type of character

Stephen Victor · Post by **Stephen Victor** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 6:30 am

Could anyone here name examples of anime/manga characters that put on facades of being happy, carefree and sociable but are in reality very sad and tragic? Two examples I can think of off-hand are Misato Katsuragi and Minako Aino.

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 10:10 am

From what I've seen, Souichiro Arima from His and Her Circumstances appears very sociable and happy, but hides a VERY sad past behind this facade. He's such a great character...heck, the whole show is great. Check it out sometime if you get the chance :)

FireYoukai · Post by **FireYoukai** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 2:50 pm

I think that Tooru from Fruits Basket has every right to be sad ans yet she is sooooo happy go lucky... how does she do it

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 10:14 pm

That kind of character bugs me for some reason, even though I have a fic character who is somewhat like that...she hates to show "weakness" but then gets herself scolded and called "fakey."

I think that kind of character (except my fic one because she's obsessed with loving furrowed brows caused by thinking) would be likely to get Botox because then they could look happy all the time.

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 10:46 pm

That's quite an ignorant comment to make, Rainbow...I know you'd not be saying that if you REALLY knew the characters mentioned in the above posts.

Sakuya · Post by **Sakuya** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 10:49 pm

I would say Nuriko from Fushigi Yuugi. He's not really my favorite character but when you first see him in the series, you would think he was pretty normal, happy, and carefree. But then comes the episode about his past and all...

Post by **Tiff** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 11:55 pm

Starscream wrote:That's quite an ignorant comment to make, Rainbow...I know you'd not be saying that if you REALLY knew the characters mentioned in the above posts.

I agree. And some people do this sort of thing in real life to avoid showing their pain.

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:00 am

I also know that those characters are probably just following the rules of Japanese culture, which I heard (I may be wrong about this) stresses putting on a calm and smiling front, no matter what you're feeling inside. So I bet Japanese viewers like characters like that, and I probably don't like it because I come from a different culture.

It's just hard for me to see acting that way as "being yourself." Unless you have some sort of innate tendency to hide your emotions under a facade of happiness, that is.

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 6:18 am

Rainbow wrote:It's just hard for me to see acting that way as "being yourself." Unless you have some sort of innate tendency to hide your emotions under a facade of happiness, that is.

It's not always easy to "be yourself", though, especially when society always wants you to look at "the bright side of things". Sometimes, this kind of thing is a natural reaction, a self-defense mechanism that kicks in when some major tragedy hits you from out of nowhere; the mind's tendency is to shut it out and bury it deep underneath a facade of happiness so that a) you don't have to re-experience it, and b) you can "go on with your life". It's not always something that's done voluntarilly, and as a result, can scar people in the long run.

Back on topic...another character that might fit this description is <i>Rurouni Kenshin</i>'s Soujiro Seta (first then last name). A CLASSIC example of someone who has involuntarilly blocked off all emotions save happiness and calm.

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 9:13 am

I know that already, Starscream, but that doesn't make it right. As you said, it scars people in the long run. Also, I know people fake like they're happy to get friends, but I think someone that can't accept you as you are, with all your emotions or lack of emotions isn't worth being friends with. Now this is just my opinion, and time will tell if I'm right or not.

As for the topic, I can think of two that haven't been mentioned:
Usagi in SailorStars: Usagi usually doesn't hide her emotions, but in SailorStars she tries to not tell anyone that Mamoru hasn't responded to her letters.

Seiya/Sailor Star Fighter: I've heard some people say that Seiya is actually quieter and more depressed than she lets on; that her arrogance is just a facade. (which makes me hate her even more...pretending you're happy is one thing, but pretending you think you're better than others is another!)

Post by **Tiff** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 10:35 am

Rainbow wrote:I know that already, Starscream, but that doesn't make it right. As you said, it scars people in the long run. Also, I know people fake like they're happy to get friends, but I think someone that can't accept you as you are, with all your emotions or lack of emotions isn't worth being friends with. Now this is just my opinion, and time will tell if I'm right or not.

