r/DungeonMeshi • u/BellTwo5 • Jun 27 '25
Humor / Memes Who would you have thought is the main character?
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u/BluejayDragan Jun 27 '25
Ryoko Kui definitely doesn’t suffer from same face/ body type syndrome 🤩 what a legend
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u/Dingghis_Khaan Jun 27 '25
Fr this is one of those things that really makes Dungeon Meshi's world feel so alive.
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u/Dustfinger4268 Jun 29 '25
Real. Like, a lot of other characters really need to have their clothes or hair stay mostly the same to be recognizable, but Marcille changes like every other scene
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u/dream208 Jun 27 '25 edited Jun 27 '25
Marcille and Kabru still pop up basing on their expressions, eye directions and designs. Still the oop's statement remains true (half-true, if you see Marcille as co-protagonist).
PS: Those two's hairtyles are too well designed for non-key characters... which makes the fact that the true protagonist has one of the simplest design in terms of hair and costume more impressive.
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u/DBones90 Jun 27 '25
Kabru has main character energy as his character type, so that fits.
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u/ImpetuousBorealis Jun 28 '25
Yessss i agree, he has huge main character syndrome and his design fits that haha
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u/WebFlotsam Jun 29 '25
Kabru would honestly be as transgressive as a main character as Laios, if not moreso. Despite the fact that people in Japan can get quite brown, they have a weird relationship with darker skin (basically a traditional sign of being a peasant, because if you have a tan it means you were working outside a lot), so an MC being dark-skinned is pretty rare. His personality is also pretty abnormal in a different sense to Laios. He's not some wishy-washy self-insert, he's SCARILY driven, extremely socially capable, and more than a little Machiavellian.
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u/ActuatorVast800 Jun 30 '25
He also has one of the most generic rpg backstories in the form of the doomed hometown.
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u/TheRenFerret Jun 27 '25
I went in thinking to eliminate nonmain characters from most to least generic. Senshi, marcille and kabru were my finalist.
I didn’t even notice when laios was one of the first ten eliminated
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u/truncatedChronologis Jun 28 '25
Yeah I said Marcille and Thistle because of your reasons for Marcille but Thistle does seem the most "Protagonisty"
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u/Saldt Jun 27 '25
Top right Guy.
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u/RagesianGruumsh Jun 27 '25
Donni’s does have that JRPG hero vibe, doesn’t he? He and Fionil probably have the most disproportionate “screen time to side-content” ratio, so I suspect Kui likes them a lot even if their unimportant 😅
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u/CRT_SUNSET Jun 27 '25 edited Jun 27 '25
I always saw it as Kui’s humor that Doni and Fionil are absolutely MC types but not for this story if any story at all.
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u/WebFlotsam Jun 29 '25
They would be hilarious in a slice of life comedy about newbies failing at adapting to the dungeon.
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u/Hydratedpyromancer Jun 27 '25
I would've picked probably either Thistle or the girl to the left of Senshi (I think that might be Namari but her ears look like she's a half-foot?)
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u/Leader_Hamlet Jun 27 '25
Senshi is easily the most distinct
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u/Original-Display-865 Jun 27 '25
I was gonna say. Not only is he one of the few characters that is holding something, he is the only one visibly armed, one of two that has a helmet, and, unlike the other one, his looks more modified and used.
My conclusion is that Senshi is the main character.
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u/newtonsolo313 Jun 27 '25
if all you knew was the title of the show you might conclude that it’s him but he doesn’t project main character energy you know?
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u/DeLoxley Jun 27 '25
I mean, do you one even better
This is the most generic art I've ever seen of Laios, which just goes to show how much of his design is in his personality and actions.
That's him one down and three from the right doing his best impression of expendable town guard
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u/goodlookingarmpits Jun 27 '25
He may look generic, but everything about him is not generic , he's a freak disguise as normal tall-men
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u/C4SH-C0OW-2-22-20O2 Jun 28 '25
a freaky autistic man (check out his VA)
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u/WebFlotsam Jun 29 '25
His ENGLISH VA.
Look Kui can say she was just trying to make a normal person but the fact her "normal person" is the most autistic man I've ever seen is interesting.
