History TheHero / AnimeAndManga

* The eponymous character of ''Anime/BlackRockShooter'' OVA is ''[[AvertedTrope not]]'' an example of this {{trope}}. In fact, it's strongly implied that were she to follow this {{trope}} to the letters (always win, resolving everything with force) she will ''[[ShootTheDog not]]'' [[AlwaysSaveTheGirl get the]] [[{{Yuri}} girl]].

%%** Nozomi Yumehara/Cure Dream in ''Anime/YesPrettyCure5'' and its sequel.

%%** Miyuki Hoshizora/Cure Happy in ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure''.
%%** Mana Aida/Cure Heart in ''Anime/DokiDokiPrettyCure''.

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'': Touma Kamijou always has [[KirkSummation a reasonable and admirable response]] to any villain's [[EvilSpeechOfEvil twisted logic]] and will save someone (often a girl) despite [[TheDulcineaEffect having known them for less than a day]].

%%* Banjo Haran from ''Anime/{{Daitarn 3}}''.
* Shido Itsuka from ''LightNovel/DateALive''. Despite his desire for a normal life, Shido will risk life and limb to save the [[MagicalGirlWarrior Spirits]] and allow them to experience happiness.

* ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' series:
%%** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'': Amuro Ray.
%%** ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'': Kamille Bidan.
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Gundam ZZ]]''': Judau Ashita.
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamThe08thMSTeam The 08th MS Team]]'': Shiro Amada
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket Gundam 0080]]'': Christina Mackenzie.
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory Gundam 0083]]'': Kou Uraki.
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char's Counterattack]]'': Amuro Ray.
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 Gundam F91]]'': Seabook Arno.
%%** ''[[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Crossbone Gundam]]'': Tobia Arronax.
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Victory Gundam]]'': Usso Evin.
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam G Gundam]]'': Domon Kasshu. (THE KING OF HEARTS!)
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Gundam Wing]]'': Heero Yuy (No pun intended).
%%** ''Anime/AfterWarGundamX'': Garrod Ran.
%%** ''Anime/TurnAGundam'': Loran Cehak.
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeed Gundam SEED]]'': Kira Yamato.
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny Gundam SEED Destiny]]'': [[DecoyProtagonist Shinn Asuka]], [[SupportingProtagonist Athrun %%Zala]] and [[RogueProtagonist Kira Yamato]] all share this role, with them being TheHero at one point of the story.
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Gundam 00]]'': Setsuna F. Seiei.
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Gundam Unicorn]]'': Banagher Links
** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamAge Gundam AGE]]'': Asem Asuno is the central heroic figure of the series, despite ''AGE'' being an intergenerational story. His father, Flit, [[GeneralRipper plans to commit genocide]] against the Vagan; while son, Kio, is a [[IdiotHero moron]] [[StupidGood who puts too much faith in the Vagan]].
%%** ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans]]'': Mikazuki Augus.
* In ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDXD'', Issei Hyoudou is the hero of the group and the one guy that holds everybody together despite the fact that he's an IdiotHero who is only capable of thinking perverted things.
* Tatsuya Shiba from ''LightNovel/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool''. He's the leader of his group of friends, more powerful than his peers, protects his sister with intense devotion and defeats the bad guys with little difficulty.

** ''Manga/PhantomBlood'': [[IdealHero Jonathan Joestar]] is the most notably heroic of the [=JoJos=], and it's his need to protect the people he loves that kickstarts the series plot.
** ''Manga/BattleTendency'': [[GuileHero Joseph Joestar]], and his role in [[Manga/StardustCrusaders later]] [[Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable Parts]] arguably makes him an example of this for the series as a whole.
** ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'': [[ShowyInvincibleHero Jotaro Kujo]], whose role in [[Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable later]] [[Manga/StoneOcean Parts]] arguably makes him this for the series as a whole, alongside the aforementioned Joseph.
** ''Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable'': [[HeroicBastard Josuke Higashikata]], as it's his resolve to protect Morioh that drives the plot of the Part.
** ''Manga/GoldenWind'': [[AntiHero Giorno Giovanna]], though he may act as the SupportingProtagonist to [[BigGood Bruno]], it's his goal to end Passione's drug trade that drives Team Bucciarati to take action.
** ''Manga/StoneOcean'': [[ActionGirl Jolyne Cujoh]]. However, this Part has another example in the form of [[spoiler:[[SoleSurvivor Emporio Alniño]], who becomes this by default after [[TheHeroDies Jolyne, Jotaro]], and rest of the heroes are killed]].
** ''Manga/SteelBallRun'': While [[ByronicHero Johnny]] may be the [=JoJo=] of this Part, the title of TheHero instead goes to [[{{Deuteragonist}} Gyro Zeppeli]], as his goal to [[spoiler:save Marco from being executed]] is much more heroic than Johnny's goal to get his ability to walk back. [[spoiler:It isn't until after Gyro's death that Johnny gains this role]].
** ''Manga/{{JoJolion}}'': [[AmnesiacHero Josuke Higashikata]], being the most active in the fight against the Rock Humans.

