Obviously, there are many movies and TV shows with a title Character. In fact, there may be an overabundance of choices. Some memorable characters are parts of mainstream franchises, and others are remembered for being unique and have a cult following. As we have done previously, we have emphasized a diversity of choices. However, this time the emphasis is more on heroic characters (though a few may have some attributes of “anti-heroes” at times). Check them out!

Title Character #1: Paprika (2006)

Satoshi Kon’s Paprika is a tough film to summarize, as only seeing it can do it true justice. The animated psychological thriller is about Dr. Atsuko Chiba (Japanese: Megumi Hayashibara / English dub: Cindy Robinson), a psychiatrist who studies the dreams of her patients using a machine called the “DC Mini” that lets people explore others’ dreams (and presumably hallucinations). While exploring the dream worlds, Chiba takes on the form of her alter ego, Paprika, who becomes the superhero figure of the film.

As the story unfolds, dreams become nightmares, and reality begins to blend with fantasy as an apparent dream terrorist uses the DC Mini in his quest for omnipotence. So Paprika has story themes that range from those of doctors, detectives, and scientists to monsters, time travel, and even gods. The idea of viewing or reading people’s dreams will always be fascinating, and people learning their dreams’ meaning is akin to learning their true selves. However, if anyone can tamper with people’s dreams, there is obvious destructive capability. Long story short: Paprika is a great movie!

It also stars Tōru Emori, Katsunosuke Hori, Tōru Furuya, Akio Ōtsuka, and Kōichi Yamadera.

Title Character #2. Beowulf (2007)

Based on the Old English poem, the Robert Zemeckis-directed Beowulf sees the character played by Ray Winstone, in this unique, CG-animated rendition. Anthony Hopkins also stars as King Hrothgar. At Hrothgar’s request, Beowulf is tasked with slaying a marauding giant named Grendel (Crispin Glover), knowing that only a true hero like Beowulf can fight Grendel and win.

The story ends up being a little quirky, as we learn Grendel’s chief problem is his overly sensitive hearing, triggering intense pain during loud, boisterous human festivities. Still, instead of killing the problem, maybe Grendel should have tried the Old English equivalent of earplugs, right?

Obviously, Beowulf himself represents true heroism, and Grendel no doubt represents far more complicated things. When people would head into local forests to gather food, might they encounter some hostile, perhaps gigantic beast? Such a question seems to be represented by Grendel and, of course, previous attempts to kill it might symbolize man trying to conquer nature.

Grendel might be perceived as anything, from a dangerous mountain monster, a fierce forest dweller, or the beast in the bog, and the hero will be called upon to pin the creature to a tree with his sword, or what have you. This depiction shows Grendel not so much offering a terrifying roar but a distressed whimper.

Beowul also stars Angelina Jolie, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, John Malkovich, and Alison Lohman.

Title Character #3: Hancock (2008)

Peter Berg’s Hancock is about a superhero (Will Smith) who’s not the most effective, but is also a heavy drinker, and it has exacerbated his ineptitude as a hero. It’s an interesting premise, that there can be an alcoholic superhero. Sure, maybe his heavy drinking doesn’t actually rob him of his physical strength, agility, and reflexes, but it’s refreshing to see a superpowered being who seeks a means of sedation from his horrible day-to-day life, just like so many ordinary people do.

This isn’t all the movie is about, but it challenges the image of an ever-vigilant, competent hero who defends the city like a bear defending its den. Also, with the advent of The Boys, it seems like Hancock was previewing the sort of dark, flawed hero stories we’d see in the future (in fact, what’s happening now with “flawed superhero “stories is perhaps itself becoming too clichéd). Still, by now, superheroism is perhaps a very controversial subject in the public eye, and depicting flawed superpowered beings may be necessary to provide relatable, non-fascistic contexts for storylines. Hancock also stars Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman.

Title Character #4: Iron Man (2008)

Jon Favreau’s Iron Man reveals the hero, whose real name is Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), to be a complex character. Born into the family business, Stark decides that Stark Industries will no longer supply weapons that can be used to brutalize vulnerable populations — a decision that puts a real target on his back.

It also turns out that the perpetrator of the attacks against Stark is coming from the inside — company man Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges). In his battles with Stane and the terrorist group known as The Ten Rings, Stark has his armor damaged almost beyond repair, and initially must face the consequences of his company constructing “Jericho” missiles, along with other deadly technologies. He also is forced to learn that his adversaries might be people not entirely different from himself, rather than necessarily some alien civilization (or something like that).

