Many anime heroes are defined by their turbulent and tragic childhoods. These formative years, marked by loss, betrayal, and adversity, profoundly shape their identities, motivations, and the paths they choose to follow. For instance, Sasuke Uchiha’s life was shattered by the massacre of his clan and Killua Zoldyck’s struggles against his assassin lineage.
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Each story is a poignant exploration of resilience and determination. These complex backstories add depth to their characters and allow viewers to empathize with their struggles, making their journeys toward heroism all the more compelling. This list explores anime heroes with the saddest childhoods.
10Hyakkimaru - Dororo
Mutilated By Demons
Hyakkimaru’s Defining Moments:
Hyakkimaru from Dororo was born in feudal Japan to a power-hungry lord, Daigo Kagemitsu. Desperate to turn his war-ravaged land prosperous, Daigo made a pact with 12 demons. The demons claimed the body of his newborn son, Hyakkimaru, leaving the infant mutilated and barely alive.
Hyakkimaru was born without limbs, facial features, skin, or internal organs, all taken by the demons. Abandoned by his father and left to die, he was found and raised by a compassionate medicine man named Jukai. As Hyakkimaru grew older, he discovered that slaying the demons who took his body parts would restore them. This revelation set him on a relentless quest for vengeance and recovery.
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Aug 02, 2025
9Ciel Phantomhive - Black Butler
Aristocratic Kidnapped And Tortured
Black Butler
Ciel Phantomhive’s Defining Moments
Ciel Phantomhive, the central character of Black Butler, endured a harrowing childhood marked by tragedy and betrayal. He was born into the affluent Phantomhive family, but his life dramatically changed on his tenth birthday. That night, the Phantomhive Manor was set ablaze in a deliberate attack, resulting in the death of his parents.
Ciel was kidnapped and subjected to unspeakable horrors at the hands of a sadistic cult. During his captivity, he was branded with a mark resembling a Faustian contract in a dark ritual. In a moment of utter despair, Ciel called upon a demon for help. The trauma of these events made Ciel cold, ruthless, and driven by a desire for revenge.
Aug 16, 2025
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8Gintoki Sakata - Gintama
Forced To Sacrifice Sensei
Gintoki Sakata’s Defining Moments:
Gintoki Sakata, the main character from thesamurai animeGintama, endured a childhood filled with hardship and loss during a turbulent period in the anime’s alternate history Edo period. Orphaned during the brutal Joui Wars, a young Gintoki was found on a battlefield by Yoshida Shouyou, who became his sensei and mentor.
However, this period of relative peace and learning ended abruptly when the government targeted Shouyou, viewing his teachings as a threat. In a tragic turn of events, Shouyou was arrested, leading to a pivotal moment where Gintoki was forced to behead his beloved teacher to save his friends. This act left a deep scar on Gintoki’s psyche, shaping his personality and future actions.
July 16, 2025
7Shinra Kusakabe - Fire Force
Orphaned Fire Soldier
Fire Force
Shinra Kusakabe’s Defining Moments:
Shinra Kusakabe, the protagonist of Fire Force, had a sad childhood marked by a catastrophic event. At a young age, Shinra lived in Tokyo with his younger brother, Sho, and mother, Mari Kusakabe. His life took a dark turn when a mysterious fire engulfed his home.
Devil’s Footprints
During this incident, Shinra, who had awakened his pyrokinetic abilities, was blamed for the fire due to his unnatural ability and the sinister grin he involuntarily manifests when nervous, earning him the nickname Devil’s Footprints. This fire resulted in the presumed death of his mother and the disappearance of Sho, leaving Shinra an orphan. He was taken in by the church, where he grew up isolated and guilt-ridden.
June 12, 2025
6Erza Scarlet - Fairy Tail
Child Slavery And Abuse
Fairy Tail
Erza Scarlet’s Defining Moments:
Erza Scarlet, a powerful mage fromFairy Tail, experienced a traumatic childhood marked by slavery and loss. Born in the village of Rosemary in the Kingdom of Fiore, her life took a tragic turn when the village was destroyed by a cult that worshiped the dark mage Zeref. Erza, along with other children, were captured and forced into slavery to build the Tower of Heaven.
