Shonen Protagonist



A shonen protagonist is a protagonist that is typically found in shonen manga and anime.

Why This Trope Rocks

 * 1) These kinds of heroes have to work hard to improve their capabilities.
 * 2) Many shonen heroes have grit, as they do not always win and have to push beyond their limits.
 * 3) No matter how many odds are against them, they refuse to give up.
 * 4) They fight for altruistic reasons, most notably to protect their friends.
 * 5) They grow not only in terms of abilities but also in terms of strength of character, as they grow as people throughout their journeys.
 * 6) They can be relatable characters, as they represent the fact that all people have their own goals in life, deal with obstacles and find ways to overcome them.
 * 7) *Their stories show that the destination is not what matters, but the journey and the experiences that are gained from it.
 * 8) They are charismatic, as they can turn their enemies and rivals into friends and allies.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Many shonen heroes are known for being dimwitted, naive, reckless and/or impulsive.
 * 2) Most shonen heroes can be rebellious, mischievous, unruly and/or temperamental.

Anime/Manga

 * 1) Jio Freed (666 Satan/O-Parts Hunter)
 * 2) Sora Kurumatani (Ahiru no Sora/Sora the Duck)
 * 3) Sano Tamashii (Apple Black)
 * 4) Astro Boy (Astro Boy)
 * 5) Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)
 * 6) Maruo Kaido (Ayashimon)
 * 7) Urara (Ayashimon)
 * 8) Dan Kuso (Bakugan)
 * 9) Jo Pae (Bal Jak)
 * 10) Tatsumi Oga (Beelzebub)
 * 11) Tysson Granger (Beyblade)
 * 12) Valt Aoi (Beyblade Burst)
 * 13) Asta (Black Clover)
 * 14) Leopold Vermillion (Black Clover)
 * 15) Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)
 * 16) Rin Okumura (Blue Exorcist)
 * 17) Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo)
 * 18) Boruto Uzumaki (Boruto: Naruto Next Generation)
 * 19) Isao Akia (Bully Eater)
 * 20) Denji (Chainsaw Man)
 * 21) Clare (Claymore)
 * 22) Cast (Clock Striker)
 * 23) Lelouch Lamperougue (Code Geass)
 * 24) Allen Waller (D-Gray Man)
 * 25) L (Death Note)
 * 26) Tanjiro Kamado (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)
 * 27) Taichi Kamiya (Digimon)
 * 28) Dora Sasaki and Kusanagi (Doron Dororon)
 * 29) Son Goku (Dragon Ball series)
 * 30) Vegeta (Dragon Ball series)
 * 31) Senku Ishigami (Dr. Stone)
 * 32) Shiki Granbell (Edens Zero)
 * 33) Natsu Dragneel (Fairy Tail)
 * 34) Shinra Kusakabe (Fire Force)
 * 35) Kenshiro (Fist of the North Star)
 * 36) Recca Hanabishi (Flame of Recca)
 * 37) Soma Yukihira (Food Wars!)
 * 38) Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)
 * 39) Philip (Futo Detective)
 * 40) Shotaro Hidari (Futo Detective)
 * 41) Ban Mido (Getbackers)
 * 42) Ginji Amano (Getbackers)
 * 43) Gintoki Sakata (Gintama)
 * 44) Jin-Mori (The God of High School)
 * 45) Gang Ryong (Gosu)
 * 46) Shoyo Hinata (Haikyuu!!)
 * 47) Makunouchi Ippo (Hajime no Ippo)
 * 48) Stud Nail Hammer (Hammer)
 * 49) Gabimaru (Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku)
 * 50) Joey Jones (HEROMAN)
 * 51) Issei Hyoudo (Highschool DxD)
 * 52) Taikoubou (Houshin Engi)
 * 53) Velou (The Hunters Guild: Red Hood)
 * 54) Grimm (The Hunters Guild: Red Hood)
 * 55) Gon Freecss (Hunter X Hunter)
