Ah, Cancer season. For all the astrological fanatics out there – June 21st to July 22nd is a time to celebrate our favorite water sign. Cancers are known for many things; from their nurturing and caring nature, to their strong intuition. But one thing they’re mostly associated with is their sensitivity. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on each individual. Which is why today, we’re looking at six anime characters born within Cancer season. Not only to celebrate them, but to also investigate what their star sign says about them.
Of course, any fan of astrology knows that there’s more to a person’s make-up than just their birth date. A birth chart – according to NYLON – is the position and alignment of the planets on the day and time of being born. This chart makes up a lot of the nuances in astrological sign reading. It provides information on the rising sign, the planets lording over aspects of life, and the houses they occupy. That’s a lot to take in. For today, we’ll just strip it down to the basics.
But why use anime to show these traits off? Well, there’s a diverse range of characters to choose from; Tanjiro Kamado of Demon Slayer fame, or perhaps Shintarou Midorima from Kuroko’s Basketball, maybe even Nagisa Shiota from Assassination Classroom. That’s just to name a few. Then of course, the wacky way anime can showcase different aspects of astrology; from Lucy Heartfilia and her celestial magic in Fairy Tail, to the 12 Chinese Zodiacs of Fruits Basket. But honestly, it all boils down to the fact that today – July 7 – is the birthday of one Killua Zoldyck from Hunter x Hunter. And how better to celebrate than a deep dive into his star sign?
SHOUYOU HINATA | June 21
The ultimate decoy of Karasuno High; Shouyou Hinata from Haikyuu!! fits the bill for the classic Cancer. His gripes about his height is an obvious tell of Cancer insecurity. Insecurities run deep for the sign, with fears relating to abandonment and replacement. Hinata is constantly on edge, wanting to prove himself as useful to the team. As a Cancer, he’s possessive of his position in Karasuno. He feels intimidated by the height and intelligence of Tsukishima, and the power and strength of Asahi. Quick to get defensive, he acts on impulse, doing what he can to cement his place in the team.
In general, Hinata’s very intuitive, relying on instinct rather than a practical sense of judgement. This is a typical cancer trait alongside being passionate and creative. These are things Hinata exhibits in the anime through his innovative ways of making up for his lack of height. He’s also a very charismatic and charming character; able to attract different types of people and make friends from even the opposing teams. But of course, he can be shy and anxious, constantly worrying about Kageyama’s approval of him. Cancers need to be coaxed out of their shell before truly showing who they are. This makes sense for Hinata and his early dynamic with Kageyama.
Cancers can also be extremely vindictive. Even to this day, Hinata can’t forget the first time he faced off against the King of the Court. While he has rivals that come and go throughout his time in Karasuno, he always has his eye on his partner. Haikyuu!! hinges on the rivalry between Hinata and Kageyama. Of the first time they met, how their volleyball careers intersect, and ending with their last match against each other.
TAKASHI NATSUME | July 1
There’s something strange about Takashi Natsume in Natsume’s Book of Friends. Some might say he’s enigmatic, maybe secretive, and even cold and aloof. But anyone who has ever watched the anime knows that it’s just one of his Cancerian traits – that protective and caring side of himself. Born with the ability to see ghosts and demons, Natsume often gets into all kinds of dangerous misadventures. Worried for his friends and family; he tries his best to distance himself from those he cares about the most. That includes hiding the truth about his ability and who he really is, and risking himself for their benefit.
Natsume is also the type to be stuck in the past. His childhood doesn’t help in this regard; having been passed from one distant family member to another, Natsume longs for peaceful stability in his life. Because of the abuse and constant gossip from those that previously adopted him; he has developed a fear abandonment and loss of security, especially in his place within the Fujiwara household. Natsume also favors a small group of friends whom he greatly values, and those in turn are protective of him.
Cancer as a sign is heavily associated with family; they are bound to the places they grew up in and have great interest in their family heritage. Of course, who better to be an archetype for such a trait other than Natsume? He’s extremely family-oriented; whether it’s by blood, or the little family he makes for himself. His quest to return the names of the demons his grandmother once dueled heavily reflects his desperation to connect himself to that last string of his family’s past. That’s what NBoF is all about; an anime that perfectly encapsulates the familial traits of a Cancer sign.
LUCY HEARTFILIA | July 1
Lucy Heartfilia is the anime embodiment of the sensitive and moody Cancer stereotype; she’s irritable and touchy, and loves her alone time and privacy. Cancers love creating safe-spaces for themselves; a knack that Lucy has mastered throughout her time in Fairy Tail. Unfortunately, her friends often invade her room. On the flip side, these traits of hers make Lucy the perfect straight man for the wacky shenanigans of Team Natsu. Her sensitivity also helps her empathize with other people’s struggles. These Cancerian parts of herself are what connects Lucy to the rest of her guild-members. She rescues Loki from his demise, and helps Cana with her father problems.
Cancers by nature are water signs, which keeps them in-tune with other people’s feelings. They’re eager to use this part of themselves to help support others. At times, their oversensitivity can border the line of paranoia and over-thinking. Like when she gets in over her head thinking Natsu has feelings for her. She’s also a bit of a mother-hen; Lucy can sometimes go far beyond the spec of friendship, such as cleaning Natsu and Happy’s house for them. With a clingy streak, Lucy once followed Natsu everywhere at the start of their journey together.
