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Enough with this "determinator" MC in shounen

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Jul 9, 2017 9:03 AM
#1
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After watching Ballroom, I realize the pattern of shounen (not sure if Ballroom really a "shounen" since it's going to be another gay sports anime) protagonists that they almost always tenacious, in contrast of anime watchers who give up even before trying. MC is supposed to represent the audience right?
Jul 9, 2017 9:09 AM
#2

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for the love of Odin do not bring back disgusting cry baby MCs
Jul 9, 2017 9:17 AM
#3

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Enough with this "shounen" in contrast of anime watchers who are not teen boys. Demographic is supposed to represent the audience right?
Jul 9, 2017 9:18 AM
#4

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First, Ballroom is a Shounen no matter how gay you think it is. It's not a matter of opinion. Second, determination is a common Shounen trope, the same way that self-harm and suicide are common Shoujo tropes, if you don't feel like facing it look for other demography or read summarys about the characters before watching/reading whatever it is that you want to.
llorandoJul 9, 2017 9:22 AM
Jul 9, 2017 9:19 AM
#5

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Well I'd prefer determined MC's over crybaby weak indecisive MC's anyday.
Jul 9, 2017 9:30 AM
#6

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Tsukihiko said:
self-harm and suicide are common Shoujo tropes
How are these common Shoujo tropes? Or am I misunderstanding something here?
Jul 9, 2017 9:33 AM
#7

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Tsukihiko said:
self-harm and suicide are common Shoujo tropes


nah I think misunderstandings and love triangles are common shoujo tropes
Jul 9, 2017 9:44 AM
#8

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Haibara said:
Tsukihiko said:
self-harm and suicide are common Shoujo tropes
How are these common Shoujo tropes? Or am I misunderstanding something here?


It is, classic shoujo literally overuses these tropes.
Jul 9, 2017 9:56 AM
#9

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normalanimefan said:
After watching Ballroom, I realize the pattern of shounen (not sure if Ballroom really a "shounen" since it's going to be another gay sports anime) protagonists that they almost always tenacious, in contrast of anime watchers who give up even before trying. MC is supposed to represent the audience right?
Ballroom's MC seems tenacious to you? If you compare it with your run-of-the-mill Shinji, then I guess he does something, but well.

Also, why is he supposed to represent the audience? Are you in need of self-insert? Then bad news for you, since it won't be a yaoi-bait anime.
Jul 9, 2017 10:22 AM

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Deknijff said:
for the love of Odin do not bring back disgusting cry baby MCs

all shinji ikari clones have to be fucking terminated of the face of this earth, to never come back
Jul 9, 2017 10:24 AM

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Lordwen said:
normalanimefan said:
After watching Ballroom, I realize the pattern of shounen (not sure if Ballroom really a "shounen" since it's going to be another gay sports anime) protagonists that they almost always tenacious, in contrast of anime watchers who give up even before trying. MC is supposed to represent the audience right?
Ballroom's MC seems tenacious to you? If you compare it with your run-of-the-mill Shinji, then I guess he does something, but well.

Also, why is he supposed to represent the audience? Are you in need of self-insert? Then bad news for you, since it won't be a yaoi-bait anime.

the main character is usually a stand in for the audience, it is through his mentality that the audience expiriences most events, so it helps for the audience to relate to the series, when his mentality is not something completely alien to their own
Jul 9, 2017 10:26 AM

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I find tenacious guy to be very attractive. So no, it's not enough. XD
Jul 9, 2017 10:28 AM

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gabrielrroiz said:
Lordwen said:
Ballroom's MC seems tenacious to you? If you compare it with your run-of-the-mill Shinji, then I guess he does something, but well.

Also, why is he supposed to represent the audience? Are you in need of self-insert? Then bad news for you, since it won't be a yaoi-bait anime.

the main character is usually a stand in for the audience, it is through his mentality that the audience expiriences most events, so it helps for the audience to relate to the series, when his mentality is not something completely alien to their own
Sure, but that's not necessarily a requirement. More commendable and enriching is when the show is able to capture the thoughts and actions of a character that is totally unlike you, yet making it still somewhat approachable.
Jul 9, 2017 10:29 AM

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gabrielrroiz said:
Lordwen said:
Ballroom's MC seems tenacious to you? If you compare it with your run-of-the-mill Shinji, then I guess he does something, but well.

