Every now and then, an anime would surprise audiences by suddenly switching its protagonist out with an unexpected character to take the lead. This bait-and-switch technique is usually reserved for dramatic effect and when done right, it can shock even the most experienced viewer.
On the other side of that same coin are protagonist switches that may not be as jarring, but are still surprising when the entire anime is viewed as a whole rather than an episodic story. Nonetheless, both methods still pull off clever surprises and satisfying transitions into the next phases of the stories. It's worth checking out some of the anime series that make this happen.
WARNING: Spoilers ahead.
10 Dr. Stone — Taiju Oki Was Just Senku Ishigami's Hype Man
Before the mysterious petrifying event in Dr. Stone, Taiju was built up to be the focal character. Not only were the pre-Stone World stories told from his perspective, but he also had a romantic arc to fulfill. Just before humanity was turned into stone, Taiju was about to confess his feelings to his childhood friend Yuzuriha Ogawa.
Shortly after Taiju broke out of his petrification, he reunited with his friend Senku, a scientific prodigy whose advanced intellect holds the key to restoring civilization. Taiju kept showering Senku with praise even before the post-apocalypse and after he saved Yuzuriha, he faded into the background to let his friend lead the anime from that point on.
9 Gintama — Sakata Kintoki Took Over The Anime During Sakata Gintoki's Absence
When Gintoki disappeared in Episode 253's opening, Shinpachi and Kagura replaced him with a competent boss who didn't always test their patience. Their alternative was Kintoki, an android who embodied everything Gintoki was not. Specifically, he was an inspiring leader and the kind of perfect hero anime producers would love...or so everyone thought.
In reality, Kintoki was a self-centered egomaniac who plotted to usurp Gintoki. Using his hypnotic abilities, Kintoki brainwashed everyone into thinking that he was the real protagonist and that Gintama should be rebooted into a romantic anime starring himself. Gintoki reclaimed his title, but he also acknowledged that he had flaws in need of fixing.
8 Tokyo Ghoul:Re — Haise Sasaki Is More Familiar Than He Seems
The original Tokyo Ghoul ended on a bleak but open note. Ken Kaneki walked to his death by willingly surrendering to the CCG after the disastrous raid on the Anteiku Café. Though his death was never confirmed or denied in the anime's last seconds, it was safe to assume that Ken died and a new character would lead a potential sequel.
This seemed to be the case in Tokyo Ghoul:re, which opened by focusing on the dedicated CCG agent Haise Sasaki and his Quinx (half Ghoul, half human) Squad. However, before the first episode even ended, the harrowing truth was revealed: Haise was really Ken after the CCG's brainwashing and torture suppressed his original identity.
7 Gundam SEED Destiny — Shinn Asuka's Arc Was A Villainous Origin Story, Not A Hero's Journey
Gundam SEED's sequel had a daring start. SEED Destiny opened with Shinn's family getting killed during the Battle of Orb, and SEED's hero Kira Yamato was supposedly the perpetrator. With an understandable motive for revenge, Shinn hunted down Kira over the course of the anime's first half before things were flipped once again.
By the halfway point, Shinn was so lost in his bloodlust and hate that he was little more than a living weapon fueled by rage. SEED Destiny then reverted its focus to the original characters, who now had to stop Shinn before things got worse. As it turns out, the anime's first half was Shinn's villainous beginning, not the start of a revenge story.
6 Attack On Titan: The Final Season — Reiner Braun Took Over The Anime Post-Timeskip
After telling its story through the eyes of the Shiganshina Trio of Eren, Mikasa, and Armin for three long seasons, Attack On Titan's final season surprised fans not only by skipping ahead four years but by shifting focus to Reiner, the 104th Training Corps' former big brother figure and murderous traitor.
Besides showing life on the other side of Paradis' walls, this narrative shift humanized those who, up until that point, were generalized by Eren and others as "the enemy." Through Reiner's eyes, audiences saw how much in common the Eldians living in Paradis and Marley had, especially their tragic history of being a cruel world's victims.
5 Ga-Rei: Zero — Everyone In Section 4 Died In The First Episode
At first glance, Ga-Rei: Zero looked like it would be an action-packed supernatural thriller. The first episode focused on Section 4 of the Paranormal Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters (PDCH), a branch of Japan's defense forces that was tasked to exterminate monstrous Kashas. After exactly one episode, everyone in the unit got killed.
Specifically, the commandos, who were featured heavily in the promotional material, were slaughtered by the anime's real main character, Yomi Isayama. What made this significant was that Yomi was the central antagonist of Ga-Rei, and the prequel Ga-Rei: Zero functioned as her origin and fall from heroism to villainy.
4 Goblin Slayer — Priestess' First Party Was Goblin Cannon Fodder
Before it got incredibly bloody and violent, Goblin Slayer began just like any other fantasy anime. The naïve Priestess joined a party of equally innocent and idealistic adventurers, and they decided to prove their mettle by braving the first cave they came across. Unfortunately, that cave was populated by monstrous goblins.
Not even halfway through the pilot episode, Priestess' entire party was brutally slaughtered by the goblins. It was only by sheer luck that Priestess was saved by the anime's titular and actual protagonist, the Goblin Slayer. After surviving a first mission gone horribly awry, Priestess joined Goblin Slayer to form a new and more experienced party.
3 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure — Jonathan Joestar Didn't Make It Past The First Season's First Half
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure began in the 1800s with Phantom Blood, where Jonathan fought his adopted brother Dio to restore his honor and ensure the Joestar bloodline's continuation. However, just 9 episodes into a 26 episode run, Dio killed Jonathan. The series then jumped to Egypt circa 1938, complete with a new hero in Joseph Joestar.
While this change in protagonists may seem obvious now given JoJo's anthological and generational narrative, Jonathan's death was a big surprise when the anime was starting out. Excluding manga readers, no one expected the hero of a seemingly typical shonen battle anime to die so early, especially after failing to beat his sworn nemesis.
2 Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann — Kamina Died To Pave The Way For Simon To Take His Place
Kamina was the boldest anime protagonist anyone would expect to see in an empowering mecha anime. He may have been headstrong and impulsive, but he was also genuinely heroic and inspiring. All signs pointed to him leading humanity to liberation from the Beastmen's rule, but then he died in Episode 8.
From that point on, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann focused on Kamina's previously weak-willed younger brother Simon. After his legendary brother's death, Simon was forced to grow up fast and finish the job that Kamina started. Kamina may have died early on, but his spirit never left Team Dai Gurren, especially in the final battle against the Anti-Spirals.
1 Puella Magi Madoka Magica — Homura Akemi's Tragedy Made The Anime A Reality
Anyone watching Puella Magi Madoka Magica could be forgiven for forgetting about Homura in the early episodes. At first glance, she's just Madoka Kaname's stoic classmate and foil who may or may not have ulterior motives. As it turns out, Madoka is really just a walking plot device and Homura is the real protagonist.
In fact, the anime only happened because of Homura. Desperate to save Madoka from dying or becoming a Witch, Homura struck a contract with Kyubey to become a Magical Girl who controls time. The anime's events are the nth iteration of Homura's time loop, and she usurped Madoka as main character in Rebellion when she remade reality in her image.