Five-Man Band/Anime I-M
I
Ikki Tousen - Nanyou version
The Hero | Hakufu |
The Lancer | Ryomou |
The Smart Guy | Koukin |
The Big Guy | Gakushuu[1] |
The Chick | Goei (Hot Shounen Mom), later joined by Chuubou (Yamato Nadeshiko) |
Sixth Ranger | Saji ( who starts out as a Sixth Ranger Traitor) |
Ikki Tousen - Seitou version
The Hero and The Chick | Ryuubi |
The Lancer | Kan'u |
The Smart Guy | Koumei |
The Big Guy(s) | Chouhi (Cute Bruiser), Kanshou (Gentle Giant Bare-Fisted Monk) |
Sixth Ranger | Chou'un, Bashoku |
The Hero | Kagome |
The Lancer | Inuyasha (could be the The Hero, except that he usually goes against the group, forcing Kagome to make him sit) |
The Big Guy | Sango |
The Smart Guy | Miroku |
The Chick | Shippo |
Team Pet | Kirara |
J
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: It's important to note that all of these characters can double as The Smart Guy, at least in the case of combat.
Joseph's Group
The Hero | Joseph Joestar |
The Lancer | Caesar Antonio Zeppeli |
The Big Guy | Stroheim |
Action Girl | Lisa Lisa |
Jotaro's Group
The Hero | Jotaro Kujo |
The Lancer | Joseph Joestar (also The Mentor) |
The Big Guy(s) | Avdul and Polnareff |
The Smart Guy | Kakyoin |
Team Pet | Iggy (also the Sixth Ranger Traitor) |
An alternative:
The Hero | Jotaro |
The Lancer | Joseph |
The Big Guy | Polnareff |
The Smart Guy | Avdul |
The Chick | Kakyoin |
Josuke's Group
The Hero | Josuke Higashikata |
The Lancer | Koichi Hirose |
The Big Guy | Okuyasu Nijimura |
The Smart Guy | Rohan Kishibe |
The Chick | Yukako Yamagishi (subverted: As she is also a Very, very Yandere.) |
Sacrificial Lamb | Fatty |
Giorno's Group
The Hero | Giorno Giovanna (Though his relationship with the rest of the group starts out as more of a Sixth Ranger with Bucciaratti as The Hero in the others' minds.) |
The Lancer(s) | Bucciaratti and Mista |
The Big Guy | Fugo |
The Smart Guy | Abbaccio |
Tagalong Kid | Narancia Ghirga |
The Chick and Sixth Ranger | Trish Una |
Jolyne's Group
The Hero | Jolyne Kujo (she started out as more of The Chick, however) |
The Lancer | Hermes Costello |
The Big Guy | Weather Report |
The Smart Guy | Emporio Alnino |
The Mentor | F.F. |
Sixth Ranger and Token Evil Teammate | Annasui |
Gyro's Group (In a subversion they all act separately, only rarely working together with the exception of Gyro and Johnny)
The Hero | Gyro Zeppeli |
The Lancer | Johnny Joestar |
The Big Guy | Mountain Tim ( becomes a Sacrificial Lamb later on) |
The Chick (The Smart Guy variant) | Lucy Steel |
The Chick (The Medic variant) | Hot Pants |
Sixth Ranger Traitor(s) | Dio Brando and Sandman (at separate points.) |
K
The Hero | Yui Hirasawa |
The Lancer | Mio Akiyama |
The Big Guy | Ritsu Tainaka |
The Smart Guy | Azusa Nakano |
The Chick | Tsumugi Kotobuki |
Team Mom | Ui Hirasawa |
Cool Big Sis and The Mentor | Sawako Yamanaka |
The Heroine | Sora Naegino |
The Lancer | Layla Hamilton (during the first season), Leon Oswald and May Wong (take turns in the second.) |
The Big Girl | Anna Heart |
The Big Guy | Jerry the Policeman |
The Smart Girl | Mia Guillem, later Cathy Taymor |
The Chick (Non-Action Guy version) | Kenneth "Ken" Robbins |
The Chick (Team Mom version) | Sarah Dupont |
Sixth Ranger | Rosetta Passel, Yuri Killian (in the second season) |
Team Pet | Fool, the Spirit of the Stage and Jonathan, the baby seal |
Tagalong Kid | Marion Benigni |
The Mentor | Kalos Eidos, Layla Hamilton (in the second season) |
