Many themes and life lessons are explored in the world of anime, and one of them is the importance of family, whether it's a matter of blood relatives or foster family or even a tight-knit group of people who are unofficial family. In fact, some animated series are based almost entirely on this concept, setting a good example for viewers.
Fighting selflessly for the sake of others is a noble thing to do, and some anime characters are fighting not just for their friends, but also for a dear brother or sister, or for their children or parents. The close bonds of family can drive an anime character to new heights, and give them power they didn't even know they had.
10 Tanjiro Kamado Will Face Any Demon For Nezuko's Sake
Tanjiro Kamado never intended to become a swordsman, but when the vile Muzan Kibutsuji slaughtered almost his entire family, he knew that his life had changed forever. Only his little sister Nezuko had survived, and she had been turned into a demon. Tanjiro's mission is to restore her humanity.
While Tanjiro will slay any demon for the sake of the demon slayer corps, his ultimate mission is to find a cure for Nezuko, so the two surviving Kamados can leave in peace and happiness once again. Nezuko is everything.
9 Misaki Ayuzawa Works Hard To Support Her Mother & Sister (Maid-Sama!)
Misaki Ayuzawa works at a maid cafe, but not because she enjoys cosplay. The problem is that her father had run away and left the family deep in debt, so it fell to Misaki to find work and help support her mother and her little sister, Suzuna. It's not an easy life, but Misaki is managing it.
Ordinarily, Misaki would rather hang out with friends and enjoy her high school life, but her household needs her, so if she isn't studying, she is working, and it's all so her little sister can grow up in relative comfort. It's worth it.
8 Isshin Kurosaki Mourns His Late Wife & Supports His Son (Bleach)
Decades ago, Isshin Kurosaki was the carefree Captain Isshin Shiba of Squad 10, but all that changed when he met the adolescent Masaki one night. He gave up his powers to save her life, and later, they married and had a son and two daughters together.
Isshin never regretted giving up his Soul Reaper career to start a family with Misaki, and now that Ichigo is a shonen hero himself, Isshin is wholly invested in his son's progress and cares nothing for his own glory or power. It's all in his son's hands now.
7 Shinra Kusakabe Aims To Rescue His Brother & Restore His Mother's Humanity (Fire Force)
When it comes to family, the fiery hero Shinra Kusakabe is remarkably similar to Tanjiro Kamado. While Shinra is ready to do his duty as a fire soldier in company 8, his reasons for fighting are more personal than patrolling Tokyo to find Infernals to dispatch.
Shinra's real goal is to find his little brother Sho and rescue him from the white-clad cult, and he also aspires to restore his Infernal mother's humanity, even if no one has ever recovered from becoming an Infernal. Shinra is determined to find a way.
6 Bruno Bucciarati Did Everything For His Father's Sake (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Bruno Bucciarati grew up as a single child on Italy's coast until the day came when his parents split up and his mother announced her intentions of leaving. When asked what he wanted to do, Bruno chose to remain with his father, who would need Bruno's help with fishing. Bruno's mother was disappointed.
Bruno was intensely loyal to his hardworking father, and when Mr. Bucciarati was mortally injured after stumbling upon some gangsters, Bruno took action and killed the two offending mobsters when they tried to finish off Mr. Bucciarati in the hospital.
5 Thors Did Everything For His Family In Iceland (Vinland Saga)
Although Thors was arguably the most powerful Viking warrior of his time, he eventually grew tired of battle and stopped identifying with the warrior's way of life. He faked his death and took a serious risk by running off with his betrothed, Helga, the daughter of Floki.
Thors abandoned his entire Jomsviking career to be with his wife in peace, and they had a daughter, Ylva, and then a son, Thorfinn. Years later, Thors risked his life and sacrificed it to protect not just his crew, but also his son. Given the chance, Thors would lay down his life for his family again.
4 Kohaku Looked Out For Her Sicky Big Sister For Years (Dr. Stone)
Kohaku is the younger sister of Ruri, the priestess of Ishigami village, and Kohaku is by far the more active of the two. Ruri suffered pneumonia for months, and Kohaku took it upon herself to fetch jugs of hot water to help comfort her sister. She never had to be asked to do any of this.
Kohaku will fight anyone if it means defending her sickly sister or her father, the tribe's chief, and she almost became Senku Ishigami's sister-in-law when Senku was briefly married to Ruri. That marriage didn't last very long, though.
3 A Happy Family Was Everything Kyoko Honda Wanted (Fruits Basket)
As a student, Kyoko had a terrible lot in life, between parents who didn't care and a school system that couldn't help her. She became a bitter delinquent until she met Katsuya Honda, who was determined to help her, no matter what. This is what brought Kyoko out of her shell.
For a few years, Kyoko and Katsuya were happily married and had a lovely daughter, Tohru Honda. After Katsuya died, Kyoko doted on Tohru even more, and when Kyoko lay dying after a traffic accident, she implored Kyo Sohma to look after Tohru for her.
2 Ochaco Uraraka Will Become A Hero For Her Parents' Sake (My Hero Academia)
Every student at U.A. High is determined to become a pro hero one day, and all for their own reasons. Izuku and Bakugo each aim to surpass their mutual idol All Might, while Ochaco Uraraka's motive is more down-to-earth: she needs the money.
But not for herself. Ochaco aims to support her struggling parents with her earnings as a pro hero, and she was embarrassed to admit this at first. Izuku and Tenya Iida were inspired, and they assured Ochaco that there is nothing greedy about becoming a hero for the money. Putting family first is certainly heroic.
1 Suyin Beifong Won't Give Up On Her Estranged Mother Or Half-Sister (The Legend Of Korra)
Suyin Beifong was the younger daughter of the legendary Toph Beifong, and for years on end, she was estranged from her mother and her half-sister, Lin Beifong. Suyin wandered the world to gain new knowledge and new perspectives, then founded the all-metal city of Zaofu and started her own family.
Suyin was happily married to Bataar Sr. and loved all her children, and at one point, she mended ties with her mother. Finally, she and Lin reunited, and they made up as well. Suyin cared for everyone in Zaofu and was Korra's loyal ally, but clearly, her family was her top priority. And it paid off.