History PetTheDog / AnimeAndManga

** Domon Kasshu starts off ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' as a huge JerkAss, but a couple of things early in the series establish that he's not a total one: first, he [[FriendToAllChildren helps some orphans when their little sister is kidnapped]]. Then, in the Neo-Mexico episode, he's very gentle with the [[IllGirl terminally ill]] Gina Rodriguez (the first ''adult'' he's unreservedly kind to) and helps her brother dodge the authorities.

** Flashbacks confirm that Ryuuken's cultivating a [[MysteriousPast mysterious]] facade. [[BlueBlood He and his fiancee]] are both [[NoSparks deeply unhappy]] about their impending ArrangedMarriage but he works very hard make her life as bearable as possible and takes his responsibility to look after her very seriously. Failing to protect her life triggers an HeroicBSOD. The [[UptownGuy woman]] he actually [[MarryForLove marries]] is [[ChildhoodFriendRomance proof beyond doubt]] that blood purity and Quincy tradition [[DespairEventHorizon mean less to him]] than caring for the people he loves, [[TheLostLenore driving]] his future [[DeclarationOfProtection anti-Quincy behaviour]] towards Uryuu.

* Paul von Oberstein in ''Anime/LegendOfGalacticHeroes'' is, if not evil, an unashamedly unlikable guy, to the point of [[spoiler:letting a planet of people die because it would be good propaganda (in the anime anyway)]]. However, in the second season we learn that he has taken in and dotes upon an elderly dalmatian he found in the street. Though we only see it once on screen it's mentioned a few more times, most notably [[spoiler:his last words are to request someone take care of the dog]]. In his case, it doesn't indicate his underlying heart of gold. He's just a jerk who really likes his dog.

** In Episode 2 of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs'', Signum took the time to repair and return Vita's [[NiceHat precious hat]] before entering the fray against the TSAB.

* Jerkass coach Kashiwaba from ''Manga/{{Touch}}'' is constantly followed by a dog. He never even touches the poor thing on-panel, but still... when he's hospitalized he asks the baseball team to take care of the dog.

** He's the bossy, trigger-happy, insult-spouting MagnificentBastard quaterback/captain of the Devil Bats, but he gets a Pet the Dog moment or two. In Episode 14, Hiruma is impressed enough by the determination of Yukimitsu during the "Tower of Hell" try-outs that he lets him on the team, even though the huge bag of ice Yukimitsu had been carrying to the top of the tower had melted.

** Yakushi Kabuto, an [[AffablyEvil affable]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], [[MagnificentBastard magnificent]] and sadistic bastard, yet he has several instances of this, like healing Hinata while being disguised as an ANBU, willingly providing information about Orochimaru's lair to Naruto as well as information of Akatsuki to Konoha, and recently [[spoiler: it is hinted that he deliberately guided Konoha's intelligence team to Madara's base of operations.]] Although his true motives are still unknown.

** It's played more straight when the picture that Urumi hid behind a massive firewall was [[spoiler: a picture of a young Miyabi, Tomoko and Urumi as friends.]]

* ''Manga/DetectiveConan'':
** Ai Haibara, formerly a member of TheSyndicate, is given this, with literal dogs and some cats.
** And for all of his JerkAss behavior, Kogoro Mouri adores his daughter Ran. [[PapaWolf You mess either with her or Conan, you're about to be in the receiving end of his powerful judo throws.]]

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyoGXP'': Over the years of trying to either steal away one of the main character's [[LoveInterest girls]], Seiryo Tennan gets a lot of [[LaserGuidedKarma well-deserved flak]], either physically or mentally. Despite this, he '''does''' have some redeeming points about him, even managing to knock-out the feared [[TheDreaded Tarant Shank]]... [[SetSwordsToStun with the unbelievably supposedly-unknown "backside"]] of '''[[LaserBlade a freakin' beam sword...!]]''' While his constant acts against the main characters do get annoying, he later [[HeelFaceTurn gets better]] by having his family host Seina's [[MarryThemAll "Political-based" wedding ceremony]], and he even manages to successfully win over Kyo Komachi's heart with an earnest gift on her actual birthday. Aww...

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyoGXP'': Over the years of trying to either steal away one of the main character's [[LoveInterest girls]], Seiryo Tennan gets a lot of [[LaserGuidedKarma well-deserved flak]], either physically or mentally. Despite this, he '''does''' have some redeeming points about him, even managing to knock-out the feared [[TheDreaded Tarant Shank]]... [[SetSwordsToStun with the unbelievable supposedly-unknown "backside"]] of '''[[LaserBlade a freakin' beam sword...!]]''' While his constant acts against the main characters do get annoying, he later [[HeelFaceTurn gets better]] by having his family host Seina's [[MarryThemAll "Political-based" wedding ceremony]], and he even manages to successfully win over Kyo Komachi's heart with an earnest gift on her actual birthday. Aww...

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyoGXP'': Over the years of trying to either steal away one of the main character's [[LoveInterest girls]], Seiryo Tennan gets a lot of [[LaserGuidedKarma well-deserved flak]], either physically or mentally. Despite this, he '''does''' have some redeeming points about him, even managing to knock-out the feared [[TheDreaded Tarant Shank]]... [[SetSwordsToStun with the freakin' supposedly-unknown "backside"]] of '''[[LaserBlade a freakin' beam sword...!]]''' While his constant acts against the main characters do get annoying, he later [[HeelFaceTurn gets better]] by having his family host Seina's [[MarryThemAll "Political-based" wedding ceremony]], and he even manages to successfully win over Kyo Komachi's heart with an earnest gift on her actual birthday. Aww...

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyoGXP'': Over the years of trying to either steal away one of the main character's [[LoveInterest girls]], Seiryo Tennan gets a lot of [[LaserGuidedKarma well-deserved flak]], either physically or mentally. Despite this, he '''does''' have some redeeming points about him, even managing to knock-out the feared [[TheDreaded Tarant Shank]]... '''[[SetSwordsToStun with the freakin' supposedly-unknown "backside"]]''' of '''[[LaserBlade a beam sword...!]]''' While his constant acts against the main characters do get annoying, he later [[HeelFaceTurn gets better]] by having his family host Seina's [[MarryThemAll "Political-based" wedding]], and he even manages to successfully win over Kyo Komachi's heart with an earnest gift on her actual birthday. Aww...

