Shonen protagonists in anime are typically optimistic, friendly, proactive, and loved by many. However, they often struggle when it comes to romance. This is a common characteristic shared by protagonists such as Monkey D. Luffy in One Piece and Naruto Uzumaki in Naruto.
As heroes, these protagonists are too focused on others and often forget to consider their own feelings. Consequently, they are naive in terms of romantic relationships with the opposite sex. They may have thought about or been interested in someone, but they are typically not overly concerned with their own feelings. For them, love affairs are considered trivial matters that are not worth much thought or attention.
The weakness of shonen protagonists in romance is often used to create humorous narratives. For example, Monkey D. Luffy in One Piece fails to recognize the attraction that Boa Hancock has for him, and Naruto is also oblivious to Hinata’s feelings towards him.
On the other hand, the naivety of shonen protagonists towards romantic relationships is intentionally created by the anime genre’s writers. Shonen anime writers do not want the main protagonists to have serious romantic relationships because they believe that this would disrupt the story’s plot.
However, not all male shonen protagonists are portrayed as unfortunate heroes when it comes to romance. Some male characters know how to approach and understand women’s feelings. However, they often struggle to find true love. They are not afraid to fight, but they are afraid to express their feelings or ask someone out on a date.
Shikamaru, a supporting protagonist in Naruto, is an example of a character who is afraid to ask a girl out. Although not the main character, Shikamaru is a significant character and a friend of Naruto’s. When he realizes that he has feelings for Temari, he is scared to ask her out. Eventually, they develop a romantic relationship, but only with the help of his friends and not because of his own courage.
In addition to the above, male shonen protagonists often have internal issues that are portrayed as “ahodere,” where they are clueless about what is going on, or “bakadere,” where they are portrayed as foolish.
In conclusion, shonen protagonists are not perfect when it comes to love, and their naivety often leads to comedic situations. However, this characteristic is intentionally portrayed by the anime genre’s writers to keep the plot focused on the story’s main objective. Despite their flaws in love, male shonen protagonists continue to inspire and entertain audiences worldwide.