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Erza endured harsh conditions, abuse, and the loss of her right eye, which was later replaced with an artificial one. Her turning point came when she led a revolt against their captors. Erza’s escape from the tower marked the end of her nightmarish childhood, leading her to join the Fairy Tail guild.
July 24, 2025
5Eri - My Hero Academia
Abused Child With Dangerous Quirk
My Hero Academia
Eri’s Defining Moments:
Eri, a young girl fromMy Hero Academia, endured a tragic and abusive childhood due to herunique Quirk. Born with the ability to rewind living organisms, Eri’s power attracted the attention of the villain Overhaul. Overhaul adopted Eri after her mother abandoned her, fearing her daughter’s powers.
Eri’s life under Overhaul’s control was filled with fear and suffering. She was isolated and repeatedly subjected to painful experiments as Overhaul aimed to develop a drug that could destroy quirks using Eri’s blood. These experiments often left her injured and traumatized. Eri’s plight caught the attention of the heroes of U.A. High School, leading to a major operation to rescue her.
July 15, 2025
4Killua Zoldyck - Hunter X Hunter
Assassin Enduring Harsh Training
Hunter x Hunter
Killua Zoldyck’s Defining Moments:
Killua Zoldyck, fromHunter x Hunter, had a childhood filled with brutal traditions. Born as the heir to the Zoldyck family, Killua’s upbringing on the ominous Kukuroo Mountain was marked by rigorous and often cruel training designed to mold him into a perfect assassin. His father, Silva, and grandfather, Zeno, were instrumental in this process, subjecting him to extreme physical and mental training.
One harrowing example of this is when Killua was forced to endure electric shocks to build resistance to torture and improve his pain tolerance. This harsh environment left Killua emotionally scarred, struggling with issues of violence and trust, evident in his initial cold demeanor and difficulty in forming genuine friendships.
June 24, 2025
3Naruto Uzumaki - Naruto
Lonely And Hated Orphan
Naruto Uzumaki’s Defining Moments:
Naruto Uzumaki, the main character fromNaruto, experienced a lonely and difficult childhood. Born as the son of Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, and Kushina Uzumaki, Naruto’s life took a tragic turn when the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked the village. Minato and Kushina sacrificed their lives to save the village, sealing the beast inside their newborn son, Naruto.
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Growing up, Naruto was shunned and ridiculed, leading to a deep sense of isolation and a desperate craving for acknowledgment and acceptance. He lived alone and often caused mischief, like painting over the Hokage’s faces to attract attention. Despite these hardships, Naruto’s optimistic nature allowed him to overcome his difficult past and strive toward becoming Hokage.
August 12, 2025
2Edward And Alphonse Elric - Fullmetal Alchemist
Forbidden Alchemy’s Cost
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Edward and Alphonse Elric’s Defining Moments:
Edward and Alphonse Elric, the protagonists of theaction-adventure animeFullmetal Alchemist, faced a heart-wrenching childhood marked by tragedy. After losing their mother, Trisha Elric, to a terminal illness in their home in the rural town of Resembool, they were left to fend for themselves, as their father, Van Hohenheim, had abandoned the family years earlier.
In their grief and desperation, the brothers turned to alchemy, an ancient science that follows the principle of equivalent exchange, to bring their mother back to life. This attempt at human transmutation resulted in a fatal failure. Edward lost his left leg, and Alphonse lost his entire body. This traumatic event led them to embark on a quest for the Philosopher’s Stone.
July 07, 2025
1Sasuke Uchiha - Naruto
Brutal Massacre Trauma
Sasuke Uchiha’s Defining Moments:
Sasuke Uchiha’s tragic childhood in Naruto is marked by the horrific Uchiha Clan Massacre. Sasuke is the younger brother of Itachi Uchiha, whom he admired and aspired to be like. His life drastically changed one night when he returned home to find his entire clan annihilated. This massacre was not a random act of violence but a calculated move carried out by Itachi himself.
The most harrowing moment for Sasuke was finding his parents' bodies slain by Itachi. This event radically altered Sasuke’s personality and life goals, shifting from a happy child to a sad, revenge-driven individual. His desire to avenge his clan and kill Itachi becomes the driving force of his existence.
