10 Most Complicated Anime Heroes Who Are Still Fascinating Fans

May 24, 2024, 9 p.m.

Movies

10 Most Complicated Anime Heroes Who Are Still Fascinating Fans

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Summary Most complicated anime heroes come from varied genres, showcasing different layers and appealing to diverse audiences.

Characters like Lelouch, Hagu, and Eren excel at engaging audiences with multifaceted traits and gripping story arcs.

Anime heroes like Vash, Guts, and Yuuri resonate by navigating complex themes, relationships, and personal growth.

Anime has become so much more than a niche animation format but a showcase for increasingly compelling storytelling and memorable, complicated heroes at the center of it. While some anime get away with protagonists having predictable goals and ambitions, like saving the world or even one-dimensional personalities, watercooler discussions invariably focus on more layered examples. After all, anime is like any other medium in pop culture and art in how much its characters and themes are intended to resonate with the audiences.

The most complicated anime heroes occupy a broad media spectrum, including high-concept yet cerebral storylines and low-concept, style-and-character-driven affairs. This means there are great examples across the shonen, shojo, seinen, and josei demographics, and fans can find other exciting characters outside their usual comfort zones. Ultimately, their impact on the viewers is potent, practically making their names synonymous with the shows they represent.

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10 Lelouch vi Britannia

The Icy, Arrogant, Brilliant Protagonist in Code Geass

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006) Release Date October 6, 2006 Seasons 2 Streaming Service(s) Crunchyroll Franchise(s) Code Geass Directors Gorō Taniguchi

Code Geass is one of the most popular mecha anime ever, so it's unsurprising that it features a multifaceted, sometimes difficult-to-like hero in Lelouch. It's fascinating to observe his double life as a student and covert rebel fighting against the Holy Britannian Empire, but he's not the typical resistance fighter regarding his ethics. Lelouch is a smooth operator with few scruples, seeing a grim price of victory and deciding to cash in at all costs.

Lelouch is a talented chess player, a recurring element of his character, viewing his elements as pieces on the proverbial board as he moves ahead. His fierce intellect and manipulative abilities allow him to win over allies and even talk out of potential life-or-death situations where his cover could be blown before even resorting to his powers. Lelouch's most distinctive ability, his Geass, allows him to persuade his targets hypnotically, the degree to which he uses this ability often being incredibly dark as he cements himself as an iconic antihero.

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9 Hagumi Hanamoto

The Petite and Prodigious Artist in Honey and Clover

Honey and Clover (2005) Release Date April 15, 2005 Seasons 2 Streaming Service(s) Amazon Freevee , Crunchyroll Franchise(s) Honey and Clover Writers Yôsuke Kuroda Directors Ken'ichi Kasai Expand

Honey and Clover is a shojo-turned-josei manga with a stellar adaptation featuring relatable characters and extremely hilarious hijinks. When not being jump-scared by the first opening title sequence of the series, viewers become quickly fascinated with the petite, doll-like Hagumi "Hagu" Hanamoto, a brilliant artist attending art school in Tokyo. As the daughter of Professor Shuji Hanamoto's cousin, she immediately catches the attention of her peers thanks to her abilities and personality.

For fans who enjoy mangaka Chica Umino's creations like Honey and Clover, March Comes In Like a Lion is a highly recommended later series with the same signature attention to detail.

Hagu is an exceedingly child-like character in the Honey and Clover anime, thrust into the complicated and messy college life experience. Her experiences and naivete are exaggerated but undeniably resonate with the viewers as she develops, gains admirers, and faces the pressures of a young, overachieving artist in this anime. As Hagu's story proceeds, it becomes her development toward seizing agency and sacrificing a simpler life if it means not losing one's raison d'être and ability to indulge one's passions and creativity.

