Intense and powerful characters are a staple and fan-favorite when it comes to watching anime. Due to their ability to overcome life’s challenges and achieve their goals, it’s hard not to like them. However, some of those challenges leave physical scars on the characters that they must live with for the rest of their lives.
Thankfully, those scars rarely slow the protagonist down from continuing to fight. Rather, those scars and the ability to overcome them are what make these characters total badasses and fan favorites.
10 Missing An Arm Won’t Stop Red-Haired Shanks (One Piece)
After saving Luffy from a dastardly bandit as well as a terrifying sea king, One Piece’s Shanks was left missing an arm when he departed from Dawn Island. However, the missing limb did not prevent him from setting sail again. Red-Haired Shanks continued his journey to the new world and even assumed a title as one of the Four Emperors. Granted, fans don’t see much of Shanks’ battles in the anime, but his few appearances so far have shown that he is a complete badass in his own right.
9 Ectoplasm Is Intimidating Even Without His Legs (My Hero Academia)
As a professor at UA and a renowned hero, nobody wants to get on Ectoplasm’s bad side, especially with his amazing close combat skills and ability to make multiple clones.
However, with his unique character design, fans might not be aware that Ectoplasm’s legs are prosthetics and not a result of his quirk. But even with the loss of his legs, Ectoplasm is still able to hold his own as a hero. No villain or ambitious UA student should underestimate him, because it might be the last thing they do!
8 Hyakkimaru Is Dangerous Despite His Differences (Dororo)
Due to a demon deal made before he was born, Hyakkimaru was born without any extremities. With no limbs and no other sensory features, one would expect that young Hyakkimaru wouldn’t last long in his cruel world. However, that is not the case, Hyakkimaru with the help of his adoptive father is able to live somewhat normally by using prosthetics. He then is able to begin his journey to reclaim his missing body parts from the demons by slaying them. No one should underestimate this fierce warrior.
7 Violet Is A Talented Discharged Soldier And Automemory Doll (Violet Evergarden)
Raised as a weapon during her entire childhood, Violet struggles to adapt to life as an auto-memory doll, even more so since she lost not only her beloved Major and arms in the final battle of the war. Now with metal prosthetic arms, Violet is trying to figure out what it is to be human and the meaning of love. However, despite being a discharged soldier and a disabled one at that, no one should underestimate Violet. She could still wallop anyone who decides to start a fight.
6 The Strong And Wounded Hajime (Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest)
After being betrayed by his classmates and left for dead in a deadly dungeon, Hajime did everything he could to survive. Having come face to face with various powerful monsters, Hajime was even willing to sacrifice a few limbs if it meant survival.
Thankfully, despite the gruesome turn of events, Hajime was able to survive the dungeon and grow stronger as an individual. With the help of Yue, a new companion he met in the dungeon, he was even able to replace his missing extremities with powerful prosthetics. No monster or ex-classmate will want to mess with him, he’s almost at demon lord status!
5 Gildarts Clive Walked Away With His Life Against A Dragon (Fairy Tail)
As one of the top S Class wizards in Fairy Tail, Gildarts Clive is known for being strong and for his destructive magic. It’s hard to believe that this powerful wizard would lose in a fight or be unable to complete a job. However, that’s exactly what happens when Gildarts comes across Acnologia. The encounter not only sent Gildarts back to Magnolia with an incomplete job request but with missing limbs too. The dragon took not only his arm and leg but also some organs as well. Thankfully, this isn’t enough to take down the S Class wizard, now he just looks more intimidating with his metal prosthetics.
4 A Few Wounds Won’t Stop Andrew Waltfeld (Mobile SEED Gundam)
A talented Mobile Suit pilot, Andrew gained not only status but fame within ZAFT. With a brash personality, passion for archeology, and an odd obsession with coffee, he immediately became an interesting character to watch. However, what makes Andrew most compelling is his dedication and ability to maintain his heart after the battle that cost him his lover’s life and his limbs. Instead of becoming filled with hatred or grief, Andrew continued his work as a Mobile Suit pilot. He proved to everyone that even with his disability he was still a top-notch pilot.
3 Nothing Will Stop Natsume From Reaching Her Dream (Deca-Dence)
After sneaking out into her father’s car in order to explore the outside world, Natsume inevitably encounters a Gadol, a creature that has pushed humanity to the edge of extinction. Thankfully, Natsume is able to survive the attack, but loses not only her father but her right arm as well. However, she does not let this tragedy prevent her from achieving her dream of joining The Power and becoming a warrior that fights against the Gadol. Unfortunately, life isn’t fair and she gets stuck working with Kaburagi as a boring sanitation worker and armor repairer.
2 A Missing Arm And Leg Is Nothing For Edward Elric (Full Metal Alchemist)
After an attempt at using alchemy to bring their deceased mother back to life goes horribly wrong, Alphonse and Edward Elric are left with physical scars. Al is left completely without a physical human body and Ed without an arm and a leg.
However, these wounds won’t stop Edward from figuring out a way to get their original bodies back. Also, with his ability to wield alchemy so flawlessly, having automail prosthetics doesn’t hinder Edward and his strength at all. Only a fool would challenge the Fullmetal Alchemist.
1 Kotoko Iwanaga Lost An Eye And A Leg For Wisdom (In/Spectre)
At the age of 11, Kotoko Iwanaga went missing for two weeks and mysteriously turned up missing both her right eye and left leg. Doctors were baffled because it appeared that someone had surgically removed her missing extremities. They weren’t too far from the truth: Kotoko lost her eye and leg to Yokai in order to become their Goddess of Wisdom. In doing so, she is now the individual that all the supernatural creatures in In/Spectre turn to in order to help solve their problems. It was a small price to pay to enter the exciting world of the supernatural and become their great Goddess of Wisdom.
About The Author
