History ButForMeItWasTuesday / AnimeAndManga

* In ''LightNovel/TheDevilIsAPartTimer'' when Emi finally brings up her real grudge against Maou, namely that his forces burned her village and killed her father, he gives a half-assed apology along the lines of "Oh, did that happen? Sorry that I suck at controlling my troops sometimes but eh, humans and demons have never really gotten along anyway." Not really evil so he doesn't just shrug it off entirely, but he clearly has no idea what she's talking about, doesn't care and doesn't even consider it to really be his fault.

* Another HeroicComedicSociopath example: LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya is challenged to "a duel" by the Computer Club president in retribution for her cruel KickTheDog moment against him way back when.....but by this point, Haruhi had honestly forgotten all about that.

* Heroic example PlayedForLaughs in ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDxD'': at one point, an enemy mage stands up to Issei, declaring he's going to avenge an earlier defeat. Issei doesn't have a clue who the guy is and it takes a few hints before he figures out it must have been one of the hundreds of rank-and-file enemies he's beaten before.

* Another heroic example, this time from ''LightNovel/MyriadColorsPhantomWorld''. In Episode 3, Mai is accosted by two Phantoms who are intent on battling her, but who she doesn't recognize at all. It turns out that when they were younger, she had play-fought with them and driven them to tears; the incident had then prompted the Phantoms to spend ten years training for a rematch. Unusually, Mai actually ''does'' remember the incident, [[SelfServingMemory but not the play-fighting bit]]; she also doesn't make the connection with the Phantoms until TheReveal at the end of the episode.

* ''LightNovel/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero'': Malty has destroyed so many lives that when one of her victims, Rino, infiltrates her inner circle and then takes her revenge, Rino comments that she didn't even have to disguise herself because Malty did not remember her.

* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'': A rare heroic example that's also part of the big conflict between Kirito and Death Gun during the Phantom Bullet arc. [[spoiler:For Kirito, his defeating [=XaXa=] and his cohorts in [[PlayerKilling Laughing Coffin]] was just another day, to the extent he didn't even bother finding out his name. For [=XaXa=], ItsPersonal, and he delights in having a chance at revenge on Kirito in GGO.]]

** A heroic example PlayedForLaughs: the former CorruptBureaucrat Yoki lost everything after being defeated by the Elric brothers, but when he encounters them, neither remembers him. There's then a whole UnreliableVoiceover in silent movie style where he complains about his travels, but the Elrics don't pay any attention to him (and neither does anyone else in the room), In this case, the trope is used to compress several episodes worth of {{Filler}} into a short scene. Everything Yoki complains about happened in the manga and the [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist first anime]], but was cut from Brotherhood to focus more on the main story arc. Barry the Chopper gets the same treatment.
** Inverted by Kimblee, who remembers ''[[PhotographicMemory everyone]]'' he's ever killed and treats doing otherwise as unprofessional. He even recites the district of the city where he met one of his surviving victims (Scar) when he asks if Kimblee remembers him, notes that one of the Ishvalans he killed bore a familial resemblance to Scar, and even the exact placement and severity of the wound that killed him. The [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003 2003 version]] of him also inverts it though in a more downplayed manner in that, while he doesn't remember Scar per say, he does recognize the scar as his handiwork.

** Inverted by Kimblee, who remembers ''[[PhotographicMemory everyone]]'' he's ever killed and treats doing otherwise as unprofessional. He even recites the district of the city where he met one of his surviving victims (Scar) when he asks if Kimblee remembers him, notes that one of the Ishvalans he killed bore a familial resemblance to Scar, and even the exact placement and severity of the wound that killed him.

* Might Guy and Kisame Hoshigaki from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' are an example that seems to play straight but can be argued about. On the base level, Guy encounters Kisame three times, nearly dying to him on the second, but can't remember him on the third while Kisame did remember Guy and was itching for a rematch. On the one hand mitigating the example is that the first time Kisame was together with Itachi and Guy had spent the entire time staring at the ground to try and avoid Itachi's genjutsu, and the second time Kisame was using a special cloning technique. On the other hand making the example sillier is that Kisame is an incredibly notorious international wanted criminal, even moreso after joining Akatsuki and every other jonin rank ninja recognizes him on sight, helped by the fact that he looks like a sharkman. The fact that Guy doesn't is always a BunnyEarsLawyer and what part in that his misrecognition plays in is vague.

* The heroic example happens in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' during [[TheRival Ryoga's]] introduction, and is PlayedForLaughs. Ryoga attacks Ranma, who briefly can't remember him. The reason for the feud is then [[spoiler: seemingly]] revealed: Ranma had been cutting in front of Ryoga in the tuckshop line, and had then left an appointed battle with Ryoga when Ryoga was four days late due to his [[NoSenseOfDirection incredible ability to get lost]]. [[spoiler: This turns out to be a partial red herring when Ryoga reveals he had followed Ranma to Jusenkyo seeking revenge, and received a particularly [[ForcefulTransformation unpleasant curse]] due to the actions of Ranma and his father, this being his new main grudge against Ranma. Although at first Ryoga himself didn't know Ranma had actually been the one who knocked him in; he thought the girl who knocked him in was some stranger, but he blamed Ranma regardless.]]

