

It seems to me that in a lot of anime ( _Naruto_ , _Dragon Ball_ , _Gurren
Lagann_ , and _Digimon_ are four that come to mind), characters or creatures
who perform an attack tend to shout its name, almost as if necessary to
perform such an attack. This seems very counterintuitive—telling your opponent
that you're about to use a fireball would open you up to being blocked very
easily.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ieg38.jpg)

Why do anime characters tend to shout the names of their attacks? (Bonus
points: Has this spread into Western animation?)


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tropes
What is the purpose of characters shouting out the name of their attack?


The 1st anime I saw this in was
[Slayers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slayers) and it was always cool to see
what happens next.

> Why do anime characters tend to shout the names of their attacks?

Most logical answer: "words grant power". It is also used when there is
sorcery to be casted.

It makes them focus on the attack making the attack work (or work more
efficient). The general idea is that such an attack is unavoidable. The attack
is of such power that the opponent, even informed about the incoming attack,
is never going to be able to stop it. Of course if they do stop it it also
means that character is bound to find a new better, improved attack that does
overpower the opponent.

> (Bonus points: Has this spread into Western animation?)

Yes, some examples where I saw it happen...

  * Huntik.
  * Legion Of Super Heroes.
  * Inspector Gadget.
  * Ben 10 Alien Force.


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The major reason they do it for the benefit of the audience. It helps the
audience know what the character is doing.

It's more dramatic if the viewer knows that the character is using the "gumgum
superduper pistol", than if Luffy just punches someone.


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The shouting seems to be related to what in Martial Arts is called
_[kiai](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiai)_ (shout). Here an excerpt from
martialarts SE about what _kiai_ is for:

> The expulsion of intent. Kiai acts as a declaration of your fighting spirit,
> your internal desire to prevail in those circumstances. This can be for
> intimidation, self-reassurance, rallying (the war cry was essentially a form
> of kiai), etc.

[Source](https://martialarts.stackexchange.com/a/364)

TvTropes [list some relevant kiai in anime and
manga](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Kiai) and relate its
relevance in the West to the martial arts movie sub-genre. All the titles
asked by the OP are present in this list.

Since I cannot find any academical study about the _kiai_ in Japanese pop
culture, for what I can see this can be more generally be interpreted as a
[speech act](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_act) and particularly an
explicit [performative
utterance](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performative_utterance), where:

> The uttering of a performative is, or is part of, the doing of a certain
> kind of action

[Examples](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performative_utterance#Examples_.28mainly_of_explicit_performative_utterances.29)
are vows, war declarations, verbal agreements, promises.

So, using a basic philosophy of language knowledge and what we had know about
_kiai_ , the shouting is as important as the physical action of the character.
In manga and anime it doesn't simply describe the act itself but it's a part
of it. We identify instantly its importance because we are used to know
performative utterances in our social life.


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Otherwise you (being an audience) will never know what's on their mind..

Take an example: Naruto, except few jutsus like Rasengan, Multi-shadow-clone
which are very familiar, we may not understand the jutsu moves and their
names, unless we have them by-hat..

And we are used to it and it sounds good to **roar** the name of jutsu :)


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According to [this forum post](http://forums.court-
records.net/viewtopic.php?p=214285#p214285):

> It's a tradition where it was intended for young audiences to yell the
> attack names with the character. The tradition began with Mazinger Z, which
> is considered the first Super Robot anime. The producers of the show felt
> that if the main character, Kouji Kabuto, shouted out the attack names each
> time the mecha did them, then it would give the target viewers, who were
> aged around 3 to 10 at the time, the ability to literally join along in the
> fun.
>
> The logic behind this is if the kids were to directly interact with a show
> they already liked, then they'd like it even more and would stick with the
> show in the long run. Needless to say, the strategy worked, and literally
> all other mecha anime in the 70's (sans First Gundam in late, late '79)
> copied the trend.
>
> Thus, the tradition was born and still anime shows, regardless of whether
> they are mecha themed or not, use it, regardless of their target audience.

Also, It seems that it was also done to make the shows feel more intense.
Something about the characters yelling their attacks just makes the action
better.

Usually it's hinted at that the characters are only calling out the attacks in
order to channel energy (much like how the characters in **_Harry Potter_**
have to say the incantation for a spell in order to cast it), because if the
attack names are removed then it will just be a bunch of grunts.. which seems
pretty boring. ;)


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It goes back to into Japanese culture. They're very heavily influenced by
bushidō, various martial arts, even their religions (Shintō). The names of
things are very important, im assuming it's just the way of the Japanese.
_Also it is common knowledge that shouting intimidates one's opponent._

It's known as the [Kiai](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiai) (a battle cry),
it's to channel your energy at the enemy through your attack in Japansese
martial arts. You'll see this a lot in anime, from the naming and
personification of swords to mechs to spirit energy, internal strength (spirit
energy) is channelled through these weapons.

[Here is an
article](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CallingYourAttacks) on it
(Calling your attacks)..