 * 56) Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
 * 57) Sakon Futatsuki (i tell c)
 * 58) Jonathan Joestar (Part 1: Phantom Blood)
 * 59) Joseph Joestar (Part 2: Battle Tendency)
 * 60) Jotaro Kujo (Part 3: Stardust Crusaders)
 * 61) Josuke Higashikata (Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable)
 * 62) Koichi Hirose (Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable)
 * 63) Giorno Giovanna (Part 5: Golden Wind)
 * 64) Jolyne Kujo (Part 6: Stone Ocean)
 * 65) Yuji Itadori (JUJUTSU KAISEN)
 * 66) Tsunayoshi Sawada (Katekyo Hitman Reborn!)
 * 67) Kinnikuman (Kinnikuman)
 * 68) Komi Shouko (Komi Can't Communicate)
 * 69) Atsuko "Akko" Kagari (Little Witch Academia)
 * 70) Hiraku Shidou (Magic Knight Rayearth)
 * 71) Mash Burnedead (Mashle: Magic and Muscles)
 * 72) Kezuru (Mazica Party)
 * 73) Mob (Mob Psycho 100)
 * 74) Nilay Rao (The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts)
 * 75) Kouji Kabuto (Mazinger Z)
 * 76) Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia)
 * 77) Katsuki Bakugo (My Hero Academia)
 * 78) Eijiro Kirishima (My Hero Academia)
 * 79) Toshinori Yagi/All Might (My Hero Academia)
 * 80) Gin (Nagareboshi Gin/Silver Fang: Meteor Gin)
 * 81) Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)
 * 82) Kotaro (Negima! Magister Negi Magi)
 * 83) Chitoge Kirisaki (Nisekoi)
 * 84) Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
 * 85) Saitama (One Punch Man)
 * 86) Rivet Valor (Paradise Down)
 * 87) Seol Jin Heo (Player)
 * 88) Ash Ketchum (Pokémon)
 * 89) Emma (The Promised Neverland)
 * 90) Seth (Radiant)
 * 91) Ranma Saotome (Ranma 1/2)
 * 92) Haru Glory (Rave Master)
 * 93) Tougo (The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World)
 * 94) Himura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)
 * 95) Hanasaki Ayumi (Saigami)
 * 96) Pegusus Seiya (Saint Seiya)
 * 97) Yoh Asakura (Shaman King)
 * 98) Meliodas (Seven Deadly Sins)
 * 99) Niro (Slave B)
 * 100) Dante Alfonse (Soul Beat)
 * 101) Maka Albarn (Soul Eater)
 * 102) Blackstar (Soul Eater)
 * 103) Soul Evans (Soul Eater)
 * 104) Death the Kid (Soul Eater)
 * 105) Hunter Steele (Spider Riders)
 * 106) Loid "Twilight" Forger (SPY×FAMILY)
 * 107) Simon (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
 * 108) Kamina (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
 * 109) Takemichi Hanagaki (Tokyo Revengers)
 * 110) Jin Narumi (Tokyo Shinobi Squad)
 * 111) Toriko (Toriko)
 * 112) Andy (Undead Unluck)
 * 113) Fuuko Izumo (Undead Unluck)
 * 114) Touta (UQ Holder)
 * 115) Ma Gangryong (Veritas)
 * 116) Mo Fan (Versatile Mage)
 * 117) Jeo Seo Cheon (Volcanic Age)
 * 118) Lee Kyul Ip (Wizard of Arsenia)
 * 119) Osamu Mikumo (World Trigger)
 * 120) Taylor Hebert (Worm)
 * 121) Darius Smith (XOGENASYS)
 * 122) Yugi Muto (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
 * 123) Jaden Yuki/Judai Yuki (Yu-Gi-Oh! GX)
 * 124) Yusei Fudo (Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds)
 * 125) Yuma Tsukumo (Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal)
 * 126) Yuya Sakaki (Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc V)
 * 127) Yuga Ohdo (Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS)
 * 128) Yuna (Yuki Yuna is a Hero)
 * 129) Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho)
 * 130) Zatch Bell (Zatch Bell)

