit in. Along with how students can raise money, waste money, get their names (Eternal Feather for example) and live in academy quarters.
* ''[[Inuyasha]]'': In the manga, [[Master Poisoner|Mukotsu]] [[Attempted Rape|attempts to rape]] [[The Heroine|Kagome]]. The anime tones this down by having Mukotsu attempt to force Kagome into a marriage with him.
* In the ''[[Mai-HiME (manga)|Mai-HiME]]'' manga, the only person who dies at any point is an [[Asshole Victim]] who previously tried to sexually assault Shiho. After the characters work through their competing approaches to fighting Orphans in the first arc, they work together against common enemies, instead of being [[Let's You and Him Fight|manipulated into fighting each other]] like in [[
* The ''[[Mai-Otome (manga)|Mai-Otome]]'' manga is similar, with Nina remaining emotionally stable and loyal to the heroes the entire time, largely related to {{spoiler|Erstin}} surviving, and Arika and Mashiro never quite sink to the depths of despair that they do in the darker parts of the anime. On the other hand, [[Death by Adaptation|several characters who survive the anime are killed off]], and {{spoiler|Sergay}} is a [[Complete Monster]] who is arguably more evil than the Otome anime version of Nagi.
** The ''[[Mai-Otome]]'' anime can also be considered this in comparison to the ''[[
* The anime adaptation of ''[[Rosario + Vampire]]'' definitely is this. It cuts out most of the darker story arcs that crop up later in the storyline, while considerably softening many of the earlier ones, and generally portraying a lot of antagonists as less evil than their manga counterparts. For example, the [[Attempted Rape]] element of Mizore's introductory art was removed completely, while Ruby's master Yukata, a notable [[Knight of Cerebus]], was reduced to a tragic [[Posthumous Character]]. Finally, Tsukune's ghoul transformation, a major contributing factor to the series' [[Cerebus Syndrome]], was ignored completely.
* The ''[[Black Jack]]'' TV anime series adapted stories from the manga, but occasionally removed some of the downer material.
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== Literature ==
* The ''Dunk & Egg'' novels are a ''relatively'' Lighter and Softer prequels to the [[Black and Gray Morality|extremely dark]] ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'', but still not exactly "kid-friendly". Still, [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism|considering the main series]], it's saying a lot.
* Most of the ''[[Warhammer
** Likewise, the ''[[Gaunt's Ghosts|Gaunts Ghosts]]'' novels, while still fairly dark, portrays the Imperium in general working order with a healthy dose ''optimism'' (a concept often [[Crapsack World|completely unheard of]] in the 40K universe).
** The Earlier versions of codex was essentially one huge Satire, and then the American teenagers bought it into the GRIMDARK and well...it got darker.
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* There was an interesting back-and-forth with ''[[The Addams Family]]'' across different media. The original single-panel cartoons depicted the characters as genuinely misanthropic monsters who killed random people for the lulz. The TV show, by contrast, depicted them as nice, arty bohemians whose square neighbours were frightened of them because of their weird lifestyle. The cinema films swung the pendulum back towards actual violence and death, but the animated kids-TV show spun off from the films went fluffier again.
* ''[[The Practice]]'' was a serious legal drama. [[Dramedy|The same]] [[Large Ham|cannot]] [[Bunny Ears Lawyer|be said]] [[No Fourth Wall|about]] its [[Spin-Off]], ''[[Boston Legal]]''.
* ''[[Star Trek: The
* ''[[The Adventures of Superman]]'' was actually a hard-hitting and violent crime drama in its first season, and featured Phyllis Coates as an especially tough and strong-willed [[Lois Lane]]. For the second season, Noel Neill replaced Coates, and played a much softer and more traditionally feminine Lois. The show itself became less violent and more kid-oriented. By the third season, the show had become much more lighthearted and whimsical, with more science-fiction and fantasy elements and less violence.
* When the Argentinian [[Soap Opera]] "Floricienta" was adapted for Chilean viewers as "Floribella", some aspects of the show became this. In example, the original [[Evil Matriarch]] was portrayed as very malevolent, but in the Chilean version she's portrayed somewhat more comically. (It doesn't help that the Chilean actress is actually known for comical villain roles, which isn't the case with the Argentinian counterpart.)
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* The Pierces had three dark-sounding, [[Femme Fatale]]-like albums out with very little success. Their fourth album, involving gentler songs reminiscent of The Bangles, got them breaking into the mainstream.
