What is the significance of anime characters' catch phrases?


Uzumaki Naruto ([Naruto](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naruto)) has a catch
phrase "dattebayo". Ika Musume ([Squid
Girl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_Girl)) has a catch phrase "de geso".
Himura Kenshin ([Rurouni Kenshin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_x)) has
a catch phrase "gozaru". And a lot more examples
[here](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/CatchPhrase/Anime).

What is the significance of anime characters' catch phrases?




Usually they're puns or just included for character. I think the aim behind it
is to make characters more memorable.

Some of these pay off quite nicely for the series - Squid Girl's de-geso~ is
instantly recognizable for fans even outside the show. The usage of it online
or in popular media makes for good promotion for the series.

'de-geso', is a pun on Geso(tentacles) and De-gesu:

> In end of Edo era and beggining of Meiji era, “De-gesu” is used by males of
> the lower class as transformational word of “Desu”.
>
> “Geso” means tentacles of squid. Its article is mainly based on viewpoint of
> cooking. If your intention is to refer to Scientific aspects of squid, you
> would have to choose “Shokusyu” means just tentacle(s).
>
> De-geso is the word combined De-gesu with geso. In the beginning of movie,
> Ika-chan spoke formally (but rudely) as the invader. So it is natural that
> she says manlike and old-fashioned terms like De-gesu. Of course, present
> Japanese don’t use such a word.
>
> Traditionally, characterizing by making original suffix like De-geso was
> common technique in Anime. This is regarded as too facile nowadays.

[De-geso~](http://knowyourmeme.com/forums/meme-research/topics/7130-desu-vs-
de-geso)

[Datebayo](http://forum.minitokyo.net/t14324)

Catchphrases could be used in order to emphasize a particular aspect of the
character - Naruto's "Believe it!" (the frequent English translation) builds
on his lively boisterous character, or in Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei "I'm in
despair", puts focus on the lead's suicidal & depressional tendancies.

[I'm in
Despair!](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=wnkr993wsj4uz3wm7350nyri&page=1)




Usually they're puns or just included for character. I think the aim behind it
is to make characters more memorable.

Some of these pay off quite nicely for the series - Squid Girl's de-geso~ is
instantly recognizable for fans even outside the show. The usage of it online
or in popular media makes for good promotion for the series.

'de-geso', is a pun on Geso(tentacles) and De-gesu:

> In end of Edo era and beggining of Meiji era, “De-gesu” is used by males of
> the lower class as transformational word of “Desu”.
>
> “Geso” means tentacles of squid. Its article is mainly based on viewpoint of
> cooking. If your intention is to refer to Scientific aspects of squid, you
> would have to choose “Shokusyu” means just tentacle(s).
>
> De-geso is the word combined De-gesu with geso. In the beginning of movie,
> Ika-chan spoke formally (but rudely) as the invader. So it is natural that
> she says manlike and old-fashioned terms like De-gesu. Of course, present
> Japanese don’t use such a word.
>
> Traditionally, characterizing by making original suffix like De-geso was
> common technique in Anime. This is regarded as too facile nowadays.

[De-geso~](http://knowyourmeme.com/forums/meme-research/topics/7130-desu-vs-
de-geso)

[Datebayo](http://forum.minitokyo.net/t14324)

Catchphrases could be used in order to emphasize a particular aspect of the
character - Naruto's "Believe it!" (the frequent English translation) builds
on his lively boisterous character, or in Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei "I'm in
despair", puts focus on the lead's suicidal & depressional tendancies.

[I'm in
Despair!](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=wnkr993wsj4uz3wm7350nyri&page=1)

