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in: Hero Archetypes

Archetype:Seinen Protagonist

< Archetype:Shōnen Protagonist
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"Good guys or Bad guys...Enemies or allies...None of that matters, Everyone's got it. The Fire of Life, and the Fire of Will. Everyone's got their own fires, and they just live while holding them back. But on the Battlefield...Everyone unleashes their Fires to their full potential while fighting the enemy. If you die, the Fire of Life goes out, but the Fire of Will gets inherited by the next person. And it's not just allies. You also take the Fires of Will from enemies that you kill as well."
― Ri Shin to Kan Pishi (Kingdom)
"This story relates how I got up on my feet. Not in the physical term, but how I went from adolescence to adulthood."
― Johnny Joestar, Steel Ball Run Chapter 3
"What's so fun about everything always going my way? What I really love is when amazing things happen that I had never expected."
― Takeshi Tatsumi (Giant Killing)

The power to use the archetypal traits of a Seinen Protagonist. Older opposite of Shōnen Protagonist and adult male equivalent of Shojo Protagonist. Opposite of Seinen Antagonist.

Also Called[]

  • Stock Seinen Hero
  • The Golgo Expy
  • The Devilman Expy
  • The Guts Expy
  • The Ri Shin Expy
  • Adult Male/Men's Media Protagonist
  • Adult Male/Men's Show Protagonist
  • Adult Male/Men's Media Hero/Heroine/Heroes

Properties[]

The user is a protagonist of Seinen, a demographic and genre designation of Japanese Anime, Manga, Korean Manhwa, western comics, webcomics, and etc. aimed at males' audiences. It is the older counterpart of the Shōnen protagonist and effectively makes for most anime/manga/manhwa/comics in an older demographic.

Thanks to the older target audience, a seinen protagonist tends to be much more sophisticated and mature than their shōnen counterparts. More attention is paid to the plot and the interaction between characters than to action and fights, which is usually the main attraction for most viewers, and the characters are well fleshed out. Realism is the trademark calling card of the protagonist, commonly earning them acclaim for their depth and maturity.

A typical protagonist can be of any gender and age (in stark contrast to shōnen, whose protagonists are almost exclusively young and male) but tend to be young adults to individuals in their later years. Romantic wise, anything goes. Relationships are often portrayed in a less idealistic light than in the shojo genre, with many grays and uncertainties like in Real Life, and do not tend to indulge the typical over-simplification of "which heroine will be hooked up with the hero" usually seen in shonen. Certain protagonists are also well known for their controversial and divisive displays of mature settings - Devilman of the Devilman CRYBABY and Guts from Berserk being some of the more famous and infamous examples. These characters tend to be on the opposite side of the standard idealism shown in Shōnen characters with cynic, sarcastic, and the realists’ grim types being the main stay.

Applications[]

Associated Powers[]

Genres[]

Relationships[]

Flaws[]

  • Whereas the standard Shonen Hero is usually portrayed as optimistic and energetic, the standard Seinen Protagonist is often depicted as cynical and apathetic.
  • Due to their traumatic hardships and their inability to properly cope with them, most Seinen protagonists tend to adopt rather lonesome lifestyles. These factors result in:
    • Isolating themselves from others.
    • Having difficulties with bonding and/or trusting others.
    • Being unable to fully control their emotions and actions whenever something reminds them of a tragic experience that occurred earlier in their lives.

Exampled Characters[]

See Also: Seinen, Seinen Protagonists from Non-Anime Media and Seinen Protagonist

Anime/Manga/Manhwa/Manhua[]

