A Twitter user has caused a stir in the anime
community after claiming that the popular series “ Naruto ”
was the one that “invented” the concept of a 'protagonist trio' made
up of two men and a woman. This trio in “Naruto” is made up of the characters
Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, who, according to the
user, established a format that has been replicated in other popular
franchises such as “Black Clover”, “Jujutsu Kaisen” and “Chainsaw Man.”
To “prove” his point, the user shared
examples of other series that also feature a leading trio of the same gender
configuration. However, this statement quickly
generated a wave of responses, both supportive and critical, leading to a viral
discussion about the history and evolution of this concept in anime.
In the community comments, some users mentioned that
this setting existed long before “Naruto.” For example, one user noted: “ It
would be Touch, right? », in reference to the manga and anime from
the 80s that features a protagonist trio. Others mentioned “Hokuto no
Ken,” “Dragon Ball,” and “Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken” as past examples.
Furthermore, it was highlighted that in some of the
series mentioned by the Twitter user, the main trio does not exactly follow the
proposed pattern. One comment notes: " That in Chainsaw Man is
not the main group ." Others mentioned that in “Naruto,” the
team actually consists of four people, as Kakashi Hatake, the team leader, is
also a core member.
As the discussion intensified, some users
began sharing other examples of protagonist threesomes dating back
decades. One user wrote: « It's Pokémon! », referring
to the trio formed by Ash, Misty and Brock. Classic series like “ Rurouni
Kenshin ,” “ JoJo's Bizarre Adventure ,” and even
“ Samurai Champloo ” were also mentioned .
This debate has generated broader reflection on the
evolution of anime and how certain narrative formulas are repeated and
reinvented over the years. While it is undeniable that
"Naruto" popularized the 'trio protagonist' structure in his
generation, claiming that the franchise "invented" this concept
ignores the many previous works that also explored similar dynamics. The
richness of narrative in anime lies precisely in its ability to adapt and
reinterpret known formulas, creating new stories that resonate with different
audiences over time.
Source: Yaraon!
