Anime where the title character isn't actually the main character [Archive]

Mr. Nail Bat

10-08-2008, 09:37 PM

But the Kyon thing got me thinking... should we make a topic that lists Anime where the "title character" isn't actually the lead/main character?

Good idea.

So Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya has been mentioned, with main character Kyon.

I will nominate Arc the Lad, in which Arc is a supporting character... and sometimes seemingly a deus ex machina, while the main character actually is Elk.

EmperorBrandon

10-08-2008, 09:42 PM

Melody of Oblivion would be another one, wouldn't it? I'll have to see what I can think of...

Prede

10-08-2008, 09:45 PM

Eureka Seven - Oddly enough the main character is not Eureka, but Renton.

something

10-08-2008, 09:49 PM

I'd argue for Nanoha StrikerS, but then I'd just start getting bitter again.

I consider Rosette the lead in Chrono Crusade. Really it's more of a shared lead, like Kyon and Haruhi in that show, but if forced to choose I'd say Rosette. Of course carry this too far and you can even nominate Shakugan no Shana, arguing that the story is told more through Yuuji's eyes than Shana. But few people would seriously claim Yuuji is the more important (or more central to enjoyment at least) character. Likewise with Yuuto and Haruka in Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu. Plenty of shows are told through the guy's eyes, even if it's the girls driving everything.

How about Gankutsuou/The Count of Monte Cristo, which is really told instead through Albert's eyes?

Suwako Moriya

10-08-2008, 09:56 PM

Gauken Utopia Manabi Straight

Manabi is the title character or rather the nickname of Manami. However as one watches the series it becomes quite clear the lead character is actual Mika or as her friends call her Mikan. Granted I suppose some would argue we're seeing the story of Manami through the eyes of Mikan making it a second person perspective* thing or whatever the term is. Still regardless Mikan can be considered the lead.

*At least I think second person perspective is the idea where we're see the events of character X through the eyes of character Y. Which often causes a divided where some considered X the lead and others Y. Then there's the whole matter of deciding whether or not the lead and main can be separate characters. Although if that's the case it then becomes hard for me to decide which is which. Great now I'm confusing myself.

Fluffy

10-08-2008, 09:57 PM

I'd argue for Nanoha StrikerS [...] ^I have to agree with this statement. 100%.

I would argue that Magical Project S, while dealing with Sammy and her duality, is really more a study of Misao Amano and her passive aggressiveness which manifested into Pixy Misa. The best episodes of the series deal with Misao's inability to rise up for herself and not be such a pussy.

Yazan

10-08-2008, 10:11 PM

Hellsing is another example. Integra Hellsing certainly isn't the main character, Alucard is.

DiRF

10-08-2008, 10:15 PM

I would argue that Magical Project S, while dealing with Sammy and her duality, is really more a study of Misao Amano and her passive aggressiveness which manifested into Pixy Misa. The best episodes of the series deal with Misao's inability to rise up for herself and not be such a pussy.
Sounds quite interesting... I'm glad I secured a DVD set of that series now, and am looking forward to watching it... though, I should probably get around to watching Tenchi Muyo before that :P

Hellsing is another example. Integra Hellsing certainly isn't the main character, Alucard is.
It could be argued that the series' title is referring to the Hellsing organization, not Integra Hellsing herself...

Serial Experiments Nobue

10-08-2008, 10:17 PM

- Tenchi Muyo! :devil:
- My Neighbor Totoro
- NieA_7*
- Boogiepop Phantom

*this one is kind of a draw imo... it's as much about NieA as it is about Mayuko and Enohana Bath.

The Great Bear

10-08-2008, 10:18 PM

In ARIA, technically I guess President Aria could be considered the title character, but he's certainly not the main character, who would really be Akari.

Suwako Moriya

10-08-2008, 10:19 PM

Oh yes a few more that just came to mind.

Aria the Animation: The story is clearly focused around Akari even if other characters including Aria get their time to shine.

