Role Models in Animation (Anime/Eastern Animation/Cartoons)

I decided to make this thread because I saw this other forum the other day about people admitting characters they found admirable. Does anyone have opinions of role models in fiction??

In an odd way, Zuko. He was raised to believe that his country was in the right, and that the Avatar was evil, and he had an abusive father, but he overcame all of that and was able to figure out what was right in the end, and managed to become stable and have good relationships with people.

I guess, in a sense, Super Man is a classic role model for americans... Way back in the 1940's. I guess nowadays, the ideals of America have changed to the point no one gives a crap, but I still find him a well respectable icon for doing good in the world.

I also find Twilight Sparkle a perfect representation for the new age of young girls who arn't all about pop culture and sex.

i fail to see how ideals like truth, justice, and freedom can be outdated, even after 70 years.

Because there are people like that in the real world, especially today - and they suck. FACT.

people like what?

People like Superman?

Yeah, man, it's the people dedicated to lies, corruption, and oppression that are the people we should really be looking up to.

and @ crimsonstorm15: I knew my past comment and how I phrased/worded it would be misunderstood royally!

No, it's the people dedicated to lies, corruption, and oppression that creators of bad cartoons expect us to be looking up to - AND THEY SUCK for that.

No one should look up to people like that. I don't need to have to tell you this!

edited 6th Jan '14 3:38:45 AM by TheShopSoldier

EXACTLY! But the fact that many young Americans nowadays glorify stealing, murder, and disrespect towards elders and different aspects on life makes it hard for the real message of Superman to hit home, at least for long periods of time.

In retrospect it makes it harder for ANY animated role model to really reach anyone who's grown up with so much angst and depending on the environment the person has grown up in, but that's not always the case.

I have a blog called honouring the heroines...every first weekend in a month I pick a female animated character I consider well-written. So far, I had Mrs. Brisby, Rapunzel and Jessica Rabbit.

all the more reason to stand for it and keep it going.

Mrs. Brisby was an amazing character. And an amazing role model, really. There's something to be said for being nervous, scared, and completely out of your depths, but pressing onwards. Even if it's because the other option is losing everything.

it's a shame she got royally shafted in the sequel.

@Shop Soldier

Oh take a shower hippy. People who suck have been around since Superman started printing and before. Just because they exist now doesn't mean truth, justice and the American way are any less the ideals of America.

I'll let you in on a little secret about ideals. They are by their very nature always just out of reach. The true purpose isn't to make it to the finish line but to keep trying to get there.

To me, I do think My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic has a lot of good role models for young girls. Rarity in particular comes in mind when I think of this. She proves that girls shouldn't have to leech off people for support, because of how she makes her money off of being a seamstress and living on her own. She also shows that females don't have to be a tomboy to kick ass (Diamond Dogs episode, anyone?).

For male role models, I think Bob Parr from The Incredibles comes in mind too

@swanpride? You have a blog? I have a Tumblr where I rant about characters and reblog things I love. I plan on making a "Top 10 Male Characters" countdown one day.

edited 6th Jan '14 5:12:11 PM by MsCC93

For Rarity, I think she shows more female role model material than Twilight or any others. She is still, at heart, a dramatic bitch, but has found a place in my heart for what "The proper young lady" should be and CAN do more than said term.

As for Bob, I kinda think he's more for "The father who couldn't possibly keep his family together, even with barb wire" male as a role model.

That's fair enough. For me, I don't mind Rarity being over-dramatic (since characters should have flaws). So when you think of role models in animation, who comes in mind?

I'd say, most of the time, the main character in educational programs(Dora the explorer, Arthur, And even though he's not animated, Mister Rodger.) Y'know, the characters that are suppose to be role models. I think they do a better job at that than most other animated heroes. Although, Woody has always been the kind of guy I wanted to grow up as, personality-wise.

Korra. I've always admired her stance on punching problems like social inequality, cultural ignorance and spiritual unrest into oblivion.

In all seriousness, Aang. I'm not exactly a pacifist, but I greatly admire someone who can stick with their ideals through hell and high water ^* snarky comments about Deus ex Machina can go eat a dick, who can be an idealist without being naïve, and who can still smile and cheer people up after witnessing the worst the world has to offer.

There's also that time he destroyed a battleship fleet by himself. That was pretty cool.

Oh, while mentioning superheroes, I should mention Static. When I was a little girl, it didn't matter how different I was from him, but I thought he was great because he would always try to do the right thing by people, even when he was in sticky situations, and he'd try to help before jumping in and bringing the baddie to justice.

When I was younger, it was actually the first time I saw any black man as a superhero. So, in short, I was invested, plus they got urban Afican-American facts down to a point. Good show.

@Bur: While very debatable as a role model, would it be off to say I found Jeremy an incredibly heartwarming and admirable character in the same film. He's ten times the cowardly bumbler Brisby is, but still he's barely got to know her, but still risks his neck attacking a cat to save her and even rescues Timmy's medicine, he had no reason to believe it was anything more than a scrap of paper, but still got it for her just on account it belonged to her. Despite his bluff and bluster over their previous scuffle, he treats this particular act as if it was nothing at all.

He spends the rest of the movie dotting over her, even when it's obvious she's only giving them because she's gotten sick of him and the 'tasks' he is granted only cause him further abuse (at one point even left for dead by her family, he still goes back and asks her what to do next). He'd be out and out tragic in his altruism if he didn't get his girlfriend at the end of it. While the sequel didn't do many things right, it was nice to see it paid off and Jeremy is established as a close friend of the Brisbys from the start of the film. And how does he start up there? Trying and succeeding to cheer Timmy up about going to Thorn Valley.

I admit I tend to empathize more with the comic relief, they often have a constantly underestimated amount of pathos and depth, and usually end up unsung heroes in the shadow of the Ace-like warriors or beautiful heroines, yet rarely seem to mind at all. Hell even out universe, Jeremy Woobie-ness is ignored compared to Mrs Brisby and several fans think he ruined the movie.

There are so many similar characters. Spike, Pinky, Stimpy (even if the latter two may endorse putting up with a highly abusive relationship). They revolve themselves so selflessly over one person, not caring the least if said person isn't all that appreciative of it, and in the end are still treated as useless buffoons.

edited 7th Jan '14 8:29:54 PM by Psi001

@welcome to me Actually I have three, plus, I wrote countless articles which I published over at fanpop. Honoring the heroines is here: http://swanpride.wordpress.com/

My animated role model as a kid was Bugs Bunny. He always stayed cool under pressure, had a wiseass comeback for everything, and always got the better of anyone who tried to mess with him. Also, he ate super healthy and had a cool sounding voice.