Also, why is he supposed to represent the audience? Are you in need of self-insert? Then bad news for you, since it won't be a yaoi-bait anime.

the main character is usually a stand in for the audience, it is through his mentality that the audience expiriences most events, so it helps for the audience to relate to the series, when his mentality is not something completely alien to their own


While Ballroom's MC might be a bit too quick to be determined in ballroom dancing, some stuff just clicks you know? I kinda relate with how he wanted one thing to like passionately.
Jul 9, 2017 10:29 AM

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gabrielrroiz said:
Deknijff said:
for the love of Odin do not bring back disgusting cry baby MCs
all shinji ikari clones have to be fucking terminated of the face of this earth, to never come back
and lets also terminate patient zero AKA Shinji himself so to make sure a out break can never happen again
Jul 9, 2017 10:33 AM

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normalanimefan said:
in contrast of anime watchers who give up even before trying. MC is supposed to represent the audience right?
normalanimefan said:
watching Ballroom,
then make like an anime watcher and quit ur shit taste now
Jul 11, 2017 8:44 AM

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Deknijff said:
for the love of Odin do not bring back disgusting cry baby MCs


Yukki is an excellent protagonist in a setting that takes advantage of his traits.

The other two are lifeless rip-offs.
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Jul 11, 2017 11:23 AM

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notanimefan said:
After watching Ballroom, I realize the pattern of shounen (not sure if Ballroom really a "shounen" since it's going to be another gay sports anime) protagonists that they almost always tenacious, in contrast of anime watchers who give up even before trying. MC is supposed to represent the audience right?


1.No, the MC is NOT supposed to represent the audience. A MC's role or existence is not essentially bound to the audience, that's just limiting and dumb.

2.MCs like these do not serve as representation but inspiration. They serve as a example to people that they can do it if they put the effort and don't give up.

3.It's their determination and effort that sets them apart from others and allows them to eventually rise to the top.

4.No ordinary person can be the best at what they do without effort. In that sense, these kinds of MCs are pretty realistic.

5.Ballroom e Youkoso gay? This is bait. Didn't you see the beautiful girl the MC got infatuated by?
HyperLJul 11, 2017 12:12 PM
You are not your body, you are your brain, the "self" that emerges from within it.
Jul 11, 2017 12:00 PM
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Haibara said:
Tsukihiko said:
self-harm and suicide are common Shoujo tropes
How are these common Shoujo tropes? Or am I misunderstanding something here?


In fact, during the 70s and 80s decades in shōjo, it was common that one or numerous MC (if not the lead character) to die at the end of the manga. Thus suicide was a typical way to finish a manga, between random accident or other murders.

This, just to speak of the endings alone, after that, you have all the events of the story.
For taking a maybe too-much example but a cult-classic of the shōjo, there is Oniisama e… where I don't even have enough fingers on my both hands to count the number of the suicide attempts in that anime. Considering that the anime changed the ending in comparison to the manga, by transforming a suicide into an accident.
Oniisama e… being a manga from the major author Riyoko Ikeda, she wrote it just after Rose of Versailles, another cult-classic that also ends by massive deaths of the characters and notably two flamboyant suicides in the middle of the story.
More edifying would be another cult-classic of that time, Heart of Thomas where the title character kill himself right at the third page of the manga.

It became a less common trope over time, but still largely present in the older tier of the shōjo nowadays.
I haven't read that much modern shōjo in comparison to the old, but for example Daisy 3.11 is a good example, here again the suicide is even mentioned in the synopsis. Or Orange for taking a more popular example.

If you check all the shōjo in my both fav' list (anime and manga), which count in total 17 shōjo, most of them being classic/major works, 10 of them contains suicide attempts and 5 of them self-hurting episodes, without counting all the rapes, murders and others unhealthy elements.


Beside the cute shōjo stories, there is also a strong movement of self-destruction and more or less conscious search for suffering in the shōjo. The rape fantasies and other unhealthy relationships are other very visible traits/tropes of that tendency.
removed-userJul 11, 2017 12:09 PM
Jul 11, 2017 12:40 PM

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I got sick of this ngga after one episode....

