History WhatMeasureIsAMook / AnimeAndManga

** Lelouch has only a mild reaction when he finds out that his plan to cause a landslide has buried not only enemy soldiers but also part of a town and possibly enemy medics, but when he finds out that [[spoiler:Shirley's father was one of the individuals killed]], he becomes very upset and is reminded by C.C. that most of the people who died because of him had families.

* ''Anime/DoraemonNobitaAndTheSteelTroops'' have Nobita and friends encountering the RobotGirl, Riruru, initially appearing as an attractive-looking human girl, but later turns out to be scouting for the hostile robot army of Mechatopia to facilitate an invasion to enslave earthlings. She ends up being blown up and nearly destroyed, before being recovered by Shizuka, where the gang decide to fix her up - despite Riruru actively trying to kill Doraemon and Nobita after her identity was revealed, and actually tried to ''strangle'' Shizuka for digging her up from under the rubble. Riruru does indeed have a HeelFaceTurn and help the heroes after realizing humans are capable of showing love, compassion, and care... but approximately ''zero'' traces of love, compassion and care are visible when Nobita, Doraemon, Gian and Suneo goes around destroying hordes and hordes of robot drones and foot soldiers, all of them which looks like machines. The 2011 anime goes on to humanize another previously evil machine, Poppi, giving it a form of a cute baby chick once it becomes an ally to Nobita and gang; meanwhile enemy robots are slain by the dozens without any questions.

* Explored and subverted in ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', with Mikoto's "sister": [[spoiler:a series of ''20,000'' clones of her made just to provide a challenge so that a "level 5" (absurdly powerful) [[{{PsychicPowers}} ESPer]] can develop his powers to the theoretical godlike level 6 stage, just to see if it can be done. Touma and Mikoto are horrified at the idea of her clones being mooks made just to die, and nearly get themselves killed trying to stop the genocide, though over 10,000 have already died.]]
* Lampshaded in ''Anime/CodeGeass'', Lelouch has only a mild reaction when he finds out that his plan to cause a landslide has buried not only enemy soldiers but also part of a town and possibly enemy medics, but when he finds out that [[spoiler:Shirley's father was one of the individuals killed]], he becomes very upset and is reminded by C.C. that most of the people who died because of him had families.
** Then there is Rolo who can't understand why Villeta Nu's upset (and fearful) with him for killing his own allies in the SIA, just because they might've overheard important information. [[spoiler: Rolo also kills many unnamed enemy soldiers with no problem but not the pursuing Black Knights after their betrayal. Though that was most likely due to him spending all his effort escaping and had little time to kill the pursuers, rather than caring for their lives.]]
*** Also, the countless security guards killed for doing their jobs and the employees in various fields that Lelouch manipulated with geass, often including an order to kill themselves when he was done with them. Some of these were in self-defense though, since they would have killed him indiscriminately, and one of the people he spares, Villetta Nu, [[ChekhovsBoomerang goes on to be a major thorn in his side]]. Lelouch does say many times that he's committing evil acts to stop a greater evil, so it would be more accurate to say that Lelouch has decided that his goals override any concern for this trope.

* Averted in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', probably as a part of the whole idea of all sympathetic characters being very loyal to their [[TrueCompanions friends]], in contrast to the villains. When heroic characters start rebelling against the [[ArmiesAreEvil Army]], they inflict injuries on mooks working for the State Military on several occasions, but none of them will kill (for characters who are soldiers, it is because the mooks are their former comrades-in-arms, for Ed, it's more because he's a TechnicalPacifist). Also, the idea of "mooks don't have families" is averted in a later chapter, where Greed tells members of the [[ArmiesAreEvil Army]] that if they have wives, families, etc. at home waiting for them, he's giving them a chance to run.

