Animu archetypes

This is a list of the typical character archetypes in anime. All characters on all the animu fit into one of these. Every. Single. One. Which goes to show you that outside of schoolgirls being raped by tentacles, the Japanese are actually pretty uncreative.

The Whiny Main Character (WMC)

The Whiny Main Character is just that, a pathetic twat who whines constantly about everything throughout whatever fruity magical adventure they're on. They only actually do anything if at least three other characters are in mortal danger and have spent the last five minutes yelling their name. This archetype was probably meant for nerds to put their faces on so they can pretend they're the one getting beat up by the Strong Independent Chick (who always secretly loves them, no matter how much of a fuck-up they are). Nearly every animu has a WMC because Japanese males hate the fact their penises are so small, and they express their impotent rage by projecting themselves onto the character. Most WMCs are, of course, male, but can be female, such as in the case of Gunbuster. Other typical characteristics are that they eat more food in one sitting than all of Africa eats in a year; when faced with a threat they become suddenly "brave," "cocky," and "gallant". This archetype is blissfully naïve and always enjoys a challenge.

Notable Whiny Characters

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  Shinji contemplates becoming an hero hates himself too much to an hero.
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  Naruto from... y'know... that series... what was it? Battletoads???
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  Yugi, or at least one of his many personalities.
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  Ash getting fucked by Gary Oak. IT HAPPENED!!!

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  Kyon from Haruhi reacting to everything Haruhi ever does.

The Strong Independent Chick (SIC)

This chick's one and only purpose is usually to bean guys over the head with mallets if they suggest a date or sex with anything for any reason. Fanboys laugh their asses off when this happens, but intelligent people will say "That wasn't funny." This character will most likely fall in love with the main character for some reason, no matter how whiny his voice is. She will always express her love with extra abuse. She'll also prevent the Pervert from getting any tang round here. Nearly all fanservice is of these characters. Not to be confused with the Introvert.

Notable Strong Independent Chicks

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  Nami from One Piece wearing a two piece!
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  Sakura from Naruto. Who are we kidding; what is "INDEPENDENT" OR EVEN "STRONG" ABOUT HER?
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  Sakura from Ususei Yatsura, an early archetype; possibly also a lesbian.
• Shinku from Rozen Maiden. Beats the shit out of her human servant.
  Shinku from Rozen Maiden. Beats the shit out of her human servant.

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  Téa from Yu-Gi-Oh. Oh hell, she is worse than Sakura.
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  Revi from Black Lagoon (may double as batshit insane).
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  Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion, who went batshit insane and ended up dying, but came back later.
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  Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop, who went batshit insane and ended up crying.
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  Haruhi: she's so independent she's God.

Minor Strong Independent Chicks

• Weeaboo fangirls (they wish)

The Pervert

This guy will usually steal and/or try to look at girls' panties, for that oh-so-necessary pantyshot. These characters are meant to portray the average Japanese male. Groping of breasts is also required of this guy, which is why they get kicked in the nuts by the SIC most often, usually after copping a feel from them. Perverts are always sniveling manchildren who can't even think about a pair of breasts without losing a pint of blood.

Notable Perverts

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  Ataru from Urusei Yatsura, the original anime pervert who started the trend.
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  Keitaro from Love Hina.
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  Master Roshi from Dragon Ball Z. The legend, the original, the archetype in a nutshell.
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  Brock from Pokémon. Likely covering up for homosexuality.

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  Miroku from Inuyasha.
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  Sakura Kusakabe from Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan. Likely to be violently beaten to death in every episode.
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  Dr. Irie from Higurashi. He's an obvious pedophile.

Minor Perverts

• Every adult male in Japan and everyone on 7chan.
• Chris-chan.

The Small Annoying Thing (SAT)

No series of Annie May can get the okay without having one of these little shits around. The only reason SATs exist is because they're marketable; weeaboos love to buy plastic crap based on them. SATs usually can't talk but if they do, they usually have annoyingly high-pitched voices and spam godawful catchphrases that will never leave your head. Some also have a dumb gimmick like being obsessed with desserts or burrowing into the digestive tract of the SIC, triggering an ever-popular colonoscopy episode. The Beautiful Airhead is of course drawn to these things.

Notable Small Annoying Things

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  Pikachu from Pokémon. Now do you believe radiation is bad?
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  Chopper from One Piece, who's even voiced by the same cunt who voices Pikachu.
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  Shinji from Evangelion. Sad but true, a rare double-up.
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  Hamtaro, inspires dreams in perverts everywhere.

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  The twin Mokonas from Tsubasa and XXXholic, aka those two little fluffy things that everyone wants to beat the shit out of.

