So characters you point to and say, that's so relatable, whether it be life luck or just embodying certain traits you share, it's in these characters.
10. Ryoga Hibiki from Ranma 1/2
Ryoga can never catch a break, he's eternally the unluckiest character in Ranma 1/2 either constantly being turned into a little pig at the worse time or his horrid sense of direction sending him on an unintentional world tour.
Weeks of constantly being unlucky is something very easy to relate to and Ryoga is the one who embodies it.
9. Ruri Hoshino from Nadesico
There are plenty of characters who fit the bill of smartest person in the room but the majority are ass holes, Ruri isn't one of those, in fact she just wants to do her job in peace without idiots constantly annoying her, something my job never stops being at times.
8. Miss Kobayashi from Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid
Kobayashi is the adult protagonist for the adult viewer, she plays the role of the straight woman so well it's hard not to put yourself in her position.
7. Saitama from One Punch Man
Eternally bored after becoming the most powerful being in the series, Saitama when not fighting lives a fairly normal single persons life, everything from just keeping an apartment running to this below.
6. Shizuo Heiwajima from Durarara
You try and do a job but you get constantly pissed off by the presence of ass holes who always want to provoke, every punch from Shizuo is oh so satisfying.
5. Harima Kenji from School Rumble
The struggle to confess to the girl you like, the struggle to become a writer, the struggle to shake off a troubled reputation, Harima Kenji can't catch a break but we all root for him to succeed.
4. Nenene Sumerigawa from Read or Die
My dream was to always be a writer but even when trying for so long, I can easily channel Nenene of being soooo done with everything especially in a world surrounded by extraordinary people who make you feel more empty inside.
3. Ryo Kurakiba from Shokugeki no Soma
Ryo is two personalities, fiery when he's invested, tired and unmotivated when he's not, my mind can fire on all cylinders but after a long period of social interaction and trying, I just want to lie about for the next day.
2. Shikamaru Nara from Naruto
Shikamaru embodies the type of mantra that should be the most basic wants and needs of men. A reasonable job, a solid married life and a chilled existence is what Shikamaru always wanted and he's smart enough to achieve that on his own.
1. Kiyone Makibi from Tenchi Muyo
Everyone has been in this position at least once, you are stuck with that one particular friend who is to put it nicely stupid and said stupidity is the reason why you aren't progressing in your life, add another batch of chaos from the rest of the cast and you get Kiyone, someone who just wants to succeed but never can, the rare moments she does succeed, can be such a special moment of happiness that you grasp in your hands and keep for a long time.
It's time for Super Supreme Funtime Review Show, a.k.a I'm about to put on more reviews.
School Rumble showcases the exploits of Class 2C covering a huge array of characters but our two most focussed on main characters are Tenma, a genki girl with a crush on Karasuma who seemingly comes across as aloof but is really very strange; the other is Harima, a reformed delinquent who falls for Tenma after saving her from an attacker only for Harima to get attacked himself.
Harima also seems to get dragged into situations with other girls including Tenma's sister Yakumo and Tenma's friend Eri. Other exploits include Karen trying to become more feminine only for her enormous strength to rear itself frequently earning an unwanted rival in Lala; There is also Hanai trying and failing to be manly with Akira and Mikoto reeling him in. With so many potential romances this school love comedy hexagon will become a rumble.
Like Nozaki-Kun, School Rumble is very much an intriguing look at characters and exceeding their defined archetypes. Harima's path in trying to get Tenma to notice him molds him into a passionate Manga Artist but his attempts seem to drag in Eri who later becomes a tsundere to Harima despite, Harima not really being interested but they develop a mutual understanding through acts of kindness; then there is Yakumo who ends up being Harima's editor which slowly opens up her quiet side as she falls for Harima. Of course there is Tenma who is ten kinds of adorable but you kinda wonder what she sees in Karasuma.
I could go on but this series really needs a character ranking to sort out who really stands out.
I disagree with alot of the dub choices, it's not bad but sounds way better in Japanese.
Final Verdict: A fantastic series of really good characters in a romance hexagon where you find yourself invested in seeing who ends up with whom.
