7 Unconventional Shonen Protagonists

Highlights

• Some shonen protagonists deviate from the typical hot-blooded, impulsive hero archetype.
• Characters like Simon from Gurren Lagann are weaker, more emotional, and avoid adventure.
• These unconventional heroes still undergo character development and become strong in their own ways.

The typical shonen hero is usually hot-blooded, impulsive, ditzy, seeking to be the strongest, always values his friends above everything, and never passes up the opportunity to help others in need. Think Naruto, Natsu from Fairy Tail, or Goku from the Dragon Ball franchise. Given the stereotype is so well-known, some creators have taken it upon themselves to either subvert many of the tropes associated with stereotypical shonen protagonists or come up with a completely fresh, new archetype.

These characters may be weaker than their peers, actively avoid adventure, and be more emotional or subdued. Of course, these characters are not necessarily superior or inferior to their hot-blooded counterparts, they just offer a change from the norm.

7 Simon (Gurren Lagann)

Timid and Insecure… Initially

Fans could be forgiven for thinking Kamina is the protagonist of Gurren Lagann at first. After all, he fits the shonen hero archetype perfectly – he’s hot-blooded, has spiky hair, and has quite the bravado. As the series goes on, though, it’s clear that his little brother, the tiny and wimpy Simon, is the true protagonist.

Simon, in the first few episodes, is a timid, cowardly child who worries he’ll never measure up to his older brother. Still, he develops into a more confident, capable, and formidable head of Team Gurren, finally becoming a strong shonen hero just like Kamina.

6 Saiki Kusuo (The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K)

Has Super Powers, But Wants to Live a Normal Life

Saiki Kusuo has every psychic power in the book. Mind reading, mind control, telekinesis, x-ray vision, the list goes on. If this were any other series, the protagonist would probably use his abilities to become a superhero of sorts. Of course, since The Disastrous Life of Saiki K is a pure comedy, Saiki just wants to live a normal, mundane life.

The series follows Saiki Kusuo as he avoids standing out as much as possible, from intentionally getting average grades to trying to conceal his psychic powers. He only communicates with his psychic abilities, has no interest in sex or romance, and is apathetic to most situations.

5 Mob (Mob Psycho 100)

Socially Awkward Stoic with a Plain Appearance

Mob is the opposite of a typical shonen hero. He has very few friends, an unremarkable appearance, hates fighting, and rarely displays any emotion. He considers his powerful psychic abilities to be useless, as they don’t help his social life or his physical fitness goals, and is forced to suppress his emotions to keep his powers in control.

Fortunately, as the series progresses, Mob learns to be more sociable, more confident, and more expressive. He even grows a decent circle of friends, smiles, and opens up a lot more.

Cynical Genius with Few Friends

Edward Elric is a lot more cynical than most shonen protagonists due to a troubled past, and his journey throughout the series is more for him and his brother’s benefit, as well as to atone for past mistakes. He’s also rather smart, being the youngest State Alchemist, and has impressive deductive skills.

Additionally, Edward is a bit of a loner, preferring to solve problems independently. In fact, a big part of his character development is his realizing that it’s okay to seek help from friends and that he doesn’t have to do everything by himself.

3 Yukiteru Amano (Future Diary)

Scared, Sensitive Loner

Yukiteru ‘Yuki’ Amano is based on Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion, with both being extremely timid, lonely teenagers who are more than willing to stay in the background and let other people do the fighting. In Yuki’s case, it’s the insane and violent Yuno Gasai, who’s not above killing anyone who gets in between her and Yuki.

Yuki is the most reluctant member of the 12 Diary Holders, not wanting to participate in the battle royale and screaming, crying, and running away from danger for most of the series. He goes off the rails soon enough as the plot progresses and sheds his nicer, kinder qualities to become the new God of Time and Space.

2 Iruma Suzuki (Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun!)

Pushover with Feminine Interests

Iruma Suzuki, having been the product of neglectful parents, is sweet and kind to a fault. As a result, he tends to be a doormat who never stands up for himself, and his naivete makes him prone to manipulation. Like Saiki from The Disastrous Life of Saiki K, Iruma actively avoids drawing attention to himself, even though he’s the only human in a school full of demons.

Since Iruma hates conflict, he prefers to either dodge attacks from opponents or fight them from a distance. He also has a few girly interests, like cross-dressing and shojo manga. He does learn to be more assertive and confident eventually.

1 Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Cowardly, Angsty, and Insecure

Shinji Ikari is perhaps one of the most unpopular and misunderstood protagonists in the history of anime since he isn’t the typical energetic and courageous shonen hero. However, one can’t deny that his character is far more realistic given the tragic events of his life and the series in general.

Shinji has low self-esteem, is desperate for companionship, and is a bit of a coward, refusing to pilot the EVAs and fight. These traits are further magnified when he’s placed next to the far more aggressive and boisterous Asuka. He does have a breaking point, however, proving that there’s only so much even the least aggressive people can take before they snap.

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