History DumbMuscle / AnimeAndManga

* [[{{Mooks}} The Goats]] in ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'' are certainly used more for their insane physical strength than for their wits. And this can backfire hilariously, as poor Virgilia finds out in Episode 4.

* ''{{Eyeshield 21}}''

* The title character of ''Manga/{{Kinnikuman}}'' and his son, star of ''KinnikumanNisei''. "Kinniku" means "muscle", and let's just say the big guy's not exactly firing on all cyllinders. This is the most consistent source of humor in both series.

* Otawara from ''{{Eyeshield 21}}'' is extremely stupid and extremely strong (and incredibly fast for someone his size). He's the only one of the White Knights who's never missed practice, because of a saying about idiots never getting colds. He's also barely literate. Shin (who can actually bench press more than Otawara at the beginning of the series) isn't exactly dumb, but he's so clueless about technology that he broke a GPS by trying to open it because he thought it was a map. This has since become a running gag, where Shin [[WalkingTechbane breaks all new technology he comes across]].

* Subverted by Gateau Mocha in ''SorcererHunters''; he's got the muscles and can be a bit of a silly party guy and a goof, but he's quite a bit smarter and more insightful than he lets on.
* Also subverted in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' with [[LargeHam Alex Luis Armstrong]] and [[TheQuietOne Sig Curtis]]. Armstrong acts foolishly carefree, but he is smart enough to fool intelligent characters like Ed or Mustang. Not to mention that his skill at alchemy ''requires'' him to be quite intelligent. And when Sig talks is usually to say something important. Between the two, they have more muscles than the rest of the cast together.

* Getatsu/Gedatz in ''OnePiece''. One of Enel's big guns and the second most powerful of his minions, Gedatsu is an extremely imposing figure. But he doesn't know how to cross his arms properly, his intimidating MonochromaticEyes are the result of him rolling his eyes into the back of his head, he attacks his own allies by mistake, and has absolutely zero focus. His fearsome Jet Punch can destroy you utterly with only one hit... if he remembers who you are long enough to try it on you.
** Second most powerful? He's the weakest of the 4 priests, and quite possibly weaker than Chief Enforcer Yama; still not a chump in a fight, but yeah
*** Part of the reason he's regarded as weak is due to the fact he's too dumb to be a proper threat. However, if he wasn't stupid, his test would be 5%, thus making him the second weakest of the four.

* Damuramu from ''DragonHalf'' is an even bigger moron than any of the other villains in the series. Despite having a somewhat impressive vocabulary and a flair for the dramatic... well, to put it in his own words, "Damuramu's brain is very compact!" This is how he survived being impaled through the head with his own sword. He later resurfaced as an even more powerful cyborg, with such devastating moves as "Damuramu Punch", which is clearly actually a ''kick''.
* Nappa and Recoome from ''Anime/DragonBallZ''.
** {{Lampshaded}} in ''[[WebVideo/DragonBallAbridged Lord Slug Abridged]]'', where Piccolo is describing the predictable "gimmicks" of the local QuirkyMinibossSquad:
-->'''Piccolo''': And that would make you, no doubt, the big, tough, stupid one.
-->'''BTSO''': [[IResembleThatRemark You take that back or I'll kill you!]]
-->'''Piccolo''': Alright, alright! You're not tough!
-->'''BTSO''': That's better. *long pause* Hey!
* Tetsugyuu in the ''Giant Robo'' OAV, who is explicitly identified as much more immature and childish than the 11-year old Daisaku Kusama
* Rei in ''UruseiYatsura'', a slow-witted BigEater who could tear a man apart with his bare hands. Oddly enough, he's also a ChickMagnet {{Bishounen}}.

* It's repeatedly implied that this is the case for Marechiyo Omaeda in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', being that he's a gigantically large and intimidating UpperClassTwit and all... but this is actually just a ruse; He's the lieutenant of the second squad for a ''reason''.
** While he may be hiding his skills and intelligence, the fact remains that even when he does reveal them he's ''still'' something of a goof, but not as useless.
** Played very straight with the 10th Espada, Yammy, who's thick as a brick but tends to instantly kill people with his tree-trunk thick arms. Unfortunately for Yammy, everyone he's done this to has been on his side. Even when he reveals his ultimate power as [[spoiler: the strongest of the Espada, his method of fighting is so predictable it ends up ''boring'' Kenpachi]].
* "Little Cho" from ''{{Domu}}: A Child's Dream'' is slow mentally but also enormous and protective.
* ''{{LightNovel/Durarara}}'''s [[WorldsStrongestMan Shizuo Heiwajima]], while not as dumb as some examples, is quite simple-minded, easily distracted and forgetful. [[VitriolicBestBuds Shinra]] jokes that all the calcium that ought to go to his nervous system instead went to his bones.
** Ironically, it's this very trait that prevents him from being a pawn in Izaya's schemes. Shizuo is so simple-minded that he becomes unpredictable, making him a potential SpannerInTheWorks for Izaya's plans at any time. Plus, he ''hates'' Izaya ([[HateAtFirstSight and has ever since they first met]]), so much so that he flies into an UnstoppableRage every time he sets his eyes on him, which means he is immune to Izaya's manipulations. It's because of this that Izaya hates ''him'' so much.
* The majority of the namesake giants from ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' fall into this category; being slow, lumbering brutes with little to no apparent intelligence that seem motivated by little more than an intrinsic desire to [[IAmAHumanitarian devour humans]]. The small minority who can actually think and use tactics [[spoiler:are actually humans with Titan forms, and one such Titan-shifter is more dangerous than an entire swarm of ordinary Titans]].
* The title character of ''{{Kinnikuman}}'' and his son, star of ''KinnikumanNisei''. "Kinniku" means "muscle", and let's just say the big guy's not exactly firing on all cyllinders. This is the most consistent source of humor in both series.

