Eren Yeager, with his ideas of genocide, has earned a reputation as a bad main character, but can he be considered the worst protagonist in anime history? Definitely not.
Summary:
- The protagonist undergoes a transformation: from a naive boy Eren becomes a ruthless leader of a rebel faction.
- Eren is often compared to the odious characters of other franchises, being called the worst protagonist in anime history.
- There are plenty of examples of darker characters than Eren whose motives are questionable.
Just recently, Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) officially ended. Texts dedicated to the finale of one of the most significant anime in history have been tearing up the Internet, and fan discussions haven’t stopped to this day. A large amount of controversy is dedicated to the main character of the story, Eren Yeager, and his development as a character throughout the anime.
What's wrong with Eren Yeager?
Eren's story begins with tragedy: his mother is killed in the jaws of a titan, and he vows to take revenge and exterminate all enemies. Determination allows Eren to go far in his challenging adventures, but along the way he loses more comrades. The character of the protagonist undergoes a transformation: from a naive boy who joins a scouting party to help people, Eren turns into a ruthless leader of a rebel faction that seeks to destroy the world outside the walls, believing that this is the only true solution.
Obviously, Eren deserves a lot of attention precisely because of his antagonistic protagonist's behavior, which is not typical for kind and sympathetic shounen characters. However, it would be foolish to deny that his character development is one of the most intriguing elements of Attack on Titan. It's also unsurprising that Eren is often compared to the odious and sometimes reckless characters of other franchises, with some calling him the worst protagonist in anime history. This isn't entirely true, and there are plenty of examples of darker characters whose motivations are questionable.
Who could be more cruel?
Of all the protagonists in anime history, there is probably no more devious character than Yagami Light. He is arrogant and selfish. After the protagonist of Death Note finds a notebook that allows him to commit murders with impunity, he gladly assumes the role of a judge. His actions could be justified by the noble goal of cleansing the world of crime, but the list of Yagami Light's victims includes ordinary people who simply got in his way.
Another controversial character is Lelouch from Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch). The character lacks empathy and sympathy. He doesn't value human life, so he kills and enslaves many people throughout the anime. Lelouch even casts a spell on his sister, forcing her to give up her pacifism.
Ken Kaneki, the protagonist of Tokyo Ghoul, is not far behind Eren Yeager in terms of tragic fate. Unlike Eren, however, Kaneki is more unstable. He suffers from mental disorders and internal conflicts and therefore undergoes more radical transformations. Circumstances turn Tokyo Ghoul's protagonist from a timid nerd to a ruthless killer who commits horrific acts.
This is only a small part of the characters who can compete with Eren Yeager in terms of cruelty. Often the protagonists in such stories are changed by life circumstances that are very difficult to compare, so to call a single character the worst protagonist in anime history is at least hasty.