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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/28282
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/28282
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

The quality of any storyline or character is in the execution. Having one characteristic in common with many other stories does not, by definition, make it a cliché. That said, if you're worried about it, why not change it?

And if you're going to change it, take some time to study why it's done in the first place.

- Why is the villain from Outside or Other Place in all the animes you've watched? There's a strong communal society element in Asian cultures, so Othering is more meaningful than in Western cultures. Does this play a part?
- What would happen in your story if your villain was from another country? Another state/province? Another town? Another block? Is it essential to the character and the conflict that he is geographically Outside?
- Could your villain be a local who is Othered for something he did or said or is rather than his birthplace? Could he be a former local who moved away and was raised Elsewhere, and is now returning?
- Could your _hero_ be from Other Place returning to Home Place to save it from the villain?

Take some time to analyze the stories you've seen, and this may help you to understand why so many of them are making the same narrative choices. Then you can decide if you want to do this as well, or if your story can be improved by making a different choice.

Original score: 3