* The heroic example happens in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' during [[TheRival Ryoga's]] introduction, and is PlayedForLaughs. Ryoga attacks Ranma, who briefly can't remember him. The reason for the feud is then [[spoiler: seemingly]] revealed: Ranma had been cutting in front of Ryoga in the tuckshop line, and had then left an appointed battle with Ryoga when Ryoga was four days late due to his [[NoSenseOfDirection incredible ability to get lost]]. [[spoiler: This turns out to be a partial red herring when Ryoga reveals he had followed Ranma to Jusenkyo seeking revenge, and received a particularly [[BalefulPolymorph unpleasant curse]] due to the actions of Ranma and his father, this being his new main grudge against Ranma. Although at first Ryoga himself didn't know Ranma had actually been the one who knocked him in; he thought the girl who knocked him in was some stranger, but he blamed Ranma regardless.]]

* Averted in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''. [[spoiler: During their first meeting, Bertolt expresses curiosity over what Eren experienced when his DoomedHometown was attacked by Titans. Five years later, after learning that Bertolt is the Colossal Titan, Eren confronts him and asks how he felt learning about being responsible for Eren's mother dying. Bertolt quietly responds that he felt sorry for Eren, and is later revealed to have genuine remorse over his actions]].

** Beerus, the [[DestroyerDeity God of Destruction]], takes this UpToEleven. It's his ''job'' to destroy entire planets, and doing so is literally everyday business for him. On several occasions he's had to be reminded of specific instances of apocalyptic destruction that someone is blaming him for.

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood'': In one of the more famous uses of this trope, Zeppeli asks Dio how many humans he killed just to undo the injuries Jonathan inflicted in their last battle. Dio replies "I don't know. How many loaves of bread have you eaten in your lifetime?", which thoroughly pisses both Zeppeli and Jonathan off.

-->'''Cooler''': Frieza's the one in charge of this quadrant. Let him clean up his own mess! I've got seven planets to destroy by the end of the day! Why should I allow myself to get behind schedule just to cover his mistake?

-->'''Cypha:''' *[[PsychoticSmirk while smirking]]* However, rejoice. I remember now. The one who left no adult or children alive on that day at that place was, without a doubt, myself.

-->'''Koga''': ''You can't expect us to remember every Pokémon that we experiment on.''

-->'''Ms. Marin:''' It's ''you'', isn't it? You're the one who killed my husband in our inn four years ago.\\

* In ''Manga/InitialD'', one of Takumi's hallmarks, particularly early on in the series, is that what he views as his usual mountain driving, everyone else sees as "holy shit, we're no good compared to him!" Best exemplified when Iketani offers to ride in the passenger seat after Takumi's first official win: Iketani is freaked out by how fast Takumi so casually enters the first corner at such a high speed, and by the third corner, the poor sap has ''fainted''. This is because Takumi has been driving the way he does for ''five years'' under instructions from his father, who sends him on tofu delivery runs up the mountain every morning and has him drive in a way that keeps the tofu from breaking, [[TricksterMentor training Takumi to become a top-tier road racer without Takumi being aware of it]]. And that's just the uphill; Takumi's downhill skills are because after every tofu run, he just wants to get home as fast as possible and go back to sleep, so what comes off as incredible downhill talent to others is just typical another morning to him!

-->'''Rosine''': ''"[[WhatTheHellAreYou What are...Who are you?!]] [[VillainousBreakdown Why're you so--?!]]"''\\
'''Guts:''' ''"You wouldn't remember. Every last human you scum snacked on playing your games. [[ButForMeItWasTuesday You wouldn't remember.]]"''

* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'': During his confrontation, [[TheHero Kenshiro]] accused [[CainAndAbel Jagi]] of killing an innocent child. Jagi does not remember it even though it happened a short while ago. When Jagi finally does, he replies "Who cares if I've wasted a kid or two?".

* ''Manga/DetectiveConan'': When he sees Shinichi Kudo apparently alive when he was presumed dead, Man in Black Vodka asks his partner Gin about it, only to have Gin remark that he makes a point of not remembering the names or faces of those he's killed.

** In the ''[[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Pokémon]]'' anime, Ash doesn't recognize Serena at first, not until she gives him back the handkerchief he used to bandage her leg when they met as children. Serena's idolized Ash since then, but Ash has helped a ''lot'' of people and Pokémon throughout his life. The event that had Serena fixated on him for years was normal for him.

