Despite variations, a recurring theme in shonen and seinen anime and manga is the depiction of the mentally strongest anime characters, who have endured immense struggles during their journeys. Despite the specific details, these characters tend to emerge from their ordeals with a greater psychological resilience than before.
Nevertheless, authors can also depict characters as incapable of handling the traumatic events they are forced to endure, creating a different impact. In this list, we will explore the five most mentally resilient anime characters and the five who were not strong enough to overcome their struggles.
Guts and Yuji Itadori: The Unbreakable Minds in the World of Anime
1) The Black Swordsman (Guts)
Undoubtedly, when considering the mentally strongest anime characters, Guts is the first one that comes to mind. Since his birth, he has endured a traumatic life, constantly tormented by the cruelty of others. However, none have affected him more than Griffith’s betrayal and the sacrifice of the Band of the Hawk.
Throughout the sacrificial process, Guts witnessed his friends being killed and the woman he loved suffering irreversible mental damage. As a consequence of his survival, he is relentlessly pursued by the very creatures who murdered and devoured his companions. Despite enduring these traumas and facing countless future horrors, Guts persists in his relentless struggle without wavering.
2) Emilia (Re:ZERO)
A notable strength of Re:ZERO is its organic integration of protagonist Subaru Natsuki’s abilities into character growth, for both himself and the rest of the cast. Thanks to the Return by Death power, any potential outcome can be explored with the assurance of a “do-over”always within reach. This constant exposure to death, failure, and disappointment has molded Subaru into one of the most resilient anime characters to date.
Despite displaying signs of mental exhaustion and trauma, Subaru continues to prove himself as a strong contender, considering the challenges he faces. Each time he dies, he carries the physical and mental toll of the experience into his next life, along with the memories and lessons from his previous failures. Although he may show moments of weakness, there is no doubt that he deserves a spot on this list.
3) Levi Ackerman (Attack on Titan)
Despite being aware of the potential consequences, Subaru continues to push forward, while Eren, in the latter stages of his series, also moves forward despite knowing exactly what lies ahead. This is due to the Attack Titan’s ability to see into the future, which has made Eren fully conscious of the fact that he will ultimately lose his friends, cause mass destruction, and ultimately give up his own life.
Despite being aware of this information, Eren stayed resolute in his strategy, never wavering or straying from the path that had been foretold for him. Because of this, Eren is undoubtedly one of the most mentally resilient anime characters in the medium’s history.
4) Cinderella (Vinland Saga)
Despite being a young child, Thorfinn Thorsson’s decision ultimately led to the death of his father, Thors Snorresson. In the aftermath, he joined a group of soldiers who were responsible for his father’s murder, with a vow to seek revenge on their leader. This experience shaped him into a skilled and lethal warrior, as he grew up on the battlefield.
Despite not revealing too much, Thorfinn experienced another tragic loss several years later, resulting in him becoming a broken and hollow version of his former self. Despite this, his eventual emotional healing and his actions afterwards showcase his incredible mental resilience, solidifying his place as one of the strongest anime characters in terms of mental strength.
5) Megumi Fushiguro (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Similarly to Thorfinn, Yuji Itadori is forced into an unfamiliar battlefield at a young age due to circumstances beyond his control. One of the most traumatic events for him in this new environment is undoubtedly the Shibuya Incident arc, during which he witnesses the apparent deaths of two of his mentors and one of his classmates.
To avoid spoiling the experience for anime-only viewers, future events will not be revealed in depth. However, it can be assured that Yuji will face numerous challenges beyond the reaches of Shibuya. Despite this, he remains one of the strongest mentally among anime characters, constantly persevering and never wavering in his determination.
These Characters Couldn’t Hack It
1) Ghiaccio’s Frozen Fury (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind)
Despite Fugo’s traumatic past, it should still be acknowledged and respected. However, a later event in the series reveals that he was unable to handle the situation. This ultimately leads to the division of Bruno Bucciaratti’s group, with all members, except Fugo, choosing to combat Passione and the Boss in order to safeguard Trish Una.
Despite being the logical choice, Fugo’s inability to handle the difficulties that would come with it is evident. This can be seen as a weakness, especially when compared to younger members like Narancia Ghirga, who ultimately choose to protect Trish due to their strong moral compass. As a result, Fugo cannot be considered one of the mentally strongest characters in anime.
2) Naruto Uzumaki’s Rival: Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto)
During his time in the series, Nagato Uzumaki, often referred to as “Pain,”was unable to cope with the numerous traumas he faced, much like many other Naruto characters. Sadly, Nagato’s story is particularly heartbreaking as he lost his parents in a home invasion by enemy soldiers during a war.
Despite finding a sense of family with Jiraiya, Yahiko, and Konan, the young boy was eventually abandoned by Jiraiya. He witnessed Yahiko’s death and was consumed by anger, taking on the name Pain. While these experiences were undoubtedly traumatic, his inability to overcome them, in contrast to other characters who have overcome similarly challenging circumstances, disqualifies him as one of the mentally strongest anime characters.
3) L (Death Note)
Despite experiencing the least amount of trauma compared to the other characters on this list, Light Yagami’s story still highlights a crucial moment that reveals his inability to handle difficult situations.
Despite having taken countless lives by the end of the series, Light is unable to come to terms with his imminent death. This small yet significant moment reveals his true character as being mentally weak, unable to fully embrace the beliefs he once preached.
4) Obito Uchiha – The Masked Man (Naruto)
Obito stands out among the entries on this list as he ultimately rejects his life’s experiences and chooses to return to the side of good, if only momentarily. However, he struggles to move on from the traumas he endured during the Third Shinobi World War and is haunted by the perceived betrayal of Kakashi Hatake killing Rin Nohara.
Despite his eventual return to grace, it is difficult to consider him one of the mentally strongest anime characters as he chose to join forces with Madara Uchiha and form the notorious group known as the Akatsuki. This decision to embrace evil shows his lack of mental fortitude, even though he was still a young child at the time.
5) Megumi Fushiguro – The Stoic Sorcerer (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Lastly, in the ongoing Jujutsu Kaisen manga, Megumi has reached a point where he no longer has the determination to fight against Sukuna. This is a justifiable reaction considering his youth and the fact that his own hands, under Sukuna’s influence, were responsible for his sister Tsumiki’s death. However, it also highlights that he is not yet among the mentally strongest characters in anime.
Despite Yuji Itadori experiencing significant loss and constantly fighting for Megumi’s sake, Megumi’s decision to give up, even when his friends are risking their lives for him, highlights his mental weakness. This further reinforces the fact that Yuji has been a constant source of support and strength for Megumi throughout their journey together.
Final thoughts
Despite many anime characters displaying impressive resilience, there are also those who appear to be solely focused on reaching a breaking point. While not everyone can overcome their hardships, there are a select few who manage to do so and deserve recognition, just as those who are unable to overcome their trauma.
The reason for Griffith’s betrayal of Guts in Berserk is elucidated.
“No, I would give up”: Jujutsu Kaisen fans tease Megumi for lacking any semblance of determination in chapter 251.
“10 other anime characters similar to Subaru Natsuki from Re:ZERO”
What was the reason behind Obito’s transformation into an antagonist in Naruto?
Was Light Yagami justified in his actions in Death Note? He challenged the distinction between good and evil.
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