Minor Small Annoying Things

• Every Pokémon not mentioned above
• Mieu the Cheagle, though it is fun to watch him get beat up by Luke
• Catgirls
• GIR
• Your penis
• Your mom's penis
• You
• Kon from

The Pissed Off Guy (POG)

POGs are only there to look angry, however they usually end up looking constipated due to the limitations of the anime drawing style. These guys are the embodiment of Internet tough guys as they always bitch about something and don't care about anything besides fighting or their hair. But that doesn't matter as they always end up getting their asses kicked the most, even compared to the SATs. So it is always up to the WMCs to come in and save their ass. Just so you know, most slash is between these and the WMCs.

Notable Pissed Off Guys

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  Kaiba from Yu-Gi-Oh... apparently he's really rich but still can't get laid.
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  Matt from Digimon.
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  Vegeta, one of the most pissed off characters in all of animu.
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  Giroro from Keroro Gunsou/Sgt. Frog. Vegeta's got nothing on this guy, as no one in the universe is more pissed off than him.

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• Scar is pissed off because he and his people are brown-skinned terrorists who were appropriately euthanized by the government.
  Scar is pissed off because he and his people are brown-skinned terrorists who were appropriately euthanized by the government.
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  Suigintou from Rozen Maiden. Hates Shinku with a passion.
• When Zechs' mask comes off, OH SHI-
  When Zechs' mask comes off, OH SHI-

Minor Pissed Off Guys

• Possibly everyone else from Dragon Ball Z.
• Every male character in Bleach.
• Kratos from Tales of Symphonia, because he's always berating Lloyd and bitching about Anna.

The Grim Angsty Guy (GAG)

There's much overlap between this category and the one immediately preceding it; the difference lies in the tendency of this bunch to turn their angst inward, resulting in reams of boring introspection, monosyllabic speech patterns, and often figurative - though sometimes literal - self-destruction. As well as anime, many video game characters exemplify this archetype.

Notable Grim Angsty Guys

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  Heero Yuy of Gundam Wing.

The Beautiful Airhead (BA)

Usually female, the BA serves no other purpose than to stand there and look stupid while a stiff wind blows up her skirt so everyone can see her panties. Clothes are an alien concept to BAs, as they can never seem to keep them on. The BA's hobbies include bending over countertops, hanging around practically naked, watching her clothes fall off with a blank expression, and screaming at pitches high enough to shatter glass.

Notable Beautiful Airheads

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• Orihime from Bleach, IQ is believed to be less than zero.
  Orihime from Bleach, IQ is believed to be less than zero.
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  Osaka from Azumanga Daioh.
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  Sailor Moon from a show you should already know.
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  Ifruita from the El Hazard TV series.

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  And who could forget Excel from Excel Saga?
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  MI- MI- MIKURU BEAM

The Introvert (INFP)

This character is always a girl with dark hair and/or long bangs. She starts off meek and introverted, always spying on the WMC, but from the WMC's bravery she learns to be herself and evolve into a Strong Independent Chick.

Notable Introverts

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  Raven from Teen Titans
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  Hinata from Naruto
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  Shinobu from Love Hina.
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  Rei From Neon Genesis Evangelion.

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  Yuki Nagato fromThe Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. This one's excuse is that she's an alien android.

The Batshit Insane Guy (BIG)

This character has no grip on reality. Rarely doing anything constructive and generally confusing the hell out of everyone, the BIG is capable of anything and everything that makes no sense at all. Notable for their powers to store insane amounts of large, random objects up their ass for use when the world is in danger. The BIG often transforms into a Pissed Off Guy when someone points out how crazy they really are.

Notable Batshit Insane Guys

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  Maximilian Pegasus of Yu-Gi-Oh. Rich furfaggot, designer and player of children's card games, and occasional soul thief.
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  Bobobo. A man who really defines the BIG.
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  Bobobo's accomplice, Don Patch. In contrast to him, Bobobo is pretty normal.
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  Light Yagami from Death Note. Believed that he was anonymous as well as Anonymous.

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  Gendo from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Resident columnist in Bad Science/Parenting Monthly. Fan of loli.
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  Rena Ryuuguu from Higurashi. Cute, happy teenage girl on the outside, batshit insane serial killer on the inside.
• Kimblee is a genocidal war criminal; committed the My Lai of his universe for great justice.
  Kimblee is a genocidal war criminal; committed the My Lai of his universe for great justice.
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  Beatrice basically just trolls everyone, including you.