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyoGXP'': Over the years of trying to either steal away one of the main character's [[LoveInterent girls]], Seiryo Tennan gets a lot of [[LaserGuidedKarma well-deserved flak]], either physically or mentally. Despite this, he '''does''' have some redeeming points about him, even managing to knock-out the feared [[TheDreaded Tarant Shank]]... '''[[SetSwordsToStun with the freakin' supposedly-unknown "backside"]]''' of '''[[LaserBlade a beam sword...!]]''' While his constant acts against the main characters do get annoying, he later [[HeelFaceTurn gets better]] by having his family host Seina's [[MarryThemAll "Political-based" wedding]], and he even manages to successfully win over Kyo Komachi's heart with an earnest gift on her actual birthday. Aww...

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyoGXP'': Over the years of trying to either steal away one of the main character's [[LoveInterent girls]], Seiryo Tennan gets a lot of [[LaserGuidedKarma well-deserved flak]], either physically or mentally. Despite this, he '''does''' have some redeeming points about him, even managing to knock-out the feared [[TheDreaded Tarant Shank]]... '''[[ with the freakin' supposedly-unknown "backside"]]''' of [[LaserBlade a beam sword...!]]''' While his constant acts against the main characters do get annoying, he later [[HeelFaceTurn gets better]] by having his family host Seina's [[MarryThemAll "Political-based" wedding]], and he even manages to successfully win over Kyo Komachi's heart with an earnest gift on her actual birthday. Aww...

* In ''Attack of The Prehistoric Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', Ash thought that his Charmeleon evolved into Charizard to rescue him from an Aerodactyl, only for Charizard to Flamethrower him in the face, indicating that Charizard's attitude hasn't changed upon evolution. [[spoiler:However, when Aerodactyl was put to sleep by Jigglypuff's singing, he drops Ash, and Charizard quickly saves Ash from falling to his death.]] Next time Charizard appears, he's still a disobedient WildCard. Makes one wonder...

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''

* Yakushi Kabuto from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', an [[AffablyEvil affable]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], [[MagnificentBastard magnificent]] and sadistic bastard, yet he has several instances of this, like healing Hinata while being disguised as an ANBU, willingly providing information about Orochimaru's lair to Naruto as well as information of Akatsuki to Konoha, and recently [[spoiler: it is hinted that he deliberately guided Konoha's intelligence team to Madara's base of operations.]] Although his true motives are still unknown.

** When we first meet Captain Smoker, we're led to assume he's a ruthless commander. However, to show he's not such a bad guy, we get a scene with a little girl accidentally spilling her ice cream cone on Smoker, and the girl's father freaking out because a superhuman monster has just been offended by his daughter, and Smoker leans down... and almost ''worriedly'' says, "Oh gosh. My pants ate your ice cream. They're so mean-here's some money to buy some more, okay?" And he hands her the series' equivalent of fifty dollars, or some other ridiculous amount. Smoker winds up as more of a [[WorthyOpponent respectful antagonist]] of the Straw Hats than the KnightTemplar or corrupt government agent archetype that most ''One Piece'' marine captains fit.

* LightNovel/{{Oreimo}}: "You... you... bastard son! Do as you wish! I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT IT!"

** He's the bossy, trigger-happy, insult-spouting MagnificentBastard quaterback/captain of the Devil Bats, but he gets a Pet the Dog moment or two. In episode 14, Hiruma is impressed enough by the determination of Yukimitsu during the "Tower of Hell" try-outs that he lets him on the team, even though the huge bag of ice Yukimitsu had been carrying to the top of the tower had melted.

* ''Manga/HaouAiren'': Or better said, the kitten named Miruku.
* In ''Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie'', when Metal Sonic "kills" the real Sonic, he gives Old Man Hoot the clothes that he was apparently planning to leave him in his will.
* Galvatron, of all people, gets one in ''Anime/TransformersHeadmasters'', part of the Takara anime series. He's moved to genuine sorrow and anger when Soundwave is killed, suggesting there's something halfway decent beneath the arrogant psychopath he normally appears as.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** The earliest example in the series is that of TheLancer, Zoro. His reputation as a pirate hunter had him portrayed as a heartless monster, but when he eats a poorly-cooked and filthy rice ball a sweet little girl he saved earlier made for him, and asks Luffy to tell her it was good, you know he's a massive softy at heart.
** Cruelly subverted with Captain Kuro. When Kaya shows up at the coast where his crew was facing off against Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp, he shows a bit of surprise and concern. She offers him her fortune in exchange for him leaving, and he replies that that wasn't all that he wanted: what he wanted most was peace of mind, living surrounded by the comfort and tranquility that he had had for the past three years as her butler. He reaffirms his plan to kill her, and she threatens him at gunpoint to leave. This prompts him to go into a speech about what they had been through in the past three years, speaking of it fondly and making everyone think that he might have developed a soft spot for her after all…and then he uses the fact that her guard was down to take the pistol from her hands and say that he had ''endured'' the past three years only to kill her, stating his hatred for having to yield his pride so much to her. Kaya is reduced to tears, and Kuro soon finds himself on the receiving end of Luffy's fury.
** When we first meet Captain Smoker, we're led to assume he's a ruthless commander. However, to show he's not such a bad guy, we get a scene with a little girl accidentally spilling her ice cream cone on Smoker, and the girl's father freaking out because a superhuman monster has just been offended by his daughter, and Smoker leans down... and almost ''worriedly'' says, "Oh gosh. My pants ate your ice cream. They're so mean-here's some money to buy some more, okay?" And he hands her the series' equivalent of fifty dollars, or some other ridiculous amount. Smoker winds up as more of a [[WorthyOpponent respectful antagonist]] of the Straw Hats than the KnightTemplar or corrupt government agent archetype that most ''One Piece'' marine captains fit.
** Donquixote Doflamingo didn't have much revealed about him for the first half of the series; all we knew was that he was a Warlord with a personality rather similar to ComicBook/TheJoker, and was involved in shady things such as the slave trade. He seemed to show shades of this shortly before the Dressrosa arc began: [[spoiler:apologizing to Monet for asking her to basically kill herself, apologizing to Vergo since he'd be caught in the blast, and then apologizing to Baby 5 and her partner for getting hurt by Law since he sent them there. Even before this he didn't even kill Baby 5 despite her trying to kill him.]] But after a while in the Dressrosa arc, we find out that he's just like Arlong: his care for his crew is the ''only'' good quality that he has.
** Capone Bege of the Worst Generation is a deliberate and obvious expy of mafia boss Al Capone. He's fleshed out during the Whole Cake Island arc, and while he's undeniably a wicked man, it's impossible to see him as being all bad when we see how he interacts with [[spoiler:his wife and infant son.]]
* Subverted in ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' with the DirtyOldMan Mr. Kimura. The characters spot him picking up trash and feeding stray animals, and suspect he may not be so bad after all... then they [[ExactEavesdropping overhear]] an inappropriate comment of his and decide nope, he's still a pervert.