Token Evil Teammate | Yuri Killian (in the first season) |
Sacrificial Lamb | Sophie Oswald |
The Hero | Shiki |
The Lancer | Azaka, who is something of a rival to Shiki |
The Smart Guy | Touko, who also fills a mentor role to all three of the other characters |
The Chick | Mikiya is a male example, given that he is the most empathetic and the least action oriented of the cast |
Daliy Life Arc
The Hero | Tsuna |
The Lancer | Yamamoto |
The Smart Guy | Gokudera |
The Big Guy | Ryohei |
The Chick | Kyoko and Haru |
The Mentor | Reborn |
Tagalong Kid | Lambo and Ipin |
Kokuyo Arc
The Hero | Tsuna |
The Lancer | Yamamoto |
The Smart Guy | Gokudera |
The Big Guy | Ryohei |
The Chick | Bianchi |
The Mentor | Reborn |
Tagalong Kid | Lambo and Ipin |
The Sixth Ranger | Hibari, Dr.Shamal |
Varia Arc
The Hero | Tsuna |
The Lancer | Yamamoto |
The Smart Guy | Gokudera |
The Big Guy | Ryohei |
The Chick | Chrome |
The Mentor | Reborn, Dr.Shamal, Colonello,Yamaoto's dad |
Big Brother Mentor | Dino |
Tagalong Kid | Lambo |
Aloof Ally | Hibari |
The Sixth Ranger | Mukuro, Basil |
Future Arc
The Hero | Tsuna |
The Lancer | Yamamoto |
The Smart Guy | Gokudera |
The Big Guy | Ryohei |
The Chick | Chrome |
The Mentor | Reborn, Future Hibari, Lal Mirch |
Cool Big Sis/The Mentor | Bianchi |
Tagalong Kids | Lambo, Ipin |
The Sixth Ranger | Future Ryohei, Future Mukuro, Kuskabe |
Choice Arc
The Hero | Tsuna |
The Lancer | Yamamoto |
The Smart Guy | Gokudera |
The Big Guy | Ryohei |
The Chick | Chrome |
The Mentor | Reborn, Squalo |
Cool Big Sis | Bianchi |
Big Brother Mentor | Dino |
The Sixth Ranger | Future Mukuro, Basil |
Tagalong Kids | Lambo |
Aloof Ally | Hibari |
Future Final Battle Arc
The Hero | Tsuna |
The Lancer | Yamamoto |
The Smart Guy | Gokudera |
The Big Guy | Ryohei |
The Chick | Chrome |
The Mentor | Reborn |
The Sixth Ranger | Future Mukuro, Basil, Dino, Gamma, Nosaru,Tozaru, Lal Mirch, The Varia |
Tagalong Kids | Lambo |
Aloof Ally | Hibari |
Sacrificial Lamb | Uri |
Inheritance Ceremony Arc
The Hero | Tsuna |
The Lancer | Yamamoto |
The Smart Guy | Gokudera |
The Big Guy | Ryohei |
The Chick | Chrome |
The Mentor | Reborn |
Tagalong Kids | Lambo |
Aloof Ally | Hibari |
The Sixth Ranger | Mukuro, Enma ( Final Fight with Daemon Spade) |
The Hero | Keroro |
The Lancer | Giroro |
The Big Guy | Tamama |
The Smart Guy | Kururu |
The Chick | Angol Moa/Mois |
Sixth Ranger | Dororo |
The Hero | Kannu |
The Lancer | Chouun |
The Big Guy | Chouhi |
The Smart Guy | Shokatsuryou |
The Chick | Kouchuu |
Sixth Ranger | Both Kouchuu and Bachou |
L
The Hero | Ueki |
The Lancer / The Big Guy | Sano and Rinko (rotate) |
The Smart Guy | Hideyoshi, Rinko before Hideyoshi joins |
The Chick | Mori |
Team Pet | Tenko |
The Mentor(s) | Kobayashi and Inumaru |
The Hero | Lia De Beaumont (Notable in that she's female, dead, and currently sharing her body with her still-living brother D'Eon.) |
The Lancer/The Big Guy | Durand |
The Smart Guy | Robin |
The Chick | D'Eon de Beaumont (Notable in that he's male, and is sharing his body with his older sister—who seems to take a more aggressive, active role in their affairs.) |
The Mentor | Teillagory |
The Earth's Five Champions from The Legend of Koizumi
The Hero | Junichiro Koizumi |
The Lancer | Vladimir Putin |
The Big Guy | Papa Bush |
The Smart Guy / The Mentor | The Pope |
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Plus (to some extent.)
