Anime heroes come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and personality types; some are outgoing and open-minded, while others have a hardened disposition that’s tougher than steel. However, looks are often deceiving and some of the toughest of anime heroes actually have a softer side that few ever see.
While many of these characters would never admit it, their physical strength is sometimes only matched by the level of compassion and kindness they show others. Whether these heroes like it or not, this side of them adds more layers to their character than being an impenetrable wall where no emotions get through.
10 Diablo (How NOT To Summon A Demon Lord)
Diablo from How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord may have an imposing exterior and acts as though he really is his game character, but in truth, his real personality is more introverted and awkward. With his poor experience socializing, he mostly just kept to himself until being summoned to another world by Rem and Shera, who thought he was a real Demon Lord.
Diablo cares deeply for those around him, but his social awkwardness sometimes prevents him from talking to others or even asking for help when not in character. Diablo continues to put on an act as the immensely powerful and haughty Demon Lord, while everyone remains unaware of his true personality.
9 Rika (Digimon Tamers)
When first viewers meet Rika in Digimon Tamers, she was cold and ruthless as a tamer, with a prickly personality to match. She didn’t even really see the Digimon as alive, but thanks to her experiences with Renamon, Takato, and Henry, that changed, and she gradually started to open up to others.
Even after becoming more friendly with her fellow tamers and repairing the emotional bridge between her and her mom, Rika still has a tough attitude and doesn’t let anyone forget it. Rika may act like she doesn’t care, but her development as a person says otherwise.
8 Naofumi (The Rising Of The Shield Hero)
Admittedly Naofumi’s rough mentality and harsh view of other people is warranted given that he was framed for a crime he didn’t commit, causing him to be shunned by everyone. Naofumi acted coldly towards others for quite some time, as a defense mechanism to prevent himself from being betrayed again, but his kindness still shined through to those who saw it, especially Raphtalia.
While he didn’t really see it in himself, Raphtalia saw the side of Naofumi that he thought was dead and buried at the start of The Rising of the Shield Hero. This hidden soft side continued to be present around those he came to truly trust.
7 Kazuma Kuwabara (Yu Yu Hakusho)
Yu Yu Hakusho‘s Kazuma Kuwabara seems like the typical delinquent type, but those who get to know him find out that he’s one of the nicest guys out there. He is a tough guy for sure, but he’s got an honest heart and a soft side for others, such as his cat Eichi, Yukina (who he’s madly in love with), and even Yusuke himself.
While he’s impulsive, hot-headed, and not the brightest, Kuwabara’s tough-guy bravado is matched by his strong moral code and loyalty to his friends. He’s definitely a good example of not judging a book by its cover.
6 Makoto Kino / Sailor Jupiter (Sailor Moon)
On the outside, Sailor Moon‘s Makoto Kino (aka Sailor Jupiter) comes off as a tomboy whose attitude and height intimidate others, but she’s actually a gentle soul. Despite people’s preconceived notions of her, Makoto has a desire for romance and enjoys activities like baking and gardening.
Makoto’s softer side is more a symptom of others making assumptions about her based on her appearance rather than her hiding it herself. That being said, she’s still one tough customer and a capable fighter when her friends need her help as Sailor Jupiter.
5 Power (Chainsaw Man)
Chainsaw Man’s Blood Fiend, simply known as “Power,” has a loud, boisterous, and immature personality, though she backs it up with her ability to control blood and her strength in a fight. As a Fiend, Power has a natural disdain towards humans and won’t waste a second before talking down to them and bragging about her self-proclaimed superiority.
Power does, however, have a soft side—even if it’s pretty much reserved for cats. Power’s time with her own cat, Meowy, has given her the kind of compassion toward felines that she doesn’t ever seem to show to others, but it does mean she is capable of it. Some people prefer animals to other people; Power is one of them.
4 Katsuki Bakugo (My Hero Academia)
My Hero Academia‘s Katsuki Bakugo can best be described by many as “loudly abrasive” and “perpetually angry,” and much of what he says and does reflect that. With a personality as volatile as his explosive powers, Bakugo was born with strength, which went to his head forming the only thing that could rival his temper, pride.
That being said, Bakugo does show compassion to others, albeit in his own way. At times, he’s even been vulnerable enough to admit his faults and insecurities. Admittedly, fans really have to look very deep to find his soft spot, but it is there.
3 Loid Forger (Spy X Family)
Loid Forger, aka “Twilight,” is the greatest spy Westalis has in Spy x Family. Given all the years he’s served undercover for WISE, Loid is a cold, calculating man of many names and faces, so he knows how to bury his emotions for the sake of his missions—or so it seemed. His latest mission involving his fake family with Yor and Anya shows a side of himself he might not realize he had.
While Loid is firmly committed to completing the mission, it does seem that he cares more for his cover family than he lets on. He even gets to a point where he’s genuinely happy to see Anya succeed and almost punched someone who made her cry.
2 Jotaro Kujo (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Jotaro Kujo from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is the kind of guy who doesn’t seem to show much in the way of emotions past “stoic.” Not a lot really cracks his steely expression, even his rage can be on the quiet side, which can sometimes make him come off like he doesn’t care about those around him, but his actions tell a different story.
Despite how harshly he treated his mom in “Part 3,” he did go on a globe-trotting quest to save her life, and when his daughter Jolyne was in trouble during “Part 6,” he didn’t hesitate to come to her aid. While Jotaro doesn’t always express his emotions to those he cares about, he does know the right way to act on them.
1 Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z)
Vegeta started out as one of many antagonists in the Dragon Ball franchise, and considering his attitude and especially his early actions, he seemed incapable of change. Stubborn, arrogant, and prideful, Vegeta only seemed to care about proving his Saiyan strength but his time on Earth and with Bulma did see him grow.
While Vegeta still has all his bravado and a seemingly permanent scowl on his face, it’s now underlining his devotion to his family and respect for those around him—including Goku of all people. These days Vegeta is more willing to put his pride aside and even humiliate himself to protect others, which is a huge difference from the violent, planet-busting villain he originally appeared as.