* ''LightNovel/{{Maoyu}}'' discusses this in the first chapter. Even if [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep the Hero]] genuinely wants to save the human world by taking down the Demon King, [[SheIsTheKing she]] tears that down by stating that killing her would not end the war and would be the same as assassinating a sovereign, so she proposses the hero to join her and help ending the war in a stalemate for both humans and demons as it would be like what lies in the other side of a hill, and the Hero commentss the Demon King is more than a hero that he is.

* ''LightNovel/{{Shimoneta}}'': Ayame Kajou uses her 'Blue Snow' persona to rebel against the oppressive censorship laws enforced by [[MoralGuardians the Public Morals Committee]]. She initially acts on her own, by spreading ecchi leaflets and publicly shouting obscenities. However, she soon realizes it isn't enough. So she co-founds the [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters ero terrorist group]], [[AffectionateParody SOX]], to spread awareness about lewd material and sex education in general -- to the masses [[ApatheticCitizens who no longer understand]] what [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove any of it means]].
* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'': Lina is an {{antihero}}. She will save your village from bandits/monsters/dragons, etc but you have to pay her first. [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold Gourry fits the true hero role better]] but he's her sidekick.

* Abel Nightroad in ''LightNovel/TrinityBlood'' is the most powerful Vatican agent as an Crusnik vampire and hopes to atone for his past by performing heroic and noble deeds.

* Lux Arcadia from ''LightNovel/UndefeatedBahamutChronicle'' is defined by his righteousness and benevolence, to the point he destroyed the very kingdom he was supposed to inherit, simply because his father was an evil bastard.

* Ichigo Kurosaki from ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. He wished for the power to protect ever since a Hollow killed his mother, for he felt it was his fault she died. Naturally, he accepts Rukia's suggestion to become a Shinigami. Furthermore, feeling it was more his fault than hers that Rukia was to be executed, he sets to Soul Society and fights the elite Shinigami to rescue her. ''And'' he turns out to be the only one capable to defeat the [[spoiler:first]] BigBad of the story...

* Son Goku from ''Franchise/DragonBall''. He always takes down the big bad of the arc (with the one exception of Gohan defeating Cell in which case he was a supporting role), and never ceases to continually get stronger. [[DefeatMeansFriendship Many of his enemies become his friends after he defeats them]]. He's also very naive, qualifying him for IdiotHero. He says that he does not want to be continually defending Earth, hence why he first trains Gohan to be the one to protect earth, and when that fails, he later trains Uub.

%%* The Hero in ''LightNovel/{{Maoyu}}''. [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Literally]].

* Naruto from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''. His heroic qualities are weighted down by his inexperience and naivety. It takes CharacterDevelopment and soul searching for him to truly become a heroic character. His [[BadassCreed personal ninja way]] is basically that he never abandons a friend and never goes back on his word. [[spoiler: In Part two his HeroicSpirit breaks the CycleOfRevenge Pain is trapped in and he [[DefeatMeansFriendship befriends Kurama, the nine tailed fox]]]].

* Monkey D. Luffy of ''Manga/OnePiece'' fits this perfectly. He's an IdiotHero, TheCaptain and TheLeader of the Strawhat Pirates, and is always the one to take on the BigBad in the end of every big story arc. His normal outfit, before and after the Timeskip, is even Red and Blue. In his own opinion, [[note]] chapter 634 in the manga [[/note]] Luffy has explicitly stated that he isn't, and doesn't want to be, a hero. In fact, he only agrees to save Fishman Island by being bribed with food. Then again, Luffy has never been [[AntiHero a 'traditional' hero...]].

** Yoh actually takes this trope so far that he's practically a messianic character. He's so good-hearted, selfless and kind that his example is able to change even the most evil people over to the good side. [[spoiler: As a matter of fact, he does actually change almost every single villain in the series over to the side of good, except Hao, because Hao is just that evil]].

* Ayato Amagiri from ''LightNovel/TheAsteriskWar''. His relationship with Julis is that of a KnightInShiningArmor protecting a princess.