8 Eren Yeager

The Quintessential and Complex Firebrand in Attack on Titan

Attack On Titan Based on the manga, Attack on Titan is a dark-action fantasy series set in a world where humanity has been corralled into walled cities from fear of monstrous human-eating Titans that exist outside of them. When protagonist Eren Yeager's mother is killed in front of his eyes at a young age, his thirst for vengeance leads him to join an elite group of soldiers created to fight back against the Titan menace. Release Date April 7, 2013 Seasons 4 Main Genre Action Franchise Attack on Titan Production Company Wit Studio, MAPPA

Eren Yeager is one of the many characters who won fans over when Attack on Titan achieved unprecedented global fame with its anime debut in 2013. Out of a cast of beloved characters, he would become one of the most frequently discussed, controversial, and complicated anime characters in popular discourse. Eren's descent from a fiery, if bloodthirsty hero to a catastrophically dangerous threat to the world, to his final, pitiful moments onscreen, can be conflicting for viewers.

From its first airing in 2013 until its final drawn-out episodes in 2023, Attack on Titan seized the world's attention and is commonly credited as one of the most essential mainstream shonen anime of the past decade.

Like many other pop culture and comic book heroes, Eren initially begins his journey by seeing his mother die before him, in this case, to titans who breached the wall protecting his home. He joins the cause to wipe the Titans out; however, as the plot's continuous traumatic events unfold, he discovers the truth, ultimately taking drastic actions with The Rumbling. His motives are complex yet profoundly tragic, but his human side shines through even in glimpses of him beyond time as he exacts an extreme toll on humanity for a chance that the remainder experience peace.

7 Vash the Stampede

The Merciful and Fiercely Hopeful Gunslinger in Trigun

Trigun Created by Yasuhiro Nightow First Film Trigun: Badlands Rumble First TV Show Trigun (1998) Upcoming TV Shows Trigun Stampede First Episode Air Date April 1, 1998 Cast Johnny Yong Bosch , Lia Sargent , Dorothy Elias-Fahn Current Series Trigun Stampede Expand

Vash the Stampede quickly wins viewers over either in the original Trigun anime, the Trigun: Badlands Rumble film, 2023's Trigun Stampede, or the manga and its continuation, Trigun Maximum. Vash is as beloved as he is complicated, with the various anime productions endearing viewers to his surprisingly upbeat personality while revealing his deeply conflicted, brooding tendencies. Vash, in this way, is a perfect embodiment of a seinen anime hero, hounded by terrifying violence while ultimately making his choice not to add to the toll.

Vash is an iconic pacifist, which is especially surprising given his enormous gunplay talents and his ornate signature revolver, the .45 Long Colt. Vash is merciful to his enemies to a fault, often sustaining horrific injuries while seeing them as a worthy price to pay if it means he doesn't have to kill his enemies. Yet, he can't help but attract danger that affects anyone close to him. This is especially interesting when seeing Vash juxtaposed with the series' villain, Millions Knives, and how throughout it all, Vash maintains his adventurous heart even after losing everything.

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6 Guts

The Black Swordsman in Berserk

Berserk Created by Kentaro Miura , Kouji Mori First Film Berserk: The Golden Age Arc 1: The Egg of the King TV Show(s) Berserk , Berserk (1997) Character(s) Guts , Griffith , Casca , Judeau , Pippin , Corkus , Rickert , Gaston (Berserk) , Puck (Berserk) , Farnese de Vandimion , Serpico , Isidro , Schierke

Despite Berserk's uneven anime treatments, Guts is perhaps among the most iconic and long-serving examples of complicated, tortured seinen protagonists. Guts' perception as an anime tough guy may be consistent with the Black Swordsman and early Conviction Arcs, but his trust for his allies, both with the Band of the Hawk and eventually in his party, are more definitive traits. However, Guts' most compelling case as one of anime's most fascinating heroes is his adjustment to harrowing, unimaginable trauma, especially compared to his nemesis, Griffith.

Guts was born after his mother was left to hang to her death from a tree, with him being found under her corpse as an ominous sign. Yet, this isn't the end of his dark origins, with him becoming a young mercenary who, at one point, was secretly pimped by his adoptive father, Gambino, to a deviant fellow soldier. Most definitively, after he falls in with the Band of the Hawk, he gains the trust of their leader, Griffith, and ultimately, his resentment upon trying to leave. This eventually draws Guts together with his lover, Casca, but also results in the Eclipse.

Despite the creator of Berserk, Kentaro Miura's passing in 2021, the series continues in the hands of his friend and colleague Kouji Mori and the team at Studio Gaga.

