Summary
Nothing is more aggravating toanimeenthusiasts than seeing a character with enormous potential being relegated, ruined, or horribly abused over the course of a series. Regardless of whether they were a powerhouse, an emotional anchor, or simply a fan favorite, their fall is particularly difficult to take as viewers recalljust how much potential they had.
They are not characters who died in a hero’s death or whose story arcs were deliberately closed; these are characters who were once leading or fan favorites, then were forgotten and brought back as shadows of their former selves. These are eightanime characters who had the potential to be great but ultimately ended up being a disappointment to fans.
Iidamade a strong impression in the early arcs ofMy Hero Academia.Initially introduced as the class representative with strict ideals and impressive speed, his personal quest to fight Stain proved his emotional side, his sense of justice, and the need to grow out of his narrow-mindedness.
Since that point, however, Iida has become much less important as a character. What was formerly a moral compass in Class 1-A was shifted to the role of a background character with minimal development. His demotion stings, particularly in light of how much he used to seem like a part of the very core of the series.
Yunowas the main protagonist of the crazy psychological rollercoaster that isFuture Diary. The stalkerish, highly volatile yandere, she was frightening and captivating in equal measure, stealing practicallyevery scene she appeared in. Her complex backstory did nothing but complicate her insanity.
However, as the series moved into its latter half, Yuno’s character became flat. Her motivations were more random than multifaceted and, instead of developing further, she grew to be redundant. A character that was based on a mystery and chaos, Yuno tragically became predictable.
Gaara’scharacter development inNarutois full of redemption and rebirth. Once a cruel Jinchuriki and later a respected Kazekage, he deserved to be among the strongest and most complicated characters in the series. It was his fights and his leadership that endeared him to fans.
However, inBoruto, Gaara is empty. He remains, though not with the impact or surrounded with the same emotional impact. He is more of a political leader than the passionate, loving warrior that fans used to cheer for. The further he has descended, the more it hurts to recall what he was.
Hohenheimshould have been an insanely interesting character—he is immortal, insanely wise, and tied to the origin ofFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’smain villain. He entered the series buoyed by great anticipation and emotional reunions that suggested a larger role was in order.
Still, with all his mighty power and history, he seldom stood in the foreground. His character was often pushed to the background, and was supported in the background without everreceiving the emotional and narrative focushe deserved—a shameful instance of wasted potential in an otherwise almost perfect series.
Uubappeared in the finale ofDragon Ball Zas the reincarnation of Majin Buu, foreshadowing a strong potential future for him. As Goku accepted him as his ward, fans were geared up to witness the next installment ofDragon Ballfeaturing Uub as the main protagonist.
Then there wasGT, in which the development of Uub was quick and unsatisfactory. He did have his moments, but nothing even resembling the future-saving hero fans were used to or hoping for. He was soon left behind in irrelevance, a precipitous decline after his promising setup.
The story ofHistoriainAttack on Titanis one of the most emotional in the show. Her journey, especially the one that started with posing as another person and ended with her learning her real identity and becoming a queen, was powerful, and one that viewers connected to.
Then came Season 4. Historia was relegated to a footnote as she was merely present in a few scenes and hadlittle to no effect on the plot. The absence of a character who had been such a core part of the series' political and emotional landscape was painful and infuriating to long-time fans.
The path thatSasukewent through to become a vengeful rogue ninja and, later on, a repentant wanderer was not an easy one. Even with his imperfections, it did not diminish his strength and significance in the story. He was consistently positioned as an equal and worthy opponent to Naruto, and he significantly shaped the narrative inNaruto.
However, inBoruto, Sasuke is empty inside. Although he remains influential, he is frequently marginalized, defeated in key battles, and leaves no legacy behind. Once a reincarnated God-level fighter, now a silent teacher with almost nothing to do with him, his decline is among the saddest in anime history.
At one point,Gohanwas even set to become even stronger than Goku, more so after his mythical transformation to Super Saiyan 2 during the Cell Games. He possesses the potential, story weight, and adoration of fans to be made the new lead of a series. He marked a generational change in storytelling, and fans were all in.
However, inDragon Ball Super, Gohan was sidelined as a background character. Taking a break from his training to study, his power and on-screen presence suffered tremendously. Sure, he has beenshowing signs of redemption recently,but those years of unfulfilled potential are difficult to forget.
The decline of characters is not necessarily an indicator of poor writing; it can also be a simple case of the story focusing on the wrong narratives or having too many characters to keep track of. However, when the decline in quality is as steep as in this case, it cannot be ignored. These characters were introduced with a lot of promise, power, and purpose only to be either left behind or sometimes deprived of the very things that made them great to begin with.
