In many anime arcs, the central protagonist or most powerful character is often the one who saves the day when the group is facing a crisis. The antagonist is typically defeated, the captives are rescued, and the situation is resolved. As the strongest member, the main character instills confidence in everyone.
Despite this, it is not uncommon for the strongest character to face challenges in many anime arcs. They may be hindered or delayed, or even succumb to death or a debilitating virus. This is evident in popular anime such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Dragon Ball Z, where there are arcs where the strongest character is unable to participate.
The absence of the strongest character often leads to significant changes in the story. In anime arcs, it is not uncommon for the heroes to unite or for the villains to come close to victory.
Please note that the upcoming article contains significant spoilers for all the anime mentioned. The views expressed are solely those of the author.
10 Anime Arcs Where the Strongest Character Disappears and Causes Major Changes
Ramona Flowers: Ace Detective (Scott Pilgrim Takes off)
In its entirety, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off poses a significant question: What transpires when Scott is no longer a part of the narrative? The response is that Ramona Flowers assumes control of the plot, with the rest of the characters becoming the main focus. This leads to a conclusion for many of the characters, particularly the Evil Exes.
The film showed growth for all characters involved, with the Exes being humanized and Ramona learning the importance of not running away at the first sign of difficulty. Knives Chau also realized that Scott was not a good boyfriend and moved on to find someone better, even joining Scott’s band. Additionally, Julie fell in love with Gideon and Matthew Patel found success as a musician.
This anime adaptation stays truer to the original comics compared to the movie, which simplified the plot to focus solely on Scott’s battles against his exes. While some characters are excluded from the anime arc, such as Scott’s ex-girlfriend Lisa Miller, their absence is understandable since Scott is not present in the storyline. This also allows for more emphasis on Ramona’s character development, something that was lacking in the movie.
Despite only appearing in the last two episodes, Scott learns his lesson early on about becoming a better person. The act of fighting his toxic future self serves as a powerful reminder for him to address his issues. His temporary absence ultimately serves as a therapeutic experience for the other characters, rather than causing the year-long problems depicted in the comics due to his avoidance of his problems.
The Fall of the Hero Society (My Hero Academia: Hideout Raid arc to Dark Hero arc)
Despite its flaws, the Hero Society in My Hero Academia was not lacking in one aspect – All Might’s role as The Symbol of Peace. Overall, the rise of Quirks and the superhuman society had been mostly beneficial for a significant period of time. However, when an individual is elevated to such a high status, it becomes challenging to sustain it.
Following the Hideout Raid arc, All Might’s retirement had a monumental impact. Though Class 1-A and the professional heroes were successful in defeating Overhaul, it came at a great cost – Mirio’s Quirk was rendered useless and Sir Nighteye tragically lost his life. Endeavor faced challenges as he stepped into the role of an unpopular successor. Meanwhile, the Villains took advantage of the chaos and united with the Meta Liberation Army, increasing their numbers and gaining the loyalty of Gigantomachia.
The operation to infiltrate the Paranormal Liberation Army’s compound during the anime arc The Paranormal Liberation War proved to be a success as thousands of villains were apprehended. However, the heroes found themselves in a difficult situation as Shigaraki was under the control of All for One and Gigantomachia had caused widespread destruction in his journey to the battlefield, resulting in significant casualties for the hero side.
Despite the loss of 19 heroes and numerous civilians, the devastation of several cities, and the escape of many criminals from Tartarus, the heroes were not deterred. While some chose to retire, Class 1-A and other remaining professionals, including All Might, continued to persevere. Even as Japan descended into chaos, these brave individuals banded together to face The Final War and put an end to All for One.
3) The Dragon Team Steps Up: Dragon Ball Z’s Android Saga
Despite stepping up when Goku was preoccupied or deceased, such as during the Saiyan and Namek sagas, the Dragon Team’s main purpose was to delay the enemy until Goku’s arrival. In the Saiyan saga, this often led to numerous casualties, while in the Namek saga, they barely managed to survive. This remained the norm for Dragon Ball Z until the Android Saga brought about significant changes.
Throughout the Android Saga anime arc, Goku is bedridden and battling a heart virus for most of the time. Thanks to Future Trunks’ medicine, he is able to fight back against the illness. This leads the Dragon Team to unite and prevent Future Trunks’ apocalyptic future from becoming a reality. As a result, this arc is one of the least violent in Dragon Ball Z, with only Goku and Future Trunks meeting their demise at the end.
