Bishonen: Difference between revisions

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The appearance and behavior of the archetypal ''bishōnen'' is often used to explore sexuality and gender norms. Thus, they are sometimes [[Yaoi Guys]], but not always. And, sometimes, they are [[Cross Dresser|crossdressers]], but, again, not always.

Originally, bishōnen characters were the province of [[Shoujo]] and [[Boys Love Genre|Boys Love Genres]], but since [[Bishonen Jump Syndrome|the mid-90s]], it has become the default style for teenage boys in pretty much any work looking for a cross-demographic audience. The farther ''bishōnen'' characters disseminate from their source genres, the less likely it becomes that there will be in-universe mention of their androgynous looks/attractiveness.

Often comes with the [[Bishie Sparkle]]. If all the guys are ''bishōnen'' without many women to balance them out, you've got yourself a [[Cast Full of Pretty Boys]].

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Related to [[Rule of Glamorous]]. The [[Long-Haired Pretty Boy]] is a standard ''bishōnen'' design.

Contrast [[Gonk]], [[Hunk]], [[The Grotesque]], and [[Puni Plush]]. 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.

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== Anime and Manga ==

* [[Kimi to Boku]]: All the [http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss148/kewlgal111/f221598b.jpg main boys in the cast]as well as [[Hot Teacher]] Koichi Azuma & his best friend, Akira.

* ''[[Plus Anima]]'': Husky. He's repeatedly mistaken for a girl.

* [[Ghost Hunt]]: almost all of the male characters. Lin, Naru, Bou-san, even John are bishōnens, pretty boys, handsome, etc, etc...you watch a video of Ghost Hunt on [[YouTube]], scroll through the comments, and you will find a lot of fangirling female users.

* ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]'' features Noriaki Kakyoin, a VERY popular example on pixiv and possible poster child. Not to mention Part 5 and its collection of dangerous pretty boys.

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* Many a ''[[Tokyo Mew Mew]]'' character, covering types from [[Stalker with a Crush]] to [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]] to [[Mysterious Protector]] (who [[First Girl Wins|wins]]).

* A number of male characters from ''[[Inuyasha]]'', including Sesshoumaru, Naraku, etc.

* ''[[Fruits Basket]]'':

** Yuki, and all of the male Sohmas.

** Particularly Momiji, Ritsu, and Ayame. The first wears the girls' school uniform (albeit not with a skirt) because "it looks cuter on him", while the second presents himself as a woman because of an inferiority complex the size of Antarctica. Ayame, on the other hand, is...just special. Akito also qualifies in the anime, {{spoiler|although manga Akito is a different story altogether}}.

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** Almost all of the male cast in ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED]]'' and ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny]]''.

** ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 00|Gundam 00]]'', oh ho ho. Apparently, every male under the age of 35 will be absolutely gorgeous in the 24th century, in addition to shrinking their shirts in the dryer to show off their buff figures. Then again, this was pretty well predicted the second they announced that [[Loveless|Yun Koga]] would be designing ''00'''s cast.

** We also need to mention ''[[Turn a Gundam (Anime)|Turn a Gundam]]'''s Loran, who was quite possibly one [[Executive Meddling|editorial mandate]] away from being a full-blown woman.

** We also need to mention ''[[Turn A Gundam (Anime)|Turn a Gundam]]'''s Loran, who was quite possibly one [[Executive Meddling|editorial mandate]] away from being a full-blown woman.

** While he's too old to count as a bishōnen, [[Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack|Char Aznable]] looks far more [http://www.akadot.com/images_osc/4048529838.jpg prettyboy-ish] than he did in earlier series

** Even in the original ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'', Char stands out as a pretty boy, notable because the art style of the time rendered almost every other character [[Gonk]]. The only character to rival his bishounen-ness is Garma.

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* A good third of the male cast on ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]''.

* Both Ishida Yamato and Ichijouji Ken of ''[[Digimon Adventure]]'' and ''[[Digimon Adventure 02]]'' fall into this category. Their actual looks are never commented upon, but one figures that this is at least partially why they are [[Mr. Fanservice|fangirl bait]], both in and out of the show. Also lampshaded in an Audio Drama.

** Well, there was that page in the translation of the 02 manga where Daemon calls Ken ''"the pretty one"'' (if you're thinking that's too creepy for words, then you're probably still sane).

** In one episode of zero two, Gabumon lampshades this by saying "Yamato isn't the only heartthrob here", while Ken was hit on by a very young girl.

** Yamato, notably, had a...[[Shotacon|considerably older woman try to pick him up]] when he was ''eleven''.

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** And Aizen.

