Slightly a rant and doing on mobile, meaning I dont have/can't find post break-sorry everyone!
I think my favorite thing about Skullgirls is that people don't realize it's all irony...like...most of the characters are commonly sexualized tropes, all the characters are ironic. Why? Because people will complain about the sexualization on them but not on other characters even though it's the same as every character. Not only that, but while being these tropes, the characters are more than their trope. But because the trope is there, everyone ignores it, which is pseudo sexualization.
Filia is the schoolgirl trope, but unlike others in the trope, ACTS young. She's sexualized but that puts most on edge, and it should, because that's the point!
Cerebella is the sexy clown trope, but her sexualization of herself, including her "romantic" idealization of Vitale derives itself from trauma. Not only that, but it's implied that her, Feng and Beatrix's outfits are what are "necessary" for the Medici mafia...Cerebella is a traumatized individual and she's still not realizing that her actions are unhealthy coping mechanisms. That's the point.
Parasoul is the sexy, dark princess trope. The trope is meant to show an uncaring and rebellious individual, but she loves kids shows and cares more about her family than herself. She's rebellious, but in the best interest of her family and her kingdom rather than herself.
Ms Fortune is obviously the cat girl trope, but she's sassy and sly. Her outfit is meant to mirror Cerebella's, as Cerebella is similar to her but chose a different path. The teal top, the black, just missing the orange. Obviously, what people have a problem with is her shirt, since her pants actually work with her powers-so why midriff? It's a sports bra she's wearing, and that helps with one of her interests (parkour)
Painwheel is the experiment trope. But she's not sexualized at all besides her clothing. And that makes sense-they don't think this trope should be sexy, and are trying to show that by making everything else horrifying-that the only way something this horrible could be "sexy" is if you take away her identity.
Valentine is obviously the sexy nurse trope. But here's the thing-while the sexy nurses in games are always seen as bimbos, Valentine is anything but. Valentine is a damn genius and y'all are sleeping on that fact. The outfit is meant to distract from her brains, for both fans and characters in the series, and it works!
Double is the sexy nun trope, but ironically the only sexualized thing is her body type. And even then, bodies are something that can't change on normal characters and shouldn't be sexualized anyway. But Double CAN change her body...to what? Her body type with Sister Agatha is more motherly than sexual, but because of the others, it's seen as sexual despite being completely innocent.
Squigly, the sexy zombie trope. Just like Cerebella, she was dressed by the Medici and it's likely she was put in this outfit to disgrace her public image. They killed her famous family, remember? Why wouldn't they? It makes people forget who she was before her death.
Fukua and RoboFortune are the same as Filia and Nadia, but ironically the sexy evil clone trope is added to Fukua and the robot trope added to Nadia, making the fact theyre a joke characters extra funny.
Eliza is the sexy Egyptian trope. Her sass aligns with it, as well. But this makes people forget that, like Valentine, she's a genius. I mean, remember how she defeated the Trinity? This woman was a general and has more military and combat knowledge than Parasoul. Also, I find it great that she's immortal, and, unlike most immortal characters in media, decided it would be more fun to change her identity and career every 100 years.
Annie, aka my favorite, aka the anti to the loli trope. Did people forget her curse makes her not only young forever, but innocent as well? While most of the disgusting Loli trope both look and act like kids, Annie acts grizzled and stressed, and while she looks like a kid, she uses it to her own advantage to become Annie of the Stars. Also if anyone even tried to do anything to her, she would kill them on sight and we know that.
Black Dahlia is the Mafia dame trope, but she's ruthless. She's called a serial killer by the wiki, one who doesn't hold back. No mercy for anyone. While her body is sexualized, we cannot see her face. We forget that her body is mostly bionic. She likely sexualized herself on purpose to distract her targets, as that's what many serial killers do.
Unfortunately, Marie is sexualized by many "fans" by being part of the maid trope when the irony here is that. One, she's a kid, and two, while most of the maid trope is bumbling bimbos, Marie is a sweet and wise character, shown by the comic to have wished on the Skullheart out of desperation to save her best friend.
These are all the main characters and as simple as I could make it. I'd be willing to do an in depth analysis if anyone wants one lol. I love irony in media and I feel like that's one of my reasons I love Skullgirls and why it's a hyperfixation of mine.
