History Main / StockShonenHero

* Iruma from ''Manga/WelcomeToDemonSchoolIrumaKun'' is an almost complete inversion. He's gentle, a pushover, has no attack skills but is great at dodging, wants nothing more than ''not'' standing out (yet always manages to get the spotlight somehow), and was initially not interested in becoming the Demon King. However, he does have some Stock Shōnen Hero traits, such as believing in ThePowerOfFriendship and being a BigEater.

** Chrome is incredibly passionate about science, believes in both ThePowerOfFriendship and [[ForScience The Power Of Science]] to save the day, is determined to become the best scientist he can, and initially started experimenting as a child to find a cure for [[IllGirl his crush Ruri]]. Subverted again in that he starts out as Senku's rival, trying to prove to him his intellect is superior. After realizing how far ahead of everyone Senku is, Chrome instead turns into his apprentice.

** Chrome is incredibly passionate about science, believes in both ThePowerOfFriendship and ThePowerOfScience to save the day, is determined to become the best scientist he can, and initially started experimenting as a child to find a cure for [[IllGirl his crush Ruri]]. Subverted again in that he starts out as Senku's rival, trying to prove to him his intellect is superior. After realizing how far ahead of everyone Senku is, Chrome instead turns into his apprentice.

* Yugi Muto ''Anime/YuGiOh'' is a less straight example, in that the premise of the story relies more intellecutal battles than physical ones, meaning he averts the BookDumb aspect often associated with this trope. He also is a lot more serious than the HotBlooded nature of many Shonene protagonists, but nonehtless does retain the AllLovingHero aspect and befriends many of his past enemies much like Goku does. Yugi also starts on the lower end of the hierarchy, being an unheard of nobody who was constantly bullied and had to work his way up the top. He also has a very impressive set of AnimeHair that puts even Goku to shame. The fact that Kaiba is a firm StockShonenRival TropeCodifier only further drives the point home.

* Yugi Muto ''Anime/YuGiOh'' is a less straight example, in that the premise of the story relies more intellecutal battles than physical ones, meaning he averts the BookDumb aspect often associated with this trope. He also is a lot more serious than the HotBlooded nature of many Shonene protagonists, but nonehtless does retain the AllLovingHero aspect and befriends many of his past enemies much like Goku does. Yugi also starts on the lower end of the hierarchy, being an unheard of nobody who was constantly bullied and had to work his way up the top. He also has a very impressive set of AnimeHair that puts even Goku to shame. The fact that Kaiba is a firm StockShoneneRival TropeCodifier only further drives the point home.

* Finn of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' is a {{deconstructed}} example. At the series' start, Finn was a simple-minded yet righteous KidHero who lives to right wrongs and go on dangerous adventures. The problems started when he slowly came to see the GrayingMorality of the world around him, and his impulsiveness bit him in the buns as he entered adolescence without anyone qualified to offer him any helpful wisdom or guidance, leading him to make some really dumb moves and blow his chances with two {{Love Interest}}s. Nowadays, while he's never stopped being a hero and fighting evil, he's a lot more of a mature MellowFellow, a sharp contrast to the early days when "I'll slay anything that's evil, that's my deal!" was his SignatureLine.
* Aang, the titular protagonist of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', has many of this archetype's characteristics owing to his show's [[{{Animesque}} anime influence]]. He is a naive, energetic KidHero who lends a hand to everyone in need, and as [[GodInHumanForm the Avatar]], he has a natural gift for [[ElementalPowers bending the elements]], and indeed has the latent ability to become the most powerful bender on the planet. However, he is a youthful {{Keet}} as opposed to a masculine HotBlooded hero, he lacks the BigEater component common to shonen heroes, and he actively [[MartialPacifist dislikes fighting]], unlike most shonen heroes who love doing so.

* Franchise/SpiderMan is a Western [[OlderThanTheyThink precursor]] of this trope (as well as the progenitor of [[SpiderManSendUp another, similar archetype]]), as a FunPersonified PrimaryColorChampion who's one of the most frequent {{mascot}}s for the Franchise/MarvelUniverse and initially (and often) depicted as a KidHero. A key difference between Spidey and the typical Stock Shonen Hero is that he's [[GeniusBruiser very intelligent]], and his ineptitude instead comes from being a social outcast as a teen (and a BornUnlucky DoomMagnet) in many adaptations. Naturally, Spidey is one of the most popular Creator/{{Marvel}} heroes in UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}.

* Luz from ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' is a RareFemaleExample. She has spiky hair, is an AllLovingHero, always wants to go on adventures, and while she’s far from stupid, tends to [[DidntThinkThisThrough not plan ahead]] and often [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} has her head in the clouds.]]
* The eponymous WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse is something of a {{Shoujo|Demographic}}-esque take on the {{archetype}}. He's an excitable LargeHam AllLovingHero who wears his heart on his sleeve, tends to act without thinking, extends a kind hand to anyone, and cherishes his family and friends above all else. However, his energy is more {{Keet}} than HotBlooded, he's InTouchWithHisFeminineSide, and is also TheHeart who prefers to make friends with his enemies rather than fight them, which fits with the series' emphasis on love and understanding. That said, he's still a SuperStrongChild who will fight if need be and has expressed a drive to get stronger, though it's less out of any inherent desire ToBeAMaster and more about living up to the legacy of his mother and predecessor, Rose Quartz, who [[DeathByChildbirth left a great void to give birth to him]].

