Hate SF Show Cancellations? Become an Anime Fan!

I saw that NBC and SyFy has cancelled Stargate: Universe series after two seasons. Since I’m currently (and belatedly) watching Firefly, the outstanding science fiction show that was also cancelled prematurely, I feel the pain of SGU fans right now. Being an aficionado of science fiction on television has never been an easy thing, and I still bear childhood scars from when the soul-less suits at ABC cancelled the original Battlestar Galactica in 1979. It occurs to me that having a series you really wanted to watch be cancelled or ended prematurely is not usually something anime fans have to deal with for the most part, and I wonder if I wasn’t pulled into anime in part because of my subliminal desire to avoid having my heart broken by cynical TV producers again and again. Of course anime is far from perfect, and I’ve watched many that had horrible non-endings with no resolution at all, especially when there’s a manga story still running (I’m looking at you, Ladies vs. Butlers). (Some exceptions exist, like the original Gundam and KareKano.) Still, since anime series are usually pre-planned runs of 12 or 24 episodes rather than the “run it into the ground if you can, then pull the plug if the ratings drop a little” approach U.S. television takes, I think it’s a little easier being a fan of anime.

SF fans know the pain of having your favorite show cancelled.