** And now, in chapter 409, we have {{spoiler|Tensa Zangetsu in Ichigo's Inner World, who really looks like a mix between Rukia, Byakuya, and Ulquiorra}}. Yes, even {{spoiler|Zangetsu}} didn't escape.

** Ichigo counts as a pretty-boy himself, ''especially'' [[Power Makes Your Hair Grow|when his hair starts growing]].

** Also, Szayel Aporro Granz.

** Shukuro Tsukishima.

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* [[Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple]] has Christopher Eclair, a French Assassin. It's also revealed that Kensei Ma [[I Was Quite a Looker|used to be one.]]

* Tamamo from ''[[Hell Teacher Nube]]'' gets away with lots of things that Nube is beaten up for just because he's a [[White-Haired Pretty Boy]].

* ''[[One Piece]]'':

** Sanji recently has been beating people ''pretty''. His first victim, a hideous Wanze, was rapidly kicked across the face until he became (to his horror) this trope. Later, Sanji, fighting his bounty poster look-alike, does this again, much to his foe's joy.

** [[Played for Laughs]] in Boa Hancock's romantic fantasies about the Normal-Looking main character Luffy - she sees him as typical Bishonen with a full [[Bishie Sparkle]] and brown eyes, as well as speaking with a more mature voice than he actually speaks with.

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* Every male character in ''[[Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru]]''.

* Many of the male characters in [[Chibisan Date]].

* There is a lot of focus on people's looks in [[Jyu-Oh-Sei]], despite the action being set mostly on a jungle planet with vicious plants and a murderous climate that's used as a prison for criminals. All of the male characters [http://i.ytimg.com/vi/I3nTKu2Q-ik/0.jpg are] [http://www.nautiljon.com/images/ost/jyu_oh_sei.jpg exceptionally] [http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6d0JOED7Gto/Sd5oqODM68I/AAAAAAAAAxs/A1DhCQ__t5Q/Jyu+Oh+Sei+Teen.JPG pretty].

* Miki Kaoru from ''[[Revolutionary Girl Utena]]'' is mentioned to be one by Utena in the preview of the episode of his first appeareance. Also, practically every guy in the cast.

* Aburatsubo from ''[[Magic Users Club]]''. He's tall, has long red hair, and is gorgeous...with the requisite legion of fan-girls expected for any bishonen. The only problem for said fangirls is that he's gay and in love with the main character, Takeo.

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* Most of the guys from ''[[Monochrome Factor]]'', especially Shirogane, Akira, and Kou.

* {{spoiler|[[Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt|Brief]]}} is one of these, once his [[Blinding Bangs|Bangs]] are slicked back.

* Most of the males in [[Shugo Chara]] are known for their Bishieness.

** Nagihiko Fujisaki takes the Bishie Ribbon in the world of Shugo Chara. When Hinamori first meets Nagihiko, he is actually posing as his female alter ego, Nadeshiko. Why is this boy posing as a girl? The Fujisaki family tradition is for the males to pose as females to learn the ways of Japanese Dancing.

** During the series, Nadeshiko tells Amu that 'she' and Nagihiko are twins (the rest of the Guardians know about Nagi & Nade, but Amu Hinamori doesn't). It's not until late in the series that Nagi reveals the truth to Amu.

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* Kantarou Ichinomiya and many other guys in ''[[Tactics]]''.

* Many male characters are this in ''[[Starry Sky]]''.

* A good amount of the male characters in ''[[Sukisho]]'', especially Sunao.

* Just about every male in ''[[Togainu no Chi]]'', especially Rin and Akira.

* ''[[Kimi ni Todoke]]'': Kazehaya, and the female side of the school is very aware of this. Ryu and Kento also count.

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* Mei from ''[[Arashi no Yoru ni]]'' manages to be this even though he's a non-anthro goat.

* A majority of the male cast from ''[[Angel Beats]]''.

* ''[[Kaichou wa Maid-sama]]'':

** Usui, when he makes the effort, and his half brother, Gerard Walker, who looks like an older and more polished version of him. One could also make a case for Tora Igarashi and Kuuga.

** Soichiro Kanou, too, if he had any confidence in himself, could likely pull this off. Also: a number of fangirls consider The Idiot Trio to be this, on the rare occasions when they're drawn normally.

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* ''[[Hunter X Hunter]]'': Hisoka, despite also being a [[Monster Clown]]. Less unusually, Kurapika and Shaiapouf.

* ''[[Noblesse]]'': Rai, Franken, Shinwoo, M-21, and Takeo.

* ''[[Black Lagoon]]'':

** Rotton the Wizard, to an extent. He basically exists just to look cool and talk fancy. Revy even asks him if he's a man whore.

