Writing off (ConceptTopic, 5)
From Compile Worlds
Writing off is an evil thing that some book- and script-writers do (It can also be applied to text Roleplayers and their characters). It involves taking a character and finding some excuse, good or not, to remove them from the plot of said media permanently. There are various ways to write off characters, but most of the time, it doesn't happen to {{#linkfarm|Shadow the Hedgehog|Nasu Grave|Risukuma|e-123 Omega|Frankensteins|the ones that need to be written off}}. Instead usually, {{#linkfarm|Gary Oak|Rosalina|Ms. Accord|Rider|Fang the Sniper|Lagnus the Brave|Mima|all of the actually good characters}} are victimized by the writers so they can insert a bunch of stupid one shots to make it sell like hot cakes. Sometimes, it happens for reasons even we at Kawachan can't comprehend.
Sometimes though, it is a good thing: roleplayers can use this to ease out of a character they can't or don't want to use anymore, and someone else can take over for them. Sometimes though, that may backfire on them, in case they want to reuse them again in the future. This can also be bad for one shots that actually become popular or are actually good characters, such as Ray the Flying Squirrel.
Writers or Companies notorious for writing off good characters
- SEGA
- The writers of the Pokemon Anime