Forum - View topicYour most "memorable" anime characters...
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Anthropic Prince
 Posts: 14 |
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Have there been any characters in anime who have managed to etch a permanent spot in your memory? Either because of something incredible they've done in a series, or maybe it's something subtle like having odd personality quirks, which character has given you a rather vivid and lasting impression of them?
They don't necessarily have to be from your "favorites" per se - just as long as the character has done something in a series that makes you not want to forget them. Even though she's not my favorite character in Pani Poni Dash! (the title actually belongs to Becky), I've found Himeko Katagiri to be one girl I'll surely never forget. Her off-the-wall, flamboyant personality really caught me off guard when I first saw her, and it strikes a chord with me everytime she does something weird or crazy throughout the whole show. Heck, even several months after finishing the series, her trademark "Maho!" is something that is still stuck in my head to this day (whether it's spoken in the dub or sub, Himeko's phrase is still cute to my ears). Another great unforgettable character for me is Gai Daigoji from Nadesico. It's hard to imagine spoiler[that he dies in only the 3rd episode], but such a feat definitely made him the most memorable character of the show. |
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dtm42
Posts: 14084 Location: currently stalking my waifu |
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Vash the Stampede, Trigun.
A very memorable character. spoiler[His like of donuts, red coat, goofy attitude, women (though he refuses to sleep with them), and his LOVE AND PEACE! catchphrase. Then there are his godlike gunslinging skills, his dark mysterious past, the weight he carries around, the eyes of the devil. But what I will most remember him for was the way he refused to shoot, let alone kill, if he could help it. No matter how much I yelled at the T.V. (and I am ashamed to say I did quite a bit), he never gave up his morals until the showdown with Legato. It was painful to watch him being dragged in the sand. Yes, painful. And he is only a 2D drawing.] I find that generally, the characters who are so real you find yourself being emotionally attached to them, are the ones that are the most memorable. On a lighter note, Goku, Dragonball Z. Spiky hair, a VA who legend has it fainted after recording a particularly demanding take, limitless appetite. No, nothing memorable about him. Kidding. |
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JacobC
ANN Past Staff
 Posts: 3728 Location: SoCal |
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I have to agree with dtm42 here. Vash the Stampede is one of the most well-developed, intriguing, and definitely unique characters ever.
dtm42, I yelled at my TV during that scene, too. 
Weirdly enough, I seem to be drawn to both the sweetest, most innocent character in a series, (But not stupid and helpless. I'm not a big moe fan, they have to be able to take a stand on their own,) OR the biggest smarta** in the show. I also have a soft spot for good villains. So I like Tohru from Fruits Basket, Toboe from Wolf's Rain, and Vash from Trigun, but also really like Shigure from Fruits Basket, Maes Hughes from FMA, and Wolfwood from Trigun, (of course.) Good villains? The more insane, the better. There has to be a valid history for their insanity, making them understandable for baddies, but from there I love mad cacklers like Akito from Fruits Basket, Benedetto/Andrea Cavalcanti from Gankutsuou, and Darcia from Wolf's Rain. (I actually got really bored when he went out of the story for too long. I ended up yelling, "Where's Darcia? What happened to him?") I guess I like extremes. But, by contrast, a character can't JUST be "unique" to be fascinating to me. If they're going to be quirky, there has to be a reason for it, and they have to be well-developed. Many of the silly characters in Kanon and Azumanga Daioh didn't do it for me because they were just...quirky. They weren't real enough. (Okay, Azumanga Daioh changes a little, but not for all the charactes, and, in truth, I didn't sit through all of Kanon, but you catch my drift.) |
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Zin5ki
 Posts: 6680 Location: London, UK |
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I'm quite the opposite. I adored the characters in Kanon, albeit mainly out of sympathy towards them for their various predicaments, but grew tired of those in Fruits Basket; the "animal transformations" theme was overused to the extent that I soon stopped caring for the problems they faced. |
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JacobC
ANN Past Staff
Posts: 3728 Location: SoCal |
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That's funny. I thought the "animal transformations" theme gave weight to their predicaments and made their family difficulties more believable, besides which it's not really a gimmick: the animal transformations disappear almost entirely throughout the back end of the anime until the finale, and are shelved for more complicated developments from about volume 9 on in the manga. |
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Zin5ki
Posts: 6680 Location: London, UK |
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It's probably best if we agree to disagree about Furuba. One character who often lingers on my mind is the film version of Ghost in the Shell’s Motoko Kusanagi. Her decision to spoiler[merge her consciousness with the Puppet Master and lose her individuality] is something which in concept I found almost horrifying. In choosing to do something to herself which I would never want to happen to any rational being she stands out to me amongst other heroines. |
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Zade
Posts: 79 |
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I liked the character Nana from Elfen Lied, I think since she was so peaceful even after what she went though, she proved it was possible for humans to live together with her species, I thought that made her more important than the other chars too... I didn't really care about the rest much anyway. Also I think Kyon is like the most likable guy ever.
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Murasakisuishou
 Posts: 1469 Location: NE Ohio |
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The most memorable character I've ever encountered in an anime is Gohda Kazundo from GitS: SAC 2nd GIG. His appearance alone makes him stand out, and when you throw in his manner and his sense of self importance he goes from 'unique' to 'so creepy he'll make your skin crawl'. Also, spoiler[the drastic scale on which he conducted his 'social experiment', one of the most chilling plots I've ever seen concieved by an anime baddie, was beyond diabolical.]
