Judging by the internet, I’m not alone in saying that Wonder Woman has restored my faith in DC. As a fan of their animated features, especially the earlier version of the film made in 2009, I was pleasantly surprised by Gal Gadot’s portrayal of the Princess of the Amazons.
But with the film doing as well as it is, I couldn’t help but mull over how many other superheroines deserve more screentime. Too often are such characters left less fleshed out, pushed to the side, or tokenized in lieu of their male counterparts. While full-length movies and spinoffs aren’t for everyone, the following five characters definitely deserve more love. I did my best to pick a variety of girls and women who are beloved in their own right – if only a bit underused.
While a fan of romantic comedies, I’ve often felt that they, intentionally or not, tend to “lessen” the value of other kinds of relationships. I find it difficult to immerse myself in stories where the characters don’t much exist outside of the main couple and their problems. It’s just as important to recognize the love between friends and siblings, so in celebration of Valentine’s Day, I’ll be listing both platonic and romantic pairings for my Top 5 Anime Duos of 2016.
If the names Anderson and Grimm ring a bell, you probably already know that their stories were cautionary tales detailing the most creative of punishments for disobedience. However, with the ever growing popularity of everything Disney, it’s hard to remember fairy tales being anything but happy. Today’s post seeks to amend this by drawing attention to three works that manage to find beauty in both light and darkness.
While the dark may not be your cup of tea, it certainly makes for some interesting twists and turns along the way.
ConnectiCon was the first convention I ever went to, back in 2007. I’ve been going sporadically since then and it’s interesting to see how the con evolves from year to year. There were some major organizational changes this year, some for the better and some for the worse. If you’re considering going to CTCon next year take a look at the way things were run, though keep in mind it could be completely different next time, as the organizers see what worked and what didn’t. Continue reading Pros and Cons of ConnectiCon 2016–On How the Con was Run This Year→
Although I was not particularly fond of Pokémon Black and White nor X and Y, Nintendo’s reveal of Rowlett, Litten, and Popplio as well as the gorgeous Alola region – inspired by Hawaii – have reinvigorated my love for the world of Pocket Monsters.
With several Pokémon Sun and Moon tidbits having been released in the past month, speculation among fans is well under way. Staples such as the three starters and common bird, bug, and rodent are already guaranteed – but what of the rest of the game’s ensemble? For this article, I’ll be sharing my top picks for which Pokémon should both return and be realized in the newest addition to the franchise.
Didn’t get a chance to go to Connecticon this past weekend and want to know what you missed? Or were you there and just want to know what I think? I’ll tell you about my favorite costumes, panels, and shows, close encounters with special guests, activities to do in between events, and more. I even got to ask Sean Astin (actor of Sam Gamgee and voice of Raphael in the new Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles) about feminism in TMNT! Read on if you want to know what he said… Continue reading Carly’s CTCon Highlights→
Whether they be encountered through comics or cinema, superheroes have earned a permanent place in our hearts. However, it should come as no surprise that when it comes to racial diversity, representation is less than super. Don’t get me wrong, we’re slowly making progress with works such as Ms. Marvel and Silk as well as the casting of non-white actors in bigger roles. But it’s not every day that we meet a fully fleshed out Asian/Asian American character busting baddies or swinging through a city on spider webs in novel form.
This is where Sarah Kuhn’s Heroine Complex comes in to save the day.
Like any fan, I have my share of likes and dislikes when it comes to the burgeoning world of anime. While some may enjoy their mecha, mystery, and slice-of-life series, I prefer dark fantasy, magical girls, and rom-coms. Some may be devoted to a single genre while others seek a mixed bag of entertainment. And some make it their business to avoid certain titles at all costs for the sake of preserving their love for the medium.
I happen to be one of those people.
I, for one, cannot stand harem anime.
It seems that more so than ever, the genre is making itself dependent on fanservice and lowbrow humor. Ecchi aside, both harem and reverse harem anime have a tendency to strip their protagonists of any characteristics that might make them interesting – a decision that ultimately limits the supporting cast as well. However, there are definitely exceptions to my claim, and the new series I’m about to share stands beside if not above the rest.
Re:Zero– Starting Life In Another World is a prime example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Even if said cover is brimming with Loli girls.
We at the Daily Geekette believe strongly in equality among the nerds. As many articles have been created to pay homage to the “Strong, Female Protagonist,” we thought it only fair to celebrate some strong male protagonists. Here are the men who come to mind when we stop and consider, just what makes a protagonist strong? In a woman, the desired qualities seem to be emotional resilience, intelligence, and sarcastic tendencies. Do those qualities stay desirable when the table is flipped? Keep reading to find out.
