Ayane (Dead or Alive)

Ayane (/əˈjəˌnɛ/; Japanese: あやね) is a fictional character in the Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden franchises developed by Koei Tecmo's Team Ninja. She debuted as a hidden unlockable character in the PlayStation version of the fighting game Dead or Alive in 1998 and has since appeared in all of its sequels and series spin-offs. Ayane serves as the protagonist of Dead or Alive 3, is prominently featured as a recurring supporting character in the Ninja Gaiden series since its revival in 2004, and has made multiple guest appearances in other games, in particular in the Warriors franchise as well as Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water.

The character is a teenage ninjutsu master of the Mugen Tenshin Ninja Clan, who was shunned during childhood due to her origin, but into adulthood, has become a respected highly skilled ninja. Ayane currently assists her older half-brother and current leader of the clan, Hayate, and has a complex relationship with her half-sister, Kasumi, a runaway ninja and the Dead or Alive series' protagonist. She has been voiced by several voice actresses including Wakana Yamazaki, Gina DeVettori, Janna Levenstein, Wendee Lee, Brittney Lee Harvey, and Janice Kawaye. Meanwhile, the character was portrayed in the film adaptation of the Dead or Alive franchise by Natassia Malthe.

Ayane has been regarded as a popular character by media outlets, though with mixed reactions to her personality. While some publications reacted negatively to the character, others have considered her an early example of a tsundere or kuudere character archetype found in Japanese media and a positive example of the Dead or Alive series' writing. Ayane's sex appeal has received significant praise, though critics have questioned its appropriateness due to the character's defined age and portrayal in promotional material. As the series has progressed, Koei Tecmo's attempts to reduce what it feels is her "eye candy" aspect, particularly in regards to the size of her large breasts, have received backlash from fans causing the developers to voice surprise and reverse such changes.