<p>@torisuda has it correct:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>It means a story that lacks an overarching narrative</p>
</blockquote>

<p>For an example of a <em>plotless</em> show, see Lucky Star.</p>

<p>The characters are the same in each scene, but every scene is <strong>distinct</strong> from each other. In one scene they might be talking about how to eat a chocolate cornet, another they might be talking about video games.</p>

<p>There are jokes that are referred to again - for example how Kagami is a tsundere. But this isn't a <strong>narrative</strong> or simply put - a story. </p>

<p>Your definition of narrative is correct:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>the chain of events which are linked to each other</p>
</blockquote>

<p>but, it fails to contextualize the <strong>links</strong>. the links are items that further the plot's progression - for example: a hero beats a villain who was blocking the path, the girls perform in a concert that raises their fame, etc.</p>

<p>Links like reusing jokes, same characters - or generally things of <strong>no overall consequence</strong> do not contribute to the story/plot.</p>

<p>If we have no links like we described, the show can be called <strong>plotless</strong>.</p>

<p>Feel free to comment if you want me to expand on something.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-04T13:39:37.567Z
And here I was waiting with my answer ever since I cast my reopen vote, just to have you jump right in :L You've described things better than I would have anyway, +1
Matt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-04T14:29:57.117Z
;) the more answers the better :)
Toshinou Kyouko
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-05T06:02:22.417Z
@Matt If you look at our Area 51 stats, the one place we're lagging is number of answers per question, so if you have a slightly different way of looking at this, by all means post your answer.
Torisuda
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-04T13:23:38.400Z
2015-09-04T13:23:38.400Z
Toshinou Kyouko
<p>I need an elaborate answer to this question. After one of the answers I got from another question where a particular film jargon ("plotless story") was used, I read a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plot_(narrative)" rel="nofollow">wiki page</a> and found that plot (narrative) means the chain of events which are linked to each other. In every show which is made for entertainment, there must be a link between events otherwise it would make no sense to watch it. Imagine a hypothetical "plotless show" where two characters completed unrelated to each other, die because of completely unrelated reasons, it'd rather be called a set of random events rather than a show. </p>

<p>When people say "this anime has no plot", what do they actually mean? Are they talking about two episodes not connected to each other?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-03T09:33:49.200Z
Your question is off-topic unless you can relate it back to a particular series or trope. You should have at least tried linking to the particular wiki page. Please consider editing your question.
кяαzєя
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-03T20:59:53.580Z
I'm not sure if this is that unclear, but it is very broad. Short answer: the term doesn't mean what the literal definition of "plot" implies it should mean. It means a story that lacks an overarching narrative. A plotless show still has continuity, even between episodes in most cases, but it does not lay out a single self-contained chain of events. There's no culmination or payoff coming at the end.
Torisuda
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-04T09:34:50.983Z
@ʞɹɐzǝɹ Is this alright now? I hope it's more clear now.
Jony Agarwal
<anime-production>
Meaning of the term 'plotless'
# Meaning of the term 'plotless'
Posted by: username_0 on 2015-09-03
I need an elaborate answer to this question. After one of the answers I got from another question where a particular film jargon ("plotless story") was used, I read a [wiki page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plot_(narrative)) and found that plot (narrative) means the chain of events which are linked to each other. In every show which is made for entertainment, there must be a link between events otherwise it would make no sense to watch it. Imagine a hypothetical "plotless show" where two characters completed unrelated to each other, die because of completely unrelated reasons, it'd rather be called a set of random events rather than a show.

When people say "this anime has no plot", what do they actually mean? Are they talking about two episodes not connected to each other?
**Tags:** anime-production
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Your question is off-topic unless you can relate it back to a particular series or trope. You should have at least tried linking to the particular wiki page. Please consider editing your question.  
> **username_2**: I'm not sure if this is that unclear, but it is very broad. Short answer: the term doesn't mean what the literal definition of "plot" implies it should mean. It means a story that lacks an overarching narrative. A plotless show still has continuity, even between episodes in most cases, but it does not lay out a single self-contained chain of events. There's no culmination or payoff coming at the end.  
> **username_0**: @ʞɹɐzǝɹ Is this alright now? I hope it's more clear now.  
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_3 on 2015-09-04. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
@torisuda has it correct:

> It means a story that lacks an overarching narrative

For an example of a *plotless* show, see Lucky Star.

The characters are the same in each scene, but every scene is **distinct** from each other. In one scene they might be talking about how to eat a chocolate cornet, another they might be talking about video games.

There are jokes that are referred to again - for example how Kagami is a tsundere. But this isn't a **narrative** or simply put - a story.

Your definition of narrative is correct:

> the chain of events which are linked to each other

but, it fails to contextualize the **links**. the links are items that further the plot's progression - for example: a hero beats a villain who was blocking the path, the girls perform in a concert that raises their fame, etc.

Links like reusing jokes, same characters - or generally things of **no overall consequence** do not contribute to the story/plot.

If we have no links like we described, the show can be called **plotless**.

Feel free to comment if you want me to expand on something.
> **Comments:**
> **username_4** (2015-09-04): And here I was waiting with my answer ever since I cast my reopen vote, just to have you jump right in :L You've described things better than I would have anyway, +1  
> **username_3** (2015-09-04): ;) the more answers the better :)  
> **username_2** (2015-09-05): @Matt If you look at our Area 51 stats, the one place we're lagging is number of answers per question, so if you have a slightly different way of looking at this, by all means post your answer.  
---