Minor Batshit Insane Guys

• Everyone from Higurashi when those parasites take control of them.
• Almost everyone else from Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo

The Annoying Perfectionist (AP)

These guys are a little hard to find, but they are still out there. These characters have serious OCPD. If one little thing is out of place or order, they will ALWAYS scream at the top of their lungs about how imperfect the thing is and try to fix it. It does not matter what dire situation the other characters are in, and because of this, the AP usually holds the characters back from whatever their current goal is. However, if they can't fix whatever is not perfect, they start feeling suicidal and in some cases they literally try to kill themselves. Unfortunately they usually fail. Their attitude and antics are usually an unfunny running gag throughout whatever series they are in.

Notable Annoying Perfectionists

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  Death the Kid from Soul Eater. One of the most annoying APs out there.
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  Chiri Kitsu from Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. Maybe this doesn't count since she's technically a parody of this archetype.
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  Teru Mikami from Death Note; his OCD wound up fucking over everything for his master, Light.
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  Kanaria (the one on the right) from Rozen Maiden

The Convenient Prodigy (CP)

Usually, this character can whip up whatever you happen to need whenever you happen to need it. A new robot arm? An interdimensional gate? A gun bigger than the planet? None of these are a problem. Alternatively, this character is a misunderstood genius who always wonders why everyone thinks he/she is so weird. Mostly, these freaks are around as deus ex machina who are employed to usefully explain the inexplicable.

Notable Convenient Prodigies

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  Winry Rockbell constructed Edward's automail arm, leg, and penis.
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  Washuu from Tenchi Muyo can build a spaceship out of a brick.
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  L, the world's most brilliant detective.

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• Daisuke from Battle Angel Alita, a masterful cybernetics expert.
  Daisuke from Battle Angel Alita, a masterful cybernetics expert.
• It's all about capsules!
  It's all about capsules!
• WOW OMG HE IS DA ONLY ONE WHO CAN DRIVE DA LIGER ZERO DAWG
  WOW OMG HE IS DA ONLY ONE WHO CAN DRIVE DA LIGER ZERO DAWG
• Nope
  Nope

The Macho Guy (MG)

Unlike all the other annoying archetypes, this guy is somewhat likable. This is because, whenever there is a problem, this guy solves everything with violence while laughing his ass off in the process. When this happens, he often destroys most of the scenery around him in the process. These guys are rare to find because they just barely fall under the POG and/or BIG archetype most of the time, and also because they make the other characters look like pussies. (See also: RIKI-OH)

Notable Macho Guy

YOU WILL NEVER BE AS MANLY AS THIS GUY. YES, HE WILL FUCKING DESTROY YOU.

Pussies That are Almost MGs but Fall Short

• A lot of the main characters from Gurren Lagann.
• Most of the main characters from DBZ.
• Major Armstrong from Fullmetal Alchemist.
• Kenpachi Zaraki from Bleach.

The Ambiguously Gay Guy ([F]AGG)

The exact opposite of the MG. Generally, the only reason they're considered guys is because they have penises. Also known as "bishies," they dress pretty like all the Japanese male idols, because Japan thinks that's manly. They tend to cross over with other archetypes, typically the WMC or on occasions, the Pervert. If they are neither, they'll probably just be a douche. Despite their ambiguously gay appearance, they are usually asexual or straight, depending on the main character's gender. They are guaranteed to have tons of fangirls who write fanfictions featuring them and another AGG having buttsecks.

Notable Ambiguously Gay Guys

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  Count D (Pet Shop of Horrors) will sell you Small Annoying Things that soon become Big Angry Things...
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  Seriously though, Duo Maxwell's totally straight.
• Zarbon's true form better reflects his personality.
  Zarbon's true form better reflects his personality.
• Griffith from Berserk can't get enough of Guts' long, thick, formidable sword.
  Griffith from Berserk can't get enough of Guts' long, thick, formidable sword.
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  Kaworou Nagisa from Neon Genesis Evangelion Oddly enough, this guy actually admits to being gay, then proceeds to have hot monkey sex with Shinji in the bathtub. Also, is is in some weird ass-backwards way related to Shinji.

The Trap

A once rare commodity, now located in the bargain section. Like the AGG, they look gay. Unlike the AGG, they are gay. They are at least 100 times girlier than the girliest girl in the show. Their ultimate wish is to have his ass plowed by the main character. It's supposed to be hard to tell they're guys, but ironically, it's usually completely obvious from the start. As far as personality goes, just take a generic female character and attach a penis onto it. Yeah, having a penis is a personality trait that makes for deep characters.

