Learning About Storytelling From Anime and Manga, Part One: Introducing Your Protagonist
Introducing your main character is one of the most important things you can do in your story. The heavy responsibility of leading the reader through the plot is the job of the main characters. They must have a set personality your readers can spot right away, so they know whose hands they’re in for the rest of the story.
Jeff Gerke wrote an article on Writer’s Digest about introducing your hero. In his article, he wrote:
What would be an ideal way to show your hero doing something that reveals this essential characteristic? Think of a scene that introduces your speculative story world, is consistent with the tone of your entire story, and shows us exactly who this character is. Make that scene almost like a standalone short story, a little storytelling unit in and of itself… In summary: the first time we see your protagonist we should see 1) what’s likable/heroic about him (or her or it), 2) what his essential characteristic is, and 3) what weakness or flaw your story is going to address in his inner journey.
By introducing your main character through a “short story,” we easily see how your character acts in certain situations, thus, establishing their personality from the get-go.
In the anime Toradora!, we first meet Ryuuji Takasu as he gets ready for school. He’s trying for a new hairstyle that’ll make him seem friendlier, letting us know that he would like to seem more approachable.
In the scenes that follow, he scrubs the mold in the bathroom, mentions recently wiping it before, and vigorously complains about the dampness of the house due to the neighboring apartment complex that blocks out sunlight, establishing the fact that he’s a neat freak who’s passionate about cleaning.
This is what Jeff Gerke meant by a short story. Ryuuji noticing the mold, complaining about having to clean it up, and then cleaning it can be seen as a short story that displays his personality. His character stays consistent as we constantly see him cleaning and furiously wiping away any mold he can find in later episodes.
In Naruto, we first see Naruto Uzumaki vandalizing the Hokage Monument and yelling at those who try to call him down, establishing him as a rule breaker who doesn’t listen to others (except his teacher Iruka).
Our impression of him is also influenced by what other characters say about him.
Things like “Is Naruto causing trouble again?” and “this time with paint” show us that Naruto has caused similar trouble before.
What are the consequences of not establishing the protagonist’s personality from the beginning?
By not doing so, whatever they do later in the story will seem out of character and inconsistent. If you never say your character has heroic qualities and then, six chapters in, we see them rescuing someone who has bullied them from a gang, it would seem out of place because it was never established that they would be so righteous as to help someone who has wronged them.
In his article, Jeff Gerke wrote:
What is your protagonist’s essential characteristic? Do you know? What is it that makes him heroic and likable? (Because if the reader doesn’t like your hero, you may be doomed almost before you begin.)
If the readers think the protagonist doesn’t have any redeeming qualities, they’ll think him bland and won’t want to continue reading. Whether your character is an anti-hero or a brave warrior, there’s always something that sparks the reader’s attention and makes them want to know more about them, and it should be shown from the start.
Long story short…
• Introduce your main character with a short story of sorts. It doesn’t have to be flashy; it just has to let the character’s personality shine through.
• When it comes to writing, it’s all about showing, not telling. However, you can utilize what other characters have to say to influence what your readers think of the protagonist.
• You can use this method to introduce any character, but it’s more important to use it on your main character.
So don’t hide anything for later. Show what your protagonist is made of from the start!
