Misa gets written off as stupid because of her bubbly voice and devotion to Light, but that ignores both cultural context and what she actually does in the story. She tracks down Kira on her own before L does, which takes real intelligence, and her behavior is more performative than clueless. As for her loyalty, that comes from trauma and gratitude after her parents’ murder, and Light exploiting that pain says far more about him than it does about Misa. | © Viz Media
Zamasu gets dismissed as just another evil Dragon Ball villain, but his hatred actually comes from a warped sense of justice, not mindless cruelty. He genuinely believes mortals are a danger to the universe, and watching that belief harden into extremism gives him a real arc rather than a flat evil role. His ideology, planning, and willingness to challenge even the gods make him one of the franchise’s more thoughtful antagonists, not someone who deserves to be brushed off. | © Funimation
Lucy gets labeled as weak because she isn’t the loudest or strongest fighter in the room, but that completely misses her role in the story. She’s central to Fairy Tail’s emotional core, plays key parts in major arcs, and grows steadily through strategy, resilience, and earned power rather than brute force. Being scared, empathetic, and human doesn’t make her disposable, it’s exactly why she matters. | © Funimation
A lot of the hate toward Emilia comes from frustration over Subaru’s choices, not from anything she actually does. She isn’t responsible for someone else’s feelings, and expecting her to step aside to please a ship ignores her agency entirely. Even when she pushes back against Subaru or doesn’t fully trust him, it’s reasonable, and those boundaries are what force him to grow instead of being blindly indulged. | © Crunchyroll
Damian is easy to write off as a bully at first, especially with how he treats Anya early on. Once you see the pressure and emotional distance in his home life, his behavior starts to make a lot more sense, even if it isn’t excusable. What matters is that he recognizes his mistakes, apologizes, and genuinely tries to do better, which is a lot of growth for a kid his age. | © Crunchyroll
Ichigo is mostly labelled as bland because he isn’t constantly shouting his ideals or chasing glory. He’s calmer and more grounded than many shonen leads, but that doesn’t mean he lacks personality he’s assertive, protective, and quick to act when people he cares about are in danger. Even his straightforward power-ups reflect that mindset, since all he really wants is a normal life, not the spotlight. | © Viz Media
Sakura gets dragged for who she was at twelve, as if the story never lets her grow past that point. She’s far from useless, building real skill through chakra control, medical ninjutsu, and sheer work ethic, eventually becoming one of the most capable adults in the series. Judging her for a childhood crush or a careless comment ignores the fact that Naruto is very much about growing up, and Sakura actually does. | © Viz Media
Bakugo earns a lot of hate for how aggressive and cruel he was early on, and honestly, that criticism isn’t wrong. What gets overlooked is how seriously the story treats that behavior, forcing him to confront it through hard conversations and real consequences rather than brushing it off. He never turns soft or sweet, but he does change in meaningful ways, shifting from reckless ego to genuine heroism, and that growth matters. | © Funimation
Kyo’s anger is easy to notice, but it’s also a shield built from years of trauma and isolation. As he’s shown patience and genuine care, especially by people who don’t give up on him, that rough edge starts to soften in believable ways. Watching him confront his past and change how he treats others is the point of his story, not something to hold against him. | © Funimation
A lot of the backlash against Izuku comes from expecting him to act like an old-school shonen hero who never cries or doubts himself. He’s allowed to be scared, emotional, and openly caring, and that doesn’t make him weak; it makes him human and deeply empathetic. Even his relationship with Bakugo shows maturity, since Izuku doesn’t excuse the bullying and only lets that bond exist once real change happens. | © Funimation
A lot of the hate aimed at Nana comes from misunderstanding her choices and ignoring how deeply she cares about Hachi. She struggles with vulnerability and affection, which is why her bond with someone as open and emotionally risky as Hachi matters so much: they balance and shape each other. Even her most criticized decision isn’t selfishness, but a messy, realistic attempt to protect everyone involved, including a child and the person she loves. | © Viz Media
Zenitsu gets mocked for being loud, scared, and constantly panicking, but that fear is the whole point of his arc. He starts genuinely terrified of everything around him, yet keeps showing up anyway, which makes his growth feel earned rather than instant. By the end, he’s facing top-tier demons alone, proving that courage isn’t about never being afraid, it’s about pushing through it. | © Aniplex of America
Shinji gets a lot of hate for breaking down instead of jumping into the cockpit, but his reactions make more sense than people admit. He’s a teenager pushed into deadly battles by an emotionally absent father, with no training and a mountain of unresolved trauma crashing down at once. Feeling scared, overwhelmed, and hesitant doesn’t make him weak; it makes his eventual decision to fight feel earned. | © GKIDS
Gabi’s early behavior is easy to hate if you forget where she comes from and what she’s been taught her entire life. She’s a child raised on propaganda, told that hating Paradis is the only way she’ll ever be seen as human, so of course she believes it. What matters is that once she sees the truth for herself, she changes: her arc is about unlearning lies, not being right from the start. | © Funimation
A lot of the hate toward Boruto comes from judging him like an adult instead of what he actually is: a 12-year-old dealing with neglect and constant comparison. Being upset that his dad is never around and not fully understanding Naruto’s past is normal kid behavior, not bad writing. He also doesn’t stay stuck there: Boruto matures as he learns more about his father, and as Naruto finally starts showing up for him. | © Viz Media
Anime fandoms can be ruthless. Some characters get written off for being annoying, emotional, or making the wrong choices, even when the story gives them solid reasons. Look closer, and a lot of that hate starts to feel less justified, and a lot more unfair.
