So I'd thought I'd try to start a new tread of topics about breaking a certain genres of anime and manga.
I'm sure that a lot of people on this forums have seen and loved a little anime called Madoka Magica and it was heavily praised for deconstructing the Magical Girl genre.

Stemming from that, what thoughts and or ideas can you think of to break a Romantic Slice of Life anime. If you have encountered a de-constructional anime for this genre, by all means mention it and how it succeeded in doing so.

So for those of you who are unfamiliar with romantic slice of life's (where the hell have you been) here is a simple run down.

Either A: if the main character is a male
- he will most likely have his own harem filled to the brim with character stereotypes
- a lot of these have fanservice elements
- other male characters are heavily ignored
- and you kinda already know who he is going to end up with, if he ends up with anyone at all.

Situation B: If the main character is female
- she will most likely already have a boy she likes, and will not admit it or is trying (and failing) to get his attention. Or she will meet a mysterious boy that does something to impress her one time, and she says that he is a jerk, but she loves him anyway.
- She will have her group of girlfriends who have their own little stories and at least one of them will have a romantic side story with someone that could be related to the male love interest
- If it's short, they might hint that she got together with someone. If it's on the longer side, the character gets together someone, either the guy she loved in the beginning or a different guy that is always there for her.

Situation C: Male and Female share the main character slot equally
- It's a mix of the other 2 situations, but it's pretty much guaranteed that they will end up together


Again, that was an overly simplified version and are typical elements found in Romantic Slice of Life's.

Deconstruct away...

*edit, part comedy
before someone starts complaining about genre classification

Make it not be terrible or not a fanservice show.

For the harem/romantic variation: SCHOOL DAYS!
(which I hate)

How about this for the boy/girl one - they're best friends who get a crush on one another, take ages to finally confess...only to realize that their chemistry really is platonic and that kissing one another is like kissing a sibling, and thus decide that staying friends would be less awkward.

Or we could just make an anime adaptation of When Harry Met Sally.

That would be hilarious, sadly it seems like there is no happy "get together ending though" XD

You forgot the reverse harem! Shame on you!
Now then, to deconstruct my favorite cliche ever... What? I am female!

What about a lovely, beautiful girl, who's completely sweet and everyone loves her, and she has a cute way of speaking- you know, third person or something- transfers into a boys school that just became co-ed. (The cliches are killing me right now.)

Then... she finds out it's a delinquent school. All the guys are ugly and violent as all-get out.
And she can't afford to switch to a better school, since her family's dirt poor- hence the transfer to a cheaper place.
The only pretty, seemingly cliched bishonen in the school is actually the cross-dressing leader of a gang or something... who takes the main under her wing, despite protests.
And from there things just escalate.
... I'll write more once I figure out where to take it while turning everything on it's head.

@ Croquet11: So many cliches, it can kill a man you know. I wonder how you'll tie your self out this one ^_^
p.s. I haven't seen many reverse herems so it didn't cross my mind to include it

@Madshadow and Mexicananime: I can see how School Days breaks the genre a little, I guess I was too blinded by boredom and rage to notice

Speaking of reverse harems, I'd like to see one where the girl doesn't choose either the obvious bishie lead or the dark and tormented one, but one of the other guys in the harem: the comic relief, the strong and silent, the crossdresser, etc. While the former two keep fighting amongst themselves for the lead's affections, she's off bonding and kindling a relationship with one of the side characters.

That or have one where it turns out the lead girl is a lesbian and totally uninterested in her harem beyond friendship.