Summary
Netflixrecently reacquired an anime that shows how to write an overpowered character with some depth:Mob Psycho 100. Shigeo Kageyama, better known as Mob, isone of the best overpowered protagonists in animeand the growth he goes through is amazing to see. He is not the typical overpowered character, which is what makes him so entertaining to watch and what makes his personality so unique.
Overpowered characters have been a staple in anime for a long time. When viewers first see these specific characters in action, they are in awe of the power they hold and like the thought of the protagonist blitzing through their enemies without breaking a sweat. Because of this, many of these overpowered characters don’t have much character development, since they do not face the same challenges other protagonists do.
However, one important factor in making a story feel interesting and refreshing is to be able to see the challenges a character faces and how they will overcome them. Shigeo’s approach to these issues is one ofthe reasons whyMob Psycho 100is such a great anime.
The Misconceptions of Mob
Mob Is Misunderstood by Other Characters
Many characters that Mob encounters misunderstand him and treat him as a weakling but when he presents them with his real power, he becomes intimidating. His weaknesses come from being physically fragile and lacking a personality. Mob sees these weaknesses and works to change them. His development is not left up to how the story affects him but to his actual effort to change.Mob sees his powers as a burdenthat prevents him from reaching his actual desires. He does not want to fight as he only cares about impressing the girl he likes.
His psychic abilities are unrivaled so that, at age 14, he is only one of two Espers who can distribute his powers to absorb the psychic powers of others. The most skilled Espers in Mob are not even able to do this, which undoubtedly shows how much of apsychic prodigy Mob is. He can learn new skills and powers through the emotional experiences that he experiences, as he does not need to train to become stronger.
Mob Powers Help Him Accept Himself
He Learns to Accept the Powers He Has
Mob’s fights with other Espers and spirits arereflections of conflicts that Mob faces within himself. He learns to accept that his abilities don’t make him special but instead, are just another skill that a person can use. Because of this, he discovers that his powers can help others. Reigen has an interesting relationship with Mob since he uses Mob to con others to make money, but at the same time, he teaches Mob important life lessons along the way. Reigen helps Mob understand his powers and even manages to help Mob in learning to accept his powers. This relationship iswhat makesMob Psycho 100so unique.
When Mob finally accepts his powers for what they are, he realizes that they aren’t something that should be repressed. He learns to love himself for who he is as his character grows into becoming more confident and happy. Mob forces his enemies to see in themselves that they are not special and that they are all still humans. They might have a special skill but they will never find satisfaction in life if they dwell on their powers. He teaches them to work towards theirbettermentby coming to terms with their self-worth.
Mob Is Different From Other Overpowered Characters
Mob’s Journey Isolates Him From Other Protagonists
Many overpowered characters suffer from not being able to grow because there is no real conflict they face since the audience sees them reach their ceiling early on. Main characters like this tend to approach every situation without learning from their mistakes and engaging in every fight the same way as before. Mob is different,he constantly learns from his mistakes and shortcomingsas he adapts to every situation. He never misses a chance to grow as a character and is always willing to become better than he already is.
His ability to consistently find life lessons in anything he does and not repeat his past mistakes makes Mob one of the best protagonists in anime. This is how an overpowered character should be written. The ability to showcase a character with overwhelming power and the ability to present conflicts that this character faces is important in developing a story, andMob Psycho 100does this beautifully.
Mob Psycho 100
Cast
Mob Psycho 100 follows Shigeo Kageyama, a young boy struggling with self-expression while possessing formidable psychic abilities. As he strives for normalcy by suppressing his powers, he faces challenges from false psychics, malevolent spirits, and enigmatic entities, bringing his emotional and psychic thresholds to critical levels.
