Why Kaneki Ken Might Be The Most Tragic MC Ever

Main protagonists in the shonen genre are often expected to engage constantly in fights to prove they are good. But it is an undeniable fact that the most memorable main characters are the ones with the most character development and have their own flaws and failures. These heroes leave a lasting impact on the audience as they overcome immense challenges and adversity along their journey.

When discussing the greatest MCs in anime history, Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul undeniably stands out as the most tragic of them all. Even though the anime failed to deliver the complexities of Kaneki as the manga does, he still remains one of the most popular anime protagonists to date.

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A Tragic Tale That Resonates With Many

A Broken Hero’s Journey Of Survival

What makes Kaneki Ken from Tokyo Ghoul one of the best protagonists is the fact that he is relatable. His flaws make him feel more like a real human than just an anime character. His character development and progression feel real, and his failures make him more than just a classic hero. His journey from a simple college guy to a broken half-ghoul is tragic. But what actually broke him was when he got tortured at the hands of Yamori in several twisted ways, which was just as painful to watch. The whole scene was written in great detail, showcasing not only the physical torture he went through but also the mental trauma he endured.

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What Sets Kaneki Apart as a Legendary Protagonist

Kaneki’s iconic transformation into the white-haired half-ghoul came at the cost of his humanity. But despite it all, he did not turn into a villain but a broken antihero who won the hearts of many. In an attempt to save those who were dear to him, he went to great lengths. The world was cruel enough for him, but Kaneki wasn’t easy on himself, either. Fighting enemies he knew he couldn’t defeat and constantly facing danger alone was perhaps the saddest and most heartbreaking moment to witness. Humans viewed him as a flesh-eating monster, and the powerful ghouls considered him a weak human-ghoul hybrid, which made it a struggle on its own to find a place where he truly belonged.

Despite losing his humanity, he remains as human as ever, which is pretty evident from his failures. He is not perfect and makes bad decisions sometimes. This is evident from the fact that he chose to fight almost all of his battles alone, and after becoming a ghoul at one point, he refused help from his Anteiku family. But those decisions in themselves reflect how human he is, as most of his actions were to protect the ones he cared about from all the harm that followed him.

Another defining trait of Kaneki is his desire to bridge the gap between humans and ghouls, refusing to choose a side despite his struggle with being half-human, half-ghoul. His belief that ghouls and humans can exist peacefully alongside each other in the same world makes him different from other heroes we see. Whether he is Haise Sasaki, the One-Eyed King, or just Kaneki Ken, he proves himself to be a hero despite all the torture he went through, which makes him worthy enough to be remembered as one of the best yet most tragic heroes of all time.

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Tokyo Ghoul

Release Date

July 4, 2014

Seasons

3

Studio

Pierrot

Based On

Manga

Creator

Sui Ishida

Number of Episodes

48

Streaming Service(s)

MyAnimeList Score

7.79 (Season 1)

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