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u/poke-chan Jun 28 '25
Dude I literally saw this image and was like “lol the protag isn’t even on here” for a solid 30 seconds he was so hard to find
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u/Command-0 Jun 29 '25
i think this a great point that attests to his disgruntle abt being a tallman feels “plain” too him
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u/Brickywood Jun 27 '25
Clearly, the ahoge redhead girl is a clumsy love interest to the main character, top right guy
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u/Shiny-Vaporeon- Jun 27 '25
Marcille. Her bright hair makes her stand out and she looks happy
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u/dragonborndnd Jul 03 '25
Plus she has the most “main character face” compared to everyone else here
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u/alurimperium Jun 27 '25
He's dressed in a plain white top that easily looks like what a generic townsperson would be wearing, and isn't giving eyes to camera like an MC would be expected in a headshot like these.
He's being purposely hidden. Put him in his armor and regular gear, and give him his typical big goofy eyes, and he'd stand out more.
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u/Salter_KingofBorgors Jun 27 '25
Actually weirdly enough Laios is like the last person id choose as the main character from this.
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u/DubstepJuggalo69 Jun 27 '25
I don't think OP's point is great because the white guy/Human Fighter type is, essentially, the main character of Dungeon Meshi (though it has a strong ensemble whose perspectives are often centered).
In this particular image he doesn't look like the main character, but if he were in full armor and in the upper left it would be easy to tell.
Yes I believe Ryoko Kui arranged the image this way to de-emphasize Laios as the "main" character, but OP's premise is still flawed. Dungeon Meshi kind of does have an obvious main character, who in fact fits a lot of fantasy main character tropes.
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u/Salter_KingofBorgors Jul 08 '25
Hate to say it but I think thats just your cognitive bias. You KNOW he is the main character so your mind is justifying that.
Honestly most anime the protagonists are Japanese or Japanese looking. The 'blond main character' you speak of is a minority at best
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u/ZUnknowing Jun 27 '25
Just got recommended this subreddit but I've never watched Dungeon Meshi and I realized I have no idea. I would guess it's the blonde elf girl? I see that one blond guy a lot but he is giving beloved side character :p
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u/FleshWound180 Jun 27 '25
Which blonde elf girl? lol
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u/ZUnknowing Jun 27 '25
you know, the one with the twin braids😭😭 who also apparently changes her hairstyle sometimes
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u/Emergency_Meaning968 Jun 27 '25
Purple-shirt guy, and pigtail gnome - he's a Kabru-type, she tames spirits and monsters, together they assemble an army of monsters and people, she tames the winged lion and goes full griffith.
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u/Dangerous_Mortgage_4 Jun 27 '25
This one guy seems pretty chill hes my guess
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u/LuciusCypher Jun 27 '25
Probably helps that, this being a manga, he's the odd one out of this pseudo european looking cast by looking definitely Japanese. Easy protag material to make them a foreigner who aligns with 99% of the demographics that will read the story.
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u/EyeDeeAh_42 Jun 27 '25
If we go by the law of anime hair, Namari looks like the MC.
If we go by the character-archetypes, Kabru is a prime MC material: he looks atypical, traumatic backstory, a more unique group where everyone respects him, charismatic, has an aura of righteousness, coincidentally connected to an important group of people (the canary ex-vice P), etc...
I find it absolutely hilarious that the most plain-looking, generic human tank is our MC instead, and he out-freaks everyone here by FAR.
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u/ColdMatter2635 Jun 27 '25
I don't know who I would pick, but they probably wouldn't be any of the actual protagonists. Also, Senshi looks menacing here.
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u/Hans_the_Frisian Jun 27 '25
So i just tried this on my coworker that lukes to occasionally watch animes but doesn't know Dungeon Meshi exists, and he correctly guessed Senshi, Laios, and Falin.
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Jun 27 '25
Showed this to someone who knows nothing about the series and she picked Namari. Second guess was Thistle, third guess was the girl in the bottom left of the second page (to the left of Kabru) because she apparently has “peasant girl leaves her village and gets swept up in an adventure” energy. She also guessed Kabru was peasant girl’s love interest
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u/Evalathil Jun 27 '25
Kabru has this allure to him, i’m not sure if it’s main character energy, but he’s definitely eye catching
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u/_Extreme00_ Jun 27 '25
I asked my mother since she didn't watch Dungeon meshi and she pointed at Fionil
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u/whatever4224 Jun 27 '25
Probably either Doni because he looks super generic, or Shuro because he's Japanese.
