Character development is an integral part ofthe growth of most shonen anime protagonists, but in some cases, this takes a back seat to the battles they participate in and the power ups they unlock. In this sense, character development does not refer to a protagonist’s strength, abilities, or fighting style, which obviously see massive development throughout a series, but to their emotional growth and maturity. Hence, some of the most well known protagonists in shonen anime do have a tendency to stay the same at their very core, even if their prowess in combat increases to a great extent.
Some names may immediately come to mind, and there is often great debate around what constitutes development for most. Additionally, the fact that some protagonists do not have great development is not a criticism aimed at their character or at the series as a whole. On some occasions, this canshift the focus from the protagonistto supporting characters, for better or for worse. Alternatively, this approach can even be used explore the way the protagonist actually impacts the world around them rather than having them undergo massive changes in their behavior over the course of several narrative arcs.
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5Asta
An excitable orphan who harbored dreams of becoming the Wizard King from the start ofBlack Clover, Asta was always strong boisterous, energetic, and honest. He has a strong sense of justice and can be quite innocent and naive, either in trusting others too easily or blurting out his opinions on things without thinking twice about how others will react to them.
While this does make him an endearing character, his hot headedness and impulsivity can get the better of him. Nevertheless, his refusal to give up, indomitable will, and determination haveled many to acknowledge and admire himthroughoutBlack Clover’sstoryline.
4Monkey D. Luffy
Fearless, forever optimistic, and loyal to a fault, Luffy is the adventurous and carefree protagonist of Eiichiro Oda’sOne Piece, whose sole aim is to become the Pirate King. Even after more than 1000 chapters, he has retained his childlike nature and lack of common sense, but after many hard fought battles, he is now consideredone of the strongest pirates on the seas.
The biggest change in Luffy’s character comes when he loses his sworn brother, the Fire Fist Portgas D. Ace. After regaining his resolve through his training with Silvers Rayleigh, he returns to his former self, and sets out once again. In Luffy’s case, his development is seen more through how his actions affect the world around him inOne Piece, rather than gaining more emotional maturity.
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3Jotaro Kujo
Stoic, somewhat aloof, but always, cool, collected, and extremely intelligent,Jotaro Kujo was the main protagonistin Part 3 ofJojo’s Bizarre Adventuretitled, Stardust Crusaders, and also played supporting roles in Parts 4, 5, and 6. Throughout his appearances in the series, Jotaro has always been a tough guy with a gentle heart, as he is shown to care deeply about those he holds dear. Despite this, he is also a man of few words, and often has trouble expressing himself in more articulate terms.
Jotaro retains his composure even in the most trying circumstances, and is always looking for solutions. Blessed with nerves of steel and one of the strongest Stands in the series, Jotaro is never fazed by anything, and has taken down some incredibly powerful adversaries.
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2Ichigo Kurosaki
The tough guy with a heart of gold, Ichigo Kurosaki, the orange haired protagonist ofBleachis an extremely powerful Shinigami in his own right, but he hasno real motivations for fightingapart from protecting his friends. In fact, Ichigo’s desire to protect is one of his main defining traits, alongside his short temper, stubbornness, strong will, and impulsivity.
While he has shown a compassionate and caring side, he remains the same person at his core for the majority of the story, despite the major strides he made in developing his strength and his awareness of the powers at his disposal. Throughout his character arc, he retains the same permanent scowl, snarky attitude, and brash, outspoken persona that fans have come to know and love throughout the years.
1Son Goku
In addition to being one of the most iconic and easily recognizable shonen anime protagonists, Son Goku is also the poster child for never gaining a shred of maturity. Throughout the course ofDragon Ball,Dragon Ball Z, andDragon Ball Super, he goes from being a child to an adult with a wife and two children, yet remains solely focused on eating, training, growing stronger,and fighting more powerful opponents, even if it is to the detriment of his family.
Despite this, he is pure of heart, compassionate, headstrong, incredibly determined, and humble, which is reflected in his honorable approach to battle, along with the respect and kindness he shows to everyone around him, including his enemies. While his immaturity and simple-mindedness might go against the traditional character arc for a lot of shonen protagonists, most fans of the series would be more than happy if he never changes, reflecting exactly why he is so loved even today.