> If you can do something more impressive than just throw a punch, your
> attack(s) must have an equally impressive name. More than that, you have to
> call it out as you launch the attack. It doesn't matter if it's a martial
> arts move, a magical spell or your secret superweapon, if you can't say its
> name, it just isn't nearly as cool or effective. Also, expect plenty of
> echoing to come with it, and (if a fighter is feeling particulary bombastic)
> dramatic... _pauses_ ...WITHAYELLATTHEEND! A standard feature of practically
> every Magical Girl, high fantasy, or martial arts anime.

The article also links to Western culture films that also use this or at least
variants of it.. _(not sure about animation)._ Who wants to see a silent fight
after all?

_ps. BANKAI!_


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I can't find any official sources for how this started, but at this point,
shouting your attack name is expected of battle manga/anime which is probably
why it continues to be a popular practice.

[According to an interview with Toriyama
Akira](http://ssjsean.stormpages.com/ati.htm) (creator of Dragon Ball), his
editor insisted that he include attack names even though Toriyama himself
finds them rather silly:

> "I don't really like giving names to attacks," Toriyama says. "I don't think
> the characters would be yelling out the names of their attacks in life-or-
> death situations. You'd get killed while yelling the name of your attack,"
> he laughs. "But my editor said I'm better off giving attacks names."

In an earlier part of the interview, Toriyama also mentions that his editor
advised him that having a quiet main character was having a negative effect on
the series.

> Torishima told me one time: 'your main character is too quiet. That's why
> it's not so popular.' I wanted to win readers with the story this time
> around, and I had even made the effort to come up with a normally dressed
> main character, so I was peeved, and I told him, 'I'll do some 'crowd-
> pleaser material, then.'

This "crowd-pleaser material" that Toriyama mentions ended up being a
tournament - probably one of the easiest ways to pack in as many attack names
as possible. And Toriyama says that the series' popularity did greatly
increase because of this tournament.


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According to this
[link](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CallingYourAttacks), here
are major purpose of characters shouting their attacks:

  * Words are powerful

> The idea that words can grant power is a cross cultural phenomenon that
> shows up frequently in the earliest tales of swords and sorcery. Members of
> the Sinitic ethnolinguistic family in particular tend to ascribe special
> importance to the power of written characters, and the belief that special
> words can invoke control over supernatural power permeates their folklore
> (just ask your local Shinto, Buddhist, or Taoist practitioner if they've
> donated to a shrine or temple to have a talisman written lately). The magic
> power of spoken and written words was also a key concept in Ancient Egyptian
> religion and Ritual Magic.

  * Helps with building up chi

> In terms of realism, this has some ground as traditional and even some
> current practitioners of martial arts hold the belief that accompanying
> statements and/or vocal noises alongside execution build up their chi,
> thereby increasing the power and efficacy of their moves and techniques.

  * Ensures proper breathing

> Put less spiritually, saying a phrase at the right time during an attack
> ensures proper breathing. A call used for this reason is known as a
> [kiai](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Kiai).

  * Secret societies & passing down of techniques

> The naming of attacks also served a more practical purpose as many martial
> arts schools, Chinese ones in particular, used to be secret societies. The
> passing down of techniques was done orally and giving them esoteric names
> often facilitated this transmission.

  * Startle the opponent

> Kiai has the potential to startle the opponent and give you an opening.

  * Spellcaster's invocation

> This is also often combined with a spellcaster's Invocation, with the final
> part of the incantation being the name of the spell, cried out just as the
> spell is triggered (Spirit of Fire, gather into my hand and incinerate my
> enemies! FIREBALL!). A character who grows in power will eventually graduate
> to being able to do the initial incantation mentally, turning the final
> trigger into this trope completely.

  * For the commentator

> A variant has a Combat Commentator recognizing the attacks being used
> (usually with a line like "That's the legendary such-and-such-and-something-
> or-other technique!") and explaining them to any other characters watching
> (and the audience, of course).

  * When there's no voice acting

> Another variant, primarily found in video games, displays the attack name on
> screen as it is being executed, without a vocal "call". This typically
> happens in games where there is no voice acting; the call is implied. In
> fact, flamboyant attack/technique names are pretty much a trope in and of
> themselves.

  * Effective narrative device

> There isn't really a simpler way to let the audience know that Captain
> Kirk's next phaser blast isn't supposed to kill the alien, or that Judge
> Dredd's next bullet is supposed to go "boom". Especially in manga, it's
> particularly difficult to let the reader know what special attacks are used
> without either motion or color, so having the characters say it is probably
> the most practical solution.


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In kendo we shout the names of the strikes that we are doing in order to
release air from our lungs in a particular manner. It's also for judges to
know what strike we are attempting so to score us. However, it's unnecessary
to say the yell and the strike that goes with it. For example, I come in and
strike "dou" and yell "men". As a beginner, it doesn't matter whether I say
dou, kote or men, just so long as I say something in order to release the air
from my lungs.

That is a possible origin of anime characters yelling out their attack.


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