* Alluded to in the ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' series, when the homicidal [=BlackWarGreymon=] takes a fondness for a flower and Tai's Agumon. He's not really evil, just suffering from a bad case of CloningBlues, and is destroying things to find a purpose for his synthetic life.
* Psychopath Desty Nova from ''Manga/BattleAngelAlita'' gets this sort of moment only in unreality, when he's in Alita's mind trying to remake her memories and trap her in virtual reality. Part of the illusion puts him in the role of her father figure. They share a truly empathic moment where Nova no longer seems insane, and he wishes that the moment could last forever... then he tries to defend Alita from the approaching "monster" even though (in the virtual-reality) it seems to be working toward a HeroicSacrifice.
* In ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', [[BumblingDad Bumbling]] [[JerkAss jerk]] of a dad Genma is shown tucking in a sleeping Ranma like a small child in one story. It subverted later, however, when Ranma wakes up and notices his food all eaten with a sign left saying "Yum!"
* ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato2199'': Vuelke Shulz is a Zaltian Brigadier general who gets a lot of flack from his [[FantasticRacism xenophobic]] commanding officer in the Gamillas navy, Goer. After Shulz is killed in action while fighting the ''Yamato'', Desslar, the scheming ruler of Gamillas, promotes him and his men by two ranks: Shulz ends up posthumously outranking Goer. In addition, he grants Shulz's family and those of his subordinates honorary citizenship, putting them above most pure-blooded Gamillans.

* Subverted in ''Manga/{{Monster}}''. Sure, it looks like Johan has a soft spot for children, volunteering at an orphanage between murdering in cool blood and preparing himself to become the next Adolf Hitler, but that's only until you hear [[MindRape the disturbing ideas he's planting in their impressionable little minds]]...
** Subverted again at around the same time: Johan reuniting Schuwald with his long lost son...until it became immediately apparent that he did it to stall the investigation into the death of Schuwald's original suspected "long lost son" (who he killed). And when the private investigator tries to pursue the case anyways, he {{Mind Rape}}s the guy and pushes him to his death. Yeah, Johan's kind of a dick.
** He also has a touching moment just before this where he sheds TenderTears over Karl's OrphansOrdeal, which will really do your head in by FridgeHorror once you get a few issues further into the story. The possibility the tears ''might'' still be real only adds MindScrew to the already fairly {{Mind Screw}}y characterization.
* ''Manga/ZatchBell'':
** Subverted in one episode, Kiyomaro and Gash see a giant-sized young man carting along a boy holding a spell book. The giant is shown helping kids in trouble, fixing a broken-winged bird, and helping little old ladies; they assume the giant is a kind "mamodo" (demon), but then are confused when they see him and the boy conjuring up a plan to destroy an elementary school. As it turns out, the ''boy'' was the mamodo, and he was downright rotten.
** Played straight during the Faudo Arc [[spoiler:during Rodeux's final moments when it was revealed that he had been trying to get his human partner to overcome her depression over an eye injury.]] Up to that point he had been shown to be a plain JerkAss.
* Kyon in ''[[LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya]]''. Generally said, his treatment of [[spoiler: Yuki Nagato]], going so far as to [[spoiler: threaten to use Haruhi to reconstruct the universe because of her.]] Given to that he previously was presented as an apathetic cynic, this is [[CharacterDevelopment a good way to go]].
* ''Manga/{{Spiral}}'s'' Eyes, Kousuke and Rio are originally portrayed as sociopaths, perfectly comfortable with killing anyone that gets in their way... and rather violently, especially in the manga. [[spoiler:Eyes recalls killing several animals, culminating in a husky he strangled with a wire.]] There is a slight twist when Eyes is completely unaffected by the death of the cat he and Kousuke had just fed, but the camaraderie they show towards each other in later episodes, and their mutual concern for Rio while she's in the hospital somewhat negate it. Once Ryoko, Kanone and the Hunters are thrown into the mix, it becomes apparent that the Blade Children aren't inherently evil; they're just trying to survive. Twisted, but not evil.

* In ''Manga/DeadmanWonderland'' apparently AxCrazy Senji (aka Crow) cheers for Ganta at the latter's second match and [[CombatCommentator gives Ganta's move's a name]] despite having had an eye surgically removed because he lost to Ganta at his first match. Meanwhile, [[TheMole mole]] You's brutal behavior is because 1) he's in prison and 2) [[spoiler:he needs to save as much money as he can to buy his little sister's freedom. Ironically she probably doesn't deserve it.]] Genkaku, shown in a flashback to his past, was revealed to have a humanizing moment while taking care of a small, wounded kitty. [[MoralityChain Unfortunately for everyone, it dies.]]
* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
** Piccolo was pure evil in ''Manga/DragonBall''. Then he gets stuck raising his archenemy's adorable little son, [[LickedByTheDog who doesn't understand why people don't think he's just awesome]]. Piccolo develops a soft spot for Gohan, performs a HeroicSacrifice on his behalf, and, despite some early denial, is an official good guy from there on out. Piccolo also got the chance to pet many other dogs after that, most notably Dende and the planet Namek, which he actually started caring about. The original Piccolo wouldn't have given them a second thought.
** In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', Vegeta gets several, becoming more and more obvious, but the first that was definitely intended as such is when he gets together with Bulma; has a son, Trunks; [[PapaWolf reacts to protect his son's life]]; and is then is later motivated by the lives of his wife and son throughout the Buu Saga. The end of the saga even shows him sharing food with the good Majin Buu at Bulma's party, despite suggesting to kill him a while ago.
** There are many subtle hints of Fat Buu's inner kindness during his rampage around Earth. At one point he approaches a drowning man who is screaming for help, apparently with the intention of helping, but when the man realizes who has come to his aid, he screams and Buu kills him for being "mean". He later befriends a blind kid (and heals his blindness) who is unafraid of him because he cannot see Buu (and when he can see, he still isn't afraid; as he notes, Buu is the first person he's ever seen). Finally this culminates in Buu making friends with Mr. Satan and a little puppy, cementing a HeelFaceTurn.
** Android 16 is revealed to be a FriendToAllLivingThings, despite being on a mission to murder the kindest person on the planet.
* Fakir from ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' has what you could call a "Pet the Duck" moment--when the typically cold and angry boy finds Ahiru (in her duck form) in his locker, he sneaks her under his coat, takes her outside, and then proceeds to feed her bread. He smiles at her before walking away. This happens a couple other times, until he's crying next to a lake and she swims up to him, where he actually HUGS A DUCK... which becomes priceless in another manner entirely when he [[spoiler: finds out that said duck was his classmate.]]

* In ''Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis'', Ryoma Echizen and Kaoru Kaidoh are aloof, asocial, and kind of jerks sometimes. But the episode "Karupin's Adventure" showed that they both adore petting the cat, since Ryoma freaks out when he realizes his beloved Himalayan cat Karupin has been out of home and almost cries when his sempai return it to him, and a scene prior to the return has Kaidoh playing with the kitten and later blushing when one of his sempais notices he's in a good mood despite not dropping his antisocial facade.
* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'':
** The Count, the second major demon we see, has a young daughter named Theresia, the one thing he still cares about. When he's dying from Guts's attack, the Godhand give him a chance to be regenerated... if he sacrifices her like he did with her mother when he first became an Apostle. Anyone who makes a [[DealWithTheDevil deal with the Godhand]] is destined to go to Hell when they're destroyed. The Count's choice: he dies, rather than give his daughter to the Godhand.
*** Not long after this scene, [[AntiHero Guts himself]] has a strange one, in that it's both a PetTheDog and a KickTheDog at the same time. After finishing off the sheltered teenage girl's father, Guts mocks her and leaves her with her grief, causing Theresia to [[IllKillYou vow to kill him]] somehow, someday. [[ZeroApprovalGambit This is exactly what Guts wanted her to say]], as he knew she would be DrivenToSuicide and wanted to give her a reason to continue living, even if it was just to get revenge on him. As Guts turns away, he looks on the verge of tears.
** Father Mozgus is a KnightTemplar, obsessed with torture and execution of "heretics". His assembled inquisitorial squad is composed of freaks...freaks that he personally rescued and gave a chance at something better. [[PlayingWithATrope The man's priorities are backward, but he does have a charitable side.]]
** Even post-Eclipse Griffith has a pet the dog moment when he saves none other than Casca, [[spoiler:the woman he raped as Femto during the Eclipse in his crossing of the MoralEventHorizon]], from some falling rocks when his new [[TheDragon lackey]] Nosferatu Zodd was fighting Guts and caused their cave home to collapse. It's debatable whether or not this was influenced by [[spoiler:Guts and Casca's child, which he used along with the Behelit-Apostle to be reborn as Griffith again]].
*** Post-Eclipse Griffith did it again when he [[spoiler: rescued Princess Charlotte from Emperor Ganishka in a very romantic fairytale fashion. Of course, since Griffith was all about enacting [[CourtlyLove chivalric duties]] around the princess in order to get closer to the crown, this is possibly a subversion.]]
*** And oddly enough, right after the Eclipse, [[spoiler: Griffith, in his alter ego form of Femto, refrains from blasting Guts and Casca away when the Skull Knight saved them. Of course, this brief PetTheDog moment doesn't really amount to anything since he had just gotten through a heinous several chapter KickTheDog moment.]]
** Also [[AbusiveParents Gambino]], who pet a dog... at the same time [[KickTheDog kicking the dog]] several seconds later. [[ThatPoorCat That poor dog.]]
* For a large part of ''Anime/PetitePrincessYucie'', Beth doesn't seem to be an overly sympathetic character--until you find out how she [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/beth_belbel_big.jpg lets her fairy assistant spend the night]].
* Subverted in ''Anime/TekkamanBlade II'', where the new Tekkamen are shocked to see the alien Tekkamen they've been fighting mourn the death of one of them during a battle. They're actually reluctant to finish the battle once they realize the enemy is human (so to speak), until [[spoiler: Aki transforms into a Tekkaman herself and proceeds to brutally slaughter the aliens herself.]]
* ''Manga/DetectiveConan'':
** Ai Haibara, formerly a member of TheSyndicate, is given this, with literal dogs and some cats.
** And for all of his JerkAss behavior, Kogoro Mouri adores his daughter Ran. [[PapaWolf You mess either with her or Conan, you're about to be in the receiving end of his powerful judo throws.]]
* Jinnai to Ifurita in the last episode of ''[[Anime/ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld El-Hazard: The Wanderers]]'': "You did a good job." Too bad she wasn't awake to hear it.
* In ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'':
** Chachamaru Pet The Cat(s) when she - after performing many acts of kindness in town from catching errant balloons stuck in trees to helping old ladies cross the overpass - rescued a stray kitten in a box going down a river, which followed her afterwards implying she knew the animal. From this the heroes tailed her to discover that she feeds and takes care of a number of stray cats in her spare time. [[FriendToAllLivingThings This made for quite a very happy scene]], so naturally, the pair of heroes said (with TenderTears) "[[LampShadeHanging Aww! She's not so bad!]]". The [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism more Cynical]] [[WeaselMascot Chamo]] (who has a [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Heart Of Gold]] as well) reminded them ''[[RidiculouslyHumanRobots she's a robot]]''.
** Known JerkAss Tosaka turned his character around a bit when he protected [[spoiler:Ako from giving up her slave rights to safety]], [[spoiler:called off his blackmail of Negi]], [[HiddenHeartOfGold saying he was just bored]], and later [[spoiler: told Negi in all details that his MissingMom, Princess Arika, was a really sweet person whom he looked up to]]. He denies being a good character in almost every appearance thereafter... Even right after his biggest PetTheDog moment ever: [[spoiler: his HeroicSacrifice to save Ako's life.]]
** During his [[spoiler:fight with Rakan]], ''[[BigBad Fate]]'' pets the dog. In a flashback anyway. Turns out his minions' loyalty stems from the care he gave them as orphans from the great war, and they are just the ones who chose to stay with him--[[http://www.mangafox.com/manga/mahou_sensei_negima/c260/8.html he sent the other 57 off to school]]. Even Rakan notes that it's surprisingly nice of Fate. Granted, Fate's boss is the one who ''caused'' the war in the first place, but taking care of the war orphans is far from the more normal BigBad tactics of [[OmnicidalManiac killing everyone]]. Combined with his [[spoiler:sudden growth spurt]] and visible ''emotions'', Fate seems quite different.
--->[[{{Imageboards}} Anon #1]]: Fate Tertium Averruncus [[OmnicidalManiac promotes destruction of entire civilizations]], [[RocksFallEveryoneDies squishing innocent passerby with giant monoliths]], and completing primary education. What a nice chap.
--->[[{{Imageboards}} Anon #2]]: Well it's only fair that they have a future before he destroys it.
** [[spoiler:Fate]] also has another one [[spoiler:during his ComicallySerious moment]].
* ''Manga/InuYasha'':
** The first clue as to [[BigBrotherBully Sesshoumaru's]] [[BeneathTheMask well-suppressed]] [[AloofBigBrother better]] [[NobleDemon nature]] is his decision to save the life of and start [[{{Protectorate}} protecting]] [[CheerfulChild Rin]]. This trope is played with, however, It's not an example of a human petting a dog. It's an example of a [[CanisMajor dog]] petting a [[MoralityPet human]].
** Kohaku became the MoralityPet for Kagura, turning her from a DarkActionGirl into the female equivalent of an AloofBigBrother and finally resulting in an HeroicSacrifice... and then Kohaku became the second human child [[{{Protectorate}} to be petted by]] Sesshoumaru.

