It’s not always a guarantee that anime heroes will have happy endings, and some truly deserved better. Typically, main characters are protected early on to keep viewers invested in their journey. While many survive the entire story, even when others don’t, some face huge sacrifices. Characters like Deku from My Hero Academia and Edward from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood make significant sacrifices, but ultimately live to see the end.
While many anime heroes get satisfying endings, some shows aren’t afraid to kill off their main characters in heartbreaking ways. Sometimes, these tragic deaths feel earned – characters like Eren from Attack on Titan and Light from Death Note, despite being captivating, bring about their own downfalls through their choices. But the most devastating fates belong to those protagonists who die even though they deserve to live.
3) Seita Yokokawa (Grave of the Fireflies)
Watching Grave of the Fireflies is a truly heartbreaking experience, because it really shows how war destroys the lives of everyday people. From the very beginning, you know things won’t end well for Seita and his sister, but that doesn’t lessen the impact of his fate. It’s just so unfair that he dies of starvation at only fourteen, especially considering how hard he fought to keep them both alive. Despite all his efforts, it just wasn’t enough, and that makes the film incredibly tragic. It feels like everyone involved deserved a better outcome, but sadly, that’s often the case for those caught in the crossfire of war.
2) Akira (Devilman Crybaby)
The anime Devilman Crybaby is known for its incredibly sad ending. Despite fighting bravely to save humanity with courage and compassion, the main character, Akira, ultimately fails. His efforts are for nothing, and he’s forced to watch everything he tried to protect be destroyed before he himself dies. The ending is especially heartbreaking because Akira desperately tried to prevent this outcome. While a happier ending where Akira defeats his enemy, Ryo, would have been ideal, Devilman Crybaby presents a much bleaker reality.
1) Tatsumi (Akame ga Kill!)
Watching Akame ga Kill!, I was constantly surprised by how willing the show was to kill off characters. Tatsumi actually came so close to making it through everything – surviving both the series and the fall of the Empire. But ultimately, his strong desire to help people, the very thing that led him to join Night Raid, led to his death. He pushed his Teigu beyond its limits trying to save civilians, and it was a truly heartbreaking scene, especially considering he deserved a better fate. Even though Night Raid operates in a morally grey area, they’re ultimately fighting for something good. Tatsumi was one of the most genuinely kind and loyal members, which made his death all the more tragic – he didn’t get to see the better world he was fighting for.
Which anime main character do you feel deserved a better outcome? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- What Song Is In The New Supergirl Trailer (& What It Means For The DC Movie)
- One of Hulu’s Best New Shows Lands on Disney+ Ahead of Season 2
- Eurogamer Gives ARC Raiders 2/5 Over AI Voices, Dropping Metacritic Score from 94 to 84
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Netflix’s Run Away is the latest show to fail the Gen Z social media test
- Meet the Real-Life Inspiration For Sex and The City’s Mr. Big
- Jujutsu Kaisen Is Returning With a Special Release After Sequel’s Finale
- The Quantum Observer: How Reality Takes Shape
- I Had High(ish) Hopes For Five Nights At Freddy’s 2, But My Two Most Glaring Issues Make Me Wary About A Third Movie
- Ariana Grande and More Celebs React to Golden Globes 2026 Nominations
2026-04-03 04:40