** Though still a kid, Garcia's beginning to grow into a handsome young man.

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* Pretty much the entire male cast of ''[[Uta no Prince-sama]]''.

* ''[[Ghost Hound]]'': the entire male cast for the most part, especially Tarou, who is downright [[Moe]].

* Akira from ''Ai Ore Love'' is so bishonen he can pass as a girl, and [[Even the Guys Want Him]]. A majority of the men in the series are bishonen.

* Almost everyone in the [[Castlevania]] series for a while now.

* ''[[Ai no Kusabi]]'': everyone but a few minor characters, especially Riki.

* Most of the guys in ''[[Yami no Matsuei]]''.

* In ''[[Tsukigasa]]'', Azuma is none too happy about being treated like a girl because of his looks, particularly because he was raped due to his resemblance to his mother.

* [[Hakuouki]] is ''full'' of effeminate pretty-boys. The ''entire series'' is basically a [[Harem Genre|reverse harem]], and is guaranteed to make anyone's inner [[Fan Girl|fangirl]] [[squee]] in joy.

* ''[[Let Dai]]'': Jaehee is explicitly stated in-series to be very literally a "pretty boy", and the artwork makes that abundantly clear. It's one of the reasons that so many girls tend to go after him.

* Quite a few males in ''[[Marchen Awakens Romance]]'' are quite [[Bishonen]]. Take Alviss, for example.

* Most of the male characters in ''[[D.N.Angel]]''.

* Numerous male characters in ''[[Half Prince]]''.

* Shoei and Hinata from ''[[Desire Climax]]'' are both very pretty.

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* ''[[Mawaru Penguindrum]]'': Most of the guys. Main character Shouma is even one of these ''despite'' being teased by others that he's [[Hollywood Homely|plain looking]].

* ''[[Mamotte Shugogetten]]'': Izumo and Tasuke. Arguably Takashi as well.

* How about the five male leads from ''[[Hiiro no Kakera]]''?

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== Music ==

* [[Gackt]] is a living breathing example of this. Even he admits it. In nine* nine, Gackt is shown some pictures of himself when he was younger, to which he responds, "I was a total bishonen back then...But now I'm a biseinen." The difference being that bishonen technicality applies to only boys in their teens but biseinen applies to adults.

* The record label Johnny's entertainment is famous in Japan and the rest of Asia for its many all bishonen/biseinen boy bands

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** ''[[Final Fantasy I]]'': Warrior of Light, ''[[Final Fantasy II]]'': Firion, ''[[Final Fantasy III]]'': Luneth, ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'': Cecil, ''[[Final Fantasy V]]'': Bartz, ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'': Cloud, ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'': Squall, ''[[Final Fantasy IX]]'': Zidane, ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'': Tidus, ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]'': Vaan, and ''[[Final Fantasy Versus XIII]]'': Noctis. That is every leading male protagonist to date. And the ''[[Dissidia]]'' series includes ''all'' of them (except Noctis...[[Adaptation Displacement|and Luneth]]).

** ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'': '''[[Draco in Leather Pants|Sephi]][[White-Haired Pretty Boy|roth]].''' In the original cut of the scene with Sephiroth frozen in crystalized Mako, he was to have feminine curves to allude back to Jenova. Things were scaled back there for the same reason Squall in ''VIII'' was made to look more masculine.

** Now, now, let's not forget our [[Memetic Sex God]] [http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/7500000/Soldier-2nd-Class-Zack-zack-fair-7523031-1024-768.jpg Zack Fair].

** [[Dirge of Cerberus]]: Vincent Valentine.

** As for Kuja from ''[[Final Fantasy IX]]'', he reaches truly [[Dude Looks Like a Lady]] proportions. This is even [[Lampshaded]] by Queen Brahne, who outright calls him a "girly-man". To be fair, though, he calls her "elephant-lady".

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** If you look past the [[Half-Human Hybrid|non-human]] features, Seymour from ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'' can fit the bill as well.

** [[Tetsuya Nomura]], the designer for many of these characters, is a real-life Bishonen (see his page picture). A [[Older Than They Look|40-year old]] Bishonen.

** [[White-Haired Pretty Boy|Hope Estheim]] from the [[Final Fantasy XIII|XIII]]-universe also counts, especially in the [[Final Fantasy XIII-2|sequel]].

* A surprisingly large number of ''[[The King of Fighters]]''' main male characters are like this, with Ash Crimson pushing the androgyny to ridiculous levels.

* chaos (no capitalization) from ''[[Xenosaga]]'' is an example of a Bishounen with [[White-Haired Pretty Boy|white hair]] that's most definitely not evil. Then again, he has [[Dark-Skinned Redhead|dark skin]], which makes him immune to that aspect of the trope.

