15 Worst Things Done by Anime Heroes

Even heroes we love can make damaging choices. These decisions might stem from urgent situations, or from strong emotions like pride, anger, or fear. Whatever the reason, these moments are memorable because they remind us that even heroes are capable of terrible acts.

This list highlights the most damaging things done by main characters in well-known stories. Each entry details a particular action and its consequences for those affected. We’ve also included information about the production studios when it helps explain how these moments were portrayed, as the execution on screen often matters a lot.

Edward Elric’s human transmutation that cost Alphonse his body

Before the main events of ‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’ unfold, Edward and Alphonse try to resurrect their mother using a forbidden practice called human transmutation. This attempt goes horribly wrong: Alphonse loses his physical body, and Edward loses an arm and a leg while desperately trying to save his brother’s soul by attaching it to a suit of armor. This devastating event sets the stage for the entire story and fuels their quest.

The story carefully shows the results of past events, from incomplete ceremonies to the visible marks left by mechanical replacements. This focus on consequences is a recurring theme, demonstrating how the brothers’ actions affect everyone around them, both friend and foe.

Goku handing Cell a senzu bean before the fight with Gohan

During the fight in ‘Dragon Ball Z’, Goku surprisingly gives his enemy, Cell, a healing bean right before Gohan enters the battle. This restores Cell’s energy and makes the fight last longer, putting everyone in danger. It’s a risky move that unnecessarily endangers Gohan and allows Cell to continue the battle on his own terms.

Toei Animation builds tension by rapidly switching between reactions – shocked friends and a composed Goku. This editing emphasizes how one decision can escalate a problem, ultimately leading to a situation where Gohan is compelled to tap into power he’s always avoided.

Eren Yeager setting the Rumbling in motion

In ‘Attack on Titan,’ Eren unleashes the Rumbling, releasing a massive number of Colossal Titans. This unstoppable advance destroys cities and kills people worldwide. It’s not an accident, but a carefully considered decision that turns a struggle for survival into widespread devastation, unlike anything seen before.

MAPPA’s animation uses low-angle shots to emphasize the helplessness of those caught in the conflict. The series consistently highlights the human cost of major choices, showing how characters grapple with decisions that drastically and tragically change their world.

Gon Freecss sacrificing everything to destroy Neferpitou

In the ‘Hunter x Hunter’ Chimera Ant storyline, Gon sacrifices his future abilities for the power to defeat Pitou. This desperate act leaves him on the brink of death, deeply upsetting his friends and leaving them to cope with the consequences. It’s an act of revenge that doesn’t consider the pain it causes those who love him.

Madhouse creates tension by using both stillness and jarring close-up shots. This stylistic choice emphasizes the character’s change as a definitive break, leaving others to deal with the consequences.

Shinji Ikari triggering an Impact through desperate choices

In the ‘Evangelion’ rebuild series, Shinji’s efforts to fix things actually lead the world closer to another catastrophic event. He becomes fixated on saving a single person, even as the danger escalates beyond his ability to manage it, resulting in widespread devastation and immense suffering for those caught in the chaos.

Studio Khara’s sequence uses dramatic shots of the city alongside chaotic scenes inside the cockpit. This contrast effectively shows how a private struggle can escalate into a devastating disaster with widespread consequences.

Lelouch vi Britannia unleashing a massacre after a command goes wrong

In ‘Code Geass’, a command issued using the Geass ability tragically leads Euphemia to order a massacre. Lelouch exploits the resulting chaos to advance his rebellion. This event transforms a political strategy into a devastating bloodbath and deeply damages his most important relationships.

Sunrise depicts a chaotic and fast-moving scenario to illustrate how easily control can be lost. The play demonstrates that power, when wielded carelessly, can spark uncontrollable violence.

Ichigo Kurosaki losing control and attacking an ally

During his fight with Ulquiorra in ‘Bleach’, Ichigo loses control and his inner hollow takes over. This causes him to lash out, hurting Uryu and frightening his friends as they try to help. The incident demonstrates how dangerous uncontrolled strength can be, even leading to harm for those Ichigo cares about.

Studio Pierrot highlights the shift through unusual camera angles and a chaotic soundtrack. The scene serves as a cautionary tale, suggesting that development without considering everyone’s well-being can harm the group.