I honestly hate this type of character.

I wonder how not many people find him annoying.
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Jul 11, 2017 12:48 PM

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TheBrainintheJar said:
Deknijff said:
for the love of Odin do not bring back disgusting cry baby MCs
Yukki is an excellent protagonist in a setting that takes advantage of his traits.

The other two are lifeless rip-offs.
eh well I will agree he is the better of the 3 at least and that the show is better than DW and TG
Jul 12, 2017 12:31 AM

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Deknijff said:
TheBrainintheJar said:
Yukki is an excellent protagonist in a setting that takes advantage of his traits.

The other two are lifeless rip-offs.
eh well I will agree he is the better of the 3 at least and that the show is better than DW and TG


Yukki isn't just a 'wimp' but a lonely person who really wants to be with others. His desire for company is his drive. The others got nothing unique to them except being a good, heroic person in the most generic way.
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Jul 12, 2017 2:07 AM

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notanimefan said:
After watching Ballroom, I realize the pattern of shounen (not sure if Ballroom really a "shounen" since it's going to be another gay sports anime) protagonists that they almost always tenacious, in contrast of anime watchers who give up even before trying. MC is supposed to represent the audience right?

Basically, many shounen anime are propaganda of Japanese virtues. Determination and hard work are major virtues of Japanese culture, and are often used in this class of works.

Sure, there are characters who give up before even trying, or need to be motivated a lot. These characters usually live in more realistic works like Oregairu.

P.S. Protagonists like Shinji go too far into realistic territory, which hurts the audience's fantasies of being awesome. Authors should use them wisely.
Jul 12, 2017 2:27 AM
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I agree! We need more protagonists who prevail not because they are determined, but simply because they're skilled and competent.
It's always a great thing when we get an MC who is already experienced at the beginning of the story, because then we can quickly establish that yes, he's a badass and we don't have to spend precious time with him becoming one, which sooner or later WILL happen to every MC, so why even bother? Thanks to this we have more time for building relationships, exploring the plot and appreciating just how badass our MC is.
Jul 12, 2017 2:27 AM
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It's "Shounen" most audience wants some bad-ass looking MC with high confidence.

The "weak" "undetermined" MC is all okay if the author puts some development in it.

I prefer characters like Glenn Radars (Rokudenashi Akashic Record) over Souta (Re:Creators). Because well Glenn is Alpha and Souta is Beta MC.

The first time I read/watch Boku no Hero I really hate Deku because he is weak but after reading/watching it for the story. . . I gotta say Deku is bad-ass !

It doesn't what type of MC in shounen as long the story is interesting.
Jul 12, 2017 2:31 AM

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>another gay sports anime

stopped reading right there
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Kellhus said:
GuusWayne said:
there is a limit to the suspension of disbelief

And it's the fan that did it. Not the smoking porn reading rubik cube genius rape ape with a magic boat.
Jul 12, 2017 2:51 AM

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Askorti said:
I agree! We need more protagonists who prevail not because they are determined, but simply because they're skilled and competent.
It's always a great thing when we get an MC who is already experienced at the beginning of the story, because then we can quickly establish that yes, he's a badass and we don't have to spend precious time with him becoming one, which sooner or later WILL happen to every MC, so why even bother? Thanks to this we have more time for building relationships, exploring the plot and appreciating just how badass our MC is.

Except that a lot of people on these forums will cry how these characters are overpowered mary sues. (notable examples are Kirito the Black Swordsman and Tatsuya the Onii-sama)
But I agree, competent protagonists are nice.
Jul 12, 2017 2:55 AM
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flannan said:
overpowered mary sues. (notable examples are Kirito the Black Swordsman and Tatsuya the Onii-sama)


ye i thought people hate perfect main characters too lol

the endless cycle of finding ways to please everybody especially with regards to entertainment
Jul 12, 2017 3:01 AM

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I think "determined" is the expression you were looking for.

Seriously, your shitposts are beyond bad. Here's a gift for your soul:
Jul 12, 2017 3:52 AM
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flannan said:
Askorti said:
I agree! We need more protagonists who prevail not because they are determined, but simply because they're skilled and competent.
It's always a great thing when we get an MC who is already experienced at the beginning of the story, because then we can quickly establish that yes, he's a badass and we don't have to spend precious time with him becoming one, which sooner or later WILL happen to every MC, so why even bother? Thanks to this we have more time for building relationships, exploring the plot and appreciating just how badass our MC is.