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamThe08thMSTeam'', after meeting and falling in love with a Zeon pilot, Shiro loses the ability to see the enemy as mooks, which makes it a lot harder for him to kill his enemies (often trying to talk them into surrendering under circumstances when it isn't a sensible action). Fortunately, the BigBad of the series is so utterly crazy that Shiro is able to conclude that he is someone who deserves to be killed as a person.
* One could argue that ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket'' is a deconstruction of this. The main characters, with the exception of Al, are Zeon pilots using mass-produced Mobile Suits. And each and every one of them is taken down in seconds by the Gundam of this series, with the exception of [[spoiler: Bernie, who still dies by the Gundam's hands despite his best efforts.]] And to the pilot of the Gundam, they're just random enemies. [[spoiler:Except for [[CapuletCounterparts That last one]], but poor Al didn't have the heart to tell her.]]
* Lampshaded and subverted in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'' when [[spoiler:Nicol]] is killed and the good guys are cheering over their victory. Kira then becomes angry that they are celebrating someones death only to have one of the crew point out that he has killed a lot of people up to this point and didn't care. This had never occurred to Kira until now and afterwards vows to not kill a single person in battle which [[WillingSuspensionofDisbelief he takes to an insane degree]] considering some of the weapons on the Freedom Gundam. [[spoiler:This is used against him to great effect by Shinn in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny''.]]
* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' Setsuna spares [[spoiler:Graham/Mr. Bushido]] after defeating him in combat, and then convinces him to not commit seppuku. This is someone who says, "Setsuna F. Seie. Eliminating/Exterminating target" before going into combat and then proceeds to, well, do a pretty good job at exterminating his targets. This might be because [[spoiler:Graham's/Mr. Bushido]]'s monologue where he calls out Celestial Being for the deaths of his brothers-in-arms sent Setsuna on a guilt trip.
* There is a tragic example in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE''. While Grodek and Flit hesitated on what to do with Yark Dore, the Diva's crew had no problem with their men slicing up UE mobile suits and throwing grenades at enemy foot soldiers. Such different treatment is exposed when, while trying to find Flit, Woolf runs into [[spoiler:a dying Vagan soldier. While learning about the soldier's identity, Woolf seems to have befriended him as the soldier gives Woolf his necklace. He dies in Woolf's arms shortly after, causing Woolf to have a HeroicBSOD when he returns to the Diva.]]
** [[spoiler:This is largely due to the fact that the ''Diva's'' crew wasn't even aware that their enemies ''were'' human; many speculated that they were alien invaders and they were in pitched battle with humanoid spacesuits, whereas Woolf was not. Yark Dole's presence is part of TheReveal that the "Unknown Enemy" was HumanAllAlong, which causes most of the cast to bluescreen.]]
** Another heartbreaking instance is when Kyo was captured by the Vagan and had to live on Mars for some days and meet his "love interest". Not took him too much to realize that the people he thought were heartless monsters and was killing unremorseful in battle, were pretty much as human as him that live an almost hell on Earth on Mars. Kyo opted to fight without killing after that.
* Lampshaded in the ''Anime/MazingerZ'' manga. After some Iron Cross soldiers are fatally injured breaking into Kouji's house to try and kidnap him, he states he wants to try and save them so he won't be a murderer (and he was very hesitant about killing them even if he was defending himself. And after getting forced to kill one, [[HeroicBSOD he was shaking, shell-shocked]]). A policeman who helped protect them points out that self defense isn't a crime, and that Kouji's using the "justification of a manga protagonist".
** This is also justified since...well, they aren't exactly ''alive''. They are [[spoiler:cyborgs made from corpses, reanimated with a mechanized brain, programmed to obey faithfully Hell and his CoDragons.]] EmptyShell not even begins to describe it.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''

* ''Manga/OnePiece''

* Simultaneously averted and played straight in ''Anime/TokyoGhoul'', where Kaneki has no qualms about killing members of Aogiri (in the manga, that is), but is awfully lenient towards low level CCG investigators. Somewhat justified in that Aogiri Tree is a terrorist organization that gives psychopaths and sadists free reign, and the CCG, while having several psychopathic members, is generally composed of fairly level-headed and often kind people, who even go as far to have rules against abusing captured ghouls.
** The rest of the cast, however, have no issues killing the other species, and even their own, in the case of the ghouls.

