Shonen Protagonist



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

Why This Trope Rocks

 * 1) Unlike most superheroes in western comics, many shonen 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, mostly 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 through 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) Asta (Black Clover)
 * 2) Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)
 * 3) Denji (Chainsaw Man)
 * 4) Son Goku (Dragon Ball series) [being the trope's codifier]
 * 5) Vegeta (Dragon Ball series) [Despite being the codifier of the Stock Shonen Rival trope]
 * 6) Allen Walker (D-Gray Man)
 * 7) Tanjiro Kamado (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)
 * 8) Shinra Kusakabe (Fire Force)
 * 9) Philip (Futo Detective)
 * 10) Shotaro Hidari (Futo Detective)
 * 11) Gin (Ginga)
 * 12) Jin Mori (The God of High School)
 * 13) Gang Ryong (Gosu)
 * 14) Makunouchi Ippo (Hajime no Ippo)
 * 15) Gabimaru (Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku)
 * 16) Issei Hyoudo (Highschool DxD)
 * 17) Taikoubou (Houshin Engi)
 * 18) Velou (The Hunters Guild: Red Hood)
 * 19) Grimm (The Hunters Guild: Red Hood)
 * 20) Gon Freecss (Hunter X Hunter)
 * 21) Kenshiro (Fist of the North Star)
 * 22) Jonathan Joestar (Part 1: Phantom Blood)
 * 23) Joseph Joestar (Part 2: Battle Tendency)
 * 24) Jotaro Kujo (Part 3: Stardust Crusaders)
 * 25) Josuke Higashikata (Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable)
 * 26) Giorno Giovanna (Part 5: Golden Wind)
 * 27) Jolyne Kujo (Part 6: Stone Ocean)
 * 28) Yuji Itadori (Jujutsu Kaisen)
 * 29) Kinnikuman (Kinnikuman)
 * 30) All Might (My Hero Academia)
 * 31) Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia)
 * 32) Katsuki Bakugo (My Hero Academia)
 * 33) Eijiro Kirishima (My Hero Academia)
 * 34) Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)
 * 35) Boruto Uzumaki (Boruto: Naruto Next Generations)
 * 36) Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
 * 37) Himura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)
 * 38) Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho)
 * 39) Astro Boy (Astro Boy)
 * 40) Natsu Dragneel (Fairy Tail)
 * 41) Haru Glory (Rave Master)
 * 42) Shiki Granbell (Edens Zero)
 * 43) Saitama (One Punch Man)
 * 44) Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
 * 45) Komi Shouko (Komi Can't Communicate)
 * 46) Ash Ketchum (Pokemon)
 * 47) Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)
 * 48) Yugi Muto (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
 * 49) Jaden Yuki/Judai Yuki (Yu-Gi-Oh! GX)
 * 50) Yusei Fudo (Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds)
 * 51) Yuma Tsukumo (Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal)
 * 52) Yuya Sakaki (Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc V)
 * 53) Yuga Ohdo (Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS)
 * 54) Pegasus Seiya (Saint Seiya)

Cartoons and Comics

 * 1) Finn Mertens (Adventure Time)
 * 2) Jake Long (American Dragon Jake Long)
 * 3) Avatar Aang (Avatar: the Last Airbender)
 * 4) Avatar Korra (The Legend of Korra)
 * 5) Ben Tennyson (Ben 10 series)
 * 6) Virgil Hawkins/Static (DC Comics/Milestone Comics)
 * 7) Wonder Woman (DC Comics)
 * 8) SpongeBob SquarePants (SpongeBob SquarePants)
 * 9) Timmy Turner (The Fairly OddParents)
 * 10) Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass (Kick-Ass)
 * 11) Jimmy Neutron (Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius/The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius)
 * 12) Jenny Wakeman (My Life as a Teenage Robot)
 * 13) Danny Fenton/Danny Phantom (Danny Phantom)
 * 14) Sheriff Woody Pride (Toy Story)
 * 15) Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story)
 * 16) Stitch (Lilo & Stitch)
 * 17) Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible (The Incredibles)
 * 18) Dash Parr (The Incredibles)
 * 19) Lightning McQueen (Cars)
 * 20) Kim Possible (Kim Possible)
 * 21) Ron Stoppable (Kim Possible)
 * 22) Kick Buttowski (Kick Buttowski:Surburban Daredevil)
 * 23) Po Ping (Kung Fu Panda)
 * 24) Gumball Watterson (The Amazing World of Gumball)
 * 25) Steven Universe (Steven Universe)
 * 26) K.O (O.K. K.O., Let's Be Heroes!)
 * 27) Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Marvel Comics)
 * 28) Jim Lake Jr. (Tales of Arcadia)
 * 29) The Turtles (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
 * 30) *Leonardo
 * 31) *Raphael
 * 32) *Donatello
 * 33) *Michelangelo
 * 34) Randy Cunningham (Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja)
 * 35) Tommy Pickles (Rugrats)
 * 36) Bart Simpson (The Simpsons)
 * 37) Popeye (Popeye the Sailor)
 * 38) Mordecai and Rigby (Regular Show)
 * 39) Pops Maellard (Regular Show)
 * 40) Hiccup (How to Train Your Dragon)

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)

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)
 * 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)

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) Roy (Fire Emblem)
 * 8) Spring Man (ARMS)
 * 9) Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic the Hedgehog)
 * 10) Mega Man (Mega Man)
 * 11) Ryu (Street Fighter)
 * 12) Batsu Iichimonji (Rival Schools)
 * 13) Edward Falcon (Power Stone)
 * 14) Viewtiful Joe (Viewtiful Joe)
 * 15) Pac-Man (Pac-Man)
 * 16) Terry Bogard (Fatal Fury/KOF)
 * 17) Kyo Kusanagi (The King of Fighters)
 * 18) Haohmaru (Samurai Shodown)
 * 19) Sol Badguy (Guilty Gear)
 * 20) Ragna the Bloodedge (BlazBlue)
 * 21) Bang Shishigami (BlazBlue)
 * 22) Tatsuya Suou (Persona 2)
 * 23) Maya Amano (Persona 2)
 * 24) Makoto Yūki (Persona 3)
 * 25) Aigis (Persona 3: The Answer)
 * 26) Yu Narukami (Persona 4)
 * 27) Ren Amamiya/Joker (Persona 5)
 * 28) Hyde Kido (Under Night In-Birth)
 * 29) Akatsuki (Akatsuki Blitzkampf/EN-Eins Perfektewelt)
 * 30) Filia (Skullgirls)
 * 31) Tak (Tak and the Power of Juju)
 * 32) Tracer (Overwatch)
 * 33) Pit (Kid Icarus)

Web Animation

 * 1) Ruby Rose (RWBY)
 * 2) Firey (Battle for Dream Island)
 * 3) Stinkoman (Homestar Runner)
 * 4) Hiro (Hiro the Dense-Dense Shonen Protagonist)