Line #134 DarthWiki/UnnamedMAHCPitch


1	[[AC: Unnamed Martial Arts Harem Comedy Pitch]]
2
3	In my defense, I was '' '''BORED''' ''.
4	----
5	'''Goal:''' A humorous deconstruction of the HaremGenre and Martial Arts genres in manga. A BattleHarem [[AmazonBrigade with young ladies skilled in martial arts styles from all over the world]] is a given. The deconstructive element is that the harem has not one, but ''two'' male leads, who get roughly equal screen time and actually end up competing over the harem's attention. Each one is just enough of a GenreSavvy nerd to realize that they're in a harem story, and each one feels they are better suited to be the protagonist (one feels this way because he's an aggressive pervert, and the other feels this way because the alternative is leaving the women to an aggressive pervert).
6
7	I'd like to make the plot arcs more CharacterDevelopment-driven than anything. Will aim for slightly more realism than your average martial arts manga setting, but you can't deny the RuleOfCool. I'd like to avoid "tiers" of power and CantCatchUp; the only martial artists that will be portrayed as way beyond anyone else's level [[OldMaster are over 60 years old and have been training for over twice as long as any of the main characters have been alive]]. I'd like to subvert and double subvert the SortingAlgorithmOfEvil if at all possible.
8	----
9	Main Characters
10
11	[[AC: The Guys]]\
12	'''The Yang Protagonist'''\
13	Fighting Style: Based primarily on Karate. Incorporates other styles from the characters he trains most with.\
14	Tropes that apply:
15	%% * ChivalrousPervert - for a loose definition of chivalry. Note: never scores.
16	%% * TheDeterminator
17	* FearlessFool
18	%% * {{Foil}} - to the Yin protagonist. Practices a more aggressive "hard" style. He's got relatively more fight scenes and important development as a martial artist. He's loud, overconfident, and risks injuring himself with vigorous and foolhardy training. Initially, too forward around women.
19	%% * GlorySeeker - at first, eventually matures out of caring about reputation.
20	%% * HaremSeeker - Ironically, he is viewed more affectionately by the female cast [[CharacterDevelopment the more he grows out of this behaviour]].
21	%% * HeroicResolve
22	%% * HotBlooded
23	%% * IdiotHero
24	%% * LovableSexManiac - Note: never scores. Neither of the protagonists do, actually.
25	%% * MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours
26	%% * RedOniBlueOni - obviously the Red one.
27	%% * SpiritedCompetitor
28	%% * ToBeAMaster - His initial motivation; evolves into something more nuanced.
29	* TrainingFromHell - [[PlayingWithTropes Subverted and parodied]]. He watches too much anime and always assumes at first that this is the route to true power, so he'll invent some outlandish and nigh-suicidal training regime that won't do much more than injure him at best. The teacher characters in the series have to spend a lot of time beating into him the notion that diligent, disciplined, and intelligent training is the key to development. [[AnAesop The Aesop]] for him is that there are no shortcuts.
30	%% * WhatTheFuAreYouDoing - see TrainingFromHell above.
31	* WouldntHitAGirl - played straight at first, eventually subverted after the various harem members spend a training arc or two beating the sexism out of this guy.
32
33	'''The Yin Protagonist'''\
34	Fighting Style: Based primarily on Aikido. Incorporates other styles from the characters he trains most with.\
35	Tropes that apply:
36	* AccidentalPervert - the RunningGag is that he tries to police the Yang Protagonist's behaviour, attempting to stop him from peeking on the baths and whatnot. He's about as successful at this as [[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia Lloyd Irving]], to similar results.
37	* ApologizesALot - he may appear as an Expy of [[Manga/LoveHina Keitarou Urashima]] at first. [[CharacterDevelopment Eventually gets over this]] he develops confidence and discipline.
38	* BrilliantButLazy - while the Yang Protagonist's discipline problems lie elsewhere (self-preservation, not getting into idle fights, listening to his teachers), the Yin Protagonist has a motivation problem getting himself to practice regularly. His CharacterDevelopment arc involves rediscovering his love for martial arts and how he can enjoy practice for its own sake.
39	%% * ButtMonkey - See AccidentalPervert and ApologizesALot above.
40	%% * DoggedNiceGuy - but, like his fellow male lead, never scores.
41	* {{Foil}} - to the Yang Protagonist. Practices a less aggressive "soft" style. He's got relatively more romantic scenes and important development in his relationships. He's quiet, submissive, and occasionally becomes rusty when he doesn't practice enough. Initially, insecure around women.
42	* HeadphonesEqualIsolation - he is introverted and really likes listening to music. Gets distracted easily during training when he starts to play songs in his head. [[CharacterDevelopment Over time]], he develops attention and discipline, and while he never becomes extroverted he loses his nervousness in social situations. This transformation is reflected by the headphones appearing less on his head and more around his neck. Late in the series, a resurgence of this trope would indicate a HeroicBSOD.
