A great character isn't defined by how they start, but by how much they grow. These anime characters have some of the most compelling and hard-earned development out there.
TV Shows & Movies
15 Best Friends Episodes, Ranked
15. Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop
Faye Valentine is all confidence and sharp edges, a gambler just looking out for herself. But it's a front; she's running from a past she forgot and trusts no one after the life she woke up to. Watching her slowly, reluctantly lower her guard around the Bebop crew is what makes her feel so real; they become the messy, annoying family she never asked for but starts to need. | © Crunchyroll
14. Light Yagami from Death Note
Light Yagami starts as a brilliant student with a warped sense of justice, genuinely believing the world needs a purge of criminals. The power of the Death Note corrupts that ideal completely, twisting his genius into a god complex as he begins a global killing spree. His chilling development is a descent into megalomania, a mental war against detective L that he technically wins, only to be ultimately undone by his arrogance. | © VIZ Media
13. Violet from Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden begins her story as an emotionless child soldier, a weapon struggling to understand her own humanity. Her work writing letters for others becomes a painful but powerful path to healing, as each client's story helps her grasp feelings like love and grief. Through this journey, she learns to live with her past and, most importantly, defines her own worth beyond the battlefield. | © FUNimation Entertainment
12. Yona from Yona of the Dawn
Princess Yona’s world shatters when her father is murdered, forcing the once-sheltered girl to flee her home. On the run, she exchanges her royal life for a bow and sword, forging her own strength to survive and protect others. Her journey transforms her from a helpless princess into a resilient leader who chooses to heal her kingdom’s wounds, not just seek revenge. | © VIZ Media
11. Gaara from Naruto
Gaara's story starts with him as a lonely weapon, feared by everyone and fueled by nothing but hate. Everything changes after his fight with Naruto, which cracks his shell and shows him what connection feels like. He doesn't just get stronger, he completely changes, going from a monster to a compassionate leader who becomes Kazekage to protect his village. | © VIZ Media
10. Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul
Ken Kaneki's life shattered when a violent attack transformed him into a half-ghoul, thrusting the once-naive student into a brutal world. Struggling to survive between humans and ghouls, he found a tragic sense of belonging and learned that monsters could be human, too. Yet despite this painful growth and understanding, his story ultimately led to a devastating and sorrowful end. | © Funimation
9. Hinata Shoyo from Haikyuu!!
Hinata Shoyo started with explosive potential but quickly learned he was outclassed on the court, relying entirely on his setter Kageyama. That frustration fueled him, pushing him through relentless training to refine his raw talent. His journey from a one-dimensional decoy to an indispensable, well-rounded player was the key that helped his team reach heights they never thought possible. | © Crunchyroll
8. Midoriya from My Hero Academia
The timid, Quirkless boy from episode one is almost unrecognizable compared to the determined hero Izuku Midoriya is today. While his core desire to save people never wavered, the tragedies he's witnessed have stripped away his naivety, forcing him to confront the grim reality of hero work. This hardening peaked in the Dark Hero arc, where he nearly broke under the pressure, only to be saved by the very friends who remind him he doesn't have to fight alone. | © Crunchyroll
7. Hikigaya Hachiman from My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
Forced into the Volunteer Service Club, the cynic Hikigaya Hachiman found himself partnered with the equally aloof Yukinoshita. Through helping their classmates, he slowly chips away at his own bitter worldview, learning to care for and rely on others. His journey from a self-proclaimed loner to someone who can finally express his true feelings makes his growth feel genuinely earned and refreshing. | © Sentai Filmworks
6. Shinichi from Parasyte: The Maxim
When a parasite took over his hand instead of his brain, the once-timid Shinichi was thrust into a brutal new reality. Forced to coexist with this creature, he evolves from a nervous wreck into someone capable of immense bravery, repeatedly risking his life to save others. His journey through loss and despair ultimately leads him to a place of hard-won peace and even love. | © Sentai Filmworks
5. Gon Freecss from Hunter X Hunter
Gon Freecss's cheerful exterior hides a capacity for frightening darkness, which fully erupts during the Chimera Ant arc. The presumed death of his mentor Kite shatters him, fueling a rage that transforms him into someone unrecognizable. In a terrifying moment of power, he brutally exacts revenge, but this triumph comes at the ultimate cost, requiring his best friend to save him from his own self-destruction. | © VIZ Media
4. Eren Yeager from Attack On Titan
Eren Yeager’s story shows how character development can be a descent into darkness, not a rise to heroism. You could justify his early rage because of the brutal world he lived in, where friends died every day. But no one expected the determined boy who wanted freedom to become the man who would wipe out most of humanity, believing it was the only way to save his home. | © Crunchyroll
3. Thorfinn from Vinland Saga
Thorfinn spent years as a ruthless warrior, killing countless people in his pursuit of Askeladd. Broken and enslaved by the weight of his sins, he finds a new path through his friendship with Einar, learning that true strength lies in atonement and pacifism. His transformation from a vessel of hatred into a principled pacifist in a violent world makes his arc one of anime's most realistic journeys. | © Netflix
2. Shigeo Kageyama from Mob Psycho
Mob Psycho tells the story of Shigeo Kageyama, a gentle psychic who just wants to live a normal school life while working under his quirky mentor, Reigen. Through his job exorcising spirits and his interactions in the Body Improvement Club, Mob faces other espers and people haunted by their pasts. This journey slowly breaks him out of his emotional shell, transforming him from a repressed introvert into someone learning to embrace all the messy, human parts of himself. | © Crunchyroll
1. Shoya Ishida from A Silent Voice
Once a childhood bully who tormented a deaf classmate, Shoya Ishida spends his teenage years crushed by guilt and seeking redemption. His journey isn't about a quick fix, but the grueling, daily work of making amends and learning to forgive himself. This culminates in a powerful act of rescue, completing his transformation from a source of pain into a genuine hero. | © GKIDS
A great character isn't defined by how they start, but by how much they grow. These anime characters have some of the most compelling and hard-earned development out there.