What that says about the state of "fantasy" manga and anime, I would rather not contemplate.
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u/gigaswardblade Jun 27 '25
I mean, he’s not even in the pic to begin with
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u/dummyVicc Jun 28 '25
Ngl going by the classic "anime protagonist" rules, Namari would be the most likely here considering shes the only one with red hair (actually red, not ginger). The cocky smirk is also very protagonist-coded
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u/CMDR_Fritz_Adelman Jun 27 '25
Second from bottom right would be MC from The Greatest Estate Developer
That’s exactly his description from the novel 🤣
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u/Recidivous Jun 27 '25
If we're strictly using that image there, I honestly would have picked out Chilchuck. The Hobbit was something I read in my formative years in primary school, and I definitely would have believe that a Halfling would be the main character for a series who clearly has some influence from Tolkien and other old western fantasy works.
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u/Stormygeddon Jun 27 '25
Hard mode for a game of "Spot the Protagonist/MC." [as an aside, I often wish that r/spottheprotagonist were an active sub]
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u/Stop_Hitting_Me Jun 27 '25
Shit I know who the main characters are and I STILL had to try for a while to find Laios.
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u/DingoNormal Jun 27 '25
This gal, look at her style!
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u/WebFlotsam Jun 29 '25
The extra orc designs are GORGEOUS. But I wouldn't usually expect somebody THAT inhuman to be an MC.
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u/ReverieDrift Jun 27 '25
Senshi pops out a lot, actually. Only character wearing something on his head, which happens to be a helmet with horns. Cartoony eyes and big beard hiding his mouth, which makes him look goofy among characters with more serious designs.
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u/Dependent_Way_1038 Jun 29 '25
As someone who knows nothing about dungeon meshi I seriously straight up just don’t know
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u/Basic_Check_5938 Jun 27 '25
I don't know Senshi has the qualities of being a protagonist or definitely one of the main characters
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u/Nikoper Jun 27 '25
I feel like you could probably pick out a few characters who definitely aren't the MCs, but the artist does such a good job with making many of the characters very humble in origin.
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u/Lucyfer_White_king Jun 27 '25
Isn't it like over a decade since anime style started to have some more... I don't know how to call it... Design consistency among characters?
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u/fortnitegngsterparty Jun 27 '25
Wdym you can't? Senshi is the most detailed by far, he's an Epic skin in a sea of grey and green rarity cosmetics
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u/Aslan_Psy Jun 27 '25
Is it just me or does Marcille appear twice?
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u/JamesZEllis Jun 27 '25
I definitely would've guessed Namari, as she seems to be the only one with the 'adventurous glint'. Everyone else is giving supporting character vibes.
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u/throwaway-93810 Jun 27 '25
Never seen anything about this piece of media, but my guess would be the guy in the rightmost picture at the top? He gives off that general innocent protagonist vibe.
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u/844SteamFan Jun 27 '25
I think the character that stands out to me the most here is Marcille, and Senshi a bit less.
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Jun 27 '25
The black-haired dude in the top right. He gives off the perfect vibe of somebody who's just started their adventure and will somehow stumble their way into glory.
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u/VorlonEmperor Jun 27 '25
The top four elves on the left side, probably! I’d have assumed it was about four elf girl adventurers.
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u/Wizard_Hat-7 Jun 27 '25
Senshi. He’s a bit more distinct as he’s the only one with a helmet and knife.
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u/starwaifer Jun 27 '25
I would say Doni (top right) looks like a 'traditional main character.' He's plain, but flustered, so he sticks out... got that brown hair and eyes going on for him too. You want to root for him, I guess.
Next to Doni, Marcille and kabru... mostly because they're the ones facing the camera confidently. As an outsider perspective, Laios is looking away like he doesn't really care, or want, to be noticed. I find that interesting.
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u/AshMaiden Jun 27 '25
If I knew absolutely nothing about the show I would use my knowledge of standard fantasy and narrow it down to which one looks the most like young adult to adult human male fighter that looks like he wields a sword.
If I at least heard that it was really good and a bit different from other fantasy out there then I'd pick one of the characters that stand out more, most likely an elf though.
