When it comes to good versus evil, audiences tend to root for the hero with an inspirational goal. Watching a hero succeed gives one their own hopes of success, but even in fiction, reality likes to rear its ugly head. Everyone loves a hero, but even they are vulnerable to failure.
Anime heroes are just as fallible as any other hero, the story might just be a little crazier than most. While fans of anime root for their favorite to reach for their goals and beyond, they will be met with disappointment every now and then. These failures were either out of the hero’s control or by choice, but their dreams didn’t turn out how they initially had hoped.
9 Dragon Ball: Yamcha Won’t Stop Failing Miserably
With the constant threat of dangerous aliens and superpowered beasts lurking around every corner, Earth needs as many mighty warriors as possible to defend it in Dragon Ball. Sadly, Yamcha doesn’t fit the description in the least despite his outspoken love of martial arts. In every fight against a major threat, Yamcha has proven himself one of the most useless characters in Shonen history – from Tenshinhan, to Saibamen, and Dr. Geo. If he isn’t loitering around in the afterlife, he’s getting his butt whooped on Earth.
8 My Hero Academia: Mirio Failed To Save The Day Against Overhaul
Mirio was praised as a hopeful heir to All Might’s legacy and power, and from his impressive quirk to his inspirational persona, he was wholly deserving of the praise. That’s why fans were heartbroken from the end of the Shie Hassakai arc in Season 3 of My Hero Academia.
Although Mirio fought heroically in the battle against Overhaul, it was still a loss for him, resulting in the devastating loss of his quirk, taking away his chances of becoming a professional hero. The real hero of the battle wound up being Izuku, along with the help of Eri.
7 Naruto: Tenten Didn’t Follow In Tsunade’s Footsteps
Every young ninja in Konoha had their dreams to achieve, but after Naruto, ended not many of them followed through. Tenten is a rather big disappointment when she appears in Boruto. In a flashback of Team Guy’s first meeting, Tenten shared her dream of becoming a legendary kunoichi like Tsunade, but this was not to be.
Granted, she learns to follow her own path instead and denounces being like Tsunade, but becoming a legend was still in the picture. Fans’ hopes in the future were dashed when they see her doing nothing but owning and operating a weapons shop. It’s definitely up her alley, but far from what she initially had in mind.
6 Death Note: L Never Caught Kira
In Death Note‘s cat and mouse chase between L and Kira, who was really Light all along, the middle of the series sees the fan-favorite L defeated. Although he realized it was Light as he passed away, there was no way he could let law officials know and have him arrested, not that he had enough time to prove it if he could.
Disregarding Light’s crude tactics to victory, this was a complete and utter defeat for the world’s greatest detective. His goal was to have Kira punished by the law, but instead, that job would have to be passed down to someone else.
5 Gurren Lagann: Kamina Died In Battle Long Before Humanity Was Freed
The driving force of team Gurren Lagann was their fearless leader Kamina, whose goal was to free humanity from the oppressive reign that forced them to live underground. Sadly, Kamina dies in battle against one of the Divine Generals, but not before helping Simon win the battle and leaving him with a small speech of uplifting advice.
Although he can’t take part in the rebellion, Kamina does see the fruits of his comrades’ labor when his spirit returns to spare them from the enemies’ illusion.
4 Princess Mononoke: San Gives Up On Assassinating Lady Eboshi
The Studio Ghibli film Princess Mononoke is a cautionary tale about the balance of human growth and protecting the environment. The titular heroine of the film, San, was raised in the forest and grew up with a deep hatred of humans, which she learned from her wolf mother Moro.
San takes her passion for protecting the forest to an extreme when she targets Lady Eboshi, the head of the local human village. In between these opposing characters is Ashitaka, who aims to make the peace for both humans and the creatures of the forest. In the end, San realizes there is a way to coexist and ends her crusade to kill Lady Eboshi.
3 Attack On Titan: Eren Learns About The Truth Of His Most Hated Enemy
Eren begins AoT as a hot-headed young teen, hellbent on fighting back and destroying the Titans. As the truth is revealed in Attack On Titan, he realizes that his anger was pointed in the wrong direction. The citizens living within the walls were led to believe that it was the Titans themselves who threatened all of humanity, but it was really another powerful force controlling the Titans.
Where Eren would normally rush ahead to attack any Titan in sight, he learns to hold back, even going as far as to salute a passing Titan as a fellow soldier in war. His mission to end all Titans changes to target the real villains of the series.
2 Naruto: The First Hokage’s Dream Of Peace Ended With A Deadly Battle
In the time before Konoha was established, ninjas fought every day, no matter their age. The bloody war was just a given for the adults of the time, but two young ninjas dreamed of a better world: Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
Hashirama wound up being named the first Hokage leader and wished to work together with his best friend Madara, but the two were at odds with each other and the whole ordeal ended with a deadly battle with Hashirama as the victor. When Hashirama is revived in Naruto a century later, he sees that all his efforts in establishing peace failed and it’s now up to the newest generation to set things right.
1 Devilman Crybaby: The Pure Hearted Hero Isn’t Enough To End The Chaos
In Devilman Crybaby, Akira is a very caring but docile person, so when his friend Ryou asks him for help finding demons, Akira doesn’t hesitate to help. After seeing the bloody carnage of these monsters firsthand, Akira merges with the devil Amon, attaining the strength to fight back against the demons, but not without any drawbacks.
Akira’s noble quest is to end the chaos and save humanity, but in the end, the demon scourge is too much even for Devilman. Akira winds up losing more than just the battle – he loses his closest friends.