It is a common fact that they have a much smaller fanbase of girls than boys, because they're made to appeal to closet homos who draw comics of them sucking off 37 faceless dudes' dicks in a row while being fucked in the ass by guys who haven't the common courtesy to give them a reacharound.

Notable Traps

• Envy is a shapeshifter who has changed so often it doesn't even remember what gender it was originally.
  Envy is a shapeshifter who has changed so often it doesn't even remember what gender it was originally.
• Zoisite is an unintentional trap created when American censorship turned Kunzite's gay lover into a woman.
  Zoisite is an unintentional trap created when American censorship turned Kunzite's gay lover into a woman.
• Ranma, pre-op and post-op.
  Ranma, pre-op and post-op.

The Lesbian

This is an archetype that is usually split into two groups, A and B. One of these girls are usually found in an anime/manga where the main character, or even one of the main characters, is a girl, and sometimes in harems. If there isn't a girl who is a main character, they are usually so subtle about their preference that a lot of people do not notice. This is because the lesbian is a dyke who pretends to be the main character's friend, just so they can get in bed with her someday. She is usually subtle about this, but this is subtle by anime standards, and half the time she fondles the main characters breasts and says "good things" about her. The main character usually tells her to stop, but she doesn't think too much about it and stays friends with the lesbian because she's obviously a fucking moron. If the lesbian isn't this way, she is a group B lesbian, and she often goes through these "hilarious" sequences where she questions if she likes her best friend in "that way" or not. These sequences are often followed up by even more "hilarious" bits where she encounters her friend nude, much to her shock.

Notable Lesbians

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  Chizuru Honshō from Bleach (Group A). A true lesbian patron. She will spring on Orihime and feel her boobs whenever she gets the chance.
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  Tomoyo from Cardcaptor Sakura (Group A). Don't let her age and personality fool you; she is a HUGE lesbian, and she fantasizes about the day she will finally get in bed with Sakura.
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  Setsuna Sakurazaki from Mahou Sensei Negima (Group B). Also an Introvert. Much to her dismay, she has the hawts for her best friend Konoka.

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  Tsukasa from .hack//SIGN (Group B). He's actually a girl, who happens to be a lesbian, and also a whiny emo bitch. Although more of a WMC, this character still fits this archetype.
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  Kaorin from Azumanga Daioh (Group A). If anyone gets in the way of her crush on Sakaki, she will transform into a BIG and beat the living shit out of them.
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  Haruka and Michiru from Sailor Moon (Group A). Different in that they already have each other to boink and they spend all their non-hanky-panky talking about how worthless the world and especially Usagi are, but it's painfully obvious they wanted to gang-rape her.

Minor Lesbians

• That one chick in that one Higurashi spinoff who was Natsumi's friend. You know, her.
• 50% of the SICs.
• Yolei from Digimon season 2. Had a huge boner for Mimi (NA) but ended up marrying Ken (AGG/GAG).
• Yoruichi from Bleach, you know, the only black girl?

The "Foody"

While a rare commodity in Animu, they appear as the "comedy relief" of the series, by never having screentime without stuffing their face full of food, or taking bribes relating to food from other characters. This archetype can be split into two groups; The first is the character who doesn't give a shit about what they eat, they just stuff their face and never seem to get full or ever complain. The second is the type of character who has a fucking orgasm when they taste the food in a shrilled, screechy voice while then overexamining what they can taste and not shutting the fuck up for 5 minutes. This character is usually not a main one for obvious reasons.

Foodies are never portrayed as fat, even though they can eat enough in one episode to feed a fucking city.

Notable Foodies

• Beast Boy of Teen Titans
  
• Chizuko Oe of Mahoromatic
  
• Yukito/Julian of Cardcaptor Sakura/Cardcaptors

The "Nobody-knows-he-was-there" character

Another quite rare, but relevant archetype is the one character, minor or major character alike, who has such little respect from the other characters in the series that nobody would even give a shit, or even notice, if he/she went missing or was killed. Probably down to the fact that they're so fucking annoying or were mentally destroyed by "The Trap" character. When they are acknowledged, and other characters notice that the "Nobody-Knows-he-was-there" character has been ignored, everything becomes awkward.

The "Plot"

• Male archetypes fight like and/or for pussies with (insert weapon or muscle here) for at least 100 episodes.
• Female archetypes fight like and/or for dicks with romantic comedy for at least 100 episodes.

See Also:

• Harem Animu

Animu archetypes is part of a series on Anime Visit the Anime Portal for complete coverage.

Featured article May 6, 2010
Preceded by Real Life Super Hero	Animu archetypes	Succeeded by Lawrence Taylor and Catherine Deveny