43	%% * MartialPacifist - becoming this is his goal. Accidentally subverted and played for laughs when an angry opponent takes a throw really badly and breaks their own arm by accident.
44	%% * RedOniBlueOni - obviously the Blue one.
45	%% * StraightMan
46	* WouldntHitAGirl - averted entirely. He won't hit ''anyone'', regardless of gender. He makes it a major priority to not injure his opponents if at all possible, and relies on throws and submission holds.
47
48	[[AC: The Combat Harem]]\
49	'''The Dojo Heiress'''\
50	Fighting Style: Her family's school of sogo bujitsu, covering unarmed and armed combat. Trains more often with the Yin Protagonist.\
51	Tropes that apply:
52	%% * [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Arrogant Kung Fu Girl]]: At first. She loses a lot of condescension over time, but can still be a little haughty.
53	%% * DefrostingIceQueen: She's very icy and aloof at the beginning.
54	%% * {{Kuudere}}: This is what she "defrosts" ''into''. Though she learns to become more affectionate, she never completely loses the chill.
55	* MartialArtsAndCrafts: Her family's school is a sogo bujitsu, or "all weapons" style that covers striking, grappling, kenjutsu, jojitsu, tantojutsu, naginatajutsu, archery, horseback riding, and all other weapons forms and techniques traditionally considered to be part of a Japanese warrior's training. The catch is that she's also trained to combine the different techniques at any time. Some of these combinations make historical and logical sense, such as mounted archery. It starts to get a little ridiculous when she demonstrates that she knows how to do joint locks from a mounted position or fold a dogi with a naginata instead of her hands, however.
56	%% * TheOjou: Not actually rich, but all of the [[UsefulNotes/JapaneseHonorifics kohais]] at her dojo treat her like royalty anyways.
57	%% * RunningGag: See MartialArtsAndCrafts, above. Eventually "[family name] ryu bujitsu is never caught unprepared!" will become her CatchPhrase.
58
59	'''The Loud American'''\
60	Fighting Style: A combination of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCMAP MCMAP]] Close-Quarters Combat (learned from her Marine father) and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKnrSighDl0 52]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkcCc6VRSYI Blocks]] style of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jailhouse_rock_(fighting_style) Jailhouse Rock]] (learned from her uncle, who did time in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rikers_Island Rikers Island Penitentiary]]). Trains more often with the Yang Protagonist.\
61	Tropes that apply:
62	* AnimalMotifs: Is identified with dogs (of which she's very fond). Is viewed as TheRival by the TokenMiniMoe, who is jealous of the time she spends with the Yang Protagonist ([[ACupAngst among her other assets]]).
63	%% * ButNotTooForeign: Completely averted. She's 100% African American.
64	* CombatPragmatist: She is quick to employ {{improvised weapon}}s and [[TalkToTheFist sucker]] [[WeNeedADistraction punches]]. In the Yang Protagonist's character arc, she spends a lot of time teaching him not to think about honour in a serious fight ("Would you put honour before your own life? What about if you're protecting someone else's?"). In the Yin Protagonist's arc, she teaches him that if he wants to win without hurting others, he'll need to take every edge he can get.
65	%% * MilitaryBrat
66	%% * PhenotypeStereotype: Completely averted.
67	%% * SassyBlackWoman
68	* SemperFi: Daddy's a Marine, and as a {{military brat}} she picked up a lot of the culture. Her father's posting on the Japanese bases intersected with her grade school years, which is why she can speak Japanese.
69	* {{Tsundere}}: Type A, played straight with a little twist. She is just naturally bad at expressing her feeling, but is comfortable with physical contact and likes roughhousing with her friends. As she warms to the protagonists, they'll realize that the abuse is actually a sign of her approval. Eventually they find themselves wondering which is more dangerous, her displeasure or her affection.
70
71	'''The Chinese Beauty'''\
72	Fighting Style: A combination of Pa Gua Chang and Hsing Yi Chang. Trains more often with the Yin Protagonist.\
73	Tropes that apply:
74	* BewareTheNiceOnes: She's one of the two nicest members of the combat harem. She can also beat you senseless with ease.
75	* EyesAlwaysShut: Much like [[Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi Nagase Kaede]], she will occasionally open one for emphasis. If they are both open, it is a sign of extreme [[OhCrap shock]], [[BerserkButton fury]], or [[RelationshipUpgrade affection]].
76	%% * MamaBear: she becomes scarily protective of her friends.
77	* ObfuscatingStupidity: Will occasionally fake being unable to speak Japanese to get out of a sticky situation (she's as fluent as any other member of the cast). The Nerdy Girl [[BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine will exasperatedly call her out on this]].
