Summary
Red-haired anime characters like Kugisaki, Nami, and Hinata all display courage, determination, and straightforward honesty, making them popular. Redheads in anime break common stereotypes, demonstrating strong will, athleticism, and strong personalities that impress viewers. While red-haired characters like Kugisaki, Nami, and Hinata may embody stereotypes, these traits are strengths that inspire positivity and confidence.
Red-haired characters in cartoon have similar qualities, which makes me love them so much. In both Western and Japanese media, a character's hair color can determine their personality traits. For example, while dark-haired characters may have a moody nature, blonde characters are often more bubbly and outgoing. Although unique in many ways, Hinata Shoyo, Nobara Kugisaki and Nami are courageous, outspoken and full of energy, which is why I love them. These personality types are often attributed to people with red hairopens the door for a fascinating discussion surrounding “red-headed characters” in anime and other Japanese media.
Over the years, I have noticed that certain stereotypes are often associated with red-haired people and characters in Western and Japanese media. Some prominent examples of Western red-haired characters with similar characteristics include Fiona (Shrek), Anne (Anne of Green Gables), and Merida (Brave). Common things these characters have in common include stubbornness, bravery, and bravery; qualities that I relate to and that I believe others can too.
In Japanese media, many anime protagonists have relatable qualities. Kugisaki (Jujutsu Kaisen) and Nami (One Piece) are strong-willed and sometimes materialistic, while Hinata (Haikyuu!) is strong-willed and mentally strong. Although some stereotypes in anime are harmful, the stereotypical characteristics of redheads make them one of the most beloved characters of all time and my favorite.
Harmful Stereotypes in Anime
Women and people of color have been inaccurately represented in Anime for many years
Countless anime characters have appeared in stories told through the pages of manga, on the big screen in feature films, and in anime series. Anime characters are loved by many people. In fact, some have become symbols of a culture. I recently mentioned the amazing phenomenon that is Dragon Ball's impact on Latin America. I discovered that Goku had become a household name, representing the values they believed their fathers and young men should possess. At first glance, I have to admit that Goku is a stereotypical shounen protagonist. However, this is far from the truth.
Like Goku, other main male characters, such as Luffy from One Piece, have much deeper personalities than I thought they would. They hold tightly to their values, such as honor, family, integrity, etc However, just as some stereotypes are broken in anime, many are reinforced. As a female anime fan, I have actively avoided certain anime due to its representation of women. Some examples that come to mind are Fire Force, Food Wars, and My Dress-Up Darling. While these anime may have strong female characters, they are often overshadowed by an overwhelming amount of fanservice, reinforcing the stereotype that women are nothing more than eye candy for men.
Speaking of Dragon Ball, I've noticed that an unusual stereotype is perpetuated in this series and other anime from the 90s and early 2000s. People of color, especially people of African descent, are often portrayed as with exaggerated features. Black anime and manga characters have startlingly oversized lips, wear strict “African style” clothing, and often have afro hairstyles.
In more serious cases, such as Dragon Ball, I was stunned to find an image of Mr. Popo, whose appearance strongly resembled a minstrel character. Mr. Popo's skin is black, with thick, pink lips, and he wears stereotypical African clothing. However, after delving deeper into the meaning behind this design, I found that it can be interpreted in one of two ways.
Mr. Popo is a god, a Dijinn, and he is not mocked or ridiculed in Dragon Ball; he is quite respected. Some fans speculate that his design is based on the Hindu god Mahakala, whose powers are based on time. Similarly, Mr. Popo created the hyperbolic time room in the Dragon Ball universe. Mahakala's appearance closely resembles Mr. Popo, with black skin, red lips and traditional clothing.
However, it cannot be denied that Mr. Popo's design resembles the harmful stereotype of the busking man towards African people. Furthermore, in the Westwood dub of Dragon Ball Z, Mr. Popo is voiced by Alvin Sanders, a black Canadian-American actor. Luckily, in the same way that Goku and Luffy broke stereotypes about main characters, more recent depictions of POC in anime are respectful, such as Onyankopon in Attack on Titan.
A stereotype that I don't mind (I actually love)
I soon realized that all of my favorite characters were redheads, for one main reason
As a young girl, my favorite characters were always the ones I was most attached to. I was a big tomboy and often felt different from my friends. Interestingly, even though I'm not a redhead myself, I found that these were the characters I had the most sympathy for. My most prominent “comfort figure” for most of my life has been Princess Daisy from the Super Mario Bros. series.
Princess Daisy was originally created as a copy-and-paste entourage member for Princess Peach, but her personality and zest for life made her a fan favorite. Although she remains one of my favorite red-haired female characters, as I get older, I realize that the “courageous redhead” hairstyle is actually a bit of a stereotype, but it's a style that I love.
Some of the most notable redheads in modern anime with typical redhead personalities or character traits include Nobara Kugisaki from Jujutsu Kaisen, Shoyo Hinata from Haikyuu!, and Nami from One Piece. Although they do not apply to all, The main similarities I noticed in these characters are traits such as strong will, spirit, materialism, and sportsmanship. It is for these reasons and more that the “sassy redhead” hairstyle has become one of my favorites.
Kugisaki, Hinata and Nami: The most iconic red-haired girls in Anime
Kugisaki, Nami, and Hinata are classic examples of red hair stereotypes, but these traits make them my favorites
Nobara Kugisaki and Nami demonstrate how characters can be both feminine and assertive. Kugisaki is introduced when she arrives in Tokyo from her small hometown. She plans to go to the big city, similar to Nami, who was introduced in One Piece as a cat burglar, trying to save her small island from the Arlong Pirates. In Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 3, I knew Kugisaki would be my favorite character the moment she confronted the talent scout about not wanting to hire her. Her unapologetic confidence is refreshing to see in a female anime protagonist. Likewise, as the eldest daughter, I related a lot to Nami's sense of responsibility towards her village.
In addition to being members of male-dominated groups, Nami and Kugisaki also have one major similarity: a love of shopping. Although a love of shopping is often considered a purely feminine trait, Nami and Kugisaki are perfect examples of how women can be leaders who are both feminine, feisty, attractive, and strong. Independent, driven women can relate to these strong female protagonists, like me. At their best, these traits not only make them iconic examples of the redhead stereotype, but they're also complex and well-rounded female protagonists.
Shoyo Hinata brings his brave and high spirit to the field. Hinata in the volleyball anime, Haikyuu!, is cheerful, energetic, and sometimes quite loud. Furthermore, his competitive passion for the game is unmatched. Hinata is straightforward, straightforward, and passionate about sports. As a young tomboy, I often associated myself with athletic characters, especially those whose appearances contrasted with each other.
Like Daisy, who defies her floral frilled look, Hinata's short stature not only makes him stand out, but also reinforces another “stereotype”: the short, lucky red-haired boy. Additionally, these redheads can be considered “sunshine characters,” a term used to describe overly optimistic, light-hearted personalities.
While many of the personality traits of red-haired characters are stereotypes passed down from centuries of storytellers, Japanese media proves that these characteristics make these characters so beloved. Kugisaki, Nami, and Hinata turn heads in their respective anime, proving that while many stereotypes are harmful, those commonly attributed to redheads are admired by viewers around the world.
All of my favorite anime characters have one thing in common: the stereotypical qualities associated with red-haired characters. However, these patterns are each character's strengths, not weaknesses, inspiring a generation that is passionate, strong-willed, confident and optimistic.