  • Kentarō Sugata (81diver)
  • Soyo "Ukeshi" Nakashizu (81diver)
  • Afro Samurai (Afro Samurai)
  • Kufa Vampir (Assassins Pride)
  • Melida Angel (Assassins Pride)
  • Azumi (Azumi)
  • Aika Sumeragi (Agent Aika)
  • Nagomi Wahira (Akiba Maid War)
  • Dark Schneider/Lushe Renren (Bastard!!)
  • Tia Noto Yoko (Bastard!!)
  • Guts (Berserk)
  • Victor "Bloody Rain" Freeman (Blaster Knuckle)
  • Saya (Blood: The Last Vampire)
  • Saya Kisaragi (Blood c/The Last Darkness)
  • Saya Otonashi (Blood +)
  • Atsushi Nakajima (Bungou Stray Dogs)
  • Osamu Dazai (Bungou Stray Dogs)
  • Doppo Kunikida (Bungou Stray Dogs)
  • Ranpo Edogawa (Bungou Stray Dogs)
  • Kyoka Izumi (Bungou Stray Dogs)
  • Ryunosuke Akutagawa (Bungou Stray Dogs)
  • Chuuya Nakahara (Bungou Stray Dogs)
  • Rentarō Satomi (Black Bullet)
  • Enju Amhara (Black Bullet)
  • Kisara Tendo (Black Bullet)
  • Tina Sprouts (Black Bullet)
  • Ken (A Chef of Nobunaga)
  • Chrono (Chrono Crusade)
  • Rosette Christopher (Chrono Crusade)
  • Ryō family (Comical Psychosomatic Medicine)
  • Spike Spiegal (Cowboy Bebop)
  • Dariel (Chillin' in My 30s After Getting Fired from the Demon King's Army)
  • Light Yagami (Death Note)
  • Akira Fudo/Devilman (Devilman)
  • Naoto Fuyumine (Dogs)
  • Badou Nails (Dogs)
  • Heine Rammsteiner (Dogs)
  • Mihai Mihaeroff (Dogs)
  • Hori Yoshio (Dokudami Tenement/Dokudami Singles Apartment)
  • Kaede/Lucy/Nyu (Elfen Lied)
  • Re-L Meyer (Ergo Proxy)
  • Kenshirō Kasumi (Fist of the Blue Sky)
  • Kenshirō (Fist of the North Star)
  • Kazuya Aoi (Freezing)
  • Satellizer El Bridget (Freezing)
  • Various Characters (Giant Killing)
  • Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell)
  • Saichi Sugimoto (Golden Kamuy)
  • Asirpa (Golden Kamuy)
  • Golgo 13/Duke Togo (Golgo 13)
  • Bunshichi Tanba (Garouden)
  • Juuzou Fujimaki (Garouden)
  • Jang Geon (Martial Wild West)
  • Ihwa/Hero Killer (Hero Killer)
  • Engen/Smiling Man (Hero Killer)
  • Umaru Doma (Himouto! Umaru-chan)
  • Eumenes (Historié)
  • Iketeru Futari (Iketeru Futari/The Cool Couple)
  • Sei (Jisatsutou/Suicide Island)
  • Miyuki Shirogane (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War)
  • Kaguya Shinomiya (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War)
  • Mutsumi Oribe (Kyochuu Rettou As The Island Of Giant Insects)
  • Rentarō Aijō (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Hakari Hanazono (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Karane Inda (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Shizuka Yoshimoto (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Nano Eiai (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Kusuri Yakusen (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Hahari Hanazono (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Kurumi Haraga (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Mei Meido (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Iku Sutō (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Mimimi Utsukushisugi (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Meme Kakure (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Chiyo Īn (The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You)
  • Minoru Kohinata (Karate Shoukoushi Kohinata Minoru/Little Lord of Karate)
  • Ri Shin (Kingdom)
  • Ei Sei (Kingdom)
  • Kan Ki (Kingdom)
  • Alto Goldfield (Kinsou no Vermeil As Vermeil In Gold)
  • Shiraishi (Kubo-San Doesn't Leave Me Be)
  • Kubo (Kubo-San Doesn't Leave Me Be)
  • Kino (Kino no Tabi —the Beautiful World As Kino's Journey —the Beautiful World—)
  • Johnny Joestar (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run)
  • Josuke Higashikata (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: JoJolion)
  • Jodio Joestar (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part IX: The JOJOLands)
  • Toa Tokuchi (One Outs)
  • Nao Kanzaki (Liar Game)
  • Shinichi Akiyama (Liar Game)
