In most romance anime, it’s a common theme for several love interests to be introduced into the series early on, with all of them gunning for theprotagonist’s love and attention. Among these love interests is a recurring trope featuring a childhood friend of the main character, with pent-up sentiments of endearment that have been dissipated into the friend-zone. Despite knowing the protagonist for the longest time, luck doesn’t always side with the childhood friend, as they often end up losing to the other newly-introduced love interests.
This isn’t always the case, as several anime series showcase the childhood friend winning the main character’s affection, yet more often than not, the scenario is quite the contrary. Thetransfer student or some other newly introduced characterends up taking the lead, with many series utilizing this theme, subverting the childhood friend trope entirely. Overtime, the childhood friend tends to lose their appeal, and while it may simply be a trope, a few plausible reasons do justify why this particular love interest ends up losing.
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Why the ‘Childhood Friend’ Trope Is So Common
The childhood friend trope is one of the most popular elements in romance anime, particularly with harem themes. Despite being sidelined as a potential love interest in most series,this trope remains heavily popularamong viewers. For starters, the childhood friend plays a crucial role in introducing the main character, both to the newly-introduced character and viewers. Details about the central character’s childhood are often revealed by the childhood friend, making these characters instrumental in revealing information that would otherwise remain hidden.
Long-time friends are also perfect as supporting characters, as these tender and caring characters know how to navigate through any potential hiccups with the protagonist. For viewers, the childhood friend serves as a relatable and comforting character, depicting the same sentiments that one would feel with their own childhood friend.
The New Characters Bring More to the Table
One discerning aspect of these newly-introduced characters is that theyoffer much more to the protagonistcompared to the childhood friend. Most anime even make it a point to give the new character a more striking appearance with a colorful palette, while the old friend simply bears a bland and boring design. This allure of something new is what captivates both the audience and the main character.
This could either be in the form of a different personality, or how the central character gets treated.Chitoge from Nisekoi is a prime example, as her bold disposition puts something new on the table, making her more appealing. Tsubaki from Your Lie in April suffers from a similar fate, as Kaori’s unique charm captivates Kosei quite early on, leaving no room for Tsubaki to make her move.
Childhood Friends Realize Their Feelings Too Late
Childhood friends tend to lose quite often due to being late to the game. By the time most of these characters realize their feelings, it’s too late as the protagonist is already too invested with the new transfer student. Most long-time friends remain stuck in the notion of being nothingmore than just platonic friends, treating the main character as a sibling of sorts. By doing so, most forgo their feelings and come to a realization too late.
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In Your Lie in April,Tsubaki realizes her feelings too late, as most of the series goes by with her thinking of Kosei as nothing more than a brother-like friend. By the time she realizes her emotions for him, her opportunity is lost as Kosei is already deeply in love with Kauri. The awful timing of the childhood friend’s realization is what leads to their loss, as by the time they make sense of their feelings, the new character has already taken the center stage.
The Childhood Friend Hinders the Protagonist’s Growth
One of the newly-introduced character’s biggest appeal is that they bring out an entirely new side of the protagonist. The childhood friend, on the other hand, represents the protagonist’s past, and for the central character to grow, a new perspective is needed. This very theme is at the forefront of every other romance anime, primarily because it actually has some truth to it.
The childhood friend tends to stagnate the growth of the main character, offering nothing more than what they already have. This makes these characters less appealing than their newly-introduced counterparts. Unless the childhood friend also goes through some sort of character development, the protagonist will always choose the new love interest as their final choice, a decision that isdeeply rooted in psychology. Overall, the childhood friend has all the odds stacked against them, and while this may have become a trope in most anime series, there’s surely some nuance to the matter.