78
79	'''The Quiet Classmate'''\
80	Fighting Style: Yang style Tai Chi. Trains more often with the Yin Protagonist.\
81	Tropes that apply:
82	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Like the Chinese Beauty, she is a much more capable combatant than her polite and unassuming demeanour would imply
83	* EmotionlessGirl: Most of the time, her expression is an attentive poker face. She occasionally smiles, she rarely frowns, and she never looks angry.
84	%% * InnocentFanserviceGirl: In a manner that often gets her mistaken for a boy.
85	%% * OlderThanTheyLook: Her lung infection held her back a year in school.
86	* WaifFu: One of the few true examples in the series. All the other females have visible muscle tone, but the Quiet Classmate has a diminutive stature (even the TokenMiniMoe has more visible biceps than her) and probably weighs 100 pounds soaking wet.
87	* WeakButSkilled: Exaggerated. Having trained for hours every day from her grade school years, she's far and away the harem's most skilled martial artist. She also needs help lifting heavy boxes or moving furniture. It's revealed that she has two copies of every school textbook, one at home and one at school, so she can avoid having to carry the extra weight.
88
89	'''The TokenMiniMoe'''\
90	Fighting Style: Karate, as she comes to idolize the Yang Protagonist, with whom she trains more often.\
91	Tropes that apply:
92	* ACupAngst: The RunningGag is that her rants are often interrupted by the Quiet Classmate, who doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.
93	* AnimalMotifs: Is identified with cats (of which she's very fond). Views the American as TheRival (it's a mutual {{Tsundere}}-esque rivalry, and they grow fond of each other, up to and including a SleepCute scene after recovering from a fight).
94	%%%% * FragileSpeedster
95	%%%% * GenkiGirl
96	* KickChick: Given her small size and mass, she requires kicks to get real power and reach behind a strike. She can still punch when she needs to.
97	%% * LikeBrotherAndSister: She's got no luck getting past this stage with re: to the Yang Protagonist, much to her disappointment.
98	%% * MouthyKid
99	* ObliviousToLove: On the receiving end. She's probably the most aggressive member of the harem in her pursuit, but the Yang Protagonist fails to see her as anything more than a kid sister.
100	* TokenMiniMoe: Natch. She's in her last year of grade school, so not as extreme a case as most other examples of the trope, but still.
101
102	'''The Bodyguard'''\
103	Fighting Style: Tantojutsu, with whatever Yakuza street fighting experiences that informed her empty handed combat. Trains more often with the Yang Protagonist.\
104	Tropes that apply:
105	%% * BadassInANiceSuit
106	* BodyguardCrush: Averted yet invoked. While a fiercely loyal friend to the Yakuza Daughter, the Bodyguard is not attracted to her in any way; in fact, it's her charge's older brother, a famed {{Yakuza}} enforcer and heir to the clan, who is her initial crush. Despite this, everyone suspects the Bodyguard of being a lesbian, to her dismay.
107	%% * TheComicallySerious: Her ward is TheHyena, which inevitably clashes with her stoic professionalism.
108	%% * {{Knife Fight}}er: uses a weapon more often than any other harem member.
109	%% * TheStoic: in public. She loosens up in private around her ward.
110	%% * {{Yakuza}}
111
112
113	[[AC: The Noncombat Harem]]\
114	'''The Yakuza Daughter'''\
115	Tropes that apply:
116	* BodyguardCrush: Averted. [[spoiler: Despite actually being bisexual, she considers the Bodyguard a good friend.]]
117	* [[spoiler: TheChessmaster]]: Most of the "protagonists get into fights with organized crime groups" plot arcs are actually [[spoiler: her way of giving the rest of the cast warning before said organized crime groups actually start threatening people close to the cast]].
118	* DeathGlare: shows it rarely, but when she does, she actually is more scary than her knife-wielding bodyguard...or the rest of the cast...put together.
119	%% * TheHyena: Most of the time. If she's stopped laughing, she's either asleep or [[DeathGlare you've pissed her off]].
120	%% * MafiaPrincess
121	%% * ObfuscatingStupidity: Pretends to be TheDitz, but is actually very cunning.
122	* TheTease: part of the reason people see a BodyguardCrush relationship between her and her bodyguard. It doesn't help that the original reason she's got a female bodyguard was so that her protector could follow her into places like bathrooms and [[HotSpringsEpisode hot springs]].
123
124	'''The Nerdy Girl'''\
125	Tropes that apply:
126	%% * BookDumb: Played with. She struggles in every subject except one.
127	%% * EverybodyHatesMathematics: Her weakest school subject, although she's not hot in science, history, or PE either.
128	%% * GuileHero: Just because she doesn't fight doesn't mean she can't be heroic when she needs to be.