* ''Manga/FairyTail'' loves this trope. [[WorldsStrongestMan Elfman]] believes that everything should be settled by fists. With all his manly talk, he still cares for the guild members and his sister; Mirajane. Gray when he unconsciously takes off his shirt. Which half of the members seem to be turned off by this.
* Milly Thompson of {{Trigun}} is a female example of this trope. She's bigger than most men, carries a giant "stun gun", and tends to be dumber than the average housecat. However, this makes her TooDumbToFool fairly regularly. She also has a healthy dose of wisdom and emotional intelligence.
* [[{{Mooks}} The Goats]] in ''UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'' are certainly used more for their insane physical strength than for their wits. And this can backfire hilariously, as poor Virgilia finds out in Episode 4.
* Tsuchiya from ''Manga/{{Holyland}}'' is a subversion. Initially he looks like a simple-minded wrestler, but chapter 84 reveals that he can think rather profoundly. Not super-intelligent enough to be a true GeniusBruiser though.
* Okuyasu Nijimura from Part 4 of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'' has the power to erase anything with a swipe of his Stand's hand. If anyone else had this power, they would be able to end fights with a single move, but Okuyasu just uses it to teleport himself closer to the enemy, being too moronic to understand its numerous applications. He's even well-aware of his mental disadvantages: he attaches himself to people like Josuke or his own elder brother (so that someone ''else'' can do the thinking for him), and his CatchPhrase consists of variations on "Shut up! I ain't that smart, you know?!?"
* Some villains from the ''Anime/PrettyCure franchise''.
** Gekidrago from ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure'' is the first DumbMuscle and probably the dumbest villain in the whole franchise. Beside a few creative usage of [[MonstersOfTheWeek Zakennas]], he gives Mepple back to the heroines, who has one of the Prism Stones in his body, when they tells Gekidrago that he's sick. Because he thinks he would get trouble by his boss if he brings a sick mascot back. Of course, after Mepple is cured, the girls kick Gekidrago's ass.
** Uraganos from ''[[Anime/FuariWarettyCure FutariWaPrettyCureMaxHeart]]'' tends to not listen to other people and he breaks stuff without thinking. And when he listens to the annoying vice-principal of the heroines' school, he briefly agrees with him, despite actually trying to assault the Pretty Cures.
** Dorodoron from ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar'' is a ShrinkingViolet and needs the help of the [[CreepyTwins Kiryuu sisters]] who make all of his plans. And during his [[spoiler:first]] final battle against the Pretty Cures, he absorbs [[DishingOutDirt some earth]] to become bigger and stronger, but he also becomes immobile and defenseless. Kintolesky on the other hand subverts this trope. He's not dumb, but he hates strategy because he tends to fight straight and fair.
** Gamao from ''Anime/YesPrettyCure5'' is just a LazyBum who never keeps his part-time jobs, despite he needs money. And almost all of his encounters with the heroines are accidents.
** Westar from ''Anime/FreshPrettyCure'' is so unsuccessful with his plans that they sometimes backfire. One time, he manages to make people happy instead of desperate.
** Akaoni from ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure'' just attacks without thinking. He believes that yokais from television are real and he doesn't recognizes the Pretty Cures at first when they unintentionally wear {{Paper Thin Disguise}}s.
** Gula from ''Anime/DokiDokiPrettyCure'' averts this trope. He has a habit of [[ExtremeOmnivore eating uneatable stuffs]], but he's shown to have average intelligence. Well, [[BrainsAndBrawn he lets his partner Leva do all the thinking]].
* Gobukichi from ReMonster is the dumb muscle behind Goburou's party. He always takes the forward position to draw attention and tank while the other goblins finish off the prey at the right moment.
* The female VillainProtagonist of ''Anime/{{Genocyber}}'' is an incredibly rare combination of this trope and PsychicPowers. She has enough telekinetic and telepathic powers that she qualifies as a PersonOfMassDestruction, but she's a feral, near-mindless individual described as just barely having more cognitive processing ability than an animal. She ends up utterly destroying the world because [[AmbiguousInnocence she just doesn't realise how much damage she's doing]].