Yuji Itadori surrendering his body to Sukuna during Shibuya

During the intense battle in Shibuya in ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’, Yuji momentarily loses control, allowing the powerful Sukuna to take over his body. This leads to devastating consequences and many deaths, which deeply affects Yuji. This loss of control is considered one of the most tragic moments in the series.

MAPPA effectively portrays the eerie calm that descends after intense fighting. The show emphasizes how a single mistake can give an opponent the opportunity to devastate an entire city.

Meliodas destroying a kingdom when his demon power erupts

In ‘The Seven Deadly Sins,’ we learn that Meliodas lost control in the past, completely destroying the kingdom of Danafor. This event not only wiped out an entire nation but also created lasting distrust among those who remember it. It also explains why his friends worry about what might happen if he ever loses control again.

A-1 Pictures effectively uses jarring flashbacks and imagery of devastated environments to immerse the audience in the world after the catastrophe. These visuals constantly highlight the fragility of peace and the importance of self-control to prevent further destruction.

Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama leveling city blocks during a ??? percent meltdown

In ‘Mob Psycho 100’, Mob’s incredible powers become uncontrollable when he gets really emotional. This often leads to widespread destruction, forcing his friends and mentors to step in and try to minimize the damage afterwards.

During these intense moments, Bones fills the screen with fast-moving lines, creating a chaotic visual effect. This technique emphasizes the sheer scale of the destruction and keeps the focus on the people affected by it.

Thorfinn spending years as a hired killer

‘Vinland Saga’ follows Thorfinn as he cycles through hired killings, driven solely by his desire for revenge. These actions don’t serve any greater purpose and negatively impact innocent communities. Even when he attempts to reform, the consequences of his past violence continue to haunt him.

I’ve always appreciated how Wit Studio handles action scenes – they don’t just jump to the next thing. They really show what happens *after* a battle, focusing on the people who are left. It’s a powerful way of showing that every decision our character makes has real consequences, and that those consequences mean people suffer. It makes everything feel so much more impactful because you see the lasting effects of the fights.

Denji letting himself be used in ways that put civilians at risk

Denji, the main character in ‘Chainsaw Man’, often acts impulsively, following orders or giving in to desires without considering what might happen next. This habit makes him easily manipulated into conflicts that erupt in public, causing increasing harm and distress. He’s so focused on the immediate situation that he misses the larger implications of his actions.

MAPPA depicts chaotic street scenes filled with rubble and fleeing people. The animation highlights that unintentional mistakes can be just as destructive as deliberate attacks when powerful forces clash in public.

Emma taking every child on the escape no matter the cost

In ‘The Promised Neverland,’ Emma is determined to rescue all of the younger children, which is admirable. However, this makes their escape much more difficult and dangerous, as it strains their limited supplies and increases the immediate risks they face.

CloverWorks effectively builds tension by showing the difficulties of providing for the group – things like dwindling supplies, exhaustion, and close calls. The anime emphasizes the weight of each decision by illustrating how much more challenging everything becomes as the group grows in size.

Subaru Natsuki sabotaging Emilia with a public outburst

In the anime *Re:Zero*, Subaru tries to support Emilia, but accidentally embarrasses her during an important competition. This causes damage to her reputation and strains relationships with potential allies. Ultimately, his mistake leads to future conflicts that could have been prevented.

White Fox uses silence and shows how the audience reacts to emphasize the broken trust. This damage continues to affect things later on, making it hard for characters to repair their relationships and work together.

Monkey D. Luffy declaring war and drawing a Buster Call

In the anime and manga ‘One Piece’, Luffy’s bold statement at Enies Lobby directly opposes the World Government, leading to a huge counterattack. This attack, known as the Buster Call, brings powerful warships and heavy bombardment down upon Luffy’s allies as they try to flee, nearly destroying several pirate crews.

During the attack, Toei Animation depicts a chaotic scene of numerous ships and crumbling buildings. The animation highlights how bravely facing a threat can unintentionally endanger loved ones, leading to a near-disastrous situation.

Tell us in the comments what moments you’d add to this list, and which one had the biggest impact on you.

2025-10-07 16:21