An archetype (according to Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary) is an inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of C.G. Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconcious of the individual. Perhaps they meant subconcious. Anyway, every country and culture has its own unique set of archetypes. Simply put, they are types of characters and situations that are repeated in plots. Some examples of universal archetypes are the Hero, the Fallen Angel, the Wise Old Woman and the Star-Crossed Lovers.
The Hero-A young adult (usually) that must overcome a series of challenges to solve a problem. Once the goals are met, the Hero is mentally and spiritually reborn. Examples: Little Foot from "The Land Before Time," Mulan from "Mulan" (duh), Neo from "The Matrix."
The Fallen Angel-A benevolent character that has fallen from grace (or is accused of doing so) and must overcome many challenges to regain his/her honor. Examples: The Fugitive,...I know there are more...if you think of any, email me!
The Wise Old Woman-An elderly woman with great wisdom. She displays deep kindness and love towards the Hero. Sometimes she has mystical or spiritual powers. Examples: The Nurse from Romeo and Juliet, the Fairy Godmother from almost every fairy tale with a female hero.
The Star-Crossed Lovers-Two people that care immensely for each other but due to their circumstaces or positions in society, can never be together. Examples: Romeo and Juliet, Jim and Huck (hey, the definition didn't say they were in love. If you've read Huck Finn, you probably noticed that Jim and Huck were like father and son; so it goes).
I have watched alot of anime and played many RPG's in my 18 years of existance, and I have noticed a definite set of archetypes for these. **I include RPG's because most are based on manga, as are most anime. Also, RPG's often have anime made of them or vice versa.**
Character Archetypes
The Long-Haired Fallen Angel-A herioc figure who has fallen from grace and despite being scorned for his fall, still remains honorable. This archetype is usually male and has very distinctive long, flowing hair that hangs mid-back or longer. He tends to bear a sword and is also fond of wearing long capes and coats. Examples:
The Cool Old Guy with Scars-An elderly and wise man from whom the Hero has learned valuable lessons. He usually dies at the beginning of the plot, thus shoving the total responsibility on the not-quite-ready Hero. Examples:
The Goth Guy with One Metal Arm-A tall, dark, mysterious man with a robotic arm. He, like the Long-Haired Fallen Angel, has great honor, but there is something eating him up inside. Most Goth Guys with Metal Arms have had their heart cruelly broken, or something similarly traumatic. They, like Long-Haired Fallen Angels, are also fond of wearing long capes or coats...anything that blows dramatically in the breeze. Examples:
The Magical Teen-An oblivious young person that gains special powers for no particular reason. Later it is discovered that the Magical Teen's powers stem from their lineage, or reincarnation. Magical Teens are usually females attending junior high or high school. They often have side kicks and a whole mess of nifty little magic devices to help them out. They also seem to be severely troubled in the area of romance. Examples:
The Bad-ass Butch Broad-Wow, what a handsome man! Oh, wait, it's a chick. And what a chick she is! The Bad-ass Butch Broad is known for being mysterious, aloof, and armed to the teeth. She likes to wear her hair short, and favors pants to skirts. To be blunt, she's dresses like a drag king...and looks good that way. She's usually a villian, but can sometimes be found playing the good-um..person role. Examples:
The Smart-alec American-This character is known for being, well...a character. As in he constantly ticks people off, makes reckless mistakes, has a big ego and still somehow manages to be perfectly popular. He is prone to having pony-tail hair and a Leno-esque chin--that needs a shave. He's not literally American, but he displays that go-getter, nothing-can-stop-me attitude that is stereotypically tagged onto U.S. characters. There is, however, a more hidden part of this character. He has iron-clad honor and a heart of gold, and it the only part of his persona that he doesn't flaunt. Personal note: I really like this archetype. If my dad was ever made into an anime charcter, he would be one of these guys. Examples:
The Gender-Bending Facially Scarred Villain-Okay, you all know what I'm talking about. This is that certain character that makes more closed-minded anime watchers go "Eeeew!" They can be male or female, but whatever their gender, they have tendancies toward the opposite one. They also have the ability to get grazed by projectile weapons and hold grudges for a ridiculous amount of time. Examples:
Little Miss Violence-A troubled young woman...she's hurt, angry, and confused about her place in life. She also has a talent for kicking ass. In order to forget her problems, she fights. She has a good cause, but fighting does not satisfy her. It only distracts her from her other problems, making her push them farther down. An anguished but lovable character. Examples:
Location Archetypes
The Beautiful Floating City/Island-A sparkling and peaceful city that is built on a piece of earth that disobeys gravity. Usually, Floating Cities are technologically or magically advanced compared to the rest of the world. Later in the story or game, the Hero visits the Floating City. Shortly after, the City is rudely introduced to terra firma (see Heroic Tendancies).
The Ancient Hidden Place-A castle or city that has been sealed from humanity for ages. It has been perfectly preserved so that it is displays the lives and culture of its past inhabitants. The Hero goes here and finds a really wonderful treaure or an extremely dangerous enemy.
Pattern Archetypes
Heroic Tendancies-Usually, the hero does these things several times during the course of the plot:
Saves the stupid, loveable character in the party.
Arrives in a nice, pretty town and leaves a hole in the ground, or a smouldering heap.
Visits a floating city or island and causes it (directly or indirectly) to fall.
***This list is to be continued of course! I will get pictures of the anime archetype examples as soon as I can. If you think of any anime/RPG characters that match my archetypes, or if you notice any other archetypes, write me, dagnabbit!***