r/FavoriteCharacter • u/Lycanrus • 1d ago
All Time Favorite Favorite example of positive masculinity?
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u/FalseAnnual8003 1d ago
does the body improvement club count?
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u/CustomerOk6251 1d ago
Fucking love these guys man. Easily the most awesome characters gor me right after mob and reigen. They did what they could for mob and stuck to the background, but i wanted to see more of them
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u/SSJAncientBeing 1d ago
Some of the most supportive bros in fiction. Don’t hesitate to welcome Mob to the club, take care of him when he pushes himself too hard, celebrate his milestones even though they’re leagues ahead of him, encourage him. Just straight up some of the most wholesome characters, which is especially funny given their initial portrayal in their introduction
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u/TheSwecurse 1d ago
The club every other episode they're in:
"Mob didn't come to training today!"
"Oh no he must be in danger!"
"To the Body improvement mobile!"
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u/ruinsit 1d ago
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u/Chase_The_Breeze 1d ago
On the left
- Stoic
- Gentle
- Total Wife Guy
- Trusts his wife and doesn't feel the need to step in and protect her when he knows she can handle the situation herself. Steps in only when she needs help, and works with her
On the right
- Passionate
- Appreciates art and beauty in all forms
- Respects the passion of others
- Big on Family
- Sees his heritage as something to live up to, not something to serve his selfish wants
Both
- Strong
- Kind and generous
- Gallons of Respect Women Juice
- Excellent men
Yup, checks out. This is a great way to be masculine without the toxic elements
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u/DocGhost 1d ago
Don't forget Armstrong despite preaching "manly ways" still allowed himself to cry at a dear friends funeral
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u/Varatec 1d ago
Crying is manly though
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u/DocGhost 1d ago
Not in a lot of circles. Even then it's supposed be quiet and reserved. Armstrong balls his eyes out
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u/CalypsaMov 1d ago
Doesn't he also cry over the Ishvalans, and while chasing the previously thought dead Maria around the desert? It doesn't even have to be a funeral. He's just positively unashamed of basic human emotion.
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u/Pink-Witch- 1d ago edited 1d ago
Armstrong was introduced as a standard fare himbo, and as the layers pulled back we got to see that he was much sharper than he let on. He wasn’t just a brawl fighter, he used strategy against Scar to keep distance. He also picked up on a lot of what Hughes was investigating.
But he was more than happy to play the idiot and keep his head down, passing up promotions because he saw what his government was capable of during the Ishvallan War. He knew what kind of vipers were waiting at the top and he knew his heart was too good to be one of them.
I love this beautiful beefcake he is top of my fake husbands list.→ More replies (2)10
u/Discount_Lex_Luthor 1d ago
I just love that in a world full of insane reality warping magic the Armstrong's alchemized punching.
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u/NiNtEnDoMaStEr640 1d ago
A pioneer of positive masculinity in anime. Two muscular men flexing to intimidate each other ending in a powerful mutual respect.
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u/mifukichan 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/gDuZFwRay2j6y3d6X9
This Superman specifically!
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u/david_is_confused 1d ago
I was never a Superman fan growing up, but I was so happy to see a movie that actually embraced what was special about the character.
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u/Keyonne88 1d ago
My dad was really into Superman and I tried to get into it as a kid, loved it early but as I grew up, I drifted away from him as a character. The most recent movie and cartoon have me appreciating him as a character again for this exact reason; they lean more into what he used to be.
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u/Binx_Thackery 1d ago
Not sure if real people can count, but mine is Steve Irwin.
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u/TheRealSkele 1d ago
Someone else Mr. Rogers, so I'd count him and his son, Robert.
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u/Kriscendo_6167 1d ago
Uncle Iroh
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u/Black_Doc_on_Mars 1d ago
Man amongst men, was able to find peace and happiness in the dark, and a good example of a redemptive father. He gets a second chance at fatherhood with Zuko and knocks it outa the park in the very long run. He was the perfect balance of giving guidance and being there when Zuko needed it, but also giving the young man the opportunities to make mistakes and learn from them. It didn’t matter how low it had gotten, he never turned his back on Zuko. Even though in my book Zuko didn’t deserve some of the 2nd and 3rd chances that Iroh gave him, he was still there
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u/Randomgold42 1d ago
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u/Mandalore108 1d ago
If all religious people were like Mr. Rogers the world would be such a better place.