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JacobC
ANN Past Staff
Posts: 3728 Location: SoCal |
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Oh. Okey-dokey! (What did I say?) 
Speaking of "Kyon," that's another good one! Not the Kyon of Elfen Lied, mind you, but Kyon from Haruhi Suzumiya. I find it funny how sarcastic he is and what an odd semi-romantic relationship he shares with Haruhi. It's not often that you can say one character "makes" a show, but Kyon absolutely makes Haruhi Suzumiya, spoiler[even if, technically, the world revolves around her.] |
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NocturnalUX
 Posts: 448 Location: Portugal |
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I agree. A lot of emphasis is given to Lucy, which is understandable given that she is the main character but I think that Nana shows that there are alternatives in life. spoiler[It is not as if Nana's life was much better than Lucy's. She too was kept in the laboratory and tortured, not to mention she ends up having her legs and arms chopped off by Lucy. And this because Nana was trying to save Mayu, a girl she hardly knew, at the expense of her own life. More, even after the sheer amount of pain and damage that she suffers because of Lucy she is still able to accept Nyu. Nana is a remarkably courageous character that hardly gets any credit for all her good will. She also bravely set out to face Mariko to save Kouta and everyone else knowing full well that she would most likely die in the process. I was very glad that Nana made it through all the horror alive and that she seemed to have found a place in the world. The last episode, when she is crying over her meal was truly moving. And I liked it how she tells Lucy that she has not killed anyone: that is Nana's spirit through and through. It could be that she is able to understand human emotion in a way that Lucy is not because she had her "papa" to rely on, either way Nana manages to remain a strong yet ever so fragile girl who does not give in to violence despite whatever happens to her. She only takes violent action to protect other people.] |
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G.O.T.T. Eclair
 Posts: 18 Location: Einricht, Frankfurt |
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However, I'm an Eclair fan, my memorable character I think will always be Himura Kenshin. Not so much the Kenshin from the Rurouni Kenshin series... more of the Samurai X: Reflections Kenshin. spoiler[If anyone's seen the Reflections Movie, you well know its basically a reflection back on the Samurai X series, to the end. I was about 12 when I saw it, and the fact that he loved Kamiya Kaoru. What kinda broke my spirit, was when Sagara Sanosuke had to take care of him on that random beach, in that little shack on the shoreline. I'm not going to spoil the VERY end for somebody who might want to watch it and wanted to get in on the fun...
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Obessive-flutist
Posts: 6 |
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Well my most memorable character's anime/manga isn't that popular (at least i don't think it is) but it's Chrno form Chrno Crusade. And Rosette. They were just so unique. I love how in both the anime and manga spoiler[Rosette dies in Chrno's arms. But in the manga only Rosette dies. But Chrno continues to love her after she's dead.]
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BladeDragoonZETA
 Posts: 586 |
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Rakashun from Twelve Kingdoms: I felt an instant connection to him the moment I saw him he's an honest person who lives his life how he wants
Char Aznable from Gundam: I don't see any major explanation needed here, he is the first masked Gundam villain (a staple for the franchise) and he was a very likable villain (it's easy to sympathize with his feelings and reasons) |
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the Rancorous
 Posts: 2249 Location: Sac, Ca USA |
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I give you a "Hell yeah!" in agreeance here. Kyon really does make that show, and is definitely one of the most memorable characters ever .
I'm going to have to bring Ayumi Mamiya from Magikano into this thread. THere hasn't been a harem-girl character who was this highly entertaining and cool since Tenchi Muyo, and I'll stand by that. The way her innocently cute demeanor hides such a nasty, temperamental bitch never gets old to me. Also, how her advances on Haruo are fueled by alterior motives adds some welcomed change to a tired character type. And Jessica Boone does one hell of a job on her english voice; "Yippie-Kai-Yay, ya perv!" 
As far as villains go, the most memorable would definitely be Gates from FMP: TSR. This guy was like a loose-cannon hopped up on blow! Almost every line that came out of his mouth is quotable; "When you run into a scary man, protect your wallet and your ass or you'll get it in the end!" "You've gone and pissed daddy off!" "All the way from a roof-top in the middle of 'who-gives-a-damn, Japan-" and of course the best line to end an episode; spoiler["Eh, I have to take a shit."]  Gates is a master at getting guilty-laughter out of me.
One episode characters, without a doubt, Kaworu from Evangelion (I'm a bit surprised he hasn't been mentioned yet). He comes into the series at its "darkest hour," and spoiler[appears as ray-of-light to Shinji, but wrought with suspicion from the others. And when he finally willingly meets his end at Shinji's hands, ] I remember just being speechless with both awe and saddness. No other single-episode character has ever been so memorable. |
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jetz
 Posts: 2148 Location: Manila, Philippines |
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Mine is Nuriko from Fushigi Yuugi. I've known him since I first watched Fushigi Yuugi in 6th grade, and I still remember everything about him. I even know a lot of facts and stats about him, like his age, birthday, etc. I don't know facts like that for other characters I liked.
I guess it really hit me hard when spoiler[he died in the anime]. I still get a bit sad whenever I rewatch that episode (I rewatched that one episode more times than I rewatched the whole series). Plus he was the first trap character I've ever seen
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