I am a sucker for well-written female characters in fiction. And why not? After all, they are the hardest to come by. But not in 100 years could I have anticipated that I would find one of my favorite female characters in a game-turned-animated series, Castlevania.
Despite being born out of a game, Castlevania has a surprisingly complex plot, accompanied by equally well-developed characters. But the biggest credit goes to the creation of women like Lisa, Sypha, Carmilla, and more. Women who can look their biggest fears in the eye and laugh in their faces.
Castlevania is not where I expected to find a stellar female character
Don’t get me wrong, but games don’t have the best reputation for their female characters. Thus, I was not expecting a fabulous woman in the animated adaptation of Castlevania. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I have been proved wrong. There are plenty of strong, independent, and fierce characters I like in the series.
But Sypha is the one who is bound to take the spotlight. She is one of the most powerful magic users to exist. But at the same time, her eye rolls and mid-battle rants are also equally powerful. From the very moment she is introduced, she makes us well aware that she is more than the stereotypical female in a male-dominated series.
While most female characters in such action-based and male protagonist-heavy series are defined by their love interests, Sypha is not. In fact, she got hitched with Trevor way after the series’ conclusion. Her relationship adds value to her character and does not take away from it.
Castlevania pulled off women’s representation with the help of Sypha
Sypha is not only powerful but also quick on her feet. She isn’t a damsel in distress, either. Instead, she had to rescue Trevor’s sorry butt plenty of times. She could have easily been reduced to a healer-type character, but instead, she fights shoulder-to-shoulder with Alucard and Trevor. And when she isn’t fighting, she is busy schooling the two other main characters.
Sypha is the definition of a strong-willed individual. Even the heaviest of responsibilities can’t make her balk. Rather than always agreeing with Trevor, she had her own opinions and ideas. Sypha and Trevor butt heads quite often because of their differences, and that is what makes Syha such a sought-after character.
But the biggest plus point is that Sypha did all of this while maintaining her feminine appearance. In way too many shows, a female warrior character is created to look masculine. But not Sypha Belnades; she wears clothes that are combat-ready and is extremely beautiful in a feminine manner. The show acknowledges that beauty has nothing to do with deadliness.
Castlevania animated series is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
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