Spineless Protagonists In Anime

[TheGodling]

how do you feel about them? why are they so prevalent in anime? are they more relatable than the typical cocksure shounen protagonist?

I'm watching the flowers of evil right now and the main character makes shinji look like captain harlock. he has to rank among the most spineless and wimpy of protagonists. really amazing anime though.

Aku No Hana is my shyt. The guy's definitely a wimp but he's a realistic wimp, not one of those forced pussies.

Simon from TTGL was on that bytch ass shyt too for a while. How you stay a punk when you got a homie like Kamina?

Spoiler

But nah it takes Kamina's death for him to get brolick with his Ganmen?

I almost called it quits when he went into depression mode, had me thinking they killed the coolest character for a chump. But he manned up.

I knew someone would bring him up but I don't agree because you could make the point that Kamina actually held Simon back for a while because Simon looked up to him and didn't think he could be on that level, and Kamina allowed that.

Two of the most important quotes regarding that matter are:

"Don't believe in yourself. Believe in me! Believe in the Kamina who believes in you!"

"Listen Simon... Don't forget. Believe in yourself. Not in the you who believes in me. Not the me who believes in you. Believe in the you who believes in yourself."

There's a strong juxtaposition in those quotes and they're vital to the growth of Simon as a man and surpassing Kamina.

 

[winb83]

The bigger problem than the spinless protagonist in anime is many of the female characters aren't real characters.

many of these bytches are very much child like and only exist to display an undying devotion to a male that is soft as baby shyt.

the most over-abused character in anime is the tsundere. when its done right its one of the best (example Kazusa Touma in White Album 2) but its an archetype the character has to grow out of.

the spinless protagonist is also that. Simon in TTGL was a good example of one done right. Shinji in NGE was one that never grew out of it.

That nikka Renton almost ruined Eureka Seven for me. A simp, passive, and thirsty for a bytch with all those kids.
AO as been on my watch-list for quite some time but I'm not sure I could sit through that again.

Spoiler

Renton in AO is adult Simon level swag

 

[Ziggiy]

I didn't particularly find Renton in Eureka 7 that bad as a protagonist and I wouldn't call him spineless. He WAS a simp but let's be honest what 14 year old boy isn't at some point?

 

[Un-AmericanDreamer]

That nikka Renton almost ruined Eureka Seven for me. A simp, passive, and thirsty for a bytch with all those kids.
AO as been on my watch-list for quite some time but I'm not sure I could sit through that again.

The funny thing is...Renton isn't spineless, dude has a lot of heart and is willing to fight for his woman. Any nikka that gets shot and takes a gun out of his shooters hand ain't spineless. That's badass.

He's definitely a simp, but he's not spineless. Kid got heart and balls, he's not like Heero Yui or something. He's a realistic character. Renton for the most part is a regular cat with shades of future badass thrown in there.

Now this cat. I think this is what the Op was referring to.

Ole shrinking violet as nikka.

 

[daze23]

seems like a cultural thing. it's also interesting how they portray other cultures. do they think Asuka is representative of German/Western girls