10 anime characters with unique phobia

Anime characters with unique phobia (Image via Sportskeeda)
Anime characters with unique phobia (Image via Sportskeeda)

Anime characters have a remarkable range of personalities, histories, and peculiarities that contribute to their uniqueness and make them memorable. Of these characteristics, phobias are crucial in giving anime characters detail and complexity, which increases their relatability and humanizes them.

Phobias, or intense fears of specific objects or situations, can shape a character's behavior, interactions, and development throughout a series. These phobias, which range from a fear of women to a fear of fish, give their personalities an intriguing twist while also providing possibilities for development and growth.

This opens up a window for fans to better appreciate the finer details of anime characters' personalities and the struggles they face. It also offers a peek into the imaginations of the authors and artists who give these characters life. As such, fans develop a stronger bond with the stories and experiences of these anime characters by exploring their vulnerabilities and fears.


10 anime characters with different phobias that make them memorable


1) Guy Cecil (Tales of the Abyss) - Gynophobia

Guy Cecil as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Sunrise)
Guy Cecil as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Sunrise)

Guy Cecil’s character is deeply affected by his gynophobia, or fear of women. Later on, it was found to be due to the death of his older sister during the Hod war. On his fifth birthday, he witnessed her and other maids being killed in front of him. He was left unconscious beneath his sister's body and covered in her blood, which ultimately led to the development of his phobia.

But as the story goes on, Guy tries to get over his fear, especially for the sake of his friends. Themes of overcoming personal trauma, and the role of friends and allies in coping with such issues are highlighted by his struggle with gynophobia.


2) Ryoushi Morino (Okami San and her 7 companions) - Scopophobia

Ryoushi Morino as seen in the anime (Image via J.C.Staff)
Ryoushi Morino as seen in the anime (Image via J.C.Staff)

Ryoushi Morino suffers from scopophobia, the fear of being stared at. His life is greatly impacted by this phobia, making him extremely shy and anxious. Ryoushi's phobia frequently places him in amusing but difficult circumstances, particularly considering his position at the Otogi Bank, where he must regularly confront other anime characters.

However, Ryoushi is a skilled marksman who frequently uses his skills to protect his friends in spite of his fear. As fans watch him battle his fears while attempting to be brave for his friends' sake, his phobia gives his character more depth and charm.


3) Chibodee Crocket (Mobile Fighter G Gundam) - Coulrophobia

Chibodee Crocket as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Sunrise)
Chibodee Crocket as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Sunrise)

Gundam fighter Chibodee Crocket suffers from coulrophobia, which is a serious fear of clowns. When he was little, a group of hijackers dressed as clowns attacked him and his mother, causing a traumatic event that led to this phobia. This phobia left a mark on him even though he is a self-assured and fearless fighter.

Chibodee’s fear of clowns is the exact opposite of his tough and brave personality, showing that even the strongest anime characters have vulnerabilities. In the series, his phobia is often employed for comic relief, but it also acts as a reminder of his traumatic past.


4) Death the Kid (Soul Eater) - Ataxophobia

Elizabeth Thompson[left], Death the Kid[middle] and Patricia Thompson[right] as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Bones)
Elizabeth Thompson[left], Death the Kid[middle] and Patricia Thompson[right] as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Bones)

The son of Death itself, Death the Kid, has ataxophobia, a fear of disorder or chaos. Everything about his life, from how he sets up his room to how he fights, is dictated by his obsession with symmetrical order. He is extremely distressed by any deviation from symmetry, which frequently prevents him from functioning normally.

Death the Kid is a dedicated student and an exceptional fighter despite his fixation with symmetry. His phobia highlights his struggle with maintaining control and order in his life. Ataxophobia is a recurrent theme in the series, which gives his character greater depth and increases the impact of his growth and development.


5) Ryo Saeba (City Hunter) - Aerophobia

Ryo Saeba as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Sunrise)
Ryo Saeba as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Sunrise)

The stylish and skilled "City Hunter," Ryo Saeba, has a surprising fear of flying, known as aerophobia. It is connected to a plane accident in which he lost both of his parents when he was a child. This fear is quite an obstacle, given his line of work often requires him to travel by air.

