History Main / Ronin

* He's never referred to by the term, but ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' fits the description to a T.

* ''TheXFiles'': "Pusher" Modell considered himself one, acting as a hitman and making many references to Japanese culture.

* '' FinalFantasyX'': Auron has a lot of ronin qualities to him, such as [[spoiler:the "death of a former master" thing, what with Braska dying at the hands of his own Final Aeon, Jecht]]. He also has three other major features used to signify a ronin: his left arm is held tucked out of his sleeve, he keeps a gourd of alcohol on his belt at all times, and his [[LimitBreak overdrive]] category is named 'Bushido'.

* ''StargateAtlantis'': Though never a {{Samurai}}, Ronon Dex was a soldier defending a world culled of sentient life by Wraith, and one of the few survivors. His name is also a play on the word Ronin.

* '' FinalFantasyX'': Auron has a lot of ronin qualities to him. [[spoiler: Including the "death of a former master" thing, what with Braska dying at the hands of his own Final Aeon, Jecht.]] He also has three other major features used to signify a ronin: his left arm is held tucked out of his sleeve, a gourd of alcohol and his [[LimitBreak overdrive]] category is named 'Bushido', what was the honour/fighting code of Ronins.

* In ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3: [[ExpansionPack Uprising]]'', Steel Ronin are a kind of battlesuit unit. Specifically, they are in the suits as a form of punishment for not following orders or related crimes and hope to regain their freedom again by doing battle against the Empire's enemies. [[DisproportionateRetribution They're apparently in constant pain too]]. Meanwhile, in the GameMod ''GameMod/RedAlert3Paradox'', Steel Ronin have layed down their weapons instead and, among other things, became tourist guides due to being in constant pain as they figured "Why should we follow these people again?"

* ''{{Samurai 7}}'': The anime remake of Kurosawa's classic film.
* ''{{Samurai Champloo}}'': Jin and Mugen both have characteristics of ronin, though only Jin is actually a ronin. Having grown up in a penal colony Mugen was not born into the samurai class. (Nor did he earn his way with his skill as he used those skills for stealing from the shogunate).

----
<<|AnimeCharacterTypes|>>

[[caption-width-right:350:The rare female ronin seen resting her feets.]]

In the modern era, ronin has an additional, different meaning: a student who has not yet passed his college entrance examinations, but continues to study and try for a place.

* Real life example: In medieval China, the only way to enter the civil service was to take multiple, incredibly difficult exams. Pu Songling took his first test at 19 years old and succeeded, but got no higher until he was 71. In the meantime, he collected folk tales and mystic stories, which remain with us now as his ''[[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Stories_from_a_Chinese_Studio Strange Stories From A Chinese Studio]]''.

* ''Characters/LupinIII'' has Goemon Ishikawa XIII; a traditional samurai in the modern world. He constantly seeks to improve his skills, seeking teachers of Martial Arts (whom he then refers to as his "Master", rather than the more traditional "teacher"), as well as operating as a HitMan or Yojimbo. Everyone InUniverse calls him {{Samurai}}, but he is a Ronin by our definition. Goemon also believes that his attitude is normal, and that most of Japan has lost their way, instead.

* The most famous example would be the legend of the "''[[{{The 47 Ronin}} Forty Seven Ronin]]''," a band of samurai who took revenge for their master's death, and were allowed to commit {{seppuku}} for their crimes to keep their honor rather than be executed. Though based on a true story, it has seen many changes over the years. Considered a shining example of loyalty, honor and ''bushido'', and the best-beloved story in Japan.

* Goemon from ''LupinIII''.

* ''{{Ichiroh!}}'' has its protagonists Nanako and Akane. In fact, the title is the term used for someone in their first year as a ronin.

See also the film ''Film/{{Ronin}}'', also the comic maxi-series ''{{ComicBook/Ronin}}'' by FrankMiller.

* Saya of ''ServantXService'' spent a year as a ronin under this definition. This is why she's the oldest of all the newbies.

* In the film {{Epic}}, the {{Badass}} leader of the Leafmen is called Ronin, foreshadowing [[spoiler: the death of his queen]] early in the film.

* In the film {{Epic}}, the {{Badass}} leader of the Leafmen is called Ronin, foreshadowing [[spoiler the death of his queen]] early in the film.

* In the film {{Epic}}, the {{Badass}} leader of the Leafmen is called Ronin, [[{{Foreshadowing foreshadowing]] [[spoiler the death of his queen]] early in the film.

* ''Ichiroh!'' has its protagonists Nanako and Akane. In fact, the title is the term used for someone in their first year as a ronin.