9 anime main characters who turned out to be the chosen one

One of the most common tropes in the Shonen and Seinen series is having anime main characters considered “the chosen one,” whether in a strict or more liberal sense. Both traditional approaches to this trope and deconstructions/reinventions have plentiful examples throughout the medium.

A popular reinvention of the trope is to have the anime’s main characters turn out to be chosen, meaning they aren’t necessarily identified as such from the very start. Within the ranks of such anime main characters, there are some very big and recognizable names that many would say define the anime and manga mediums themselves.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinion and is not ranked in any particular order.

My Hero Academia’s Deku, Bleach’s Ichigo, and more anime main characters who turn out to be the chosen one

1) Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)

Eren Yeager as seen in the Attack on Titan anime series (Image via MAPPA Studios)

Attack on Titan’s own Eren Yeager is one of many anime main characters who “turn out” to be the chosen one. At first, it’s suggested that Eren simply had his role forced upon him by his father, who decided to give him his Titan shifting powers in a distraught state following his wife’s death.

However, it’s slowly revealed that such power was destined to find Eren, with the introduction of Eren Kruger and the Future Sight powers of the Attack Titan officially confirming it. While Eren Yeager himself may have had a hand in creating such a destiny, he nevertheless became the chosen one in the end.

2) Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)

Naruto as seen in the Naruto anime series (Image via Pierrot)

Naruto Uzumaki is one of the best examples of an anime main characters who turned out to be the chosen one, given how suddenly this concept is formally introduced and confirmed in the series. While there is some subtle setup for it early on, most of the development concerning his chosen status happens in the series’ final act overall.

Naruto is revealed to be the latest vessel for Ashura Otstutsuki’s soul, which has been reincarnating along with his brother Indra’s soul throughout the history of the series’ world. Naruto and his best friend/rival Sasuke Uchiha are the latest hosts for the two, inheriting the roles from Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, respectively, following the latter’s demise shortly before their births.

3) Yuji Itadori (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Yuji as seen in the Jujutsu Kaisen anime (Image via MAPPA Studios)

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 257 reveals that Yuji Itadori is the spiritual nephew of Ryomen Sukuna, by way of his father Jin being the reincarnation of the soul of Sukuna’s twin brother. By nature of his constant conflict with Sukuna and his father’s origins, Yuji has officially become one of the anime main characters who truly turned out to be the chosen one.

It’s also likely that Kenjaku, who is Yuji’s mother by way of his possessing Kaori Itadori’s body, specifically altered Yuji’s physiology during his birthing process to be a match for Sukuna. In addition to his naturally coming into conflict with Sukuna despite not living in the world of jujutsu sorcery from birth, it’s clear that he has turned out to be one of the anime main characters who is a chosen one.

4) Izuku “Deku” Midoriya (My Hero Academia)

Deku as seen in the My Hero Academia anime series (Image via BONES)

While My Hero Academia’s Deku is something of a tweener in terms of his chosen one status, there is a strong argument to be made for him being one. The biological context of the series’ setting plays a large role, with Deku being part of the world’s 20% of people who weren’t born with a Quirk. This turns out to be a benefit with respect to One For All, since it means his body can handle housing and utilizing the Quirk to its fullest powers.

There’s also the fact that Deku is one of the people within this 20% who display a truly heroic personality, one which moved All Might dearly to the point of passing on his Quirk to Deku. These two main points combine to form a fairly strong argument for Deku being one of the anime main characters who turned out to be the chosen one considering the full setting and context of the series.

5) Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)

Luffy as seen in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation)

One Piece’s Luffy has always been theorized to be one of the many anime main characters who’d turn out to be the chosen one, especially after the reveal of his Devil Fruit’s true name. Even in a very literal sense, Luffy is implied to be chosen, thanks to the theory that Shanks specifically set Luffy up to eat the “Gum-Gum Fruit.” However, there does seem to be a destiny beyond that, thanks to Luffy's setup as Joy Boy.

While Joy Boy and Nika are interchangeable terms used to refer to Luffy, the former was set up as far back as the Fishman Island arc via the original Joy Boy’s apology and Luffy’s actions on the island. Combined with other uses of the term throughout the post-time-skip series thus far and additional context, it has become very clear that there is some sort of destiny guiding Luffy through his journey.

6) Griffith (Berserk)

Griffith as seen in the Berserk anime films (Image via Studio 4°C)

Berserk’s Griffith serves as one of the best examples of anime main characters who turned out to be the chosen one. When fans first meet Griffith, he seems to be nothing more than a dedicated mercenary group leader who strives for greatness and will do anything to attain it.

However, the introduction of Nosferatu Zodd changes this, with Griffith’s Crimson Behelit marking him as someone eligible to join the God Hand. The Egg of the King’s true purpose is revealed shortly thereafter, seeing Griffith ascend to godhood during the Eclipse and sacrificing his allies to achieve his dreams and destiny.

7) Yugi Moto (Yu-Gi-Oh!)

Yugi Moto as seen in the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series (Image via Gallop)

Yu-Gi-Oh! ’s Yugi Moto is yet another quintessential example of a chosen one, with his qualifications for being one of many such anime main characters being twofold. The first is that he’s referred to as a Chosen One by being the vessel that solved the Millennium Puzzle and freed Pharaoh Atem from imprisonment.

It’s also revealed in the original series’ final episodes that Yugi is the one destined to beat Atem in a fight, allowing him to move onto the afterlife as a result. There are also some filler episodes which further identify Yugi as a chosen one for additional prophecies and events.

8) Ichigo Kruosaki (Bleach)

Ichigo as seen in the Bleach TYBW anime (Image via Pierrot)

Via Kisuke Urahara’s comments early on in Bleach, it’s well-established that Ichigo Kurosaki is one of the anime main characters who turned out to be a chosen one. After defeating the first Menos Grande introduced, Urahara’s followers assure him they must’ve found “The One.” Yoruichi herself is even convinced of this after Ichigo’s Bankai training.

The series continues to hammer his chosen one status home by emphasizing that the path his destiny lies on will take his future from him, but allow him to protect everyone. This is further elaborated on in the Thousand Year Blood War arc, especially so in the manga where the arc has been fully concluded.

9) Tanjiro Kamado (Demon Slayer)

Tanjiro as seen in the Demon Slayer anime (Image via Ufotable Studios)

Last but certainly not least, Tanjiro does qualify as one of the anime main characters who turned out to be a chosen one by nature of two key points. The frist is his inheriting of the hanafuda earrings, which, combined with his natural proficiency with combat in general and Sun Breathing, has Muzan’s demon cells recognize him as the “second coming” of Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

The second is his eventual acquisition of the Demon Slayer mark despite not being born with it originally. By way of awakening the mark and the achievements he made along the way to and in the process of fully unlocking its power, he has undoubtedly cemented himself as someone who became a chosen one.

In summation

While there are many anime main characters who turned out to be a chosen one, what’s clear is that the paths to get there are not always the same. Some anime main characters see their fellow man or even themselves play a part in their destiny, while others are forced into the role by nature of the context of their existence.