The Anime Characters With The Worst Downgrade

Nothing is more aggravating to anime enthusiasts than seeing a character with enormous potential being relegated, ruined, or horribly abused over the course of a series. Regardless of whether they were a powerhouse, an emotional anchor, or simply a fan favorite, their fall is particularly difficult to take as viewers recall just how much potential they had.

Best Anime With Overpowered Main Characters, Ranked

Super powerful protagonists capable of anything might feel redundant in an anime plot, but these series are fun to watch despite an OP MC.

They are not characters who died in a hero’s death or whose story arcs were deliberately closed; these are characters who were once leading or fan favorites, then were forgotten and brought back as shadows of their former selves. These are eight anime characters who had the potential to be great but ultimately ended up being a disappointment to fans.

8

Tenya Iida

My Hero Academia

Iida made a strong impression in the early arcs of My Hero Academia. Initially introduced as the class representative with strict ideals and impressive speed, his personal quest to fight Stain proved his emotional side, his sense of justice, and the need to grow out of his narrow-mindedness.

Since that point, however, Iida has become much less important as a character. What was formerly a moral compass in Class 1-A was shifted to the role of a background character with minimal development. His demotion stings, particularly in light of how much he used to seem like a part of the very core of the series.

7

Yuno Gasai

Future Diary (Mirai Nikki)

Yuno was the main protagonist of the crazy psychological rollercoaster that is Future Diary. The stalkerish, highly volatile yandere, she was frightening and captivating in equal measure, stealing practically every scene she appeared in. Her complex backstory did nothing but complicate her insanity.

However, as the series moved into its latter half, Yuno’s character became flat. Her motivations were more random than multifaceted and, instead of developing further, she grew to be redundant. A character that was based on a mystery and chaos, Yuno tragically became predictable.

6

Gaara

Naruto/Boruto

Gaara’s character development in Naruto is full of redemption and rebirth. Once a cruel Jinchuriki and later a respected Kazekage, he deserved to be among the strongest and most complicated characters in the series. It was his fights and his leadership that endeared him to fans.

However, in Boruto, Gaara is empty. He remains, though not with the impact or surrounded with the same emotional impact. He is more of a political leader than the passionate, loving warrior that fans used to cheer for. The further he has descended, the more it hurts to recall what he was.

5

Van Hohenheim

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Hohenheim should have been an insanely interesting character—he is immortal, insanely wise, and tied to the origin of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’s main villain. He entered the series buoyed by great anticipation and emotional reunions that suggested a larger role was in order.

40 Most Iconic Anime Girls With Red Hair, Ranked

There are a ton of iconic anime characters with colorful hair, and these are the best redheads among them.

Still, with all his mighty power and history, he seldom stood in the foreground. His character was often pushed to the background, and was supported in the background without ever receiving the emotional and narrative focus he deserved—a shameful instance of wasted potential in an otherwise almost perfect series.

4

Uub

Dragon Ball Z/GT

Uub appeared in the finale of Dragon Ball Z as the reincarnation of Majin Buu, foreshadowing a strong potential future for him. As Goku accepted him as his ward, fans were geared up to witness the next installment of Dragon Ball featuring Uub as the main protagonist.

Then there was GT, in which the development of Uub was quick and unsatisfactory. He did have his moments, but nothing even resembling the future-saving hero fans were used to or hoping for. He was soon left behind in irrelevance, a precipitous decline after his promising setup.

3

Historia Reiss/Krista Lenz

Attack on Titan

The story of Historia in Attack on Titan is one of the most emotional in the show. Her journey, especially the one that started with posing as another person and ended with her learning her real identity and becoming a queen, was powerful, and one that viewers connected to.

Related

Attack on Titan: The 12 Most Powerful Titans In The Series, Ranked

Titans are the biggest factor in the Attack on Titan world. These behemoths have distinguished themselves as the strongest in the series.

Then came Season 4. Historia was relegated to a footnote as she was merely present in a few scenes and had little to no effect on the plot. The absence of a character who had been such a core part of the series’ political and emotional landscape was painful and infuriating to long-time fans.

2

Sasuke Uchiha

Naruto/Boruto

The path that Sasuke went through to become a vengeful rogue ninja and, later on, a repentant wanderer was not an easy one. Even with his imperfections, it did not diminish his strength and significance in the story. He was consistently positioned as an equal and worthy opponent to Naruto, and he significantly shaped the narrative in Naruto.

However, in Boruto, Sasuke is empty inside. Although he remains influential, he is frequently marginalized, defeated in key battles, and leaves no legacy behind. Once a reincarnated God-level fighter, now a silent teacher with almost nothing to do with him, his decline is among the saddest in anime history.

1

Gohan

Dragon Ball Z/GT/Super

At one point, Gohan was even set to become even stronger than Goku, more so after his mythical transformation to Super Saiyan 2 during the Cell Games. He possesses the potential, story weight, and adoration of fans to be made the new lead of a series. He marked a generational change in storytelling, and fans were all in.

However, in Dragon Ball Super, Gohan was sidelined as a background character. Taking a break from his training to study, his power and on-screen presence suffered tremendously. Sure, he has been showing signs of redemption recently, but those years of unfulfilled potential are difficult to forget.

The decline of characters is not necessarily an indicator of poor writing; it can also be a simple case of the story focusing on the wrong narratives or having too many characters to keep track of. However, when the decline in quality is as steep as in this case, it cannot be ignored. These characters were introduced with a lot of promise, power, and purpose only to be either left behind or sometimes deprived of the very things that made them great to begin with.

More

Most Unlikable Horror Game Villains

Horror games are full of villains that players despise — whether by design, or not.