Character Simplification Villain & Leader Labels
One thing I notice in a lot of stories is character simplification.
Sometimes characters get reduced to a single role like the villain or the leader.โ
Once that label sticks, people often stop looking at the character as a full person.
Villains may have pride, loneliness, or personal struggles that shape their behavior, but those details can get ignored because theyโre expected to be the antagonist.
Leaders can also be simplified. Instead of being seen as individuals with emotions, flaws, and different responsibilities, they can become reduced to the person who is โsupposed to be in charge.โ
This pattern appears in many stories across animation and anime.
But it also made me think about something in real life.
Sometimes people get simplified in similar ways. A person might be seen as the problem,the villain,or the leader,and once that happens people may stop paying attention to who they actually are.
Thatโs one reason I find these characters interesting.
They remind me that both characters and people are usually more complex than the roles theyโre assigned.