Throughout this anime arc, a number of consequences ensued due to Goku’s absence from the fight.
- Gohan successfully attained Super Saiyan 2, defeated Cell, and served as the main protagonist leading up to the Buu Saga.
- After transforming into a Super Saiyan and defeating Android 19, Vegeta made the decision to raise Trunks and retired from fighting for several years.
- Despite being killed by a Saibaman earlier, Yamcha managed to survive being pierced in the chest by Android 20 and lived to see the end of the arc.
- Despite having previously been easily defeated by Nappa, Tien managed to hold off Semi-Perfect Cell using his Tri-Beams and ultimately survived the arc.
- Future Trunks successfully returned to his own timeline and eliminated the androids and Cell, effectively preventing Majin Buu from being resurrected by eliminating Dabura and Babidi in the gap between Z and Super.
- After being revived, both Androids 17 and 18 showed significant improvements in their personalities. They were no longer as sadistic or cruel as they were in Trunks’ future. Additionally, 18 got married to Krillin while 17 pursued a career as a park ranger.
- By fusing with Kami, Piccolo was able to match Android 17 and Imperfect Cell in a one-on-one battle.
- Dende’s appointment as Guardian of Earth also involved the upgrading of Shenron, allowing the dragon to now grant three wishes.
- Despite being beaten to a pulp in the Saiyan Saga and killed in the Namek Saga, Krillin managed to survive Cell and eventually marry 18 after not being defeated by the androids.
- Despite remaining dead for years, Goku eventually returned in the later stages of the Buu saga.
This storyline challenged the established norms of Dragon Ball Z. The Dragon Team was forced to rely on their own abilities and did their best to survive. Though Goku eventually regained his strength, he spent a majority of his time training with Gohan in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. This not only aided in the growth of their characters and abilities, but also contributed to a more intense and gripping plot.
Yuji Itadori: Fugitive (Jujutsu Kaisen: The Shibuya Incident)
Despite saving Megumi from a cursed spirit by consuming Sukuna’s finger, Yuji Itadori of Jujutsu Kaisen found himself in a dangerous position as the higher-ups considered him a liability and a candidate for execution. This was especially true after Sukuna briefly took control of him. However, it was only after Satoru Gojo’s convincing words that they decided not to go through with the execution of Yuji.
Despite this, Yoshinobu Gakuganji remained determined to have Yuji killed during the Kyoto Goodwill Event arc. However, the true turning point came with The Shibuya Incident, which had catastrophic repercussions for all involved. The situation was already dire with numerous individuals trapped in the Shibuya underground, either being devoured or transformed into curses. Matters only worsened when Gojo was sealed.
In short, only Kenjaku emerged victorious. Numerous older Jujutsu Sorcerors such as Nanami and Naobito Zenin perished, as well as several assistant managers. Mechamaru was defeated by Mahito, Nobara was left in critical condition, Sukuna took control of Yuji’s body, and all the Disaster Spirits, including Jogo and Mahito, were killed.
After Kenjaku unleashed millions of curse spirits in Tokyo, the city was deemed a no man’s land. This led to Yuji’s reprieve coming to an end and being pursued by Yuta Okkotsu. Meanwhile, Maki destroyed the Zenin clan, and Kenjaku initiated the Culling Game. Although Gojo eventually returned, he ended up in a fatal battle against Sukuna.
The Third Impact Rebuilt – Evangelion 3: You Can (Not) Redo
The Earth in Neon Genesis Evangelion was permanently transformed by the First and Second Impacts. The First Impact unintentionally brought life to the planet in the form of humans, as Lillith’s arrival was accidental. The Second Impact caused the melting of the Antarctic ice caps, resulting in the loss of 2 billion lives and permanently altering the Earth’s axis, changing the seasons and geography forever.
In Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance, Shinji Ikari unintentionally triggers the Third Impact while attempting to rescue Rei from The Tenth Angel. In the midst of this, Unit-01 continues to evolve and unleashes the Third Impact through a powerful cross-shaped wave. Kaworu’s timely arrival manages to temporarily halt the event, but Rebuild of Evangelion 3: You Can (Not) Redo showcases the incredible consequences of this moment.
