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Titles are hard.
Right, you have a good concept for a show with interesting characters, cool powers, and a deep twisty plot. The only problem is that you can't think what to call it.
Well, what about naming it after the main character? And just in case another show comes along in which the main character has the same name, you stick your hero's occupation or role in the story in there too.
Translators of anime noticed this trend a long time ago, and often localise a title to make it fit the pattern even if it didn't before.
Western series usually write this as "Bob the Manual Laborer" or "Bob: Manual Laborer", while anime series prefer something like " Manual Laborer Bob".
If a title appears to be using this trope but the title is not the name of a character (e.g. Doctor Who), see I Am Not Shazam.
Examples:
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Anime & Manga
- In a slight variation, a good number of Humongous Mecha series take their name from the main character's personal machine; this stretches all the way back from Mazinger Z up to recent hits like Gundam 00.
- All Purpose Cultural Catgirl Nuku Nuku.
- The French title of Astro Boy is Astro, le petit robot ('Astro the little robot').
- Battle Angel Alita in the English translation only. The Japanese title is GUNNM.
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, official translated as Pretty Solider Sailor Moon.
- Bludgeoning Angel Dokurochan.
- Corrector Yui.
- Cardcaptor Sakura.
- Detective Conan.
- Devil Hunter Yohko.
- Earth Maiden Arjuna.
- Firefighter Daigo Of Fire Company M
- Flint The Time Detective
- Great Teacher Onizuka.
- Hayate the Combat Butler.
- Hell Teacher Nube.
- Irresponsible Captain Tylor.
- Kaiji's full title is "Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji", or "Ultimate Survivor Kaiji".
- Kaitou Saint Tail.
- Kamichama Karin.
- Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne.
- Katekyo Hitman Reborn!.
- Keroro Gunsou, translated as Sergeant Keroro. The English title, Sgt. Frog, obscures this, as Keroro's name is kept and not changed to "Frog".
- Key the Metal Idol.
- Le Chevalier d'Eon.
- Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami.
- Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha.
- Magical Girl Pretty Sammy.
- Magical Princess Minky Momo.
- Mahou Sensei Negima!! or "Magical Teacher Negi". Where the "ma" comes from, who knows? Alternate title: Negima! Magister Negi Magi, which tells the audience what he wants to be, a master mage. Magister, in Latin, can also mean teacher.
- As of Volume 19, the Title Drop has negated this trope. it's the temporary name of Negi's answer to his father's Ala Rubra, Ala Alba.
- Mahou Shoujo Ai: Magical Girl Ai.
- Mahoutsukai Sally: Sally, the Witch.
- Mai-HiME — but not Mai-Otome or Mai-HiME Destiny, for that matter.
- Although the play-on-words gets pretty amusing here: Mai = Mai Tokiha, the main character of Mai Hime (but not Mai Otome or Destiny), but it also means "dance" (in Mai Otome, the battles are "butou" which can mean "dance", but is written with the kanji for "dance" and "battle", also pronounced "butou"). Hime = Princess, which Mai kinda acts like at first, but it's also HiME (Highly advanced Materializing Equipment). Otome = Maiden, which all of the girls in Mai Otome are (otherwise they lose their abilities), but it is also "Otome", which are their titles. So, in a way Mai Otome can also fit this, as the main characters really are "dancing" (as in dance-battles) "Otome" (their title). Of course, "mai" sounds a lot like the English possessive "my" as well, only adding to the carnival.
- Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro.
- The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi.
- Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok/Detective Loki.
- Nurse Witch Komugi-chan.
- Ojamajo Doremi.
- Every installment of Pretty Cure.
- Ramen Fighter Miki. Muteki Kanban Musume ("The Unbeatable Poster Girl") wasn't descriptive enough, it seems.
- Revolutionary Girl Utena.
- Rune Soldier Louie.
- Rurouni Kenshin. Although rurouni is a made-up word, it's supposed to mean "wandering swordsman", approximately.
- Sex Warrior Isane.
- Sex Warrior Pudding.
- Space Knight Tekkaman Blade.
- Space Pirate Captain Harlock.
- Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is almost one of these — the title means "Piercing the Sky Gurren Lagann". The titular Humongous Mecha effectively did pierce a hole in the sky.
- Doubles as a Character Title, if you count mecha as characters - it's also the name of the Gurren Lagann's final form. In the series, that is - The Movie had the Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.
- Tsukihime is named after Arcueid Brunestud, whose personal title among vampires is Tsukihime, the Princess of the Moon.
- UFO Princess Valkyrie.
- Vampire Hunter D.
- Vampire Princess Miyu.
- Witch Hunter Robin.
- Bondage Queen Kate serves as an example as is, however in some countries it is referred to as Galaxy Policewoman Bondage Queen Kate, which would, in fact, be a double Role Called.
- Rakugo Tennyo Oyui
- Banana no Nana
Comic Books
Film
Literature
Live Action TV
Newspaper Comics
- Brewster Rockit, Space Guy
Theater
- Pericles, Prince of Tyre
- Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
- Macbeth
- In fact any of William Shakespeare's histories count as well:
- Julius Caesar
- Henry V
- Richard III
Video Games
Web Comics
Western Animation
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