In Defense of Anime Cowards: Why Chainsaw Man, One Piece Are Ahead of Their Time
When it comes to shonen anime like One Piece, Chainsaw Man, and Demon Slayer, they all feature their respective anime cowards -- Usopp, Kobeni, and Zenitsu. These characters are not the heroic protagonists, nor are they the vile villains. Even when compared to the rest of their respective ensemble, it's easy to overlook the cowards until they get their moment to stand out. However, these cowards serve a crucial role in their anime, even when it is not their bravest moment.
Oftentimes, characters like One Piece's Usopp are the perfect self-inserts, as they often dream of going on these grand adventures while still reacting similarly to how any rational, real-life person would react in a shonen series. Meanwhile, characters like Chainsaw Man's Kobeni are a great reminder that some of these stories, while entertaining and high-energy, are dangerous and not always a fun adventure. Then there are characters like Demon Slayer's Zenitsu, who can be hard to like, but they end up having some of the most metal moments.
One Piece's Usopp May Be A Coward, But He Rises To The Occasion
Usopp Is Practically A Reader Insert For One Piece Fans
One Piece's Usopp is perhaps one of the best cowards in anime, no disrespect. As the fourth member of Captain Monkey D. Luffy's crew, Usopp has been around for most of One Piece. He is an incredibly flawed character, introduced to the audience and crew as his hometown's liar. He is also prone to cowering when he first comes across dangerous obstacles. However, these flaws make Usopp an incredibly relatable character, especially when he pushes through his fears or takes accountability for his flaws.
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What makes him even more relatable is how Usopp is like most One Piece fans. Before meeting Luffy, Usopp dreams of going on adventures that are larger than life, adventures one could only find in a storybook. However, he actually gets the opportunity to live out his fantasy, and that alone is a delight to see, especially in One Piece's current "Elpabh" arc. However, while he is living his dream, he also comes to terms with the fact that these adventures are dangerous, and he reacts in a very realistic way.
Chainsaw Man's Kobeni Is A Reminder Being A Shonen Hero Is Hell
Kobeni's Position As A Devil Hunter Is Not A Choice
Usopp is far from the only character to remind viewers that these worlds can be a nightmare. In fact, Kobeni is perhaps the best reminder of this, as being a Devil Hunter was never her choice. She was forced into this role by her family, and now she works a job where her life is on the line. What's even worse is that people in her position are not subject to a peaceful death. What lies ahead is often a short, nightmarish life that ends in an agonizing death. Kobeni being a coward makes perfect sense given this context.
She's also a reminder that even when some characters -- like Denji or Power -- make light of these nightmare scenarios, this is deadly serious work. Kobeni is a great reminder that Chainsaw Man's stakes are ridiculously high, especially since she does not have any abilities like Denji or Power. However, despite how frozen with fear she may seem to be, Kobeni still values her life enough to put up an incredible fight, becoming a surprising yet important hero in Chainsaw Man. She is a testament to the human spirit and what humans are capable of, even in the worst situations, and that applies to other cowardly characters in anime as well.
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Zenitsu May Be Terrified, But He Wants To Rise To The Occasion
When Kobeni puts up a fight, she is a menace and a force to be reckoned with. Usopp, despite his fears, has many incredible achievements and often comes through for his crew when times are tough. He even saved the day as Sogeking in Water Seven and as himself in Dressrosa. One of the best cowards though to get an utterly badass hero moment -- one that goes against type on the surface -- is Demon Slayer's Zenitsu. Similar to Kobeni, this career hunting bloodthirsty monsters was not his choice, but now he is here, and most of the time he is complaining and reluctant to fight.
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It's so bad, that Zenitsu is practically useless in a fight, despite wanting to be the friend who steps up. That desire, though, takes over when Zenitsu is asleep, thus leading to his best moments in Demon Slayer. In those moments, all fear vanishes, and he is able to fight. Not only that, but Zenitsu fights with the force of a seasoned Demon Slayer. Every time he steps up to fight like this, it is a wow moment, even impressing his fellow Demon Slayers and intimidating some powerful demons. Zenitsu -- for the most part -- can only fight when he is asleep, but that just shows his potential for greatness.
It's relatable to want to be more than what one thinks they are, and it's relatable to get in one's own way when it comes to achieving this. However, people always have the potential to be their best selves, and these cowardly characters show that. They are reacting realistically to the nightmare scenarios they find themselves in, but they are also stepping up in their own ways to make things better and even save the day.
These cowardly characters, like Usopp, Kobeni, and Zenitsu, are stand-ins for the audience. They are the most realistic characters in these anime because they see how these wild, dangerous, and exciting worlds are just that. While these fictional adventures can be fun, the stakes are still incredibly high, and these cowards know it and remind viewers of it. However, despite it all, they still step up to the plate when the time comes, making their actions even more admirable and reminding viewers that anyone can be a hero, even when they don't think it themselves.
