Watching many anime of the shounen genre, one starts to notice a certain pattern after a while. All the main protagonists tend to have a quite similar physical appearance, a quite similar story, and a quite similar behavior, only varying in the degree of emotional intelligence, protagonism, and boldness.
In this article, I will present you with the basic recipe for how to create a main character in case one day you want to write your own shounen manga or perhaps create a shounen anime. Check the items below to shape your protagonist so that he fits the standard:
Table of Content
Rule #1: Appearance and style of dress©
Must have spiky hair with bangs covering up to her eyes. The hair color is up to you, but if you want to look pretty standard, dye your hair blue, brown, red, or any other fancy color.
Black or blonde hair is an extra or secondary character thing (Sasuke and Naruto being an exception).
The outfit doesn't have to be too flashy (leave that to the main antagonist). When he's not at school (if it involves school), a simple t-shirt and jeans along with a pair of sneakers are enough.
Rule #2: My parents are dead or very useless©
Feel free to use and abuse this element. Originality is a sucker thing. Now seriously, taking most of the protagonists who are orphans, it was already possible to set up a new GAASP unit with them.
Don't bother developing a family for this guy unless for flashbacks or short scenes because his parents need to be dead or as useful as an ejection seat in a helicopter.
Rule #3: As delicate as an elephant
The pattern of every protagonist is to have such a short fuse, to the point of wanting to get in trouble for little thing. Man, what in the anime is considered "normal", in real life would already be a reason to enter a sanatorium. Your protagonist must have the emotional intelligence of a 5-year-old.
Bonus if he always makes decisions without thinking twice that ends up yielding positive results. Otakus like impulsive behavior that only works because of the plot.
Rule #4: A chair is smarter than this guy©
In addition to the pattern of "sitting in the back of the classroom on the left side and admiring the view outside instead of paying attention in class" (again, if it involves school), your protagonist has to be the worst student in the class or among the mediocre students. Remember, the more shounen it is, the dumber the protagonist will be.
It's generally understood that the reason for their low rating is because of the adventures their character gets involved in, but it can be seen that when you have free time, they do absolutely shit.
If it only focuses on fighting, having the protagonist as a guy who doesn't live in society, make him very naive.
Rule #5: As deep as a plate©
Your motivations, your ideals, your life philosophy will always be somewhat superficial and quite futile. Unless you are writing a manga about a more abstract theme and not so shounen. In that case, the extreme opposite applies.
Rule n°6: Protagonism is love, protagonism is life©
This is another important element in character building. Protagonism.
Basically it's when the author shapes the plot in favor of the protagonist, even if he has to contradict the story and the rules created by himself.
Invent new last-minute techniques, make the character take a beating like a street dog and then have him win the fight with a single punch, and don't forget to buff him to the point of becoming overpowered.
No matter how trained and prepared his opponent is, no matter if the enemy has more battle experience than the protagonist who is a rookie, he will always beat the antagonist.
Regardless of whether the antagonist has a more lethal technique with less chance of survival, your protagonist will always survive. If he is injured or dies, there will always be the sidekick to give heal or ressurect.
Rule n°7: Persistence and insistence do not go hand in hand©
As a consequence of the fourth rule, your protagonist will never give up, no matter how serious the situation is. However, he will always insist on the same shit and worse, he will get it. This applies to battles when the protagonist uses the same technique as before against the opponent he was unable to defeat using said technique.
Rule #8: Romeo, Romeo. Why are you, Romeo?©
Romance is the aspect where you will put your plot and character development skills to the test (mainly in ハーレム). And to pass the test, do the opposite of good development and elaboration.
Why develop a concrete romance? Why are you going to create a character compatible with your protagonist? Why make your protagonist stop stalling? WHY ON EARTH are you going to listen to your fans, who have a better sense of shipping than you?
Just make him so foolish to the point of ignoring or not noticing when someone likes him. More shounen than this, impossible.
Rule #9: But, O man, who are you, to answer back to God? ©
Your protagonist will always be right. Ever. As stupid as he is or as much as he doesn't understand the context of the situation he finds himself in, he will never be wrong. Anyone who contradicts him, however much he knows what he is doing, is either alienated or evil.
Follow these rules and thus, you will have your protagonist from shounen, ready to be part of yet another repetitive and clichéd work that differs nothing from other works. Have fun.
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