Seinen Protagonist



A seinen protagonist is a protagonist usually seen in a seinen manga and anime.

Why This Trope Rocks

 * 1) Their stories are usually realistic, as they experience more than battle hardships. In fact, these said stories are focused on their relationships with others.
 * 2) They are considered deconstructed versions of a shonen protagonist, which makes their stories more refreshing and compelling.
 * 3) Like their shonen counterparts, they grow not only in terms of abilities, but in terms of strength of character as well.
 * 4) They possess a strong sense of willpower.
 * 5) Most of them are relatable, as they are explored as complex characters who are dealing with personal and social struggles.
 * 6) Their sense of morality is complex as well, as they know that the world is not completely black-and-white.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Many seinen protagonists are known for being cynical and apathetic, albeit in a sympathetic manner.
 * 2) As a result of their personal hardships, many seinen protagonists experience so much emotional and/or mental distress that it causes them to isolate themselves from others and have trust issues.

Anime & Manga

 * 1) Afro Samurai (Afro Samurai)
 * 2) Guts (Berserk)
 * 3) Saichi Sugimoto (Golden Kamuy)
 * 4) Ryuko Matoi (Kill La Kill)
 * 5) Ri Shin (Kingdom)
 * 6) Shinichi Izumi (Parasyte)
 * 7) Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)
 * 8) Kaguya Shinomiya (Kaguya-sama: Love is War)
 * 9) Taiga Aisaka (Toradora!)
 * 10) Golgo 13/Duke Togo (Golgo 13)
 * 11) Akira Fudo/Devilman (Devilman)
 * 12) Naoto Fuyumine (Dogs)
 * 13) Badou Nails (Dogs)
 * 14) Heine Rammsteiner (Dogs)
 * 15) Mihai Mihaeroff (Dogs)
 * 16) Hori Yoshio (Dokudami Tenement/Dokudami Singles Apartment)
 * 17) Kenshiro (Fist of the North Star)
 * 18) Saichi Sugimoto (Golden Kamuy)
 * 19) Asirpa (Golden Kamuy)
 * 20) Ri Shin (Kingdom)
 * 21) Shiraishi (Kubo-San Doesn't Leave Me Be (A Mob))
 * 22) Kubo (Kubo-San Doesn't Leave Me Be (A Mob))
 * 23) Josuke Higashikata (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 8: JoJolion)
 * 24) Nao Kanzaki (Liar Game)
 * 25) Shinichi Akiyama (Liar Game)
 * 26) Seto (Naughty Gyaru Anjou-san)
 * 27) Anna Anjou (Naughty Gyaru Anjou-san)
 * 28) Various Characters (The Ravages Of Time)
 * 29) Nomiya Tomomi (Real)
 * 30) Togawa Kiyoharu (Real)
 * 31) Takahashi Hisanobu (Real)
 * 32) Jun Sakurada (Rozen Maiden)
 * 33) Kintarō Yajima (Salaryman Kintarō)
 * 34) Emilico (Shadows House)
 * 35) Kate Shadow (Shadows House)
 * 36) Reiji Kurose (Shōnen no Abyss/Boy's Abyss)
 * 37) Kujaku (Spirit Warrior)
 * 38) Ken Kitano (Sun-Ken Rock)
 * 39) Various Characters ( Terra Formers)

Cartoons & Comics

 * 1) Sterling Archer (Archer)
 * 2) Stan Smith (American Dad)
 * 3) BoJack Horseman (BoJack Horseman)
 * 4) Huey Freeman (The Boondocks)
 * 5) Batman (DC Comics)
 * 6) Deadpool (Marvel Comics)
 * 7) Kaz Kaan (Neo Yokio)
 * 8) Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty)
 * 9) Samurai Jack (Samurai Jack)
 * 10) Player (Friday Night Funkin' Logic)
 * 11) Deadpool (Marvel Comics)
 * 12) Frank Castle/Punisher (''MAX Comics'-)
 * 13) Jesse Custer (Preacher)
 * 14) Proinsias Cassidy (Preacher)
 * 15) Tulip O'Hare (''Preacher)
 * 16) Rac Shade (Shade, the Changing Man)
 * 17) Various Characters (Sin City)
 * 18) Spider Jerusalem (Transmetropolitan)
 * 19) V (V for Vendetta)
 * 20) Dream (Vertigo/DC Comics)
 * 21) Lucifer (Vertigo Comics)
 * 22) John Constantine (Vertigo/DC Comics)
 * 23) Various Characters (Watchmen/DC Comics)
 * 24) Various Characters (Fables)
 * 25) Albert Francis Simmons/Spawn (Image Comics)
 * 26) James "Logan" Hewlett/Wolverine (Marvel Comics'')

Live-Action Film & Television

 * 1) Walter White (Breaking Bad)
 * 2) Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)
 * 3) Dexter Morgan (Dexter)
 * 4) Anthony "Tony" Soprano (The Sopranos)
 * 5) Sam Winchester & Dean Winchester (Supernatural)
 * 6) Stefan and Damon Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries)
 * 7) *Niklaus "Klaus" Mikealson (The Originals)
 * 8) *Hope Mikealson (Legacies)
 * 9) Various characters (The Wire)
 * 10) *Jimmy McNulty
 * 11) *Omar Little
 * 12) Jason "Tre" Styles III (Boyz n the Hood)
 * 13) Kaydee "Caine" Lawson (Menace II Society )
 * 14) Lucious Lyon (Empire)
 * 15) Quincy "Q" Powell (Juice)
 * 16) Kool (Hot Boyz)

Video Games

 * 1) GTA Protagonists (Grand Theft Auto)
 * 2) Solid Snake (Metal Gear)
 * 3) Cole McGrath (InFamous)
 * 4) Delsin Rowe (InFamous: Second Son)
 * 5) Alex Mercer (Prototype)
 * 6) Sgt James Heller (Prototype 2)
 * 7) Joel Miller (The Last of Us)
 * 8) Ellie (Pre-mh:crappygames:The Last of Us Part II)
 * 9) Arthur Morgan (mh:awesomegames:Red Dead Redemption 2)
 * 10) Kratos (God of War)
 * 11) Travis Touchdown (No More Heroes)
 * 12) Sly Cooper (Sly Cooper)