The Plot of Fire Force: Not the Sole Reason for Fans Abandoning the Anime
Fire Force's declining popularity is not solely attributed to its plot Lack of updates from David Production regarding the third season since 2022 has left fans disheartened, leading to a significant drop in viewership
The decision to produce a third season of the Fire Force anime was made in 2022, but since then, there have been no further announcements from David Production. While fans eagerly await news, some have shared reasons for dropping the series, and surprisingly, it's not due to the plot. Fire Force, created by Atsushi Ohkubo, is a Japanese manga series that was serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine for seven years and collected in 34 tankōbon volumes. David Production has released two anime seasons with a third season in the works.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the fans and author's opinion.
Fire Force anime's fan service is apparently the reason behind fans dropping it
X @twtZero_ user sparked a conversation on January 1, 2024 by sharing a thread of Fire Force fanservice scenes featuring Tamaki Kotatsu. The thread prompted many anime fans to express that the excessive fanservice in the series was the main reason for fans dropping the show.
Many fans praised the anime's use of sound effects, stating that no series came close to it. However, their experience was ruined by Tamaki Kotatsu's "lecher lure," that would often pop up in some of the most important scenes. While many fans understand why fanservice exists in any animanga, the way Fire Force uses it as a running gag apparently gets instantly too exhausting for the fans.
Fans reacting to the anime's fanservice moments (Image via Our Website/X)
Many fans suggested the manga series over the anime, claiming that the anime unnecessarily prolonged Tamaki's "lecher lure" scenes. They believed that the manga offered a more enjoyable experience without these scenes. However, some fans found the fanservice in the manga to be too overwhelming and ultimately stopped following the series.
The anime series features Tamaki Kotatsu, depicted here in an image from David Production. Many fans believe that Tamaki Kotatsu had the potential to be an incredible character. However, Atsushi Ohkubo's choice to repeatedly include fanservice scenes ultimately detracted from their enjoyment of the character.
With that, discussions among fans about fan service scenes in anime began to emerge. There was a prevailing belief that fanservice should be reserved as bonus material rather than being incorporated into significant scenes, like action sequences and plot twists.
Fans reacting about the anime's fanservice moments (Image via Our Website/X)
Despite some fans dubbing it a "goated" series because of its fight scenes and story, others are hoping for a "One Pace" version of Fire Force to eliminate the "ecchi" scenes. They are eager for David Production to tone down the ecchi content in the anticipated third season and are eagerly awaiting the release window for the anime.
Editor's P/S
As a hard fan of Fire Force, I am deeply disappointed with the lack of updates regarding the third season. The anime has been on hiatus since 2022, and the silence from David Production is disheartening. The fans are eagerly waiting for any news about the continuation of the series, but it seems like our pleas are falling on deaf ears. This prolonged wait has undoubtedly contributed to the decline in viewership and the waning interest among fans.
While the plot of Fire Force is not the sole reason for fans abandoning the anime, it certainly plays a role. The excessive fanservice, particularly involving the character Tamaki Kotatsu, has been a major turn-off for many viewers. The "lecher lure" scenes, as they have been aptly termed, disrupt the flow of the narrative and detract from the overall enjoyment of the series. It's frustrating to see a potentially great character like Tamaki reduced to a mere fanservice device.