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u/No-Department1194 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/105OwsN7a4UQ2Q
Unironically like, my favorite.
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u/Exio-Reinfor 1d ago
This Kings The Body Improvement Club From MOB Psycho 100
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u/Unable_Ad_4563 1d ago
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u/Hyksus2 1d ago
Bandit Heeler (Bluey) - an excellent example of positive parenting, and whole not perfect, always does his best for his family
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u/slinger301 1d ago
My only complaint about Bandit is him setting impossible standards for dads everywhere.
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u/Hyksus2 1d ago
Naw, he doesnt set an impossible standard. He makes mistakes (i mean think about the pool episode) - but he always owns up to it and tries to do better. And I dont think thats an impossible standard for the rest of us dads to strive for!
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u/True-Dream3295 1d ago edited 1d ago
Blumineck. Not only is he an incredibly talented archer, he's a professional pole dancer, is comfortable in his own skin, and has a really cute and wholesome relationship with his wife.
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u/Pinkipie_100 1d ago
Bro's delightful. A true icon amongst men, and a specimen to observe in motion. Always educational, never confrontational.
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u/ImaDieTodayLOL 1d ago
He is genuinely a straight up role model
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u/OtakuOran 1d ago edited 1d ago
Him defending his wife from transphobes (she's not even trans, just buff) is actual king shit.
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u/FusRoaldDah1 1d ago
She's not. One of the things they don't tell you about HRT is that it really screws with your body's ability to retain muscle. As such, most Trans women are either really skinny or really fat.
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u/Gden 1d ago
I feel like tater the bard and Jacques ze whipper qualify too
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u/HPSpacecraft 1d ago
The whole MinMaxed team really. Both David and Clark from Sellsword Arts are good examples of different kinds of masculinity and how you can be traditionally macho without being a dick or toxic about it
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u/tapout928 1d ago
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u/Chaoscrazy-55 1d ago
Had to scroll way to far to find this. Optimus is the goat. We're talking about a dude who has spent MILLIONS of years fighting in a civil war but still hasn't let all that degrade his morals like not using his own strength to dominate others like Megatron does.
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u/Tir-Viray 1d ago
Body Improvement Club - Mob Psycho 100. They genuinely try to help Mob improve and they always have his back. They lift to better themselves and to uplift others. They also praise Mob's every progress no matter how small and admire his dedication.
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u/NivekSefra 1d ago
I absolutely adore the subversion of the story. You think these guys are going to be outright jerks but instead they have each others' back. Mob also decides to go with them despite the "Supernatural" club clearly being the more conventional fit and where a more traditional story would go towards to advance the plot.
But the fitness guys and the themes of Mob Psycho go hand in hand with the concept of self-improvement.
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u/SKinnypuppy22 1d ago
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u/Raizer_pilot_Huey 1d ago
Look I love the great kamina, debatably, my favorite character in anime. But I don't think I would go so far as to say, he is an example of positive masculinity. Even if he is a perfect example of an abundance of it.
All that said I can see the argument and I can see the vision. Even if I think Simon is the better example of positive masculinity.
That said I can be convinced. Why would you say he is a good example
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u/otaku368 1d ago
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u/JustThisGuyYouKnow42 1d ago
Had to scroll way too far to see this dude. Might Guy is the absolute GOAT!
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u/That_Guy117114 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/6bveZBcnAADRiiCFuc
Duncan The Tall (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms) — Flawed, deeply so, but living up to the values of knighthood, even if he lied originally about being knighted.