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'': The title character, mixed in with some TotallyRadical '90s cool and swapping fighting with running. He's got the equivalent of spiky hair, a strong sense of justice, is fueled by the PowerOfFriendship, and (particularly in spin-offs) loves to compete with other speedsters to see who comes out on top. Even [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes when a giant alligator chases down the team in a jungle level]], his only response is "Interesting, let's see who's faster." Unsurprising, since the series has several ''Franchise/DragonBall'' {{Shout Out}}s, including seven {{Cosmic Keystone}}s and a GoldenSuperMode that makes his hair stand on end. Naturally, he has a StockShonenRival counterpart in Shadow, and to lesser extend Knuckles.

* Denji from ''Manga/ChainsawMan'' shares some traits of the archetype initially; however, their origins stem from [[DeconstructedCharacterArchetype extremely depressing circumstances]]. He's a BigEater, but it's because he lived in abject poverty and frequently had to eat from the dumpster to survive, so when given the chance to indulge he can't help it. He often comes across as an IdiotHero, but that's because he had no access to education or any real parental figures or intellectual stimulation, so he's not really stupid so much as emotionally and socially underdeveloped. This aspect of him slowly changes across the series as Denji becomes more self-actualized.

* Luz fro ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' is a RareFemaleExample. She has spiky hair, is an AllLovingHero, always wants to go on adventures, and while she’s far from stupid, tends to [[DidntThinkThisThrough not plan ahead]] and often [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} has her head in the clouds.]]

** Monkey D. Luffy is three things: TheHeart of the crew, a LeeroyJenkins of a caliber so major that the rest of the cast tolerate him only because he wins as many fights as he starts, and ''the'' IdiotHero of modern anime and manga. In point of fact, the ''only'' time that his [[{{Determinator}} incredible drive to keep fighting]] and his [[IndyPloy on-the-spot inventiveness]] failed him was during the Marineford arc, which was a ''massive'' WhamEpisode.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'': The title character, mixed in with some TotallyRadical '90s cool and swapping fighting with running. He's got the equivalent of spiky hair, a strong sense of justice, is fueled by the PowerOfFriendship, and (particularly in spin-offs) loves to compete with other speedsters to see who comes out on top. Even [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes when a giant alligator chases down the team in a jungle level]], his only response is "Interesting, let's see who's faster." Unsurprising, since the series has several ''Franchise/DragonBall'' {{Shout Out}}s, including seven {{Cosmic Keystone}}s and a GoldenSuperMode that makes his hair stand on end.

** Ginga from ''Anime/MetalFightBeyblade'' is a KidHero with a noticeable case of ShonenHair. He is a [[TheChosenOne Legendary Blader]], [[BigEater likes food]], and has some goals ToBeAMaster. He lacks the normal IdiotHero traits for the most part, though.

* Denji from ''Manga/ChainsawMan'' shares some traits of the archetype initially; however, their origins stem from [[DeconstructedCharacterType extremely depressing circumstances]]. He's a BigEater, but it's because he lived in abject poverty and frequently had to eat from the dumpster to survive, so when given the chance to indulge he can't help it. He often comes across as an IdiotHero, but that's because he had no access to education or any real parental figures or intellectual stimulation, so he's not really stupid so much as emotionally and socially underdeveloped. This aspect of him slowly changes across the series as Denji becomes more self-actualized.

* Denji from ''Manga/ChainsawMan'' shares some traits of the archetype initially; however, their origins stem from depressing circumstances. He's a BigEater, but it's because he lived in abject poverty and frequently had to eat from the dumpster to survive, so when given the chance to indulge he can't help it. He often comes across as an IdiotHero, but that's because he had no access to education or any real parental figures or intellectual stimulation, so he's not really stupid so much as emotionally and socially underdeveloped. This aspect of him slowly changes across the series as Denji becomes more self-actualized.

* Waku from ''Manga/{{Bokurano}}'' is eager to be FallingIntoTheCockpit. Out of the dozen main characters he gets the most emphasis early on and has the most "stereotypical" shonen protagonist traits, despite the series being {{seinen}}. He's [[HotBlooded boisterous]], [[CallingYourAttacks shouts while attacking]], is BookDumb, and is happy to become a hero. [[spoiler:Waku is the DecoyProtagonist, as he dies before the first volume is done (episode 2 of the anime). This sets [[DarkerAndEdgier the]] tone of the series.]]