Maria watches over us: Not only is Yumi more important, Maria doesn't do much.:P (This one is half serious)

A Tiny Snow Fairy Sugar: This is a toss up depending on how you feel about Sugar's role vs Saga's role. Maybe consider it a split thing?

Suwako Moriya

10-08-2008, 10:19 PM

In ARIA, technically I guess President Aria could be considered the title character, but he's certainly not the main character, who would really be Akari.

Darn it, you beat me to it and all because I had to make a lame joke concerning Mariamite.

gnikdrazil

10-08-2008, 10:25 PM

Betterman - Betterman was not the main character, but his sister and her childhood friend were. I hated that series after watching it.

William K

10-08-2008, 10:26 PM

In ARIA, technically I guess President Aria could be considered the title character, but he's certainly not the main character, who would really be Akari.

I thought of that too... but I'm assuming that Aria here means the company and not the cat per se.

Been cracking my head on this, and other than an obvious one like Arc the Lad, the only one I've come up so far is Betterman.
[Edit : beaten by a minute :P]

Suwako Moriya

10-08-2008, 10:29 PM

I thought of that too... but I'm assuming that Aria here means the company and not the cat per se.

Just pretend companies can count as characters too. Then you're good either way. :)

Fluffy

10-08-2008, 10:29 PM

I hated that series after watching it.Hate is a pretty strong word.

Fencedude

10-08-2008, 10:54 PM

I'd argue for Nanoha StrikerS, but then I'd just start getting bitter again.

They should have called it ZENRYOKU ZENKAI! SENTOUKIJIN SUBARU!

Fencedude

10-08-2008, 10:56 PM

I would argue that Magical Project S, while dealing with Sammy and her duality, is really more a study of Misao Amano and her passive aggressiveness which manifested into Pixy Misa. The best episodes of the series deal with Misao's inability to rise up for herself and not be such a pussy.
Sounds quite interesting... I'm glad I secured a DVD set of that series now, and am looking forward to watching it... though, I should probably get around to watching Tenchi Muyo before that :P

Of course, if you accept that, then I'd argue that Fate was the main character of Nanoha and Hayate the main character of Nanoha A's

Mr. Nail Bat

10-08-2008, 10:57 PM

Hellsing is another example. Integra Hellsing certainly isn't the main character, Alucard is.

In the OVA series, perhaps. In the TV series, I'd argue that Seras is the main character.

bige

10-08-2008, 11:02 PM

The movie Akira. Akira himself doesn't appear untill almost the end and I believe you only see him for a few seconds, although I could be wrong. It's been a couple of years since I've seen it.

DiRF

10-08-2008, 11:17 PM

The movie Akira. Akira himself doesn't appear untill almost the end and I believe you only see him for a few seconds, although I could be wrong. It's been a couple of years since I've seen it.
*smacks forehead* Of course! That's one of the most blatant examples.

Could Midori Days count? The series really is more about Seiji, and the way he changes with Midori around...

populuxe

10-08-2008, 11:31 PM

Could Midori Days count? The series really is more about Seiji, and the way he changes with Midori around...

Then by that reasoning, Nanaka 6/17 is about Nenji, not Nanaka.

I argue that The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is about Haruhi, not Kyon. The story is told through Kyon's viewpoint, but everything that happens in the show depends on Haruhi and what she does, therefore she's the main character.

Suwako Moriya

10-08-2008, 11:34 PM

The story is told through Kyon's viewpoint, but everything that happens in the show depends on Haruhi and what she does, therefore she's the main character.

If we go by that then perhaps "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" could be yet another candidate for the idea of having the main character and the lead be two separate people.

Fencedude

10-08-2008, 11:44 PM

masterpez

10-08-2008, 11:54 PM

Hmm, how about Gundam Seed Destiny. Pretty sure Shinn was supposed to be the main character. But to me, it seemed like Athrun was the lead.

