Why Escanor’s "Who Decided That?" Broke Anime and Outshined the Main Character
By David Miller
Escanor’s authority works because his arrogance is entirely consistent with his curse. Born a prince of the Kingdom of Castellio, he was cursed, or blessed, with the Archangel Mael's former power, the Sunshine grace.
By night, Escanor is a frail, stuttering barkeep with a physical power level barely reaching 15. He apologizes for existing, writes romantic poetry for Merlin, and cowers before basic monsters. At dawn, his muscles swell, his spine straightens, and his personality shifts into cold imperial detachment.
His weapon, the Divine Axe Rhitta, weighs so much that even demon-slaying giants cannot lift it off the ground. Escanor swings it with one hand, describing it not as a superweapon, but as a vessel designed to absorb the immense thermal energy his body continuously leaks.
Most shonen writers punish pride. Hubris usually leads to a hero's downfall, teaching them humility. Nakaba Suzuki took the opposite approach: Escanor's pride is his moral shield. Because he views himself as the apex of existence, he harbors no petty jealousy, no hatred, and no malice. He saves his friends not because he needs their validation, but because protecting the weak is the natural duty of someone standing at the summit.
David Miller brings 15 years of experience in global economics, personal finance strategy, and market dynamics. He specializes in turning complex economic trends into actionable insights for everyday readers.