  • Ike (Maō-Gun Saikyō No Majutsushi Wa Ningen Datta As The Strongest Magician In The Demon Lord's Army Was A Human)
  • Satie (Maō-Gun Saikyō No Majutsushi Wa Ningen Datta As The Strongest Magician In The Demon Lord's Army Was A Human)
  • Cefiro (Maō-Gun Saikyō No Majutsushi Wa Ningen Datta As The Strongest Magician In The Demon Lord's Army Was A Human)
  • Lilith (Maō-Gun Saikyō No Majutsushi Wa Ningen Datta As The Strongest Magician In The Demon Lord's Army Was A Human)
  • Dairokuten (Maō-Gun Saikyō No Majutsushi Wa Ningen Datta As The Strongest Magician In The Demon Lord's Army Was A Human)
  • Kenzō Tenma (Monster)
  • Seto (Naughty Gyaru Anjou-san)
  • Anna Anjou (Naughty Gyaru Anjou-san)
  • Najica Hiiragi (Najica Blitz Tactics)
  • Lila (Najica Blitz Tactics)
  • Kai (Boku No Sekai Wo Dare Mo Oboeteinainoka? As Why Does Nobody Remember Me in This World?)
  • Rinne (Boku No Sekai Wo Dare Mo Oboeteinainoka? As Why Does Nobody Remember Me in This World?)
  • Masatora Akutsu (Oroka Na Tenshi Wa Akuma To Odoru As The Foolish Angel Dances With The Devil)
  • Lily/Riri Amane (Oroka Na Tenshi Wa Akuma To Odoru As The Foolish Angel Dances With The Devil)
  • Shinichi Izumi (Parasyte); via Migi
  • Various Characters (The Ravages Of Time)
  • Nomiya Tomomi (Real)
  • Togawa Kiyoharu (Real)
  • Takahashi Hisanobu (Real)
  • Jun Sakurada (Rozen Maiden)
  • Kintarō Yajima (Salaryman Kintarō)
  • Emilico (Shadows House)
  • Reiji Kurose (Shōnen no Abyss/Boy's Abyss)
  • Kujaku (Spirit Warrior)
  • Ken Kitano (Sun-Ken Rock)
  • Sunao Moriyama (Potemayo)
  • Potemayo (Potemayo)
  • Gushuko (Potemayo)
  • Ange Le Carré (Princess Principal)
  • Beatrice (Princess Principal)
  • Princess Charlotte (Princess Principal)
  • Dorothy (Princess Principal)
  • Chise Todo (Princess Principal)
  • Various Characters (Terra Formers)
  • Takeru and Meo (The Tale of Little Lords of Karate)
  • Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul/Tokyo Ghoul:re)
  • Vash the Stampede (Trigun)
  • Abel Nightroad (Trinity Blood)
  • Baku Madarame/Usogui (Usogai)
  • Akira Inugami (Wolf Guy)
  • Adele Von Ascham As Mile (Watashi Nōryoku Wa Heikinchi De Tte Itta Yo Ne! As Didn't I Say To Make My Abilities Average In the Next Life?!)
  • Mavis Von Austien (Watashi Nōryoku Wa Heikinchi De Tte Itta Yo Ne! As Didn't I Say To Make My Abilities Average In the Next Life?!)
  • Reina (Watashi Nōryoku Wa Heikinchi De Tte Itta Yo Ne! As Didn't I Say To Make My Abilities Average In the Next Life?!)
  • Pauline (Watashi Nōryoku Wa Heikinchi De Tte Itta Yo Ne! As Didn't I Say To Make My Abilities Average In the Next Life?!)
  • Montmorency (Yurishīzu Jan'nu Daruku To Renkin No Kishi As Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight)
  • Jeanne D'Arc (Yurishīzu Jan'nu Daruku To Renkin No Kishi As Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight)
  • Astaroth (Yurishīzu Jan'nu Daruku To Renkin No Kishi As Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight)
  • Arthur de Richemont (Yurishīzu Jan'nu Daruku To Renkin No Kishi As Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight)
  • Philip (Yurishīzu Jan'nu Daruku To Renkin No Kishi As Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight)
  • Charlotte (Yurishīzu Jan'nu Daruku To Renkin No Kishi As Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight)
  • La Hire/Ra Iru (Yurishīzu Jan'nu Daruku To Renkin No Kishi As Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight)
  • Jean D'Alençon (Yurishīzu Jan'nu Daruku To Renkin No Kishi As Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight)
  • Batard (Yurishīzu Jan'nu Daruku To Renkin No Kishi As Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight)
  • Hiiragi Utena/Magia Baiser (Mahou Shoujo ni Akogareta/Gushing Over Magical Girls)
  • Protagonists (Gundam franchise)
  • Aqua Hoshino (Oshi no Ko)
  • Mutsumi Oribe (Kyochuu Rettou/The Island of Giant Insects)

