<p>I am not sure if there's a superstition in the Japanese culture or just among the animators but according <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CreditsRunningSequence?from=Main.RunningSequence" rel="noreferrer">here</a>,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In a lot of anime, a character (usually the protagonist) will show up
  in the opening or ending credits, running along while remaining on a
  fixed spot on-screen. The character could be running the whole time,
  or start out walking slowly and gradually pick up speed. The
  background is usually of the scrolling kind, but sometimes the
  character actually seems to run through a changing scenery. In any
  case, it's rare for characters to maintain a leisurely speed the whole
  time; <strong>usually, this has something to do with either the pace of the
  music, or the animators' need to keep opening and ending themes moving
  fast at all times.</strong></p>
  
  <p><strong>Side-on running and walking cycles are often created by animators as a
  way to get a feel for the characters, and these cycles will no doubt
  be used at some point in the show.</strong></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-13T00:06:08.013Z
While this may answer why they do these types of sequences, it doesn't necessarily explain if there is a belief or trend that having such a sequence could boost the success of your franchise. Much like how superstitious sports fans do certain ritual or wear certain colors to games in hopes of their team winning. It's also interesting to note that if there are characters running, in one of those sequences, it's much of the time, it's to the left of the screen.
кяαzєя
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-26T06:47:38.877Z
2013-06-26T06:47:38.877Z
xjshiya
<p>At the end of the <em>Carnival Phantasm: HibiChika Special</em>, Kohaku (Koha-Ace ver.) mentions that there is a superstition where good anime all have people running in the ending animation.</p>

<p>Does this superstition actually exist? If so, how true is this superstition? Where did it first start?</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/a0C8E.png" alt="Truth... or Myth?"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-21T04:16:40.250Z
Interesting question, but I don't think there's an objective way to answer "how true is it?" What I think is a good anime might be a bad anime to you, or what a famous critic says is a good anime might be bad to me.
atlantiza
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-13T00:14:46.050Z
@atlantiza While taste in anime may vary greatly between fans, the commercial success of certain series is usually undeniable. I'm asking if there is any evidence that this sort of "jinx" could be result of a popular/unspoken myth/belief (like talking behind someone's back causes the person being talked about to sneeze), something that evolved out of some trend (like the [Curse of Bambino](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_the_Bambino)) or something the writers just made up in a tongue-and-cheek manner.
кяαzєя
<tropes><culture><carnival-phantasm>
Is there a superstition about good anime series having character(s) that run in the ED?
# Is there a superstition about good anime series having character(s) that run in the ED?
Posted by: username_0 on 2013-06-21
At the end of the *Carnival Phantasm: HibiChika Special*, Kohaku (Koha-Ace ver.) mentions that there is a superstition where good anime all have people running in the ending animation.

Does this superstition actually exist? If so, how true is this superstition? Where did it first start?

![Truth... or Myth?](https://i.sstatic.net/a0C8E.png)
**Tags:** tropes culture carnival-phantasm
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Interesting question, but I don't think there's an objective way to answer "how true is it?" What I think is a good anime might be a bad anime to you, or what a famous critic says is a good anime might be bad to me.  
> **username_0**: @atlantiza While taste in anime may vary greatly between fans, the commercial success of certain series is usually undeniable. I'm asking if there is any evidence that this sort of "jinx" could be result of a popular/unspoken myth/belief (like talking behind someone's back causes the person being talked about to sneeze), something that evolved out of some trend (like the [Curse of Bambino](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_the_Bambino)) or something the writers just made up in a tongue-and-cheek manner.  
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_2 on 2013-06-26. Score: 5
I am not sure if there's a superstition in the Japanese culture or just among the animators but according [here](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CreditsRunningSequence?from=Main.RunningSequence),

> In a lot of anime, a character (usually the protagonist) will show up
> in the opening or ending credits, running along while remaining on a
> fixed spot on-screen. The character could be running the whole time,
> or start out walking slowly and gradually pick up speed. The
> background is usually of the scrolling kind, but sometimes the
> character actually seems to run through a changing scenery. In any
> case, it's rare for characters to maintain a leisurely speed the whole
> time; **usually, this has something to do with either the pace of the
> music, or the animators' need to keep opening and ending themes moving
> fast at all times.**
>
> **Side-on running and walking cycles are often created by animators as a
> way to get a feel for the characters, and these cycles will no doubt
> be used at some point in the show.**
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2013-11-13): While this may answer why they do these types of sequences, it doesn't necessarily explain if there is a belief or trend that having such a sequence could boost the success of your franchise. Much like how superstitious sports fans do certain ritual or wear certain colors to games in hopes of their team winning. It's also interesting to note that if there are characters running, in one of those sequences, it's much of the time, it's to the left of the screen.  
---
