The chances of Shima Sousuke surpassing other Best Boys or having equal appreciation from fans are high. Shima-kun is handsome, kind, popular, and intelligent. However, these aren’t the only things that qualify him to become the new Best Boy of the anime community. This is because Shima not being a flawless character makes him the newest anime leading man to look forward to.
There has been plenty of Best Boys that have captured the hearts of fans. Every anime season, new boys are introduced to fans who will again add up to their long lists of anime Best Boys. They may have come from action, romance, supernatural, isekai, or other genres; fans will choose to love them for who they are. One of the newest male characters this spring is one of the top contenders for winning the Best Boy title of this season, Shima Sousuke.
Who is Shima Sousuke?
First, Shima is an imperfect man that deserves love like no other. He is the main protagonist of the newest romance anime adaptation, Skip and Loafer, alongside Mitsumi Iwakura. He has blonde hair and is usually seen in their school uniform. Though Shima possesses intelligence that is enough to make him an honor student, he refuses to do so. He is the complete opposite of the hard-working student, Mitsumi, but this does not hinder him from befriending her.
Shima Sousuke is a popular city boy who effortlessly catches the girl’s attention. He is kind to everyone; hence, he never has difficulty making friends with anyone. But despite this personality of his, every person has secrets they don’t want to share, which includes him.
He has been supportive of the smart rural girl, Mistumi, who was having a hard time adjusting herself in Tokyo. This even led to some of the girls who liked him becoming suspicious of the two. If not for Shima’s willingness to help Mistumi easily find their school during the entrance ceremony and talk to her even after the vomit incident, then Mitsumi’s high school life would not have turned out the way it is now.
By always being at Mitsumi’s side and through his nice gestures, fans saw the goodness in him. However, his positive characteristics aren’t the only thing that makes him one of the Best Boys of this season but also his true side, which he has yet to reveal.
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What Makes Shima Sousoke the Best Boy?
The term best boy or best girl has been used by people in the anime community for quite some time now. Characters like Kazeyaha Shouta (Kimi ni Todoke), Todoroki Shoto (My Hero Academia), Satoru Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen), and Usui Takumi (Maid-Sama!!) have been one of the characters whom viewers label as Best Boy. With so many new characters from Spring Anime 2023 that can join the group, Shima Sousuke is indeed one of this season’s top contenders.
Best Boy is not only given to anime men with exceptional beauty or those hailed as fan favorites. This title is also given to anime men who have imperfections but still strive to become the better version of themselves. It is not only focused on the beauty that they possess on the outside but also on the inside. Thus, without further ado, here are four reasons that make Shima Sousuke the next Best Boy of the anime industry:
Shima Has the Warmest Heart and Smile
It is necessary for Best Boy candidates to have a charismatic or likable personality. They can either be funny, intelligent, or kind. The important thing is that they possess traits that make the viewers enjoy the show, especially with their presence. Shima Sousuka definitely fits the needed traits to be one of the Best Boys. Shima not only has the brightest smile but also the warmest.
Shima is aware that some people admire him. But even if he is not aware of it, he always ensures that a smile is painted on his face in order to not intimidate those who wish to talk to him. He is genuinely emphatetic and sincere with his action and words. Shima is the type of guy who is willing to help those he believes are in need, regardless of who they are.
He tries to understand every people he meets, which makes the viewers attached to him. Out of all the new male characters of Spring Anime Season 2023, Shima Sousuke is the most refreshing man, making everything lighter and warmer. He is the perfect escape for female viewers who are having a hard time finding the right person for them.
He Is Not and Will Never Be Perfect
Character development is necessary to be considered the Best Boy or Best Girl in the anime community. In any genre of anime series where there is both a heroine and a hero, it is significant that both of them are well-written characters. This is to make sure that there will be able to make huge progress as their story goes on which will get the viewers hooked. It is not good if only the other is carrying the show.
In Skip and Loafer, Mitsumi Iwakura is indeed the main character who will catch your attention at first glance. Mistumi is a rural girl who is passionate and optimistic enough to reach her goal in life despite all the challenges that she has to overcome. However, as the story goes on, Shima Sousuke’s own past and struggles in life are slowly unveiled.
Skip and Loafer is a romance anime with a slice of life. Unlike most, the romance in this series is considered a slow phase. This is because the main characters have to resolve their individual issues first, mainly Shima Sousuke before love officially starts to bloom. The laid-back happy go lucky personality of Shima Sousuke is not only because he likes to live his life that way.
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It is slowly revealed in the series that Shima has things he is not open about, specifically his past and family. However, these hidden struggles he is not yet ready to reveal don’t make him less. Instead, it makes him more relatable. Aren’t most people like Shima? Struggling with things they are not yet ready to share? The good thing about him is that he is willing to undergo growth and overcome these problems, mainly due to Mitsumi Iwakura’s influence.
Consistently Topping Male Character Charts
Aside from the character’s look and personality, popularity is also taken into consideration for Best Boy contenders. Though the name Shima Sousuke before the anime adaptation was released isn’t that well-known, it cannot be denied that he easily rose to popularity when the series was released this spring along with other characters, such as Hoshino Aqua (Oshi No Ko) and Yamada Akito (Loving Yamada at Lv999).
A fan shared on Twitter her admiration for Shima despite the problems he has not yet addressed in the series:
Since the start of the weekly anime male characters chart, Shima has been consistently part of the top 10 most popular male characters. This indicates the impact of his character in Skip and Loafer on the viewers which has led fans to always vote for him in the weekly polls. Shima is still a developing character. As fans begin to see that he is flawed like us, he becomes a more refreshingly relatable character. This is due to the fact that his imperfections make him more interesting as a character.
Admirable Visual Aesthetics
First of all, it is essential to note that the popularity of any character is not dependent on his or her looks. However, one cannot deny that the attractiveness of a certain character affects the attention it gets from the fans. Shima Sousuke is a popular city boy whose visuals or looks are definitely worth turning around for.
Many people around him cannot see the pains he constantly hides. This may be due to the fact that his positive personality and attractive face are effective in drawing the attention of others from observing his life in a much deeper context. Even Iwakura-chan, his heroine who is new to love and focuses on her studies, gets flustered around him. Whenever Shima-kun brings out his precious smile in front of her or just through his kind words, Iwakura either blushes or instantly walks away to avoid any further sign of attraction.
The good looks or visual design that Shima possesses can give the viewers a positive impression of him or the show as a whole. With his pleasing personality and handsomeness, it is no shock that fans are beginning to love Shima. The attractiveness of Shima is helping him in increasing his popularity, as well as the series, in order to attract more anime fans to watch the show.
However, Shima Sousuke’s character should serve as a reminder for fans to not solely rely on their standards based on the looks of certain characters. Instead, the storyline, character development, personality, and experiences that they can relate to as viewers should always be on top of their lists in checking whether a character truly deserves the appreciation, time, and attention that they are willing to give.