Anime characters are incredibly varied, with personalities ranging from absolutely despicable to positively heroic. It is not uncommon for fans to form passionate opinions about these characters, andsome of them absolutely deserve to be hated for their vile actions and insufferable attitudes.
However, there is a group of heroes who are often despised, seemingly without good reason.These ten anime characters' positive qualities outshine their negative attributes,but some viewers would argue otherwise, choosing to loathe them instead for their perceived shortcomings. There is a lot to love about these characters though, and upon closer inspection, perhaps even the viewers who hate them the most can appreciate their strongest qualities.
My Hero Academia
Although Deku is indeedMy Hero Academia’sprotagonist, he is alsoone of the series' most hated characters. Deku wears his emotions on his sleeve, and when experiences likediscovering he was Quirklessor getting into U.A. High, his dream school, happened to him, he was not afraid to shed a few tears.Some viewers are disappointed with Deku’s emotional openness,but it is actually one of his best attributes.
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Deku may express his feelings through tearful displays at times, but he only further proves that a hero can be both strong and vulnerable at once. He has never hesitated to do everything within his power to save others,making him a hero comparable to his mentor, All Might.He deserves far more appreciation for all the lives he has rescued, as well as the fact that he became one of U.A. High’s mightiest heroes, even while facing the setback of being born without a Quirk.
Attack on Titan
Gabi Braun’s character is a huge point of contentionamongAttack on Titanfans, who disagree whether she is a good person or not. One factor that certainly does not help her reputation among fans is the fact that she killed Sasha Braus, a treasured member of the Survey Corps. Although Gabi made many controversial decisions,her character is a lot more complex than she is often given credit for.
Gabi was a fifteen-year-old child during the events of the series, and had also been a soldier her entire life. She saw Eldians as the enemy, because that was what she was always told, andby killing Sasha, she felt she was protecting Marley.Once she realized the error of her ways, she felt extreme remorse and regret, visibly growing as a character. Gabi is much more mature and compassionate than it may seem at first, and her character arc illustrates the complicated nature of the conflict between Marley and Eldia.
Death Note
Near receives a lot of criticismbecause some people view him as a lesser version of L Lawliet, the detective who chased down the Kira serial killer for most ofDeath Note.However, Near is an intelligent, cunning character in his own right, and should not just be compared to L.
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L might have started the job, but after his death, Near was the one to ultimately catch Kira and bring Light Yagami to justice officially. Without Near’s clever scheme to lure Light in, Light might have continued committing horrific murders. When he is treated as his own separate character and not just contrasted with L, Near’s wisdom and thoughtfulness truly shine, proving thatit is definitely possible forDeath Noteto feature two talented detectives.
Demon Slayer
NoDemon Slayercharacter has as negative of a reputation as Zenitsu Agatsuma, the series' most fearful hero. From the get-go, Zenitsu was absolutely petrified of everything around him, from the demons lurking in the forest to even his fellow demon slayer, Inosuke, when he caught him by surprise. However,Zenitsu’s cowardly attitude is not permanent, and does shift into true fearlessness over time.
Zenitsu’s character arc is one ofDemon Slayer’smost effective, since his transformation was so stark. Season one Zenitsu could barely face a demon, even alongside his comrades, whilethe Zenitsu depicted at the end of the series was able to take down an Upper Rank demoncompletely by himself without breaking a sweat. It may be tough to overlook Zenitsu’s outbursts early on inDemon Slayer,but he does morph into a more heroic version of himself eventually, and that is worth appreciating.
Kyo Sohma is sometimes criticized for his rage and snappiness, but it quickly becomes apparent that his personality goes a lot deeper than the persona he portrays to the world. ThroughoutFruits Basket,the patience and compassion of characters like Tohru Honda helpsgradually soften his heart and bring his better qualities to the forefront.
