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A particular title structure like " Witch Hunter Robin", where the title takes the form of "Adjective Noun Propername", or a slight variation of that basic form. Often (but not always) the noun/adjective phrase describes what kind of thing the proper name belongs to.
This can overlap with Role Called; however, unlike Role Called, this kind of title doesn't necessarily refer to the main character. Compare Character Name and the Noun Phrase. For someone whose actual name is Adjectivenoun, see Luke Nounverber. If the title is just The Adjective Propername (more likely in Silver Age comics than anime), that's The Adjectival Superhero. See Mad Lib Anime Title for other common patterns in anime titles.
This is normal practice in Japanese, and many translations keep the Japanese wording, however odd it may sound in English. A more English-sounding equivalent would be "Fred the Adjective Noun" or "Fred: Adjective Noun".
Examples
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Anime and Manga
- Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon
- Nurse Angel Ririka SOS
- Shōjo Kakumei Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
- Shin Seiki Evangelion (New Century Evangelion), and its alternate title Neon Genesis Evangelion (roughly Greek for New Beginning Gospel), because "Evangelion" is the name of the class of biological Humongous Mecha that NERV uses.
- Combat Mecha Xabungle
- The three series that made up Robotech:
- Mahou Sensei Negima! (Magical Teacher Negima) - although the protagonist's name is "Negi", not "Negima"; the "ma" is there to make a pun regarding green onions... and to foreshadow the fact that he turns into a demon.
- Kidō Senshi Gundam (Mobile Soldier Gundam)
- Kidō Keisatsu Patlabor (Mobile Police Patlabor)
- Uchuu Senkan Yamato (Space Battleship Yamato)
- Kidō Senkan Nadeshiko (Mobile Battleship Nadeshiko, also known as Martian Successor Nadesico, which also qualifies)
- Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan
- Serial Experiments Lain
- Chōjikū Seiki Orguss (Super Dimension Century Orguss)
- Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman (Science Ninja Team Gatchaman)
- Shinzo Ningen Casshan (Neo Human Casshern)
- Mamono Hunter Yōko (Devil Hunter Yohko)
- Ghost Sweeper Mikami
- Titles including two nouns connected with the possessive particle (の):
- Great Teacher Onizuka
- Noodle Fighter Miki / Ramen Fighter Miki, the English titles for the manga and anime versions (respectively) of Muteki Kanban Musume (Invincible Signboard Girl); that title doesn't quite fit the pattern because it lacks a proper name
- An unusual example: 吸血姫 美夕 (Kyūketsuki Miyu) is pronounced the same as 吸血鬼 美夕, which would mean "Vampire Miyu", but it has the kanji 姫 (meaning "princess") substituted for 鬼 (meaning "oni"), so in English it is called Vampire Princess Miyu.
- Densetsu Kyojin Ideon (Legendary Giant God Ideon) / Space Runaway Ideon
- Ō Dorobou Jing (King Thief Jing, also known as Jing: King of Bandits or King of Bandit Jing)
- Family Restaurant Warrior Pudding / Sex Warrior Pudding
- Mahō Kishi Rayearth (Magic Knight Rayearth)
- Card Captor Sakura
- Kidou Tenshi Angelic Layer (Mobile Angel Angelic Layer) ...CLAMP seems to be fond of this in their titles, eh?
- Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma (English Love Story Emma, sometimes referred to as Victorian Romance Emma)
- Witch Hunter Robin
- Uchū Kōkyōshi Maetel ~Ginga Tetsudō 999 Gaiden~ (Space Symphonic Poem Maetel ~Galaxy Express 999 Side Story~)
- Irresponsible Captain Tylor
- Jungle Emperor Leo, the English title for the 1997 film version of Jungle Taitei
- Katekyo Hitman Reborn! (Home-Tutor Hitman Reborn; "Reborn" is a character's name here)
- Lyrical Nanoha (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha—could be considered a variant, as it takes the form "Adjective Noun Adjective Proper name")
- Shakugan no Shana (lit. "Shana of the Burning Eyes")
- Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro. (often translated as Mythical Detective Nougami Neuro)
- Battle Angel Alita, though only in English.
- Shin Shirayukihime Densetsu Prétear "The New Legend of Snow White - Pretear" (lit. "New White Snow Princess Legend - Pretear"). "Pretear" (prounounced "PREE-teer") is the role/title of the heroine, Himeno.
- Muteki Kojin *
Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3
- Nurse Witch Komugi At least, if you consider "nurse" to be the adjective, meaning "nurse witch" is a type of "witch".
