Anime is filled with a wide variety of morally complex characters, and that’s why the art form is so great. Some protagonists are as good as it gets, trying their best to never do anything bad or evil in their lives. Other protagonists are a little different, creating their own morality that makes them and the series they’re in stand out from the rest.
Some of the best protagonists in anime might be closer to villains than heroes. These characters aren’t traditional in the slightest, and they’re the type of characters to make their own decisions instead of following the status quo, for better or for worse.
Key Insights on Anime Protagonists
- Morally Complex Characters: Anime features protagonists who often blur the lines between heroism and villainy.
- Unique Morality: Many characters create their own moral codes, setting them apart from typical heroes.
- Dark Humor: Some protagonists, like Prince Lloyd, use humor in dark situations to enhance their narratives.
- Transformation: Characters such as Eren Yeager evolve significantly throughout their stories, impacting their moral standing.
Prince Lloyd is one of the most darkly funny protagonists in anime. He’s the star of one of the best modern-day isekai anime series around, and he fits the series that he’s in perfectly. For the most part, Prince Lloyd is a genuinely good character who doesn’t take kindly to evil.
Sometimes, however, Prince Lloyd can be a bit deranged. Prince Lloyd loves magic more than anything else, and he’s willing to experiment on it when it probably isn’t the right thing to do. When he and his friends found a villain’s lair, Lloyd was more interested in the research he was conducting over the obvious evil that was afoot.
Who is Gon Freecss?
Gon Freecss is unquestionably one of the most unhinged characters in anime. At his core, Gon is a bubbly, genuine character who couldn’t lie if he wanted to. Underneath his kindness, however, is a maniac just waiting to strike. He has no problem telling another character that he was about to kill them, as if he was telling them something mundane.
One of the best moments in Hunter x Hunter comes when Netero is about to fight Mereum and finds Gon staring at the duo. Netero realizes Gon is looking for Neferpitou and points her location out. When the camera pans to Gon, he’s barely recognizable. Rage was dripping from his face like a broken faucet, and Pitou didn’t live long afterward.
What Makes Tanya von Degurechaff Unique?
Tanya von Degurechaff, like Gon Freecss, is about as unhinged as it gets. She’s hellbent on getting her revenge on Being X, and she doesn’t care how she does it. Even though she’s just a tiny girl, she has more venom in her than a snake, and she’s more than willing to show it to her enemies.
On the battlefield, there aren’t many who are more dangerously creative than Tanya. She’ll fly straight at several enemies at once without a care in the world. Once most of her opponents see her, however, it’s already too late.








