Male Shonen Leads

Guernsey · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:04 pm Post subject: Male Shonen Leads

Male Shonen Leadsl. They're bold, confident, big eaters, super powerful, moronic and energetic but what is it about them that makes them so attractive and appealing anyway? Although I like characters like Naruto and Mega Man, I think they are way too "perfect" characters and they need to be more flawed like Shinji Ikari with godlike prowess. That's my opinion, now let me hear yours.
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DrkXFuZion · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:10 pm Post subject:

Naruto and Rockman are in no way, "perfect characters".

Naruto has a desperate need for attention due to his circumstances and feels that he is inferior to many of his teammates. This is what drives his desire to grow stronger. Had he been a "perfect" character, he would be more like Sasuke, blessed with beauty and natural talent.

Rockman is portrayed as a child and thus he is naive in a way (best shown in the added ending to Rockman 7 in the US version). If he were "perfect" he would be all-powerful and all-knowing.

BTW...."male" and "shounen" is rather redudant. >.>
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Hon Kesshou · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 11:07 pm Post subject:

Another thing you should notice: not every lead boy fits that description. The one I can think of off the top of my head is Takato from Digimon Tamers.

I personally thought that any character fitting that description was a stock character. >.>

Viewtiful Starman · Puzzle Game Addict Age: 37 Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 708

Male's referring to the character's gender, and shounen the genre. (I get why it's supposed to be redundant, just pointing it out in case you actually missed it, I couldn't tell XD)

Anyhow... I can think of a few more different guys off the top of my head.

Allen Walker from D.Gray-man, Neuro from (the aptly named) Neuro, Tsuna from Katekyo Hitman reborn, Myoujin from Mieru Hito, Rouji and Muhyo from Muhyo to Rouji, Raito from Death Note and Murasame from Nazo no Murasame-kun all generally act different from the usual loudmouth shounen hero.

Not that none of them fall in to character cliches though, they just don't fall in to that one. XD

However! Still a lot of the crazy angry ones floating around.
For some reason which is entirely beyond me, it's one of my favorite character cliches in anime too.

**Mari** · Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:46 am Post subject:

Moving this to Anime Manga and Games.
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Mugen.exe · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:47 pm Post subject:

I prefer male leads that aren't stock and boring. Sometimes it works, like in the case of Netto (because it's funny), but sometimes it's boring. I suppose that the role is easy to relate to, and familiar, which is why these kinds of characters are so popular. They drive down the need to think of them deeper than what they are. Characters such as Shinji are great because they don't know what they're supposed to be feeling, or how they should act. They have major emotions that conflict occasionally- I like that. Deep, thought-probing characters light Raito from Death Note, or others I don't feel like listing, are just awesome, and inspirational. I guess inspirational failures work too (as in the case of early Naruto, or early Ichitaka (I's) ).
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Wackoman.EXE · Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:45 am Post subject:

I've always loved One Piece because there are technically seven main characters, but Luffy is like a shonen hero times ten. He eats himself silly, isn't dense, but simply stupid (well in most things anyway), and is brave as hell.

I don't really care one way or another how shonen leads act. While it seems like most of them are dense and eat a lot; there's plenty of them that are not: Ichigo from BLEACH, Shinji from Eva, and Kenshin from Rurouni being the most well known. In fact, now that I think about it, there ae more differet shonen lead tan thre are genric. O_o
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Kupo.EXE · Darkloid Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 537

I really like ichigo from Bleach, he seems like he actually uses his emotions from time to time.

I think someone like syaoran from tsubasa chronicle is way too perfect rather then naruto or netto.

Enzan Chaud · Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 4:44 pm Post subject:

Syaoran from Tsubasa = the type of guy every girls wants but may never ever get. He actually reminds me of Vyse from Skies of Arcadia. I guess some characters in video games can fall into cliches too. Both of these characters want to see the world, discover things, and have a goal... and will do anything to meet them. I actually like those two characters... but yes, they seem way too perfect, but everyone has their flaws. Syaoran worries too much about Sakura and has a phyisical flaw in his eye. He is also very rash about his actions. Vyse is only limited to the choices you make in the game.

I character that fits a typical male lead would be someone like Llyod Irving... far from perfect, arrogant, bored easily, set on something, and dumb (really, he is XD)

Naruto is actually ugly looking.... he reminds me of Mugsy for some reason (typical gangster guy) probably because of how his chin is drawn from the side.

Netto... good in programming... bad in everything else.

Ichigo, I like how he's portrayed. He has character, for sure... and he's been limited due to the fact that he's only human.

The types of characters I look for are the ones that actually show emotion instead of being stupidly cheerful.
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Shakai · Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject:

Mugen.exe · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:01 pm Post subject:

Shinji as emo... hadn't really thought of that. It's true too! The original primitive emo man-child! Also, Syaoran from Chronicles is pretty perfect, but that's only because he has one thing on his mind (really just how to protect Sakura-hime). Ichigo has several, and I like him for that reason. He wants to protect others to make up for the fact he couldn't protect his mother (and just because he can), and at the same time he wants to hide behind his tough-guy persona (his self-image). Because of that he is a macho fighter whose emotions get the best of him at times.

Luffy is a great character too. I love how he has one goal, and doesn't let anything get in the way of it. His stupidity is extremely helpful at times, and works well for him. Of course, my favorite OnePiece characters are Tony Tony Chopper and Sanji (antlers, hats and cigarettes, I tell ya'!).
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Unknown Neo · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:46 pm Post subject: