Anime characters are often known for being flashy and bombastic. They grab audiences’ attention by design. Though a lot of anime characters stand out for their signature looks and abilities, many others are notable for how much they change throughout the show.
Character development in anime can come in many forms. Some characters change ideologies while others find the courage to do something they were afraid to try. The most character development can even come from the most unlikely of characters. No matter the type of development, fans love following their favorite characters on their personal journeys.
10 Moriko Morioka Finds Herself Again (Recovery Of An MMO Junkie)
Recovery of an MMO Junkie tells the story of ex-corporate worker Moriko Morioka. After becoming burned out and disillusioned by her job, Morioka shuts herself away, opting to play video games full time. Through her gaming, Moriko meets friends who help her come back out of her shell.
Morioka’s journey is one that a growing number of adults can relate to. At the beginning of the show, Morioka feels like a drone. Yet, after quitting and finding her group of friends, Moriko realizes she is much more than a pawn to be used and discarded. Moriko’s path to self-acceptance and finding her worth make for a heart-warming and relatable tale of growth.
9 Yuugo Hachiken Works Hard To Prove Himself (Silver Spoon)
Silver Spoon is the story of Yuugo Hachiken, a city boy who attends an agricultural high school. After being worn down from devoting his life to studying in middle school, Hachiken finds the physical and emotional demands of farm life to be vastly different. However, he finds help from friends and learns a lot about himself along the way.
Hachiken’s quest to prove himself takes off in his new high school. He discovers that he can do things he never even dreamed of doing before. Hachiken is even surprised that a lot of his classmates depend on him too. Watching Hachiken grow from timid and over-stressed to being independent and self-assured was a treat for many fans.
8 Satoru Fujinuma Discovers His Importance (Erased)
Satoru Fujinuma from the thrilling anime Erased has all but given up on his life. Seemingly, his only redeeming quality is that he can rewind time to prevent small tragedies. Though he cannot control the rewinds, he does what he can to help people with the extra time he is given.
Eventually, he and his mom stumble across a child abductor who shares a history with Satoru. After the criminal kills Satoru’s mom, Satoru is transported back to the past, when he was still in the fifth grade. He realizes it is up to him to find the criminal and save his mother as well as three other young children. Satoru’s odyssey from lazy loner to eventual savior is one anime fans should not miss.
7 Yuri Plisetsky Finds Unconditional Love (Yuri!!! On Ice)
Yuri!!! On Ice is about the rookie skater Yuri Katsuki, who nearly gives up on figure skating after not placing in his latest competition. However, when his idol, Victor Nikiforov, offers to coach him, Yuri is thrust back onto the ice. With gold in his sites, Yuri works his hardest to prove his skill to the world.
An obstacle in Katsuki’s way is the fifteen-year-old newcomer Yuri “Yurio” Plisetsky. Yurio is a Russian skating prodigy with a poor attitude. However, once Victor begins training him as well, Yurio realizes that skating prowess does not come from talent alone. Once Yurio discovers the importance of unconditional love, he finally embraces what exceptional figure skating is all about.
6 Jinta Yadomi Forgives Himself (Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day)
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day follows Jinta “Jintan” Yadomi ten years after the death of his friend, Meiko “Menma” Honma. However, Menma has started to appear as an older version of herself to Jintan. Menma says her goal is to get their old friend group back together to help her discover her last wish – a task that is easier said than done.
Jintan carries a lot of guilt over Menma’s death. He isolates himself, barely going outside at all. Yet, Jintan slowly returns to reality and comes to terms with Menma’s death. He also finally accepts that her passing was not his fault, and the group of friends does reunite to give Menma her final wish.
Edward and Alphonse Elric are two boys who perform the ultimate alchemical taboo when they attempt to bring their deceased mother back to life in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. However, the transmutation goes horribly wrong. Devastated, the two set off on a quest to retrieve a philosopher’s stone to get Alphonse’s body back.
Though they face many trials, there are none so harrowing as the Homunculi – beings created from a philosopher’s stone. One such being is Greed. Though he initially lives up to his name, his outlook changes when he is merged into the body of a prince. Greed finds that trust and loyalty make a person richer than money ever could.
4 Mr. Ton Rebrands Himself (Aggretsuko)
Red Panda Retsuko may be the protagonist of Aggretsuko, but her coworkers often steal the spotlight. One such character is her boss, Mr. Ton. Though he is often the reason she turns to death metal singing for stress relief, Ton represents an ever-rising number of senior employees.
Though Ton starts the show as a horrible boss, he quickly becomes sympathetic. Ton is phased out of the company, and the job he has known for decades becomes obsolete. Fortunately, he eventually finds new employment at a convenience store, and then works as a personal account manager for Retsuko, gaining a new appreciation for changing times. Ton shows audiences that you can teach an old pig new tricks.
3 Katsuki Bakugo Becomes A Hero (My Hero Academia)
My Hero Academia is full of students vying to become the next top Pro Hero. Though Izuku Midoriya was born without a Quirk, he inherits one from his idol and attends U.A. High School to work toward becoming a great hero. Many of his classmates are talented, but none so much as Katsuki Bakugo.
Bakugo was always gifted both in powers and in school. As such, he would often bully those around him, especially Midoriya. Yet, when Midoriya got a Quirk and started giving Bakugo a run for his money, Bakugo eventually realizes that he needs to focus on himself and win by being the best hero he can be. Bakugo’s journey of humility is one that fans need to witness for themselves.
2 Simon Pierced The Heavens (Gurren Lagann)
Simon and Kamina are two boys who escape their underground mining town to discover life on the surface in Gurren Lagann. After discovering a drill-powered mech, they set off on a quest to rid the world of Beastmen to reclaim the surface for the humans. Though Kamina’s life is tragically cut short, Simon carries on Kamina’s fighting spirit to achieve their shared goal.
Though Simon begins the show as a timid underdog, he utilizes everything Kamina taught him to conquer the Anti-Spiral and create a surface city for the humans once again. His courage and zest for adventure ensure that Simon will be remembered for generations to come.
1 Zuko Regains His Own Honor (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
Avatar: The Last Airbender follows Avatar Aang as he travels the world looking for Bending Masters to train him. While on his quest, he is pursued by the banished Fire Nation prince, Zuko. Zuko believes that his father will welcome him back home if he captures the Avatar.
However, as the show goes on, Zuko comes to realize that many of the ideals and teachings of his past are problematic. Zuko struggles to choose between his honor and what is right. He is the pinnacle of a well-developed character, as he had to overcome years of ideology and propaganda to finally break free and fight to repair the wrongs of his nation.