Originally compiled by Darrin Bright and Ryan Shellito at the California Polytechnical Institute, they explain much of the abnormal physics phenomena we see in most anime.
The Anime Laws of Physics:
Law #1
Law of Metaphysical Irregularity -The normal laws of physics do not apply.
This law simply states that the natural laws of physics in our world do not necessarily apply to the realm of anime and manga storytelling, and it can be considered an affirmation of existence.Law of Metaphysical Irregularity -The normal laws of physics do not apply.
Law #2
Law of Differentiated Gravitation - Whenever someone or something jumps, is thrown, or otherwise is rendered airborne, gravity is reduced by a factor of 4
This law is referring to the unnatural "hangtime" or "airtime" of objects when jumping or being tossed into the air. Although when initially tossed the object in question seems to experience normal acceleration, the effects of gravity on the object suddenly seem drastically reduced as the object approaches the apex of its trajectory. Also, objects in flight seem to be affected by gravity almost entirely differently. The actual factor that gravity is reduced by can vary from series to series, but the effects of 1/4 gravity tends to be the approximate level that is displayed most commonly.Law of Differentiated Gravitation - Whenever someone or something jumps, is thrown, or otherwise is rendered airborne, gravity is reduced by a factor of 4
Law #3
Law of Sonic Amplification, First Law of Anime Acoustics - In space, loud sounds, like explosions, are even louder because there is no air to get in the way.
This law refers to most anime based in space, where even though space is a vacuum incapable of carrying sound waves in reality, we are still able to hear loud explosions, gunfire, plasma cannons, spaceship thrusters, and even people talking to one another. This is a common trait in most mecha shows, where sound effects and space battles are plenty.Law of Sonic Amplification, First Law of Anime Acoustics - In space, loud sounds, like explosions, are even louder because there is no air to get in the way.
Law #4
Law of Constant Thrust, First Law of Anime Motion - In space, constant thrust equals constant velocity.
This law refers again primarily to space based anime and manga series. Many times there can be seen a spaceship or a mech that even though the thrusters are constantly on, pushing it forward, the actual velocity of the craft is constant and the background passes by at the same speed. It is assumed that constant thrust equals constant velocity, but another theory is that kinetic friction of objects is extremely high in space, which would explain why when the source of thrust stops, the object almost stops immediately with even the smallest opposing thruster firing.Law of Constant Thrust, First Law of Anime Motion - In space, constant thrust equals constant velocity.
Law #5
This law has also been called the law of inverse thrust-weight ratio, mainly due to the fact that -as stated- the larger a mechanical device is the faster it is able to move. This often applies to not only speed, but acceleration as well. It goes further to say that Mecha are the fastest objects known to man primarily as an extention of the previous statement, considering Mecha are often extremely large. In many instances as well, the larger mech in a series is often faster than it's smaller counterparts. Examples include: Comparing the OZ-00MS to the OZ-06MS, and the ZGMF-X10A to to the ZGMF-1017Law of Mechanical Mobility, Second Law of Anime Motion - The larger a mechanical device is, the faster it moves. Armored Mecha are the fastest objects known to human science.
Law #6
This law parodies how oftentimes in anime, especially when characters perform "special" moves or are thinking aloud, time seems to slow down temporarily. Also, time seems to slow down whenever a character reaches an important conclusion, usually speeding up the instant they do only to find that it's too late.Law of Temporal Variability -Time is not a constant. Time stops for the hero whenever he does something 'cool' or 'impressive'. Time slows down when friends and lovers are being killed and speeds up whenever there is a fight.
Law #7
First Law of Temporal Mortality - 'Good Guys' and 'Bad Guys' both die in one of two ways - either so quick they don't even see it coming, OR it's a long drawn out affair where the character gains much insight to the workings of society, human existence or why the toast always lands butter side down.
Law #8
Second Law of Temporal Mortality -It takes some time for bad guys to die... regardless of physical damage. Even when the 'Bad Guys' are killed so quickly they didn't even see it coming, it takes them a while to realize they are dead. This is attributed to the belief that being evil damages the Reality Lobe of the brain.