The Hero | Green |
The Lancer / The Big Guy | Blue |
The Smart Guy | Vio(let) |
The Chick | Red |
The Sixth Ranger | Shadow |
The Hero | Willabit |
The Lancer | Snagglebit |
The Big Guy and The Smart Guy | Chip |
The Chick | Lillibit |
Tagalong Kid | Teenybit, sometimes Browniebit |
The Mentor | Uncle Snoozabit |
The Hero | Naru |
The Lancer | Mitsune |
The Big Guy | Motoko |
The Smart Guy | Su |
The Chick | Shinobu |
Sixth Ranger | Mutsumi |
Team Pet | Keitaro |
The Hero | Konata Izumi |
The Lancer | Kagami Hiiragi |
The Smart Guy | Miyuki Takara |
The Chick | Tsukasa Hiiragi |
The Mentor | Nanako Kuroi |
Team Pet | Minoru Shiraishi (Poor guy.) |
Lucky Star: The freshmen could perhaps be organized thusly...
The Hero | Hiyori Tamura |
The Lancer | Patty Martin |
The Smart Guy | Minami Iwasaki |
The Chick | Yutaka Kobayakawa |
M
Macross 7 - Fire Bomber
The Hero | Basara (Guitar, Vocals) |
The Lancer and The Chick | Mylene (Bass, Backing Vocals) |
The Big Guy | Viffidas (Drums) |
The Smart Guy | Ray (Keyboard) |
Macross Frontier - Skull Squadron
The Hero | Ozma |
The Lancer | Michel |
The Big Guy and The Chick | Clan Clang (technically not a Skull, but who cares?) |
The Smart Guy | Luca |
Sixth Ranger | Alto |
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha - Hayate and the Wolkenritter
The Hero | Signum (The leader of the Wolkenritter in combat.) |
The Lancer | Vita (Impulsive, serves as a foil to Signum's stoic personality.) |
The Big Guy | Zafila |
The Smart Guy | Shamal (Sensor Character in battle, disrupting enemy communications or searching and taking out vulnerable yet important targets like field commanders) |
The Chick | Hayate (The Wolkenritter's Morality Pet. Being a magical nuke dispenser, she's a lot more powerful than the average Chick.) |
Sixth Ranger | Reinforce, succeeded by Reinforce Zwei after the former's Killed Off for Real Heroic Sacrifice |
- This concept was invoked in the last chapter of the second season's manga, where it's mentioned that Admiral Leti decided to keep the Wolkenritter together because "A group of five has greater war potential", with Amy and Mariel agreeing. So...
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's
The Hero | Nanoha |
The Lancer | Fate |
The Big Guy | Arf |
The Smart Guy | Chrono |
The Chick | Yuuno |
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS - Stars and Lightning Squads
The Hero | Nanoha | Fate |
The Lancer | Vita | Signum |
The Big Guy | Subaru | Erio |
The Smart Guy | Teana | - |
The Chick | - | Caro |
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS - The Forwards
The Hero and The Big Guy #1 | Subaru |
The Lancer and The Smart Guy | Teana |
The Big Guy #2 | Erio |
The Chick | Caro |
Team Pet | Fried |
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha ViVid - Vivio's crew
The Hero | Vivio |
The Lancer | Einhart |
The Big Guy | Rio |
The Smart Guy | Lutecia |
The Chick | Corona |
Magical Project S - formed near the end of the series.
