The Most Tragic Backgrounds In Anime’s Protagonists

When it comes to anime, as we’ve discussed here on Geek Vibes Nation before, creators are often experts in crafting a beautifully interconnected character arc that details the events of their life and how they shaped them to become the character that we know and love – often, these arcs are littered with loss and tragedy, which is the drive for the protagonist to become as great, or powerful, as they are.

Everyone loves a good sob story – but who did it best? Let’s have a closer look at three character arcs with some of the most tragic settings.

Source: Unsplash

NARUTO

If we’re talking anime, Naruto’s name has to be mentioned – especially the tragic part. Born to two powerful parents, Naruto’s family was attacked as his mother gave birth. In a desperate attempt to save their son and preserve their incredible power, his father and mother laid their life on the line while bestowing a beast within their newborn; neither survived the attack, leaving their orphaned son to grow up an outcast.

Tragic, right? Undoubtedly. If you’re new to anime and love a protagonist with a terrible past, Naruto is a great starter. With over 700 episodes, though, there’s a lot of story to cover. If you don’t plan on watching all 700 episodes, it might be worth reading around the anime in places like the Win.gg Naruto page to get up to date on everything Naruto, without the spoilers.

EREN JAEGER

Regardless of what he might or might not do later on in the series, fewer had it worse than the Attack on Titan protagonist growing up. After 100 years of peace are shattered by a titan breaching within the walls he was raised, Eren is forced to watch his mother being devoured by an eerily creepy titan. Eren later unlocks the memory of his father’s passing; he was forced to eat him in titan form to gain his power – not to mention the dozens of friends and comrades that he has to watch die at the hands – or, rather, teeth – of titans.

When you put it like that, who wouldn’t become a genocidal maniac after that? There are plenty of fan theories about Jaeger and the potential direction of his character arc online: CBR’s AoT piece thinks Eren might use the wall titans for defending the Eldians only… We’ll see!

As fans await a new season of Demonslayer – renowned for the tragic nature of its protagonist’s story – analysis of what the teaser trailer might tell us about the future tragedies of Tanjiro have begun, with Polygon.com’s Demonslayer piece spotting that the Nichirin sword seems to have been reforged. Though, I’m not sure Tanjiro can take much more tragedy.

Imagine popping to the shops, only to return to find your familys is gone, with the exception of a sibling who has been turned into a blood-lusting demon. Well, Tanjiro didn’t have to imagine it – it really happened. He had his world turned upside down pretty abruptly and continues to live with the pain of his sister being a demon as he tries to find a cure that can reverse the transformation. It’s really powerful stuff! Kamado then has to watch his Hashira superior die at the hand of a demon, but this warrior’s spirit can just not be broken, no matter the tragedy.