One of the greatest things about reading a book, watching a movie, or a TV show is witnessing a great character arc. Not all characters have great arcs, and not all characters change at all from beginning to end, but the well-written characters are those who have shown growth over the course of the book, movie, or TV series.
Take, for example, Tony Stark’s character arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He went from being an egotistical playboy, who really only cared about himself, to become a devoted husband and father who sacrificed himself to save the entire universe. That’s an example of a great character arc.
Anime is chock-full of great character arcs that prove time and time again that everyone can learn and grow and become a better person, even those whom people originally assume are beyond redemption. A great character arc is the sign of a great writer because they didn’t just make a great scene, they made a great story. Here are some of the best character arcs in anime history.
10. Robert E.O. Speedwagon in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Robert E.O. Speedwagon doesn’t just have the same name as one of the greatest rock bands, but he also has one of the best character arcs in anime history. Speedwagon is introduced in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure as a street thug who regularly had his goons harass and rough people up in the streets.
After hearing about Jonathan’s plight to save his dying father, Speedwagon is moved so much that he decides to start helping the series’ protagonist. He eventually becomes one of Jonathan’s closest allies.
9. Greed in Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
When the Elric brothers meet Greed in Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, let’s just say the name suits the man. He is extremely greedy, wanting more money, more women, more everything. After being killed and reborn inside Ling’s body, but especially being forced to share Ling’s body with, well, Ling, he begins to realize what he was looking for all his life – a real friendship.
8. Chise Hatori in The Ancient Magus’ Bride
Chise Hatori starts off in The Ancient Magus’ Bride as a depressed teenager with nothing in life. Her dad abandoned her, and her mother committed suicide in front of her, so she is left believing she is unloved and unwanted. She has such little regard for herself that she decides to sell herself in an auction. Purchased by Elias Ainsworth for five million pounds, Chise discovers her talent for magic and gains confidence in herself throughout the anime.
7. Piccolo in Dragon Ball
Many Dragon Ball villains vow to rule over Earth, but Piccolo actually succeeded. The powerful green Namekian slaughtered thousands of innocent humans, killed some of the Z Fighters, and ruled Earth as its king. Despite all that, Piccolo’s story takes a drastic turn in Dragon Ball Z after he decides to stop fighting the heroes and helps them defeat their villainous threats.
After Goku sacrifices himself to destroy Radditz, Piccolo takes it upon himself to train Goku’s young son Gohan how to fight. This results in a heartwarming story between the mentor and mentee and helps shape Piccolo’s character growth in ways many viewers never could have imagined when the Namekian first appeared. Piccolo is now one of the greatest heroes in the Dragon Ball universe.
6. Endeavor in My Hero Academia
Enji Todoroki, otherwise known as Endeavor, started his My Hero Academia journey as the main antagonist of the series. While being the rival of All Might was one thing, what made Endeavor so villainous was his treatment of his family. He was physically and emotionally abusive to his wife and children in his pursuit to be the best.
Endeavor eventually realizes his mistakes and gradually begins to make amends for his past. After being the main antagonist during the U.S. Sports Festival Arc, Endeavor went on to become the main protagonist during the Pro Hero Arc. His current goal is to become a symbol of peace for the world.
5. Gary Oak in Pokémon the Series
Every hero needs a rival and Gary Oak was that for Ash Ketchum throughout the first part of his Pokémon journey. Gary is the grandson of Professor Oak, Ash’s Pokémon professor, and mentor. As the grandson of one of the most highly respected professors in the world, Gary begins his journey believing he was just born great until he became humbled more than once throughout the series. Gary eventually realizes the error of his ways and makes a change for the better.
He thought he was just born to be great until he realized it takes hard work and passion. He eventually decides to become a Pokémon researcher and helps Ash a few times. Although he started off as an arrogant punk, he turned into a humbled professor. That’s real character growth.
4. Sailor Moon in Sailor Moon
Usagi Tsukino transforms from an average middle-school student into Sailor Moon after being given a brooch by a magical black cat named Luna. Luna informs Usagi that she is meant to save the world, but she is very reluctant to embrace her destiny. Over time, however, she gathers the other Sailor Guardians and by the end of the series, which ran from 1992-1997, she embraced her destiny to become Queen Serenity.
3. Naruto in Naruto
He may be the titular protagonist of the series, but Naruto Uzumaki did not start off very heroic. He was an immature outcast who was ostracized by the Hidden Leaf Village because he had the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sealed away inside of him. The creature previously attacked the village before it could be sealed away inside Naruto as a baby.
Over time he learned how to control the beast inside of him and became a respected member of society. Of course, it helped that he also saved the world several times. Naruto’s story is so profound because he wasn’t accepted by anyone but that didn’t stop him from forging ahead and creating his own path, despite having a literal demon inside of him.
2. Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z
Possibly the most egotistical person in all of anime is Vegeta. “The prince of all Saiyans,” as he is sure to tell everyone he meets, started off as one of the main antagonists of the second Dragon Ball Z story arc. Over the years, he created a lasting friendship with the other Z Fighters, married Bulma, and had two children.
Despite now being considered one of the main protagonists, Vegeta never lost his competitiveness and always tries to outdo Goku. At the end of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero film in 2022, Vegeta beat his rival in a base-level battle, and that wasn’t the only time. You know a character has had a great character arc when you root for them to beat the main protagonist of the series.
1. Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender
In only three seasons, Avatar: The Last Airbender anime took its main antagonist to one of the protagonists in what is possibly the best character arc in film or television history. After being abused and scarred and ostracized by his father the Fire Lord, the banished Prince Zuko makes it his goal in life to restore his honor by capturing the Avatar and bringing him to his father. Joined on his mission by his Uncle Iroh, the only member of his family who loved him, Zuko searches the south pole, where he spots a beam of light that he realizes must have come from the long-missing Avatar.
In fact, the Avatar was frozen in ice for 100 years but now the race is on. With the banished prince hot on his tail, Avatar Aang – an air bender – has to find a water-bending master, an earth-bending master, and a fire-bending master so he can defeat Zuko’s father before he can utilize the upcoming Sozin’s Comet to burn the Earth Kingdom and declare himself the ruler of the entire world.
Zuko chases Aang around the world before finally realizing that his destiny isn’t to kill the Avatar but to help the Avatar. Despite him turning over a new leaf, it takes Team Avatar a while to trust him – since he did try to kill them countless times. By the end of the series, Zuko has helped Aang master fire bending to defeat Fire Lord Ozai, while he and Katara team up to take down Zuko’s insane sister Azula. Zuko went on to be crowned the Fire Lord and helped Aang restore peace to the world with the Harmony Restoration Movement.
In the show’s sequel Avatar: The Legend of Korra, Zuko is a wise old man – similar to his wise old Uncle Iroh – who now rides a dragon that descended from the dragons he and Aang used to train fire-bending in the original series. Zuko has a tragic story that ends on a satisfying note, as he overcame all his obstacles to find friends and family of his own.