While seemingly assertive and bossy, she’s actually quite shy and non-confrontational. She doesn’t like showing off her writing and has trouble convincing her friends to stop coming into her room. Instead, she speaks in sarcastic tongues, a sign of Cancerian passive-aggression. Lucy is the picture perfect “Momma Bear” of the Cancer archetype; she’s maternal, nurturing, non-confrontational, but can have a crabby streak. Her dreams of becoming a writer stands as a mark of her creativity; another typical Cancerian trait.
KILLUA ZOLDYCK | July 7
If there’s one anime character who’s the epitome of everything a Cancer is, it’s Killua Zoldyck from Hunter x Hunter. Fiercely loyal; his friendship with Gon is something for the books – others might even say it’s quite romantic. Regardless of how one sees the two of them as, one thing’s for certain; Killua will do anything for Gon. Commit murder? Well, he’s an assassin after all. Abandon his family and their code of teaching? That’s exactly what he does, and then some. Go back to them just to resurrect Gon from the dead? Yes, of course. Sacrifice himself for the sake of Gon? No questions asked.
There are down sides to this loyalty, of course. Known for being blind to the reality of those they love; Cancers end up giving too much of themselves away. Killua puts Gon on such a high pedestal – he calls him his “light” after all. He follows Gon wherever he goes and loses his own sense of purpose. Loyalty is so important to Cancers, and betrayal severely damages them. For example, when Gon goes off on his own to kill Pitou. Killua sees Gon as the first person to show him what it’s like to be more than just a tool for his family to use. Which is why this event is especially detrimental for Killua who fears Gon’s abandonment.
Other Cancerian traits that Killua exhibits are his standoffish and aloof attitude – but deep down, he’s a gentle bean. Sometimes, he can be moody and clingy. And despite running away from home, Killua is family-oriented. He loves his sister Alluka and is extremely protective of her, even going toe-to-toe with his older brother Illumi to keep her safe. Killua hits all the points of everything a Cancer is.
IZUKU MIDORIYA | July 15
There’s no anime character more sensitive than one Izuku Midoriya. So much so, that a lot of people don’t actually like him as the protagonist of My Hero Academia. Apparently, he’s too much of a crybaby. But it’s important to note that in Midoriya’s case, being who he is and still standing up to do the things that needs to be done is what makes him a great hero. Take it from Bakugou when he says: “You’re shaking in your boots—you’re so scared. That’s why I hate you!”
More so than that, it’s this sensitivity that paves the way for Cancer’s intuition. Feeling around for other people’s energies and responding instinctively is what Cancers do – it’s what Midoriya does. He sees in Bakugou’s eyes the need for help and runs to save his childhood friend. He feels Eri’s fear when he meets Overhaul for the first time, and holds her tight. These instances of using his intuition to help other people snowballs into several different things. Seeing the lonely back of Todoroki, Midoriya sacrifices limb and body to reach out to his classmate; following his gut of where Kota is, he stands between the kid and Muscular and suffers the physical consequences for it.
Midoriya also uses his intuition creatively to get out of sticky situations. He achieves infinite 100% using Eri’s Rewind quirk, and continues to use One for All in manners outside of the typical for enhancement quirks. Nostalgic and sentimental; he harnesses all the memories and hardships he previously endured when quirkless to push himself forward. Shy yet charismatically draws people in; being a Cancer may just be how ‘Deku’ becomes the greatest hero in anime history.
ANNA KYOUYAMA | July 22
Seen time and time again; Cancers usually have a lot of chemistry with Tauruses. Even in this list of six, three often pair with a Taurus counterpart. There’s no Killua without Gon, and there’s no Deku without Kacchan. The third and last? It’s Anna Kyouyama from Shaman King – and there is no Anna without Yoh. Extremely cold and distant; Anna has a very hard exterior. Born with the power to read people’s minds and summon monsters through sheer emotion; she is self-protective and the embodiment of the “Literal Crab” Cancer archetype. But underneath all her glares and sharp words, she’s someone with a lot of love to give.
This is something that Yoh can see through, which is what makes them the perfect pair. His easy-going nature harmonizes well with Anna’s high-maintenance. As a Literal Crab, it takes time to beckon Anna out of her shell. Her previous experiences hinder her ability to socialize with other people; she’s constantly scared of showing her true self and being judged for it. Yoh is the only one to break through her walls, and he proves it worth it to do so. With her by his side, he’s an unstoppable force as a shaman. Anna pushes him to achieve his full potential, and he keeps her dark thoughts at bay.
Of course, it’s not always rainbows and roses between the two of them. Her oversensitivity and fluctuating moods can result in arguments. She fears losing him and becomes extremely clingy, jealous and paranoid. Still, even after all is said and done, the two of them love each other in ways simple words cannot express. Compatible as always; this Cancer and Taurus pair are what dreams of strong anime relationships are made of.
Who are some of your favorite Cancer anime characters? Do you agree with this list and whether these traits are actually relevant to the characters above? Let us know your thoughts on everything via our Instagram or Twitter! Resources used for this article include NYLON, Lifestyle Asia, Cosmopolitan, Bustle, Prep Scholar, Elle, Vogue, Refinery29, Allure, InStyle and Women’s Health Magazine. Be sure read up on our previous article, 6 Times Stoick The Vast Was A Good Father To Hiccup.
