5 anime characters who lost everything (& 5 who've never lost anything)

Anime characters who lost everything are a topic that a lot of people are interested in because is not common when it comes to mainstream series. Normally, everything works out at the end for the protagonist and his friends, but there are some popular series where tragedy has befallen said characters.

While there are a lot of great anime characters who lost everything in their stories, there are some who didn't and are still well-written, It all depends on the execution and how it fits with each series. That is why here are, in no particular order, five anime characters who lost everything and five more who didn't.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for all the series mentioned here. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeed as a whole.

5 anime characters who lost everything

1. Guts (Berserk)

Guts, one of those anime characters who lost everything (Image via Young Animal)

Guts is not only one of those anime characters who lost everything throughout the story but also a good example of how those tragic events can shape a person. The protagonist of Berserk has seen endless hardships from the moment he was born, and has lost family members, friends, and loved ones throughout the vast majority of the series.

There is no denying that the Eclipse, the climax of the Golden Age arc, was probably the zenith of Guts' struggles in the series. However, he is also an example of pushing through in life, and trying to improve for one's sake and their loved ones. He is the best example in manga of how a character can lose everything and keep going by sheer force of will.

2. Akira Fudo (Devilman)

Akira Fudo, another prominent example among anime characters who lost everything (Image via Netflix)

When it comes to anime characters who lost everything, Akira Fudo might be the first major example of that trope when it comes to battle shonen, since it was made back in the early 70s by manga legend Go Nagai. From the moment that his friend Ryo Asuka convinces him to do a ritual to turn into Devilman and fight the forces of evil, his life only goes downhill.

It turns out that Ryo is Lucifer and was using Akira and other demons to bring forth the apocalypse to the world, resulting in a war that ended humanity. Akira lost his family, his love interest, and the entirety of the human race, resulting in God Himself starting the cycle of the universe once again.

3. Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)

Eren Yeager, another one of the best examples of anime characters who lost everything (Image via MAPPA)

The most tragic element of Eren is that he was the one responsible for everything that happened to him and his eventual downfall in the Attack on Titan series. As the story progresses, it is even discovered that he manipulated the events in history so his mother could die at the hands of a Titan, thus starting young Eren's path for revenge.

The series is centered around Eren's descent into insanity and thirst for revenge, resulting in him becoming the main villain of the series. He not only kills the vast majority of the human race but also loses his connections and is murdered by Mikasa Ackerman, who has been in love with him since they were kids. Eren thus stands out as a prime example among anime characters who lost everything.

4. Light Yagami (Death Note)

Light is a much more complex example of anime characters who lost everything (Image via Madhouse)

When it comes to Death Note's Light Yagami, there is a considerable difference between him and most anime characters who lost everything. That is because of how Light lost his humanity during his quest to become "the god of the new world" and ruler through fear by killing any individual he considered an evildoer.

It is through Light's actions that his father dies, his sister ends up in a wheelchair, and his mother is left alone, trying to pick up the remains of his family. L Lawliet was murdered simply for trying to catch him. Light had no problem manipulating a lot of people to get what he wanted, which resulted in him dying alone and without anyone who knew the truth mourning him.

5. Jonathan Joestar (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Jonathan Joestar is among the most selfless anime characters who lost everything (Image via David Production)

There is no denying that, when it comes to anime characters who lost everything, Jonathan Joestar fits this bill like a glove. That is shown through the first part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Phantom Blood. Dio Brando, adopted by the Joestar family, becomes Jonathan's brother and begins to cause a degree of damage that would last for almost two centuries.

Dio killed Jonathan's father and fought him until their house burnt down. Several people died during their war, and Jonathan himself would eventually die at the hands of his adopted brother. Adding insult to injury, Dio would take over his body, although Jonathan would receive some justice as his descendants would defeat the villain a few parts down the line.

5 anime characters who never lost anything

1. Goku (Dragon Ball)

Goku, definitely not one of those anime characters who lost everything (Image via Toei Animation)

Goku is, without a doubt, the most iconic character in the medium and is also not one of those anime characters who lost everything. He is one of those characters who gained everything since he started Dragon Ball living alone in the woods, and nowadays has a family, friends, and a lot of people he has connections with.

Some people have criticized this by stating that the series doesn't have any stakes, but is also worth pointing out that it always had a very optimistic tone. Author Akira Toriyama never focused on Dragon Ball being dark, and that is perfectly reflected by Goku's character and his journey throughout the series.

2. Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho)

Yusuke as seen in the 90s Yu Yu Hakusho anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The interesting thing about Yusuke Urameshi is that Yu Yu Hakusho is a series that gets a lot darker as the story progresses but his journey becomes more positive and matures after each arc. Therefore, he is not one of those anime characters who lost everything because his story was about making connections and seizing the second chance he was given in life.

Despite the different obstacles he goes through, Yusuke only gets better at life, making friends, getting new masters, and even repairing some relationships that were fractured at the beginning of the story. Even some losses he had, such as Genkai in the Dark Tournament arc, were reversed as the story progressed, so he grew for the better.

3. Kenshin Himura (Rurouni Kenshin)

Kenshin as seen in the recent anime remake (Image via Liden Films)

There is no denying that Kenshin has a very tragic backstory as he was an orphan who had to become a capable warrior, and later a soldier at war who took a lot of lives. All of that could make him one of those anime characters who lost everything, but that was his backstory. The actual story he has in Rurouni Kenshin is fairly positive.

The main story of the manga is about Kenshin making connections after years of wandering through Japan and finding a home. It is telling that he doesn't lose anyone during the story and makes a lot of friends in the process, while not being forced to take a life.

4. Koichi Hirose (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Koichi Hirose, another case of not being one of those anime characters who lost everything (Image via David Production)

This is the only character on this list who isn't a protagonist, although he has a prominent role in the fourth part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Diamond is Unbreakable. Koichi is the first character to meet Jotaro Kujo at Morioh and eventually becomes a good friend with the protagonist, Josuke Higashikata, often being a reliable support during key moments of the storyline.

As Diamond is Unbreakable progresses, Koichi makes a lot more friends, such as Rohan Kishibe, and even gets a love interest, Yukako Yamagishi. He also becomes a lot braver, which is shown through the constant evolutions of his Stand, Echoes.

5. Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)

Ichigo Kurosaki, a prominent example of not being one of those anime characters who lost everything (Image via Shueisha)

Ichigo Kurosaki's motivation is that of being a protector, so it is fairly ironic to claim he is not one of those anime characters who lost everything, when said motivation involves a personal loss. When he was a kid, Ichigo's mother, Masaki Kurosaki, was killed by a Hollow, giving the young boy trauma, and a constant need to be strong and protect his loved ones, thus defining his character.

He spends most of Bleach training to get stronger, and protecting others while dealing with his inner turmoil, although he does succeed. Ichigo saved all three worlds by the end of the series against Yhwach and didn't suffer any major losses from his inner circle.

Final thoughts

There are a lot more anime characters who lost everything and a lot more who didn't across the medium. However, these are some of the most prominent because of the series they are a part of, and the impact said series have had throughout the years.

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