Why The ‘Fighter’ Trope Is One Of The Best In Anime

The anime industry has many tropes and archetypes that permeate many different series, especially when it comes to the Shonen subgenre. An example of this can be seen with the main characters of these kinds of series, as they’re typically immature but incredibly strong characters who are gifted immense power that they use to protect their loved ones or liberate people from oppressive conditions. These characters are portrayed as silly and aloof with a ravenous hunger for just about anything they see.

Keeping this in mind, most Shonen anime have another commonly used trope which is often realized in a side character; the fighter. Those who embody this idea are characters who are combatants through and through, prioritizing the need and love for battle over everything else. While this may initially seem shallow to many, let’s take a look at why this is actually one of the best tropes in all of anime.

Related

Best Anime To Watch If You Love One Piece

Many fans absolutely adore the monumental series that is One Piece but could use some other shows to watch with a similar flair.

What Is The Fighter Trope?

A Role Focused On Combat

The defining features of characters belonging to this type are the love for battle, the desire to get stronger by breaking through their limits, and the search for even stronger opponents to fight against to achieve these goals. On the surface, it can be misconstrued as being a one-note trope that just serves to allow the series to have a bunch of cool fighting scenes.

However, it is often one of the best tropes in any series due to the fact that it adds a whole lot of levity and ‘cool factor’ to the franchise, delivering on the promise of characters being strong. Also, just because a character is categorized as a ‘fighter’ doesn’t necessarily mean that they are confined to it, since they can embody various tropes. For instance, the easiest example to turn to is Goku from Dragon Ball, who lives to get stronger and shatter through his limits by fighting stronger enemies, embodying the fighter and main character archetypes.

Related

Dragon Ball: Why Daima’s Pacing is a Huge Problem

Dragon Ball Daima was off to a great start but the story has really slowed down. Here’s why this could be an issue for the series.

Why This Character Trope Is So Compelling

Why People Tend To Love Fighters

Whenever there’s an anime series that has a character fitting the fighter trope, it’s actually quite common for them to be considered a fan favorite. The reason for this may be quite primal, since most people just inherently love to see a good fight, so the characters who embrace this nature give themselves completely to the thrill of battle. By doing this, they satisfy this need that many have, giving a spectacular performance by showing what they can do in an area of their expertise.

The main word to describe the fighters is badass, since their lifelong pursuit of perfecting their martial prowess often puts them leagues above most of their contemporaries. They’re always dependable and will always have the backs of those on their side. Fighters don’t just have to be heroes, though. In the Berserk series, this trope is embodied by the notorious Nosferatu Zodd; a hulking brute who has slaughtered thousands of people in the hopes of finding his rival, just so he can have a battle where, for once, he can go all out against an equal.

Although he is a horrifying monster, Zodd is one of the most beloved characters in the series. The main reason for this is the fact that, despite everything else, Zodd has an underlying code of honor, which is a trait that fighters tend to share. Their true love is combat, so to have anything come in the way of them using their abilities to the fullest is outright rejected, fostering a great feeling of respect towards them from the fans.

As stated before, fighters are often far more layered than they are given credit for and can also embody another character trait. For example, Zoro from One Piece is driven to get stronger by his dream of becoming the greatest swordsman on the planet, which he can only do by defeating the person who currently holds the title; Mihawk. However, this dream is far more complex, since it’s founded on a promise he made to his childhood best friend, as well as another personal desire to be worthy of being on his captain’s side.

Sometimes, especially with this trope, what you see is what you get. A great example of this is the legendary Kenpachi from Bleach, who is one of the purest representations of the fighter trope, since the thrill of battle is the one thing he lives for and strives to feel at all times. Because of this, he has fought against many powerful warriors and his enjoyment of facing those equal to him never dissipates, although he does come to realize the importance of increasing his strength to protect those he cares about.

All in all, the fighter trope is one of the greatest character tropes in the entire anime industry, comprising of some of the most iconic and powerful characters in the medium. Whether they embody the trope directly by purely loving the thrill of battle or whether they desire to get stronger to protect the innocent and those they hold dear, fighters are often some of the greatest characters in whichever series they come from.

Their love for fighting and getting stronger is also very important for thematic purposes since they can inspire viewers. Although strength and power are abstract concepts that mean something far different in the real world compared to anime, fighters also impart the value of perseverance, determination, bravery, and the need to protect those who can’t protect themselves, easily making this trope one of the best in fiction.

MORE

One Piece: How Elbaf is the Beginning of the End

The Elbaf arc of One Piece promises to be an exceptional one, kicking off the final saga of the story and having many surprises in store!