The most cookie cutter anime protagonist prototypes

Calgary, Alberta
February 10, 2012 3:24pm CST
I remember my self making a discussion before about anime cliche and this one is a bit related, but i think most anime protagonist nowadays were just prototypes being followed. A cookie pattern that most writers use. I hope that some manga artist to start thinking outside the box and be original again. I noticed most anime protagonist, were copied from these prototypes: 1. protagonist who is clumsy, loves to eat,have bad grades in school. this person is like the loser of the group but he or she is the most powerful character in the anime. This character is so childish and sometimes cries a lot. This character is also accident prone and quiet goofy. This character is either an orphanthat lives with his or her own or has a mom that wears an apron and a sibling that he or she hates. 2.The quiet badass- a character who is quiet, silent, mysterious past and over confident. This prototype is given to protagonists or rival of the protagonist. 3.Overpowered Child-I dont think I need to explain this 4.overpowered teenager-see over Powered child 5.I want to be the best- The person who will start as someone week and this person will work hard, train hard and defy the odds, This person is also obsessed on being the best and finding a worthy opponent. This is not only a cliche anime protagonist prototype but also used for fighting games lead character. 6.Badass Anti-hero- Usually this character is targeted to male audience. He or she is fighting evil but this person itself is kind of evil on a certain level and sometimes this character will annoy you cos they will kill a villain who is more likable than him. ------ If you had watched so many anime, I am sure you will get everything in the decription I gave
3 responses
• Liechtenstein
6 Apr 12
And now we have Magi. A manga shounen style based on The Tales of the Arabian Nights character. See what they did to Aladdin, they make him into a cookie cutter. (And they mad him into a little kid) The traits of Aladdin in Magi Eats a lot until he's fat (Like Luffy from One Piece) He has a genie named Ungo that protects him (So he's considered overpowered) Perverted Probably dense as well and so on (I only read a bit but the cliches are there) Then there's Ali BaBa Also kinda perverted. Sinbad is alright though in the manga. I'm not sure if this will turn into an anime or not.
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
6 Apr 12
that sounds like anime cookie cutter meets Arabian nights... Its like a perfect concentration and concoction of anime protagonist cliche. does he have a perverted old man as a master or something?
• Philippines
1 May 12
I agree with you. (Like Daisuke Niwa, Shinji Hikari, Tsuna Sawada - all are clumsy but all are protagonist! )
• Calgary, Alberta
3 May 12
hope next generation of anime will try to go againts the cliche.
@saizo6 (2199)
• United States
11 Feb 12
Hahaha...I was actually ticking off names in my head as I was going down this list. But you're right. A lot of the anime protagonists have those type of traits. I think it's come to the point where we expect them to act that way. Well, it's a working formula so people are going to keep on using them. But it does get annoying and lame after a while since you're basically seeing the same thing over and over again. That's probably why I haven't been paying much attention to anime lately. It's just the same old, same old.
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