All heroes and villains have had difficult relationships with their parents at some point. They wouldn’t be who they are without such conflicts. A character’s past and their relationship with their parents or parental figures provide important insight into their actions and/or personality traits.
Of particular note is the relationship between father and child. Some of the best anime characters are defined by this core relationship, whether it’s Alucard’s relationship with Dracula or Kakashi’s relationship with Sakumo. Such relationships can go a long way in enriching a show. While there are dads in anime who have good relationships with their kids, there are also those who knowingly and unknowingly make their children’s lives difficult.
10 Killua Was Tortured by His Father (Hunter X Hunter)
In the Hunter X Hunter universe, the Zoldyck family assassins are famous for their extraordinary skills achieved through ruthless training. Like the rest of his family members, Killua was often tortured in the name of punishment and training.
Silva Zoldyck, Killua’s father, lets him go on his journey with Gon Freecss because he saw it as a crucial step in Killua’s development as the heir to the Zoldyck Family. Although Killua doesn’t outright hate his father, he refuses to go back and claim his inheritance.
9 Alucard Had to Kill His Father (Castlevania)
Castlevania follows the story of Dracula who falls in love with Lisa, a human woman in search of medical knowledge. Lisa was murdered by the church for being a witch, causing Dracula to go mad with rage and kill all humans.
Adrian Tepes, also called Alucard, is Dracula’s son and the only living memory of his beloved Lisa. Attacked while trying to stop his father, Alucard is gravely injured and thus goes into hiding. Disturbed by Dracula’s irrational actions, Alucard sets out to kill him.
8 Kakashi’s Childhood was Defined by His Father’s Actions (Naruto Shippuden)
Sakumo Hatake, also known as the White Fang, decided to prioritize his teammates’ lives over the mission which caused him to be vilified by everyone in the village. Dishonored and depressed, he killed himself while his son, Kakashi Hatake, was at an impressionable age.
The White Fang’s actions greatly dictated Kakashi’s life. For the longest time, Kakashi tried to live his life in the exact opposite way that his father did. During the Pain’s Assault arc of Naruto Shippuden, Kakashi meets his father and forgives him, allowing him to rest in peace.
7 Gon’s Entire Existence Revolved Around Finding His Father (Hunter X Hunter)
Gon Freecss was abandoned by his father, Ging Freecss, when he was a child and was thus raised by his aunt. Upon finding out the truth about his father, Gon sets out on a journey to obtain his Hunter’s License and eventually find his father.
Ging chose to put his son through life and death situations for the sake of character development rather than just raise him on his own. Ging’s absence as a father and mentor resulted in Gon chasing him to gain his approval, disregarding everything else throughout Hunter X Hunter.
6 Zuko was Neglected by His Father (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
With the Avatar gone, the Fire Nation conquered all. The Fire Lord Ozai burned and permanently scarred his son Zuko’s eye during an Agni Kai in Avatar: The Last Airbender. This led to Zuko’s banishment with the condition that he c ould only return once he has captured the missing Avatar.
Zuko naturally became obsessed with finding the Avatar and earning back his honor and his father’s grace. Zuko became bitter and impatient. However, at the end of his character arc, Zuko disowns his father, saying he doesn’t need his approval anymore.
5 Megumi was Almost Sold by His Father (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Jujutsu Kaisen has quickly risen to the top of the most popular anime charts. Toji Fushiguro didn’t have an inkling of cursed energy and was hence rejected by the powerful Zenin family. Wanting to be a sorcerer, Toji tried to achieve his dreams by selling his son to the Zenin family.
With his parents gone, Megumi was raised by his step-sister Tsumiki. Megumi grew up to be calculating and stoic with a desire to protect kind people. Toji kills himself while fighting Megumi, proud to hear his son go by the name of Fushiguro instead of Zenin.
4 Ash Felt Betrayed By His Father (Banana Fish)
Banana Fish is a thrilling anime with elements of the boys’ love genre. Ash Lynx is a 17-year-old gang leader with strategic foresight and an aptitude for throwing knives. Running away from his home in Cape Cod at a very young age, Ash joined the mob.
Suffering through hardships like being abandoned by his mother and being assaulted by his teacher, Ash felt his life was in danger since his father, Jim, didn’t stand up for him. As Ash ran away, the differences between him and his father grew tremendously.
3 Erina was Controlled by Her Father (Food Wars)
Food Wars is a one-of-a-kind cooking anime. Upon discovering Erina Nakiri’s God-tongue, her father, Azami, put her under harsh training to make her the greatest chef of all time. Practically having it beaten into her, she developed a critical palette. Erina’s grandfather found out about this abuse and kicked him out of the family.
Azami’s abuse left its mark on Erina’s heart. This led her to appear cold and overly judgemental when it came to food. Still afraid of her father’s critique, she longs for his approval till the very end.
2 Jonathan Was Shunned By His Father (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure follows the story of the Joestar family. Jonathan Joestar is the man with whom the story begins. His father, George Joestar, adopted Dio Brando, to whose father he owed a debt. Dio, however, wants to usurp the Joestars and get his hands on the family fortune.
Abused and shunned by his father, Jonathan becomes a loner. Constantly manipulated by Dio, he tries to prove himself by any means necessary. Jonathan’s father’s ignorance leaves a deep emotional scar on him.
1 Albert Was A Misfit In His Own Family (Moriarty The Patriot)
An anime that’s been making waves recently, Moriarty The Patriot is a fresh take on the legendary Sherlock Holmes narrated from Moriarty’s perspective. Albert James Moriarty, the eldest son of Earl Moriarty and the only true Moriarty to remain, finds himself at odds with his parents’ prejudice against commoners.
The rift between them begins to widen as Albert convinces his father to adopt the future Moriarty and his brother Louis after learning about their plans for the future of Britain. This results in some ghastly consequences for Earl Moriarty.
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