こんにちは! 与那嶺です。
Why is there katakana in anime? This question got me started on a little research.
Most of the times, I saw katakana characters being used only as onomatopoeias in anime and manga or for foreign languages translations, but there are other ways to use them too.
Katakana can be used to emphasize something, such as the thoughts of a character or a feeling.
Katakana is also heavily used to name characters' special attacks.
- Kamehameha / カメハメは (Dragon Ball): while the name made up of kanji in the manga, it is famously shouted and spelled in katakana in the anime.
- Death Ball / デスボオル (Dragon Ball): Frieza's signature attack.
- Gomu Gomu no Gatling / ゴムゴムのガトリング (One Piece): Monkey D. Luffy's flurry of punches.
- Hollow Purple (Jujutsu Kaisen): Gojo Satoru's special attack is written in kanji, but the "Purple" is often seen emphasized in katakana as パープル.
- Plus Ultra / プラスウルトラ (My Hero Academia): the school's motto and All Might's signature catchphrase.
- Prominence Burn / プロミネンスバーン (My Hero Academia): Endeavor's attack is a direct transcription of the English words.
Another use for katakana is as a stylistic choice like an "archaic" or cool feel seen in titles.
Well, that's it for this week!
Thanks a lot for reading and see you next time! :)
じゃあ、また!
与那嶺。
University of Notre Dame - October 6, 2025.