Anti-heroes/misunderstood characters

[kitten320]

Hey guys! I've noticed that I tend to love/sympathise with anti-hero type of characters, the ones that tend to be or bashed or loved to bits.

Examples would be:
Itachi from Naruto
Kikyou from Inuyasha
Homura from Madoka

Spoiler for Attack on Titan spoiler for now:

Annie

Basically I'm interested in characters that appear to be mean or villains but actually have some kind of pure goal in mind.

Like Itachi killed his clan to save the village.
Kikyo attacked Inuyasha's team to kill Naraku.
Whoever watched Madoka, knows what I mean.
In titans while it is not confirmed I'm pretty sure it is for some bigger good as well.

Sadistic nature is a plus.

Basically I want a character who is between two sides of a conflict.

Any good suggestions?

You don't have to name characters. Just show titles are enough =)
Female is a plus but gender doesn't really matter.

My anime list is in the signature.

[bhl88]

Fate/Zero
Code Geass

[kitten320]

Watched those.

[Aqua Knight]

Legend of Legendary Heroes

[totoum]

Shigofumi's first 2 episodes, it's quite morally ambiguous.I say just the first couple episodes because it's the first arc that has what you're looking for after that there's other stories that are unrelated but the first arc is pretty much self contained.

There's a great line in one episode,one of the characer says:

Be careful, this criminal is very pure hearted. You have nothing to fear from criminals who have something to gain from blood or money.The most fearsome ones are the pure hearted criminals.

[SeijiSensei]

House of Five Leaves
Nijuu Mensou no Musume

[Tenzen12]

Agree on Legend of Legendary heroes
Un-Go
The Super Robot Wars OG
Elfen lied
GunGrave

Edit: I am ashamed to forget mention Darker than Black which has to be seen.

[risingstar3110]

Second on Darker than Black. Season 1 only
Seriously, if you like this trope, watch it. They have lots of those, and played real well too


Edit: oh the OP already watched it. But yeah i like this trope as well so would look out for recommendation myself

[kitten320]

Yep, have seen DTB.

Thanks guys for suggestion, will look through them when I get time^^

[Sackett]

Well... there is Angel Densetsu

[AntonKutovoi]

Well, try Magical Knight Rayearth, Hokuto no Ken (anime is VERY old, so maybe it would be better to read the manga or play Shin Hokuto Musou), Gurren Lagann.

[germanturkey]

Ga Rei Zero

[frubam]

Originally Posted by Sackett

Well... there is Angel Densetsu

Haha, double this! It took me a few chapters to get over the art style, but once I did....yep, a real treat. The MC is the epitome of misunderstood =03.

[kitten320]

Originally Posted by totoum

Shigofumi's first 2 episodes, it's quite morally ambiguous.I say just the first couple episodes because it's the first arc that has what you're looking for after that there's other stories that are unrelated but the first arc is pretty much self contained.

There's a great line in one episode,one of the characer says:

Just finished, really good. Just what I wanted^^
Feel a bit depressed now though T_T

[Velsy]

Can't seem to see if you specified Anime or manga.

But for Anime, for titles which have not already been mentioned. Kara no Kyoukai 3: Tsuukaku Zanryuu comes to mind. Girl was pretty much raped at the start, then goes around murdering the culprits causing her pain with her supernatural abilities. But you'd really have to watch the first 2 moves before it to get the story. I thought it was a pretty good battle between the heroine and the victim at the end.

As for manga, which title came to me first. Shi Ga Futari wo Wakatse Made. Pretty much a kick ass blind swordsman who everyone calls him evil and a bad bad man because of his ruthlessness and being suspected of Murder in a case police deemed manslaughter. But a the end of the day hes protecting a little girl who has the mafia and stuff wanting to kidnap her. Missunderstood ? yeah.

[kitten320]

Duno, first 2 movies barely seem linked at all. If anything movie 2 should come before movie 1.

[Haak]

Originally Posted by kitten320

Duno, first 2 movies barely seem linked at all. If anything movie 2 should come before movie 1.

The first four films aren't in chronology order but the purpose behind each film gradually starts making more sense after you've watched the fifth. Personally I think each film is a part of the puzzle and series should only be judged as whole rather than as individual films.