* [[CuteAndPsycho Nui Harime]] of ''Anime/KillLaKill'' remembers every wound inflicted '''upon''' her all too well. However she can't be bothered to remember [[CurbStompBattle all the brutal beatdowns]] she has administered to her
opponents.

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'', [[spoiler: Nena Trinity kills Louise's entire family in a random act of violent envy. When confronted about this years later, Nena's response is utter bewilderment at what Louise is even talking about. And Louise kills her right afterward, so she never gets reminded.]]

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood'': In one of the more famous uses of this trope, Zeppeli asks Dio how many humans he killed just to undo the injuries Jonathan inflicted in their last battle. Dio replies "I don't know. How many loaves of bread have you eaten in your lifetime?", which thoroughly pisses both Zeppeli and Jonathan off.
* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'': During his confrontation, [[TheHero Kenshiro]] accused [[CainAndAbel Jagi]] of killing an innocent child. Jagi does not remember it even though it happened a short while ago. When Jagi finally does, he replies "Who cares if I've wasted a kid or two?".
* ''Manga/SaintSeiya'': The walls of Cancer Deathmask's house [[{{Squick}} are decorated with the heads of people that he has killed... including little children]]. When an enraged Shiryu asks "Have you killed little children, even?", Deathmask ''smirks'', shrugs and replies "Who knows? Maybe they were in the wrong place at the wrong time."

* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
** In ''Anime/DragonBallZCoolersRevenge'', Cooler is implied to feel this way about blowing up planets. When he sees Goku's escape pod getting away from the destruction of Planet Vegeta, he has this to say:
-->'''Cooler''': Frieza's the one in charge of this quadrant. Let him clean up his own mess! I've got seven planets to destroy by the end of the day! Why should I allow myself to get behind schedule just to cover his mistake?
** Beerus, the [[DestroyerDeity God of Destruction]], takes this UpToEleven. It's his ''job'' to destroy entire planets, and doing so is literally everyday business for him. On several occasions he's had to be reminded of specific instances of apocalyptic destruction that someone is blaming him for.
* A (sort of) heroic example in [[SociopathicHero Mugen]] in ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo''. On at least two occasions, when a psycho is shown harming Mugen's TrueCompanions and pulling a NoDoubtTheYearsHaveChangedMe, Mugen responds that he has no idea who that person is, and has no recollection of the nasty thing he did to them. It's possible that Mugen actually does remember and acting this way was strategic, as it works effectively to distract the psychos from their EvilGloating and upset them enough to make mistakes. Or Mugen just likes pissing people off.

* Might Guy and Kisame Hoshigaki from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' are an example that seems to play straight but can be argued about. On the base level, Guy encounters Kisame three times, nearly dying to him on the second, but can't remember him on the third while Kisame did remember Guy and was itching for a rematch. On the one hand mitigating the example is that the first time Kisame was together with Itachi and Guy had spent the entire time staring at the ground to try and avoid Itachi's genjutsu, and the second time Kisame was using a special cloning technique. On the other hand making the example sillier is that Kisame is an incredibly notorious international wanted criminal, even moreso after joining Akatsuki and every other jonin rank ninja recognizes him on sight, helped by the fact that he looks like a sharkman. The fact that Guy doesn't is always a BunnyEarsLawyer and what part in that his misrecognition plays in is vague.
* In ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** During the War of the Best, two of the [[WholesomeCrossdresser Newkamas]] challenge Hawkeye Mihawk, saying that he may have beaten them before, but they were stronger now. Mihawk [[CurbStompBattle takes them out effortlessly]], telling them as he does so that he doesn't bother to remember every weakling he cuts down.
** In a heroic example, Luffy has this towards some of his weaker early opponents: While he recognized Coby during their reunion, he had apparently forgotten who Helmeppo was, when he ran into Buggy again, his reaction (in contrast to Buggy's shocked expression) was merely "Ah, it's just Buggy", and he fails to recall details like Buggy's earlier weapon, the massively explosive Buggy Ball.
** Also, in Anime/ClockworkIslandAdventure, Pin Joker requests a rematch with Zoro because he gave him a scar across the face in their previous battle. To his surprise, Zoro doesn't remember him at all.
** When the Straw Hats first encounter Iron-Mask Duval, they think he may be someone Sanji ticked off at the Baratie. Sanji admits that during those days he upset ''a lot'' of people, and couldn't possibly recall all of them.
*** That case is actually an aversion though, because none of them had in fact ever met Iron-Mask Duval before [[spoiler: and his grudge against Sanji was over the fact that Sanji's poorly drawn wanted poster looked nothing like him, and almost identical to Duval]].
* ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'':
** When her stalker Nagare Kano goes OneWingedAngel, Kurumu asks him just how many other girls he's stalked before. Kano flat-out states he doesn't remember.
** Ms. Marin's husband was killed by the siren Kanade Kamiya. The confrontation is as follows:
-->'''Ms. Marin:''' It's ''you'', isn't it? You're the one who killed my husband in our inn four years ago.\\
'''Kanade:''' Four years ago? Hmm... Oh, yeah. That's about the time I got assigned to this branch office. They used to send me all over the place back then. I hated this little town. Place reeks of fish... So I killed a lot of people... [[ForTheEvulz It was just a diversion to take my mind off things.]] I can't be bothered to remember everyone I kill.