Just to give you a heads up that I'm not entirely bitter about this subject, here are some types perfect for a harem of Males.
Honorable Mentions
The One Hell of a Butler Type
Sebastian Michealis from Black Butler
The Mysterious Thief who will Steal your Heart Type
Jing from King of Bandits Jing
The Soft Centered Tough Guy Type
Kanji Tatsumi from Persona 4
10. The Sharp Dressed Casanova who Treats you like Royalty Type
Sanji from One Piece
Leo from Fairy Tail
They are the lovestruck suit wearing chivalrous knights of the modern age. You'll definitely feel like a pampered princess from one of these two lovely men.
9. The Casanova who has the Domestic Skills to back Everything up Type
Brock from Pokemon
Say what you like about Brock and his constant attempts to attract women, you actually look at all the life skills he possesses it'll be stupid to say no. He actively enjoys household chores, breeding animals, can cook really well and is a qualified vet by Pokemon standards, to top it off he'll happily shower you with love. You may want to take this guy seriously next time you see him flirt.
8. The Nice Guy who Can't Catch a Break Type
Mousse and Ryoga from Ranma 1/2
Ranma 1/2 is very cruel to side characters, particularly when it comes to male characters, both Ryoga and Mousse are strong in their own right and are genuinely more caring about their target love interests than lead character Ranma who I already discussed last time as a little bit too good at being a woman. So I say give these guys a chance.
7. The Perfect Partner in Crime Type
Isaac Dian from Baccano
When pursuing a lifestyle of crime, particularly as an eccentric thief, it's important that your partner shares that personality and Isaac and Miria go hand in hand, but what really makes Isaac such a good partner is protecting his lady from being arrested, because that way you'll know they'll be waiting for you when you come out.
6. The Ill at Ease Fighter who's Confession Turns him into a Real Knight in Shining Armour Type
Domon Kasshu from G Gundam
The title sums it up perfectly, throughout a shows run the male lead character spends all his time fighting with the lead female watching but in the climax when the gloves are off, the male lead confesses his love and although it's very cheesy to do so it's also the most romantic thing you can ever do. It does lead nicely into the next one.
5. The One who will Smash your Face in for Making his Friends Cry Type
Natsu Dragneel from Fairy Tail
Although this is common for all members of Fairy Tail what makes me choose Natsu is when he did it for Erza. Remember that Erza is hands down the strongest female in the entire series so it's actually very touching when Natsu smacks Jellal so hard that he didn't even see it coming for making Erza cry and you'll know he'll do it again for every other member of Fairy Tail.
4. The One who Reforms because of Love Type
Harima Kenji from School Rumble
The story of delinquent Harima Kenji go from street fighter to Manga artist for the sake of love is special, it proves that you can change from the self destructive path to an honest one and even when he fails constantly he's still left with a better life and better outlook of the world than the one he started with.
3. The One Who Stays with you Despite the Constant Dangers Type
Gourry Gabriev from Slayers
There are plenty of candidates for this one but Gourry takes it because of the fact that compared to Lina Inverse who can survive deadly encounters with the most powerful demons in the world, Gourry is just a normal swordsman, yes his sword is special but still a swordsman none the less and his dedication in staying with Lina through thick and thin and going as far as to chase down the Golden Lord of Nightmares just to get Lina back is something no normal companion would do.
2. The One who Makes you Feel Loved when no one else does Type
Minato Namikaze from Naruto
Naruto as a show has a lot of shortcomings but they created someone special when Minato's backstory with Kushina was shown. Kushina by anime standards was not a stand out child, slightly chubby, hated her red hair and had a tendency for occasional violence, so when she got kidnapped, the only person who came was Minato, because he noticed Kushina's beautiful red hair; the one thing Kushina hated and it saved her life because Minato noticed her. Doesn't that make you smile?
1. The Genius who can make this Crapsack World Bearable Type
Shiroe from Log Horizon
This is number one because this is the person I want to be. Life is hard and there are a lot of people who make it harder but occasionally you get the one person who can make it right again, and while he won't be popular with everyone for it, you trust him because you know he helped you in the past and you know that the changes he makes will lead to something better and you're willing to stick by his side to make sure that happens.
