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Do you really like it when a hero protagonist in anime is funny or do you rather when he is serious?

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Apr 4, 1:48 PM
#1
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Dec 2024
27
Does any particular character come to mind?
Apr 4, 2:03 PM
#2
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Mar 2017
355
Both , both is cool
I like them more Funny but they can have their serious cool moments
Like gintoki natsu Luffy and so so
Serious guys are cool but only if not in a boring way
Apr 4, 2:11 PM
#3

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Dec 2018
1302
Funny like Minako in Sailor V and Usagi in Sailor Moon.

Apr 4, 3:10 PM
#4

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Jul 2013
9696
I prefer a hero in an anime who is very serious.
Apr 4, 5:10 PM
#5

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Jul 2013
9696
There is no reason to take anime seriously at all.
Apr 4, 5:24 PM
#6
♡( •ॢ◡-ॢ)✧˖° ♡

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Dec 2014
20934
I prefer serious protagonist,

If they tried to be funny once in a while it's alright, but if they did it too often it's a turn off.



(っ◔◡◔)っ 𝓘 𝔀𝓲𝓼𝓱 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓪 𝔀𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓾𝓵 𝓭𝓪𝔂 ♥
Apr 4, 5:28 PM
#7

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Sep 2013
454
A protagonist having both traits is preferable. However, having these traits at once doesn’t mean I will automatically like this protagonist as it still heavily depends on how the character is written.
Geark77Apr 4, 5:37 PM
Apr 4, 6:32 PM
#8

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Feb 2025
558
I much prefer it when the protagonist is smart. That doesn't prevent them from being funny (e.g. Kanon Shibuya), but too many shows think funny = "relatable" idiot manchild.
Apr 4, 10:49 PM
#9

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Jul 2021
3072
If I have to pick one, I'll pick "serious." "Funny" has a lower probability of success, like when characters try to be funny but I just don't find them funny.

Sticking with the "hero" types...

For serious, someone like Thorfinn from Vinland Saga.

For funny, Saitama from One Punch Man.

For both serious and funny, I say Sugimoto from Golden Kamuy.
Apr 4, 10:53 PM
🍅 Tomato 🍅

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Feb 2020
115967
I generally like funny protagonists more than serious ones. Anyway, it also depends on the show of course.

Imagine Ginko acting like Yui Hirasawa. It probably wouldn't work too well.
Apr 4, 10:56 PM

Online
Dec 2021
3598
The funnier a character is, the easier it is to like them. The more you like them, the more it'll hurt when you see them feel hurt. This is why I loved Urusei Yatsura so much, it's ability to effortlessly be a comedy heavy anime with the ability to suddenly pivot to sad moments that actually make you feel something.
Apr 4, 11:29 PM

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Jan 2023
2958
I'll go with funny as comedy is my favorite genre, but both are fine :)
Apr 4, 11:45 PM
I love Dubs!💘

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May 2015
149
I tend to like more stoic and serious characters.
I think the pinnacle of this would be Tatsuya Shiba.
Tho occasionally he does make a joke but it's delivered with such a straight face which makes it even better.
Apr 5, 2:14 AM

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Jan 2021
6510
Both can be good. Depends on story and moments as well.
If you enjoyed the time you wasted, then its not a waste of time.

Apr 5, 6:20 AM

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Apr 2024
348
gosh, no!
_hero
_male protagonist.
_serious.
three biggest prude-mocking jokes that make the whole story become one-dimensional self-righteous shit.
it so ... ewwww!
Apr 5, 6:33 AM

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Aug 2010
2649
Yes, I'm more likely to like them if they're funny.
Apr 5, 6:41 AM

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Jul 2013
9696
I don't like serious anime protagonists. Then again, I hardly even watch anime for the plot. I watch it for the flashy visuals. I hardly care about the plots of anime shows TBH.
Apr 7, 5:52 PM

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Jan 2018
38
Both.
A serious MC is good and all, but usually, they get paired with more loud and flashy characters to balance out the show

    Some examples:
  • Thorfinn and Askeladd - Vinland Saga
  • Saiki and any character - Saiki
  • Jotaro and the entire part 3 gang - JoJo


While a funny MC can usually stand out by themselves or are paired with someone the opposite or as loud as them, as long as the MC knows when to be funny and when to be serious during moments in the show.
Apr 7, 6:10 PM

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Apr 2008
2781
I like a good mix...Senku from Dr. Stone as an example...he knows the right times to be serious as well as other times to be derpy. Luffy is another example he is funny most of the time but can have his serious moments as well. As far as more serious or goofy main characters...if they have other characters that balance them out I also don't mind that as well. Like Laios from Dungeon Meshi he is pretty much goofy all the time but he has party members like the more sarcastic chilchuck and neurotic/fussy marcille that balance the party out well.
Infinite-VoidApr 7, 6:13 PM
Apr 7, 6:54 PM
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Feb 2024
621
It depends on the general tone of the work, a more serious work and I'll generally prefer a more serious protagonist (For example, Menou in Executioner and Her Way of Life)
However in a more comedic work I'll prefer a funnier protagonist (For example, Momoka in Sabagebu)

That doesn't mean that there can't be exceptions to the rule of course, Clay from Dungeon People is a pretty serious character in a pretty light-hearted show and I think it works really well, conversly Yuki from Gakkou Gurashi is a pretty funny character in a pretty serious show and it also works incredibly well.
Apr 8, 9:45 AM

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Jan 2025
358
Both, Both is good. So long they keep the plot rolling and actively participate, I can see the purpose of either a super serious Main or a Silly goofy Main... Best case is a character that can do both depending on what the situation calls for.
Apr 8, 9:54 AM

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Feb 2020
775
When he behaves like an actual human
Apr 8, 9:56 AM

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May 2018
3831
Both are good. I only dislike mentally challenged characters like Ichigo, Naruto or Luffy and comically serious edgelords like Light or Lelouch.
Apr 8, 2:50 PM

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Aug 2017
545
I like mixed, funny and serious like Joseph Joestar
Apr 8, 8:06 PM

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Jul 2024
4283
I'll tell you why A funny protagonist is so much better by making it a joy to watch anime.
Humor breathes life into their journey, and I love seeing a hero face challenges with wit, clumsiness, or unexpected comedy. It makes them all the more relatable.
Characters like Gintoki from Gintama or Saitama from One Punch Man, Ryoutsu from Kochikame are my favorite for they just turn even dire situations into laugh-out-loud moments.

A comedic hero make the emotional beats hit harder. When a character who’s funny and carefree suddenly confronts a serious or vulnerable moment, it creates a powerful contrast, making those heartfelt scenes even more powerful that's why Gintama, kochikame also make people cry

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