* Averted in ''Anime/VisionOfEscaflowne''. Male lead Van exhibits PTSD-like symptoms after slaughtering a squad of {{The Dragon}}'s henchmen in self-defense.

** Another heartbreaking instance is when Kyo was captured by the Vagan and had to live on Mars for some days and meet his "love interest". Not took him too much to realize that the people he thought were heartless monsters and was killing unremorseful in battle, were pretty much as human as him and were living an almost hell on Earth on Mars. Kyo opted to fight without killing after that.

** Another heartbreaking instance is when Kyo was kidnapped by the Vagan and had to live in Marth for some days and meet his "love interest". Not took him too much to realize that the people he thought were heartless monsters and was killing unremorseful in battle, were pretty much as human as him and were living an almost hell on earth on Marth. Kyo opted to fight without killing after that.

* ''Anime/DoraemonNobitaAndTheSteelTroops'' have Nobita and friends encountering the RobotGirl, Riruru, initially appearing as an attractive-looking human girl, but later turns out to be scouting for the hostile robot army of Mechatopia to facilitate an invasion to enslave earthlings. She ends up being blown up and nearly destroyed, before being recovered by Shizuka, where the gang decide to fix her up - despite Riruru actively trying to kill Doraemon and Nobita after her identity was revealed, and actually tried to ''strangle'' Shizuka for digging her under the rubble. Riruru does indeed have a HeelFaceTurn and help the heroes after realizing humans are capable of showing love, compassion, and care... but approximately ''zero'' traces of love, compassion and care are visible when Nobita, Doraemon, Gian and Suneo goes around destroying hordes and hordes of robot drones and foot soldiers, all of them which looks like machines. The 2011 anime goes on to humanize another previously evil machine, Poppi, giving it a form of a cute baby chick once it becomes an ally to Nobita and gang; meanwhile enemy robots are slain by the dozens without any questions.

* Averted in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', probably as a part of the whole idea of all sympathetic characters being very loyal to their [[TrueCompanions friends]], in contrast to the villains. When heroic characters start rebelling against the [[ArmiesAreEvil Army]], they inflict injuries on mooks working for the State Military on several occasions, but none of them will kill (for characters who are soldiers, it is because the mooks are their former comrades-in-arms, for Ed, it's more because he's a TechnicalPacifist). Also, the idea of "mooks don't have families" is averted in a later chapter, where [[FanNickname "Greedling"]] tells members of the [[ArmiesAreEvil Army]] that if they have wives, families, etc. at home waiting for them, he's giving them a chance to run.

* Played with in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' where the Survey corps. members break into [[spoiler: an MP base]] and attack everyone. Though the main characters only disable them by slashing, stabbing or shooting their legs rather than trying to kill them. When the Commanding officer points out that they probably also injured the servants who were just doing maintenance, Levi kicks him in the face as he doesn't have time for the CO's moralizing and needs info now.

** Generally speaking, the Straw Hats don't really care what happens to the mooks they blast through. It's less about them not having a code against killing (they don't), these people just aren't worth their time to check and see if they've been finished off. Out of the way is out of the way. Villains usually live through their encounters with the Straw Hats, because in One Piece having your dreams shattered is a fate worse than death. However, the Straw Hats try as hard as they can not to hurt innocent people, even people who have been tricked into antagonizing them, and will go out of their way not to fatally wound angry mobs. Generally their first instinct is to flee from an attacking force if there's no need to see them defeated.

* Explored and subverted in ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', with Mikoto's "sister": [[spoiler:a series of ''20,000'' clones of her made just to provide a challenge so that a "level 5" (absurdly powerful) [[{{PsychicPowers}} ESPer]] can develop his powers to the theoretical godlike level 6 stage, just to see if it can be done. Touma and Mikoto are horrified at the idea of her clones being mooks made just to die, and nearly get themselves killed trying to stop the genocide, though over 10,000 have already died.]]

