Many anime characters are known for their extreme selflessness. Whether it be putting others’ needs before their own or putting their lives on the line to save their friends, these characters show time and time again how dedicated they are to protecting the safety of their comrades, even at the risk of their own jobs.
Notably, it’s not just characters in action anime who put their family first. Characters in genres as innocuous as slice-of-life and josei anime can also put their perceived families above all else. Characters like Aang, Kakashi, and Edward are examples of people who will always put those they care about first.
10/10 Kakushi Goes To Extreme Lengths To Prevent Hime From Finding Out His True Career
Kakushigoto: My Dad’s Secret Ambition
Kakushigoto‘s Kakushi is a manga creator who’s known for the crude humor in his work. He loves his job but is terrified of his young daughter finding out about the type of manga he creates. Even after his wife’s passing, Kakushi continues to hide his career from his daughter, Hime.
Kakushi even distances himself at times, so she wouldn’t get close enough to find out the truth. While it would’ve been better if Kakushi could communicate honestly with Hime, the extreme lengths he went to while trying to shelter her are endearing. Kakushi eventually quit the manga to end the secrecy once and for all, abandoning his passion out of protective love for Hime.
9/10 Daikichi Asks For Fewer Hours So He Can Pick Up Rin On Time
Usagi Drop
The anime Usagi Drop is a josei slice-of-life about Daikichi after he takes in the young Rin. His life is suddenly and drastically changed after the death of a mutual relative leaves Rin without a guardian. Daikichi steps up to the plate and decides she can live with him, but he struggles at first because of his lack of experience in taking care of children.
Daikichi’s schedule was already busy before he took Rin in, and he realized he couldn’t balance his work and home life. At his career’s expense, Daikichi decided to ask for fewer hours at work, so he would have more time to take care of Rin.
8/10 Aang Gives Up On Opening His Chakra Gates To Save Katara
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender is a series that follows the conventional hero’s journey. Twelve-year-old Aang has the incredible ability to manipulate air, water, earth, and fire, but he has the responsibility of keeping the world in balance. In order to truly master his strongest ability, the Avatar state, he goes through intense chakra training.
Aang meditates to open the gates that previously hindered his success, but he struggled to open the gate that surrenders earthly attachment because of his connection to his close friend, Katara. Despite the advice of Guru Pathik, Aang decides to leave this gate unopened. He gave up mastering the ability, so he could save Katara and his closest friends, who he arguably considered family.
7/10 Detective Aizawa Quits The Kira Investigation Force To Be With His Family
Death Note
Detective Aizawa is one of the police officers L chooses to join the Kira Investigation Force in Death Note. Detective Aizawa’s and L’s personalities often clashed, but they still managed to work together while tracking Kira. After L builds a tower for the investigation team’s members to live in, Detective Aizawa starts questioning his commitment.
Aizawa wonders if he can drop everything to work on this case even though he has a wife and young daughter at home. After an argument with L, Detective Aizawa decides to resign from the team and return to his previous job as a police officer to support his family.
6/10 Goto Asks For A Demotion To Have More Time With Her Kid
Usagi Drop
From Usagi Drop, Goto is one of Daikichi’s co-workers. She’s a kind person who Daikichi consults for advice about how to best support Rin. Daikichi also talks with Goto while considering asking for fewer hours, causing Goto to open up about when she asked for a demotion.
Goto shared that after the birth of her young son, she quickly figured out that neither she nor her spouse could spend much time with their kid due to hectic work schedules. To resolve the issue, Goto asked for a demotion, so she could have more time with her son while still making an income to support her family.
5/10 Midori Nendo Raised Riki As A Single Mother
The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.
Midori Nendo is the mother of Riki Nendo from the anime The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K. She had Nendo while she was still in high school, and since then, she’s made Riki her top priority. Midori is the type of person who always looks out for the people she values in life.
A few years into her marriage with Riki’s dad, Midori realized he lost his ambition in life. She ended up divorcing him, so he would learn to be more independent instead of relying on others. Midori Nendo has always made decisions with the intention to help those around her.
4/10 Kirishima Distracts Yaeka So She Doesn’t See Him Fighting
The Yakuza’s Guide To Babysitting
Kirishima is a young yakuza member tasked with the job of watching the boss’s daughter named Yaeka in the anime The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting. Even though he’s basically a babysitter, he still has to do yakuza work, which leads to many inconvenient and partially graphic fights. In Episode 1, Kirishima notices he is being trailed by yakuza members from a different family.
Kirishima immediately asks Yaeko to play Red Light Green Light, and when she closes her eyes, he takes the opportunity to beat up their stalkers. Even though he plays a key role in his boss’ organization, he never lets work get in the way of spending time with Yaeka, treating her like his own daughter, and keeping her safe.
3/10 Kakashi Is Always Ready To Support His Comrades During Missions
Naruto
Naruto‘s Kakashi was a child prodigy who became one of the strongest jonin ninja in the Leaf Village. He spent most of his childhood alone because of his father’s tragic death, which was caused by a failed mission. Kakashi’s dad decided to save his comrades knowing that the mission might fail because of his decision.
When Kakashi grew up, he still shared the same belief that friends and family come first over everything. Kakashi is always there for Naruto and the rest of Team 7 no matter what the situation is. He acts as a father figure towards them and gives them the family dynamic that some of his team never got to have.
2/10 Alphonse Elric Will Do Whatever It Takes To Restore His Brother’s Body
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Alphonse Elric is a state alchemist along with his brother in the anime Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. When they were both younger, their mother passed away. Desperate to get her back, Alphonse and his brother performed a forbidden transmutation.
The transmutation went horribly wrong, resulting in his brother getting injured and Alphonse losing his body and having his soul tethered to a metal suit of armor. Alphonse, along with his brother, search for years to find a philosopher’s stone that will allow them to restore their bodies. No matter what, Alphonse never gives up hope that he will be able to restore his brother’s injuries.
1/10 Ed Elric Sacrificed His Arm To Save His Brother
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood‘s Edward Elric is a young alchemist who works for the government. Distraught with grief after his mother’s passing, young Edward and his brother tried to revive her using a forbidden transmutation technique.
The transmutation failed and resulted in Edward losing his leg and his brother’s body being taken away. Without hesitation, Edward used alchemy to bring his brother back by binding him to a suit of armor, but he sacrificed his right arm in the process. Despite already knowing the risks of this type of alchemy, Edward is still determined to find a way to bring his brother’s body back.