Goku – Dragon Ball & Dragon Ball Z submitted by Brianna Murch
Source: playbuzz.com
Goku, one of the most iconic characters from action anime, started out as an innocent-looking orphan in the woods and became the biggest hero. He teamed up with a brainy girl on a quest and DIDN’T fall in love with her (shocker!). He did accidentally get engaged to another girl along the way but that’s because he thought marriage was a tasty food. Goku is dedicated to his family – his family being the entire planet Earth whose behind he has to save every other week. And just when you thought he was already the pinnacle of physical strength, a new baddie comes on the scene and Goku unlocks NEW levels of power to beat them!
Bruce Wayne submitted by Kayla Farber
Source: fanpop.com
To me, Bruce Wayne is the epitome of a strong, male character. He definitely overcomes past tragedies, including the death of his parents. He fights for justice for his community using not just brute strength, but intelligence, his tragic backstory, and all his money. He definitely doesn’t put his romantic interests before saving the day, which is awesome. No “Women in Refridgerator Syndrome” here.
Rupert Giles submitted by Sarah Wanger
Source: Tumblr.com
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is by far one of my favorite television shows. Its strong female lead kicks some major butt, and with the help of her friends, is unstoppable. The show makes me go through a whole string of emotions each time I watch it: Fear, excitement, anticipation, loss. I’ve cried for both positive and negative reasons while watching all 7 seasons. But my favorite character is not, in fact, Buffy Summers — it’s Rupert Giles.
Giles is the librarian at Buffy’s high school, and is the one who introduces her to her powers as the slayer. He’s her Watcher — her guardian and guide to unlocking her potential. While seemingly a nervous fidgeting bookworm, Giles always points Buffy and the gang in the right direction. He even struggles with his role in Buffy’s life — singing a song called “Standing” one episode about potentially being in her way of growing. If his loyalty, knowledge, love, and strength doesn’t put him on the “Strong, Male Protagonist” list, I don’t know of anyone else that should be.
Jacob Black submitted by Deanna Farber
Source: fanpop.com
Jacob Black has consistently been one of the strongest male characters in modern young adult literature. He starts off in Twilight as weak and impartial, but as the series moves forward he becomes stronger both physically and mentally. Of course, being a shapeshifter also helps a little with this but it is clear that he gained a voice. While Bella shows no interest in dating him, Jacob does not back down from what he wants. He uses any means necessary to kiss Bella and is not at all deterred by her physical protestation when she punches him in the face. He finally gets her to kiss him “by choice” when he uses his wits to convince her of it. Jacob is obscenely loyal to Bella through all four books and only falters in his loyalty after he imprints on Renesmee. Jacob Black is a man who stands out in a world full of women. Twilight has been constantly burdened with strong women that it’s a rare chance for a male character to shine, and Jacob Black indeed shines.
Kazuto “Kirito” Kirigaya submitted by Hope Kim
Source: comicvine.gamespot.com
If we’re talking strong male protagonists, Kazuto “Kirito” Kirigaya of Sword Art Online has to make the list. As a “beater” or beta-tester for the eponymous video game, Kirito is nearly invincible. Like most heroes in harem-based anime, he is both charmingly oblivious and reckless when it comes to love – that is, if you define “love” as having multiple girls drape themselves over you while everyone else basks in the utter glory of your own awesomeness. Even outside of Aincrad and Alfheim, Kirito is as two-dimensional as a character can be.
Honestly? I think the series would have been much more interesting if it’d been about the bromance between Kirito and Klein, but that is neither here nor there.
Kylo Ren submitted by Kayla Farber
Source: comingsoon.net
Though Ren is not a protagonist (yet?), he is a strong male character. This is a man in a position of power who does not have a romantic interest, isn’t afraid to show his emotions, and stands up to his enemies when he feels he’s in the right. Though he is a loose cannon, he saves his most emotional moments from being known by waiting until he’s in the privacy of his own quarters, with no one to hear him except the skull of his dead grandfather.
As tongue in cheek as some of these are, I think these make a really interesting point. How these men see women/treat women plays a role in whether or not we see them as strong. Another recurring theme from the above passages is that many of them are single. This is a quality also seen for strong female characters, such as Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road. Physical strength is an outstanding characteristic of many of these men. Likewise, we love that Katniss can be a BAMF with the bow and arrow, and Black Widow can take down any opponent. That being said, is it important for girls to have female role models? Yes. Can we agree that “strong female protagonist” is not superfluous with “role model?” I hope so! At the very least, I think we can all agree “strong female protagonist” is absolutely meaningless.
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