#somehow my third fave also had a longer post than my first fave wtf

[tamamatango]

Keroro Gunso 30 Day Challenge Day 3: Favorite Guy Character

And now we finally get to the character that you would think is my favorite. He was at one point, actually. Then those other two nerds crept up. He still makes the best blog mascot though.

So I guess technically this character doesn’t really fit the prompt, but I’m trying not to do repeats. I want an excuse to talk about him, anyway. For that reason, my favorite guy character (and third favorite overall) is none other than Tamama.

I think Tamama might actually be the least popular of the platoon by a narrow margin (in the west, anyway—he won like 3 official popularity polls in a row in Japan), and that surprises me, because if the series wasn’t literally named after Keroro I would assume Tamama was the mascot just from looking at him. Just like...tell me he doesn’t look like a magical girl mascot pet or something. And that’s why I almost instantly figured out he was gonna be a fave of mine, because I’m a sucker for saccharine sweet mascots. Aren’t we all deep inside?

Anyway, here’s what I love about the platoon’s youngest member (Shin Keroro is technically his own platoon, remember):

As previously mentioned: HE’S. STINKING. ADORABLE. LOOK AT THOSE EYES STARING DIRECTLY THROUGH YOU. HIS GAZE IS LIKE A LASER TO THE HEART.

Speaking of lasers, he can do that too. Tamama Impact is cool as shit, don’t lie to yourself.

Tamama is also a master martial artist, and being a martial artist myself I enjoy that. He could kick my ass though because he’s actually in shape

Despite frequently describing himself as a snack-addicted spoiled gremlin, he’s actually one of the least lazy of the platoon. Tamama is a super-duper go-getter who trains constantly to become as strong as his older comrades, and he loves a good fight. He’s basically The Goku, and that’s admirable.

Oh yeah he has a Super Saiyan form granted to him by Beetle Jesus and if that isn’t epic I don’t know what is. Now that I think about it isn’t Jealousy Ball kinda like a twisted Spirit Bomb? Holy shit

Tamama is very easily frustrated, has jealous tendencies, and has one hell of a temper, and I think we can all find that at least a little relatable. In fact, Tamama is in essence adolescence personified (although I believe he’s actually a little older, just immature), and so it’s really interesting watching him have his ups and downs. You start to really feel for him during those instances when he feels guilty about his immaturity.

Despite his selfishness and intense emotions, Tamama is still a very kind-hearted person that’s always willing to help his friends and even completely random strangers (like that turtle and the soccer kid). He sees Momoka and Paul as like a surrogate family (it’s also hinted that he’s had issues with his own) and deeply admires his invader comrades, even Mois sometimes (as an aside, I hate when people act like he doesn’t care for anyone else in the platoon besides Keroro. He’s better than that damn it)

Actually, I’ll admit that I’m not much of a KeroTama person, and that’s partly because I’m more of a KeroGiro/KuruKero person, but also because I just don’t think Tamama is ready for that kind of relationship. But that’s the beauty of it—Tamama’s struggles over his feelings for Keroro are a representation of his journey to understand love in general, and it’s a part of that growth process I was talking about earlier. It’s what makes him really interesting in my opinion.

Tamama has all the best episodes. Soccer kid, Beetle Jesus, rebellious teen phase, Death Note parody...and also the one I named my URL after.

I know I’ve been talking about voice actors a lot, but Tamama’s voice is just really distinct and memorable. It helps that his actress also plays Jibanyan.

Provides for some of the best reaction pics, period.

He’s totally a trans boy

Tamama is just an overall really great character with lots of relatability. If this wasn’t an episodic series where there has to be little character development for the sake of keeping it going, I would say he would definitely have one of the strongest character arcs. AND ALSO HE’S JUST REALLY REALLY CUTE OKAY CAN I HUG HIM??

Next time I’ll be talking about my favorite girl character. I think these first four days have set up a kind of pattern, if you get my hint...