* Averted especially in the Lost Children arc in ''{{Manga/Berserk}}''. Though he did show some emotional turmoil after finding out the truth about the arc's BigBad Rosine and her minions, Guts' pure hatred for them eventually overrides any conflicting emotions he had and showed no qualms about slaughtering them. What was that truth he found out about them? ''[[WouldHurtAChild They were all children]]'' ([[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman though their transformation into monsters was the reason Guts found it easier to kill them]]).
* ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'' and its translations. Played straight, subverted, played with... oddly enough, the mook that shows the picture of his family survives. [[spoiler:But he's still back in prison serving a life sentence.]]
* Averted in ''Anime/VisionOfEscaflowne''. Male lead Van exhibits PTSD-like symptoms after slaughtering a squad of {{The Dragon}}'s henchmen in self-defense.
* Simultaneously averted and played straight in ''Anime/TokyoGhoul'', where Kaneki has no qualms about killing members of Aogiri (in the manga, that is), but is awfully lenient towards low level CCG investigators. Somewhat justified in that Aogiri Tree is a terrorist organization that gives psychopaths and sadists free reign, and the CCG, while having several psychopathic members, is generally composed of fairly level-headed and often kind people, who even go as far to have rules against abusing captured ghouls.
** The rest of the cast, however, have no issues killing the other species, and even their own, in the case of the ghouls.

** Sasuke is pursuing Danzo, the most recent target of his ongoing quest for revenge, into a foreign country where the Kages are meeting. On the way, he is found by the Samurai in charge of guarding the area. Before, Sasuke proved capable of defeating hundreds of mooks non-lethally, but Sasuke elects instead to just ''kill everyone that gets in his way'', slaughtering dozens of men just doing their jobs because it was quicker than not killing them. Much debate is had by the main characters whether Sasuke's (failed) attempt at kidnapping Killer Bee crossed the MoralEventHorizon, yet his slaughter of these samurai is never remarked upon by other characters beyond fellow villain Suigetsu noting that Sasuke is becoming more and more of a {{Hypocrite}}.

** Sasuke is pursuing Danzo, the most recent target of his ongoing quest for revenge, into a foreign country where the Kages are meeting. On the way, he is found by the Samurai in charge of guarding the area. Before, Sasuke proved capable of defeating hundreds of mooks non-lethally, but Sasuke elects instead to just ''kill everyone that gets in his way'', slaughtering dozens of men just doing their jobs because it was quicker than not killing them. Much debate is had by the main characters whether Sasuke's (failed) attempt at kidnapping Killer Bee crossed the MoralEventHoizon, yet his slaughter of these samurai is never remarked upon by other characters beyond fellow villain Suigetsu noting that Sasuke is becoming more and more of a {{Hypocrite}}.

* Played with in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' Where the Survey corps. members break into [[spoiler: an MP base]] and attack everyone. Though the main characters only disable them by slashing, stabbing or shooting their legs rather than trying to kill them. When the Commanding officer points out that they probably also injured the servants who were just doing maintenance, Levi kicks him in the face as he doesn't have time for the CO's moralizing and needs info now.

* In ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', Giru is treated like a full character, having started out as a good guy. However, he's still a Machine Mutant. The rest of the Machine Mutants are killed without any moral problems, despite the fact that the are clearly sentient.

** Sasuke is pursuing Danzo, the most recent target of his ongoing quest for revenge, into a foreign country where the Kages are meeting. On the way, he is found by the Samurai in charge of guarding the area. Before, Sasuke proved capable of defeating hundreds of mooks non-lethally, but Sasuke elects instead to just ''kill everyone that gets in his way'', slaughtering dozens of men just doing their jobs because it was quicker than not killing them. Ironically, this act is never remarked upon by other characters beyond Suigetsu noting that Sasuke is becoming more and more of a {{Hypocrite}}.