Cartoons[]

  • Sterling Archer (Archer)
  • Smith Family (American Dad!)
  • BoJack Horseman (BoJack Horseman)
  • Freeman family (The Boondocks)
  • Various Characters (Casltevenia)
  • Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
  • Phillip J. Fry (Futurama)
  • Hank Hill (King of the Hill)
  • Various Characters (Rick and Morty)
  • Jack (Samurai Jack)
  • Shrek (Shrek)
  • Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
  • The Boys (South Park)
    • Stan Marsh
    • Kyle Brovlovski
    • Eric Cartman
    • Kenny McCormick

Comics[]

Live Television/Film[]

  • James Bond (007)
  • Clay Jensen (13 Reasons Why)
  • Military Various Character (Act Of Valor)
  • Jaguar Paw (Apocalypto)
  • Jason "Tre" Styles III (Boyz n the Hood)
  • Darren "Doughboy" Baker (Boyz n the Hood)
  • Ricky Baker (Boyz n the Hood)
  • Walter White (Breaking Bad)
  • Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)
  • Saul Goodman (Breaking Bad)
  • Beowulf (Beowulf)
  • Matt Garetty (The Chronicle)
  • Dexter Morgan (Dexter)
  • Lucious Lyon (Empire)
  • Miles Lee Harris (Guns Akimbo)
  • Kool (Hot Boyz)
  • Nicholas Angel (Hot Fuzz)
  • John Wick (John Wick)
  • Quincy "Q" Powell (Juice)
  • Kaydee "Caine" Lawson (Menace II Society)
  • Chiron (Moonlight)
  • Marty Byrde (Ozark)
  • Various characters (Power Universe)
    • James "Ghost" St. Patrick (Power)
    • Tariq St. Patrick (Power/ Power Book II: Ghost)
    • Kanan Stark (Power/ Power Book III: Raising Kanan)
    • Thomas "Tommy" Patrick Egan (Power/Power Book IV: Force)
  • Pearl Douglas (Pearl/X/Maxxxine)
  • Maxine Miller As Maxine Minx (Pearl/X/Maxxxine)
  • Franklin Saint (Snowfall)
  • Anthony "Tony" Soprano (The Sopranos)
  • Sam Winchester & Dean Winchester (Supernatural)
  • Natasha Chenkov As Evelyn Salt (Salt 2010)
  • Stevo (Slc Punk!)
  • Ricky (Trailer Park Boys)
  • Julian (Trailer Park Boys)
  • Bubble (Trailer Park Boys)
  • Stefan and Damon Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries)
    • Niklaus "Klaus" Mikealson (The Originals)
    • Hope Mikealson (Legacies)
  • Various Characters (The Wire)
    • Jimmy McNulty
    • Omar Little

Video Games[]

  • Protagonists (Armored Core)
  • Alan Wake (Alan Wake)
  • Sergeant First Class Jack Kellar (The Black Video Games)
  • Kratos (God of War)
  • GTA Protagonists (Grand Theft Auto)
  • Infamous Protagonists
    • Cole McGrath (Infamous)
    • Delsin Rowe (Infamous: Second Son)
  • Joel Miller (The Last of Us)
  • Ellie (The Last of Us)
  • Solid Snake (Metal Gear)
  • Big Boss (Metal Gear)
  • Alex Mercer (Prototype)
  • Sgt. James Heller (Prototype 2)
  • Red Harlow (Red Dead Revolver)
  • John Marston (Red Dead Redemption)
  • Arthur Morgan (Red Dead Redemption 2)
  • Sly Cooper (Sly Cooper)
  • Fuminori Sakisaka (Saya no Uta)
  • Jefuty (Codename: Bakery Girl/Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery)
  • The Commander (Girls' Frontline)
  • M4A1 (Girls' Frontline)
  • Protagonist (Goddess of Victory: Nikke)
  • Rapi (Goddess of Victory: Nikke)
  • Jack Cooper (Titanfall 2)
  • BT-7274 (Titanfall 2)
  • Gordon Freeman (Half-Life)
  • Karl Fairburne (Sniper Elite)
  • Doctor (Arknights)
  • Amiya (Arknights)
  • Rika Furude (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni/Higurashi When They Cry)
  • Keiichi Maebara (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni/Higurashi When They Cry)
  • Battler Ushiromiya (Umineko no Naku Koro ni/Umineko When They Cry

Web Animation/Comics/Series[]

Gallery[]

Anime/Manga/Manhwa[]

Bonzo/Comics[]

Cartoons[]

Live Television/Movies[]

Web Animation/Comics/Series[]

Video Games[]

Videos[]

OPs, Themes, and EDs[]

Examples & Feats[]

Fights[]

Videos[]

Analysis & Discussions[]

External Links[]

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