* A lot of Hip-Hop fans say this is what happened to mainstream rap music. The days of the weed smoking gangstas, and proud to be black Afrocentric political rappers with their gritty [[Justified Criminal|Justified crime tales]], and socio-political street knowledge were long gone. Only to be replaced (circa early 00's) by champagne sipping pimps, and playas, who love to rap about wealth, cheesy love songs, and club anthems.
** This is also common when leveled at ''SPECIFIC'' artists within the genre. Primarily [[Hardcore Hip Hop]] rappers and type 1 & 3 [[Gangsta Rap]] variants. A good example would be 50Cent whom ironically built his image around being the anti-Ja Rule (whom also turned lighter), which to some made fiddy hypocritical. Then there's others like [[Snoop Dogg]], [[
* Synthpop duo Future Perfect's first album, ''Dirty Little Secrets'', is dark, [[angst]]y, and depressing at times. Their second, ''Escape'', looks to be headed in the upbeat and energetic direction, by the previews.
* ''[[Avenged Sevenfold]]'', although their music is still dark-and-edgy by general music standards.
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* ''[[Magic: The Gathering|Magic the Gathering]]'' has "Lorwyn," a plane which by its design was meant to be Lighter and Softer, until you looked closer. Its [[Darker and Edgier]] counterpart is "Shadowmoor." Which is appropriate, considering that the two sets' inspiration were fairy tales and their older folk tale counterparts respectively.
** Lorwyn was something of an inversion of the way worlds usually work in ''Magic: the Gathering''. Goblins and faeries were both the same as they always are, but the world is so much Lighter and Softer than usual that their traditional mischief and hedonism is close enough to true evil to be aligned with black mana. Merfolk, generally xenophobic and hostile to surface-dwellers, got hit with true [[Disneyfication]] and became sociable, lounging out of wells and on riverbanks chatting with townfolk. Elves were the biggest reversal; in normal Magic settings they are definitively from forests and green mana, but generally leaning towards white mana on the side, indicating a preference for order and the status quo versus [[The World Is Always Doomed|whatever maniac was trying to conquer the world in the storyline of this expansion]]. With no world-ending threat to Lorwyn, though, they are still green but their pride and disdain for everything else is sufficient to make ''them'' the closest thing to a [[Big Bad]]. And then Shadowmoor came along and [[Zig-Zagging Trope|partially inverted it in a few more ways all over again]].
* ''[[Wraith: The Oblivion]]'' was considered to be by far the darkest game of the [[Old World of Darkness]] line, which is ''really'' saying something. Characters spent their undead days in a decaying afterlife, trying to avoid the machinations of the power-hungry Hierarchy and [[Eldritch Abomination|the insatiable Oblivion]] while trying to hold on to their ties to life and fighting off [[Enemy Within|the dark voices in their head]]. Now comes the [[Spiritual Successor]], ''[[Geist: The Sin Eaters]]'', where the characters have [[Back
** ''Geist'' also tends to be Lighter And Softer compared to the ''[[New World of Darkness]]'' in general. It's not exactly a bag of kittens, but it's generally optimistic—the Bound got a second chance at life, and intend to use it to the fullest, whether that means saving people, helping innocent ghosts, destroying malevolent ghosts, killing villainous people, or just making their lives comfortable. After previous games have been the likes of ''[[Promethean: The Created]]'', ''[[Changeling: The Lost]]'', or even ''[[Hunter: The Vigil]]'', it's a bit of a shock to see a game that falls closer to ''[[Mage: The Ascension]]'' on the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]].
* ''[[Warhammer
** And then there's [http://www.mmogrindhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/hello-kitty-40k.jpg this...] And [http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Brighthammer_40,000_%282nd_edition%29 Brighthammer 40000], which takes every race and makes them more sympathetic save the Tau, who conveniently are [[Complete Monster]]s.
* ''[[Little Fears]] Nightmare Edition'' as compared to the original. The constant pall of child abuse is gone, and it's actually fairly well-suited to running a relatively light-hearted Kids Vs. Monsters adventure in the vein of ''[[The Monster Squad]].'' It has suggested rules modifications for taking it even ''further'' in the Lighter and Softer direction with the Dark Fairy Tales playmode (think ''[[Coraline (novel)|Coraline]]''—or your choice of children's fairy stories with a dark cast to them, if that one scared you too much)... or, alternately, darkening it to the point that it's more in line with the original game.
