Not all anime protagonists or main characters are heroes, and not all anime heroes have good intentions. Some heroes lose sight of their original goals, being fueled by anger, revenge, or zealous fervor. Some heroes change after the horrors they have seen, and some heroes are doing bad things that are just naturally accepted as fine in their universe.
Many of these heroes share the sentiment that they would do anything to achieve their goal, so long as the end justifies the means (or not). There are many anime heroes and protagonists whose intentions align more with the side of evil than of good.
10 Light Yagami's Intentions Started Good But Turned Sour In Death Note
While it is a common take that Light Yagami's original goal of killing criminals had "good intentions," the conversation around who might deserve such a fate and who has the right, authority, or position to do so is much more complicated. It could be argued that Light's desire to commit these murders is exactly what makes his intentions bad and therefore renders him unfit to do so.
Regardless of how fans choose to view Light at the beginning of the series, it is well-established that Light has become a villainous anti-hero by the end of the anime.
9 Sasuke Uchiha Just Wanted Revenge & Death In Naruto
Sasuke Uchiha had the chance to be a hero and help Naruto Uzumaki, who wanted to see peace for the ninja world, from the beginning of the story. However, Sasuke was only concerned with getting strong enough to continue the cycle of hatred that he perceived his brother to have perpetuated when his brother killed the Uchiha clan. So, he became a villain.
Sasuke's dedication for revenge eventually led him to turn his ire to the Hidden Leaf Village, which Naruto was dedicated to protecting. So, naturally, Naruto had to step in, and in their final fight, Naruto was able to change Sasuke's mind.
8 Attack On Titan's Eren Yeager Wanted To Destroy Everyone
While Eren Yeager wanted to kill all Titans at the beginning of the series because his mother was killed by one, he went through many changes that led him to become a Titan and eventually turn his sights on killing all of humanity.
By the time he landed upon the idea to kill humanity, Eren had been lost. However, his entire life was fueled by revenge, though it was an understandable goal seeing as how dangerous the Titans made the world. His intense trauma combined with his desires for revenge ultimately made him capable of bringing extreme violence to the world.
7 Pokémon's Ash Ketchum Wants To Put Animals In A Ball & Make Them Fight For Him
Ash Ketchum was generally regarded as a good kid with a strong sense of morals and values. However, fans have pondered the ethical quandaries wrapped up in catching Pokémon, animal-like creatures, putting them in a ball, and releasing them only to fight for you in a trial of combat against other Pokémon.
This was completely normal for the Pokémon world, and both Pokémon and trainers seem to be on the same page as far as what is asked of them in fights. However, Ash always looked upset when the Pokémon he caught got hurt, so why did he keep putting them in that situation in the first place?
6 Alucard Is A Bloodthirsty Vampire In Hellsing
Hellsing's Alucard is a cruel vampire who is delighted to use extreme violence, psychological warfare, and torture to terrify and kill his enemies. However, he does so to help the Hellsing Organization. Hellsing, or Her Royal England Legions of Legitimate Supernatural and Immortal Night Guard, was a group that fights supernatural beings and monsters.
The Hellsing Organization worked with Alucard to achieve their goal of stopping evil creatures of the night, but to do so, they had to work with an evil creature of the night who only helped them because he had to.
5 Haruko Was Very Self-Centered In FLCL
Haruko Haruhara selfishly set off a chain of events that caused a lot of grief for the other characters in Fooly Cooly. Since she can hypnotize and control people, she is certainly guilty of getting what she wants through unethical means. Haruko not only manipulates Naota, but she also jeopardizes the entire planet's wellbeing.
Eventually, the Atomsk that Haruko so selfishly and aggressively searched for attaches to Naota and later escapes. Haruko wanted the power that Atomsk wields, but she is willing to do questionable things to get it. Though fans cannot tell what Haruko will do with Atomsk, one can assume it will be something else selfish.
4 Griffith Wanted Ultimate Power & Petty Revenge In Berserk
Griffith was a hero who fought alongside the series protagonist, Guts, for a long time. However, Griffith was selfish and wanted to blame anyone but himself for his problems and wrongdoings. Things got worse when he blamed his crimes against Charlotte on Guts leaving.
After being traumatized in prison, Griffith set out to become Femto and gain ultimate power, which he did. Though he may have done a few good things with that power, he did way too many terrible things. So, one cannot say his intentions were ever good.
3 Goblin Slayer Wants To Eradicate An Entire Lifeform
No one can defend the goblins in Goblin Slayer. They are depicted doing horrific things to countless people. So, it makes sense that the Goblin Slayer would want to see them dead, and the show does a good job of making fans agree with the Goblin Slayer and his goals.
However, the Goblin Slayer is fueled by revenge and a desire to eradicate an entire group of lifeforms, which is a red flag. The show does not make fans sympathize with the goblins, though. They are just too evil.
2 Squid Girl Wants To Take Over The World
Despite Squid Girl's cute and cheerful exterior, she was an evil character bent on taking over the entire world. Fans easily overlook this because of how sympathetic the series makes the character.
Fans can understand where she was coming from though. As a sea-dwelling creature, she hated the pollution that poisoned the ocean. Though she wants to subjugate the entire world, she is still a comical character many cannot take seriously as she works part-time as a waitress to pay off the damages she caused.
1 Giorno Giovanna Wants To Be A Major Crime Boss In JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Giorno Giovanna may be part Joestar (and part Brando), and fans may support him, but his goals do not make him a good guy. Giorno wanted to kill Diavolo to become the Passione crime boss. To do so, he killed many, some in horrific ways.
Just look at what happened to the former Passione crime boss, Diavolo. He was sentenced to endure an endless loop of his death for eternity. On top of that, Giorno had snakes poison enemies and had other enemies die by their own hands.