Cartoons and Comics

 * 1) Finn Mertens (Adventure Time)
 * 2) Freakazoid (Freakazoid!)
 * 3) Darkwing Duck (Darkwing Duck)
 * 4) Yogi Bear (Yogi Bear)
 * 5) Jake Long (American Dragon Jake Long)
 * 6) Avatar Aang (Avatar: the Last Airbender)
 * 7) Avatar Korra (The Legend of Korra)
 * 8) Ben Tennyson (Ben 10 series)
 * 9) Virgil Hawkins/Static (DC Comics/Milestone Comics)
 * 10) Wonder Woman (DC Comics)
 * 11) SpongeBob SquarePants (SpongeBob SquarePants)
 * 12) Timmy Turner (The Fairly OddParents)
 * 13) Prince Adam/He-Man (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise)
 * 14) Lincoln Loud (The Loud House)
 * 15) Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass (Kick-Ass)
 * 16) Jimmy Neutron (Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius/The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius)
 * 17) Jenny Wakeman (My Life as a Teenage Robot)
 * 18) Danny Fenton/Danny Phantom (Danny Phantom)
 * 19) Sheriff Woody Pride (Toy Story)
 * 20) Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story)
 * 21) Stitch (Lilo & Stitch)
 * 22) Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible (The Incredibles)
 * 23) Dash Parr (The Incredibles)
 * 24) Lightning McQueen (Cars)
 * 25) Kim Possible (Kim Possible)
 * 26) Ron Stoppable (Kim Possible)
 * 27) Kick Buttowski (Kick Buttowski:Surburban Daredevil)
 * 28) Po Ping (Kung Fu Panda)
 * 29) Gumball Watterson (The Amazing World of Gumball)
 * 30) Steven Universe (Steven Universe)
 * 31) K.O (O.K. K.O., Let's Be Heroes!)
 * 32) Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Marvel Comics)
 * 33) Jim Lake Jr. (Tales of Arcadia)
 * 34) The Turtles (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
 * 35) * Leonardo
 * 36) *Raphael
 * 37) *Donatello
 * 38) *Michelangelo
 * 39) Randy Cunningham (Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja)
 * 40) Tommy Pickles (Rugrats)
 * 41) Bart Simpson (The Simpsons)
 * 42) Popeye (Popeye the Sailor)
 * 43) Mordecai and Rigby (Regular Show)
 * 44) Pops Maellard (Regular Show)
 * 45) Hiccup (How to Train Your Dragon)
 * 46) Flik (A Bug's Life)
 * 47) Flint Lockwood (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs)
 * 48) Shrek (Shrek)
 * 49) Oscar the Sharkslayer (Shark Tale)
 * 50) Megamind (Megamind)
 * 51) Cleopatra (Cleopatra in Space)
 * 52) Miles Morales/Ultimate Spider-Man (Marvel Comics)
 * 53) Fa Mulan (Mulan)
 * 54) Kaz Kaan (Neo Yokio)
 * 55) Thor (Marvel Comics)
 * 56) Johnny Test (Johnny Test)
 * 57) Ace Ambling (Ballmasterz: 9009)
 * 58) Mark Grayson/Invincible (Image Comics)
 * 59) Barry Allen/The Flash (DC Comics)
 * 60) Osmosis Jones (Osmosis Jones/Ozzy & Drix)
 * 61) Merida (Brave)
 * 62) Hercules (Hercules)
 * 63) Lewis Robinson (Meet the Robinsons)
 * 64) Omi (Xiaolin Showdown)
 * 65) Raimundo Pedrosa (Xiaolin Showdown)
 * 66) Tim Hunter (The Books of Magic/DC Comics )
 * 67) Scott Pilgrim (Scott Pilgrim)
 * 68) Rodney Copperbottom (Robots)
 * 69) Nate Diesel (Da Boom Crew)
 * 70) Adrien Agreste/Cat Noir (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir)
 * 71) Andy Baker/Fury (Ghost Force)
 * 72) Zak Storm (Zak Storm)
 * 73) Hiro Hamada (Big Hero 6)
 * 74) Aladdin (Aladdin)
 * 75) Ian Lightfoot (Onward)
 * 76) Quasimodo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
 * 77) Simba (The Lion King)
 * 78) Miles Woodman (Our Friend, Martin)
 * 79) Rex Salazar (Generator Rex)
 * 80) Axel Mulligan/Action Axel (Power Players)
 * 81) The Ninja (LEGO Ninjago)
 * 82) *Lloyd Garmadon
 * 83) *Kai
 * 84) *Jay
 * 85) *Zane
 * 86) *Cole
 * 87) * Nya
 * 88) Rikochet (Mucha Lucha)
 * 89) Dexter (Dexter's Laboratory)
 * 90) Yang (Yin Yang Yo!)
 * 91) Hubie (The Pebble and the Penguin)
 * 92) Fievel Mousekewitz (An American Tail)
 * 93) Littlefoot (The Land Before Time)
 * 94) Scooby-Doo (Scooby-Doo)
 * 95) Shaggy Rogers (Scooby-Doo)
 * 96) Cody Maverick (Surf's Up)
 * 97) Richard Tyler (The Pagemaster)
 * 98) Lee Ping (Detentionaire)
 * 99) Peter Pan (Peter Pan)
 * 100) T.J. Dettweiler (Recess)
 * 101) Cornelius Fillmore (Fillmore)
 * 102) Theo "Turbo" the Snail (Turbo)
 * 103) Buddy Thunderstruck (Buddy Thunderstruck)
 * 104) Darnell Fetzervalve (Buddy Thunderstruck)
 * 105) Archie Andrews (Archie Comics)
 * 106) Manny Rivera/El Tigre (El Tigre)
 * 107) Princess Maya Teca (Maya and the Three)
 * 108) Yakko, Wacko, and Dot Warner (The Animamiacs)
 * 109) Josh McGrath (Max Steel)
 * 110) Maxwell McGrath (Max Steel 2013 Reboot)
 * 111) Buster Bunny (Tiny Toon Adventures)
 * 112) Doug Funnie (Doug)
 * 113) Nate Wright (Big Nate)
 * 114) Arnold Shortman (Hey Arnold!)
 * 115) Tarzan (Tarzan)
 * 116) Ed the Protector (Get Ed)
 * 117) Milo Thatch (Atlantis:The Lost Empire)
 * 118) Jim Hawkins (Treasure Planet)
 * 119) Taran (The Black Cauldron)
 * 120) Craig Williams (Craig of the Creek)

