Creating a truly compelling anime protagonist is challenging, especially when compared to characters like Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan. While simple, likable main characters such as Tanjiro, Luffy, and Yusuke are enjoyable, they don’t resonate with viewers as deeply as Eren does. Eren stands out because of his complicated morality and powerful character development – he’s a victim, a hero, a flawed antihero, and a powerful force all at once.
Very few anime protagonists are as captivating and multifaceted as Eren, and those who are represent a select group of truly outstanding characters. Some even surpass Eren in their ability to make viewers think and feel conflicted as their stories unfold. These protagonists are often complex anti-heroes, tough warriors with a vulnerable side, or fallen heroes who force us to reconsider what it means to be a hero – and where the line between hero and villain truly lies.
Lelouch Lamperouge Played Every Side in the War For Area 11’s Freedom
Lelouch Was a Hero to Some and a Villain to Others
Image via Bandai Namco Pictures.
Sometimes, an anime is strengthened by a main character with strong, defined morals, especially when the story focuses on the battle between good and evil. Demon Slayer relies on this; Tanjiro Kamado’s unwavering compassion and belief in others is key to the story and effectively contrasts the evil demons he fights. However, other anime feature very different main characters – like Eren Yeager and Lelouch Lamperouge from Code Geass – and achieve great success with that approach as well.
Lelouch is a compelling character because he’s far from a typical hero. Unlike a character like Luke Skywalker, who fights for good against a clear enemy, Lelouch operates in shades of gray. He constantly shifts allegiances, working with and against different factions to achieve his own goals. While his ultimate aim was the freedom of Area 11 (formerly Japan), he pursued it through complex and often morally questionable methods. As a student, a rebel leader known as Zero, and the emperor’s son, Lelouch was a multifaceted and unpredictable commander with a brilliant, but hidden, plan.
Edward Elric Blends Alchemy With Science and Painful Humility
Edward’s Entire Arc is Defined By a Mistake
Image via studio Bones. Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood initially seems like a typical anime protagonist – a courageous teenager with unique abilities, a desire for excitement, and the usual training and romantic subplot. But he’s not simply a copy of characters like Goku, as the story doesn’t require that. While Edward and Eren differ as main characters, they both have intricate personal stories and unforgettable scenes that highlight their imperfections and humanity.
Like Eren, Edward is a compelling main character because his story is filled with serious errors and the difficult lessons he learns from them. While many anime heroes experience misfortune, Edward’s mistakes caused terrible consequences. His attempt to bring his mother back to life with his brother was a pivotal moment in shonen anime, demonstrating a powerful message about the limits of humanity and the importance of accepting our place in the world. As an alchemist, Edward learned a harsh lesson about respecting the natural order, and he later shared this wisdom with others. Despite our fragility, humanity possesses an unwavering spirit and hope – qualities that Envy, ironically, deeply desires.
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Thorfinn Karlsefni Had to Reach His Personal Hell to Find the Light
Thorfinn Now Knows the True Purpose of Life
Image via Wit studio. The anime Vinland Saga is already showing great potential in how it challenges the romanticized idea of combat through its main character, Thorfinn. As a teenager, Thorfinn’s story clearly demonstrated that violence and revenge are harmful and damaging to all involved, and that’s only the beginning. He was already a standout protagonist for realizing the true horrors of war, but his journey truly became exceptional when he began to battle his own inner demons.
I’m completely captivated by this anime! What really gets me about Vinland Saga is how it portrays Thorfinn’s journey of self-discovery – it’s not a quick fix, it’s a really tough, gradual process. But more than that, it’s so powerful to see that it’s okay to feel lost and confused, as long as you’re willing to be honest with yourself and face your own inner struggles, just like Thorfinn does. It’s not always easy to look inward like that, but the show really highlights how that kind of self-reflection can be life-changing, and even inspire positive change in others around you. It’s just… amazing.
Rimuru Tempest is OP Like Eren But Far More Inspiring
Rimuru Aimed to Build a World, Not Destroy One
Image via 8bit. I’ve noticed that anime sometimes really benefits from a character who shakes things up, like Eren Yeager. He made us question what it really means to be a hero or a villain, and that’s exciting. The industry seems to understand this, though, and doesn’t want too much of that. That’s probably why so many isekai fans are drawn to characters like Rimuru Tempest from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. Like Eren, Rimuru is a strong leader with a clear vision for a better world, and he’s got the power and friends to try and make it happen. But that’s where the comparisons stop – and it’s not just because Rimuru exists in a completely different world.
Rimuru stands as a symbol of hope, bringing monsters together with understanding and acceptance – a powerful message for viewers. While Eren might see Rimuru as unrealistic, his unwavering belief in a better future is inspiring. Under Rimuru’s strong guidance, the monster nation is poised to flourish and reshape the world, prioritizing peace and collaboration over conflict. In a world often consumed by negativity, Rimuru chooses optimism, offering a stark contrast to Eren yet sharing some surprising common ground.
Guts Almost Slipped Into Darkness as the Struggler
The Power of Love and Friendship Brought Guts Back From the Brink
Image via studio OLM. Many compelling anime and manga heroes, like Eren Yeager and Lelouch Lamperouge, are willing to compromise their morals and hurt others if they believe it will ultimately achieve their goals. Guts from Berserk faced a similar temptation, but ultimately chose a different path, and that’s a key reason fans connect with him. They admire his inner strength and ability to fight against his darkest impulses. While he briefly succumbed to darkness during the Conviction Arc, even then, love played a crucial role in guiding him.
Fans love Guts, the main character, for many reasons, but especially his incredible ability to bounce back from hardship. He’s suffered immense physical and emotional pain, more than anyone should, yet he’s never been completely defeated, even when he felt like giving up. What truly defines Guts isn’t his tough exterior, but his unwavering determination, which ultimately allowed him to connect with others and find strength in love and friendship, despite everything he’s been through.
Light Yagami Challenges Anime Fans to Ponder Justice and Duty to Society
Light Lost His Way But Did Believe in Humanity at First
Even today, Death Note and its main character, Light Yagami, continue to captivate anime fans by posing complex questions about justice and what it means to be human. This makes Light one of the most compelling characters in anime, arguably even more so than Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan. A key difference is that Eren sought to change a world within a story, while Light attempted to reshape the real world using a supernatural power. This leads many viewers to consider how they themselves would act if they possessed the Death Note.
A key question in Death Note is whether Light Yagami was inherently evil or if the power of the Death Note corrupted him. While Light claimed to want a peaceful, crime-free world, his actions as Kira created a society based on fear. This leaves viewers wondering if his vision of a perfect world was his true aim, or simply a justification for his desire for control.
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2026-02-04 18:39