History Main / Bishonen

* Many characters in ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' are actually ''mislabeled'' as this (and the fanart doesn't help); the art style is very PuniPlush, thus the majority of the male designs are simply {{moe}}. The ones that aren't moe usually fall more into the {{hunk}} category (and even then, there's overlap) and there are even a few {{bara}}-type characters, such as Turkey. The purest bishōnen in the series would be [[PrincelyYoungMan Austria]].

** Thanks to ArtEvolution, just about '''''[[CastFullOfPrettyBoys everyone]]''''' in ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo Vento Aureo]]'' is this, most notably Narancia, [[DudeLooksLikeALady whose appearance makes it easy to mistake him for a girl]].

%%* ''Manga/KareKano'': Hideaki Asaba and Soichiro Arima.

* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'':
** It gives [[AdorablyPrecociousChild Negi]] some magic age-up pills, turning him into one of these. He's also a dead ringer for his father, who was also a bishōnen. Albireo Imma probably counts too. Teenage Kotaro definitely counts as well.
** Then there's teenage Fate...
** And [[spoiler:Dynamis. Yes, really.]]

[[AC:''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'']]
* ''Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità'': Both Italy and Japan are this. [[RatedMForManly Germany]] noticed this, even more, when they both wore kimonos.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': Character designs for most men [[WorldOfMuscleMen were a bit different at the start]], but with ArtEvolution this slowly became the standard, with [[Manga/DiamondisUnbreakable Josuke Higashikata]] notably beginning as the former and ending his part as the latter.
** ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'':

** Mikitaka Hazekura from ''Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable'' is this, ''especially'' after ArtEvolution kicks in.
** Thanks to ArtEvolution, just about '''''[[CastFullOfPrettyBoys everyone]]''''' in ''Manga/VentoAureo'' is this, most notably [[DudeLooksLikeALady Narancia]].
** ''Manga/SteelBallRun'':

* ''Every single male main character'' in post-ArtEvolution ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'', plus 99% of the villains and side cast. This is the most common trope on the [[Characters/KatekyoHitmanReborn character page]].

* Every character who isn't a MentorMascot in ''Anime/CuteHighEarthDefenseClubLove''. Goura, brother to TheHero, is an inversion. There's also a [[ShapedLikeItself bishōnen]] [[MonsterOfTheWeek monster]] but this is a zigzag because his [[{{Gonk}} original form]] looks like [[Manga/MyLoveStory Takeo]] and his monster form looks like a 60s version of a bishōnen.

* ''Manga/KawaiiAkuma'':
** Akiyoshi is often told that he is "cute" or "pretty", and this caused him to develop an inferiority complex.
** Naruse is also incredibly {{bishōnen}}, to the point of being a DudeLooksLikeALady.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' series of games have, quite literally, ''dozens'' of bishōnen among the ranks of the Stars of Destiny ([[OneHundredAndEight 108 per game!]]). Notable ones include and are not limited to: every main protagonist, Flik, Luc and Sasarai, and Yuber.

%%* ''Manga/BarajouNoKiss'': most of the male characters.

*** Noriaki Kakyoin is only this compared to the rest of the Crusaders due to being the shortest and the least buff. That said, he's just as youthful, slender, and delicate-looking in [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/jjba/images/9/92/List12l.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140904013459 Araki's new artstyle]] as he was probably always intended to be after the artist learned how to draw pretty boys properly.

*** Noriaki Kakyoin is only this compared to the rest of the Crusaders due to being the shortest and the least buff. He's much slimmer, prettier, and more feminine in [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/jjba/images/9/92/List12l.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140904013459 Akari's new artstyle]], however.

*** Noriaki Kakyoin is only this compared to the rest of the Crusaders due to being the shortest and the least buff.

* The ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' has its fair share of this, but special mention goes to Prince Olivert Reise Arnor, who is fully aware of it and plays it for all it's worth. He'll flirt with anyone he can and his other tropes include the BishieSparkle and SayItWithHearts.

** [[spoiler: [[GenderReveal Kiku]] from Wano makes Cavendish look plain in comparison being so beautiful, even Sanji mistook him for a woman. Given he/she is transgender it's fitting]].

** An anime-only episode featured Sotatsu Kikei'ien, a [[MartialArtsForMundandePurposes martial artist calligrapher]], who entire crowds of people started admiring due to how bishounen he was. Whenever he laughed, though, his good looks completely vanished, eventually causing all his fans to turn on him.

** Vergil Dante's EvilTwin is pretty bishie since he's identical to his brother ([[https://media.giphy.com/media/3o85xFOGOKRnSvbqz6/giphy.gif especially with his hair down]]), though other games such as ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'' make this trope more pronounced. Other games and artwork downplay this like Dante making more masculine and dignified. Ironically, both Dante and Vergil subvert the BishounenLine as their respective [[SuperMode Devil Triggers]] make them '''[[PowerUpgradingDeformation far less]]''' pretty than their base forms... and while that might [[FanDisservice displease]] fangirls, it is [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome awesome]] for fanboys.

