The Clueless Guy is a very common motif in both shonen and shojo. Clueless Guys are very dense about the romantic or sexual interest of others. They are often naive and appear innocent. Although the Clueless Guy is closely related to the Pervert stereotype. Clueless guys have Pervert tendencies but try to hide or control…
Category: Understanding Anime
Anime Stereotypes: The Library Girl
Glasses? Check. Messed up hair? Check. Air of distraction? Check. The Library Girl is a common stereotype in anime. Smart, socially inept, and often clumsy, she has her own groupies. However, she also doesn’t get enough credit. Spending 16 years (since most are teenagers and genius as well) reading everything in sight gives the Library…
Anime Stereotypes: the Pervert
I am kicking off a new series on character stereotypes found in anime. One of the most common is the pervert. Just about every anime has one; although, they do vary in how overt the perversion. The Pervert is usually the comic relief. Typically male, he is the friend or “frenemy” of the protagonist. Every…
Anime Breasts and the Relationship with Character Personalities
Mammoth marshmallow mounds of mammary marvelousness are a common theme in anime. It isn’t just for fan service or comedy either. Breast size is a common shorthand for characterization too. Okay, not all the time. Sometimes the impossible gravity defying perkiness is just for guys (and girls?) to fantasize over. What Breast Size Represents Anime…
Anime and High School
I already griped about anime and high school. It’s time I look at exactly why so many anime use high school as the main focus…other than letting the artists draw cute uniforms. Certainly teenagers are a good audience to market to, but many manga and anime oriented for adults still feature teens as characters…Perhaps this…
Brief Visual Anime History
Anime as we know it has been around in Japan since the Edo period…ok at least it draws it’s roots to that period. Ukiyo-e were woodblock prints. Ever heard of Katsushika Hokusai? His work is ukiyo-e. You can see many of the elements anime will draw from: the simplified yet expressive faces, the vibrant colors,…