Boys Having to Kill/Overcome Their Moms in Anime/Manga

[Tatsuki]

Is this a Shounen trope or a Freudian/Greek Myth plot point?
My post in the "Upcoming Episodes and Dates" thread:
Whoa!!!
Another Masaki illusion???? This will be the second time this series used the shounen cliche of "the main character needs to defeat/overcome an illusion of his own mother."
So far, I've seen it in at least 4 series:
Parasyte (manga), Full Metal Alchemist (anime), InuYasha and Bleach, please feel free to add to my list if you can think of any more examples!


^ Thrown in Neon Genesis Evangelion there as well.
Okay. I never got through NGE, though.(I know, "*Gasp* Can she really act like an Otaku and not have seen the GREAT NGE?!")

I love the opening theme, if that helps! :D

Any other shows depict boys having to overcome evil/possessed/illusion moms? (this really does sound Freudian!)

FMA and Parasyte's depictions of said trope were truly epic. Can't comment on NGE. Are there any more? And what kind of macho/psychological points does it bring to the characters who have to destroy or overcome their moms? Has anyone seen.read a series in which a character has to fight/kill/overcome Dad?

Let's discuss...:cool:

[Rain]

lol, interesting topic indeed

most series (well shonen series anyway) actually try to avoid the characters having parents at all, so there aren't going to be many examples

I wouldn't say its so much freudian (unless the character wants to sleep with their mother :XD) but it does bring up strong character/emotional issues

I think its more just a way to develop the character, not meant to mean anything in of itself (sorry if this seems to be side-stepping the main point)

pretty much its just the character breaking away fromt heir past, growing stronger than they used to be, so i guess it hink its just a plot device


And yea, there are series where the character has to overcome/defeat their father, or at least move out of their fathers shadow

InuYasha is a good example, I dare say naruto is another

[Tatsuki]

Wait, who's Naruto's father? (Spoiler-it if it's a spoiler) I only casually watch/read Naruto.

Come to think of it, Sauske has to overcome/defeat his older brother, doesn't he? That's a version of the trope...

True about Inuyasha and his dad. It's kind of funny how Inuyasha (and many other Shounen characters are more emotionally connected to their moms or even siblings then their Fathers. In fact, a lot of Shounen kids hate their Dad (Ed in FMA, Shinji in NGE, Lelouch in Code Geass, etc).

So the Freudian thing is this: the shounen hero hates or is indifferent to dad, but loves/idolizes/wants to take revenge on behalf of mom, and this leads to an emotional confrontation or two between an illusion mom and hero. Hero must defeat mom/mom's memory to move on and become truly independent.

Heck, even some shojo characters have major mom complexes that they have to get over: Tamaki in Ouran High School Host Club, everyone (LOL) in Fruits Basket (particularly Yuki and Akito, but Rin, Kyo, Momiji, even Tohru have major mother issues), Ritsuka in Loveless, and Nana O. in Nana come to mind...they all could use a good shrink! :p

[Saffire]

Naruto spoiler:
It's the Fourth Hokage.

As far as fighting family goes, it's just a really easy plot device to use that gives the main character(s) depth. Shonen heroes very rarely have a normal two-parent family, usually at least one is dead/missing, and those that do have family usually aren't on the best terms. I doubt there's any deep psychological meaning to it, it's just easy plot writing.

[Tatsuki]

Naruto spoiler:
It's the Fourth Hokage.

As far as fighting family goes, it's just a really easy plot device to use that gives the main character(s) depth. Shonen heroes very rarely have a normal two-parent family, usually at least one is dead/missing, and those that do have family usually aren't on the best terms. I doubt there's any deep psychological meaning to it, it's just easy plot writing.
Seriously?! Whoa, i what chapter is that revealed? And if that's his dad, who's his mom?

Yes, you're right, easy plot writing since time began. I just think there might be a bit more to it, since it's rare that the male character loves Dad and hates mom. Could you imagine Star Wars if Padme/Queen Amidala was Darth Vader?

[Shdo]

the mother is some unknown girl from another villege. i dont think there is much info about her. i think she came from the lightning or wind...


in macross f the hero have issues with his father, just because he wants to be a pilot and not a crossdresser in the theathere.

in berserk guts climb from his mother womb when she was hanged (best description) and later in life killed his uncle who was like his father.

in gundam seed the son kill a young clone of his father...twice i think...

[cornflakes]

As far as fighting family goes, it's just a really easy plot device to use that gives the main character(s) depth. Shonen heroes very rarely have a normal two-parent family, usually at least one is dead/missing, and those that do have family usually aren't on the best terms. I doubt there's any deep psychological meaning to it, it's just easy plot writing.
QFT. It could easily have been a sister (or brother or best friend), but the closest bonds of childhood are usually with one's mother, so...


Could you imagine Star Wars if Padme/Queen Amidala was Darth Vader?
Easy, just picture Natalie Portman's performance in that stripper scene in Closer with black eyeshadow, black lipstick and really stylish black threads (minus that pink wig, of course). :lmao



EDIT: Oh my, I didn't notice that the thread is from July....

[Tatsuki]

LOL! I never saw Closer, and now I really don't want to see it!

I'm honored that after all these months, someone bumped my thread.

i'm still fascinated by "destroying Mom to get on with life" thing...and after watching some of Code Geass R2, um, not to spoil, but throw Lelouch in for the count, LOL.

Interesting that in a series in which you'd really think you'd see a love for mom, whom I must defeat, hate for dad, whom I also must surpass/defeat, Light in Death Note is completely indifferent to his mother and sister. Though he's completely indifferent to everyone but himself...

[Bluehawk]

LOL! I never saw Closer, and now I really don't want to see it!

I'm honored that after all these months, someone bumped my thread.

i'm still fascinated by "destroying Mom to get on with life" thing...and after watching some of Code Geass R2, um, not to spoil, but throw Lelouch in for the count, LOL.

Interesting that in a series in which you'd really think you'd see a love for mom, whom I must defeat, hate for dad, whom I also must surpass/defeat, Light in Death Note is completely indifferent to his mother and sister. Though he's completely indifferent to everyone but himself...

Raito-kun is a sociopath or something.

Also...the Amagai filler. Seriously. WHAT. That mother-illusion thing was just...ack. Ichigo already beat an illusion of his mother once. Why does he have to do it again? It immediately cheapens the whole thing.