There is an abundance of anime child soldiers throughout the vast multiverse. Whether it be the Scouts in Attack on Titan or the EVA trio in Neon Genesis Evangelion, these young soldiers have various roles such as mecha pilots, monster slayers, and ninjas. While there may be discussions on the morality and appeal of their portrayal, that is a separate topic of debate.
Although they may appear to be alone, many anime child soldiers have a support system to rely on. Eren Yeager had Mikasa, Armin, and the other Scouts by his side. Shinji Ikari had NERV, as well as Misato, Asuka, and Rei. It is challenging to discuss anime child soldiers who had no one to turn to, as this is often portrayed as their backstory rather than the main focus of the story.
Despite this, there are numerous instances of anime child soldiers, such as Guts from Berserk, who start off as solitary individuals and the viewers are able to witness their journey unfold.
Notice: The upcoming article contains spoilers for all the listed anime. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. This article also includes content warnings for mature material such as war crimes, s**ual assault, and harm to minors.
Orphaned Anime Child Soldiers: Tragic Tales of Solitude and Survival
1) Guts: The Black Swordsman (Berserk)
Berserk features various instances of child soldiers in anime, with the standout being protagonist Guts. Guts’ upbringing was far from ordinary, as he was abandoned as a baby next to his mother’s hanging body but was rescued by a mercenary band under the leadership of Gambino. Unfortunately, Guts’ surrogate mother, Shisu, passed away from the plague when he was only three years old.
When Guts was six years old, he was attacked and assaulted by a mercenary named Donovan. Despite killing Donovan in self-defense, Guts’ situation does not improve as Gambino continues to physically and verbally abuse him and reveals that he sold him to Donovan. This ultimately leads to Guts being forced out by the other members of the mercenary group.
Despite finally finding a best friend in Griffith and a potential love interest in Casca, Guts still struggled through a long period of loneliness and betrayal. Ultimately, Griffith’s betrayal during the Eclipse only added to Guts’ pain. However, forming his own band allowed Guts to find a sense of purpose and helped him turn his life around.
2) Makima (Chainsaw Man)
Despite having Aki and Tokyo Special Division Four by his side, Denji’s life was far from blessed. Before being “recruited”by Makima, Denji’s life was a constant struggle as he was forced to do whatever he could to pay off his father’s debt to the Yakuza. This was due to his father’s suicide and the Yakuza transferring his mother’s medical debt onto him.
As a result, the teenager became extremely socially awkward and was considering selling his eye, liver, and possibly even his private parts to earn money. However, his plans were disrupted when he was unknowingly merged with Pochita, leading him to become the infamous Chainsaw Man. He used his abilities to defeat the zombified Yakuza and ultimately killed the Zombie Devil.
Despite being under Makima’s “care,”Denji’s situation was far from being cared for. Rather, he was merely being burdened with the task of accessing Pochita. It was through his reliance on Aki, Power, and others that he was able to find help and support, although it was a slow process as the three anime child soldiers initially saw each other as nuisances.
3) Gaara – The Sand Shinobi (Naruto)
After considering all the instances of anime child soldiers in Naruto, it was a difficult decision to make between Gaara, Sasuke, and Naruto. In the end, Gaara stood out due to his constant betrayal by those he trusted, his dual roles as a Jinchuriki and the Kazekage’s child, and the constant threat of assassination.
Despite his troubled past, which included being implanted with the Shukaku as a baby, Gaara’s qualifications for this list stand on their own. Despite surviving numerous attempts on his life, including one by his own uncle Yashamaru, Gaara’s inability to form emotional connections and his use as a weapon by Orochimaru during the Konoha Crush have left him consumed by anger.
Without Naruto’s victory over Gaara in their intense battle and the subsequent support and guidance from Kankuro and Temari, Gaara’s fate could have been much darker. Despite becoming Kazekage during the time skip, Gaara still depends on his siblings, but this reliance has only been temporary and he has grown to be independent.
4) Light Yagami (Death Note)
Despite appearing to have a life of luxury as the heir to the Kiriyuin Conglomerate in Kill la Kill, Satsuki Kiriyuin was actually brought up as one of the many child soldiers in the series. Her mother, Ragyo Kiriyuin, had groomed her to become a vessel for Life Fibers and ultimately bring about the end of the world.
Before Sōichirō Kiryūin vanished, he revealed the truth about Ragyo to a young Satsuki and convinced her to turn against her mother. Satsuki then began her journey to eventually betray her mother, recruiting allies such as the Elite Four and founding Honnōji Academy.
Despite having the support of the loyal family butler, Mitsuzō Soroi, Satsuki was able to gather the Elite Four by her own means. This included defeating members such as Uzu Sanageyama in combat and assisting others like Ira Gamagōri in difficult situations. Satsuki relied on her own abilities to achieve her goals, rather than depending on anyone else.
5) Captain Levi Ackerman (Attack on Titan)
Despite his status as the strongest soldier in Attack on Titan, Levi’s childhood was far from ideal. Born to a s*x worker named Kuchel Ackerman, he was forced to work in the underground of Eldia’s capital city, Mitras, at a young age. Though his uncle Kenny Ackerman rescued him from poverty and taught him how to survive, he soon abandoned Levi.
Prior to enlisting in the Survey Corps, Levi was employed as a thug in the underbelly of Mitras. His innate strength as a member of the Ackerman clan proved invaluable in battles against both Titans and human adversaries, including his later confrontation with Kenny. He is among the few individuals to survive until the conclusion of the series.
Despite facing adversity as an underprivileged kid, Levi’s exceptional combat abilities soon made him a source of guidance and assistance for others. Throughout the series, he emerged as a world savior, relying mostly on his own skills and determination, as his entire squad and mentor, Erwin Smith, perished early on.
