The world of anime is packed with exciting heroes who are always ready for adventure, and these heroes will save almost anyone who needs their help along the way (an antihero might have to be talked into it first). Even in non-action series, characters might save each other from kidnapping or simply failing a test at school.
The best role models in anime will bravely and selflessly risk everything to save someone else, even a total stranger, and that sets a great example. But the hero can't always win. Sometimes, the hero faces a foe too strong, and they can't save someone's life. Or, the hero arrives at the scene too late, and the victim is either killed or captured. When were ten times an anime hero couldn't save someone?
10 Izuku Couldn't Stop The League From Capturing Katsuki Bakugo (My Hero Academia)
Izuku once risked his life to save Bakugo from a slime villain early in My Hero Academia, and All Might finished the job. But things went very differently when the League of Villains ambushed Class 1-A with the single purpose of capturing Katsuki Bakugo.
Izuku, Shoto Todoroki, Fumikage Tokoyami and a few others did their best to foil the League, but they were too late. The villains dragged Bakugo through Kurogiri's warp gate, and they were gone. Izuku could only cry out in despair.
9 Alphonse Elric Couldn't Save Martel The Chimera (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Greed the homunculus had a handful of chimera warriors at his disposal during Fullmetal Alchemist, and one of them, a snake-woman named Martel, slipped into Alphonse Elric's armored body to restrict his movement. Soon, Wrath/King Bradley stormed Greed's den, and the chimeras were in big trouble.
Greed couldn't save his minions, and neither could Alphonse. Despite Martel being his enemy, Alphonse did his best to keep Martel hidden inside his armor to protect her from Wrath. But it was no good; Martel attacked Wrath anyway, and Wrath killed her with a single stab. Alphonse felt terrible about it.
8 Ichigo Couldn't Protect Orihime From Nnoitora (Bleach)
During Bleach's Hueco Mundo story arc, Ichigo rescued Orihime Inoue from Grimmjow when he narrowly defeated Grimmjow in a duel. Moments later, another Espada arrived: Nnoitora Gilga, who was even stronger than Grimmjow and lacked the latter's sense of honor.
Nnoitora and his fraccione, Tesla Lindocruz, recaptured Orihime, and Ichigo was helpless to save her. He easily lost to Nnoitora due to being exhausted and injured already, and it fell to Captain Kenpachi Zaraki to save the day.
7 When Ichigo Failed To Protect Rukia From Aizen (Bleach)
This was another instance in Bleach when Ichigo failed to protect a friend from their enemies. At the end of the Soul Society story arc, Captain Sosuke Aizen cornered Rukia Kuchiki with malicious intent, and none of the heroes, from Ichigo to Renji Abarai to Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, could stop him.
Ichigo merely watched helplessly as Aizen used a strange power to force his hand into Rukia's chest and open a hole. From Rukia's chest, Aizen extracted the Hogyoku, which Kisuke Urahara had hidden there. Rukia survived the ordeal, but still, Ichigo had failed to protect her from their greatest enemy. It wasn't a good day for the heroes.
6 When Shinra Failed To Bring Sho Back With Him (Fire Force)
Shinra Kusakabe wrongly believed that his little brother, Sho, had died in a house fire. Instead, the infant Sho had gotten himself abducted by the Cult of the Ashen Flame and trained as a knight captain. The brothers faced one another in mortal combat years later, in the eerie Netherworld.
Sho was totally brainwashed by the Cult, but Shinra kept trying to appeal to him as family. In the end, Shinra had to retreat empty-handed, but he didn't give up hope on returning his little brother to the heroes' side someday. He won't give up on restoring his Infernal mother's humanity, either.
5 Naruto Uzumaki Couldn't Bring Sasuke Back (Naruto)
The Sasuke retrieval arc pitted friend against friend, and Naruto's five-man squad faced the terrifying Sound Four and Kimimaro to bring the rogue Sasuke Uchiha back to the village. All five Leaf ninjas risked their very lives, and it nearly paid off. Naruto caught up to Sasuke, and tried to talk him into returning home.
Sasuke didn't listen, though; he was too fixated on gaining power from Orochimaru of the Sannin. So they fought, and Naruto narrowly lost their high-voltage duel. Sasuke resumed his trek, and by the time Naruto awoke, it was too late. He had to return to the Leaf Village with Kakashi empty-handed, but he hadn't yet lost hope on Sasuke.
4 Edward Elric Couldn't Help Nina Tucker (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
This was another major instance where the Elric brothers tragically failed to save someone from their fate. Early in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the Elrics met the "sewing life" alchemist, Shou Tucker, to find a lead on restoring their bodies. The brothers also met Shou's daughter Nina, and their dog, Alexander.
Shou was desperate to renew his state alchemist license, and he resorted to transmuting Nina and Alexander into a talking chimera. Ed and Al didn't notice until it was too late, and the heartbroken brothers knew that they couldn't do a thing to restore Nina's humanity. For that matter, neither could Scar.
3 Guts Couldn't Protect Casca From Femto During The Eclipse (Berserk)
Even in a dark and brutal series like Berserk, this was an especially heartbreaking and traumatizing scene to behold. As fate foretold, Griffith used the "egg of the king" behelit to summon the God Hand, and he offered every other member of the Band of the Hawk as sacrifices. He was reborn as Femto, the God Hand's fifth member.
Guts fought off countless monsters, but he couldn't stop Femto from capturing Casca and committing unspeakable acts to her before Guts' very eyes. Fortunately, the mysterious Skull Knight intervened and rescued Guts and Casca as the eclipse reached its conclusion, so they can fight another day. Guts will never forgive Griffith/Femto for what he did.
2 Natsu Couldn't Save Future Lucy From Dying (Fairy Tail)
Late in Fairy Tail's Grand Magic Games arc, a brand new threat emerged: a massive flock of 10,000 dragons who emerged through a time-travel portal. Around this time, a strangely familiar blonde girl approached Natsu Dragneel and his friends, warning them of the danger. It was Lucy Heartfilia, from several years in the future.
Natsu was horrified when this future Lucy died before his eyes, and this heart-wrenching death prompted him to become even more protective of the current Lucy whom he knew, and make sure she never suffered like that. Natsu had always been Lucy's friend and teammate, and now those feelings were even stronger.
1 Izuku & Mirio Didn't Save Eri The First Time (My Hero Academia)
Early in My Hero Academia Season 4, Izuku interned at Sir Nighteye's hero agency, and he and Mirio Togata went on patrol. They met a frightened young girl named Eri, who had just emerged from an alleyway, and the villainous Overhaul soon caught up to her. Overhaul urged Izuku and Mirio to let him take Eri back with him.
Izuku felt that something was wrong, but according to Mirio now wasn't the time and place to fight. The young heroes let Overhaul leave with Eri, only to find out later that Overhaul was a major villain and Eri was his victim. Izuku and Mirio were horrified, and they vowed to rescue Eri the next time they saw her.