Game and anime characters’ thighs are getting thicker- and Japanese fans are ok with that
A recent post on Japanese X has highlighted a strong fondness for thick-thighed female characters in anime and video games. The popular post has been viewed over 2.5 million times and has prompted many to share their favorite curvier characters. Although older favorites were also mentioned, there seems to be a trend of “thigh inflation” recently.
The post entitled “classification by thighs” shows a simple list with “thin” on one side and “thick” on the other. The OP has drawn several anime and video game girls who have bigger thighs on the right but no-one on the “thin” side of the list.
The post attracted an outpouring of comments. Of course, there are many characters with thin legs out there, but there also seems to be a vocal audience of fans who prefer the curvier ones. Recent examples from anime include Secelia Dote from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (2022) and Rikka Takarada from SSSS.GRIDMAN. Rikka’s design was actually changed to give her bigger thighs in the 2023 GRIDMAN UNIVERSE movie.
On the game side of things, we have Yuka and Alice from 2021 Korean RPG Blue Archive and Reisalin “Ryza” Stout from 2019’s Atelier Ryza, who were getting a lot of love. Of course, there is also Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, the 3rd person shooter RPG famous for its curvy female characters (Related Article). One post highlighted how NieR: Automata character 2B’s thighs had been made thicker for her appearance in NIKKE.
She’s not the only character this has happened to recently. Another poster pointed out a stark difference in Vocaloid Hatsune Miku’s legs between 2007 and 2023.
Defenders of thick thighed characters were quite passionate about the topic- with several pointing out that thighs should be thick because the word for thighs in Japanese contains the kanji for thick. All of the characters blessed with big thighs tend to be outfitted in short skirts, shorts or even stockings, which show them off.
Recent characters and changes aside, others were quick to remind everyone of Street Fighter’s Chun Li, who is also in the original poster’s chart. Originally appearing in 1991’s Street Fighter II: World Champion Edition, Chun Li’s outfits, as well as her signature spinning bird kick, have always shown off her muscular thighs. Capcom seems aware of how much some fans like this aspect of her design; the latest edition in the series, Street Fighter 6, puts emphasis on them and even has Chun Li ask you if you were looking at her legs.
One poster perhaps jokingly questioned why Godzilla’s ample thighs were not on the original poster’s chart.
Jokes aside, characters’ thighs seem to be having a moment right now, and many Japanese fans seem to be more than ok with that.