- Shin Seiki GPX Cyber Formula (New Century Grand Prix Cyber Formula, also known as Future GPX Cyber Formula, or Future Grand Prix Cyber Formula as it's officially known)
- Humanoid Monster Bem
- Hell Teacher Nube
- Arcade Gamer Fubuki
- Rune Soldier Louie
- Ore No Imouto Ga Konna Ni Kawaii Wake Ga Nai has the Show Within a Show Stardust Witch Meruru
- Sentou Yousei Yukikaze (Battle Fairy Yukikaze)
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Magical Girl Madoka Magica)
- Psychic Detective Yakumo
- Hades Project Zeorymer
- Mirai Robo Daltanious (Future Robot Daltanious)
- Armored Fleet Dairugger XV
- Beast King Go Lion
- Lightspeed Electrogod Albegas
- Ultra Supercar Gattiger
- Space Warrior Baldios
- GEAR Fighter Dendoh
- Otogi Juushi Akazukin (Fairy Musketeer Akazukin)
- Six God Combination Godmars
- Armored Trooper VOTOMS
- Aura Battler Dunbine
- Ninja Senshi Tobikage (Ninja Warrior Tobikage)
- Little Ghost Q-Taro, the English title for Obake no Q-Taro
- Swordsman Legend Yaiba
- Metal Armor Dragonar
- The three entries in the J9 Series:
- Armored Police Metal Jack
- Hyper Combat Unit Dangaioh
- Sei Juushi Bismarck (Star Musketeer Bismarck)
- Akai Kōdan Zillion (Red Photon Zillion)
- Chouon Senshi Borgman (Sonic Soldier Borgman)
- Sorcerous Stabber Orphen
- Samurai Deeper Kyo
- Shinkon Gattai Godannar!!
- Star Knight Tekkaman Blade
- Ginga Hyouryuu Vifam (Galactic Drifter Vifam, also known as Round Vernian Vifam and Space Castaway Vifam)
- Most of the Brave Series (Except Brave Exkaiser), including:
- Chojuu Kishin Dancouga (Super Beast Machine God Dancouga)
- Some manga/One Piece Characters, capitalized on by the World Government in their bounty posters:
- Straw Hat Luffy
- Cat Burglar Nami
- Black Leg Sanji
- Demon Child Nico Robin
- Pirate King Gold Roger
- Hawk Eyes Mihawk
- Fire Fist Ace
- Dark King Silvers Raleigh
Comic Books
- Amazing Agent Luna
- Parodied by Warren Ellis in Transmetropolitan, the in-universe anime series based on Spider Jerusalem is Magical Truthsaying Bastard Spidey. An extra adjective, but probably what Ellis was going for.
- Adam Warren once did a Sailor Moon-esque parody of Gen 13 titled Magical Drama Queen Roxy.
Film
Folklore
- The Norwegian tale "White Bear King Valemon."
Literature
Live Action TV
- The Super Sentai franchise, which with few exceptions takes the form of [Theme] Sentai (Squadron) [Prefix][People]; with the People usually being "-rangers" (or a portmanteau with the prefix as just "-ger") or sometimes "-men", though there are others ("-Five", "-Busters"). Some examples, but by no means a complete list:
- Disney Channel Japan gave us Secret Idol Hannah Montana.
- It's not the only case of Japan embellishing a non-Japanese title into one of these. Transformers becomes Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers.
- DC Japan does it again, this time for animation: Mysterious Zone Gravity Falls (Kikai Zone Gravity Falls).
- The Metal Heroes series, including:
- Uchuu Keiji Gavan (Space Sheriff Gavan).
- Uchuu Keiji Shariban (Space Sheriff Sharivan).
- Jikuu Senshi Spielban (Space-Time Warrior Spielban).
- Tokkyu Shirei Solbrain (literally Special Rescue Command Solbrain, translated as Super Rescue Solbrain).
- The Kamen Rider series, all of which are Kamen Rider ____ ("Masked Rider ____")
- Madan Senki Ryukendo (Madan *
The title uses the kanji for "magic bullet," but the series itself treats "Madan" as a nonsense word for magic stuff in general Chronicle Ryukendo)
- K-tai Investigator 7, a play on "keitai," the Japanese word for "cell phone."
- Kankyou Choujin Ecogainder (Environmental Superhuman Ecogainder)
- This was parodied in MADtv with the character and vaguely Asian-stereotype Miss Swan, who ran the Gorgeous Pretty Beauty Nail Salon.
- Kodai Shoujo Dogu-chan (Ancient Girl Dogu
 -chan, written on the title screen as The Ancient Dogoo Girl.)
- Demon Hunter Mitsurugi
- Super Robot Red Baron and its successor series, Super Robot Mach Baron.
- Denkou Choujin Gridman (Electric Superhuman Gridman)
- Seven Star Fighting God Guyferd (A bit wordy, but fits if you take "Seven Star" as the Adjective and "Fighting God" as the Noun.)