** In episode 2 of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs'', Signum took the time to repair and return Vita's [[NiceHat precious hat]] before entering the fray against the TSAB.
* In ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'', Nakago gets one of these in a flashback revealing he [[spoiler:[[RapeAsDrama rescued Soi]] from being gang-raped.]]
** Suboshi also gets a ''major'' Pet the Dog moment when he [[spoiler:gives his twin older brother Amiboshi a potion that will make him lose all memory, including memory of Suboshi himself, so that [[GiveHimANormalLife Amiboshi can live]] [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy a happy, innocent life]].]] Given that [[spoiler: Amiboshi is Suboshi's last living family member, and that Suboshi had been absolutely devastated when he earlier thought Amiboshi to be dead ([[MoralEventHorizon enough to slaughter the whole family of the guy he thought of as the murderer]]),]] it's actually one of the most ''legitimately'' moving sacrifices in the series.
*** On the other hand, he ruins it a bit by immediately afterwards trying to murder Miaka.
** Soi's moments of vulnerability with ''Nakago'', of all people, serve this function.
* In the Creator/OsamuTezuka manga/tokusatsu ''Series/AmbassadorMagma'', Goa likes children despite being the BigBad of the series.
* Xanxus in ''Manga/Reborn2004'' gets one with a touching families stick together speech in the Future Arc... Right before blasting an enemy apart.
** Hibari, who treats fellow humans like trash, is a softie when it comes to his cute pets. And in the recent chapters, he clarifies that he compared his companions to small animals not as insults because he believes that small animals have upstanding ways of living and surviving.
* Touka in ''Manga/{{Saki}}'' initially appears to be an arrogant AlphaBitch. The series then proceeds to throw so many Pet the Dog moments at her, that by the end, she probably qualifies for sainthood.
* Vanilla from ''Anime/{{Kaiba}}'' is a corrupt and callous ship's sheriff who takes bribes as a matter and is perfectly willing to summarily execute stowaways. (In ''Kaiba'', people's memories can be stored on chips and transferred to other bodies, so this is not quite as bad as it seems, but Vanilla still shows no remorse for the execution even after the stowaway was found not to have transferred her memories to a chip.) His lecherous infatuation with Chroniko (Kaiba in a young girl's body) is also really creepy. Eventually, though, it is revealed that Vanilla became a sheriff in order to raise enough money to buy a body for his mother, and that deep down he genuinely cares about Chroniko, to the point that when they are being shot at by police, he [[spoiler:transfers Kaiba's rather than his own memories to another body, sacrificing himself in the process.]]
* All Diclonii and Slipets in ''Manga/ElfenLied'' are dog petters by default. Diclonii will kill '''anyone''', men, women, children, ''their own parents''. However, not one instance is ever noted of one harming an animal, with the anime showing a dog even biting a diclonius, and the diclonius just petting it to make it feel better.
** Could be {{Justified|Trope}} by the [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters Diclonii being treated as and relegated to the level of animals by humans]] causing them to sympathize with ''real'' animals. Lucy's first PetTheDog moment after she escaped from the Diclonus Institute Research Facility was cutting free a dog that was tied to a gate post rather than using her usual modus operadi of decapitation.
* In ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'', Dolls are a frequent outlet for characters to do their dog-petting. Dolls are people who have been left shells of their former selves, and it's indicated that enterprising people are fond of selling them as sex slaves. Both the protagonists and their more sympathetic antagonists treat the Dolls they work with kindness, and some of those characters evidence a willingness to kill anyone who harms those Dolls.
** In particular, November 11, previously showcased to be a callous and cold-blooded killer, becomes infinitely more likable when his close friendship with and concern for [[CreepyChild July]] are demonstrated.
* Light Yagami gets a couple of these in ''Manga/DeathNote'', both with family members. He offers to run an errand on his sister's behalf, with no apparent ulterior motive - this gets him into position to [[spoiler:commit one of his most heinous acts of the first arc, when he tricks and murders Naomi Misora]]. Much later, in the manga, he talks his father out of quitting his police job; the motive is purely that Soichiro has risen to the top of his profession and Light can't let him give it all up. Again, this is despite the fact that Light's own actions are responsible for the Kira case, which is destroying Soichiro, and that in a few chapters' time [[spoiler:Light will rationalise, accept and plan for Soichiro's murder, although he never has to carry it out]]. While over in animeland that doesn't happen, Light is so far gone by the same point in the anime that when [[spoiler:he can't go through with the [[ShootTheDog murder of his sister]]]], it manages to come off as a Pet the Dog!
** [[spoiler:Can't Shoot The Dog?]]
* [[Manga/SoulEater Dr. Franken Stein]]. [[SociopathicHero Violent.]] Borders on [[MadScientist Insane.]] Repeatedly stated, once by himself, to be [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove incapable of love.]] [[{{Squee}} Hugs Marie and lets her cry into his chest]] when [[spoiler:her NewOldFlame B.J. dies.]]
* Keith Green of ''Manga/ProjectARMS'' is completely bloodthirsty and loves killing people...and [[spoiler:falls in love with Katsumi when he's secretly holding her prisoner (she thinks he's just protecting her from further harm). And when he finds out that she'll be used for some dangerous purpose, he tries to help her escape.]]
* In ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', RichBitch Eva Ushiromiya is shown to truly love her husband Hideyoshi, and gets several scenes with him- their conversation in the first arc in particular. Arguably their relationship in itself counts if only for how [[HappilyMarried happy]] they are together.
** Beatrice, the antagonist [[spoiler: for much of the series]], is demonstrated to have a rather large soft spot for [[CreepyChild Maria]], treating her better ''than she treats anyone else'' in the series, taking her on [[spoiler: as an apprentice witch, and choosing her as her sole companion during her self-imposed exile.]] (It probably doesn't hurt that Maria has an obsession with occultism and [[HeroWorshipper hero-worships]] Beato.)
*** [[spoiler:In reality it was that Maria was the one who Yasu/Beatrice III began to discuss the concepts of magic with and Maria believed in and played along with Yasu's power fantasy concerning Beatrice. It probably also helps that Yasu could sympathise with Maria due to Yasu's past.]]

* In ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'', Russia may be a PsychopathicManchild, but he does truly care about his older sister Ukaine (his scarf that he wears all the time was a gift from her). And there was that one time Lithuania [[SleepCute falls asleep]] and wakes up on a relatively sane Russia's shoulder.
** [[EnsembleDarkhorse Prussia]], who has JerkAss tendencies, gave [[ShipTease Hungary]] his cloak [[PleasePutSomeClothesOn when her shirt was ripped]].
*** And he also fawns over what/who he finds cute, like his pet chick and [[HoYay North Italy.]]
** Switzerland would be a lot less likeable if it wasn't for the fact that he dotes on his adopted sister all the time.
** In Chibitalia's stories, Austria is portrayed as the SternTeacher. But when Holy Roman Empire left and Chibitalia was late for work because he was saying goodbye to HRE, he told Chibitalia to take the day off. And later he and Hungary were seen doing his chores for him.
*** Austria gets another, somewhat lesser, one in regards to Chibitalia earlier on when he lets Chibitalia sit and listen to him practice piano instead of sending him off back to work when he notices him listening at the door.
* Genjou Sanzo from ''Manga/{{Saiyuki}}'' gets a ton of these. One that particularly works well is when, during "Burial" arc of ''Reload'', he comes upon a sleeping Goku, ''smiles'', and comments that Goku looks like a "daifuku." (A Japanese dessert, made of soft glutinous rice with some sweet filling within. He's saying Goku's got cute baby fat.) He then decides to let the kid sleep for a little longer.
* In ''Manga/TenshiNankaJaNai'', Midori knows that Akira, although very reserved, has a soft side since the day she saw him take home an abandoned kitten.
* In ''Manga/BeautyPop'', [[JerkAss Ozawa]] gets one by returning the scissors that his boss had stolen from Kiri. Sure, they were busted anyway, but it's the thought that counts.
* Yakushi Kabuto from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', an [[AffablyEvil affable]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], [[MagnificentBastard magnificent]] and sadistic bastard, yet he has several instances of this, like healing Hinata while being disguised as an ANBU, willingly providing information about Orochimaru's lair to Naruto as well as information of Akatsuki to Konoha, and recently [[spoiler: it is hinted that he deliberately guided Konoha's intelligence team to Madara's base of operations.]] Although his true motives are still unknown.
** While ultimately a man with [[WellIntentionedExtremist good intentions]], the Fourth Kazekage [[KickTheDog kicked puppies]] like no tomorrow in order to save his village. His desperate attempts ruined his youngest son Gaara's childhood, making him believe that he was never loved and would never be loved and driving him so insane that he ended up becoming a sociopathic SerialKiller by the age of ''twelve''. Ironically, it was these desperate attempts to save Suna that would get him killed at the end, but it wouldn't be by Gaara's hand -- it would be by Orochimaru's. [[spoiler:His PetTheDog moment comes ''after'' his death when he is revived by the Edo Tensei. After confronting Gaara and being defeated by him, he finally admits the truth about Yashamaru and admits that he was a horrible parent. He and Gaara make their peace, before he is sealed way, entrusting the safety of Suna to his son and successor.]]
* A manga [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]] [[TieInNovel tie-in]] to ''Franchise/StarWars'' gives ''Darth Vader'' a rather bizarre sort of Pet the Dog moment shortly before the events of ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''. He massacres a group of Jedi survivors but takes a boy named Tao from the group as a secret apprentice (gamers may remember how badly this worked out for him [[VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed last time]]). He tries to make Tao hate him and through hatred embrace TheDarkSide but ends up finding both Tao's and ''his own'' hatred rather lacking. Eventually Palpatine catches him, and having somewhat better memory than Vader, is furious and forces Vader to cut him open with his lightsaber to cause a lingering, painful death. Vader secretly smuggles back to his ruined homeworld and gives him a dignified burial complete with a grave marker, and shows actual bona fide sadness and remorse. [[BadBoss This is]] [[YouHaveFailedMe Darth]] [[MoralEventHorizon Vader]], and the events that would redeem him haven't happened yet. The canonicity of this manga is for now indeterminate but rather [[CanonDefilement dubious]].