The Eclipse is so infamous that fans of the series know exactly what occurs without any further context. To summarize, it's the result of Griffith failing to cope with his trauma healthily and seeing his path to power being built upon the lives of his comrades, as he always did, but to a horrific extreme. Guts lives with the consequences of this event, knowing how deeply he can fall to the hypnotic siren song of blind, violent rage. He luckily finds himself increasingly surrounded by supportive, competent allies brave enough to face the world's horrors.

5 Yuuri Katsuki

The Seductive Pork Cutlet Bowl in Yuri!!! On ICE

Yuri on Ice Release Date October 6, 2016 Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Crunchyroll , Prime Video Writers Sayo Yamamoto , Mitsuro Kubo Main Genre Animation Creator(s) Sayo Yamamoto , Mitsuro Kubo Expand

MAPPA's seminal original anime, Yuri!!! On ICE is a shockingly excellent look at the competitive and demanding sport of figure skating, along with the eclectic personalities involved. Yuuri Katsuki's position as its hero is as fascinating as it infuriates at the end, with viewers heartbroken by the announced cancellation of MAPPA's follow-up film, ICE Adolescence. Yuuri's journey to redeem his sense of self-worth and his passion for the sport is bolstered and made increasingly complicated by the presence of his iconic and beloved coach, Victor Nikiforov.

In the anime, Yuuri's personality is vulnerable, constantly fearing failure and disappointing his fans and teachers. Yet, when Victor enters the scene, a magnifying glass is held up to Yuuri's deepest insecurities, flipping the script and turning it into his greatest asset. Yuuri's love for the sport and Victor motivate him. Still, his difficulties embracing ways to surprise and impress his judges, such as adopting a seductive skating routine, are solved creatively. Yuuri's definition of a perfectly seductive presence, and a large part of his skating persona, is puzzlingly the pork cutlet bowl, played up to humorous and iconic effect.

However, Yuuri's most complicated contribution to the anime is his relationship with Victor. It's a romantic connection between the two. Still, much like Hagumi Hanamoto, Yuuri's choice regarding his relationship reflects his desire for him and Victor to remain mutually invested in their love for the sport, above all else. While it's undeniably a tiny instance of queerbaiting, it's also a gorgeous, concise character arc told primarily over only twelve episodes.

4 Nana Osaki

The Iconic, Effortlessly Cool Josei Protagonist in Nana

Nana (2006) Release Date April 5, 2006 Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Hulu Franchise(s) Nana Writers Tomoko Konparu Directors Morio Asaka Main Genre Drama Creator(s) Ai Yazawa Expand

Nana is commonly considered among the ultimate josei manga. While the series is traditionally marketed to adult female audiences, its themes are universal, realistic, and immortal in the anime zeitgeist. The series features dual protagonists, each bearing the name Nana while being opposed in their walks of life. Nana Osaki is the cool, brooding punk rocker who puts her musical ambitions above romantic impulses, compared to Nana Komatsu, an idealistic romantic. Yet, the two are similarly resilient, strong young women.

Josei is to shojo what seinen is to shonen, as it's marketed primarily to adult women. However, just like the other demographics mentioned, josei anime and manga have a much broader audience.

Nana Osaki's story is complex and painfully relatable for many viewers, having gone through similarly trying times in their late teens and college years. Nana O's memorable aesthetic and excellent fashion sense, emulated by the fans who adore her choice of chokers, leather or leopard-print jackets, or her armor ring, don't conceal her genuine kindness. Nana is a dominant personality in the series, yet she's also caring, supportive, and gentle, a character any viewer will immediately gravitate toward.

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3 Shinji Ikari

The Tragic Hero in Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion Created by Hideaki Anno First Film Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth TV Show(s) Neon Genesis Evangelion

The impact and themes of Neon Genesis Evangelion are legion, and the anime's fan discourse has various complicated outlooks about its hero, Shinji Ikari. Shinji is a young school child thrust into conflict with a horrific, unfeeling menace but unmistakably still a child soldier, contrary to the image of many gung-ho mecha protagonists. Shinji is commonly discussed between casual viewers and even anime scholars for his part in the philosophical themes of the series.

