AnimeSuki Forums

NightSamurai · 2012-12-13, 04:21

Looking for anime/manga where the protagonist withdraws emotionally (usually due to a tragedy). I want a character who was once "normal" to shut down emotionally due to events happening around/to them. This change can be immediate or gradual. An example would be Yuji Kaido from Blue Gender or Simon TTGL. Thanks in advance.

Last Sinner · 2012-12-13, 12:21

I can think of two.

1. Sara Werec in Soukou no Strain. Start of Episode 1 - normal young woman. End of Episode 1 - numb. She has very legitimate reasons to be. Long road to personal salvation begins.

2. Kino in Kino's Journey. Nomadic series but you do see Kino at the point of numbness from the get-go. Episodes later in series will explain the events that led to it but each epsiode kind of suggests she would need to be in order to survive what she does.

CeDeR · 2012-12-13, 14:31

Aoi Bungaku Series: Its a recollection of 6 stories, the first one is called No Longer Human (episode 1–4), and well the character goes through a lot and ends up becoming numb.

SuzushinaYuriko · 2012-12-13, 19:08

- Kiritsugu from fate/zero, especially when his backstory is explained. It also happens to several other characters.

- Okabe from Steins;Gate.

Kirito · 2012-12-13, 20:49

I don't know if you've seen these but I'm sure that Phantom: Requiem of the Phantom and Rumbling Hearts will have what you're looking for.

SeijiSensei · 2012-12-14, 00:52

All three boys in Ghost Hound have a bit of the personality you seek, particularly Tarou and Makoto. Tarou was kidnapped as a young boy along with his sister and watched her die alongside him. He is being treated for PTSD when the show begins. His mother is even more "numb," but she plays a minor role. Makoto is the grandson of a cult leader who has withdrawn into himself. He spends much of his time listening to himself playing guitar in headphones. The third boy, Masayuki, appears outgoing at first glance, but that's really a shell.

In Shion no Ou, the thirteen-year-old heroine witnessed her parents' brutal murder at age four and became a mute as a result. When the show begins Shion is working her way up the ladder of professional Shougi ("Japanese chess") players. The story of her personal quest runs in parallel with a re-opened investigation into the murders. I wouldn't call her "numb," though. She is quite a powerful and determined character.

I might also put Yaichi, one of the two principals in Saraiya Goy-ou, into the "numb" category. He is the leader of a minor band of kidnappers but seems content to spend his time smoking opium, visiting prostitutes, and planning the occasional crime. His dissolution traces back to events in his childhood.

NinjaRealist · 2012-12-14, 17:23

Gunslinger Girl has quite a few of these kinds of protagonists. I would highly reccomend this show if that's what you're looking for. Don't watch the sequel though.

Also, the protagonist of Haibane Renmei kind of fits this bill.

2012-12-13, 04:21	Link #1
NightSamurai Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hawaii Age: 36	"Numb" Protagonist Looking for anime/manga where the protagonist withdraws emotionally (usually due to a tragedy). I want a character who was once "normal" to shut down emotionally due to events happening around/to them. This change can be immediate or gradual. An example would be Yuji Kaido from Blue Gender or Simon TTGL. Thanks in advance.

2012-12-13, 12:21	Link #2
Last Sinner You're Hot, Cupcake Join Date: Aug 2008 Age: 42	I can think of two. 1. Sara Werec in Soukou no Strain. Start of Episode 1 - normal young woman. End of Episode 1 - numb. She has very legitimate reasons to be. Long road to personal salvation begins. 2. Kino in Kino's Journey. Nomadic series but you do see Kino at the point of numbness from the get-go. Episodes later in series will explain the events that led to it but each epsiode kind of suggests she would need to be in order to survive what she does. __________________

2012-12-13, 19:08	Link #4
SuzushinaYuriko SHSL Lurker Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Academy City	- Kiritsugu from fate/zero, especially when his backstory is explained. It also happens to several other characters. - Okabe from Steins;Gate. __________________

2012-12-13, 20:49	Link #5
Kirito Enjoying Snack Time! Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Where It's Legal to Marry Clara and Alice Age: 35	I don't know if you've seen these but I'm sure that Phantom: Requiem of the Phantom and Rumbling Hearts will have what you're looking for. __________________

2012-12-14, 00:52	Link #6
SeijiSensei AS Oji-kun Join Date: Nov 2006 Age: 74	All three boys in Ghost Hound have a bit of the personality you seek, particularly Tarou and Makoto. Tarou was kidnapped as a young boy along with his sister and watched her die alongside him. He is being treated for PTSD when the show begins. His mother is even more "numb," but she plays a minor role. Makoto is the grandson of a cult leader who has withdrawn into himself. He spends much of his time listening to himself playing guitar in headphones. The third boy, Masayuki, appears outgoing at first glance, but that's really a shell. In Shion no Ou, the thirteen-year-old heroine witnessed her parents' brutal murder at age four and became a mute as a result. When the show begins Shion is working her way up the ladder of professional Shougi ("Japanese chess") players. The story of her personal quest runs in parallel with a re-opened investigation into the murders. I wouldn't call her "numb," though. She is quite a powerful and determined character. I might also put Yaichi, one of the two principals in Saraiya Goy-ou, into the "numb" category. He is the leader of a minor band of kidnappers but seems content to spend his time smoking opium, visiting prostitutes, and planning the occasional crime. His dissolution traces back to events in his childhood. __________________ Taking Anime Seriously - Politics by the Numbers - Sports by the Numbers - MAL List - Avatars - Images

2012-12-13, 14:31	Link #3
CeDeR Inactive Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Usa	Aoi Bungaku Series: Its a recollection of 6 stories, the first one is called No Longer Human (episode 1–4), and well the character goes through a lot and ends up becoming numb.

2012-12-14, 17:23	Link #7
NinjaRealist Battoru! Join Date: Sep 2012	Gunslinger Girl has quite a few of these kinds of protagonists. I would highly reccomend this show if that's what you're looking for. Don't watch the sequel though. Also, the protagonist of Haibane Renmei kind of fits this bill. __________________