Mob Psycho 100 Creator on Why His MC Lacks Good Looks of Most Shonen Heroes: ‘That’d force us to change a lot of the story’

SUMMARY

• The craetor of One Punch Man and Mob Psycho 100 has a distinct style where his protagonists have overly simplistic designs.
• The director of Mob Psycho 100 anime was once asked about Mob’s ordinary character design and why they chose to not make him more handsome.
• The director and ONE revealed Mob's original design is an integral part of his character that can't be changed, because of what Mob represents.

Renowned for his famous works One Punch Man and Mob Psycho 100, ONE has millions of fans around the world. Definitive of shonen protagonists in every way possible, ONE’s main characters like Saitama or Mob have simplistic appearances that don’t match up with their importance. They have rather simple features without any distinct traits which could make them stand out. 

Saitama | Credits: Studio Madhouse

Given the creator’s exceptional skills, it’s hard to believe that the characters look that way just for the sake of it. There must be a reason behind the disparity between their extraordinary powers and their ordinary character designs. The director of Mob Psycho 100 and ONE delved into the idea behind the anime, along with why Mob looks so normal. 

The Connection Between Mob’s Character and his Simplistic Design 

Characters like Garou or Genos from One Punch Man are prime examples of how the team behind the anime can make ONE’s character look buff and conventionally attractive. It’s quite interesting that they didn’t do that with the main characters. Both Saitama and Mob retained their original designs, which were not visually exceptional in any way.

Mob and Reigen | Credits: Studio Bones

The director of Mob Psycho 100, Yuzuru Tachikawa, was once asked why they didn’t focus more on Mob and Reigen’s friendship. Or why didn’t they glorify their designs to cater to the female audience.

Tachikawa shared that everyone working on the anime loved ONE’s art and chose to stick with it, without making any tweaks. Even though there were many capable animators who could have easily pulled that off. ONE explained the reason behind the simplicity of the original design: 

When one considers the many ups and downs in Mob’s character arc, ONE’s words instantly make sense. Mob was always portrayed as a normal guy with extraordinary powers. He evolves into his better self with every arc. It’s almost like a message to fans that Mob isn’t someone you strive to become, he is someone you already are. So just like him, there’s always room for improvement for anyone who likes him.

Mob’s character design might be simple, but he’s adorable | Credits: Studio Bones

Every subsequent arc shows Mob realizing his shortcomings and trying to improve them. Mob changes himself to make up for the hurt he caused to his brother. He becomes more conscious of his powers and their optimal use. The same thing happened after his fight with Reigen, Mob chose to grow more independent. His self-confidence improved as well.

Despite having powers that could save and threaten the world simultaneously, Mob had trivial worries like concern for his brother or fear of rejection by his crush. These worries grounded his character. If he had been perfect overall, his development would not have been nearly as impactful. His character design makes him more relatable to fans, someone they can easily resonate with. 

The Makers Seemingly Followed the Same Approach with Saitama 

Saitama does have a muscular physique in some fights in One Punch Man | Credits: Studio Madhouse

While Saitama and Mob are worlds apart, they both have something in common. They defy the first impressions people have of them. Mob’s nerdy appearance gives the impression that he might be up to no good, but he’s the exact opposite of that. He deeply cares about his family and strives to keep them safe. He slowly comes to terms with his powers and accepts them for what they are. His character development is interesting to follow because it feels realistic. 

Similarly, no one would expect Saitama to be strongest based on his appearance. He doesn’t have a typically muscular physique (constantly) or beautiful hair that falls on his face in the best way possible, but he always makes the best out of what he has. He defies people’s expectations and impressions with his skills. These characters are perfect examples of why ONE’s creations are iconic, and the team behind the anime deserves credit for sticking with the original style instead of tweaking it. 

Mob Psycho 100 is available to stream on Netflix. 

Written by Laveena Joshi

Articles Published: 190

Laveena holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism with a keen interest in entertainment journalism. Known to defend Naruto with her life, her love for anime has turned into great appreciation for the Japanese Culture. Besides considering herself a veteran weeb, she's also a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur. Better if the perfect brew is paired with a random video essay from YouTube. Blending her love for anime with the know-hows of content writing, she is now an anime content writer at FandomWire.