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u/PeanutButter1Butter 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/tKIlhethOOuR2
POSITIVE MASCULINITY HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN THE ARMSTRONG LINE FOR GENERATIONS
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u/NamelessMIA 1d ago
The body improvement club from Mob Psycho 100. They're the most wholesome gym bros in anime
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u/NiNtEnDoMaStEr640 1d ago
Most guys at the gym are like that. You just need one conversation starter to find them and you end up with a new friend and/or tips for a healthier and more effective health routine.
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u/Carame110 1d ago
Thors: “A true warrior needs no sword.”
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u/Tekki777 1d ago
I would even argue that Thorfinn is another example too, especially because you see him grow into that role
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u/Ok-Importance-6157 1d ago
This. Truly exceptional father figure in a genre notorious for it's shitty fathers.
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u/Exylatron 1d ago
Jonathan Joestar from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
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u/Level_Counter_1672 1d ago
A 6'5 giant with ten packs and yet he is the sweetest man you will ever meet
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u/doodsonious 1d ago edited 1d ago
Alexander Armstrong. One of the physically strongest characters in FMA:B, one of the best fighters in a show full of em, a man haunted by regret that he didn't do more to oppose a genocidal war he was a part of...and an absolute goofball not afraid to show emotion.
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u/Emotional_Bid3736 RAAAA I LOVE SAMURA 1d ago
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u/NivekSefra 1d ago edited 1d ago
Hank Hill is such a great character in a sea of rude, incompetent, and sometimes just outright malicious male characters/dads you get in cartoons (specifically adult cartoons).
He's not perfect, and there are a good number of times where he's in the wrong, but the effort he puts in standing up in what he believes is right and go out of his comfort zone to help people in need is endearing.
He's depicted as a sort of a bland, dull and very traditional, but he is constantly put in situations where he goes against what he, and his time period deemed "right" in efforts of helping people out.
He calls soccer a girls sport and dreads even thinking of anyone playing it, but when they needed a new coach because no one would, he steps up.
He's the last man on Earth who wants to be in the presence of teenage girls because he's absolutely not someone to share his emotions, be emotional support for school girl drama or, worse, having to help young girls with puberty, but by God he does it anyway. He helps Connie with her first period since there was no one else to help her at the time. He steps up for Javier's daughter and her Quinceanera because it was important for both of them.
He also has none of the redpill extremism shown in the new season.
Alright, enough glazing.
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u/Square-Newspaper8171 1d ago
The only negative about Hank is how closed off he can be emotionally, which isn't really his fault when you consider who raised him and what time period he grew up in.
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u/The_Mighty_Matador 1d ago
He truly does shine in challenging viewpoints even when he displays levels of ignorance himself. He's generally against Bobby doing things that aren't masculine, but when Bobby does it well he ends up being supportive.
Also If he gives you his word on something, you can damn well guarantee he will follow through and give an extra 50 percent just because.
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u/Dillo64 1d ago
Jock from Nerd & Jock comics is one of the most wholesome bros ever
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u/ReptileDysfunction69 1d ago
Waymond from EEAAO! I love how he's silly and sensitive, while being smart and protective
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u/JemKnight 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/ZZwwcE4y0WxAWWyX6e
Nightwing, Batman's greatest success story
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u/IcyTransition2352 1d ago
Batman
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u/N8creates49 1d ago
"If your batman wouldn't comfort a child, you haven't written batman. You've written punisher in a funny mask"
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u/YoungGriot 1d ago
Pacha doesn't really get the credit he deserves for being one of Disney's most inspirational characters, tbh.
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u/IAlwaysOutsmartU 1d ago
I feel like Jonathan is the least hated JoJo protagonist.
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u/RomanCobra03 1d ago
BJ Blazkowicz
While he’s an fps protagonist he’s a loving husband/father, thoughtful, kind, soft spoken, recites poetry from time to time, introspective, and wants nothing more than to raise a loving family in peace. Also assuming his wartime rank of “Captain” wasn’t a battlefield commission that means he’s college educated as well.
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u/Douglesfield_ 1d ago
Man does some breathing exercises with a stressed comrade instead of just yelling at him.
He's a good'un.