** The one thing Luffy can't stand in a man is someone who would hurt his/her own crew. While the Straw Hats themselves have no trouble bashing through people and leaving them in severe condition, Luffy's BerserkButton is pressed when he finds someone with so little care towards their own crew.
** Captain Kuro was the first to show this attitude, when he not only threatened to kill everyone if they screwed up his three year-long plan, but unleashes the "[[FlashStep Cat Out of the Bag Attack]]." Such an ability lets him move at high speeds, but at the cost of vision, leaving him swiping and cutting away at everyone in his crew, as well as Luffy.

** Arlong is, actually, the first to subvert this. He addresses everyone in his crew as "brothers" and becomes severely pissed when he finds many men from his crew injured from Zoro. And then, Luffy pushes one of his {{Berserk Button}}s by using one of Arlong's men as a HumanShield.

* Simultaneously averted and played straight in ''Anime/TokyoGhoul'', where Kaneki has no qualms about killing members of Aogiri(in the manga, that is), but is awfully lenient towards low level CCG investigators.

** Then there is Rolo who just can't understand why Villeta Nu's upset (and fearful) with him for killing his own allies in the SIA. [[spoiler: Rolo also kills many unnamed enemy soldiers with no problem but not the pursuing Black Knights after their betrayal.]]
*** [[spoiler: Though that was most likely due to him spending all his effort escaping and keeping the shield up to have time to kill the persuers, rather than caring for their lives. Afterall, if he followed this trope, Shirley would have lived]]
*** Also, the countless security guards killed for doing their jobs and the employees in various fields that Lelouch manipulated with geass, including an order to kill themselves when he was done with them. Dead men tell no tales, I suppose. Some of these were in self-defense though, since they would have killed him indiscriminately. One of the people he spares, Villetta Nu, [[ChekhovsBoomerang goes on to be a major thorn in his side]].

* {{Downplayed}} in ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar''. Kenshiro and Rei slaughter any mook they encounter in gruesome painful ways, but are [[NeverLiveItDown well-known]] to sympathize with {{Big Bad}}s once they show a FreudianExcuse. (No matter if they are one FreudianExcuse short of being a CompleteMonster; Thouzer being a notorious offender.) The downplayed part, however, comes from the facts that: a) plenty of these mooks are introduced while [[KickTheDog kicking the dog]] to prove that they are just as depraved as their boss, and b) while they may sympathize with and shed ManlyTears for the BigBad, Kenshiro or Rei ''still'' kill him. For instance, Rei kills the last fleeing members of the Fang Clan ({{Psychopathic Manchild}}ren who had kidnapped his girlfriend Mamiya and killed her brother) after they had abandoned their boss and given up. Compare this with his [[DiedInYourArmsTonight treatment]] [[EasilyForgiven of Yuda]], a deranged DirtyCoward who killed Mamiya's parents on her birthday and forced her to be his sex slave. However, Rei only shows sympathy to Yuda after mortally wounding him. (And to be totally fair to him, the aforementioned members of the Fang Clan [[DirtyCoward were cowards who acted all high and mighty with those unable to fight back and ran away when it became clear they didn't stand a chance]]).