* In ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'', Then-Dragon [[spoiler:Kisara]] is shown petting the dog, or rather cat, thus endearing her to [[spoiler:fellow rabid cat-lover Miu]] and eventually [[spoiler:leading to her break with Ragnarok and joining the side of good.]]
** Much more recently, [[spoiler:[[BigBad Saiga Furinji]]]] had his very own PetTheDog moment by disabling attacking opponents without actually killing them, administering medicine for one ally's paralyzed arm, and commending Kenichi for his effort in protecting Miu.
--> '''[[spoiler:Saiga]]:''' ''(to Kenichi)'' A man like you is worth trusting.
* ''Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka'': Tomoko serves this purpose for Miyabi and Urumi (the first thing Urumi does upon reuniting with Tomoko after a long absence is to make her sit, beg, and roll over).
** It's played more straight when the picture that Urumi hid behind a massive firewall was [[spoiler: a picture of a young Miyabi, Tomoko and Urumi as friends.]]
** Also with the Vice Principal Uchiyamada who loves his daughter more than anything.
* In ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'', despite being a HUGE {{jerkass}}, Izaya only shows to care for [[spoiler: [[MoralityPet Shinra]] the most. This might have to do with something that [[NoodleIncident happened during middle school]] (which is implied to be Izaya stabbing Shinra who tried to befriend him during that time) and Izaya regretting what he did because the mention of what happens sends him into silence. In retrospect, Shinra is not really involved in any of his plans (might have to do because he’s TheMedic). Finally, during the Valentine’s extra in the novel, Shinra is depressed during Valentine’s Day because Celty wouldn’t want chocolate because she wouldn’t be able to eat it. Izaya comes over and [[ShipperonDeck convinces him to go out and buy chocolate for her because it was the thought that counted.]]]]
** His whole past in volume 9 is full of this. [[spoiler: He befriends Shinra because he's interested in "observing" him. However, the two really seem to hit off a good friendship in middle school. And then Shinra takes a knife wound for him when a student named Nakura tries to stab Izaya. Izaya panics the entire time until he gets it together and asks Shinra to lie about who stabbed him so he can get revenge on Nakura for causing him harm.]] To everyone else outside of this event, they label [[spoiler: Shinra]] as his only friend.
* LightNovel/{{Oreimo}}: "You... you... bastard son! Do as you wish! I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT IT!"
* In ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'', the first hint that Barnaby isn't really the GloryHound he often acts like is when he [[spoiler:saves Kotetsu's daughter Kaede [[WhatYouAreInTheDark out of view of any cameras or witnesses other than Kotetsu himself]] in the second episode.]]
* Cross Marian from ''Manga/DGrayMan'' fits. He has shown many JerkAss moments, including his TricksterMentor moments, but he's not a complete jerkass. He fits more with JerkWithAHeartOfGold. Some moments with Allen, and comments made by him. Also, Anita's praise, and attitude toward him, also telling us that her mother felt the same. His protecting Lenalee on the ark, then agreeing to stay at HQ because she wanted him to, which ending up show his FatalFlaw. His sadness [[spoiler: when he found out about Anita's fate.]] For now, Allen and girls seem to show Cross' softer side. Allen also says that Cross has tons of things he got from his lovers underneath his bed at mother's house-pictures, accessories, and silverware. He apparently hangs on to things from his lovers. While we see him in his room in chapter 167, we see he has a few pictures on his shelves as well. Possibly pictures of his lovers, friends, or even family. But the fact he even keeps pictures in the first place seems to show he's not heartless, and he does, and can, care for people, even to the point of having keepsakes.
* In the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' manga, Robin Wolfe's treatment of his {{Hikikomori}} spider fanatic brother Bobby subverts this. Robin built a guest house called the "Den of Spiders", full of Bobby's collection of spiders and spider books, and it is revealed that it took a considerable amount of money to get all this and feed the spiders. However, the Den is also equipped with a chair with restraints, supposedly to protect Bobby from harming himself, but actually to keep him out of sight. Robin apparently sent Bobby on an errand to another city to give him work experience and confidence (which pleased him to be useful to his brother), as no company would hire him, but it was actually a ruse to get him away from home so he could use the Den of Spiders to torment Eddie Johnson, driving him to suicide. Bobby sees through most of Robin's attempts to seem like a loving older brother, and realizes Robin hates him. However, Lira, while saying that she hated her father for killing Eddie, but once loved him as her father, recalls a fond memory of him (badly) drawing her picture.
* In ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', Revy shows off how to really work a pair of guns by using some kid's popguns to hit cans. She even [[LuminescentBlush blushes]] after she realizes Rock was watching. Later, Rock and her meet the same kids, and she proceeds to hit the cans again... this time, with her dual Cutlasses.
* In Episode 6 of the animated adaptation of ''LightNovel/LoveChunibyoAndOtherDelusions'', as motivation to do better on her upcoming math exam, Rikka asks Yuuta to come up with a better (read: more fitting of her MsImagination status) e-mail address to replace her strangely bland existing one. After doing ... well enough, Yuuta comes up with one that Rikka adores; he presents it to her in [[OldShame Dark Flame]] [[MrImagination Master mode]], no less.
* ''Manga/KotouraSan'':
** In episode 8 Haruka has a flashback on how her mother took cared of her when she was ill--before recognizing her {{telepath|y}}ic abilities. That's a far cry from how the mother was later on, which is easily summarized as being an AbusiveParent.
** Haruka's mother is given another moment in episode 9 when Manabe proudly declares that he would never abandon Haruka no matter what happens. Although her mother says something along the lines of "do whatever you want", Manabe immediately starts having perverted thoughts, provoking a momentary MamaBear moment in her to protect Haruka from his usual attempted advances. (Which is usually PlayedForLaughs) It was enough for Haruka to briefly feel her mother's feelings prior to her mental breakdown and abandonment.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Ryuuken Ishida is initially introduced to the readers as bitter, sarcastic, unforgiving and hypercritical--the way he appears to his [[DysfunctionalFamily estranged son]] Uryuu, but there are hints of something very different BeneathTheMask.
** In the Lost Agent arc, Ryuuken has to perform life-saving surgery on Uryuu after a run-in with the ArcVillain. Without prompting, Ryuuken calls Uryuu's friends to visit, worries about Ichigo being out after curfew, tells Orihime as much as he can deduce about Uryuu's attacker, and insists on driving her home because he's realised her life is in danger. Compared to his interactions with Uryuu, Ryuuken is amazingly kind and mild towards Ichigo and Orihime, suggesting that Souken was right about Uryuu misunderstanding his father's intentions.
** Flashbacks confirm that Ryuuken's cultivating a [[MysteriousPast mysterious]] facade. [[BlueBlood He and his fiancee]] are both [[NoSparks deeply unhappy]] about their impending ArrangedMarriage but he works very hard make her life as bearable as possible and takes his responsibility to look after her very seriously. Failing to protect her life triggers an HeroicBSOD. The [[UptownGuy woman]] he actually [[MarryForLove marries]] is [[ChildhoodFriendRomance proof beyond doubt]] that blood purity and Quincy tradition [[DespairEventHorizon mean less to him]] than caring for the people he loves, [[TheLostLenore driving]] his future [[DeclarationOfProtection anti-Quincy behaviour]] towards Uryuu