** ''Manga/StoneOcean'': [[ActionGirl Jolyne Cujoh]]. However, this Part has another example in the form of [[spoiler:[[SoleSurvivor Emporio Alniño]], who becomes this by default after [[TheHeroDies Jolyne, Jotaro]], [[KillEmAll and rest of the heroes are killed]]]].

* D in ''LightNovel/VampireHunterD'' may appear like a dark and cold figure that slays monsters for money, but for most of the time he saves people and does the right thing without expecting a reward in return.

* Saitama from ''Manga/OnePunchMan''. He became a hero after his childhood dream to be able to beat bad guys with one punch. It turns out limitless power is "kinda boring actually". The intro theme for the anime is even titled 'The Hero!'

* While there are LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' and several people for every other position in TheTeam, there is only one [[TheHero hero]] -- Negi Springfield, who also doubles as their [[KidHero ten-year-old]] teacher.

%%* Madoka Kyouno from ''Anime/RinneNoLagrange''

* Son Goku from ''Franchise/DragonBall''. He always takes down the big bad of the arc(with the one exception of Gohan defeating Cell in which case he was a supporting role), and never ceases to continually get stronger. [[DefeatMeansFriendship Many of his enemies become his friends after he defeats them]]. He's also very naive, qualifying him for IdiotHero. He says that he does not want to be continually defending Earth, hence why he first trains Gohan to be the one to protect earth, and when that fails, he later trains Uub.

* Maka Albarn from ''Manga/SoulEater'' fits this role well, and largely above all the other characters in the anime/manga. She is the only character of the main cast to have very noble and heroic personality traits, in addition to having the strong desire to help others and defeat evil.(See also TheLeader.)

** ''Manga/VentoAureo'': [[AntiHero Giorno Giovanna]], though he may act as the SupportingProtagonist to [[BigGood Bruno]], it's his goal to end Passione's drug trade that drives Team Bucciarati to take action.

* ''Franchise/PrettyCure'' has one for every series. However, because of the WonderTwinPowers concept of the [[Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure first]] [[Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar two]] series, the hero role is more presented by [[TheLeader the leaders]] of the following teams. While both Nagisa Misumi/Cure Black and Saki Hyuuga/Cure Bloom/Cure Bright have respectively more screentime than their partner, they alone and without their partners are not important enough for the plot itself. Both needs their partners to drive the plot. However, every successor can drive the plot alone.

%% Zero Context examples are not allowed on wiki pages. Please add context before uncommenting.

%% This trope is about the hero of the story. It is not about TheLeader or TheProtagonist.

%%* Ken "G1 Eagle" Washio (or [[DubNameChange Mark]]) from ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'' is a TropeCodifier for {{anime}} / {{manga}} heroes.

* Natsu from ''Manga/FairyTail''. An interesting variation - [[TheBigGuy Erza]] actually leads the team, and Lucy can be argued to be TheProtagonist but Natsu is the traditional heroic figure.

* While there are LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' and several people for every other position in TheTeam, there is only one [[TheHero hero]] - Negi Springfield, who also doubles as their [[KidHero ten year-old]] teacher.

* ''LightNovel/{{Shimoneta}}'': Ayame Kajou uses her 'Blue Snow' persona to rebel against the oppressive censorship laws enforced by [[MoralGuardians the Public Morals Committee]]. She initially acts on her own, by spreading ecchi leaflets and publicly shouting obscenities. However, she soon realizes it isn't enough. So she co-founds the [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters ero terrorist group]], [[AffectionateParody SOX]], to spread awareness about lewd material and sex education in general - to the masses [[ApatheticCitizens who no longer understand]] what [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove any of it means]].

* Yusei Fudo from ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'' and Yugi Moto from ''Anime/YuGiOh'' fit this role well. The main protagonists of the other two series', Yuma Tsukumo and Jaden Yuki didn't quite have the heroic or noble traits to fit the role, though. They were more closer related to the IdiotHero. Though Jaden showed a bit stronger of this role during the 4th season.

%%* ''Franchise/PrettyCure'' has one for every series. However, because of the WonderTwinPowers concept of the [[Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure first]] [[Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar two]] series, the hero role is more presented by [[TheLeader the leaders]] of the following teams. While both Nagisa Misumi/Cure Black and Saki Hyuuga/Cure Bloom/Cure Bright have respectively more screentime than their partner, they alone and without their partners are not important enough for the plot itself. Both needs their partners to drive the plot. However, every successor can drive the plot alone.