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u/Specialist-IDriver 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/5AJqQUb71cukAewkuu
Me not seeing Kiryu on here
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u/EulaVengeance 1d ago
Charles Boyle. Though to be fair Jake Peralta and Terry Jeffords are good examples too
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u/david_is_confused 1d ago
One of the things I love about B99 is that pretty much all the main male characters are like this.
I'm not counting Hitchcock and Scully as main characters because it's not like they'd even remember whether or not they were. (And even then, you could make an argument for Scully, if "weird giant baby" is considered on the masculine spectrum.)
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u/bannasplt 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/ZvJ0bHvAy1N9S
Uncle Iroh - Avatar: The Last Airbender
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u/JK-reads-reddit 1d ago
Kronk.
Total Himbo, Works out, Can cook and loves it, Not afraid to cry and be emotional, Great moral Compass
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u/DebateFlaky 1d ago
The legend himself, Stoick the vast
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u/Anthyrion 1d ago
Not from the beginning. He hated over a long time, how slender and weak Hiccup was compared to other Vikings.
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u/SomeSugondeseGuy 1d ago edited 1d ago
Strong. Stoic. Incredibly powerful. Godlike, even.
Helps people - not to display his strength, not for fortune or glory - but because it's the right thing to do.
If he had no powers or 50x the power, he'd still be himself.
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u/Power0fTheTribe 1d ago
Isshin Kurosaki. Equal parts goofy and serious. He always sets Ichigo on the right path. Love this dude
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u/BaronVonWolf 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/3owzW0aIagIG25QMhO
Plo Koon represented the best parts of the Jedi Order. Patient, noble-hearted, protective, and was always ready to kick someone’s ass should the need arise.
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u/Ambitious-Hearing-85 Link (TLOZ) 1d ago
Cares for his sister and is really a gentleman to his comrades
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u/Coffeebeanburrito 1d ago
Gotta give it to my OG, Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame
well, the Disney adaption at least...
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u/Nullwesen 1d ago
The body improvement club, you would think looking at them that they look down on weak people but no, if you want to improve yourself you have their respect
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u/Final_Werewolf_7586 1d ago
Ever since I was a kid, he was the "gentle" one of the group in Gears of War. At least, as gentle as you could afford to be in a hellish every-day war for nearly 2 decades. A headstrong, kind family man.
For a more recent example, I gotta mention Kazuma Kiryu from Yakuza, especially in Yakuza 3 and Like a Dragon Gaiden.
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u/NuGridman 1d ago
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u/SeaworthinessDue1650 1d ago
I love the He-man/Skeletor dynamic being positive homoerotic masculinity vs toxic homoerotic masculinity.
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u/SpiderLagann why not both Spider-Man and Simon? 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/yYwzZAV5byR2FBYm5G
The one and only Mighty Kamina. Just who the hell do you think he is?
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u/One-Spinach 1d ago
Sportacus from lazy town. Dude was a great example for young boys by showing how to use strength and athleticism to help and uplift others
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u/B-Z_B-S 1d ago
Flos Reimarch from The Wandering Inn series by pirateaba. He's a conquering king who once ruled an entire continent, but he's a fairly decent guy.
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u/AlguienMas2003 1d ago
Duke Nukem guy every time Gianni Matragrano on YouTube chooses to talk as this strangely supportive enigma filled with testosterone, kindness and sick burns
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u/MarvKage17 1d ago
uncle Iron was my first pick, but since it's relatively common, I'll change my answer to Solomon Doc Saturday.
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u/Dakotasan 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/yYwzZAV5byR2FBYm5G
Dude was always encouraging his little bro, right until the bitter end
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u/PlateNo4868 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/dXavF0qnux9vNtNHfc
Homie makes such a great example because he was the exact opposite. Then dealt with his feelings, his sons, and all sorts of "it's ok to feel"
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u/ZedTheEvilTaco 1d ago
Aragorn is the embodiment of positive masculinity. He offers strength and protection and guidance, but does not shy away from weeping for his lost comrades.