129	* HollywoodPudgy: A lot of this is in her head; she has a bit of a weight complex. But complex aside, she is still the "healthiest" young lady in the cast. This is not always [[HartmanHips viewed as a negative]].
130	%% * [[NonActionGuy Non Action Girl]]: She's more or less the translator.
131	* TeenGenius: In a world with very mundane martial arts, and characters who need significant time to recover from injuries in serious fights (albeit faster than in real life), the most superhuman ability in the story is the Nerdy Girl's talent for languages. She's brilliant at both the science of linguistics, which she wishes to study in university, and the actual task of learning languages. She's fluent in five languages at the ''start'' of the series, surprises the American and the Chinese harem members with her ability to pass as a native speaker of their languages, and knows a smattering of about a dozen more. For the story arcs which require travel to other countries, she will spend a week or two preparing and manage basic conversational skills (and will always return home with at least intermediate proficiency if not fluency). The story function she fulfills is allowing me to depict language barriers realistically when other characters don't speak Japanese.
132
133	'''The Apartment Manager'''
134	* AdultsAreUseless: Averted. She's the harem's therapist, which is an important position given the various issues of the other main characters.
135	%% * CuteClumsyGirl
136	%% * HaremNanny
137	%% * TheHeart
138	%% * TeamMom
139	* ThroughHisStomach: Discussed but not specifically planned: she's a real good cook, and once the other harem members start considering the male protagonists as potential boyfriends, the Manager's head start in this area causes worry in her rivals.
140	----
141	Planned Major Story Arcs
142	----
143	RoguesGallery
144
145	[[AC: [[DefeatMeansFriendship Befriendable Enemies]]]]
146
147	'''The Drunken Boxer'''\
148	Nationality: Chinese\
149	Fighting Style: Zui Quan/Suikenpou/Drunken Boxing Kung-Fu, natch\
150	Applicable tropes: ArtfulDodger, DoggedNiceGuy, DrunkenBoxing
151
152	'''The Thai Enforcer'''\
153	Nationality: Thai\
154	Fighting Style: Muay Thai/Muay Boran\
155	Applicable tropes: BloodKnight, BoisterousBruiser, TheHyena, JerkWithAHeartOfGold
156
157	'''The Indonesian Challenger'''\
158	Nationality: Indonesia\
159	Fighting Style: Pentjak Silat (not sure which, maybe Tiger Silat)\
160	Applicable tropes: BestServedCold, DanceBattler, DefrostingIceQueen
161
162	'''The Avenger'''\
163	Nationality: Korean\
164	Fighting Style: Kungjung Musul\
165	Applicable tropes: ArrogantKungFuGuy, DarkAndTroubledPast, Dead [[spoiler:Girlfriend]], DeathSeeker, DontYouDarePityMe, RoaringRampageOfRevenge, SympathyForTheDevil, TroubledButCute (in many ways this guy was inspired by [[Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple Tanimoto]])
166
167	'''The Unlucky Brazilian'''\
168	Nationality: Brazilian\
169	Fighting Style: Capoeira\
170	Applicable tropes: ButtMonkey, DanceBattler, DeadpanSnarker, TheDragAlong, MetaGuy, SnarkKnight
171
172	'''The Other Soldier's Daughter'''\
173	Nationality: [[UsefulNotes/IsraelisWithInfraredMissiles Israeli]]\
174	Fighting Style: Krav Maga\
175	Applicable tropes: ActionGirl, BadassIsraeli, CombatPragmatist, CutenessProximity, FieryRedhead, {{Foil}} (to the Loud American), BladeEnthusiast (gets into arguments over the superiority of her Sykes-Fairbarne trench knife to the standard Marine KBAR), TheRival (mutually between her and the American)
176
177	'''The Traceur'''\
178	Nationality: French\
179	Fighting Style: Savate\
180	Applicable tropes: DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster, JerkWithAHeartOfGold, LeParkour, SatisfiedStreetRat
181
182	Tropes that apply to all of the above: HeelFaceTurn, WorthyOpponent
183
184	[[AC: Non-Befriendable Enemies]]
185	----
186	Other Characters
187
188	[[AC: Martial Arts Teachers]]
189
190	'''The Karate Instructor'''\
191	Tropes that apply:
192
193	'''The Aikido Instructor'''\
194	Tropes that apply:
195
196	[[AC: Noncombatants]]
197	----
198	Obviously a work in a sorry state of progress. Yes, I'm a fan of ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'', and ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' before it. You could tell?
199	----
200
201	''To whoever came up with this idea - love it! How's this for a title - '''Harem of the Flying Fists'''?''
202	* Whoa, really? I didn't think anybody'd notice it.
203

Context DarthWiki / UnnamedMAHCPitch