* In ''Manga/OutlawStar'', Gene immediately recognizes the [=MacDougall=] brothers' ship as the one that fired on and killed his father. He confronts Ron [=MacDougall=], who cannot remember the specific job, although he admits it's probable he did it since he's done so many similar jobs.
* In ''Manga/SamuraiDeeperKyo'', {{Mooks}} seem to forget that Kyo killed over a thousand people at Sekigahara ''alone'', and tend to confront him as though believing he will remember a specific thing he did that earned their undying hatred. This trope ensues.
** Specific example: a minor villain who was disgraced by Kyo during the war had an opportunity for vengeance after years of training for the very moment. Cue crowning moment of awesome when Kyo pretends to remember to get the man's hopes up, only to respond with "I didn't remember who you were, I just realized what a dumbass you are."
* ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo'': When Alfredo Gonzalez calls the world featherweight champion Ricardo Martinez on the phone, and asks Martinez to give him a rematch on the condition that Gonzales beats Ippo Makunouchi first, Martinez asks who this Ippo is. Martinez once sparred with Ippo when he went to Japan to fight Eiji Date, a fact which Gonzales reminds him of, but Martinez says he’s boxed so many people that he wouldn’t remember someone whom he had merely sparred with.
* ''Manga/HunterXHunter'':
** Used in the first OVA...when Kurapika confronts one of the villains, he doesn't remember what he's accused of. You'd think murdering an entire clan in order to ''[[BodyHorror steal their eyeballs]]'' would stick out in your memory....
** In the manga, he doesn't remember either, until having a difficult time with Kurapika stirs his memory, and he confesses they were skilled and hard to kill.
** Also exploited earlier in the series--said villain belongs to a group of highly skilled criminals, and Kurapika finds someone who claims to belong to that group. Kurapika immediately identifies this man as an impostor because he actually keeps count of and recalls whom he killed. For the ''real'' criminals, killing has become so routine to them that they don't bother to keep track.
* In episode 13 of ''Anime/GunXSword'', Ray confronts the [[BigBad Claw]], an [[AffablyEvil an extremely pleasant old man]] and tells Ray that he has no problem with Ray killing him, but first politely asks him why. Ray tells him that it's because the Claw murdered his fiancee, Shino, but the Claw cannot remember any of it. When Ray summons Volkain (the mech Shino was working on) a few minutes later, the Claw finally remembers what Ray is talking about and basically replies that Ray's grievance/goal is trifling compared to [[AssimilationPlot his own]], and so Ray will have to wait.
* ''Manga/DetectiveConan'': When he sees Shinichi Kudo apparently alive when he was presumed dead, Man in Black Vodka asks his partner Gin about it, only to have Gin remark that he makes a point of not remembering the names or faces of those he's killed.
* [[SociopathicHero Sort of heroic]] example in ''Manga/BlackLagoon''. In the "El Baile de la Muerte" arc, Revy teams up with Shenhua, Sawyer the Cleaner, and Rotton the Wizard, all mercenaries who were previously enemies in the "Greenback Jane" arc, and all of whom Revy had left for dead. While Revy knows the first two, she has no recollection at all of shooting Rotton, a hapless JokeCharacter (albeit just about the only character in their WretchedHive with the sense to wear body armor), nor does she even know who he is. This greatly amuses Sawyer and Shenhua.
** Played with in the same arc with [[NinjaMaid Roberta]], who has [[SanitySlippage gone off the deep end]] and (among other things) is hallucinating a Japanese businessman she assassinated several years ago. She doesn't seem to recognise him or remember killing him until he reminds her of it, but in order for her brain to have dredged him up as a hallucination in the first place, she must obviously remember him on ''some'' level.
** When Hansel and Gretel first show up, Revy is frustrated that Rock hasn't heard about a string of recent murders. Rock points out that homicide isn't exactly uncommon in [[{{outlaw town}} Roanapur]].
* Another HeroicComedicSociopath example: LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya is challenged to "a duel" by the Computer Club president in retribution for her cruel KickTheDog moment against him way back when.....but by this point, Haruhi had honestly forgotten all about that.

* Heroic example in ''Manga/ShamanKing''. In his initial appearance Tokagero possesses Ryu and seeks revenge against Amidamaru for killing him. When he reveals himself he's horrified that Amidamaru doesn't remember him on sight, and further that explaining he was the leader of a bandit gang Amidamaru slaughtered just prompt the revelation that Amidamaru slaughtered hundred of bandit gangs and couldn't be bothered to remember them all.