Basically, Stark created weaponry to conquer the world but also decided to create a powerful energy weapon to possibly defend it, in the form of his Iron Man suit. Iron Man also stars Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow

Title Character #5: WALL·E (2008)

Directed by Andrew Stanton, WALL·E is a rather intelligent, funny, and at times poignant look at an intelligent little robot named WALL·E (“Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Earth-Class,” voiced by Ben Burtt). Well, it’s about that and the near-destruction of the earth by human beings, who barely save themselves by escaping on an automated ship, where they become ultra-lazy and obese due to automation.

For that reason, WALL·E is sometimes considered a controversial film, but also because darn near everything is dragged through the mud of controversy (right?). Still, it is interesting to look at this possible motive behind blasting off into space. Oh, and WALL·E even has a love interest — EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator, voiced by Elissa Knight).

It would also be difficult to claim WALL·E is not at all an original concept (though the character design is definitely reminiscent of “Johnny 5” from the lovable Short Circuit series). The movie also creates a “post-apocalyptic” environment that’s a little frightening in concept, yet also humorous in how it’s depicted. There’s no sign that people are about to cannibalize each other or horde guns and food in some underground bunker. Instead, they just get fat up in space, which is slightly different from what one might expect.

Apparently, in the DVD commentary for WALL·E, Stanton says it wasn’t quite his intention to make an “anti-consumerist” film, either, so make of that what you will. The film made it into the list of “40 Greatest Animated Movies Ever” by Rolling Stone (and, actually, that seems like a pretty solid list). WALL·E also stars Jeff Garlin, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver, and Fred Willard.

Title Character #6: Megamind (2010)

Megamind is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated superhero comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and directed by Tom McGrath. The movie tells the story of the title character, a supervillain named Megamind, who becomes a hero after he accidentally defeats his archenemy, the superhero Metro Man. The film features the voices of Will Ferrell as Megamind, Brad Pitt as Metro Man, Tina Fey as Roxanne Ritchi, and Jonah Hill as Hal Stewart/Tighten. The movie received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its humor, animation, and voice cast.

Megamind was a commercial success, grossing over $321 million worldwide. The film was also nominated for some awards, though it didn’t seem to win any. Overall, Megamind is a fun and entertaining movie that subverts the typical superhero genre by focusing on the villain’s perspective. It has gained a loyal fan base over the years and is considered one of the best-animated films of the 2010s.

One interesting theme in the film is what could have turned him into a monster, and what might make someone like him a hero instead. In contrast to Metro Man, Megamind is raised in such a deplorable situation that one can’t help but wonder if Metro Man would have been the villain character had he lived in the same conditions. Megamind has yet to have an animated film sequel, but there is an upcoming series, Megamind’s Guide To Defending Your City, planned for 2024 on Peacock.

Title Character #7: The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

The Adventures of Tintin is a 2011 American 3D motion-capture animated film based on the comic book series of the same name by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by Spielberg, Peter Jackson, and Kathleen Kennedy, and written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright, and Joe Cornish. It stars Jamie Bell as Tintin, along with Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Nick Frost, and Simon Pegg in supporting roles.

The plot follows Tintin, a young journalist, and his loyal dog Snowy as they discover a centuries-old mystery involving a sunken ship and a valuable treasure. Along the way, they encounter a colorful cast of characters, including the bumbling detectives Thomson and Thompson (Frost and Pegg) and the villainous Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine.

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the animation, action sequences, and faithfulness to the source material. However, some critics criticized the film’s plot as being too convoluted and difficult to follow. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $373 million worldwide.

The Adventures of Tintin is a potentially thrilling and entertaining adventure film that might delight both fans of the comic book series and newcomers to the world of Tintin.

Title Character #8: Hanna (2011)

Hanna is a 2011 action thriller film directed by Joe Wright. The film stars Saoirse Ronan as the titular character, Hanna, alongside Cate Blanchett and Eric Bana. The movie blends elements of action, suspense, and drama to tell the story of a young girl trained as an assassin by her father and subsequently pursued by a relentless intelligence agent. The film’s plot centers around Hanna Heller, a 16-year-old girl who has been raised in isolation in the Arctic wilderness by her father, Erik Heller (Bana), a former CIA operative who seems to have action in his DNA.

Erik trains Hanna to become an exceptional assassin, teaching her combat skills, languages, and survival tactics. For example, early on in the film, Hannah kneels by a deer she fell, withdraws the arrow, calmly says “I just missed your heart,” then dispatches the poor creature with a handgun. Hanna’s upbringing is shrouded in mystery, and as she grows older, she becomes increasingly curious about the world beyond her isolated existence.