Suwako Moriya

10-09-2008, 12:03 AM

Hmm, how about Gundam Seed Destiny. Pretty sure Shinn was supposed to be the main character. But to me, it seemed like Athrun was the lead.

I haven't watched Gundam Seed Destiny, but it would seem to me that neither Shiin or Athrun have their names in the title of the series. So there technically is no title character. Then again Gundam is a mecha right? So Gundam is the "Title Mecha" of many series.

mitamaking

10-09-2008, 12:41 AM

Actually I think Kyon is the lead of Haruhi because we follow him, for example we see him interacting not Haruhi, Haruhi is the cause but Kyon is who we follow.

As for examples...
-Akira was what I was going to say
-I could make a Naruto joke about Sauske being all that is cared about but I am bigger than that
-Ajimu Kaigan Monogatari
-Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan and Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan 2
-Nanaka 6/17 I believe is one for the same reason as Haruhi
-Sailor Moon SuperS Movie: Black Dream Hole, Rini is the lead
-Mamotte Shugogetten, Tasuke is the lead
-Nodame Cantabile, Chiaki is the lead
-maybe Kannagi, I haven't seen enough yet

Alot

EmperorBrandon

10-09-2008, 01:16 AM

-Sailor Moon SuperS Movie: Black Dream Hole, Rini is the lead

Well, thinking about it, Chibiusa is "Sailor Moon" too in some ways.

EmperorBrandon

10-09-2008, 01:18 AM

Then again Gundam is a mecha right? So Gundam is the "Title Mecha" of many series.

Yeah, I wonder if there are any mecha series where the "main mecha" is different from the "title mecha"? That one may be a very rare or nonexistent case.

treatment

10-09-2008, 01:35 AM

Garasharp K7

10-09-2008, 11:28 AM

Shingu (or Gakuen Senki Muryou as it's known in Japan) sort of sets up Muryou as the main character at first, but it's really all about Hajime. (and not just because he narrates the story either)
Can't forget the Hell Girl herself, Ai Enma. For most of the series, she's more of a secondary character even though she gets top billing.

Collectonian

10-09-2008, 01:27 PM

Depending on your point of view, I'd say InuYasha. Yeah, he's important, but its really Kagome's story more than anything else :-P

LenMiyata

10-09-2008, 01:46 PM

Grumble Grumble Grumble

There's Beck named after the dog, but the main character is the teenage boy Koyuki...

There's Gankutsuou where the main character is the teenage boy Albert, and not the Count of Monte Cristo

Zalis

10-09-2008, 03:50 PM

I haven't seen it, but I'm guessing that Heat Guy J is more about the human cop Daisuke than it is about the android J. Or maybe they're equal.

The All-Purpose Cultural Catgirl series vary in focus, but Ryuunosuke is more of a main character than Nuku Nuku.

Ceres, Celestial Legend technically has Aya as the main character, although she does share a body with the title character.

Risky/Safety is more about Moe Katsuragi than it is about the shinigami and the angel, although there are a few sidestory episodes that center on those two.

Spirit Of The Stage

10-09-2008, 04:04 PM

Would Keroro Gunsou count? Sure, Keroro is a major part, but you can easily argue that Natsumi is the lead...or Fuyuki perhaps?

Eyeshield 21 probably has E21 (Sena) as joint male lead with Hiruma, whilst in 2x2 Shinobuden, I'd easily argue Onsokomaru is definitely the lead other than Shinobu...

Prede

10-09-2008, 04:26 PM

The movie Akira. Akira himself doesn't appear untill almost the end and I believe you only see him for a few seconds, although I could be wrong. It's been a couple of years since I've seen it.

WoW!!! I'm an idiot! that's so obvious! How did I not remeber this one? :blush:

Isuzu Inugami

10-09-2008, 04:47 PM

I haven't seen it, but I'm guessing that Heat Guy J is more about the human cop Daisuke than it is about the android J.

Good call! (and I have seen it)

The All-Purpose Cultural Catgirl series vary in focus, but Ryuunosuke is more of a main character than Nuku Nuku.