Except that a lot of people on these forums will cry how these characters are overpowered mary sues. (notable examples are Kirito the Black Swordsman and Tatsuya the Onii-sama)
But I agree, competent protagonists are nice.


That's probably because people are too used to the characters starting out weak. If we get more competent characters, they will realize that those are not really Gary Stus. Or that it's actually not a bad thing for a character to be one in the first place.
Jul 12, 2017 4:02 AM

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lol enough with these crybaby wimpy ass negative beta shonen protagonist
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Jul 12, 2017 4:35 AM

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j0x said:
flannan said:
overpowered mary sues. (notable examples are Kirito the Black Swordsman and Tatsuya the Onii-sama)


ye i thought people hate perfect main characters too lol

the endless cycle of finding ways to please everybody especially with regards to entertainment

Actually the claim that these main characters are "perfect", when they're just good at what they do, is what makes these types of arguments unpleasant.
Like sure, Kirito is one of the best virtual swordsmen. He is also a pretty good explorer of virtual worlds. And popular with girls. And that's pretty much all he is good at.
Jul 12, 2017 4:37 AM

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flannan said:
j0x said:


ye i thought people hate perfect main characters too lol

the endless cycle of finding ways to please everybody especially with regards to entertainment

Actually the claim that these main characters are "perfect", when they're just good at what they do, is what makes these types of arguments unpleasant.
Like sure, Kirito is one of the best virtual swordsmen. He is also a pretty good explorer of virtual worlds. And popular with girls. And that's pretty much all he is good at.
and that's pretty much everything lol
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Hey guys check my profile for current airing season anime recommendation (guaranteed best taste)
Nov 30, 2019 8:52 PM
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Deknijff said:
for the love of Odin do not bring back disgusting cry baby MCs



yeah those are some of the worst crybaby beta male main characters .
yet the worst and most annoying piece of trash character is deku (midoriya) from boku no hero academia.
i haven't seen anything close to how much pathetic that MC is.
Nov 30, 2019 8:54 PM

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Indunisya212 said:
After watching Ballroom, I realize the pattern of shounen (not sure if Ballroom really a "shounen" since it's going to be another gay sports anime) protagonists that they almost always tenacious, in contrast of anime watchers who give up even before trying. MC is supposed to represent the audience right?


Now a man holding a girl from the waist a leading her up is while wearing a manly tuxedo is "gay sport". the things I have to read.
:v
Nov 30, 2019 9:08 PM

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TheBrainintheJar said:
Deknijff said:
for the love of Odin do not bring back disgusting cry baby MCs


Yukki is an excellent protagonist in a setting that takes advantage of his traits.

The other two are lifeless rip-offs.
TheBrainintheJar said:
Deknijff said:
for the love of Odin do not bring back disgusting cry baby MCs


Yukki is an excellent protagonist in a setting that takes advantage of his traits.



Ya his traits of being a totally unlikable buffoon
What a beautiful Duwang
Nov 30, 2019 9:17 PM

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I feel like shounens have this type of "determinator" MC because it would make sense for the demographic of shounen to have a fun, outgoing, determined, and never give up type of style rather than a cry-baby who can't do one thing right. Remember that shounens are directed towards 12-18 year olds, so these type of studios are basically forced in a way to make a shounen MC a "determinator."
Nov 30, 2019 9:26 PM

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It's really hard for shounen to work without an MC that has a clear goal and the determination to reach it. In shounen, you're watching this kid grow to become the best or the strongest or whatever and that just can't happen unless they have the drive to do that.
If the MC doesn't have determination they're not gonna get fucking anywhere and you'll end up with either a really great parody show or a very shitty boring anime.

I don't think characters always represent the audience, I'd say (in shounen, at least) they represent what the audience wants to be. This is where you get all those stupidly overpowered Isekai protagonists and basically every determined shounen protagonist. They're (supposed to be) what the audience wants to be like and that's why people like them.

I understand that you might be sick of determined MCs because you can't relate to them so just don't watch shounen because that's all you're gonna get.

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