Kyo faced extreme trauma in his pastthat he was hesitant to face, but once he began processing these events, the way he treated others became vastly different too. It takes time to get to know Kyo’s character, as he tended to isolate himself at the beginning ofFruits Basket,but by the conclusion of the series,it is hard not to love him, or at least, respect how much he has grown as a person.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
Shigekiyo, more commonly called by his nickname, Shigechi, is a friend of Josuke and Okuyasu inJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’sDiamond Is Unbreakable arc. Although he is just a side character, many fans find his undoubtedly negative traits reprehensible,primarily his greed and tendency to steal from others,even his closest friends, using his Stand, Harvest.
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There are some unpleasant aspects embedded in Shigechi’s personality, however, he is only fourteen and would have had much more time to outgrow his bad behavior, had the serial killer, Yoshikage Kira, not subjected him to an unspeakably cruel outcome. Kira caused Shigechi to explode using his Stand, in an attempt to keep his identity hidden since Shigechi discovered who he truly was. Even if some fans dislike Shigechi as a character,his fate was horrific and wholly undeserved, and he should receive far more sympathy for the pain he endured.
4Katsuki Bakugo
From My Hero Academia
Bakugo Katsuki’s attitude embodies his Explosion Quirk perfectly, because his demeanor is just as fiery and volatile as his power. In early seasons ofMy Hero Academia,he lashed out at everyone, put himself and others in danger by recklessly utilizing his Quirk, and, most disturbingly,bullied Deku relentlessly.He was more of a villain than a hero early on, but thankfully, he absolutely transformed during his time at U.A. High.
After heart-to-heart conversations with his hero, All Might, and his bullying victim, Deku, Bakugo finally realized he needed to change completely. He apologized genuinely, stopped insulting others so harshly, and focused more on accomplishing heroic deeds than just trying to defeat his fellow classmates, who he realized are his comrades. He certainly never became exceedingly bubbly or positive, but he did change quite dramatically, andhis impactful character arc does not receive near enough recognition.
Naruto
Sakura may beNaruto’smost detested character, and considering all the evil villains inNaruto,she should not have earned that extremely negative title. She is certainly not a flawless individual; and throughout the series,Sakura does have momentswhere she can be blunt and selfish.Many fans particularly take issue with her rudeness towards Naruto.
What is so commendable about Sakura, though, is her metamorphosis into a much stronger character physically and mentally, and a more empathetic, kind person. Although her trademark sassiness may never have completely faded,Sakura does eventually learn to strike a balance between the two extremes of affection and overconfidence,and that makes her an undeniably better character.
2Tanjiro Kamado
From Demon Slayer
AsDemon Slayer’smain character, Tanjiro Kamado receives a lot of critique and is often called boring. Tanjiro may not have the title of world’s strongest, likeJujutsu Kaisen’sGojo Satoru, or the invincibility ofOne-Punch Man’sSaitama,but he is still an entertaining, well-written protagonist.
Tanjiro’s greatest strengths are not his muscles, his powers, or even his swordsmanship, although he does improve physically asDemon Slayerprogresses.Tanjiro’s compassion, empathy, and resolve to save others, especially his sister Nezuko, are what make him an honorable hero.He may differ from the typical perception of a shonen protagonist, butTanjiro is refreshingly realisticand bold in his own way, making him one of anime’s most relatable heroes.
Spy X Family
At the beginning ofSpy x Family,Damian Desmond appeared to be just a cruel bully who tormented Anya incessantly for no reason. Although there is no excuse for his mistreatment of a fellow student, once Damian’s difficult home life was revealed, his behavior became a lot more understandable.Damian may have simply been the class bully initially, but he became more than that,realizing his misbehavior and offering Anya a genuine apology and friendship.
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It was not easy for Damian to admit to his own faults, especially considering his young age, when children are a lot less likely to realize the true repercussions of their own actions. Still, Damian’s commitment to continually improving makes hima dynamic, multifaceted character who grew beyond the bully stereotypeand deserves more respect from fans for the effort he exerted to completely transform his attitude and change the way he treats others.
