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Main Anti Hero Discussion
Should be perhaps mention that in literary criticism this isn't what Anti-Hero means at all?
A bunch of links to this page as well as this page itself talk about how there are different types ("Type III, Type IV") but they aren't here. Were they removed? If so, why, and should they possibly be brought back?
The characters appear not to be examples: most are not heroic, the heroic character is apparently a straight hero.
- 8-Bit Theater's main characters are anti-heroes to the point that "Designated Heroes" doesn't even begin to describe them.
- I'd say Fighter is probably more a hero than an anti-hero in that he wants to be a hero and seems to succeed in being a nice, good, righteous guy when he attempts to. However, his stupidity causes him to put up with pure evil Black Mage, amorally greedy Thief and morally detached Red Mage.
- Except Fighter, they're all really just pure evil. A requirement of being an anti-hero is doing heroic things, which the 8-bit cast hasn't done so far.
- I'd say Fighter is probably more a hero than an anti-hero in that he wants to be a hero and seems to succeed in being a nice, good, righteous guy when he attempts to. However, his stupidity causes him to put up with pure evil Black Mage, amorally greedy Thief and morally detached Red Mage.
As written this is not an example — Richard is a Heroic Sociopath. If replacing give specific details for how Richard has become an Anti Hero over time.
- Richard of Looking For Group is another example of the Anti Hero, though his motives for helping the main hero seem to be out of pure boredom rather than anything else.
- Recent story development suggest some higher plan.
- More Heroic Sociopath than Anti Hero... and sometimes just plain Sociopath.
Without any heroic character Craig does not appear to be an example. Bad behaviour or being disagreeable is not enough for this trope.
- Craig from South Park. He is implied to have bad behaviour, and is referred to as "the biggest trouble-maker" in his class by Eric Cartman. Craig seems to be one of the most stoic, gloomiest kids from his class, having a darker personality than the rest of the characters, being pragmatic, monotone and ironic. In the early episodes he was indifferent to everyone, constantly flipping them off. In the latter episodes, he is the leader of a gang who are social rivals with Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny. Cartman frequently refers to the gang as "Craig and those guys".
- His assertiveness could also lead to bullying, because, when kids from their class bullied someone, Craig was usually the first who "gave the attack".
A sympathetic treatment doesn't make a villainous character a hero.
- Hans Beckert, from M, is either a perfect Anti Hero or a perfect Anti Villain. He's a sympathetic childkiller.
Removed to Light, Because he is Villain Protagonist.
Real Life: Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple. Revered by many as the second coming of Christ himself, but when you pay attention to his attitude towards customers (particularly over email), hear what he's like as a boss and observe the spiteful war mongering with any company who disagrees with him and he quickly becomes apparent as a bit of an a-hole.
I think we should have an Anti Hero index. It will include the following tropes, as well as a few others:
Who agrees?
Should this page get the subpage treatment? After all, Anti Villain did
Thoughts on why there are few female anti-heroes:
I think that in order to fit the trope well an anti-hero has to exist in a sort of gray area. He's unfit to become a regular hero or at least a redeemed member of society perhaps because of a Dark And Troubled Past but is not a Complete Monster because he never crossed the Moral Event Horizon.
The problem with a female anti-hero is that almost any crime is easily forgivable as long as it doesn't cross the Moral Event Horizon . Think of a male character who is or was a thief, mercenary, or assassin who doesn't kill innocents. Not a Complete Monster but he carries a certain stigma.
Now think of a female character who has the same resume. It's pretty hard to translate that stigma, especially if there's a romantic tie-in with a heroic character. The only way I can see one working off the top of my head is if a female character acts heroically but is Only In It For The Money.
The entry under [1] is very biased towards the Cylons. The context of the show - namely that the Cylons murdered billions of humans, bringing humanity to the brink of extinction and is hunting down the few thousands who remain with extreme prejudice - is missing completely, making it seem like humans hate Cylons for no good reason.
Can someone more versed in the series balance the entry out somewhat? This troper has yet to see the fourth Season and does not know what, if any, factors come into play in that time.