Literature

 * 1) Harry Potter (Harry Potter series)
 * 2) Percy Jackson (Camp Half-Blood/Percy Jackson)
 * 3) Eragon Bromsson (The Inheritance Cycle)
 * 4) Katiness Everdeen (The Hunger Games)
 * 5) Beatrice "Tris" Prior (Divergent)
 * 6) Despereaux Tilling (The Tale of Despereaux)
 * 7) Lyra Belacqua (His Dark Materials)
 * 8) Paul Atriedes (Dune)
 * 9) Beth Harmon (The Queen's Gambit)
 * 10) Kaladin Stormblessed (Stormlight Chronicles)
 * 11) Robert Langdon (Robert Langdon)
 * 12) Greg Heffley (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Live-Action Television and Film

 * 1) Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
 * 2) Henry Hart/Kid Danger (Henry Danger/Danger Force)
 * 3) Peter Petrelli (Heroes)
 * 4) Lab Rats protagonists (Lab Rats)
 * 5) *Adam Davenport
 * 6) *Bree Davenport
 * 7) *Chase Davenport
 * 8) *Leo Dooley
 * 9) Kaz and Oliver (Mighty Med)
 * 10) Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
 * 11) Rocky Balboa (Rocky)
 * 12) Calvin Cambridge (Like Mike)
 * 13) Earl J. Hickey (My Name is Earl)
 * 14) Dale Cooper (Twin Peaks)
 * 15) Max Keeble (Max Keeble's Big Move)
 * 16) Adonis "Donnie" Creed (Creed)
 * 17) Daniel LaRusso (The Karate Kid/Cobra Kai)
 * 18) Malcolm Wilkerson (Malcolm in the Middle)
 * 19) Dave Stutler (The Sorcerer's Apprentice)
 * 20) Dre Parker (The Karate Kid (2010))
 * 21) James Bond (007)
 * 22) Timothy Green (The Odd Life of Timothy Green)
 * 23) Jake Tyler (Never Back Down)
 * 24) Jerome "Triple J" Jenkins, Jr. (Like Mike 2: Streetball)
 * 25) Kevin McCallister (Home Alone)
 * 26) David Dunn (Unbreakable)
 * 27) Alex Russo (Wizards of Waverly Place)
 * 28) Dion Warren (Raising Dion)
 * 29) Jamal Walker (Black Knight)
 * 30) Happy Gilmore (Happy Gilmore)
 * 31) Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation)
 * 32) Kirby Buckets (Kirby Buckets)
 * 33) Zeke and Luther (Zeke and Luther)
 * 34) Crash and Wyatt Bernstein (Crash and Bernstein)
 * 35) Conor (Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything)
 * 36) Jack Brewer (Kickin' It)
 * 37) Charlie Landers/Aaron Stone (Aaron Stone)
 * 38) Darryl Walker/Blankman (Blankman)
 * 39) Ignacio/Nacho (Nacho Libre)
 * 40) Jake Peralta (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
 * 41) Calvin Fuller (A Kid in King Arthur's Court/A Kid in Aladdin's Palace)
 * 42) Carmen Cortez (Spy Kids)
 * 43) Juni Cortez (Spy Kids)
 * 44) Cody Banks (Agent Cody Banks)
 * 45) Chris Rock (Everybody Hates Chris)
 * 46) Jefferson Reed/Meteor Man (The Meteor Man)
 * 47) Morton Schmidt and Greg Jenko (21 Jump Street)
 * 48) Axel Foley (Beverly Hills Cop)
 * 49) Ed (Good Burger)
 * 50) Dexter Reed (Good Burger)
 * 51) Marty McFly (Back to the Future)
 * 52) Peter Venkman, Ray Stanz, Egon Spengler and Winston Zeddemore (Ghostbusters)
 * 53) Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett (Bad Boys)
 * 54) Ted Brooks (Snow Dogs)
 * 55) Miguel Diaz (Cobra Kai)
 * 56) Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz (Cobra Kai)
 * 57) Robby Keene (Cobra Kai)

