Even if an anime character is considered a hero, it does not necessarily mean that they are altruistic. In many cases, the protagonists do heroic things but are more like anti-heroes or deuteragonists. In other cases, they are consumed by an insular goal that is more selfish.
In these instances, helping others is often a byproduct, a secondary goal, or a happy accident that feels more like icing on the cake rather than the main objective. However, these characters are still useful heroes who achieve a lot with their power and effort. With that being said, these anime heroes are not exactly selfless.
10 In My Hero Academia, Bakugo Failed The Provisional License Because He Just Wanted To Be Strong
Katsuki Bakugo is arrogant and brash. He looked down on Izuku Midoriya and was angry when Midoriya started to finally show signs of having a quirk. He is obsessed with fighting, violence, and getting stronger, and his approach to saving others (part of the Pro Hero job) often results in destruction.
A lot of this is because Bakugo does not prioritize helping others. It is not that he doesn’t help the innocent, but it stays on the backburner while he focuses on getting stronger and blasting through the enemy.
9 Endeavor Is Learning That Being The Number One Hero Requires More Empathy In My Hero Academia
Endeavor serves somewhat as a mirror for Katsuki Bakugo, depicting what it is like when a hero goes pro but focuses on his ranking and strength over protecting the innocent. Like Bakugo, Endeavor cares for others, but his true passion is to surpass All Might.
When All Might retired, Endeavor became the Number One Pro Hero, and as a result, he began to learn a lot about what it meant to be a hero. As the replacement for the “Symbol of Peace,” he had to learn to be more empathetic and put the innocent first, rather than his own goals.
8 Sasuke Helped Save The World But Initially Cared More About Getting Stronger In Naruto: Shippuden
Sasuke Uchiha worked with Naruto Uzumaki to stop Kaguya from destroying everyone’s way of life, and when Naruto finally confronted him for the last time, Sasuke decided to support Naruto’s dream for a peaceful world. However, Sasuke was not always like this.
He spent most of the series seeking revenge, and he did not care about the collateral damage he would leave in his wake. Even after he returned to the Hidden Leaf Village, his motives seemed more driven by Naruto, his family, and making amends than truly altruistic endeavors.
7 Dororo’s Hyakkimaru Just Wants Revenge For His Father’s Demonic Pact
Hyakkimaru killed demons, and sometimes those demons terrorized towns and destroyed innocent human lives. Hyakkimaru’s entire curse helped all the people of the Daigo lands, so, in a way, Hyakkimaru’s existence helped a lot of people.
However, Hyakkimaru killed demons to break his curse, and although helping others (except for his traveling companion, Dororo) was a result of his battles, it was not his main goal. He simply wanted to gain back the body parts they stole as part of a demonic pact his father, Lord Daigo, made when Hyakkimaru was an infant.
6 Yato Is A God Of Destruction That Just Wants To Be Recognized In Noragami
Yato’s primary interest is becoming a prominent god or at least a god with a shrine he can call home. That’s why he does good deeds for money. When humans come to him with a wish and give him a coin, he fulfills the job in whatever way he can.
Yato begins to learn more about empathy and companionship as he works with Hiyori Iki and his new Regalia, Yukine. Before making their acquaintance, he had done a lot on his own or with his manipulative ex-Regalia, but he still had ulterior motives for helping others.
5 Spike Spiegel Is In It For The Bounty In Cowboy Bebop
Spike Speigel was on the run from an organized crime syndicate and became a bounty hunter to make money. Often, this required hunting down villains, but he was not hunting down the villains for the sake of helping others.
Spike was often considered an anti-hero, and he had a prickly personality at best. He did whatever it took to bag his prize and make his money, and he didn’t care much about the consequences. Furthermore, he was even tough to be around for his compatriots, and it took a lot for them to convince him of anything.
4 Hellsing’s Alucard Cares More About The Violence Than Actually Helping Others
Alucard is a vampire who relies on violence and mind games to terrify and destroy his enemies, many of whom deserve it. His methods involve gratuitous gore and violence. He is very useful to the Hellsing Organization, and he gains information that is imperative to destroying evil, but he is also evil.
Despite this, he cares for his protege, Seras Victoria, so he is not completely incapable of compassion. However, his methods for helping society are tinged with ulterior motives and extreme violence.
3 Mugen Is A Chaotic Fighter Who Hates Authority In Samurai Champloo
Mugen is nothing if not rough around the edges, and many of his antics certainly have not aged well. He will fight at the drop of a hat, and he has a deep distrust of authority figures. On top of that, he will never turn down a challenge.
Mugen does not help others for free. When Fuu was harassed at her work, he only offered to help in exchange for a bunch of food. There are many moments throughout the show in which Mugen raises some eyebrows, but he does learn to accept his comrades.
2 Goblin Slayer’s Main Objective Is Killing Goblins
The Goblin Slayer is a rough-around-the-edges hero who does exactly what his name suggests. He kills goblins, and he does this mercilessly. Saving other adventurers is sometimes a byproduct of his endeavors to eradicate the goblin menace that plagues the land.
One such character who was saved was the main character, the priestess, who had gotten into a horrific situation with her previous adventuring party. Though the Goblin Slayer saved her, it was not his primary goal, as his hatred of goblins went beyond everything.
1 Rohan Is Obsessed With Writing Manga, Not Companionship In The Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Franchise
Rohan Kishibe cares a lot about his work, and he is even willing to use his Stand to torture others into giving him material. Fans see this best in his first encounter with Koichi Hirose, wherein he steals pieces of Koichi’s memory to use in his manga.
Rohan and his eccentricities were so loved by fans that he garnered his spin-off show, Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan. So, while he may have his reasons for dealing with Stands, he is a popular and well-liked character.
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