Everyone likes a bit of romance and everyone likes to be a shipper but there are some males that completely miss the opportunities thrown in their face and make others around them and even those watching very frustrated. So here are the top 10 most undeserving males.
Before we begin the following five people are exempt from this list.
Minato Sahashi from Sekirei: Can be forgiven for hoarding so many women as his desire is to not see them fight to the death.
Carrot Glace from Sorcerer Hunters: Not even the most tolerant man could withstand two dominatrix women whipping him to death.
Ranma Saotome from Ranma 1/2: The women after him are annoying and his other choice is a tsundere he's being forced to marry. He's forgiven.
Negi Springfield from Negima: He's ten years old and a teacher, Akamatsu creation or not, there are limits.
Souseke Sagara from Full Metal Panic: Has never grown up in a civilian environment so doesn't know how to respond to romance.
Now the list itself.
10. Harima Kenji from School Rumble
Rated low down for actually making the right decisions in the end but turning down a hot nurse who was willing to look after him along with allowing him to live in her home for free, also turning down someone who was willing to help his manga career as his editor and also turning down a rich girl who is genuinely in love with him Subverted as he does end up with her but still. This is all despite the girl he is after not even recognizing he exists.
9. Gray Fullbuster from Fairy Tail
Juvia falls for him from day one even willing to betray her guild on the spot and even now is still chasing after Gray. Gray is slowly coming around but if he keeps fighting with Lyon, Juvia might mistake him for being gay.
8. Akito Tenkawa from Nadesico
Has had six women like him, four of them chasing him, and he is bothered by this why? The other men even lampshade this; although hats off to Megumi for realizing how much of an idiot Akito really is.
7. Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece
Turned down the most beautiful woman in the One Piece universe, someone who was very willing to be his Pirate Queen. When this happens Sanji does a good job representing the audience's reaction. Creator Oda says he's in love with adventure. No excuses.
6. Yamato Naoe from Majikoi
To be fair, at least he tried to go after one of the five girls but it doesn't excuse the fact that he's completely ignoring the others. One of them even wants to sleep with him, but he says he loves Hermit Crabs more......
5. Keitaro Urashima from Love Hina
Doesn't know when to call it quits. I would drop Naru in a heartbeat if she kept punching me for such petty incidents and yet he's turned down all the other Hina girls including one who wanted to marry him.
4. Tenchi Masaki from Tenchi Muyo
The original offender for this trope; hot alien women love him and he does nothing. I get that the show is meant to be about Tenchi when really it isn't but come on, one of them nearly made the show into a hentai.
3. Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto
He might yet escape this list but at this time he's paid no attention to the one girl who supported him before he was accepted by the village, who frequently puts her own life at risk along with a full on love confession knowing that she may not even survive the battle and even manages to save Naruto from total despair in the face of invincible odds; isn't it about time you returned the love Naruto?
2. Ash Ketchum from Pokemon
Is on his fifth female traveling companion and has half a dozen other girls and even Pokemon love him and yet he's too stupid to even realize what romance is. I'm not using the ten year old excuse for Ash anymore, if he doesn't manage anything with Serena by Generation 7 then he's a failure as a male.
1. Keima Katsuragi from World God Only Knows
But this guy mocks every male in the world. He has the skills to control women from his endless dating games and can even put them to use on actual girls and is successful in all encounters but utterly fails when he doesn't believe real women are worth it. Who gave this guy these gifts? He can understand women and make any of them love him but doesn't make any effort to follow through. What the Hell Japan? Do you like making fun of single men?
It's the last day of this year so I will finish off with a list. This is the top 10 most surprising talents from popular characters. This list also has a bonus of five non anime entries at the end.
10. Miss Sakaki from Azumanga Daioh
The shy tall girl from the cast of Azumanga Daioh, celebrated for her athletic ability, her American measurements and her aloof personality. While it's not that surprising in her character design to like everything cute but what comes as a real surprise is how well she can sing when with the others at karaoke. This is played with in AMVs when she sings Colors of Wind from Pocahontas.
