In isekai manga, the idea of being sent to a new world by being killed by a truck became so common it turned into a meme.

Truck-kun is an Internet meme that refers to a common trope used in the isekai genre of anime and manga, in which characters are transported to other worlds. Typically, the protagonists of the isekai anime or manga are sent to these worlds via reincarnation after death, though recently many isekai works have featured characters being transported upon being hit and killed by a truck. After several isekai works featured this as a means to kill their characters, a meme claiming the existence of a character named "Truck-kun"[a] spread. It is purported Truck-kun's role is to kill people in their original world and subsequently send them to a new one.

Origins of the meme

Early examples of discussion of the trope include a Reddit thread entitled "Trucks in Manga – RE: Marina" by user poloport from April 14, 2015. In the post, a page from the manga RE: Marina shows the central character Rinosuke being hit by a truck. The character is not killed, but the incident brings the main characters in the story together. This post resulted in further posts in which people pointed out examples of trucks running into the protagonists of manga, with isekai manga featuring heavily.[2]

In 2017, an anime fan compiled a list of causes of death among isekai protagonists, which was updated in 2018. Deaths caused by "Traffic accident by truck" came third in the study with 37 cases, with general traffic accidents coming second with 38 cases, and unknown causes first with 102 cases.[3]

Later developments

Critics have since recorded the appearance of "Truck-kun" in multiple series. These include Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!,[4] Mushoku Tensei,[5] The Eminence in Shadow,[6] Zombie Land Saga and Wise Man's Grandchild.[7] There are also alternative versions of the plot device, such as in KonoSuba, where lead character Kazuma Satō dies from shock after rescuing someone from being run over by what he thinks is a truck, but is later discovered to be a slow-moving tractor that posed no danger to the person he was attempting to save.[8][9]

Response to the meme

Since the creation of the meme, people have retrospectively examined earlier series to see other uses of motor accidents in anime and manga. Examples include Osamu Tezuka's sci-fi manga Astro Boy, in which Tobio Tenma is killed in a car accident at the beginning of the story, resulting in his father creating the robot Astro Boy in his image; as well as the anime series Magical Princess Minky Momo, in which Momo loses her powers and is killed by a truck late in the series before being reincarnated as a baby.[2][10]

Notes

  1. ^ Kun is a Japanese honorific attached as a suffix to the names of individuals of a junior status relative to the speaker, and is commonly used for boys and male teenagers.[1]

References

  1. ^ Wendleton, Courtney M. (2019). "Honorifics". A Ninja in Time. Honolulu: Courtney Wendleton. p. 240. ISBN 978-1095633984.
  2. ^ a b Mark (August 1, 2020). "Truck kun Appearances: the Most Prolific Serial Killer in Japanese pop culture". Chasing Anime. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Sherman, Jennifer; Ressler, Karen; Mateo, Alex (January 12, 2018). "Traffic Accidents Top List of Causes of Death for Isekai Protagonists". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  4. ^ Chapman, Jacob (September 13, 2019). "Premiere Report - Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  5. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (July 8, 2020). "Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Anime Reveals Video, More Cast". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Silverman, Rebecca (November 29, 2021). "The Winter 2021 Manga Guide: The Eminence in Shadow". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  7. ^ Morrissy, Kim (April 1, 2022). "Today on Wikipedia: Did You Know That a Common Way to Travel to Another World Is to Be Hit by a Truck?". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  8. ^ Demelza (October 16, 2020). "KonoSuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World! Complete Season 1 Review". Anime UK News. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  9. ^ Hagstrom, Ashley (November 20, 2021). "10 Most Unique Truck-Kun Experiences In Isekai Anime". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Moo, William (July 30, 2021). "Look Both Ways: The Tragic History of Truck-kun From Astro Boy to Zombieland Saga". Otaquest. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.

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