** [[spoiler:Teddie's human form]] from ''VideoGame/Persona4'' makes extensive use of the BishieSparkle to [[HandsomeLech manipulate women that he comes across]]. Not to mention, during the crossdressing scene, he was the only one [[AttractiveBentGender able to pull off looking like a girl]]. One male commentator from the audience even exclaims "I'd hit that."
** Akihiko Sanada from ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is a borderline example; he's a tall and lean ChickMagnet, but he's also a boxer with a noticeably masculine physique.
** In a less obvious manner, ''3''[='s=] main character ([[FanNickname Minato]]/[[Anime/Persona3TheMovie Makoto]]/etc.) may also qualify, having a very slender figure, subtle facial features, and pretty eyes. He's also frequently described as a "pretty boy" or "handsome", to the point where a certain CorruptCorporateExecutive tries to exploit him.

** Boyishly handsome Naoto Shirogane of ''VideoGame/Persona4'' is beloved by the ladies...[[spoiler:but in a rare subversion, [[{{Bifauxnen}} he is actually a she]].]]
** Both Goro Akechi and Yusuke Kitagawa from ''VideoGame/Persona5'' are ''definitely'' this, both being attractive young men with slender, elegant features. Goro's Thief outfit is even that of a prince's.
** The protagonist from ''VideoGame/Persona5'' is definitely a bishōnen. Between his looks, outfit, voice, and attitude (bonus points for his evil panty-dropping smirk), he's definitely got a devoted female fanbase and more than a few fanboys. Joker's probably the prettiest Persona protagonist, and is by far the sexiest.

Contrast {{Gonk}}, TheGrotesque, and PuniPlush. Also, contrast {{Hunk}} which can nonetheless cross over with this trope, such as for Vega from ''Franchise/StreetFighter''. Pretty girls are known as ''{{Bishoujo}}'' ("beautiful girl"), but the esthetics of bishoujo are different, typically emphasizing cute, petite femininity rather than sleek androgyny. See {{Bifauxnen}} for ladies who conform a bit more closely to the ''bishōnen'' aesthetic. Not to be confused with the BishonenLine.

* A rare non-human and animal example would be the adult rabbits Rambler and Luna from ''Manga/HappyHappyClover'' manga series. Helps that Rambler is voiced by Creator/TakehitoKoyasu in the 2007 anime. There is was one attractive looking teenager boy seen twice in the manga, which is the first human Clover encounters and befriends. However, she keeps this a secret to the other citizens of Crescent Forest.

* A rare non-human and animal example would be the adult rabbits Rambler and Luna from ''Manga/HappyHappyClover'' manga series helps that Rambler is voiced by Creator/TakehitoKoyasu. There is also one attractive looking teenager boy seen twice in the manga which is the first human Clover encounters and befriends. However, she keeps this a secret.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': Character designs for most men [[WorldOfMuscleMen were a bit different at the start]], but with ArtEvolution this slowly became the standard, with [[Manga/DiamondisUnbreakable Josuke Higashikata]] beginning as the former and ending his part as the latter.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': Character designs for most men [[Hunk were a bit different at the start]], but with ArtEvolution this slowly became the standard, with [[Manga/DiamondisUnbreakable Josuke Higashikata]] beginning as the former and ending his part as the latter.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':

*** Speaking of ''Dissidia'', [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Locke Cole]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI Kam'lanaut]], and [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics Ramza]] can be added to the bishie roster. Ramza even moreso due to his more porcelain looks.

** Steve Burnside from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'' plays this trope straighter than Leon, not being masculine at all. But subverted as you won’t find many Steve fangirls since he’s considered TheScrappy of Code Veronica being incredibly annoying and whiny.

*** Even Chris Redfield (thanks to the art style) is turned into [[http://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/798470-resident-evil-code-veronica-x-playstation-2-screenshot-claire.jpg a bishōnen]] in ''Code Veronica'' contrasting to later games where he’s depicted as a rugged {{Hunk}}.
** Interestingly William Birkin was originally convinced as [[http://projectumbrella.net/files/imagecache/preview/images/67436578.png one]] of these in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'' but later games retcon him into being more scraggly looking, which is more in line with his MadScientist character.

* ''Webcomic/{{Noblesse}}'': Rai, Franken, Shinwoo, M-21, and Takeo.

The comparable Korean concept is ''kkot-minam'' ("flower pretty boy"). The most similar Western type is PrettyBoy.

This is an East Asian media only trope. For pretty boys in other cultures see PrettyBoy. The difference is primarily cultural, and it is not at all uncommon for {{Animesque}} media to use this trope much in the same way as the examples here, but for convenience's sake, let's just put the Eastern ones here and the Western ones there.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona'':

** And his [[spoiler:seven-going-on-eight year old son Tsukitora (fathered by the [[PosthumousCharacter late]] Oyamada Nobushige) is a bishōnen of the RavenHairIvorySkin variety]].