Sheev Palpatine was the main antagonist of the Star Wars series and a character who was fundamentally built around the corruption of others. Being the cause of Anakin's famous fall from grace and attempting to convert Luke, the Emperor's insidious whispers seek to corrupt as many good hearts as are willing to listen.
He would receive a mixed response when attempting to coax anime heroes into his service. By identifying the characters who would become his apprentice and those who wouldn't, we can better appreciate their moral resilience -- and how skillful of a manipulator Sheev really is.
10 WOULDN'T BOTHER WITH: Jonathan Joestar Is Wholly Dedicated To Remaining A Gentleman (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Jonathan Joestar would ignore Palpatine because the sith's orders oppose everything he seeks to uphold. Its tenants practice sadism, selfishness, and treachery -- all qualities that the young hero opposes because it is ungentlemanly.
Additionally, there's nothing that Sheev could reasonably offer him to change his mind. Even the promise of bringing George Joestar back to life would be insufficient, as Jonathan has witnessed the horrors of undeath firsthand thanks to the machinations of his adoptive brother, Dio Brando.
9 WOULD CORRUPT: Gon Has A Dark Side That Could Be Exploited (Hunter X Hunter)
Although Gon's free-spiritedness would suggest that Palpatine might struggle in bridling him, he is ultimately a perfect candidate to become a sith. This is primarily demonstrated through the fact that Gon is ruled by his emotions (particularly when he was willing to sacrifice his own life in order to execute Neferpitou).
Further, Gon is so single-mindedly driven by finding his father that he would agree to Sheev's terms if he promised to locate him. The hunter's gullibility is another flaw that Palpatine would quickly identify and exploit in order to obtain his latest apprentice.
8 WOULDN'T BOTHER WITH: Luffy Refuses To Be Ruled By Anyone (One Piece)
Luffy would be perhaps the worst possible candidate for Palpatine to sway into his service. He refuses to follow anyone and is interested exclusively in his own agenda. Therefore, the Straw Hat captain would never call Sidious "master" or take orders from him.
Additionally, Palpatine could not offer anything that would interest Luffy enough that he would sacrifice his freedom. Considering that Luffy deliberately ignored Rayleigh's willingness to reveal the location of the One Piece, he wouldn't want to hear it from Sidious, either.
7 WOULD CORRUPT: Meliodas Is Corruptible Similarly To Anakin (Seven Deadly Sins)
Meliodas would do anything to ensure Elizabeth's safety, a fact that Palpatine would easily use to his advantage. He is familiar with using love interests in order to turn the hearts of noble champions toward darkness, promising the Dragon Sin the princess' life in exchange for his allegiance.
Considering that the Sins' Captain was willing to make such an exchange in order for the power to defeat Melascula, he would accept the Emperor's offer with equal hesitation and become his most powerful disciple yet.
6 WOULDN'T BOTHER WITH: Edward Elric Abhors Quick & Immoral Ways To Get Power (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Edward Elric was a man always seeking to expand his knowledge of science and the world around him. This means that he might listen to Palpatine's offer, as the dark side is a pathway to many abilities (some considered to be unnatural).
However, he has shunned immoral means of acquiring power through his refusal to harness the strength of the Philosopher's Stone. It follows that he would ultimately reject Sidious' request when he realized the price that was being asked of him in return.
5 WOULD CORRUPT: Eren's Hatred Would Be Exploited & Weaponized (Attack On Titan)
After realizing that the Marleyans were responsible for the crisis in Shiganshina, Eren was overcome with hatred, fear, and contempt for the invaders from beyond the walls. These would be emotions that Palpatine could exploit easily, as they are the ones most associated with the sith.
If he were to promise Eren the chance of vengeance, the young man would immediately be intrigued. However, Sidious must be mindful not to impede on his sense of individuality and freedom in order to weaponize him properly.
4 WOULDN'T BOTHER WITH: Arthur's Fantasies Would Prevent Him From Going Astray (Fire Force)
While Arthur's hyperactive imagination usually serves to his detriment, it would be a surprising asset when ignoring the whispers of Lord Sidious. Since he perceives the world around him in a fantasy setting, he would interpret Palpatine as a dark sorcerer based on his sable robes and frightening, wrinkled appearance (an estimation that isn't far from the truth). Therefore, he'd never give the sith an opportunity to state his case, attacking him with a plasma weapon that curiously resembles a lightsaber.
3 WOULD CORRUPT: Palpatine Could Prey Upon Bakugo's Anger & Insecurity Issues (My Hero Academia)
Bakugo may not have been corrupted by Shigaraki and his League of Villains, but this was only because they took too direct of an approach. They hoped to intimidate Bakugo into changing sides by kidnapping him -- a strategy that his pride wouldn't allow.
Should Palpatine plant himself inside U.A. and gently offer the exploding hero his assistance to become the strongest, he would be more inclined to listen, especially if Midoriya was beginning to surpass him again.
2 WOULDN'T BOTHER WITH: Aang Has Surprising Apt Spiritual Intuition That Would Steer Him Away
While Aang's gullibility has been a frequent point of weakness, he has keen spiritual intuition. As the Avatar, the hero has entered the spirit world before and is surprisingly apt at determining positive or malevolent forces.
This would immediately make him privy to Sidious' intentions if he presented himself in his true form. Even if he didn't, Aang would never deign to the barbarism Sheev requested, such as murdering a room full of helpless separatists or cutting down children. Instead, the bender would attempt to stop him immediately.
1 WOULD CORRUPT: Sasuke Would Do Anything For Vengeance
While Sasuke was initially reluctant to join Orochimaru, Naruto's continual progress pushed the Uchiha further into the fallen Sannin's arms. It follows that Sheev could attract him even easier, especially since he wasn't directly responsible for assaulting him in the Forest of Death.
By exploiting the rogue Uchiha's anger at the world and doubt in his own abilities, Sidious would lead him to believe that the dark side was the only way he could get what he wanted. Additionally, Sidious would be prepared for Sasuke's treachery well before it happened since an apprentice's betrayal of their master is the conventional way of the sith.