Handsome anime-style archer is sure to defeat all his foes…as long as “nice abs” are a weapon.
There’s long been a stereotype that male fans of anime and video games with anime-style artwork are just there for the eye candy. If the female character who’s placed front-and-center has the right mix of cute and sexy design elements, it really doesn’t matter what else the artist does, detractors say.
But in the modern era, female anime fans are not only often as passionate as their male counterparts, but equally likely to have sexy but unpolished fan service pitched to them. Take, for example, this illustration from Fire Emblem Heroes, a mobile game based on Nintendo’s Fire Emblem series of strategy role-playing games. The shirtless archer’s hair is styled, his abs sculpted, his calves taut, and his shorts low-slung.
But while he himself may look perfect, there’s a pretty big artwork error in the picture too.
https://twitter.com/hibi_kono/status/885063482558873601Specifically, there’s a problem with his weaponry. Well, several, if you count his bow being seemingly made out of desserts and his substitution of a Gari Gari-kun popsicle for an arrowhead. But by far the biggest tactical mistake going on here is that the arrow isn’t notched, and Mr. Shoot-an-Arrow-Straight-Into-the-Fangirls’-Heart isn’t even bothering to draw back the bowstring.
This isn’t the only trouble Fire Emblem Heroes has had depicting its archers. In the illustration shown on the right below, the archer with the pointed bangs seems to be wielding a bow with a string that’s simultaneously in front of and behind him, suggesting that either he has the string looped around the back of his neck (in which case that arrow isn’t flying anywhere when he lets it go) or that M.C. Escher had a side gig as his village bowyer.
顔に被って云々はちゃんと工夫されてたり被ってても違和感ないキャラもいますよ pic.twitter.com/Hzd9thWm0R
— このはるか (@hibi_kono) July 12, 2017
Though, to be fair, it’s not just the steamy male archers who don’t really seem to grasp how their weapons of choice work, as this female cohort of theirs seems to be unaware of the necessity of stringing her bow entirely.
https://twitter.com/neohapina/status/885100368119472129Granted, one could say the illustrations succeed at their purpose, which, as with many lavish pieces of anime and game artwork, is to be visually appealing. Still, it’s a little weird to have the artwork itself tell you that these heroes are literally doing nothing other than posing for the sake of looking cool.
Source: Hachima Kiko, Twitter/@hibi_kono
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he thinks he really should take a break and do some ab work.

Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Used chopsticks upgraded from “waste” to “valuable material” by Kawasaki City thanks to ChopValue
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Used chopsticks upgraded from “waste” to “valuable material” by Kawasaki City thanks to ChopValue
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
Bizarre Japanese vending machine sells “Peace and Equality” and “Angels and Demons”
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Starbucks Japan hoping fans will go bananas for its new mottainai banana affogato Frappuccino
Krispy Kreme Japan is bringing two special donuts to the most-forgotten big city in the country
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
This Tokyo Station sweets sensation sells out daily, but we finally got our hands on it
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
The story of our reporter P.K. Sanjun’s heart attack
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
Bizarre Japanese vending machine sells “Peace and Equality” and “Angels and Demons”
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Starbucks Japan hoping fans will go bananas for its new mottainai banana affogato Frappuccino
Krispy Kreme Japan is bringing two special donuts to the most-forgotten big city in the country
The story of our reporter P.K. Sanjun’s heart attack
McDonald’s Japan adds curry French fry flavor, regional-taste burgers to its menu with Gotochi Mac
Man in Japan calls in bomb threat because he doesn’t want to go to his own work farewell party
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
10 tips to remember for your first trip to izakaya, Japan’s awesome traditional pubs【Video】
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Japanese vending machine find introduces us to a new drink you can’t get anywhere else
Memorial bell inside Hiroshima’s Peace Park has been silenced, but for a sweet reason