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** Demon Lord Ghirahim from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword]]''.

* Kristoph Gavin and his brother, Klavier Gavin, from the ''[[Ace Attorney]]'' series. Max Galactica and Matt Engarde in ''Justice For All'', as well.

** Most notably, the effeminate Max Galactica, with his flamboyance, camp, and pure fabulousness. [[Faux Yay|(Because you, too, have stolen one of Max Galactica's many, many hearts.)]]

** And let's not forget our magenta-clad prosecutor Miles Edgeworth. He's so pretty that about five girls during the series get crushes on him...[[Chaste Hero|not]] [[Asexuality|that]] [[Ho Yay|he]] [[Oblivious to Love|notices]].

* Raiden in ''[[Metal Gear Solid]] 2''. He was designed as an androgynously alluring blank slate for the player to project themself onto. There's a scene where another character {{spoiler|makes a grab for his groin, and is surprised to find he is male}}. And you have to play as him naked. No, we are not making that up. He was widely reviled for this, among [[Replacement Scrappy|other reasons]].

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** Keiji is a strange case, as he has a muscular figure but a very pretty face and long, silky hair. And Yukimura also seems to become more feminine looking with each new installment.

* ''[[Dynasty Warriors]]'' has its fair share, with Jin (Sima Yi, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, Zhong Hui, Xiahou Ba) being a certified [[Cast Full of Pretty Boys]]. The other kingdoms don't fail to deliver however with Shu (Zhao Yun, Jiang Wei, Guan Suo), Wu (Zhou Yu, Lu Xun), and especially Wei (Zhang He) hosting some impressive examples.

* ''[[Samurai Warriors]]'': we have Mitsuhide, Hanbei, Ranmaru, Kiyomasa, Motochika, and Kojiro.

* Testament of ''[[Guilty Gear]]'', who, in addition to his long black hair and androgynous face, has [[Villainous Crossdresser|an outfit consisting of a man-bra and a skirt that shows a decent amount of leg]]. And that's not going anywhere near [[Dude Looks Like a Lady|Bridget]]. There's also [[Fair Cop|Ky.]]

* ''[[Fire Emblem]]'':

** Lucius, the amazingly feminine featured pretty boy monk with long blond hair. Of course, he defends the fact that he is male when confronted by Serra.

** A typical [[Fire Emblem]] game will have several bishonen, at least a couple of rugged manly men, a few [[Grandma, What Massive Hotness You Have!|good looking grandpas]], and a [[Gonk]] or two. Few are as bafflingly pretty as Lucius, though.

** When ''[[Super Smash Bros]]'' first showed off Marth, most western players were intially quite confused as to whether Marth was a girl or not. His voice actor cleared this up a bit, though.

** When ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' first showed off Marth, most western players were intially quite confused as to whether Marth was a girl or not. His voice actor cleared this up a bit, though.

* Taichi in [[CROSS†CHANNEL]] has a rather androgynous but attractive appearance. He, on the other hand, is convinced he is horribly ugly for reasons that are never really revealed.

* Pretty much any guy from the NeoRomance series (''[[Angelique]]'', ''[[Harukanaru Toki no Naka de]]'', ''[[Kiniro no Corda|La Corda d'Oro]]''). Eisen of ''Haruka'' proved to be pretty enough to [[Disguised in Drag|disguise himself as a girl]] on one occasion; even ''the Emperor'' is bishounen, though he has the excuse of being Eisen's half-brother. In the ''La Corda d'Oro'' anime, one character (Kenichi Shimizu) actually gets ''called'' a bishounen by the lead girl when she first meets him.

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* Yuuto is the only male in [[Eien no Aselia]] that could really be described as pretty. On the other hand, he's also pretty muscular by the end, so despite the face, he isn't exactly girly.

* Joshua from ''[[The World Ends With You]]''.

* ''[[Street Fighter]]'':

** Vega, the Spanish ninja. It's even part of his character. Vega is a narcissist who believes his face to be extremely beautiful, and cannot stand the ugly. Part of it comes from traumatization as a child when his ugly father killed his beautiful mother. He also wears a mask, not to hide his identity, but to prevent his face from being scarred. Remy in ''Street Fighter III'' is even more of one (though he's not narcissistic like Vega).

** In the Alpha series, Ken becomes one of these, with long, flowing hair in a ponytail and a younger face ([http://www.arcadeflyers.com/flyers_video/capcom/10025701.jpg some pieces of art] for the game even show him with pronounced lips, a rarity for ''Street Fighter'' characters). However, the other games show him looking older and more muscular, with [[Perma-Stubble]].