Despite the overwhelming devastation that turned the seas red and caused the disappearance or death of most of humanity, there were still remnants left behind. These remnants took the form of massive headless Evangelion bodies, known as the Failures of Infinity. In the midst of this chaos, Shinji found himself sealed inside Eva Unit-01 for 14 years, orbiting Earth within a Tesseract. Eventually, he was rescued by Mari and Asuka.
Despite not being explicitly shown onscreen, there are context clues and dialogues within the missing 14 years that provide an understanding of the events that took place. NERV underwent a civil war which ultimately led to the establishment of WLLE, Ryoji Kaji bravely sacrificed himself to prevent the Third Impact, Asuka suffered the loss of an eye, and the remaining human population was forced to reside in specialized communities, as depicted in Evangelion 3+1: Thrice Upon A Time.
6) The Destruction of the Black Knights (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion: R2)
The Brittanian Empire had a notorious reputation for mercilessly slaughtering and annexing nations and their people for years. Any attempts at resistance were swiftly crushed, particularly in Japan, known as Area 11. However, everything changed when Lelouch Lamprouge (birth name Lelouch vi Britannia) stumbled upon CC in a tube and was bestowed with the power of Geass. From then on, he took on the alias of Zero and became a force to be reckoned with.
Under Zero’s leadership, the Black Knights transformed into a formidable army from a struggling resistance. Despite being on the brink of triumph during their initial attack on the Tokyo Settlement, Lelouch was unexpectedly ambushed and seized by Suzaku. He was then presented to Emperor Charles, marking his defeat.
Lelouch’s subsequent brainwashing and capture marked the end of Code Geass’ first anime arc and resulted in his absence from the story for a year. During this time, the Black Knights’ ranks significantly decreased to only a small group of members. With the loss of Lelouch’s clever tactics and strategic thinking, Britannia was able to regain control of Japan.
After more than a year, the Black Knights were finally able to find and save Lelouch. During this time, Nunally became the Viceroy of Area 11 and attempted to reinstate the Special Exclusion Zone. Lelouch and a smaller group of Black Knights had no choice but to escape to the Chinese Federation. Although it took some time, they eventually regrouped and launched a powerful return to Japan.
Everyone’s Reactions to Boruto’s Return
Despite their initially strained relationship in Boruto: Naruto the Next Generations, Boruto Uzumaki and his father Naruto gradually began to reconcile following the Versus Momoshiki anime arc. Previously at odds due to Naruto’s busy schedule, their bond strengthened as Boruto grew to appreciate his father more and Naruto made an effort to spend more quality time with his family.
The arrival of Kawaki after the conflict with Kara and Isshiki Otsutsuki appeared to improve the situation. Boruto, Naruto, and Kawaki formed a strong bond, despite Kawaki’s troubled past which caused him to often seem aloof and angry.
During the Omnipotence arc, the long-standing issues with Kawaki finally reached a critical point. Fueled by his intense hatred for his Karma and the Ōtsutsuki clan as a whole, Kawaki made the decision to try and eliminate Boruto, fearing that he would eventually be possessed by Momoshiki. In order to prevent any interference, he sealed away Naruto and Hinata, stating that he was willing to sacrifice his own life to achieve his goal.
Ada’s Omnipotence was responsible for swapping everyone’s memories of Kawaki’s history with Boruto’s, causing Boruto to become an outlaw at the end of the first part of the series. For more than three years, he was forced to live on the run and avoid his former friends and family. Despite eventually returning to the village to assist, Boruto and Kawaki have yet to engage in a fight and Naruto and Hinata remain sealed away.
The Impact of Climate Change in the Movie Pokémon the Movie 2: The Power of One
Disrupting the delicate equilibrium of nature always leads to negative consequences for humanity. This is particularly evident in the world of Pokémon, where the weather and seasons are regulated by powerful birds. Lugia is responsible for maintaining balance among the Legendary Birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. However, their equilibrium was thrown off when a Pokémon collector named Lawrence the Third attempted to capture them.
This strategy is not a wise one, as the act of capturing them causes significant disruption to the global climate. This disruption results in various climate catastrophes, such as snow storms occurring in the summer in Pallet Town, tropical regions freezing over, sudden extreme storms on normally calm seas, and massive lightning storms. The imbalance in the climate is so severe that, according to a prophecy that Lawrence is following in his quest to capture Lugia, it could ultimately bring about the end of the world.
