Unsavoury Archetypes
/Any anime nerd knows the “dere” character archetypes that make up the majority of anime heroes and heroines. Even if you don’t know them by name, you’ve seen them if you watch anime. There’s Dandere: the quiet one, or Kuudere: the calm, cool and collected one, etc. If you’re curious about each one, Kotaku.com explains them in detail in this article.
But what about some of the more unsavoury character archetypes that we see in anime? It’s no secret that in 2019 there is little tolerance for bigotry in media. So why does anime get a pass? Overlooking these things can be detrimental to our society. Here’s a list of anime archetypes I’d like to stop seeing in future anime series.
image from: theouterhaven
The Pervert
Usually an older man, this character archetype will sexually harass and/or assault women or even girls. I’m not talking about the villains of the shows; the pervert is usually a protagonist that displays predatory traits for comic relief. Yes, I’m talking about the Master Roshi’s and the Jiraiya Sensei’s of the anime world. Since when is it okay for a protagonist to be a sex predator? And since when is pedophilia or rape culture funny? Unfortunately, it seems that this character archetype is still being featured in newer anime series. In the new Netflix Original anime The Seven Deadly Sins, the main character Sir Meliodas is often shown groping the main female character, Elizabeth. Despite the constant sexual harassment, Elizabeth falls in love with him. This leads me to my next unsavoury archetype…
The Helpless Heroine
Female characters are often portrayed as weak and fragile. Even if the heroine is physically strong, she is usually powerless to the male love interest. Oftentimes her emotions will be her downfall. The Helpless Heroine is infatuated with the physically superior male lead and loves him no matter what. This character archetype continues to pine after the hero despite being treated poorly by him. Sakura from Naruto is an example of a Helpless Heroine. The example this character type sets for young girls is dangerous –not to mention, boys who see this frequently might think there are no negative consequences to mistreating women. Finally, this brings us to the last unsavoury archetype…
The Hostile Hero
Why do we love Sasuke and Vegeta so much even though they’re usually mean and, at times, murderous? Because we love a bad boy with a very well-hidden soft side. While this archetype produces some of the most memorable characters, it can be harmful if imitated. These characters scream toxic masculinity. What kind of message does the show send when Sasuke ends up with Sakura even after he tried to kill her? For once, I’d like to see a Hostile Hero that doesn’t get the girl.
To conclude, I’d like to clarify that I am not boycotting shows that have these character archetypes. I believe we should be aware of them and watch critically. Hopefully, anime and manga will steer clear of these tropes in the future.
Mary McCann
Mary is in her second year of the Professional Writing program at Algonquin College. During her spare time Mary enjoys skateboarding, listening to music, petting dogs and eating Mexican food. She is working towards graduating from college and starting her writing career.