* Rolo from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' comments at one point that he can't remember how many people he's killed, comparing it to how most people don't remember how many times they've brushed their teeth.
** In similar fashion, when Lelouch asks the Chinese Federation's leaders the [[EunuchsAreEvil Eunuch Generals]] how they can treat their own people so poorly, their response is "Do you feel bad for the toilet paper you wipe your ass with?" Which of course leads to an EngineeredPublicConfession.
* In ''Anime/WeissKreuz'', Aya has devoted his life to bringing down Reiji Takatori, the man who killed his parents and left his sister in a seemingly-irreversible coma. When he finally confronts his nemesis atop a burning skyscraper Takatori has ''no idea'' who he is, still less what the people Aya's going on about have to do with him.
* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' does this in the [[AnimeFirst manga]], where Viral brushes away a death threat by Kittan by telling him that his destroyed village was only one of hundreds; understandably throwing Kittan into a bloodthirsty rage.
* Done in ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds''. When Jose tells the heroes that Yliaster has killed people in order to keep history on its course, Sherry asks if this means her parents were among them. Jose replies they can't be expected to remember ''everyone'' they kill specifically. (This leads to Sherry and Mizoguchi being on the receiving end of a CurbStompBattle---not using cards--done to show just how dangerous Jose is. He was literally able to lift Sherry's D-Wheel--with her on it--with ''one hand''.)
* Used in ''Manga/VinlandSaga'' where Askeladd claims not to remember the 'blood oath' Thorfinn has sworn against him and whoever [[YouKilledMyFather this 'Thors' guy he supposedly slew was]]. It's an InvokedTrope on his part because Thorfinn gets worse at fighting the angrier he is.
* ''Manhwa/{{Yureka}}'':
** Myria hates the protagonists for something they did to her, but they have no idea what it is. Subverted/parodied in that ''Myria'' can't remember what it is until another character taunts her about it.
** Happens again with Team Fallen Angels, though they manage to remember after a few hours. Heck, there's implied to be a ''lot'' of guys seeking revenge on the "heroes", none of whom they recognize.
* Another heroic example in ''Anime/NinjaScrollTheSeries''. The widow of a samurai has spent years WalkingTheEarth with her son, trying to find the man who killed her husband so she can avenge him. She confronts Jubei, who says he's killed so many people it's difficult to remember specific ones. He does eventually remember when she gives him some details, and vaguely recalls having killed a samurai over a petty dispute (he'd [[BumpIntoConfrontation bumped into the man]], who had taken offense). The woman is naturally shocked that her life was destroyed over something so meaningless.
* In the "MushroomSamba" episode of ''Anime/CowboyBebop'', a minor one-shot character shows up in town while dragging a coffin behind him. He was planning on taking his revenge on a drug seller named Dominoe because his shrooms killed his brother by making him laugh to death. Dominoe doesn't remember who this guy is because his shrooms had already messed his own head up pretty good. Then the coffin gets smashed by a passing bus.
* ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'':
** Cypha of Hückebein from ''Manga/MagicalRecordLyricalNanohaForce'', who had committed genocide enough times that, when Signum questioned her about the massacre of the settlement in [[NumberedHomeworld Uninhabited World 14]] three months ago, she doesn't remember. Cypha does eventually remember once Signum gave more details, [[TranquilFury though not in a manner that enamoured her to the Belkan Knight]].
-->'''Cypha:''' *[[PsychoticSmirk while smirking]]* However, rejoice. I remember now. The one who left no adult or children alive on that day at that place was, without a doubt, myself.
** Averted with the rest of the Hückebein and Thoma. When he accuses them of being behind the massacre of his hometown, Fortis replies that while they have done plenty of similar massacres, that particular one definitely wasn't them. [[NotMeThisTime He double-checked.]] And besides, if it had been the Hückebein, they would have made sure to leave no survivors, and [[IfIWantedYouDead Thoma survived]].
** A heroic example near the beginning of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'': When [[TheKnightsWhoSaySquee Subaru]] [[TearsOfJoy gets emotional]] upon meeting Nanoha, Fate does not know what's up until she is reminded that she and Nanoha rescued Subaru and her sister from a burning airport a few years ago. Ever since then, Subaru idolized Nanoha and trained to join her rescue force. Averted in that Nanoha remembers, which is why Subaru was crying in the first place.
* At first Hakkai from ''Manga/{{Saiyuki}}'' doesn't remember Chin Yisou, [[spoiler:the last of the thousand youkai he killed and the one who ''deliberately'' kick started his KarmicTransformation]] This is vaguely understandable as Hakkai was at the time consumed with grief over [[BrotherSisterIncest Kanan's]] suicide and [[spoiler:Yisou returns as a shikigami, if you kill someone you don't normally expect them to come back, at least before Hazel arrives in the story]].
