Magnetic Hero / Anime & Manga

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• In Angelic Layer, Misaki's great love for the angels and her determination to win attract many other players who are similarly passionate about Angelic Layer. This is lampshaded in the Anime version when Misaki and her friends are celebrating her victory in the regional championship, and the party was joined by most of her previous competitors, including a famous Idol Singer, and Tamayo wonders how they managed to gather such diverse people in their humble party. All of them agree that Misaki's personality has won them over.
• Baccano!:
  • Jacuzzi Splot has a natural ability to draw people towards him, unconsciously forming his own street gang largely off of this tendency. The Light Novels point out that this has less to do with any extraordinary amount of charisma so much as he gives people the impression that he'd be helpless on his own and is in constant need of coddling.
    He wasn't especially charismatic, but he had a strange way of gathering people about him — or, to be more specific, it was like they gravitated to him. His appeal didn't spring from any sort of trustiness, but instead from the feeling that, if left to his own devices, he'd probably end up walking off a cliff somehow. He evoked a strange sort of protective instinct in people.
  • Firo Prochainezo is a darkly comedic version of this. For whatever reason, Firo is able to win the trust, admiration, and respect of people with little to no effort on his part. The only problem is that this ability seems to apply exclusively to complete nutbars and dangerous lunatics that he'd rather stay very far away from, and any attempt to dissuade them only seems to encourage them.
    Christopher: That's so mean, Firo. I just wanted to be helpful to the first friend I made here in this city — you!
    Firo: ...I can't trust you. Frankly, you're the type that'd just march into the casino and shoot the place to hell.
    Christopher: Wow! That's amazing, Firo! You know me so well! I knew we were friends!
• Toppa Bashin of Battle Spirits Shonen Toppa Bashin manages to befriend his rivals, including the champion battler J and mysterious Suiren. He pulls this off simply by being brutally straightforward in everything he does.
  • In the next series, Battle Spirits Shonen Gekiha Dan, the protagonist Dan combines this with All-Loving Hero, managing to even be admired by arch-enemies as time goes on.
• The Power Trio that was Guts, Griffith, and Casca from Berserk were this and still are even after their fellowship was tragically (and horrifically) split apart. When they aren't attracting their share of enemies, all three have amassed rather devoted followings due to their stature, conquests, and overall heroism and bravery though it's misled in the case of Griffith. Guts is revered due to his raw strength and sheer determination to overcome his obstacles; Griffith is exalted because of his military prowess and natural charisma as a leader; and Casca is adored because of her capability of commanding an army of men but also for retaining her beauty and grace.
• With his friendliness, kindness, and strong will, Asta of Black Clover earns the respect of many people he meets, even nobles like Klaus and Nozel who look down on peasants like him. His bravery and work ethic inspire the rest of the Black Bulls to become stronger as well.
• Ichigo from Bleach, turning the Shinigami from initial antagonism to acceptance to willingly giving him his power back.
• Sengoku from Cage of Eden starts off as another goofy schoolboy, but begins to come into his own as he pulls more of the survivors into his group.
• Touma from A Certain Magical Index. Even if they don't fight alongside him all the time, many people would rally to his cause, something that a magic cabal took note of and tried to have someone use magic to pose as someone in the group to assassinate him and split it up even though there is no real group. Others he's beaten take new paths in life.
• Miria, the Supporting Leader of Claymore, has this quality: wherever she goes, other Claymores follow, often without exactly understanding why. Perhaps the best example is when she rallies the entire current generation to rebel against the Organization — despite their standing order to kill her on sight.
• Lelouch vi Britannia in Code Geass. Most obvious as Zero, as he builds an entire army and later government through charisma and guile. However, even in his civilian guise Lelouch is very popular and manages to charm plenty of people by being himself.
• Light Yagami from Death Note is a Magnetic Villain. His cult of personality is so strong that he gets three other people (four if we count Higuchi) to commit mass murder on his behalf. He gains Rem's loyalty as well even though she hates him (because his motives are more pure than Higuchi's).