I'm not following you over that cliff, though! :catgirl: Maybe Dash at most....

Mateo_home

10-09-2008, 06:53 PM

I guess Azumanga Daioh. The title pretty much says "Great King Azuma" (I think) referring to Kiyohiko Azuma, and he's not even in the show. It's about six high school girls. But then again, he did write it. Guess you could say it's from his viewpoint.:P

Yukino Miyazawa

10-09-2008, 07:12 PM

Urusei Yatsura (Those Obnoxious Aliens) - Ataru is the main character.

Howl's Moving Castle - Sophie is the lead.

Nana_fan

10-09-2008, 07:26 PM

There's Beck named after the dog, but the main character is the teenage boy Koyuki...

The show isn't named after the dog though. It's named for the band, which is why the full title is Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad. So I don't think that one counts, as the show is about the band.

Konoha

10-09-2008, 07:33 PM

Princess Mononoke - I'd argue Ashitaka is more the main character for the greater part of the movie. Granted, San isn't named Mononoke, but the title is referring to her.

nakimushi

10-10-2008, 10:50 AM

Well, there's always Waiting for Godot, although I'm not sure if it will ever be released.

My friend and I are constantly asking each other when it might finally arrive, but it still hasn't come out. ;)

EmperorBrandon

10-10-2008, 03:18 PM

Hmm... since a few people have brought up Ghibli movies, "The Cat Returns" would be another one, as Haru is the main character. I guess the title character would actually be referring to Prince Lune rather than The Baron? The latter doesn't really seem like a main to me, and the former only appears a few brief times in the movie (certainly not a main).

Mateo_home

10-10-2008, 06:47 PM

Remembered another, if it counts as anime. Like Shakugan no Shana, this one can be argued over who the lead is: Hoshi no Kirby. It seems to focus more on Fumu and how she wants to better everyone in Cappy town or warn them about Dedede's new scheme. While it does center around Kirby, it seems he's just a plot device and only needed when an action scene occurs.

Yukino Miyazawa

10-10-2008, 07:54 PM

Video Girl Ai - Youta is the main character.

Oh! My Goddess - Keiichi is the lead, not Belldandy.

Also, if Azumanga Daioh counts, then so does Rumiko Takahashi Anthology, as well as Rumic Theater and Rumic World.

2old2care

10-10-2008, 11:35 PM

Escaflowne

Huntressfan

10-11-2008, 11:26 PM

Marmalade Boy refers to Yuu, but the main character is Miki.

Gatts

10-12-2008, 02:12 AM

Le Portrait de Petite Cossette is about Eiri
Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu's main character is Asaba Naoyuki
In most of the animated version of Negima Asuna is the main character of a large portion of the series. Of course the manga is mostly Negi.

Dr. Slump is more about Arale than Senbei

Giant Robo is about Daisaku. Big-o and other "title" mecha can probably fall under this category, but since Giant Robo is mostly autonomus, I made an exception. Of course it doesn't have to count.

If you expand on the "title character" meaning a bit, in Mahou no Stage Fancy Lala. Lala isn't the main character Miho is. Even though Miho is Lala, Miho isn't the title character. I guess the same thing goes for Full Moon O Sagashite. Of course you can also file this under the Giant Robo exception clause and ignore it. :)

I guess I should include animated Sentai and parodies like Dokkoida with the Fancy Lala rule.

Blackthornhiei

10-12-2008, 01:09 PM

Katekyo Hitman Reborn!. Sure, Reborn teaches Tsuna how to be a Mafia boss and take care of a Mafia family, but series is more centered on Tsuna and his core Family than on Reborn himself.

Fudce

10-12-2008, 02:13 PM

There's always Hayate the Combat Butler, where Hayate may be the title character, but the main character is most definitly Ayumu Nishizawa....

..not buying that one, huh?

Well the first ones that came to my mind had already been mentioned, the Haruhi's, and the Shana's, etc... What about taking the Ghibli line and mentioning Howl's Moving Castle, where the main character is clearly Sophie.