The Hero | Pretty Sammy |
The Lancer | Pixy Misa |
The Smart Guy | Washu |
The Chick | Ginji Kawai |
Team Pet(s) | Ryo-Ohki and Rumiya |
Mahou Sensei Negima - Baka Rangers
The Hero | Asuna (Red) |
The Lancer | Ku Fei (Yellow) |
The Big Girl | Kaede (Blue) |
The Smart Girl | Yue (Black) Funnily enough, in that she is referred to as "Baka Leader" by the other rangers. |
The Chick | Makie (Pink) |
The Mentor | Negi (who subverts it by being 10.) |
Team Pet | Chamo |
Mahou Sensei Negima - Kyoto arc
The Hero | Negi |
The Lancer | Asuna |
The Big Girl(s) | Setsuna (later, Mana and Ku Fei) |
The Smart Girl | Nodoka |
The Chick | Konoka |
Team Pet | Chamo |
Mahou Sensei Negima - School Festival "eight days later"
The Hero | Negi |
The Lancer | Asuna and Setsuna |
The Big Girls | Kaede and Ku Fei |
The Smart Girls | Yue and Nodoka |
The Chick | Konoka |
Team Pet | Chamo |
Sixth Ranger | Chisame |
Token Evil Teammate | Haruna (you know it to be true guys!) |
Mahou Sensei Negima - Ala Alba (White Wings) (The first six who were reunited.)
The Hero | Negi |
The Lancer | Kotaro |
The Big Girl | Chachamaru |
The Smart Girl | Chisame (Although she branches into The Lancer and The Chick territory often. Acting as Negi's new second without Asuna around. Directly commented on by Rakan.) |
The Chick | Kazumi (Doesn't have much ability start of things, but branches into The Smart Guy as needed.) |
Team Pet | Sayo |
Mahou Sensei Negima - Nagi's group Ala Rubra (Crimson Wings)
The Hero | Nagi |
The Lancer(s) | Eishun and Albireo |
The Big Guy | Jack Rakan |
The Smart Guy(s) | Albireo and Gateau |
The Chick(s) | Arika and Theo |
Tagalong Kid(s) | Kurt and Takamichi |
The Mentor | Zect. He looks like the youngest but is actually the oldest of the group. |
Mahou Sensei Negima - post-reunion Magic World
The Hero | Negi |
The Lancer | Kotaro |
The Big Girls | Setsuna, Chachamaru, Kaede, Mana, Ku Fei, Yue |
The Smart Girls | Chisame, Nodoka, Kazumi, Yue |
The Chicks | everyone else |
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch
The Hero | Lucia |
The Lancer | Rina (personality is totally opposite to Lucia's) and Hanon (frequently fights with Lucia) |
The Big Girl | Caren |
The Smart Girl | Noel |
The Chick | Coco |
Tagalong Kid | Seira |
Team Pet | Hippo (doubles as The Big Guy when he gets his powers back) |
The Obi-Wan | Sara |
Cool Big Sis | Nikora |
The One Guy | Kaito |
Metal Armor Dragonar has a rare evil version of the Five-Man Band.
The Hero | Gon Jem |
The Lancer | Ganan (This one is a tad of a stretch, though) |
The Smart Guy | Zin |
The Big Guy | Gol |
The Chick | Lee Sue Min (Well, whenever she isn't being an Action Girl) |
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Played with; some members have been assigned the wrong roles to accommodate Haruhi.)
The Hero | Haruhi (Really The Lancer) |
The Lancer | Itsuki (Really The Smart Guy) |
The Big Guy | Kyon (Really The Hero) |
The Smart Guy | Yuki (Really The Big Guy) |
The Chick | Mikuru |
Sixth Ranger | Tsuruya (Not officially in the Brigade, but still frequently involved.) |
Tagalong Kid | Kyon's sister (It's not even a question) |
Team Pet | Shamisen |
- The trope is played with in the drama CD, Sound Around, when Haruhi makes the SOS-Dan into a band and gives them the proper (from her point of view) instruments, though Yuki and Kyon's guitars are switched.
- It's also arguable that whilst Haruhi treats Kyon as the The Big Guy (i.e. using him for all the menial labour) and Itsuki as The Lancer (i.e. promoting him to her second-in-command), she really sees them as the other way round, since Kyon is her Straight Man (and quite possibly love interest), as well as the one who gave the idea for the SOS Brigade in the first place, whilst Itsuki is just really there to back up all her decisions, and is also the tallest in the original novels (the anime for some reason made Kyon the taller of the pair).