The third film is the only film where the girl Velsy describes exists in and I personally think it's a stretch to call her an anti-hero since she doesn't have any pure goal in mind (she just wants to save herself). Rather I'd call the main character the anti-hero of the 3rd film. But the 3rd film sort of works as a stand alone film and you've already seen the first two films so you can see for yourself. It's only one hour long.

Personally I think the anti-heroes that you're looking for exist in the Ghost in a Shell: Stand Alone Complex series.

[pisceanreve]

This is actually really interesting because I tend to love those characters too (though you mentioned wanting them to have a sadistic nature but none of the characters you listed were sadistic?) yet I never got too attached to the ones you listed. For example, I got attached against my will to Sasuke XDD
Although I must say that while Homura is misunderstood, I don't find her to be an anti-hero.

Spoiler for madoka magica spoilers:

]In fact, she is protecting Madoka and the others every step of the way, trying to keep them all alive and prevent the terrible outcome that always happens

As for Itachi,

Spoiler for naruto spoilers:

At first I thought he was just another emotionless villain and I didn't care for his character but then when I learned everything about him, oh and when he died (the first time), I was so sad T.T Once I learned the truth, I came to love him and even more so while he was on Naruto's and then Sasuke's side. He showed himself to have a humorous side and to be very wise and protective. And that last scene when he died for good...T.T So really I would call him a hero because he never really struck me as a grey character on the inside despite the horrible choices he had to make.

As for Kikyo,

Spoiler for inuyasha spoilers:

she was completely driven by emotion until later, seeking revenge against Inuyasha, so I don't know if her goal was so pure. When she wanted to kill Naraku for sure, she never opposed Inuyasha and the others...unless my memory is mistaken?

OMG sorry for rambling!!!
Okay, suggestions!! Basically, you don't exactly want anti-heroes, but furtive characters whose motives are, unbeknowst to most, are pure.

Have you watched "Avatar the Last Airbender" yet, by the way?
It's not quite how you described, but I think you'll love Zuko, especially in the middle, you'll see a huge inner conflict. And the show itself is amazing.

Also, you might be interested in Kida Masaomi and Celty (<--female) (like this in the beginning I would say?) in the anime "Durarara"

And a lot might disagree, but despite it being a shoujo and somewhat slice-of-life with the one fantasy element, "Fruits Basket" has A LOT of these characters male and female

I'm not sure if that'll have exactly what you're looking for, but those are a few of my favourites and contain characters that I believe fit what you're looking for.

[kitten320]

Spoiler for madoka:

While it is true to a viewer, most characters didn't see it that way and considered her evil. Even for a viewer she was a pretty shady character until certain things kicked in and episode 10 came.

Spoiler for Naruto:

No matter how you look at it, Itachi still slaughtered his whole clan what included children, elders, friends, family and lover. Most of those people had nothing to do with conspiracy.

While his goals were noble, what he did is not that easily forgiven.

He even mind fucked Sasuke what wasn't really needed.

And while Sasuke is also kind of anti-hero, I see him more as selfish ass hole. He doesn't give a damn about anyone at all apart from Itachi and his own personal, selfish goals.
He does not hesitate to kill his comrades and friends. I really have to wonder why characters still want to hang out with him after all the backstabbing that ass did.

Spoiler for Inuyasha:

Yes, Kikyo did try to drag Inuyasha to hell once with her but can you blame her? She is dead and her lover is about to get stolen by her reincarnation what I think is even worse than if Kagome was her sister.

Everything else Kikyo did was to take Naraku down. If she ever wanted Kagome or Inuyasha dead, she would have them dead.
For one Kiyuo could kill Inuyasha right at the start of episode 1 but instead put him to sleep.
Then there is a scene where Kikyo shot at Kagome from 2m distance, scratched her cheek and stole the jewel. Kikyou could have easily killed Kagome in that moment if she wanted, but she didn't.

While she was angry and bitter, her actions were never selfish apart from that one scene. She also always took care of people on her journeys and the main reason Kohaku remained alive at the end also was thanks to her.
No one is perfect. Especially when you are dead and have everything stolen from you.
For a character who lost literally everything, she was very kind.

I saw the other 2, will take a look at Fruits Basket, thanks

[ZabiLegacy]

The Villain of C: Money of the Soul is a pretty good example, and the show is far from unwatchable.

Char's Counterattack is probably the very best example. At about 25 years old, it's starting to get a little bit up in terms of age, but the conflicting ideals and morality of Char's Character is fairly key to it.