* ''{{Durarara}}'''s [[WorldsStrongestMan Shizuo Heiwajima]], while not as dumb as some examples, is quite simple-minded, easily distracted and forgetful. [[VitriolicBestBuds Shinra]] jokes that all the calcium that ought to go to his nervous system instead went to his bones.

* Kurudan from ''TowerOfGod'', a literal minded big guy who doesn't even know who or what he is fighting half the time.

* Some villains from the ''PrettyCure franchise''.

** Uraganos from ''FutariWaPrettyCureMaxHeart'' tends to not listen to other people and he breaks stuff without thinking. And when he listens to the annoying vice-principal of the heroines' school, he briefly agrees with him, despite actually trying to assault the Pretty Cures.

** Gula from ''Anime/DokiDokiPrettyCure'' averts this trope. He has a habit of [[ExtremeOmnivore eating uneatable stuffs]], but he's shown to have average intelligence. Well, [[BrainsAndBrawn he lets his partner Leva all the thinking]].

* Also subverted in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' with [[LargeHam Alex Luis Armstrong]] and [[TheQuietOne Sig Curtis]]. Armstrong acts foolishly carefree, but he is smart enough to fool intelligent characters like Ed or Mustang. And when Sig talks is usually to say something important. Between the two, they have more muscles than the rest of the cast together.

* The majority of the namesake giants from ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' fall into this category; being slow, lumbering brutes with little to no apparent intelligence that seem motivated by little more than an intrinsic desire to [[IAmAHumanitarian devour humans]].

* Okuyasu Nijimura from Part 4 of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'' has the power to erase anything with a swipe of his Stand's hand. If anyone else had this power, they would be able to end fights with a single move, but Okuyasu just uses it to teleport himself closer to the enemy, being too moronic to understand its numerous applications.

** Ironically, it's this very trait that prevents him from being a pawn in Izaya's schemes. Shizuo is so simple-minded that he becomes unpredictable, making him a potential SpannerInTheWorks for Izaya's plans at any time. Plus, he ''hates'' Izaya ([[HateAtFirstSight and has ever since they first met]]), so much so that he flies into an UnstoppableRage every time he sets his eyes on him, which means he is cannot be subjected to Izaya's manipulations. It's because of this that Izaya hates ''him'' so much.

** Dorodoron from ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar'' is a ShrinkingViolet and needs the help of the [[CreepyTwins Kiryuu sisters]] who make all of his plans. And during his [[spoiler:first]] final battle against the Pretty Cures, he absorbs [[DishingOutDirt some earth]] to become bigger and stronger, but he also becomes immobile and defenseless.

** Akaoni from ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure'' just attacks without thinking. He believes that yokais from television are real and he doesn't recognizes the Pretty Cures at first when they unintentionally wear {{Paper Thin Disguis}}es.

** Akaoni from ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure'' just attacks without thinking. He believes that yokais from television are real and he doesn't recognizes the Pretty Cures at first when they unintentionally ClarkKenting.

** [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Oz/Oars/Odz]] was four times larger than normal giants, he's the strongest zombie in Moria's crew and it took all eight Straw Hats plus Brook (who wasn't ther crewmate at that time, yet) to take him down. However, since it's [[IdiotHero Luffy's]] shadow for resurrecting him, he was as dumb as him.

* [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Oz/Oars/Odz]] was four times larger than normal giants, he's the strongest zombie in Moria's crew and it took all eight Straw Hats plus Brook (who wasn't ther crewmate at that time, yet) to take him down. However, since it's [[IdiotHero Luffy's]] shadow for resurrecting him, he was as dumb as him.

* Nappa and Recoome from ''Manga/DragonBall Z''.

** [[HumanoidAbomination Sloth (manga version) and Gluttony]] play the trope to a T though. Gluttony doesn't think much beyond eating and is effectively a PsychopathicManchild. Sloth wants nothing but to sleep, but he is by far THE biggest ([[spoiler:and fastest]]) of the homunculi.

*** Part of the reason he's regarded as weak is due to the fact he's too dumb to be a proper threat.

** [[HumanoidAbomination Sloth (manga version) and Gluttony]] play the trope to a T though. Gluttony doesn't think much beyond eating and is effectively a PsychopathicManchild. Sloth wants nothing but to sleep, but he is by far THE biggest [[spoiler:and fastest]] of the homunculi.

* Also subverted in ''FullmetalAlchemist'' with [[LargeHam Alex Luis Armstrong]] and [[TheQuietOne Sig Curtis]]. Armstrong acts foolishly carefree, but he is smart enough to fool intelligent characters like Ed or Mustang. And when Sig talks is usually to say something important. Between the two, they have more muscles than the rest of the cast together.
** [[HumanoidAbomination Sloth (manga version) and Gluttony]] play the trope to a T though. Gluttony doesn't think much beyond eating and is effectively a PsychopathicManchild. Sloth wants nothing but to sleep, but he is by far THE biggest of the homunculi.