The Hero | Amuro Ray |
The Lancer | Kai Shiden |
The Smart Guy | Hayato Kobayashi |
The Big Guy | Ryu Jose |
The Chick | either Frau Bow (Team Mom version) or Sayla (Action Girl version) |
The Mentor(s) | Bright Noah (Team Dad), Mirai Yashima (Team Mom) |
Team Pet | Haro |
Tagalong Kids | The three kids |
Mobile Suit Gundam: Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
The Hero | Shiro Amada |
The Lancer | Karen Joshua |
The Big Guy | Terry Sanders Jr. |
The Smart Guys / The Chicks | Eledore Massis, Michel Ninorich |
The Sixth Ranger | Kiki Rosita |
Mobile Fighter G Gundam - The Shuffle Alliance
The Hero | Domon Kasshu |
The Lancer | Chibodee Crockett |
The Smart Guy(s) | Sai Saici and George De Sand take turns at this: George is stylish and sly, Sai Saici has his quick wits |
The Big Guy | Argo Gulskii |
The Chick | Rain Mikamura (Also the Team Mom, The Strategist, Lady of War in the few times she fights) |
Sixth Ranger(s) | Schwarz Bruder, Allenby Beardsly (and later Kyral Mekirel) |
The Hero | Heero Yuy (No Pun intended) |
The Lancer | Duo Maxwell |
The Big Guy (Genius Bruiser version) | Trowa Barton (Wields the most BFGs) |
The Big Guy (standard version) | Chang Wufei (not much of a team player, but when he does he fills this role) |
The Smart Guy | Quatre Raberba Winner (the emotional center of the five pilots, but otherwise not much of The Chick) |
The Sixth Ranger | Zechs Merquise |
The Chicks (standard version) | Relena Darlian/Peacecraft |
The Chicks (Team Mom versions) | Lucrezia Noin and Sally Po |
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED - Kira's posse
The Hero | Kira Yamato |
The Lancer and The Smart Guy | Sai Argyle |
The Heart and Team Mom | Miriallia Haww |
The Big Guy | Tolle Koenig |
The Load | Kuzzy Burskirk |
The Chick | Fllay Allster |
Sixth Ranger | Cagali Yula Athna |
Team Pet | Birdy |
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny - The Minerva Crew
The Hero and The Big Guy | Shinn Asuka |
The Lancer | Athrun Zala |
The Smart Guy | Rey Ze Burrel |
The Chick | Lunamaria Hawke |
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 - The Meisters in the second season
The Hero / The Messiah | Setsuna F. Seiei |
The Lancer | Lockon Stratos (AKA Lyle Dylandy) |
The Smart Guy | Tieria Erde |
The Chick | Allelujah Haptism |
Sixth Rangers | Soma Peries, Saji Crossroad, Hallelujah Haptism |
The Hero | Genki |
The Lancer | Tiger |
The Smart Guy | Hare |
The Big Guy | Golem |
The Chick(s) | Holly, Suezo |
Team Pet | Mocchi |
The Hero | Hazuki (Kouhei doubles as this when Hazuki is The Chick) |
The Lancer | Elfriede (Doubles as The (alternate) Smart Guy on vampire matters) |
The Big Guy | Master Yayoi |
The Smart Guy | Seiji (Doubles as The Lancer) |
The Chick | Hazuki (when not The Hero) |
The Mentor | Ryuuhei (Kouhei's grandfather) (Master Yayoi doubles as this later on) |
Team Pet | Haiji |
Mugen Densetsu Takamagahara Dream Saga
The Hero | Yuuki |
The Lancer | Takaomi |
The Big Guy | Taizou |
The Smart Guy(s) | Souta, Keima |
The Chick(s) | Nachi, Kaya |
Team Pet | Karyubinga |
Murder Princess - At least until midway through episode 4
The Hero | Faris (a.k.a. Alita) |
The Lancer | Jodo |
The Big Guy | Pete |
The Smart Guy | Dominikov |
The Chick | Alita (a.k.a. Milano), Milano |
- ↑ Although in a twist on the trope, he's weaker than both The Hero and The Lancer.