• The Dragon Ball series uses this with The Atoner to have a Badass Crew full of reformed bad guys.
  • Oolong, Yamcha, Puar, Tien, Chaozu, Piccolo, and Vegeta started out as Goku's opponents, though not all of them turned face immediately after being defeated by Goku. Heck, even Frieza manages to become somewhat less of an asshole over the course of his rivalry with Goku.
  • Believe it or not, Bulma was this in the first story arc of Dragon Ball. She gets Goku to join her side by promising him a grand adventure and to see the world for the first time. She bribes and then later blackmails Oolong on her quest for the Dragon Balls, and Yamcha develops a crush on her and follows them so he can use the Dragon Balls for himself to wish away his fear of women, eventually forming a friendship with them.
• Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai has Dai, evident by the answer Crocodine gives Baran when he asks why he gives it all to protect Dai: "Before I met him I thought humans were worthless, but he showed me I was wrong. And not only me, Hyunkel was like that too... to us, Dai is our Sun."
• Dr. STONE: Senku is a unique variation, but one nonetheless. Despite being an Insufferable Genius and Jerk with a Heart of Gold with little if any social and emotional tact, his scientific expertise, recreation of creature comforts from technology, and very genuine desire to restore civilization and save EVERY single human (unlike Tsukasa) causes multitudes of people to flock to his cause, and even persuades many initial adversaries to join him.
• In Endride, Demetrio, the Rebel Leader, is the master at gathering characters, mostly via kindness, persuasiveness, and generosity. Occasionally through asskicking and a winning smile. He even manages to gather the series' protagonists, one of whom is a prince, into his team rather than the other way around.
• Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star accumulates a fairly sizable band of brothers throughout the series (along with his longtime followers and closest friends Bat and Lin); it's just that they don't tend to live very long.
• Sagara Sousuke from Full Metal Panic!. He actively tries to discourage people from becoming his friend, and is generally very business-like and unfriendly, disliking chit chat. Yet somehow, he always manages to attract a bunch of people to him. And all of them really like him (many times, to the point of being willing to die for him). Even his enemies are attracted to him. In the novels, as Lemon puts it, "even though he is so expressionless, he's oddly charming."
• Even though Gintoki from Gintama is basically a jobless man with the body of a twenty-something, he was still able to attract many followers as the Emperors of Kabuki-cho arc demonstrated.
• Though Goblin Slayer's titular character has about as much sociability and charm as a dead fish, a large number of people find themselves drawn to him. It might be because they grow to admire his determination and skills. It might also be because everyone can tell he is in desperate need of a therapist.
• A villainous version comes from The Claw in GUN×SWORD, where nearly everyone he meets considers him to be a kind man.
• Hoshin Engi: Through wits and strategy, Taikobo manages to gain the trust and esteem of many allies and earn the respect of his opponents, including people stronger than him such as Bunchu or Shinkohyo.
• In Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, others repeatedly point out that one of Argonaut's only strengths is to make others want to help him with his grandiose speeches and unerring optimism. Even the most cynical, nihilistic people find themselves swayed by his silver tongue, kindness, and ability to cling to hope at a time that had none. He needs it too, as without allies, he would have never accomplished a fraction of what he did.
• Koichi in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable. Several characters praise Koichi's virtuousness and state their pride at his friendship, including Josuke Higashikata, Rohan Kishibe, and Jotaro Kujo. Others tentatively brought from deficit into moral equilibrium by his influence include Toshikazu Hazamada, Tamami Kobayashi, and Yukako Yamagishi; his eventual girlfriend.
• Liar Game has Nao Kanzaki eventually develop into one. As the sole honest person in a game full of manipulative, self-serving liars, this makes her the only reliable ally anybody can have, which allows her and Akiyama to form alliances and pull off tactics that would normally fall apart because of betrayal and paranoia.
• Linebarrels of Iron:
  • The anime plays it in a much more positive light, but Moritsugu is an attractor and motivator for the Juda Factors (and Ohba) because of his Stoic Spectacles demeanor and badass piloting skills.