Law #9
Many times scenes will use a combination of these techniques in addition to vignetting.Law of Dramatic Emphasis - Scenes involving extreme amounts of action are depicted with either still frames or black screens with a slash of bright color (usually red or white).
Law #10
This happens several times in the Dragonball seriesLaw of Dramatic Multiplicity - Scenes that only happen once, for instance, a 'Good Guy' kicks the 'Bad Guy' in the face, are seen at least 3 times from 3 different angles.
Law #11
Law of Inherent Combustibility - Everything explodes. Everything.
- First Corollary - Anything that explodes bulges first.
- Second Corollary - Large cities are the most explosive substances known to human science. Tokyo in particular seems to be the most unstable of these cities, sometimes referred to as "The Matchstick City".
Law #12
Law of Phlogistatic Emission -Nearly all things emit light from fatal wounds.
Law #13
Law of Energetic Emission -There is always an energy build up (commonly referred to as an energy 'bulge') before Mecha or space craft weapons fire. Because of the explosive qualities of weapons, it is believed that this is related to the Law of Inherent Combustibility.
Law #14
Law of Inverse Lethal Magnitude - The destructive potential of any object/organism is inversely proportional to its mass.
- First Corollary - Small and cute will always overcome big and ugly. Also known as the A-Ko phenomenon.
See Project A-Ko
Law #15
This is not always true, even in anime, but characters will run out of ammunition on occasion if it is being used as a plot device.Law of Inexhaustibility - No one *EVER* runs out of ammunition. That is of course unless they are cornered, out-numbered, out-classed, and unconscious.
Law #16
Law of Inverse Accuracy - The accuracy of a 'Good Guy' when operating any form of fire-arm increases as the difficulty of the shot increases. The accuracy of the 'Bad Guys' when operating fire-arms decreases when the difficulty of the shot decreases. (Also known as the Storm trooper Effect) Example: A 'Good Guy' in a drunken stupor being held upside down from a moving vehicle will always hit, and several battalions of 'Bad Guys' firing on a 'Good Guy' standing alone in the middle of an open field will always miss.
- First Corollary - The more 'Bad Guys' there are, the less likely they will hit anyone or do any real damage.
- Second Corollary - Whenever a 'Good Guy' is faced with insurmountable odds, the 'Bad Guys' line up in neat rows, allowing the hero to take them all out with a single burst of automatic fire and then escape.
- Third Corollary - Whenever a 'Good Guy' is actually hit by enemy fire, it is in a designated 'Good Guy Area', usually a flesh wound in the shoulder or arm, which restricts the 'Good Guy' from doing anything more strenuous than driving, firing weaponry, using melee weapons, operating heavy machinery, or doing complex martial arts maneuvers.
Law #17
See Macross and Lynn MinmeiLaw of Transient Romantic Unreliability - Minmei is a bimbo.
Law #18
Another version of this law has the number at 99 gallons, but the point is that the amount of blood in the human body is oftentimes exaggerated dramatically whenever a person is wounded or their head flies off and blood splurts everywhere.Law of Hemoglobin Capacity - The human body contains over 12 gallons of blood, sometimes more, under high pressure.
Law #19
Although the consistency of the latter details of this law are debateable, this law has been viewed as a satire to how most oftentimes demons and supernatural creatures tend to have a set list of traits, and how they are most commonly faught off by sword-weilding characters.Law of Demonic Consistency - Demons and other supernatural creatures have at least three eyes, loads of fangs, tend to be yellow-green or brown, but black is not unknown, and can only be hurt bladed weapons.
Law #20
Law of Militaristic Unreliability -Huge galaxy-wide armadas, entire armies, and large war machines full of cruel, heartless, bloodthirsty warriors can be stopped and defeated with a single insignificant example of a caring/loving emotion or a song.
- First Corollary - Whenever a single war machine (mecha, starship, etc.) goes up against an entire army, the army always loses.
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