Ryo is more relatable and human because of his aerophobia, which gives his otherwise self-assured and fearless persona a unique aspect. Despite his extreme fear, his attempts to overcome this phobia demonstrate his courage and tenacity, making him a well-rounded and multi-dimensional character among anime characters.


6) Kaito Kuroba (Detective Conan) - Ichthyophobia

Kaito Kid as seen in the anime (Image via TMS Entertainment)
Kaito Kid as seen in the anime (Image via TMS Entertainment)

Kaitou Kid has ichthyophobia, also known as an extreme fear of fish. Given his bold and adventurous personality, this unusual phobia frequently results in humorous situations. It's unclear what caused Kaito to be afraid and it might have been something that happened to him in the past.

Some fans speculate that Gosho Aoyama, the creator of the series, wrote Kaito as not liking fish because he himself dislikes them. In spite of his fear, Kaito is a gifted thief and magician who frequently outwits his rivals thanks to his skills, making him compelling and mysterious in the world of anime characters.


7) Kazuharu Fukuyama (Girls Bravo) - Androphobia

Kazuharu Fukuyama as seen in the anime (Image via AIC Spirits)
Kazuharu Fukuyama as seen in the anime (Image via AIC Spirits)

Ironically, given his character's playboy tendencies, Kazuharu Fukuyama has androphobia, or a fear of men. He frequently serves as a de facto antagonist and is one of the main characters in the series. His phobia causes him to feel extremely uneasy and to break into hives when around men.

Despite his fear, Kazuharu is a confident and outgoing person, often trying to woo the female characters in the series. His androphobia distinguishes him from other anime characters and gives his character a distinctive and memorable quality.


8) Motoko Aoyama (Love Hina) - Chelonaphobia

Motoko Aoyama as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Xebec)
Motoko Aoyama as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Xebec)

The talented swordswoman from Love Hina, Motoko Aoyama, suffers from chelonaphobia, a severe fear of turtles. This seemingly irrational fear stems from a childhood incident involving a turtle. In Love Hina Mugendai, Ken Akamatsu confirms the theory that it originates from when she once caught her sister being intimate with her boyfriend.

Given her generally fearless and stoic demeanor, Motoko's fear of turtles serves as a comic relief in the series. Motoko is a strong and determined person despite her phobia, frequently putting herself in difficult situations to aid her friends. Her chelonaphobia gives her a distinct personality that humanizes and makes her one of the more relatable anime characters.


9) Tsunade (Naruto) - Haemophobia

Tsunade as seen in Naruto Shippuden anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)
Tsunade as seen in Naruto Shippuden anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

One of Naruto's most renowned Sannin, Tsunade, has hemophobia, or a fear of blood. This fear is particularly crippling given her role as a medical ninja. It originates from traumatic incidents in the past involving the deaths of loved ones. She freezes in terror when she sees blood because it brings back painful memories.

Tsunade's hemophobia is portrayed through her visible distress and avoidance of situations involving blood, adding depth and vulnerability to her character. Despite all this, Tsunade is one of the strongest anime characters in the series.


10) Kyoichi Shido (Idaten Jump) - Ornithophobia

Kyoichi Shido as seen in the anime (Image via Trans Arts)
Kyoichi Shido as seen in the anime (Image via Trans Arts)

The gifted cyclist from Idaten Jump, Kyoichi Shido, suffers from ornithophobia, or a fear of birds. When Kyoichi was little, he had an incident, where he was attacked by birds. Kyoichi's outdoor visits are a major problem due to his fear of birds, which adds an interesting twist to his competitive spirit.

His phobia is a reminder that even the most capable and motivated people can have weaknesses. Kyoichi's journey is relatable to viewers who may have their own fears and anxieties, making him a complex and interesting anime character.


Conclusion

These phobias make these anime characters more memorable, even if there is a traumatic past behind their story. As other characters provide understanding and support, they also open up possibilities for unique relationships and interactions, assisting the affected anime characters in overcoming their fears.


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Edited by Bharath S
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