In the world of anime, sharp teeth and fangs are a quality that isn't wholly exclusive to vampires or monsters -- or even villains. From superpowered beings in action series to normal humans in more mundane settings, sharp and pointy teeth can be found in all kinds of anime genres and stories.
It's a popular design trope that's been in use for a long time, but is there any deeper meaning to it? Here are some personality traits that sharp-toothed anime characters have in common.
Common Characteristics of Anime Characters With Sharp Teeth
Contrary to what their sometimes-scary appearance may suggest, characters with sharp teeth are often quite nice and friendly. Eijiro Kirishima from My Hero Academia is one of the friendliest young heroes in the series, and his sharp teeth tend to add a boyish charm to his often excitable disposition. Kazuichi Soda from Danganronpa 2 is likewise a (mostly) friendly and energetic guy who gets really excited whenever he puts his talent to use. Both Kazuichi and Kirishima are also highly energetic young men who hold a lot of love for the things they're passionate about.
Rin Matsuoka from Free! initially appears to be more on the sinister end of the spectrum, but once his character development kicks in, he's soon revealed to be just as nice as the other examples. He's also passionate about swimming and gets easily excited by the prospects of training and competing. The addition of sharp fangs seems to be especially deliberate in Rin's design as all the main characters have sea animal motifs, with his being a shark. Interestingly, flashbacks show that Rin had smaller fangs as a child rather than a full set of sharp teeth, possibly representing how he got more competitive as a teenager -- or maybe his teeth just grew in.
What Characters With One or Two Fangs Represent
Like characters who have a full set of pointed teeth, those sporting one or two fangs are also typically energetic and bubbly. They also tend to have a bit of a mischievous streak. Some popular examples include Yui from Angel Beats!, Mayoi Hachikuji from Bakemonogatari, and Kyouko Sakura from Madoka Magica. All three are cute, young girls with a lot of energy and a penchant for mischief and teasing their friends.
Meanwhile, Hayase Nagatoro (Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro!) and Uzaki (Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out!), both known for spearheading the genre of "annoying anime girls who like to bully their love interest", possess some of these traits as well. That said, whether they can be considered cute is up to the viewer's interpretation.
It's worth noting that this design trope tends to appear more often for female characters, whereas the full set of pointed teeth appears more often in the males. Outside of vampires and monsters, plenty of characters with animalistic qualities or animal motifs also tend to have pointed teeth, like the beastmen from Gurren Lagann. Those who typically fall under this type tend to be less friendly and more antagonistic, although there are a few exceptions. But for the most part, they're ever-present on the most passionate and excitable individuals.
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