  • Kouichi, conversely, operates the human angle, regularly chewing Moritsugu out for failing to maintain Nakama and treating them like disposable tools. His concern over morale is one of the things that leads the others to accept him as a real Ally Of Justice and kickstarts Moritsugu's Defrosting Ice Queen Character Development.
  • Ishigami and Katou, being similar, both employ the idealism-driven attraction, and the fanatical devotion some of Katou's subordinates have for him shows it works.
• Lyrical Nanoha:
  • Nanoha is apparently at her best accompanied by former foes she's thrashed to within an inch of their lives. Of course, she's very nice about it.
  • Subaru also has this quality, befriending not only the Tsundere Teana, who initially dislikes her and tries not to bond with her, and the initially socially awkward Erio and Caro, but also the reformed Combat Cyborgs, four of whom become her adopted sisters. She also manages to befriend Ixpellia and change her worldview. Lampshaded by Teana.
    Teana: (to Erio and Caro) You don't have to become friends with everyone like the Stars' front attacker.
• Tenma from Monster often saves the life of people regardless if they are innocent or criminals. Sometimes he uses #5 and a few times #3.
• Monster Rancher has Genki who is able to see the good in the most evil-seeming enemies, and then get them to see it. Notable examples include Pixie and Big Blue as well as a large number of mooks and lesser villains as well as Tiger and Hare (Maybe even Golem if you think about it).
• In Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, Sakura gets along with pretty much everyone she meets and is the only one in the main cast to have a good relationship with everyone else in the cast, due to her Nice Girl nature.
• For a certain definition of hero, protagonist William Moriarty from Moriarty the Patriot. William is very charismatic and has convinced his entire team into Undying Loyalty to not only his cause but to him as a person. Even his rival and antagonist, Sherlock Holmes is fond of him. Now, if only he would stop murdering people...
• Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia. In spite of his timid nature, his optimism, heroicness and intelligence make him The Paragon and one of Class 1-A's co-leaders, gaining multiple friends by helping them when they need it. Even actual Pro Heroes become inspired by him.
• Jyugo from Nanbaka has this effect on the inmates of Cell 13. As the series progresses, it is revealed that Jyugo helped them and even gave them reason to live during what was probably the lowest point of their lives. As a result, it comes with little surprise that all three of them, especially Uno, are protective of him and care a lot about him.
• This has been one of Naruto Uzumaki's most consistent and defining traits, tracing back to the Land of Waves Arc. Naruto is capable of influencing friends and enemies alike and even boosting the morale of his comrades by his presence. Several characters like Konohamaru, Hinata, Neji, and Gaara have all adopted his nindō.
• Negi Springfield of Negima! Magister Negi Magi. He starts out working pretty much on his own but by this point, he has a troop of around 15 or so primary allies (mostly various students) in addition to an absurd number of secondary characters. He has tried on many occasions to ditch his True Companions but that just starts fights and he sees himself as the Papa Wolf now since they keep hanging around.
  • Of course, it doesn't hurt that most of his group (which tend to be female) find him attractive the usual way.
• One Piece:
  • Luffy. He manages to befriend and inspire the loyalty of practically everyone that he meets. In breaking out of Impel Down, he became the leader of the prison revolt and even inspired many of them to help him save Ace. Even Crocodile, one of his staunchest enemies, respects him enough to help him with the breakout. He earns the respect of Whitebeard, the most legendary living pirate who treats almost anyone outside his crew with disdain, in the course of a single conversation, enough for him to dedicate his entire army to backing up Luffy, who is ultimately weaker than the majority of its members. It's even directly acknowledged by Mihawk, who considers it to be the single most dangerous trait Luffy possesses. Doflamingo expresses a similar sentiment later on.
    Mihawk: It's not some kind of special power, but he has the ability to make allies of everyone he meets. And that is the most fearsome power on these high seas!
