10 anime characters like Gaara from Naruto

Anime characters like Gaara in Naruto, endear themselves to the audience because of an elaborate heritage and serious inner struggles. Naruto hosts a range of well-developed characters, with each adding an extra layer of depth to the story. The character of Gaara travels through development from an isolated, misunderstood boy to that of an auspicious leader.

His experience resonates deeply with fans, drawn by the balance between his vulnerability and strength. Anime characters like Gaara share such deep emotional sentiments and complicated plots. They often struggle with internal conflict, troubled pasts, and major growth over the course of their stories.

Here are the ten anime characters like Gaara that best reflect those same qualities and themes, which makes their journey no less unique and appealing within the frames of their respective series.

Disclaimer: This list is ranked in no particular order and contains the writer's opinions. Readers' discretion is advised.

⁠⁠Ken Kaneki, Scar, and 8 other anime characters like Gaara from Naruto

1) ⁠Killua Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)

⁠Killua Zoldyck as seen in anime (Image via Madhouse)

Killua Zoldyck of Hunter x Hunter is one of the anime characters like Gaara because of his dark past and multi-dimensional character development. Similar to Gaara, Killua comes from an elite, dangerous family filled with high expectations and emotional isolation.

His early life as an assassin and struggles with violent tendencies echo the very path of Gaara from a feared figure toward a more empathetic kind of leadership. The personal growth is tremendous— they battle their private demons and, in the end, develop strong, profound friendships that would eventually help reshape their identity and paths.

2) Shoto Todoroki (My Hero Academia)

Shoto Todoroki as seen in anime (Image via Studio Bones)

Shoto Todoroki from My Hero Academia ran a similar route to that of Gaara in terms of emotional turmoil, inner struggles, and transformation. Much like Gaara, Todoroki starts with a troubled past, family conflicts, and more— precisely, an alienated father who causes inner turmoil within him. His struggle to balance his duality— fire and ice— abilities is symbolic of an inner fight in himself.

With Todoroki clearing these personal obstacles, he has transformed from a cold, bewildered man into a determined hero, just as Gaara evolved from being a feared villain to a respected leader. Both characters demonstrate great personal development and redemption. That is why Shoto Todoroki is one of the anime characters like Gaara from Naruto.

3) Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)

Ken Kaneki as seen in anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul is one of the anime characters like Gaara because of his similarly radical personal change and inner conflict. Just like Gaara, Kaneki, at first, is a misunderstood lone wolf who has to face really deep trauma.

The story of Kaneki who, after a horrific encounter, turns into a half-ghoul, follows the same arc of development that Gaara underwent from a troubled character to become more sympathetic and complex.

Both characters face serious psychological complications and cannot reconcile themselves with their new identities against their former background, which again is a reflection of how they share their themes of personal growth and surmounting adversity.

4) Trafalgar D. Law (One Piece)

Young Trafalgar D. Law as seen in anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Trafalgar D. Law from One Piece is another one of the similar anime characters like Gaara. Their backstories are pitiful, and the tragic events of their lives have taken their toll on their personalities and motivations. Law had to endure the loss of his hometown and the death of his family, much like what happened to Gaara.

Similar to Gaara, Law was portrayed as cold and indifferent at the beginning, since he experienced great pain in the past. During the series, however, both characters show massive development from loner to leader and bear great influence among their people. Their complex way of redemption and resilience makes them interesting characters in each series.

5) Zeref Dragneel (Fairy Tail)

Zeref Dragneel as seen in anime (Image via A-1 Pictures)

For emotional depth as deep as that of his tragic past, Zeref Dragneel, from Fairy Tail, is one of the anime characters like Gaara. A lot like Gaara, Zeref has a tragic past of being cursed with immortality and desiring death, he becomes a figure of darkness and despair.

Both characters evolve from figures nobody understood into complex antagonists driven by their internal struggles. The mission that Zeref had to put an end to his pain converted him into the role of a formidable villain, reflecting how Gaara developed from a child in torment to a commanding character. Their journeys reflect deep personal conflicts and the search for redemption.

6) Scar (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

Scar as seen in anime (Image via Studio Bones)

Scar is a deeply conflicted character from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. He is a man driven by the need for revenge and a sense of justice. A great deal of Scar's past has been loss and trauma, which have been channeled into his desire for revenge against those he perceived responsible for the tragedies his people experienced. The heavy weight of his morality and his activities make Scar a tormented figure.

His transformation from a vindictive warrior to a more contemplative and atoning figure truly parallels the deep personal change that occurred in Gaara. It is due to this intensity of emotional conflict and change that Scar is one of the anime characters like Gaara.

7) Akame (Akame ga Kill!)

Akame as seen in anime (Image via White Fox)

Akame from Akame ga Kill! represents a hardened exterior with deep emotional scars and a search for redemption. Similar to anime characters like Gaara, she is an able and strong warrior who has faced a disturbing past, combined with enormous personal loss.

She struggles to find a balance between her duties from the past and those from the present. Her parallel is Gaara because through attempts by both characters to come out of their internal turmoil and rise as strong protagonists, an interesting development in terms of character can be traced to a more complex sense of responsibility and self-development.

8) Akira Fudo (Devilman Crybaby)

Akira Fudo as seen in anime (Image via Netflix)

Akira Fudo of Devilman Crybaby is a character filled with turmoil and emotion. The turmoil in his inner self, with the dual identity of being a human and a devil, exhibits the anxiety of his deep isolation and turmoil.

Akira has to undergo extreme personal sacrifice in his journey to fight and come to terms with his own identity against the dark forces within him. His transformation from a problem-filled person to a strong, yet tragic character, is similar to other anime characters like Gaara.

9) Megumi Fushiguro (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Megumi Fushiguro as seen in anime (Image via MAPPA)

Megumi Fushiguro from Jujutsu Kaisen and Gaara share seriousness, a tormented past, and interesting internal conflict. Megumi's nature is reserved, and he is committed to the protection of others, which, though he carries emotional scars, shows the same transformation that has taken place with Gaara, from tormented to guardian.

That is where he is one of the similar anime characters like Gaara, as the growth and resilience exhibited by the characters in personal battles and changing roles are massive.

10) Thorfinn (Vinland Saga)

Thorfinn as seen in anime (Image via MAPPA)

Thorfinn from Vinland Saga is one of the anime characters like Gaara through his traumatic past and self-discovery, which entitles them both to the desire for atonement. Violence and revenge have been instilled in him since childhood; it is a deep-rooted urge to avenge his people.

Eventually, Thorfinn will undergo a major emotional and psychic shift in search of his new purpose and pacification. The path he has traveled, from a vengeful warrior to a thoughtful one, desirous of redemption, reminds so much of the journey taken by Gaara.

Final thoughts

Anime characters like Gaara in Naruto, connect with audiences through the rich background stories and personal battles that ask for sympathy. This includes characters like Ken Kaneki, Shoto Todoroki, Trafalgar D. Law, and some others. Despite all the differences, there is a common thread of transformation and emotional depth among them.

Their trajectories from violent roots to a high scale of personal growth mimic the stellar development in the character of Gaara. The journey of each character underlines his battle with his demons and, afterward, his redemption, making their stories unique.

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Edited by Ahana Mukhopadhyay