6) Jonathan “Jonah” Mar – Jormungand
The deuteragonist of Jormungand was easily included in a list of anime child soldiers, as he began his life as a child soldier. Following the destruction of his village by armed mercenaries, he joined the Mountain Division and engaged in intense guerrilla warfare against the Russians.
Upon witnessing the death of his friend and orphan, Malka, while searching for land mines, his heart became closed off. He sought revenge by taking out the perpetrator and their garrison, but was ultimately captured by Kasper. In exchange for helping the orphans he had rescued in Japan, he became the bodyguard of protagonist Koko Hekmaytar.
And so, Jonah embarked on his journey with Koko’s squad, facing the irony of despising weapons and those who profited from them while being employed by an arms dealer. Despite his reserved demeanor and lack of emotion, he consistently demonstrates his worth while working alongside the squad. Being the youngest member, Jonah is essentially the collective little brother of Koko’s squad.
7) My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia)
The trope of former child soldiers finding a newfound purpose in life after war or conflict has been present for many years. It is a common experience among anime child soldiers to have been exploited and trained as weapons, and the main character of Violet Evergarden is not exempt from this.
After being discovered on a deserted island, Violet was feared for her ability to take down even fully grown adults. Dietfried Bougainvillea saw this potential and took her in as his own personal killing machine, eventually gifting her to Major Gilbert. While others saw her as a mere weapon to be aimed and fired at enemies, Gilbert saw her differently and tried to show her kindness.
After succumbing to injuries sustained in battle, Gilbert’s final words to Violent were a declaration of his love and a wish for her to live a free and happy life. In the aftermath of this tumultuous event, she found employment at the CH Postal Company as an Auto-Memories Doll, embarking on a lifelong journey to unravel the meaning of love.
8) Crona’s Struggle with Identity (Soul Eater)
Despite being raised solely as a weapon, it can be incredibly challenging for anime child soldiers to break free from this purpose and pursue other paths in life. Crona’s character in Soul Eater serves as a prime example of this struggle. Like Satsuki, Crona was brought up to be a meister and wielder of the demon sword Ragnarok, in the hopes of becoming a powerful demon god or Kishin.
Although the outcomes for Crona in the anime and manga may differ, their origin story remains consistent in both versions. From the moment of their creation, they were deprived of any form of affection or companionship. In fact, they were even coerced into raising a pet and then murdering it as a means of “instruction”for becoming a more efficient killer. Additionally, their blood was replaced with the powerful Black Blood.
Despite the significant power it granted them, it also caused them to experience overwhelming anxiety and pessimism. They frequently expressed their inability to handle difficult situations and would often shut down in moments of stress. Despite this, they ultimately formed genuine bonds with Maka Albarn and Soul, ultimately breaking free from Medusa’s manipulation.
9) Edward Elric’s Prosthetic Arm (Fullmetal Alchemist:Brotherhood)
As a child caught in the midst of the Ishvalan Civil War, also known as the Ishvalan War of Extermination, the man known as Scar embodies the characteristics of an anime child soldier. His resentment towards Amestris began at a young age, fueled by the atrocities committed by the Amestrian military and his older brother’s involvement in alchemy.
The tipping point for Scar occurred when Red Lotus Alchemist Solf J. Kimblee not only destroyed his home and killed his family, but also forced his older brother to use his abilities to transfer Scar’s right arm at the expense of his own life. In response, Scar embarked on a vengeful rampage, targeting Winry Rockbell’s parents who had previously nursed him back to health, as he viewed all Amestrians as his enemies.
After fleeing into the desert and witnessing the destruction of Ishval, he found himself with no one to turn to or depend on. He had to learn to survive on his own before he could seek revenge on the State Alchemists. As seen in flashbacks and real-time in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, it would take time for Scar’s fury to subside.
10) The Origin and Rise of Char Aznable (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin and 0079)
Despite being born into a world of conflict, Casval Rem Deikun was just one of numerous child soldiers in the anime. When he was born, his father narrowly escaped death from a car bomb. However, years later, during a speech advocating for independence, his father passed away from a heart attack. The Zabi family, who were the closest friends of the Deikun family, made multiple attempts to kill Casval and his sister Artesia, even when Casval used a Guntank to defend themselves.
Despite finding refuge with the Mass family after being smuggled off Side 3 by Ramba Ral, Casval’s rebellious nature did not subside. He violently killed two assassins and physically attacked a man who was following him, unable to cope with the loss of his mother. Despite being in a caring family, Casval struggled to adapt to a domestic lifestyle.
As he worked to bring down the Zabi family from the shadows, he took on the moniker of The Red Comet of Zeon. His methods were treacherous, such as deceiving Garma into thinking the Gundam had returned to White Base, leading to his demise, or withholding information about Lino’s presence in a tank, resulting in his death from friendly fire. This path of revenge consumed Char throughout Mobile Suit Gundam and Zeta Gundam, eventually leading him to a state of cynicism so intense that he sought to make Earth uninhabitable in Char’s Counterattack.
It is worth noting that anime child soldiers often have a tendency to initially distrust others and believe they cannot rely on anyone. However, as their series progresses, they may gradually become more open to the idea of accepting help from others, regardless of whether they are portrayed as heroes or villains.
In certain cases, anime child soldiers may find themselves without anyone to turn to, only realizing this when faced with a significant life challenge. Casval, who only had Lalah Sune by his side, ultimately lost her. On the other hand, Satsuki viewed the Elite Four as trusted allies and eventually formed close friendships with them.
This highlights the fact that, despite the existence of anime child soldiers, it is imperative that children are not seen as mere weapons or instruments of war, and are instead given the care and protection they deserve.
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