6 Best Anime Featuring Reluctant Heroes

Highlights

• Reluctant heroes are common in anime, often starting with ordinary backgrounds and wanting normal lives.
• They are forced into conflicts and initially hesitant, but eventually overcome their resistance.
• Naofumi Iwatani, Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Shinji Ikari are characters from
  The Rising of the Shield Hero, Demon Slayer,
  and
  Neon Genesis Evangelion
  respectively.

The reluctant hero is a common character type in fiction. Unlike the typical idealized hero, the reluctant hero doesn’t actually want to be the one to save the day, at least in the beginning. Usually, they are forced by circumstances to take action, whether it’s to protect a loved one or themselves, or to get revenge for someone else.

Common characteristics of the reluctant hero include having an ordinary and relatable background, initially hesitating to get involved in the conflict, wanting to live a normal life, and overcoming their resistance to their fate by the end. Since anime is well-known for its escapism, the reluctant hero is a common archetype in the medium, as they’re more relatable to the audience.

6 The Rising Of The Shield Hero

Naofumi Iwatani Becomes Jaded After Being Betrayed By The Princess Who Accompanied Him

The Rising of the Shield Hero starts with the protagonist, Naofumi Iwatani, being summoned to another world, and not of his own free will. He’s thrust into the role of a Shield Hero, considered by many to be the weakest hero class. If that wasn’t enough, one incident in particular makes him think that this world isn’t worth saving after all.

A girl named Myne Sophia agrees to join Naofumi’s party, and ends up stealing his belongings and falsely accusing him of a horrible crime. This incident turned the once friendly Shield Hero into a bitter cynic who’s driven by revenge rather than heroism.

5 Demon Slayer

Zenitsu Agatsuma Has An Overwhelming Fear Of Fighting Demons

Zenitsu Agatsuma’s most well-known characteristic is his reluctance to fight demons, as he is afraid of everything, and is always screaming about how he should quit slaying demons altogether and live a normal, peaceful life. In fact, he became a Demon Slayer through a series of unfortunate events involving having to pay back a massive debt after trying to impress a girl he was smitten with.

However, Zenitsu does have his moments, despite his cowardly reluctance. He has great mastery of the Thunder Breathing style, which makes him unstoppable in battle, although he can only use it when he’s asleep or unconscious.

4 Sailor Moon

Usagi Tsukino Is A Sailor Guardian Who Just Wants To Live A Normal Life

Usagi Tsukino from Sailor Moon is introduced to the series as just another teenage girl. She’s clumsy, cries easily, and is more interested in friends and romance than anything else. Her role as Sailor Moon is thrust on her when she meets a magical talking cat named Luna, who reveals that Usagi is a Guardian destined to fight the forces of evil.

In the anime at least, Usagi never grows out of her desire to live a normal life. In her early battles, she is hesitant, preferring to run away from danger than face it. However, as the series goes on, Usagi does display several moments of courage, especially when her friends or loved ones are threatened.

3 Reborn!

Mafia Heir Tsuna Sawada Is An Insecure Teenager Who Has No Interest In The Mafia World

Tsuna ‘Tsunayoshi’ Sawada from Reborn! is depicted as a cowardly teenager with horrible luck, so much so that he’s nicknamed ‘No-Good Tsuna’. When he discovers he is heir to the Vongola mafia family, Tsuna is extremely reluctant and reacts in disbelief to the Reborn, the infant hitman sent to train him.

Throughout the series, Tsuna is thrust into violent and dangerous situations against his will, and frequently cries and complains about wanting his normal life back. It’s best not to threaten his friends and family though – that’s the easiest way to trigger his more courageous and heroic side.

2 Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Madoka Kaname Hesitates To Sign Kyubey’s ‘Magical Girl’ Contract

Madoka Kaname from Puella Magi Madoka Magica is initially intrigued by the idea of becoming a magical girl, as she’s a kind person who just wants to help others. She quickly becomes reluctant when she witnesses the tragic fate that befalls many magical girls throughout the series, contemplating whether to sign Kyubey’s contract or not.

Her hesitation is justified though, as signing Kyubey’s contract spells certain doom for magical girls. Ultimately, Madoka makes a selfless wish to rewrite the magical girl system, saving countless magical girls and ascending to godhood in the process.

1 Neon Genesis Evangelion

Shinji Ikari Refuses To Pilot Unit-01 To Fight The Angels

Shinji Ikari may be the most well-known example of a reluctant hero in anime. Those ‘get in the robot’ memes didn’t come from nowhere. From the very beginning of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shinji is portrayed as a meek and timid individual, one who has very little interest in piloting an EVA or being a hero.

The only reason he ends up piloting the EVA is because he desperately wants his estranged father’s approval. He is essentially manipulated into the role by Gendo Ikari. While Shinji does show flashes of courage throughout the series, he still struggles with low self-esteem and a desire for normalcy throughout.