Blue is a complicated character color. There are 2 main shades of blue: ultramarine and “true blue” cyan. Both shades are associated with wisdom and knowledge. Blue heads have different piles: ultramarine is the color of water while cyan is the color of the sky. The personalities also reflect the poles.
Ultramarine
Characters of this color tend to show deeper understanding, spirituality, and knowledge of the universe or “deeper mysteries.” A lot of hermit and philosopher characters have this hair color. Ultramarine’s element, as the name suggests, is water. Interestingly, water is considered feminine in many cultures because of its passive, patient nature. This shade of blue has many sexual connotations attached to it because of the water element. There is even an element of danger. Their understanding of hidden knowledge make them dangerous to the status quo and other character personalities. Yet, they are also highly seductive.
The most famous ultramarine is Neon Genesis Evangelion’s Rei Ayanami. Rei is one of the key character of the anime series and the mysteries surrounding the events. While Rei isn’t herself aware of the knowledge, she is privy to the deeper mysteries of the series. She does have a deeper understand of her role than the other protagonists, Shinji and the red-head Asuka. She is quiet and mostly expressionless: a hermit within a crowd.
Just a quick Google search will show just how sexual Rei is regarded. The mysterious aspects to her and her expressionless demeanor creates interest. She is the type of character only a few people will ever get to know intimately on both a physical and emotional level. That exclusivity often takes on a highly sexual slant.
Finally, Rei is also very much like water. She is quiet and passive, but at the same time can crash with the power of a tsunami when the series calls upon her. She has the same hidden strength water has when under pressure. Pressured water can cut steel.
Rei quickly became the most used template for ultramarine characters. Over time, she grows into her emotions and always shows some concern for the other characters, particularly the main protagonist Shinji.
Cyan
Cyan is the color of the sky and associated with the wind. Cyans are a lot less effected by emotion than ultramarines despite Rei. Cyans also are harsh and focused on a specific goal. They also have little concern for others. These characters consider themselves arbiters of justice or karma. They are more likely to refuse to associate with characters who are “beneath them.” True blues lack the sex appeal of their ultramarine brethren. Wind is considered male.
A good example of Cyan is Grimmjow Jagerjaquez from Bleach. Grimmjow has his own sense of justice that he feels responsible for meting out. His long term goal is to ( in true shonen style) become stronger in battle until he met the main protagonist, Ichigo. After meeting Ichigo his one and only goal (which ties into the original goal) was the beat Ichigo in battle. Grimmjow is aloof and defiant against authority. It makes him the hermit in the crowd as much as Rei’s silence does.
Grimmjow lacks the deeper understanding most blue characters have. He is a blunt instrument but has his own sense of honor. He is harsh in judgement, particularly for those who look down on him. Unlike some True Blues, Grimmjow is a hothead closer to a red-head. Yet, outside of anger, other emotions don’t influence him.
Blue heads often take the roles of teacher or adviser because of their access to knowledge and talents. The 2 colors are similar yet offer a few key differences: ultramarines have sexual associations and more susceptible to emotion while true blues are more focused on justice and disregard emotions more. These characters almost always have some type of teaching aspect to them for the main character. Grimmjow helped Ichigo unlock his latent powers; Rei helps Shinji grapple with his emotions.
