Edgiest Protagonists in Shonen Anime

Key Takeaways

• Some shonen heroes defy the classic mold by showing darker, edgier, and morally ambiguous traits.
• Characters like Yu Yu Hakusho’s Yusuke Urameshi and Attack on Titan’s Eren Yeager blur the line between good and evil.
• Despite straying from the typical hero archetype, these protagonists remain intriguing and capture the audience’s attention.

The stereotypical shonen protagonist is energetic, happy-go-lucky, and deeply cares for his friends, stopping at nothing to help them. Goku from the Dragon Ball franchise, Natsu from Fairy Tail, or the eponymous protagonist of Naruto all epitomize the archetype. But every so often, there’s a shonen hero (or outright villain) with a darker edge.

These characters often blur the line between good and evil, displaying traits of ruthlessness. Even if they’re technically on the side of good, they’re driven by inner turmoil or a thirst for revenge rather than heroism. They defy the classic hero mold and remind the audience that, sometimes, one doesn’t have to be squeaky clean to be a fascinating protagonist.

8 Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)

The Gruff, Rebellious Soul Reaper Still Cares for His Family and Friends

Ichigo Kurosaki has most of the qualities of a typical shonen hero. He is fiercely protective of his friends and family, and rarely backs down from a fight, especially when his loved ones are threatened. Unlike the typical joyful and energetic shonen protagonist, Ichigo often scowls and can seem snarky or angsty, seeing his role as a Soul Reaper as a burden rather than an opportunity.

He does shed the jerk facade as the series goes on, growing more mature and responsible. All in all, Ichigo neatly balances traits of the classic shonen hero and a more relatable, flawed individual.

7 Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho)

A Teenage Delinquent With a Rough Reputation

Yusuke Urameshi is introduced as a typical teenage delinquent. Rebellious, cynical, and an unapologetic jerk, he surprised the forces of the Spirit World by doing the unexpected: saving a young boy from being hit by a truck.

Yusuke is a lot more violent and abrasive than most shonen protagonists, but he shares one thing with many of them: he is deeply loyal to his friends and will risk life and limb to protect them. Over time, Yusuke becomes less rebellious and angry, beginning to understand the motivations of both friends and foes.

6 Jotaro Kujo (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Aloof High School Delinquent with a Strong Sense of Morality

Jotaro Kujo is arguably the most popular protagonist of the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise, likely due to his edginess, both in personality and design. He’s introduced as a cold and aloof teenage delinquent in Japan, often coming off as rude or blunt in his interactions with other people.

Despite being a delinquent who openly disrespects his peers, including his family, he cares about their well-being and safety. This is evident when he joins a group of allies on a perilous journey to Egypt to defeat Dio and save his mother.

5 Kenshiro (Fist of the North Star)

Stoic Martial Artist With a Deadly Fighting Style

Kenshiro believes in protecting the innocent and has a strong moral code. However, as the successor to the Hokuto Shinken, a deadly martial art, the methods he uses to punish the wicked are quite brutal. Kenshiro can make his opponents’ heads or bodies explode by striking specific pressure points, and the results are gruesome, to say the least.

His appearance is also rather imposing. He has a large, muscular body, seven scars across his chest, and a rugged outfit, reflecting the post-apocalyptic setting of Fist of the North Star. While he’s usually stoic and quiet, Kenshiro is deeply empathetic on the inside, often shedding tears for those he’s unable to save.

4 Yumeko Jabami (Kakegurui)

An Impulsive, Unpredictable Gambling Addict

Yumeko Jabami seems like a regular Japanese girl on the surface: polite, charming, and soft-spoken. Underneath that facade, however, she hides a deeply unstable personality and a dangerous gambling addiction. Her fixation on gambling and taking risks is so intense, it sometimes creeps out her peers.

Yumeko can make the switch from being sweet and approachable to completely unhinged when gambling is involved. She doesn’t care whether she wins or loses, as long as things remain unpredictable. Her fantasies about what would happen if she loses are quite disturbing as well.

3 Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)

An Idealistic Young Boy Turned Vengeful Adult

Eren Yeager begins Attack on Titan as an idealistic, determined young boy who dreams of exploring life beyond the walls and freeing humanity from the Titans. Witnessing his mother’s murder by a Titan solidified his hatred for Titans and marked the beginning of his downward spiral.

Post-timeskip, Eren takes extreme measures to secure freedom for his people, including betraying allies, manipulating friends, and orchestrating genocidal events. His journey from an angry and impulsive hero to a stoic, morally ambiguous figure cements him as one of the most polarizing characters in shonen anime.

2 Ciel Phantomhive (Black Butler)

A Cold, Calculating, Vengeful Young Kid

Despite his age, Ciel Phantomhive is cold, cynical, and extremely vengeful. He knows how to manipulate people to his advantage, including the demon butler bound to him through a contract. After witnessing the murders of his parents, Ciel transforms into a hardened, morally dubious character driven by a desire to avenge his parents.

Ciel shows a stunning lack of empathy for those caught in his path, and is perfectly willing to destroy others to achieve his goals. His Faustian pact with Sebastian Michaelis proves his willingness to walk on the dark side to get what he wants.

1 Denji (Chainsaw Man)

A Selfish, Hedonistic Teenager Revels in Slaughtering Others

Denji has the recklessness and hyperactivity of a typical shonen protagonist, but make no mistake — he is a hero in name only for much of Chainsaw Man. His motivations for the majority of the series are good food, a bed to sleep in, and female attention, and he only joins the side of ‘good’ to obtain these things.

When Denji transforms into his Chainsaw Man form, he is unapologetically brutal and messy, tearing through his opponents in a way that is both grotesque and visceral. He’s designed to reject the classic archetype of the self-sacrificing hero, although his heroic side gradually starts to shine through as the series progresses.