* In the ''Mahou Shoujo Isuka'' OVA, when Isuka confronts the Witch Hunter who raped and killed her sister, he flatly tells her that he doesn't bother to remember all of the Witches he's killed. This turns out to be a lie; he ''does'' remember, and said this just to get a rise out of her.
* In ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'', [[spoiler:Barnaby Brooks Jr.]] has spent twenty years trying to track down the man who murdered his parents. When he finally confronts the man responsible, not only does the criminal not remember it, he mocks [[spoiler:Barnaby]] for expecting him to keep track. [[spoiler:As it turns out, he cannot remember killing Barnaby's parents because he didn't do it - was in completely different place that day.]]
* In ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'', Clare's one mission in life is to kill Priscilla, who killed her mother-figure Teresa. The moment of her death is seared into Clare's memory and drives her to [[UnstoppableRage kill, kill, kill]] when faced with difficult opponents, especially when she finally faces Priscilla for the first time in many years. However, Priscilla doesn't seem to remember her at all, since she only familiarizes herself with Clare because she smells like Teresa, whom Priscilla is obsessed with. Furthermore, on that fateful day, Priscilla totally ignored Clare because [[spoiler:[[SelectiveSlaughter she only killed those who weren't young girls]].]]
* ''Manga/MyBrideIsAMermaid'': In Lunar's debut episode, she recalls her beef with Sun, during which Sun ''always'' beat her at singing contests when they were kids. Upon being reminded, Sun sheepishly admits that, with everything that had happened to her since then, she forgot about Lunar, much to the latter's annoyance.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** In ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', upon first meeting Team Rocket Admin Koga, Misty saw him forcing a Rhyhorn into evolution, and she realizes that he was the one responsible for doing a similar experiment on her Gyarados.
-->'''Koga''': ''You can't expect us to remember every Pokémon that we experiment on.''
** In the ''[[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Pokémon]]'' anime, Ash doesn't recognize Serena at first, not until she gives him back the handkerchief he used to bandage her leg when they met as children. Serena's idolized Ash since then, but Ash has helped a ''lot'' of people and Pokémon throughout his life. The event that had Serena fixated on him for years was normal for him.
* ''Manga/KyouKaraOreWa'' has many examples, as the protagonists have beaten a lot of people, but the most incredible example is the so-called {{Fundoshi}} [[EmbarrassingNickName Mask]]: right before the start of the series Mitsuhashi gave him the nickname, made him the ButtMonkey and generally ruined his life (and, in the process, getting the idea of trying and stand out with blond hair and becoming a badass) before moving to Chiba, and when the poor Fundoshi Mask finally tracks him down Mitsuhashi can't even remember him. After a while Mitsuhashi ''does'' remember about him... But only as the Fundoshi Mask, and by the time they meet again he forgot about him ''again'', and ''cannot recall about him at all''. Oh, and he made him a ButtMonkey again...
** {{Subverted}} occasionally, as Mitsuhashi will ''claim'' he forgot about some foe while actually remembering them well. And then beating them up with ease anyway.
* A friendlier version occurs in ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'', after Sakaki defeats Kagura at the sports fest. When the new school year comes around, Kagura joins Sakaki's class, eager to continue her [[UnknownRival one-sided rivalry]]. However, when she mentions the sports fest, all she gets is a blank stare, as Sakaki doesn't remember her at all.
* At the beginning of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory'', Kou Uraki's humiliating attempt to recapture the GP-02 and Anaval Gato leads him to try to become an expert Mobile Suit pilot. When the two finally clash, Gato has absolutely no idea who this guy is. However, when their duel ends with both their Gundams wrecked, he makes it a point to remember Kou.
* The beginning of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'' shows Shinn Asuka's family dying in what was just one of many clashes between the Freedom Gundam and the Calamity Gundam that happened during the Federation's attack on Orb. Though Kira, being [[MartialPacifist who he is]], ''would'' likely have been upset that it had happened (he goes to great lengths to defeat his opponents [[ThouShaltNotKill without killing anybody]] ''including'' enemy soldiers, so civilians being caught in the crossfire would have devastated him), he was way too busy to notice.
* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'', [[spoiler: Nena Trinity kills Louise's entire family in a random act of violent envy. When confronted about this years later, Nena's response is utter bewilderment at what Louise is even talking about. And Louise kills her right afterward, so she never gets reminded.]]