* Waku from ''Manga/{{Bokurano}}'' is eager to be FallingIntoTheCockpit. Out of the dozen main characters he gets the most emphasis early on and has the most "stereotypical" shonen protagonist traits, despite the series being {{seinen}}. He's [[HotBlooded boisterous]], [[CallingYourAttacks shouts while attacking]], is BookDumb, and is happy to become a hero. [[spoiler:Waku is the DecoyProtagonist, as he dies before the first volume is done (episode 2 of the anime). This sets [[DarkerAndEdgier the]] [[KillEmAll tone]] of the series.]]

* Hikaru Shidou from ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'' is actually the main character of a [[ShoujoDemographic shoujo]] series, but she fits this trope much more than the StockShoujoHeroine. She's a HotBlooded AllLovingHero who's associated with [[PlayingWithFire fire]] and [[RedIsHeroic the color red]], is very protective of her friends, has [[DefeatMeansFriendship befriended some of her enemies]] and is ObliviousToLove. Her heroism takes a severe blow thanks to the traumatizing events of the end of the series' first half [[spoiler:where it turns out that Princess Emeraude, who Hikaru thought she and her friends were supposed to rescue in order to save Cephiro, [[SuicideByCop actually brought them to her world to kill her]]]]. Although she still tries her best to stay positive, it soon becomes obvious that [[StepfordSmiler it's really a mask to hide her own self-loathing since she feels those events were her fault]], so much so that it creates an EnemyWithout in the anime's second season. She manages to pull through in the end with help from her friends and from her own determination.

** Ginji from ''Manga/PokemonMysteryDungeonGinjisRescueTeam'' is a boy who gets [[BalefulPolymorph transformed into a Torchic]]. As a human he has spiky ShonenHair, which translates to the crest Torchic have. He's very HotBlooded and is a bit of an IdiotHero. Ginji is powerful to the point where he goes on an adventure with his Mudkip friend where he defeats several legendaries, including a Groudon, with [[ThePowerOfFriendship only a little help]]. Mudkip is attracted to Ginji because he comes off as a hero who protects others and he feels Ginji has a special "power".

An encompassing trope that's usually some combination of BookDumb, HotBlooded, IdiotHero, TheGift, UnskilledButStrong, TrainingFromHell, InstantExpert, TheDeterminator, TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential, ThePowerOfFriendship, AllLovingHero, ToBeAMaster. Often tends to be a BigEater, again harkening back to the trope codifier, Son Goku. He is usually ObliviousToLove if not an outright ChasteHero, though it is common that he experiences a LastMinuteHookup at the end of the series. If he is not ObliviousToLove, he may be a DoggedNiceGuy who is comically rejected by most girls or have SingleTargetSexuality for the female lead. May also include aesthetic tropes like {{spiky|hair}} ShonenHair, PrimaryColorChampion (leaning more towards [[RedIsHeroic Red (or increasingly Orange) is Heroic]]), using elements like PureEnergy, the vigor of [[PlayingWithFire Fire]], or free-spirited [[BlowYouAway Wind]]. Since these guys tend to have [[HeroicBuild Heroic Builds]] or otherwise be [[GenericCuteness drawn in an attractive way]], he may or may not also be a MrFanservice in real life; either way, expect HollywoodHomely to be in play and for most female characters to find him unremarkable in comparison to his StockShonenRival, a la [[Manga/{{Naruto}} Naruto]]. Following Goku's example, the character is very likely to have CrossDressingVoices (an adult woman affecting the voice of a preteen/teenage boy) in Japanese versions; in English and other dubs, this is less common, but can still be seen in characters like [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries Ash Ketchum]], [[Manga/OnePiece Luffy]], and Manga/{{Naruto}}.

** Son Goku is the TropeCodifier, as most of the traits in the description are ones he introduced. He has [[ShonenHair noticeably spikey hair]], is simpleminded sometimes to the point of stupidity, a BigEater that can put away 40+ full course meals in one sitting, showed mercy to the evil emperor of the galaxy after he had just committed genocide of the Namekians and killed his best friend, got excited at the challenge when he was informed that robots were going to kill all of his friends, mastered techniques after one glance that took other people hundreds of years to develop. Even after becoming a master he still trains, believing there's no upper limit to self improvement, and is soon on par with literal gods (and on a first name basis with them). Goku is also an {{unbuilt|Trope}} example, as he's not as noble and unselfish as others inspired by him; if his friends or the world are threatened he'll surpass any and all limitations to pull out a win, but he mainly fights for the thrill of it and his final goal is always something for his own benefit (namely to get stronger or [[BloodKnight to have a good fight]]).

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': While the UnscrupulousHero protagonist Akira may look like one, he's actually anything but. TheRival Katsuya is a {{Satire}} of this, however, and it is {{Deconstructed}} through him, with how we see other people gossiping about his harem building and forcing decisions through via popularity instead of listening to those with experience. The latter issue gets a lot of Katsuya's friends killed, and leaves him vulnerable to a HoneyTrap.