It also doesn't make it right for you to automatically dislike someone that you feel is acting that way without actually getting to know them. Isn't that a bit judgemental of you?

Let's see if I can think of another....perhaps Akane from the Ranma manga? Anytime something happens to her, she tries to act like it doesn't matter, but when she's alone, she cries.

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 6:27 pm

And I also stated that "time will tell if I'm right." This may be a dumb prejudice of mine. Nowhere did I say that I was right; I know that's a very arrogant and bad Yaten-ish thing to say.

Now let's get back on topic, and I'm sorry I started this argument. Yes, I can be judgmental, and I know I shouldn't, too.

I think that Hotaru is somewhat that way, too. It seems to me that she's trying to smile through her pain. I don't know if she would really count. Is it just me, though, or are characters who have a happy facade popular amongst anime fans? Minako certainly seems to be well-liked!

Also, happy birthday to Minako!

I'm going to watch her pure heart episode raw tonight (so I can practice listening to Japanese) for her birthday!

Anthy · Post by **Anthy** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 10:28 pm

Duo Maxwell from GundamW is like that to a T.

A lot of people find it easier to go on as if nothing happened than to let trauma affect them and adopt a dispassionate, smiling shell. I'm sometimes like that, too. It's not who they are. It's how they deal with their pain.

Post by **Tiff** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 10:59 pm

Anthy wrote:
A lot of people find it easier to go on as if nothing happened than to let trauma affect them and adopt a dispassionate, smiling shell. I'm sometimes like that, too. It's not who they are. It's how they deal with their pain.

Amen. That's EXACTLY right.
and nobody mentioned Anthy..Anthy's usually got this cheery smile on her face, but my god, that girl is messed up.

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 6:09 am

I'm not sure, but is Michiru like that too? She's usually the most cheerful of the Outers, but all four of them have lots of pain. Haruka may also do the same thing. I don't count Setsuna, though, because she's so serious all the time. In my opinion, she's the only Outer WITHOUT a happy mask.

I know of a good 50s song for this topic...it's called "The Great Pretender" and it sounds like Usagi in the SailorStars season.
Here's a link to the lyrics:
http://www.lyricsdepot.com/the-platters ... ender.html

LadyFlameSniper · Post by **LadyFlameSniper** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 11:29 am

Actually I think Setsuna tries to *look* happy or satisfied too but you can tell she really isn't.

Anyway, I'd say Chichiri from Fushigi Yuugi. He's always acting perky, hyper and he litterally wears a hapy mask! But

[spoiler]
Underneath he's suffering. The guy ended up killing his best friend and lost an eye at the same time. Poor guy [/spoiler]

Usagi04 · Post by **Usagi04** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 1:08 pm

This is a really old series, but Zoltar from Battle of the Planets might be one.

DreamEmpress · Post by **DreamEmpress** » Sat Nov 22, 2003 2:10 am

I kind of think that Miki in the manga versiion of Marmalade Boy always tries to have a happy face around everyone even when she's sad. it didn't always work, but she did make the effort.

yoshmaster5 · Post by **yoshmaster5** » Sat Nov 22, 2003 10:12 am

Sana-chan in Kodocha, after the movie is made.

Cardcaptor Takato · Post by **Cardcaptor Takato** » Sat Nov 22, 2003 12:40 pm

On the discussion of the topic of people pretending to be happy, I don't know if everyone does this, but I pretend to be happy all the time because that's what people think I am. I've established myself as an always happy/hyper person, but sometimes I feel sad, but I don't want to show that sad side of me because I don't want others to worry about me, I guess. Anyway, back to the topic at hand, Juri from Digimon fits the description of these types of characters. [spoiler]When Juri lost her mother, she swore that she would never let anyone take her place, yet despite her mother's death, she still pretends to be a happy person around everyone, until you find out later in the series that she isn't really as happy as she lets people think. [/spoiler]