Anime shows often see characters go through extensive changes to their motivations and personality, even switching some to become anti-heroes.
Being a hero isn’t easy. They are expected to always be just, honest and brave. A hero is free of mistakes, an infallible savior effortlessly shouldering the weight of the world. It’s an unrealistic expectation that prevents those who wish to do good from acting.
Instead, those who strive to become heroes encounter difficult decisions, make mistakes and sacrifice others in order to achieve their goals. They try and achieve peace through war, happiness through hateful acts, and freedom by oppressing the oppressor. Justice is subjective, and anti-heroes strive towards their dreams via questionable methods. Many start off as heroes, but their beliefs are later shaped by the obstacles they encounter.
10. Vegeta Used His Power To Protect Earth
When first introduced to fans, Vegeta had no redeeming qualities. He was an arrogant, murderous psychopath with little regard for others’ lives. He was a proud Saiyan, believing himself to represent the pinnacle of the warrior race. However, upon encountering the more powerful Goku, Vegeta’s attitude changed, humbled by the potential of the protagonist. Upon further interaction with Goku and friends, Vegeta came to value personal relationships and committed his power to save the inhabitants of the earth.
9. Lelouch Vi Britannia Offered Protection To Those Closest To Him
On reflection, Lelouch’s goals were always questionable. Sure, he intended to free the world from the tyrannical reign of the Britannian Empire, but this was secondary to his desire for revenge on those who killed his mother. Lelouch’s actions were intended to bring those who wronged him to their knees. When first going about this, he avoided killing the innocent and protected those dear to him. As time went on, Lelouch willingly sacrificed others, believing it was necessary to achieve the revenge he desperately desired.
8. Scar Brought Terrible Individuals To Justice
At first, little was known about Scar. On the surface, he was a blood-thirsty, powerful villain who used a twisted interpretation of religion to justify his actions. He defeated several powerful alchemists before struggling to kill the Elric brothers.
However, fans later found out that Scar was the sole survivor of the Ishvalans, a race of people wiped out during the Ishvalan war. Driven by his desire for revenge, Scar couldn’t forgive those who had taken everything. But upon encountering a world-ending threat, Scar worked alongside the Elric brothers to take down the ones truly responsible for his people’s demise.
7. Itachi Uchiha Did What He Thought Was Right
Anti-hero or Anti-villain? Fans of Naruto often debate the actions of Itachi, questioning whether other routes should have been explored before wiping out his entire clan. Before his motives were introduced, Itachi appeared to be a cold-blooded murderer, mercilessly slaughtering his clan just to gauge his strength. But, in an epic twist, viewers find out he was instructed to murder the Uchiha to prevent a coup d’etat. Willing to live with the burden his actions carried, Itachi chose to save the village and take on the role of a villain—believing a true shinobi does not seek glory.
6. Ken Kaneki Is Working To Keep An Eye On The Aogiri Terrorists
Ken Kaneki’s character development is both tragic and brilliant. After becoming half-ghoul, Kaneki impressively fights his urge to consume human flesh and does not consider harming others to satisfy his growing appetite. He befriends other ghouls, effortlessly accepting those he previously feared.
Sometimes his innocence translates to naivety, putting his life in danger by trusting the more dangerous ghouls. However, following his torture at the hands of Jason, Kaneki unleashes his true power and is accepted by the Aogiri. Although he intends on keeping an eye on the dangerous group, he kills innocent people to maintain his cover.
5. Shinya Kogami Has A Strong Sense Of Justice
Kogami was an enforcer for the Public Safety Bureau, using his immense detective skills to capture future criminals. Kogami helps enforce a questionable system that determines your criminal intent by scanning your brain and imprisons those with a high crime coefficient—regardless of whether they have committed a crime or not. Although considered a criminal himself, Kogami displays all the characteristics of a hero, including a strong sense of justice. However, upon encountering a dangerous criminal whose psyche escapes the system, Kogami is forced to use questionable methods to bring him down.
4. Light Yagami Started To Do More Evil Things
It’s unclear exactly when Light became an anti-hero. Some argue it was when he killed the actor portraying L, a decision motivated by pride and arrogance. Light starts off as an idealist, punishing criminals via the Death Note, acting with the belief he is making the world a better place. However, his god-like power brought with it a god-like complex. And his cat-and-mouse game with L took priority over his attempt to bring peace. Soon, Light was sacrificing innocent people, just to prove that he was better than L. By the very end, the anti-hero was the main villain.
3. Alucard Allied With Van Helsing
The archetypal anti-hero, Alucard is a walking, blood-sucking paradox. The embodiment of evil with a strong moral compass, Alucard takes pleasure in killing—fortunately he often uses his violence to defeat those even more despicable than himself. The original vampire wasn’t always an ally, spending hundreds of years killing innocent’s before his defeat at the hands of Van Helsing. Sometime later, Alucard pledges his loyalty to the Van Helsing family, using his overwhelming power to destroy all kinds of evil.
2. Obito Uchiha Turned Against Madara
Obito’s transformation from hero to villain was both tragic and understandable. He witnessed his best friend sacrifice the one he loved, in order to complete a mission and save the Hidden Leaf Village. In that moment, Obito lost the two people he cared for most and became disillusioned with the way of the shinobi. His life no longer had meaning and hatred grew in a heart that once was filled with love. Believing reality to be nothing more than eternal suffering, Obito desired an illusion where suffering no longer existed. However, at some point, he realized that an imperfect reality was better than a perfect illusion and turned against Madara, saving the world in the process.
1. Greed Would Not Hurt The Innocent
Greed was a complex, confused character. He desired everything in the world but wasn’t sure what that everything was. As a homunculus, Greed was a cold-blooded killer, willing to kill those who stood in the way of his desires. He wasn’t a villain, rebelling against his father’s plan of world domination, but wasn’t a hero either. He only cared for himself. However, as his character developed, Greed displayed a strong moral compass. He refused to hurt women and children and eventually allied with those trying to save the world. Greed went from neutral chaos to a powerful anti-hero.
Its Not Just Anime, Its A Way Of Life 