Silent girls archetypes in anime: What's their significance?

[Waylaid]

What are the significance of Silent Girl such as Rei Ayanami & Ruri Hoshino in anime? What do they mean to anime as characters & archetypes?

[Warrior Kitana]

My guess would be that they add a certain mystery to the series. You know the enigmatic figure of the show that you're curious to discover more about. In Rei Ayanami's case, not only does she adds fanservice but she is also the center of the plot. Still not quite sure what you're asking though.

[Conekiller]

I recall hearing that it is a ..personality trait that some men find attractive in a woman. Silent, doens't complain much, just follows the man's orders, some may perceive that as the perfect woman.

:shrug:

[Gatomon41]

My guess would be that they add a certain mystery to the series. You know the enigmatic figure of the show that you're curious to discover more about. In Rei Ayanami's case, not only does she adds fanservice but she is also the center of the plot. Still not quite sure what you're asking though.
I have to agree with the mystery part. It interests the viewer. How is that girl? And why won't she talk? And what does she have to do with the plot?

[Artimus Gigan]

What are the significance of Silent Girl such as Rei Ayanami & Ruri Hoshino in anime? What do they mean to anime as characters & archetypes?You know the saying "it's always the quiet ones"

Yeah it has somthing to do with that

However in the forbidden realms of anime the quiet girls are usualy targeted because the players get the most reaction out of them when they proceed into the no-no zone

[The_Magick_Hat]

There is just something alluring about the girl who won't talk much. Actually, I find that in many cases a girl doesn't need to talk much at all. She can say so much with a simple look or expression that speaks volumes more than words.

Besides, I find them far more attractive than the hyper "genki girl" that just won't shut up. :p

[Artimus Gigan]

Besides, I find them far more attractive than the hyper "genki girl" that just won't shut up. :pBoth of which do not exist in this reality

[Timmay]

Can't stand silent girls in anime. I don't want to figure them out, because in the end, when you figure them out, it turns out there was almost no depth to them.

[Keldran]

Appeals to guys who can't handle women who actually talk back to them.

[Hatter]

Don't think it's for story reasons or anything like that.
It's to satiate the sexist fetishes of the majority of Japanese men.
They're intimidated by strong women. That's why quiet, submissive ones like Rei are always #1 in character popularity polls.
It's pretty sad.

[GWOtaku]

posted by Artimus Gigan:

Both of which do not exist in this reality
Quiet people don't exist? I beg to differ with that one.

[Mek]

Don't think it's for story reasons or anything like that.
It's to satiate the sexist fetishes of the majority of Japanese men.
They're intimidated by strong women. That's why quiet, submissive ones like Rei are always #1 in character popularity polls.
It's pretty sad.
For reals? D=

The only 'silent girl' I like is Maetel from 'Galaxy Express', but at least she has depth and character to her IMO. (Not to mention she's one of the rare few girls in anime that I like in general...)

[Artimus Gigan]

Quiet people don't exist? I beg to differ with that one.I'm not saying quiet people in general

I'm saying the ones to the extent that are portrayed in the series

[Tash]

I'm not saying quiet people in general

I'm saying the ones to the extent that are portrayed in the seriesThey DO act like that when they want to turn someone on.

Ever seen a Japanese porn site? "Hello, my name is _______. I like in _______ district of Tokyo. I have dreams of ________, but (I'm too shy/my parents are over protective). I don't have very many friends, but I like to meet people." Then they start stripping for some reason. :shrug:

I think that it's an interesting contrast to what we see on English sites like that. (Not to say that they don't have "dirty girl" ones in Japan)

[Artimus Gigan]

They DO act like that when they want to turn someone on.

Ever seen a Japanese porn site? "Hello, my name is _______. I like in _______ district of Tokyo. I have dreams of ________, but (I'm too shy/my parents are over protective). I don't have very many friends, but I like to meet people." Then they start stripping for some reason. :shrug:

I think that it's an interesting contrast to what we see on English sites like that. (Not to say that they don't have "dirty girl" ones in Japan)Yeah only when they want that

Not their entire existance

[Lord Dalek]

This is an archetype?

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Ruri is silent? She has more one liners then any other character in all of anime.

[Roman Legion]

Both of which do not exist in this realityI've met people who fit in either archetype. Naturally, they're more complex in reality, but yes, there are folks who fit the mold rather well, if only on the surface.

--Romey

[The Weed Of Cri]

It's not that Ruri is necessarily silent by nature, it's just that she feels so superior to the other characters, she doesn't deign to speak to them unless necessary. Rei has exactly the opposite problem; she is withdrawn because Gendou Ikari has segregated her from normal human interaction to the point where she doesn't know how to communicate with other people. (It's pretty obvious almost from the first episode that there is something really wrong with her - which makes her fan-service moments more creepy that titilating to me.)

It may or may not be a male fantasy, but traditionally, the female ideal in Japanese society was a girl who was withdrawn and demure. Characters like that in anime nowadays are either parodies of that tradition (like Ruri, who is anything but demure), or the emotional basket case of a typical shojo series who can't scrape up the guts to tell the guy she worships from afar how she feels.

Remember the words of Ursula the Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid:

The men up there don't like a lot of blather,
They think a girl who gossips is a bore.
Yes, on land it's much preferred
For ladies not to say a word,
And after all, dear, what is idle chatter for?

No, they're not all that impressed with conversation.
True gentlemen avoid it when they can.
But they dote and swoon and fawn
On the girl who is withdrawn,
And it's she who hold her tongue that gets her man.

[The_Magick_Hat]

Both of which do not exist in this reality
As has been already said on this thread, you'd be surprised. I've met plenty of quiet girls that have quite a lot of issues that make them uninclined to talk. I also know plenty of girls who need a steel trap permanently affixed to their mouths.

