Failure is a part of life, and there's nothing anyone can do to change that. A person can be born with all the natural talent in the world and more resources than they know what to do with, but there'll still be obstacles that even they can't overcome. The sooner someone learns and understands that, the easier their lives with often be.
As art is often a reflection of reality, not even fictional characters are infallible. In fact, it is because of their flaws and failings that they become beloved characters, teaching others that, more often than not, failure is nothing to fear.
10 Ozpin Chose To Trust Others Again
RWBY
Tasked by the gods to walk the face of Remnant until he ended the witch's reign of terror, Ozpin is undeniably one of the longest-lived characters in all of RWBY. In his hunt to defeat his cursed ex-wife, he found and lost countless allies, all while Salem's demise remains far out of his reach.
After the Fall of Beacon, it seemed as though he was going to seclude himself even further into the shadows, but Team RWBY and friends managed to convince him that he was not alone in his fight. With this newfound partnership, the Maidens, and Oz's reincarnations, the series features an overarching theme of taking up the torch.
9 Shikamaru Learned From His Blunders
Naruto
Shikamaru is no stranger to failure. He took on the responsibility for Sasuke evading his former comrades and entering Orochimaru's clutches, and he blamed himself for the death of Asuma. Despite his nonchalant bravado, those events weighed heavily on him, and it took loads of encouragement and determination to stop him from wallowing in his grief.
Shikamaru's struggles show that even if a person fails, it's not the end of the world. As long as they learn from their mistakes and apply what they learned in the future, they can make up for them. As a result, Shikamaru became one of the Hidden Leaf's most proficient tactical geniuses in Naruto Shippuden.
8 Thorfinn Missed His Chance To Kill Askeladd
Vinland Saga
Thorfinn dedicated his youth to killing one man, the man who unceremoniously murdered his father. The twenty-four episodes that comprise Vinland Saga's prologue end with the young raider watching the object of his ire die at someone else's hand. Fortunately, it was for the best, as he could finally move on and no longer live his life ruled by hatred.
There's a saying that goes, "When one door closes, another one opens." In Thorfinn's case, watching Askeladd die was the first step to giving him closure, and now his life can begin in earnest. Sometimes, life has plans that differ from an individual's, and all they can do is go with the current.
7 Akko Refused To Give Up
Little Witch Academia
At Luna Nova Academy, a private school for the most prestigious young minds from all over the world, young witches are raised to become the up-and-coming leading figures of the magical world. And then there's Akko. As the weakest and least magically adept member of the student body, she had to make up for what she lacked in aptitude with attitude.
Akko has undeniably made more mistakes than anyone in Luna Nova history, on par with Chariot herself in her student days, but that's never stopped her from quitting. Little Witch Academia is a lesson in perseverance and faith in oneself, taking to heart the lesson Chariot imparted to her at that one fateful magic show.
6 Itadori Couldn't Save His New Friend
Jujutsu Kaisen
Japan, as portrayed in Jujutsu Kaisen, is rife with danger, filled with demons and evil spirits that are a threat to both their enemies and civilians. While sorcerers and curses fight in the shadows, others often get caught up in the mix, like Junpei Yoshino and his mother. Their run-ins with Mahito and his ilk spell doom for them, with Junpei's new friend Itadori Yuuji powerless to help him.
When Itadori witnessed Junpei's transformation, he hoped that Sukuna's power could reverse the change, but all the spirit inside him did was laugh at his misery. Following the battle with Mahito, Itadori came to understand that he couldn't save everyone but still vowed to never "lose" again.
5 Michiru Taught Her Team The Value Of Enjoying The Craft
BNA: Brand New Animal
One of Michiru's adventures in Brand New Animal follows her joining a baseball team made up of bears from the slums, known for losing all of their games. They started playing baseball for the love of the sport and as a way to bring themselves out of poverty. However, they lost their way when Michiru's addition to the team brought them to the championships and on the gambling ring's radar.
Though it might seem like a naive notion, failure is not as important as fun is when it comes to competition. As long as someone enjoys what they're doing, it won't feel like a failure. It's just the next step in the improvement process.
4 Iroh's Failings Helped Him Realize His Destiny
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Iroh, former general of Avatar: The Last Airbender's Fire Nation, was an esteemed war hero who left his nation a disgrace for his failure to capture Ba Sing Se. Losing his son in the war showed the former crown prince that he was on the wrong path, as warmongering and slaughter only caused harm to the world and the people in it.
Free to do as he chooses now that Ozai sits on the throne, he can spend his days playing Pai Sho and guiding Zuko however he can. Through his failure, he realized that while he may be a competent leader, his true calling was clearing the road for the next generation of leaders.
3 Usopp Fills A Niche In The Straw Hats
One Piece
"Everyone has something he can and cannot do." Those were the words Sanji said to the Sogeking at Enies Lobby after saving him from being mauled by the transformed Jabra, reassuring him that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.
Usopp lived his life running like a coward, so hearing those words sparked a fire in the young sniper. He then went on to serve as the final burst of inspiration for Luffy in his fight against Lucci. In taking Sanji's words to heart, Usopp became a better crewmate. Usopp would go on to focus on the talents that filled the gaps in his crew on their journey to find One Piece, taking strides to become the great warrior he always wanted to be.
2 Ash Ketchum Always Sought The Next Horizon
Pokémon
After thirty years since the start of his journey to become a Pokémon Master, Ash Ketchum finally won a Pokémon League and became Champion of not just the Galar region, but of the entire Pokémon world. Old-time fans will remember the many losses that led to this moment and the number of times he picked himself back up and continued his adventure in the next region.
With every stumble, Ash learned from every battle and came up with innovative ways to get the edge on his opponents, making him a strong, strategic Trainer. Now ,his efforts have finally paid off, and his dream has been achieved.
1 Aqours Brought Zero to One
Love Live! Sunshine!!
Inspired by the school idol group that swept the nation, Takami Chika embarks on the quest to follow in the footsteps of μ's in Love Live! Sunshine!!. Like Kosaka Honoka before her, Chika's growth as a school idol is an uphill battle, with troubles hounding her every step. However, when the group is assembled and the first competition arrives, their hopes are dashed when they receive zero audience votes.
Giving up seems like a viable option after this brutal defeat, but the newly formed Aqours has not only their school lives but the school itself at stake. With nowhere to go but up, Aqours decides to take it one step at a time, going from zero to at least one.