The situation becomes a race against time as the group must play Lugia’s song in order to calm the birds and assist Lugia. Initially, Lugia is overpowered by the united Legendary Birds, but with the help of Tracey, Misty, Ash, and Melody, all three Legendary Treasures are brought to the shrine on Shamouti Island and Lugia’s power is amplified by the song.
Lugia’s song proved to be a valuable asset in calming the birds and bringing an end to the storms. This power also allowed Lugia to disrupt the currents that were causing the climate to change, ultimately guiding the legendary birds back to their home. Had Lawrence not attempted to capture Lugia, it would have been capable of handling the situation on its own.
9) Changes in the Timeline of Stone Ocean (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean)
In popular time travel media such as Doctor Who, Back to the Future, and Steins;Gate, time travel and changes to the timeline are significant and often catastrophic elements. However, the use of timeline changes in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure may seem too outlandish for some fans, despite the presence of supernatural elements such as vampires, Hamon/Ripple, and Stands.
In Stone Ocean, Father Enrico Pucci, the main antagonist, was fixated on attaining “Heaven,”having become a zealous disciple of Dio. Pucci’s Stand, Whitesnake, managed to steal Jotaro Kujo’s memory DISC and Stand DISC, leaving him in a comatose state for most of Stone Ocean.
Despite this, Jolyne’s group engaged in a fierce battle with Pucci as they journeyed from the Stone Ocean Prison to Cape Canaveral. Pucci’s Stand eventually evolved into Made in Heaven, which bestowed upon him the ability to manipulate time and reshape the universe. Despite being deemed the “ultimate Stand”, Pucci was unable to capture or defeat Emporio Alnino during the crucial showdown.
Emperio utilized Weather Report’s powers to vanquish the enemy, causing the world to reset into a different universe. In this new reality, the occurrences of Stone Ocean were erased and Jolyne and her companions lived to witness a fresh start. With Father Pucci’s disappearance and Jotaro’s prolonged unconsciousness during the events of Stone Ocean, the course of events was altered.
Light becomes nearly unstoppable in Death Note: Part 2
The primary appeal for numerous Death Note followers was the rivalry between detective L. Lawliet and former student-turned-murderer Light Yagami. Their tense cat-and-mouse dynamic included Light’s cunning tactics to outsmart and eliminate FBI Agents, particularly FBI Agent Naomi Misora, as well as his infiltration of the Kira task force, the emergence of a second Kira, and other challenges.
Despite the presence of a second Kira in Misa and the added complication of a third in Higuchi, Light was faced with a dangerous situation that ultimately led to him erasing parts of his memory. However, Misa eventually regained her memories and struck a deal with the Shinigami Rem. This resulted in Light once again using Misa as Kira to continue killing people, and ultimately leading to the deaths of L and Watari at the hands of Rem.
After L’s death, Light was able to maintain his reign as supreme leader while remaining hidden from suspicion by the Kira Investigation Team. He became more ruthless with his judgments, utilizing Ryuk’s powers, and even caused entire nations to change their laws to align with Kira’s desires in the anime arc Death Note Part II. With no one left to challenge him, Light emerged as the ultimate victor.
Despite ultimately being revealed as Kira and meeting a slow and agonizing death in the manga, Light’s downfall did not come immediately after L’s death. It took Near and Mello some time to expose him, giving Light a taste of godlike power. However, like many mortals who believe themselves to be gods, Light’s hubris ultimately led to his downfall.
Many anime arcs revolve around the disappearance of the strongest character and its consequences. This can be seen in instances where the strongest character, such as Goku in Dragon Ball Z, is the main protagonist, or when the strongest character, like Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen, serves as a mentor.
In many cases, these anime arcs have an impact on the heroes, the people, or the world, regardless of their role in the story. This is often seen when the strongest character is removed, providing an opportunity for other characters to shine or paving the way for significant changes in the status quo.
The response from the audience remains consistent – they all long for the return of the strongest character in a future anime arc.
- 10 strongest characters in Jujutsu Kaisen, ranked
- 5 shonen anime arcs that lived up to the hype (& 5 that were extremely disappointing)
- Every anime arc longer than the entire My Hero Academia anime
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