Shinji is, in essence, a child in a distressingly realistic sense, sent to face the highly possible looming potential of his death when piloting his Eva unit. The result is a powerfully neurotic, troubled personality consistently pressured either by his father or by circumstances to get back into the fight. This is before even considering the metaphysical ramifications when his body is reconstituted in the series, equated to being reborn in the womb. Countless video essays later, Shinji remains one of the most fascinating and complicated anime heroes ever.

2 Thorfinn Karlsefni

The Man With No Enemies in Vinland Saga

Vinland Saga Vinland Saga is an adaptation of the historical-action manga series by Makoto Yukimura. Centering around young Thorfinn, the story sees the young man on a quest for revenge following the murder of his father by the mercenary Askeladd. To accomplish this feat, Thorfinn joins Askeladd's company to bide his time and prepare to face him in the future. The story starts around 1002 AD and revolves around fictional accounts of the Danish invasion of London. Release Date July 6, 2019 Seasons 2 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Network Netflix

Thorfinn is perhaps the ultimate pacifist in seinen anime, whose beginnings in the series can't begin to predict the trajectory of his life. Thorfinn starts as a young Icelandic boy who play-fights with other villagers while idealizing the image of the strong warrior, wishing to follow his father without realizing how much he would do precisely that. Thorfinn's journey is a deeply emotional tale of a boy's coming-of-age bathed in the blood of his enemies as he's honed into a tool of war by his father's killer until even his revenge is wrenched away from him, leaving him at an impasse.

Seinen is a demographic for series marketed toward adult men, although readers of all varieties flock to the greatest seinen hits. Common themes include existentialism, philosophy, politics, and commentary on numerous divisive subjects, including trauma, conflict, and ideology.

Vinland Saga's story is Thorfinn's, where he finds redemption in his commitment to nonviolence despite having a brutal legacy from his earlier fighter days. This results in thrilling confrontations like with Hild, where he desperately avoids bloodshed while wishing to stay alive long enough to atone for his sins and peaceful relations with the aboriginal natives when settling in Vinland. It grows from a brooding tragedy into a hopeful, surprisingly wholesome story of a boy becoming a man of quixotic levels of benevolence as Vinland Saga advances to season 3.

Related 10 Best Anime Fans of Vinland Saga Need to Watch Vinland Saga's unique tale may never be replicated entirely, but these shows bear clear resemblances that are sure to evoke similar enjoyment.

1 Mafuyu Sato

The Beautiful Soul of Given

Mafuyu Sato is more than a budding virtuoso talent; he is, metaphorically, a love shaman able to awaken or empower the music inside the hearts of those he grows closer to. In the Given anime, he begins his journey as a blank slate, a sad young high schooler cradling his Gibson ES-330 guitar with a broken string like a dying pet. His fateful interaction with renowned genius guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama is intriguing, as Uenoyama sees it odd that he's so sad about a broken guitar string, yet he fixes it anyway.

Given is a BL/Yaoi or "Boys' Love" series, meaning it focuses on homoerotic and homosocial relationships between male characters. These are typically marketed as shojo or josei series but are popular with all genders worldwide.

This endears Sato to Uenoyama, leaving the audience with more questions than answers, eventually leading to him joining Uenoyama's band, co-writing their first song, and ultimately penning their lyrics. It turns out that, while deeply shy at first, Sato has an angelic singing voice, which, for whatever reason, he doesn't showcase, and he remains consistently cautious about revealing his lyrics. His reason, however, becomes glaringly apparent when he finally opens up in the band's debut gig. Beware, the video below contains spoilers for Given:

Suddenly, everything about Mafuyu Sato is recontextualized, down to why the broken guitar string affects him. While his sexuality is no mystery in the series, as it is a BL anime, his tragically lost boyfriend was the previous owner of his guitar, a precious memento of a lost love. The song is unflinchingly personal and powerful, and its romanticism causes the heart to skip a beat. It's a brilliant moment that concisely explains Sato's character arc, emerging from abuse to find love and tragically losing it while exploring his love for Uenoyama and continuously growing as a character.