* {{Downplayed}} in ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar''. Kenshiro and Rei slaughter any mook they encounter in gruesome painful ways, but are [[NeverLiveItDown well-known]] to sympathize with {{Big Bad}}s once they show a FreudianExcuse. (No matter if they are oneFreudianExcuse short of being a CompleteMonster; Thouzer being a notorious offender.) The downplayed part, however, comes from the facts that: a) plenty of these mooks are introduced while [[KickTheDog kicking the dog]] to prove that they are just as depraved as their boss, and b) while they may sympathize with and shed ManlyTears for the BigBad, Kenshiro or Rei ''still'' kill him. For instance, Rei kills the last fleeing members of the Fang Clan ({{Psychopathic Manchild}}ren who had kidnapped his girlfriend Mamiya and killed her brother) after they had abandoned their boss and given up. Compare this with his [[DiedInYourArmsTonight treatment]] [[EasilyForgiven of Yuda]], a deranged DirtyCoward who killed Mamiya's parents on her birthday and forced her to be his sex slave. However, Rei only shows sympathy to Yuda after mortally wounding him. (And to be totally fair to him, the aforementioned members of the Fang Clan [[DirtyCoward were cowards who acted all high and mighty with those unable to fight back and ran away when it became clear they didn't stand a chance]]).

* {{Downplayed}} in ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar''. Kenshiro and Rei slaughter any mook they encounter in gruesome painful ways, but are [[NeverLiveItDown well-known]] to sympathize with {{BigBad}}s once they show a FreudianExcuse. (No matter if they are oneFreudianExcuse short of being a CompleteMonster; Thouzer being a notorious offender.) The downplayed part, however, comes from the facts that: a) plenty of these mooks are introduced while [[KickTheDog kicking the dog]] to prove that they are just as depraved as their boss, and b) while they may sympathize with and shed ManlyTears for the BigBad, Kenshiro or Rei ''still'' kill him. For instance, Rei kills the last fleeing members of the Fang Clan ({{Psychopathic Manchild}}ren who had kidnapped his girlfriend Mamiya and killed her brother) after they had abandoned their boss and given up. Compare this with his [[DiedInYourArmsTonight treatment]] [[EasilyForgiven of Yuda]], a deranged DirtyCoward who killed Mamiya's parents on her birthday and forced her to be his sex slave. However, Rei only shows sympathy to Yuda after mortally wounding him. (And to be totally fair to him, the aforementioned members of the Fang Clan [[DirtyCoward were cowards who acted all high and mighty with those unable to fight back and ran away when it became clear they didn't stand a chance]]).

* {{Dowplayed}} in ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar''. Kenshiro and Rei slaughter any mook they encounter in gruesome painful ways, but are [[NeverLiveItDown well-known]] to sympathize with {{BigBad}}s once they show a FreudianExcuse. (No matter if they are oneFreudianExcuse short of being a CompleteMonster; Thouzer being a notorious offender.) The downplayed part, however, comes from the facts that: a) plenty of these mooks are introduced while [[KickTheDog kicking the dog]] to prove that they are just as depraved as their boss, and b) while they may sympathize with and shed ManlyTears for the BigBad, Kenshiro or Rei ''still'' kill him. For instance, Rei kills the last fleeing members of the Fang Clan ({{Psychopathic Manchild}}ren who had kidnapped his girlfriend Mamiya and killed her brother) after they had abandoned their boss and given up. Compare this with his [[DiedInYourArmsTonight treatment]] [[EasilyForgiven of Yuda]], a deranged DirtyCoward who killed Mamiya's parents on her birthday and forced her to be his sex slave. However, Rei only shows sympathy to Yuda after mortally wounding him. (And to be totally fair to him, the aforementioned members of the Fang Clan [[DirtyCoward were cowards who acted all high and mighty with those unable to fight back and ran away when it became clear they didn't stand a chance]]).

* In ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', Rei kills the last fleeing members of the Fang Clan ({{Psychopathic Manchild}}ren who had kidnapped his girlfriend Mamiya and killed her brother) after they had abandoned their boss and given up. Compare this with his [[DiedInYourArmsTonight treatment]] [[EasilyForgiven of Yuda]], a deranged DirtyCoward who killed Mamiya's parents on her birthday and forced her to be his sex slave. Although, to be totally fair to him, the aforementioned members of the Fang Clan [[DirtyCoward were cowards who acted all high and mighty with those unable to fight back and ran away when it became clear they didn't stand a chance]]. And Rei only shows sympathy to Yuda after mortally wounding him.