Ever stared at a grid of 16 characters and wondered, "How on earth did they come up with this?" The magic of an Anime Connections puzzle is that "aha!" moment when a hidden theme clicks into place. Today, we're pulling back the curtain to give you a peek into how these challenges are born, from the initial spark of an idea to the final grid you see on screen.
Step 1: The Spark of an Idea
Every puzzle starts with a single, core idea. Sometimes it's broad, like "Shonen Archetypes" (Challenge #2). Other times, it's incredibly specific, like focusing on the works of a single voice actor (Challenge #37: Takehito Koyasu). Inspiration can come from anywhere:
- Watching a new series and noticing a recurring trope.
- Falling down a rabbit hole of a specific animation studio's filmography.
- Thinking about characters who share a unique visual trait, like a distinctive hair color or accessory.
Once we have a central theme, we brainstorm at least four distinct categories that fit within it. For example, for "Gintama & Samurai" (Challenge #43), the categories became the main cast, their rivals, famous wandering swordsmen, and stoic fighters.
Step 2: The Balancing Act and the "Red Herring"
This is the most crucial—and difficult—part of the process. It's not enough to just find four characters for each category. A good puzzle needs ambiguity. We need to create "red herrings"—characters who could plausibly fit into multiple groups. This is what creates the challenge.
For example, in the "Fairy Tail Guild" puzzle (Challenge #50), Laxus Dreyar fits into two categories: "Dragon Slayers" and "S-Class Mages." This overlap is intentional. The trick is to ensure that while some characters might fit multiple groups, there is only one perfect combination where all 16 characters are sorted into four complete, distinct groups of four. This involves a lot of trial and error, swapping characters in and out until the balance feels just right.
Step 3: The Final Polish
Once the four groups are locked in, we do a final review. Do the category names make sense? Is the difficulty appropriate for its challenge number? We also ensure the chosen character images are high-quality and instantly recognizable. The goal is to create a puzzle that is tough but fair, rewarding deep anime knowledge and sharp observational skills.
We Want to Hear From You!
Now that you know our secret, we'd love your input! What kind of themes would you like to see in future challenges? A puzzle based on a specific author's works? A grid of nothing but animal mascots? Head over to our Contact Page and send us your most creative ideas!