WHY IS KENSHIN'S HAIR RED?

[Miraya-chan]

Pharaohess1 Wrote:
Fireshaper Wrote:
If you must ask why Kenshin's hair is red/orange then we must ask why most manga and anime characters look like white people. As everyone else says, it's mainly to make Kenshin-san stand out, it's just the manga style.

..... why don't any of the characters look Japanese?


In answer to the whole-not looking Japanese thing, I heard something that was pretty interesting in an interview with an anime voice-actor. It turns out that most of the anime that we have now was based upon the animation of this one artist Osama Tesuka (sp?). But, his inspiration wasn't from Japan. He saw Disney and wanted to emulate American animation. So really, all of anime is really just a recycling of American animation with a japanese twist. So, I guess since American animation isn't Japanese, maybe that made anime not so japanese-looking.


--> hey that's really interesting.. thanks for this information...  

[Ice Street 7]

my guess is because they do have to make the main character stand out, plus if his hair was any other color it would look weird  

[VampiraBaby]

To make Kenshin look unique and stand out. Besides i love his hair that way, he looks amazing. 3nodding heart  

[SiePunker]

Because long red hair is awesome? Kenshin was based off a girly man, so it does make sense.  

[halogazer]

Main characters always need to stand out to draw attention to them in some way. Not all characters have red hair and purple eyes that just happen to change colors. smile He's a really unique character, so his physical appearance should mirror that. Besides, he always looks awesome.  

[Isis10]

Akira_Hoshino

Since Watsuki never mentions it, I assume it's just to make him stand out. That's the advice manga-ka often give, after all. To make their main characters stand out in a see of dark hair and dark eyes, they give them multi-colored hair and eyes. As far as why Watsuki chose red, probably because he liked it. XD

You could also speculate that he picked red to signify how Kenshin's past is bathed in blood, or to represent the passion innate in Kenshin. I have also read a couple fanfics that theorized one of Kenshin's parents was a foreigner. There's a lot you can do with that plotline.

I like to think Kenshin's hair is read because he's special. I mean, his eyes even change color!

Redheads rock!

good thinking!!! whee  

[angelic ice maiden]

idea probably just to make him unique, and stand out more. cool  

[TheIllustriousBlueJay]

Akira_Hoshino

Since Watsuki never mentions it, I assume it's just to make him stand out. That's the advice manga-ka often give, after all. To make their main characters stand out in a see of dark hair and dark eyes, they give them multi-colored hair and eyes. As far as why Watsuki chose red, probably because he liked it. XD

You could also speculate that he picked red to signify how Kenshin's past is bathed in blood, or to represent the passion innate in Kenshin. I have also read a couple fanfics that theorized one of Kenshin's parents was a foreigner. There's a lot you can do with that plotline.

I like to think Kenshin's hair is read because he's special. I mean, his eyes even change color!

Redheads rock!

you really thought about that, didn't you?  

[STRAWBERRii MUFFiN]

:3 Why not?  

[Ladieburd]

Akira_Hoshino

Since Watsuki never mentions it, I assume it's just to make him stand out. That's the advice manga-ka often give, after all. To make their main characters stand out in a see of dark hair and dark eyes, they give them multi-colored hair and eyes. As far as why Watsuki chose red, probably because he liked it. XD

You could also speculate that he picked red to signify how Kenshin's past is bathed in blood, or to represent the passion innate in Kenshin. I have also read a couple fanfics that theorized one of Kenshin's parents was a foreigner. There's a lot you can do with that plotline.

I like to think Kenshin's hair is read because he's special. I mean, his eyes even change color!

Redheads rock!

I would have to agree. And also, there could have been a realy obscure gene somewhere that *gave* him red hair, but again, no one really knows.

And redheads are pretty darn hawt anyway... XD  

[senpai cruz]

I really dont know why, but in the movie when they show Kenshin as a teenager his hair looks brown not red.......oro... wink  

[Sephiralen]

cycloneoldaccount

I've only met one asian, and old chinese lady, with naturally red hair. Very rare. I know I'm random, so sue me. I thought it was interesting.

I'm sure it's possible! 3nodding And that's how I always figured Kenshin had red hair (genetic mutation or strange DNA mixings). Weird things like that happen all the time, but they are rare.  

[Sephiralen]

Miraya-chan

Pharaohess1 Wrote:
Fireshaper Wrote:
If you must ask why Kenshin's hair is red/orange then we must ask why most manga and anime characters look like white people. As everyone else says, it's mainly to make Kenshin-san stand out, it's just the manga style.

..... why don't any of the characters look Japanese?


In answer to the whole-not looking Japanese thing, I heard something that was pretty interesting in an interview with an anime voice-actor. It turns out that most of the anime that we have now was based upon the animation of this one artist Osama Tesuka (sp?). But, his inspiration wasn't from Japan. He saw Disney and wanted to emulate American animation. So really, all of anime is really just a recycling of American animation with a japanese twist. So, I guess since American animation isn't Japanese, maybe that made anime not so japanese-looking.


--> hey that's really interesting.. thanks for this information...

I might just be weird, but Manga and Anime always look Japanese to me.... sweatdrop  

[-part time ninja-]

Perhaps he was from another country. Hiko found him as a slave, and his life prior is not mentioned.  

[huoyun207]

cool XD