As Hanna expresses a desire to experience life beyond her training, Erik instructs her to activate a beacon that will alert the CIA to their location. This leads to a confrontation with Marissa Wiegler, a ruthless CIA agent with a personal vendetta against Hanna’s family. As Hanna embarks on a journey to escape Marissa’s pursuit, she encounters various challenges and discovers more about her own identity.

And that’s just it: The film explores themes of identity, freedom, and the consequences of one’s actions. Saoirse Ronan’s portrayal of Hanna, with her mixture of innocence and deadly skills, contributes to the film’s unique atmosphere. Wright and Ronan had previously worked in the drama film Atonement, so he must have known she’d have the skills to pay the bills as Hanna.

Cate Blanchett’s character, Marissa Wiegler (also called “Mam”), serves as the antagonist, and her pursuit of Hanna adds tension and intensity to the plot. Hanna received generally positive reviews from critics for its unique approach to the action thriller genre, its strong performances, its stylish direction, and its sense of escape. The film’s soundtrack, composed by The Chemical Brothers, also garnered praise for its electronic and atmospheric score (“Hanna’s Theme” is at least a potentially likable little piece of music). Hanna is known for its intriguing premise, strong performances, and visually striking cinematography. It offers a blend of action and drama, making it a notable entry in the thriller genre.

Title Character #9: Hobo with a Shotgun (2011)

Hobo with a Shotgun is a Canadian exploitation film released in 2011. It is based on a fake movie trailer that was created as part of a contest for the Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez film Grindhouse (2007). The fake trailer for the non-existent exploitation movie Hobo with a Shotgun was one of the winners of the contest. In 2011, Hobo with a Shotgun was expanded into a feature-length film directed by Jason Eisener and written by John Davies.

The movie stars Rutger Hauer as the titular hobo, who arrives in a crime-ridden city and decides to take the law into his own hands by using a shotgun to dispense vigilante justice. Hauer had mainstream success already and was often known for serious roles, in addition to occasional horror fare. At the same time, he did have some experience delivering zany lines in underexamined films, such as this bit of dialogue he spoke in Split Second (1992):
“Are you telling me that there is something running loose around this city, killing people and eating their hearts to send them to hell?” (Yes, Mr. Hauer, that was what was happening!)

Here he becomes a local hero as he tries to clean up the streets and protect a young woman named Abby, played by Molly Dunsworth, from a sadistic crime lord (Brian Downey) and his two sons (Gregory Smith, Nick Bateman). The film is known for its over-the-top violence, dark humor, and grindhouse-style aesthetic. It pays homage to the exploitation films of the 1970s and 1980s and revels in excessive gore and “white trash” absurdity. Rutger Hauer’s performance as the hobo is a standout, and his character’s journey from vagabond to avenging angel is a central element of the film’s narrative.

Hobo with a Shotgun was not a mainstream box office success, but it gained a cult following for its occasionally unique style and unabashed embrace of exploitation cinema tropes. It’s considered a notable entry in the grindhouse revival genre and has garnered a dedicated fanbase for its darkly comedic and ultraviolent approach to storytelling.

Title Character #10: Captain Phillips (2013)

Captain Phillips is a 2013 American biographical drama thriller film directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Tom Hanks in the titular role of Captain Richard Phillips. The film is based on the true story of the Maersk Alabama hijacking in 2009, an incident where Somali pirates seized control of the MV Maersk Alabama, an American cargo ship.

Here’s an overview of the plot:

Captain Richard Phillips, the commanding officer of the Maersk Alabama, finds his ship targeted by Somali pirates while en route to Kenya. Despite the crew’s attempts to thwart the hijackers, the pirates manage to board the vessel. Captain Phillips and his crew face a tense and dangerous standoff, during which Phillips willingly puts himself in harm’s way to protect his crew.

The film received critical acclaim for its intense portrayal of the events and Tom Hanks’ performance as Captain Phillips. It was praised for its realism, direction, screenplay, and depiction of the harrowing ordeal faced by the crew. Barkhad Abdi, who played the lead Somali pirate, received widespread acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and won a BAFTA award in that same category (according to the casting director, Abdi earned the role after being among “the chosen ones, that anointed group that stuck out”).

Captain Phillips was a commercial success and was nominated for multiple awards, including six Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and nine BAFTA Awards. It won the BAFTA Award for Best Director for Paul Greengrass. The film is based on the book A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea by Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty. Then-President Barack Obama had said about Phillips: “I share the country’s admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans.” As an interesting bit of trivia: Some governments at the time (and presumably still now) had “granted hijackers immunity from prosecution and extradition.”