Yukino Miyazawa

10-15-2008, 09:38 AM

Doraemon - Nobita is the main character. Doraemon is there to "help" him.

Pokemon (Pocket Monsters) - Ash/Satoshi is the main character.

Daddy Long Legs - the main character is Judy Abbott, who writes letters to "Daddy Long Legs."

LordGeo

10-15-2008, 01:28 PM

The Salamander OVA is named after a planet focused on in episode 1 and is never seen again afterwards, since the main characters are Dan and his crew.

Tokyo Underground is another one, since Rumina is the main character, not the whole Underground.

Hey, they're "characters" if you want to be REALLY technical...

Njr Scrawl

10-18-2008, 09:00 AM

pfft!

I'm goin' old-school...

Miyuki (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAnmFmvy2Sc)

read the wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyuki_%28manga%29)

or go to the official site (http://www.5-ace.co.jp/anime/miyuki/index.htm)

:beatingheart::bowsmiley::beat::cool::P

unfortunately, afaik, it's OOP. :cry:

I have the R2s & have watched it. Both Miyukis (& the title means both &/or either) are equally important. Biggest disappointment is that the manga story was not finished being made anime.

Buckeye

10-18-2008, 09:56 AM

World of Narue implies that Narue is the main character, but the main character is actually Kazuto. Also the main character in Ah My Goddess is Keiichi, who is most definitely not a goddess. And there is Rozen Maiden where Jun is the main character, not some doll.

E Nice

10-18-2008, 10:34 PM

These might be questionable. The title characters while important seemed more like story telling devices for someone else in the show.

Misaki Chronicles ~Divergence Eve~. While Misaki Kureha was a very important character the story telling followed Lyar Von Ertiana.

Hand Maid May. Kazuya Saotome seemed to be the main character rather than Cyberdoll May.

My Dear Marie. Karigari Hiroshi seemed more the main character than Marie. But it was just a three ep OVA so it may not count as Marie had a whole show devoted to herself which throws it in an either or situation.

LenMiyata

10-18-2008, 10:52 PM

Grumble Grumble Grumble

Now in Aria the Animation the charcter named 'Aria' is Aria Pokoteng, the president of Aria Company, while the main character is the teenaged girl, and Undine in training is Akari Mizunashi...

Fudce

10-18-2008, 10:54 PM

Suwako Moriya

10-18-2008, 10:56 PM

Are you sure the main character isn't Alice? ;)

Obviously Alice is the "Shadow Main".

The Great Bear

10-19-2008, 07:19 AM

Are you sure the main character isn't Alice? ;)Obviously Alice is the "Shadow Main".

The main character is actually Alicia, but she's so awesome that they have to ration out her appearances, lest the audience become overwhelmed by her.

So they have Akari on screen to remind you of how awesome Alicia is, but without the mind-blowing effect all-Alicia all-the-time would have.

Orihimes_Boyfriend

10-19-2008, 07:45 AM

I guess I'd have to say Hellsing for one. Since Alucard is the main character.

Njr Scrawl

10-25-2008, 05:02 PM

I always think Nadia is not the main character in her show. She's a key character for story & influence, but Jean is much more prominent as an active person, as are Marie (& King), Grandis & Electra.

vtr9kvictor

10-25-2008, 08:22 PM

Has anyone mentioned Desert Punk yet? The main character is actually the girl, uh, the one Luci Christian did her voice.

bctaris

10-26-2008, 12:41 AM

vtr9kvictor

10-26-2008, 04:27 AM

Has anyone mentioned Desert Punk yet? The main character is actually the girl, uh, the one Luci Christian did her voice.

Kosuna. But no, I don't think so. The Punk is the main focus, just for the sake of a number of episodes with only him. She's the sidekick. Co-lead at best.

I disagree. Look at how the series ends. The way it ends says to me she was the lead. Or at least, she had replaced him as the main character.