* ''[[Mutant Chronicles]]'' can be considered a lighter and softer take on ''[[Warhammer
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* ''[[Godzilla]]'' for Game Boy features the title monster in a puzzle platformer game portraying Godzilla and the enemy monsters as mini-sized cutesy creatures. Godzilla in particular resembles the protagonists of ''[[Bubble Bobble]]''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAxcuP6_RdQ It has to be seen to be believed].
* ''[[Tetris the Grand Master]] 4 - The Masters of Round'' is looking to drop the serious-looking backgrounds in favor of [http://am-show.sega.jp/jamma09/t_tgm.shtml flowers and prettiness].
* ''[[Hey You, Pikachu!]]'' and ''[[Pokémon Channel]]'' to the mainline [[Pokémon]] series. You just take care of a wild Pikachu and with time, you become good friends. [[Recycled in Space|The latter half is the same as the prequel, but while you both watch T.V.]]
* Illusion's [[H-game]] library started off as dark sci-fi and fantasy style H-Games, as they gotten newer 3D technology, it has soften a bit compared to its past games. Compare Rapelay to Sexy Beach 3, Illusion characters are now more or less Adult Video Actresses.
* ''[[Chaos;Head]]'' was a suspense/mystery story that blurred the lines between fantasy and reality. ''Chaos;Head Love Chu Chu'' is an [[Unwanted Harem]] romantic comedy. For one entry, at least, the series fully embraces that aspect of itself.
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* ''[[Day of the Tentacle]]'' is more purely a comedy, as opposed to its predecessor, ''[[Maniac Mansion]]'', which was a horror/sci-fi game with some funny bits.
** Also, unlike the first game, ''DotT'' has no unwinnable scenarios or time limits.
* For the [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] series, this started with ''[[Sonic Heroes]]'', while ''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'', the ''[[Sonic Storybook Series]]'', and more recently ''[[Sonic Colors]]'' take it back in this direction after the [[Darker and Edgier]] ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' and the [[It Got Worse|infamous]] ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006
* ''[[Skies of Arcadia]]'' compared to RPGs ''in general'' at the time of its release (originally in 2000 on the Dreamcast, then [[Updated Rerelease|ported in 2003]] for the [[Nintendo GameCube]]) was lighter and softer in its impossibly optimistic and clean-cut protagonist [[Determinator|Vyse]], as opposed to the more (at the time) recent cynical brooding heroes [[Final Fantasy VII|Cloud Strife]] and [[Final Fantasy VIII|Squall Leonhart]], a not-too-overly-complicated plot (it had its dark moments, but even so), and rather simplistic battle system. Because of the amounts of darkness and cynicism that began to dominate, however, this was well-received.
** Taken somewhat further in the U.S Dreamcast release when situations involving drunkenness and a particular near-rape scene involving one of the female protagonists was edited out.
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* ''[[Beast Machines]]'' is about planetary genocide, religious fanaticism and unceasing, torrential whining. ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (anime)|Transformers Robots in Disguise]]'' is about the wacky adventures of a put-upon space shark and the delightful things he does. That's something of a simplification, but the fact remains: Transformers has never gotten quite so dark as Beast Machines since,<ref>until Transformers: Prime, anyways,</ref> if only because presumably Hasbro have decided they'd quite like people to actually buy their toys.
* The short lived cult series ''[[Cybersix]]'' was waaaay Lighter and Softer than the original comic it was based on: All the nazi [[Backstory]] of Von Reichter becomes subtext; when defeated the Fixed Ideas evaporate videogame-style leaving behind a pile of clothes & a "Sustenance" health powerup for Cybersix so she didn't need to ''bite them like a vampire'' as in the comic; and nothing of all the ''high'' sexual content of the original.
* Although [[Nickelodeon]] isn't one for "dark" shows (except [[Invader Zim|ZIM]]) and [[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]), ''[[
** Also, when Nickelodeon's CBS block featured non-Jr. shows from 2002-2005, due to having to comply to the E/I guidelines, the two most popular Nicktoons of the time, ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' and ''[[The Fairly
* ''[[The Superhero Squad Show]]'', like the toyline it comes from, manages to include ''[[The Punisher]]''. How does that work, you ask? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XoRGgpF2qc Like this].
* ''[[Batman Beyond]]'''s spin off show ''[[The Zeta Project]]'' is much cuter and softer than what it was spun off from. MUCH. They also redesigned Zeta to be much more human-looking without even a [[Hand Wave]]. When Batman shows up in a [[Crossover]] episode, he doesn't mention that Zeta looks different than he remembers.
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