Not that I'm bitter or anything. :p

[Waylaid]

Back from reality, and into the main question: Why are silent girls important in most anime as characters or archetypes?

[Conekiller]

building on my previous responce: I'd have to say that since that personalty type could be viewed as the ideal woman, the inclusion of which could be seen as a way to attract viewers. Such as including a woman with gigantic boobs might attract another type of audience (see: Go Chin's Witchblade thread)

[Fatneck]

Back from reality, and into the main question: Why are silent girls important in most anime as characters or archetypes?
Did you even read the responses in this thread? I notice that whenever you make these threads people give you an answer, then when you come back to it you always repeat your initial question completely ignoring what anyone elese said.

[Funkmasta Zeph]

Don't think it's for story reasons or anything like that.
It's to satiate the sexist fetishes of the majority of Japanese men.
They're intimidated by strong women. That's why quiet, submissive ones like Rei are always #1 in character popularity polls.
It's pretty sad.What about Nico Robin?
Silent as hell. Not agressive either.

But..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v340/Demescus/Robinasskick.jpg

[Tash]

building on my previous responce: I'd have to say that since that personalty type could be viewed as the ideal woman, the inclusion of which could be seen as a way to attract viewers. Such as including a woman with gigantic boobs might attract another type of audience (see: Go Chin's Witchblade thread)More building: the other reason they make her the "ideal girl" is so that you can relate to the characters in the story who find said girl attractive. (They do it in American cartoons, too, except in America it's the "too popular for you" girl rather than the "to shy to talk to you" girl)

...but it is mostly for fanservice.

[MJC]

What about Nico Robin?
Silent as hell. Not agressive either.

But..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v340/Demescus/Robinasskick.jpg
She was probably created to contrast Nami (who is aggressive and kind of loud).

[Funkmasta Zeph]

No....believe me Robin's purposes and enigmatic personality aren't just for contrast.
Girl's got an integral purpose.

[guinaevere]

Besides, I find them far more attractive than the hyper "genki girl" that just won't shut up. :p Generally, the silent girl character (which is very different than the quiet boy character, but that's another discussion) is only used in ensemble casts. It's contrast often used to exaggerate the antics or basic personalities of other starting and supporting characters.

Take Vanilla (or is it Mint? someone help me, I'm still groggy) from Galaxy Angel. Alone she's not terribly interesting. Alone none of them are that humerous. Even Milfeules notorious luck and it's outcomes only have an impact on the audience when it's effects are experienced or witnessed by her peers. But grouped together where there's contrast, interaction and reaction between the exaggerated personalities, then the foils work. Sometimes better than others depending on the talent of the writers.


I've met people who fit in either archetype. Naturally, they're more complex in reality, but yes, there are folks who fit the mold rather well, if only on the surface. In my life, I've only known one silent girl. (warning: the following is not said in any mean spirit, it's just my honest interest or curiousity.) It fascinated me that she could have any real close friends when she hardly ever spoke to anyone (friends included). I could understand if on the rare occasions she said anything it was insightful, interesting or in some way very meaningful, but it never was. She was just very, very quiet.

Not that I always have to be in dialogue with a friend, but I have to be able to converse with them to get to know them well enouth to be a friend. And for me to have a conversation, the other person has to speak.

[The_Magick_Hat]

Generally, the silent girl character (which is very different than the quiet boy character, but that's another discussion) is only used in ensemble casts. It's contrast often used to exaggerate the antics or basic personalities of other starting and supporting characters.

Take Vanilla (or is it Mint? someone help me, I'm still groggy) from Galaxy Angel. Alone she's not terribly interesting. Alone none of them are that humerous. Even Milfeules notorious luck and it's outcomes only have an impact on the audience when it's effects are experienced or witnessed by her peers. But grouped together where there's contrast, interaction and reaction between the exaggerated personalities, then the foils work. Sometimes better than others depending on the talent of the writers.Vanilla is the quiet one of the Angels. :)

And you're right. Silent characters are interesting because of the way they play off of other characters or vice versa. Interacting causes them to open up bit by bit, letting you learn more about them. That is something I find appealing in a character's development in a story, personally.

[Weatherman]

It depends on what kind of "Quiet Girl" we're talking about. If were talking about the harem show version then yeah, it's a sexual fetish like every other girl in the show. When you get away from the stock shounen romances the "quiet girl" character can get alot more interesting, though the sexual fetish angle still gets played in alot of the time. To very dsitrubing ends quite frequently ala Rei.

[The Weed Of Cri]

The "quiet girl" is not so much a fetish symbol as a picture of the "traditional" girl. She is often used to contrast "modern" (or "Western-influenced") females. Case in point: old-fashioned Aoi from "Ai Yori Aoshi" and how she plays off the noisy "moden" women she meets. A better example would be the dichotomy between Ayeka and Ryoko from Tenchi Muyo. Ryoko is sexy, uninhibited and exciting, but she's also selfish, unpredictable and dangerous. Ayeka, by contrast, is sweet, genteel, and surprisingly domesticated for a princess, but she also repressed, moody and withdrawn. Ryoko is the type of girl every Japanese boy wants to date, but Ayeka is the kind they marry (and would be less embarassed to take home to his parents).

[D.Shaffer]

Ryoko is the type of girl every Japanese boy wants to date, but Ayeka is the kind they marry (and would be less embarassed to take home to his parents)."Ojosama to Oyobi! Ojosama to Oyobi! AH hahahahaha" There's always something about the quiet girls. ;)

[RAINMAN]

I find the silent girls to be more likeabile, nicer and cuteer then the loud mouth annoying bosse girls in animes.

[Karl Olson]

Bumping really, really old threads is against the rules. Closed.