    Doflamingo: I'm impressed that even under these circumstances you've managed to find yourself allies! I've respected that ability of yours since the War of the Best! Really, hats off!
  • From time to time, Usopp shows that he's almost as good as Luffy at this. The Enies Lobby and Dressrosa arcs are the standout examples.
  • All of the Straw Hats, due to their general combination of incredibly zany personalities with pureness of heart and big dreams, tend to earn the respect and friendship of many characters in their travels. Most notable during the timeskip, when they were all separated and resolved to train and become more powerful to tackle the challenges of the New World. All of the Straw Hats made fast companions during this time^*Brook just had a village of people worship him under the false pretense he was Satan, though he did help them out (for which they grew to admire him in return), he ends his arc without any new friends due to being kidnapped by a few Longarm Tribe members. even the less friendly ones, humourously enough.
• Pokémon: The Series: Ash always has unbelievable luck in finding traveling companions. Most of the Pokémon he captures, he does so by getting them to like him and follow him. Not to mention the god-like powerful legendary Pokémon he has befriended, listing Arceus, Mewtwo, Giratina, and Lugia to name a few. In the Kalos Saga, he becomes an inspirational figure for at least three different people.
• Haru slowly accumulates buddies in Rave Master. Elie by the power of love, Musica (more or less) by uniting him with his grandfather, Let with an impressive display of belief, Celia by pulling her out of a rock, Lazenby by showing him he was working for the villain, Shuda by motivating him to live (and also some stuff with his dad), Julia by his determination, and Belnika by being cute and friendly.
• Tsuna from Reborn! (2004), anyone? He's quickly building up a gigantic harem of incredibly loyal underlings (99% of which are male) whose main purpose in life is apparently to protect him. And most of his enemies/rivals, after being defeated by him, become... very friendly and affectionate towards him. In a creepy way though, since they're normally rather Ax-Crazy.
  • One of the more... interesting examples is Spanner's sudden decision to switch sides and become a part of Tsuna's family. This decision was reached after the two spent a long, undisclosed amount of time alone together. With Tsuna naked, unconscious, and handcuffed to Spanner's bed. You figure out the reason and method of how Tsuna unwittingly managed to convince him to join.
• Usagi Tsukino from Sailor Moon:
  • Ami, Rei, and Makoto always had the power to be Sailor Senshi but accepted to fight because Usagi befriended them.
  • Minako became a Sailor Senshi a whole year before the others and initially joined the group because her mission at that point was to be Usagi's bodyguard and Body Double. It didn't take her long before becoming Usagi's best friend without even noticing.
  • Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna started out standoffish and borderline antagonistic. By the time of the final arc/season, they were part of the group after being impressed and befriended by Usagi.
• Shaman King: Many of Yoh's companions, especially Tao Ren started out as opponents or rivals, but were rallied to him or lead to acknowledged his abilities through Defeat Means Friendship or after he helped them.
• Subverted by Sword Art Online, at least for the first arc. The Protagonist, Kirito, is a solo player. It's seen most dramatically in the chronologically ordered Anime. Klein, the new friend Kirito just taught how to swordfight: "Kirito!" *Kirito walks away.* It's played fairly straight in later arcs, though.
• Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann and Kamina. A Type 4 except most of his group came because of his sheer power of awesome. Kittan and Simon each get a turn with the magnet.
• Yugi from Yu-Gi-Oh!. Mostly it's #1, but #2 and #4 has also worked.
• Yu-Gi-Oh! GX's Judai. Every single character he ever disputes with is converted, seemingly by the sheer force of his personality, either to a friend or a hardcore devotee by the end of the episode/duel/season.
• Yusei from Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds, and even more naturally than Yugi. He grew up with Kiryu's True Companions, formed one of his own that we meet at the start of the series, then quickly gets separated from them to form an entirely new one. We also see the recruits using all five methods.
• Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL's Yuuma Tsukumo. Everyone Yuuma meets becomes his friend. This includes minor characters who reappear to rescue him later, his entire friend group in Season 1, both his rivals and almost all the villains.

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