Video Games

 * 1) Sora (Kingdom Hearts)
 * 2) Crash Bandicoot (Crash Bandicoot)
 * 3) Spyro the Dragon (Spyro the Dragon)
 * 4) Mario (Super Mario)
 * 5) Kirby (Kirby)
 * 6) Link (The Legend of Zelda)
 * 7) Pit (Kid Icarus)
 * 8) Roy (Fire Emblem)
 * 9) Spring Man (ARMS)
 * 10) Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic the Hedgehog)
 * 11) Mega Man (Mega Man)
 * 12) Ryu (Street Fighter)
 * 13) Batsu Ichimonji (Rival Schools)
 * 14) Edward Falcon (Power Stone)
 * 15) Wang-Tang (Power Stone)
 * 16) Viewtiful Joe (Viewtiful Joe)
 * 17) Pac-Man (Pac-Man)
 * 18) Terry Bogard (Fatal Fury/KOF)
 * 19) Kyo Kusanagi (The King of Fighters)
 * 20) Haohmaru (Samurai Shodown)
 * 21) Sol Badguy (Guilty Gear)
 * 22) Ragna the Bloodedge (BlazBlue)
 * 23) Bang Shishigami (BlazBlue)
 * 24) Tatsuya Suou (Persona 2)
 * 25) Maya Amano (Persona 2)
 * 26) Makoto Yūki (Persona 3)
 * 27) Aigis (Persona 3: The Answer)
 * 28) Yu Narukami (Persona 4)
 * 29) Ren Amamiya/Joker (Persona 5)
 * 30) Hyde Kido (Under Night In-Birth)
 * 31) Akatsuki (Akatsuki Blitzkampf/EN-Eins Perfektewelt)
 * 32) EN-Eins (Akatsuki Blitzkampf/EN-Eins Perfektewelt)
 * 33) Sieg (Fate/Apocrypha)
 * 34) Hakuno Kishinami (Fate/EXTRA)
 * 35) Ritsuka Fujimaru (Fate/Grand Order)
 * 36) Shirou Emiya (Fate/stay Night)
 * 37) Kritsugu Emiya (Fate/Zero)
 * 38) Waver Velvet (Fate/Zero/The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II)
 * 39) Shiki Tohno (Tsukihime)
 * 40) Shiki Ryougi (Garden of Sinners)
 * 41) Filia (Skullgirls)
 * 42) Shantae (Shantae)
 * 43) Shovel Knight (Shovel Knight)
 * 44) Tak (Tak and the Power of Juju)
 * 45) Tracer (Overwatch)
 * 46) Nathan Adams (Yo-kai Watch)
 * 47) Frisk (Undertale)
 * 48) Undyne (Undertale)
 * 49) Dante (Devil May Cry)
 * 50) Earthworm Jim (Earthworm Jim)
 * 51) Tork (Tork: Prehistoric Punk)
 * 52) Dr. Muto (Dr. Muto)
 * 53) Scaler (Scaler)
 * 54) Maximillian "Max the Bug Slayer" Riot (Centipede:Infestation)
 * 55) Pepsiman (Pepsiman)
 * 56) Razputin Aquato (Psychonauts)

Web Animation

 * 1) Ruby Rose (RWBY)
 * 2) Yang Xiao Long (RWBY)
 * 3) Firey (Battle for Dream Island)
 * 4) Stinkoman (Homestar Runner)
 * 5) Hiro (Hiro the Dense-Dense Shonen Protagonist)
 * 6) Leo Thomas (Ordeal)
 * 7) Billie Ignivento (Aventia)
 * 8) X-Ray and Vav (X-Ray and Vav)