* [[MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate Doctor]] [[WhiteHairBlackHeart Jezebel]] [[MadScientist Disraeli]] of ''Manga/CountCain'' loathes all humans, especially his half-brother Cain, keeps a collection of eyeballs in jars (to which he hopes to add Cain's), as well as the preserved organs of his sisters and mother, and will take any excuse to cause some schmucks painful and gruesome deaths... but goodness gracious that man sure does love animals. He reacts with some horror at the suggestion of [[AnimalTesting performing experiments on animals]], protesting that [[TestedOnHumans he tests on humans instead]], and several times through the series is shown tenderly cradling small fluffy things. His {{Sidekick}} [[OlderThanTheyLook Cassian]] even points out that "[[NotGoodWithPeople humans]] are the only creatures this man can't love." FreudianExcuse is in full play here.
* In ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'', Maho Nishizumi, the main character Miho's older sister and technically the main antagonist, gets her share of these.
** In Episode 6, after hearing that [[spoiler:Mako's grandmother has collapsed and been hospitalized]], she loans the use of her helicopter so that [[spoiler:Mako can reach the hospital in time]].
** In Episode 8, she, in spite of seeming cold and aloof to Miho, insists on her mother staying until the end of the match. After the match, [[spoiler:when Miho wins, Maho says Miho's victory was the result of superior tactics and good leadership]].
** In the prequel manga, ''Little Army'', Maho gives Emi, who dislikes her, some ointment after she hits her head on the side of the tank.
** Said prequel manga also reveals the true motivation behind Maho's actions. [[spoiler:She is determined to be the best Nishizumi heiress she can so that her sister Miho can live and do tankery the way she wishes]].
* ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}''
** After spending the entire series as a dangerous enemy with a grudge against Garrod, Ennil El unwittingly strikes up a genuine friendship with Toniya, one of the ''Freeden's'' crew, and shows that she's not that happy with what her life is. Later, when they're all captured by the New Federation, [[spoiler:Ennil betrays the crew but makes a point of trying to get Toniya protected in the deal she strikes]].
** Domon Kasshu starts off ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' as a huge JerkAss, but a couple of things early in the series establish that he's not a total one: first, he [[FriendToAllChildren helps some orphans when their little sister is kidnapped]]. Then, in the Neo-Mexico episode, he's very gentle with the [[IllGirl terminally ill]] Gina Rodriguez (the first ''adult'' he's unreservedly kind to) and helps her brother dodge the authorities.
* ''Manga/FairyTail'':
** After boasting that he and Sting [[spoiler:killed the dragons that raised them]], Rogue then redeems himself by comforting his Exceed while Sting continues to make an ass of himself.
** Earlier, in the Galuna Island Arc, [[TimeMaster Zalty]] [[spoiler: really Urtear in disguise]], repairs the village that had been wrecked earlier.

* In ''Manhua/GoddessCreationSystem'' Xiaxi recognizes that her behavior is rather cruel when viewed from outside, even if it's a matter of life or death for her. So she goes out of her way to do small acts of kindness that have no direct benefit to her like comforting a crying child by telling the story of the Ugly Duckling or [[spoiler:helping one of Mingyi's concubines escape by allowing herself to be whipped heavily.]]

* Being a deconstruction of the FightingSeries PlayedForLaughs, ''Manga/MutekiKanbanMusume'' show us Kankuro, the UnknownRival to TheBully Miki, who desperately wants her to at least remember his name. Miki tries to do it, but being TheBully, it does an EpicFail:

* Hiruma from ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'':

*** Considering [[Awesome/{{Eyeshield21}} the shit]] [[WeakButSkilled Yukimitsu]] later pulled on ''[[JerkJock Agon]]'' and [[TheAce Shin]], you can say [[AllAccordingToPlan it's a succesful investment]].

* Subverted in ''Anime/{{Monster}}''. Sure, it looks like Johan has a soft spot for children, volunteering at an orphanage between murdering in cool blood and preparing himself to become the next Adolf Hitler, but that's only until you hear [[MindRape the disturbing ideas he's planting in their impressionable little minds]]...

* ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'':

* In ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'':

* Xanxus in ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'' gets one with a touching families stick together speech in the Future Arc... Right before blasting an enemy apart.

* In ''Manga/AxisPowersHetalia'', Russia may be a PsychopathicManchild, but he does truly care about his older sister Ukaine (his scarf that he wears all the time was a gift from her). And there was that one time Lithuania [[SleepCute falls asleep]] and wakes up on a relatively sane Russia's shoulder.

* In ''{{LightNovel/Durarara}}'', despite being a HUGE {{jerkass}}, Izaya only shows to care for [[spoiler: [[MoralityPet Shinra]] the most. This might have to do with something that [[NoodleIncident happened during middle school]] (which is implied to be Izaya stabbing Shinra who tried to befriend him during that time) and Izaya regretting what he did because the mention of what happens sends him into silence. In retrospect, Shinra is not really involved in any of his plans (might have to do because he’s TheMedic). Finally, during the Valentine’s extra in the novel, Shinra is depressed during Valentine’s Day because Celty wouldn’t want chocolate because she wouldn’t be able to eat it. Izaya comes over and [[ShipperonDeck convinces him to go out and buy chocolate for her because it was the thought that counted.]]]]

* Psychopath Desty Nova from ''[[Manga/{{Gunnm}} Battle Angel Alita]]'' gets this sort of moment only in unreality, when he's in Alita's mind trying to remake her memories and trap her in virtual reality. Part of the illusion puts him in the role of her father figure. They share a truly empathic moment where Nova no longer seems insane, and he wishes that the moment could last forever... then he tries to defend Alita from the approaching "monster" even though (in the virtual-reality) it seems to be working toward a HeroicSacrifice.

* ''Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie'': When Metal Sonic "kills" the real Sonic, he gives Old Man Hoot the clothes that he was apparently planning to leave him in his will.

* Gendou Ikari, [[WellDoneSonGuy of all people]], gets some in ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion''. It was helped along by a hallucination, but that he actually wishes to reconnect with Shinji says a lot for a man like him.