9. Yoko Littner from Gurren Lagann
While she can take down a Beastmen with just her large rifle, she retires from active duty to become a teacher, and an awesome teacher at that, she even hides guns in her Blackboard.
8. Sunako Nakahara from The Wallflower
An anti-social girl who can't stand bright shiny people is able to cook as well as a house wife, in fact it's her most defining talent as a character which ultimately wins the approval of her aunt.
7. Konata Izumi from Lucky Star
Unfit, over weight otaku are considered an out dated stereotype but Konata is so small in build that you wonder how on earth she could be so athletic.
6. Apachai from Kenichi Mightiest Disciple
Apachai is tough, he can talk to animals and he can somehow defeat everyone at Othello or Go if you want to stay Japanese. It's supposed to show how a non skilled person can learn anything with practice but Apachai gets so good he nearly beats resident genius Akisame.
5. Ami Mizuno from Sailor Moon
It was going to be Makoto Kino but her skills don't really surprise me. As for Ami, it comes as a big surprise that the resident genius who claims to have no interest whatsoever in romance can apparently dance like an elegant princess. She may give Belle a run for her money.
4. Keitaro Urashima from Love Hina
Keitaro is pretty useless at most things but seems to have the skills of a master patisserie chef during Valentines Day when he makes a cake so amazing it would fool anyone into thinking he had a girlfriend. Good thing he has those skills as you need something to fall back on if he failed University again.
3. Hinata Hyuuga from Naruto
The timid ninja who really doesn't belong in the anime up against all the male ninja in an eating contest where usually the defining trait of Shonen lead males is that they eat a lot. Hinata defeated all of them, no defeat is the wrong word, she thrashed them.
2. Lizzy from Black Butler
I started with Meyrin but it's not such a big shock for a Phantomhive servant to be a mercenary. Lizzy on the other hand is the shows only girly girl, and seems out of place throughout, until a defining point in the manga when Ciel ends up in danger, she picks up the nearest swords and slices the Zombie horde to ribbons. In fact just look at the picture, that's really Lizzy being a bad ass after spending so long being annoying.
1. Tenma Tsukamoto from School Rumble
But I don't think anyone can top Tenma, a hopeless romantic, scatterbrained idiot with no physical or academic skills with the attention spam of a Schizophrenic Goldfish. and yet she has deadly Archery skills, can Judo throw someone twice her size, has a deadly baseball throw, can cycle really fast and to top off just her physical strengths she can Ski so well she teaches everyone else. And depending on how you interpret the ending she becomes a Doctor Overseas in the States
Now for five Western Examples
Eric Cartman from South Park
Is very talented at Photography when you take into account all his schemes. He is Peter Parker good.
Doctor Robotnik from Sonic
While only brushed on briefly by the Doctor at the end of Generations, Robotnik apparently was at university studying to be a teacher, I would love to see that expanded on. Next project Sega "Sonic Origins"
Buford from Phineas & Ferb
The bully from Phineas & Ferb can speak fluent French and quotes Voltaire, proving to be more sophisticated than the rest of the cast.
Lisa Simpson from The Simpsons
While having extra skills is not really a surprise in a series this long it always comes as a surprise when it happens especially with Lisa who has no skills outside academics yet she has the hand-eye coordination to stop a Hockey Puck bare-handed fired by an adult. The same Lisa who earlier in the same episode burst a Volleyball with her hair.
Sabrina from the Pokemon Games
It comes as no surprise that Gym Leaders have hobbies & jobs outside Gym Leading but when Gen 5 came along, Sabrina came back as a Movie Star; okay playing a Movie villain is less surprising but in the games she's depicted as a psychic master over dedicated to her training which expands to the anime; I would never picture her as a Movie Star. This also backs up a theory that suggests that Sabrina doesn't come from Kanto.
Well that's everyone, I'll be in 2014 before the majority of you so Happy New Year to all my viewers and I'll see you in 2014.
