Just a few of the truly fantastic characters in anime history include Kamado Tanjiro, Edward Elric, and Monkey D. Luffy. As these characters and their stories develop and alter throughout their respective shows, viewers become fascinated with them. Character arcs are what make anime’s most well-known characters memorable. Despite a few stumbling blocks, the overall experience is fantastic. Unfortunately, there are situations when a character who is otherwise good is entirely degraded in the eyes of the audience.
10. Uchiha Sasuke – Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Boruto has managed to develop its fanbase throughout the years, but many fans of the original Naruto series have yet to accept the new release. Boruto is frequently chastised for how he treats popular classic characters.
While many fans believe they are spoofing to match Boruto’s tale, one of the most noticeable deviations is Sasuke. By the end of the original series, Sasuke was one of the most formidable ninjas in history, and it was difficult for fans to believe that he would be so weak in Boruto as to be injured most of the time.
9. Lelouch Lamperouge – Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;Surrection
The tale arc of Lelouch Lamperouge was fantastic, full of twists, turns, and mysteries. Various parties devised a plot, played deadly political chess games, and fought spectacular wars. As a result, Lelouch’s death at the end of Code Geass was a great way to wrap up a story in which the protagonist’s presence as Zero was eclipsed by his presence as Lelouch.
As a result, Lelouch’s return in Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;Surrection took longer than expected, and the sequel was not as warmly regarded as the first. The events of the first series were planned, and returning to the sequel both fulfilled and insulted the sequel’s original goal.
8. Uzumaki Naruto – Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Boruto did not give credit to Naruto Uzumaki, the well-known and popular character. To begin with, he didn’t look as stylish as his original design or that of his father, which is a criticism leveled against many of Boruto’s return characters. However, he was nerfed in terms of his talents and abilities throughout the episode.
While it’s logical that Naruto would take a vacation from the plot to let the next generation shine, there were plenty of other possibilities, especially since Naruto was so powerful that most villains were insignificant without him being nerfed. His personality was tarnished as a result of the changes.
7. Ken Kaneki – Tokyo Ghoul: Re
One of today’s most well-known anime franchises is Tokyo Ghoul. Despite its success, many fans consider it to be one of the worst manga adaptations ever. Many Tokyo Ghoul fans regard it as heretical and underappreciated due to its numerous flaws.
It has serious pace flaws, especially later in the season, which overshadows many characters’ choices and makes them feel out of place. Characters such as Ken Kaneki, who was formerly a fan favorite, have morphed into a character that fans have a hard time understanding. Ken Kaneki’s character became a goody-two-shoes despite being so badass in the previous season.
6. Yami Yugi – Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
Yu-Gi-Oh! Although Yu-Gi-Oh! is one of the most well-known anime and card games of all time, many fans are unaware of it. Before the advent of Duel Monsters, the world had a grim past. Yu-Gi-Oh! is the first game in the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. Yami Yugi confronted opponents in more than just card games in this series, which featured the same characters in a much darker context.
After a victory, Yami Yugi would subject his opponents to psychological agony in the form of penalty games. With the creation of Duel Monsters, all of this was changed, leaving Yami Yugi a considerably straight-laced lad than fans had first seen him.
5. Norman – The Promised Neverland Season 2
The Promised Neverland is a rare addition to the Shonen Jump program, and the anime community has been buzzing over its 2019 adaptation. The continuance of the show’s amazing first season piqued fans’ interest, but Season 2 left many unsatisfied.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Season 1 was Norman’s fate. Norman was revealed to have survived and become the leader of the devil-hunting cult in Season 2. Fans were overjoyed to see Norman return, although many were disappointed with the overall season and Norman’s progression.
4. Jotaro Kujo – Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable (Season 4)
Jotaro Kujo was practically invincible in Stardust Crusaders, the third episode of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. In terms of strategy, he was always one step ahead, and Star Platinum, his Stand, felt practically unstoppable because of its speed and power. So it was distressing to see Jotaro rendered completely useless when the events of Diamond is Unbreakable, the fourth episode unfolded. Jotaro not only failed to halt Red Hot Chili Pepper, but he was also nearly killed by two rats. Diamond is Unbreakable’s protagonist, Josuke Higashikata, who had to not only save Jotaro but also heal him from his mistakes.
3. Avatar Aang – Avatar: The Legend of Korra
In the original Avatar: The Last Airbender series, Avatar Aang was known for being selfish, irresponsible, and overly careless, although those were tendencies he struggled with and eventually learned to control. Aang was a well-liked character by the end of the series, having accomplished the huge achievement of ending the Hundred Years War while keeping loyal to himself and his Air Nomad traditions.
Unfortunately, in the sequel series, The Legend of Korra, the portrayal of Aang’s accomplishments are few and his mark on the world is less than remarkable. Aang had turned into a horrible father or, at the very least, a careless, absent father with unrealistic expectations. Furthermore, Korra is forced to deal with many of the political messes that Aang has left behind.
2. Asuna – Sword Art Online II
Sword Art Online may not be the most critically praised anime, but it has a large following among new anime lovers. Sword Art Online’s first season ushered in a flood of new isekai, redefining several modern anime themes.
The character Asuna, who many felt was a breath of fresh air in the domain of anime female characters, was one of the best features of the initial season. When new seasons of Sword Art Online were released, fans were disappointed to see Asuna transformed into a normal character who could be relatable to a housewife.
1. Son Goku – Dragon ball GT
Dragon Ball GT is a sequel to the Dragon Ball Z anime which was known by almost every kid during the ’90s up to the early 2000s. Akira Toriyama, the author’s resignation was one of the key reasons for the film’s failure, the series’ creator, walked away from the project, claiming he didn’t want to work on Dragon Ball. As a result, the show had a hard time coming up with something new and intriguing to display. The show has always shown Goku as a child. Instead of focusing on the still-powerful characters like Vegeta and Piccolo, the producer preferred to focus on the promising young Goku. Trunks’ appearance has also changed dramatically from his original, which the fan community despised.
Conclusion
Some characters transition from being favorites to being problematic figures in a single scene, whether due to bad behavior, baffling author choices, or simply running out of audience goodwill. Some anime characters are perfect until the second season comes along which ends up ruining them for viewers. Many people would love to get another season of their favorite animes, however, some animes are better left perfectly in their single season than forced to extend to another.
See also: Top 5 Animes That Will Always Be Binge Worthy
See also: Best Female Lead Anime on Netflix