Two Arguing Theories of Lord of the Rings as Anime


Shanti Fader writes:

Heh. If this was anime, Frodo would refuse the ring and angst about it while Sauron killed off 
the Fellowship one by one and finally took the Ring. We would then see the last, desperate 
battles of Rivendell and Lothlorien, where they both fall. At which point Frodo, spurred to 
action at last by one of the other of the tragic deaths, challenges Sauron, learns the Tragic 
Secret of Sauron's Past, thus complicating what was once a simple battle of good vs. evil, and 
finally defeats Sauron with the help of Gollum, who saves Frodo's life and is redeemed even as 
he dies. Frodo is left alone in the smoking ashes to ponder destiny.


Sandra Jacobs refutes:

        That is the story structure of GOOD anime.  BAD anime would be the following:

        Frodo would refuse the ring and angst about it.  Bilbo would hang around and nag him 
about it, making "your chi is weak" comments every now and then.  Sauron and his lieutenants 
(every good anime villain has lieutenants) beat the bejeezus out of middle earth.  Gandalf, 
having his suspicions about the ring, reads an ancient scroll and finds that it gives hobbits 
an immense, unknown power.  He then summons Frodo, Sam, Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn to fight for 
Middle Earth as RING-FORCE! (sentai pose, glowing red sun and fireworks in the background)    

Frodo: red ring, fire, weapon: Sting.  Our angsty hero
Sam: blue ring, water, weapon: rake.  Our comic relief.
Legolas: green ring, wind, weapon: bow.  Our eye candy bishounen.
Gimli: black ring, earth, weapon: axe.  Our brick.
Aragorn: gold ring (folks, no matter how hard I try, I can't make him the pink one--he's 
glaring at me as we speak), spirit, weapon: Narsil.  Our mystery character.  Prone to making 
Pronouncements.  Later revealed to be not merely of the line of Isildul, but Isildur 
reincarnated.

        Learning to work together as a team provides a challenge for our heroes, but they 
slowly work their way up the ranks, defeating Balrogs, Saruman, and others.  Bilbo and Gandalf 
even kick ass in a couple of episodes.  There are classic gallons o' blood fight scenes, 
complete with called attacks (Shire Frying-pan Strike!) and ki blasts from various weapons.  
        In the final conflict with Sauron, he reveals that he is the maker of the ring, and not 
only that--he pulls aside his heavy cloak to reveal that he stands on stilts--he too is a 
hobbit.  He then proceeds to pound the Ring Force by using the powers of their rings against 
them.  All stands lost, until Frodo, in a fit of angst, cuts the ring off his finger with Sting 
and fights using his own inner strength.  (Voiceover of Bilbo talking about the Old Took having 
the very same strength, a legacy of the hobbit race)  Having resisted the ring's evil call, he 
urges the others to fight their various rings--they do, and they present a united front to 
Sauron...

Wait!  Where are you going?!  I haven't gotten to the part about the lembas-powered giant 
robots yet!