- Bio Planet Wo O
- Tomica Hero Rescue Force and its sequel series, Tomica Hero Rescue Fire ("Tomica" being a line of toy cars that supported the shows.)
- Dennou Keisatsu Cybercop (Electro-Brain Police Cybercop)
- Toumei Shoujo Ea (Invisible Girl Ea)
- Kamen No Ninja Akakage (Masked Ninja Akakage)
- Seiun Kamen Machineman (Nebula Mask Machineman)
- Jinzo Ningen Kikaider (Artificial Human Kikaider, sometimes rendered as Android Kikaider)
- Space Ironmen Kyodain
- Henshin Ninja Arashi (Transforming Ninja Arashi)
Newspaper Comics
Video Games
- Brave Fencer Musashi
- Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer (originally known in Japan as Chōjin Gakuen Gōkaizā or "Superhuman Academy Gowcaizer", which also qualifies)
- Akuma Jō Dracula (Demon Castle Dracula)
- Galaxy Fraulein Yuna (also known as Ginga Ojōsama Densetsu Yuna)
- Assault Suits Leynos
- Assault Suits Valken
- Robot Ninja Haggleman
- Dead Head Fred, appropriately enough.
- In Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, the stories Etna makes up for the next chapter previews all have titles in this form.
- Parodied in Banjo-Tooie; each boss has a silly descriptor, like "Grubby Boiler Monarch Old King Coal" or "Self-Important Anglerfish Lord Woo Fak Fak". Klungo actually gets a new one each time you fight him.
- Seirei Senshi Spriggan (Spirit Soldier Spriggan)
- Dennin Aleste (the Japanese title of Robo Aleste) can be loosely read as "Electr(ic) Nin(ja) Aleste." It Makes Sense in Context.
- Pirate Ship Higemaru
- Secret Agent Barbie
- Star Destroyer Bosconian
- Armed Police Batrider
- Flame Zapper Kotsujin
- Mahou Gakuen Lunar! (Magic School Lunar)
- Mugen Senshi Valis, whose adjective and noun are translated as "The Fantasm Soldier" (or "The Fantastic Soldier" in the Famicom version). The boss captions in the TurboGrafx-16 version of Valis II are given in this format (the one exception, "Haizen the Ruthless," may be due to the general inconsistency of the translation).
- Car Battler Joe
- Kisuishou Densetsu Astal (Bright Crystal Legend Astal)
- Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman (Remodeled Superhuman Shubibinman)
- Chouzetsu Rinjin Berabowman (Transcendental Ethical Man Bravoman)
- Atomic Runner Chelnov
- Seirei Densetsu Lickle (Holy Bell Legend Lickle), the Japanese title of Little Samson
- In the Wild ARMs series, most boss names follow this pattern.
- Maneuver Cepter Granada
- Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (Hot Blooded Tough Guy Kunio Kun)
- Jūryoku Sōkō Metal Storm (Gravity Armor Metal Storm)
- Of the Dizzy games, Treasure Island Dizzy, Fantasy World Dizzy and Crystal Kingdom Dizzy fit this format. Magicland Dizzy just misses it.
- Keitai Denjuu Telefang (Portable Electronic Beast Telefang)
- Arabian Dream Scheherazade, Japanese title of The Magic Of Scheherazade
- Cyber Police ESWAT
- Yōsei Monogatari Rodland (Fairy Story Rod Land)
- Magical Puzzle Popils
- Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru (Masked Ninja Hanamaru)
- Maou Golvellius (Demon King Golvellius)
- Tokushu Butai Jackal (Special Forces Jackal)
- High Seas Havoc. Yes, "Havoc" is the protagonist's name.
- Makai Toshi Sa Ga (Demon Town SaGa)
- Pajama Hero Nemo, Japanese title of Little Nemo The Dream Master
- Cosmo Police Galivan
- Legend of Hero Tonma barely misses this trope, though it could have been an Engrish rendering of Densetsu no Eiyuu Tonma (Legendary Hero Tonma).
- Advanced Busterhawk Gleylancer
- Comical Machinegun Joe
- Choujin Heiki Zeroigar (Superdeity Arms Zeroigar)
- Cyber Troopers Virtual On, also titled Dennou Senki Bācharon on Japanese releases
- Shinrei Jusatsushi Taroumaru (Psychic Assassin Taromaru)
- Bio Ship Paladin (the original Japanese title, Uchū Senkan Gomora or "Space Battleship Gomora", also qualifies)
- Fushigi no Oshiro Pit Pot (The Magical Castle Pit Pot)
Webcomics
Western Animation
- Disney Channel Japan strikes again with Kikai Zone Gravity Falls ("Mysterious Zone Gravity Falls").
- Likewise, the Japanese title of "The Hand That Rocks the Mabel" is "Chōnōryoku Shōnen Gideon" ("Psychic Boy Gideon").
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