* The heroic example happens in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' during [[TheRival Ryoga's]] introduction, and is PlayedForLaughs. Ryoga attacks Ranma, who briefly can't remember him. The reason for the feud is then [[spoiler: seemingly]] revealed: Ranma had been cutting in front of Ryoga in the tuckshop line, and had then left an appointed battle with Ryoga when Ryoga was four days late due to his [[NoSenseOfDirection incredible ability to get lost]]. [[spoiler: This turns out to be a partial red herring when Ryoga reveals he had followed Ranma to Jusenkyo seeking revenge, and received a particularly [[BalefulPolymorph unpleasant curse]] due to the actions of Ranma and his father, this being his new main grudge against Ranma. Although at first Ryoga himself didn't know Ranma had actually been the one who knocked him in; he thought the girl who knocked him in was some stranger, but he blamed Ranma regardless.]]
* Another heroic example, this time from ''LightNovel/MyriadColorsPhantomWorld''. In Episode 3, Mai is accosted by two Phantoms who are intent on battling her, but who she doesn't recognize at all. It turns out that when they were younger, she had play-fought with them and driven them to tears; the incident had then prompted the Phantoms to spend ten years training for a rematch. Unusually, Mai actually ''does'' remember the incident, [[SelfServingMemory but not the play-fighting bit]]; she also doesn't make the connection with the Phantoms until TheReveal at the end of the episode.
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Hakuouki}}'' OVA ''Sekkaroku'', a ronin attacking [[BloodKnight Okita]] declares that he intends to avenge his master. Okita doesn't recognize the name or remember the incident at all.
* Being a Deconstruction of the FightingSeries PlayedForLaughs, ''Manga/RamenFighterMiki'' deconstructs this trope when Miki doesn't remember Kankuro, the guy she bullied as a kid. Because Miki is not a villain, but a SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp, FridgeBrilliance dictates that TheBully cannot care for those weaker that him.
-->'''Miki:''' So, who is this guy?\\
'''Akihiko:''' You really don’t remember? You used to pick on him all the time.\\
'''Miki:''' I don’t know this guy at all.\\
'''Akihiko:''' It’s only been four years!\\
'''Kankuro:''' How awful, [[VerbalTic Nya!]]
* ''Manga/SoulEater'' plays with this. [[CloudCuckoolander Excalibur]] tells stories frequently throughout the series, beginning each with "It all began on a Tuesday... or was it Friday? Monday is also possible. Hmm... Saturday it must be." Each time, he cycles through each day of the week, finally deciding on a day that isn't the one he started with.
* Averted in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''. [[spoiler: During their first meeting, Bertolt expresses curiosity over what Eren experienced when his DoomedHometown was attacked by Titans. Five years later, after learning that Bertolt is the Colossal Titan, Eren confronts him and asks how he felt learning about being responsible for Eren's mother dying. Bertolt quietly responds that he felt sorry for Eren, and is later revealed to have genuine remorse over his actions]].
* Edward King in ''Manga/GreenBlood'' readily admits he has so many enemies he can't possibly remember them all. He does, however, know who the protagonist Brad Burns is and, while he initially fails to recognize [[spoiler:Brad's brother Luke]] when they're face-to-face he quickly picks up on it when told.
* Oga in ''Manga/{{Beelzebub}}'' does this to Miki in the Saint Ishiyama arc, Oga saved Miki from a gang leader when they were kids, and then proceeded to beat the hell out of Miki the day before he moved out of town. After Oga moves schools to Saint Ishiyama Miki, remembering Oga, seeks a fight with him to show how strong he's grown. Oga has no clue who he is. By the end of the arc, however, it is revealed that Oga may in fact remember him. [[IdiotHero Either that or he just found out Miki's name]].
* ''Manga/GalaxyExpress999'' has a classic straight example.
-->'''Count Mecha''': I don't know you.\\
'''Tetsuro''': My name is Tetsuro Hoshino and you killed my mother, you metal bastard!\\
'''Count Mecha''': I kill a lot of mothers. Let me guess: you want vengeance, blah blah blah...
** What makes this even worse, if that were possible, is that Count Mecha has forgotten Tetsuro and his mother ''despite having her corpse stuffed and mounted on his wall.''
* ''Manga/{{InuYasha}}'':
** In episode 97 ("Kirara Come Home"), the group confronts a monkey demon, whom they believe to have killed and eaten the missing Kirara; said monkey simply asks them if they really expect them to remember everything he's eaten. [[SubvertedTrope It turns out he didn't eat Kirara]]: Myoga had taken her to run an errand, and Shippo had been asked to inform the others as such, but forgot to do so.
** Jakken became a loyal follower of Sessoumaru after the latter single-handedly killed a bad guy from Jakken's tribe and resolved a major conflict the tribe was in the middle of. Why? No reason, he was just passing through, and that bugger was in his way.
* [[CuteAndPsycho Nui Harime]] of ''Anime/KillLaKill'' remembers every wound inflicted '''upon''' her all too well. However she can't be bothered to remember [[CurbStompBattle all the brutal beatdowns]] she has administered to her opponents.
* In ''LightNovel/TheDevilIsAPartTimer'' when Emi finally brings up her real grudge against Maou, namely that his forces burned her village and killed her father, he gives a halfassed apology along the lines of "Oh, did that happen? Sorry that I suck at controlling my troops sometimes but eh, humans and demons have never really gotten along anyway." Not really evil so he doesn't just shrug it off entirely, but he clearly has no idea what she's talking about, doesn't care and doesn't even consider it to really be his fault.
* ''Manga/PandoraHearts'': A heartwarming one between [[spoiler: Jack and Lacie. Lacie only remembers Jack as someone she talked to in order to kill time after she ran away from home, but Jack's meeting with Lacie completely changed his life and gives him a purpose to live for. Unfortunately, Jack's life isn't completely changed [[LoveMakesYouEvil for the better.]]]]
* ''Manga/CityHunter'': A magnificent example comes from Rosemary Moon's arc. The villain is a terrorist named David Clive, formerly the chief of a foreign secret service until Ryo and Rosemary exposed him as a traitor, now "The Terrorist From Hell". When Umibozu reveals his identity, Rosemary has an Oh, Crap! moment, while Ryo completely forgot about him. Becomes a Brick Joke when Ryo finally looks at him and declares he still can't remember his face.
* In ''Manga/InitialD'', one of Takumi's hallmarks, particularly early on in the series, is that what he views as his usual mountain driving, everyone else sees as "holy shit, we're no good compared to him!" Best exemplified when Iketani offers to ride in the passenger seat after Takumi's first official win: Iketani is freaked out by how fast Takumi so casually enters the first corner at such a high speed, and by the third corner, the poor sap has ''fainted''. This is because Takumi has been driving the way he does for ''five years'' under instructions from his father, who sends him on tofu delivery runs up the mountain every morning and has him drive in a way that keeps the tofu from breaking, [[TricksterMentor training Takumi to become a top-tier road racer without Takumi being aware of it]]. And that's just the uphill; Takumi's downhill skills are because after every tofu run, he just wants to get home as fast as possible and go back to sleep, so what comes off as incredible downhill talent to others is just typical another morning to him!
* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'': A rare heroic example that's also part of the big conflict between Kirito and Death Gun during the Phantom Bullet arc. [[spoiler:For Kirito, his defeating [=XaXa=] and his cohorts in [[PlayerKilling Laughing Coffin]] was just another day, to the extent he didn't even bother finding out his name. For [=XaXa=], ItsPersonal, and he delights in having a chance at revenge on Kirito in GGO.]]

* ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'':

'''Tetsuro''': My name is Tetsuro Oshino and you killed my mother, you metal bastard!\\

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood'': In one of the more famous uses of this trope, Zeppeli asks Dio how many humans he killed just to heal the scars Jonathan inflicted in their last battle. Dio replies "Do you remember how many loaves of bread you've eaten in your lifetime?", which thoroughly pisses both Zeppeli and Jonathan off.

* Similar to Ichigo, Might Guy of ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'' cannot remember his previous encounters with the highly-memorable Kisame Hoshigaki. Each time Kisame was eager for a rematch and remembered Guy, but all Guy could manage to piece together after ten minutes of battle was [[CaptainObvious "You wield a sword!"]]
** Even funnier; Kisame is a notorious international criminal and is near or at the top of the most wanted list of several villages, including Konoha. When he is first introduced the other Jounin recongize him ''on sight'', despite never having met him before, due to how notorious he is (and the fact that he looks like a ''shark''), and he should have been even more notorious after being identified as a member of the international terrorist group Akatsuki, and as partner of the yet more infamous Itachi Uchiha, whom Guy knows personally. Yet Guy runs into Kisame three times and nearly died the second, and he ''still doesn't remember him''.
** Although after Kisame [[spoiler:takes his own life to prevent the heroes from interrogating him,]] Guy says that he is a true shinobi, and that he will never forget his name.
*** This may be simply another example of Guy's BunnyEarsLawyer personality. The second time that Guy fought Kisame, Kisame was actually using a special clone, not his own body. So to Guy, the second time probably didn't count. On the other hand, Guy may actually be that ditzy - it's hard to tell.
** There is actually a very logical reason that Guy never remembered his initial meeting with Kisame, though it's understated. The first time Guy ran into Kisame and Itachi, he was looking at the ground the whole time (so as to avoid Itachi's genjutsu). So he probably never actually saw Kisame's face in their first encounter.

** In ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', upon first meeting Team Rocket Admin Koga, Misty saw him forcing a Ryhorn into evolution, and she realizes that he was the one responsible for doing a similar experiment on her Gyarados.

* Being a Deconstruction of the FightingSeries PlayedForLaughs, ''Manga/MutekiKanbanMusume'' deconstructs this trope when Miki doesn't remember Kankuro, the guy she bullied as a kid. Because Miki is not a villain, but a SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp, FridgeBrilliance dictates that TheBully cannot care for those weaker that him.