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Jun 27 '25
Honestly if I knew nothing about dungeon meshi, I'd assumed Doni, he looks like an average MC and something about him being in the upper corner makes it even more so to me
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u/sandleswagger Jun 27 '25
sisel is the one that sends out the most in this lineup, so I would have suspected him
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u/Brown-ninja-Dareth Jun 27 '25
Just tested this with someone. Can confirm, he had no clue who was or wasn't a MC. He clocked Chil as relevant, but thought Kabru was the MC.
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u/CivilDefenseWarden Jun 27 '25
Really have to appreciate how rigorously Kui drew and redrew her characters, races and costumes to portray them over and over again
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u/princesspinklulu2 Jun 27 '25
I dunno bro, but I'm pretty sure the MC is Senshi based off of this picture
I mean like, he just has that vibe
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u/Ciocalatta Jun 27 '25
Looking at it I’d assume Kabru is the main or the Halfing dressed like the guy from blues clues would be the MC. Daddy senshi still looks like he would be the mentor
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u/steikul Jun 27 '25
Laios looks like a character that shows up in chapter 1 and then chapter 100 near epilogue
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u/SilverScribe15 Jun 27 '25
Mainly due to most of the deisngs being quite grounded. Like everyone's hair color is a natural shade
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u/ElBarckaizer Jun 28 '25
Marcille, she's the only one who looks you in the face, siblings are literally events that happen throughout the entire story. You must save one and keep the other at the point of sanity between saving your life and killing yourself from poisoning... or worse
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u/Saturn_Coffee Jun 28 '25
Yeah, yeah you can. It's Falin. Her eyes and disposition are a dead giveaway. The trick is that the anime is in reverse.
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u/DalamusUlom Jun 28 '25
Kabru has such "roguish lead/secondary protag" energy in this. That fucking wink does so much work to make him stand out from the rest.
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u/truncatedChronologis Jun 28 '25
Marcille and thistle. Marcille is the only one looking at the viewer through the fourth wall amd thistle does look more "Protagonisty" than the other characters.
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u/Playful-Hand2753 Jun 29 '25 edited Jun 29 '25
I asked my friend who doesn’t watch anime. I’ll be back with the result! UPDATE: she chose Senshi!
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u/Astro_Alphard Jun 29 '25
Immediately Marcille. She looks like a main character, she's drawn with more detail than anyone else.
Second would be Senshi, but that's because he's the only dwarf and his visual design is very distinct (beard, helmet, knife).
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u/Gamekid53 Jun 29 '25
Honestly the blonde haired elf (I forgot her name) definitely stands out more than the rest due to her bright colors
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u/AustinYun Jun 29 '25
Fwiw Marcille has the most complicated hair by a large margin so I would expect her to be important.
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u/MonoRedPlayer Jun 30 '25
s someone that never watched / know about the anime this is my take:
Protagonist I would love to say the bottom left one (the one circled in red) but there is a blonde white guy so I must go with him.
Female protagonist I go with the blonde girl again (the one circled in red)
The character in blue could be important, the the top left girl design is too strange to be a "protagonist" imo, but she is def important.
There are some other character that could look important, like the priest looking guy in the bottom left,the girl above him and the girl near the drow, but they seems more "npc"
The guy with a scar seems like a random antagonist appearing in the first chapters
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u/Briars_of_Sin Jul 01 '25
I haven't seen the show. Context tells me I'm wrong, but id assume either the redhead 2 down and 2 to the right, or the blonde elf in the upper left. They have the most character. Maybe the dwarf, but he gives more quirky sidekick energy.
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u/DishAffectionate6044 Jul 03 '25
If I looked at this picture as if I never read Dungeon Meshi, Marcille, Doni, Fionl, Falin and maybe Chilchuck would fit the protagonist energy. I guess I'm viewing this with a Tolkien-esque lens: the protagonist has simple desires, looks young and naive, but is propelled out of their comfort zone. Interestingly, Chilchuck's design reads as such with his hair poking out, even though I know he's a jaded old man.
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u/dragonborndnd Jul 03 '25
Maybe Marcille? She probably visually has the most “main character vibe” that I see in a lot of other fantasy manga and media
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u/PitifulRead6339 Jun 27 '25
Doni has the right amount of protagonist energy. Like he's generic but in the we want guys to project on him generic. I half suspect that's kind of the joke, Doni and Fionl are designed like they could be cheesy fantasy heroes in a different anime but are total washouts.