An anti-hero is a protagonist that is basically a foil that has the opposite of most of the traditional traits that are associated with traditional heroes.
Why This Trope Makes Bad Look So Good
- It makes the character relatable and innately human.
- The anti-hero's story would be more challenging to the viewers, as their actions would be more unpredictable than those of a traditional hero.
- It highlights the fact that the line between heroism and villainy is extremely thin, producing a large grey area in between them. Whereas villains have redeeming qualities, heroes have personality flaws.
- People tend to identify with characters who are deeply flawed, as they see themselves in them.
- They are usually more sympathetic and complex than traditional heroes, as they face more internal conflicts that make them question their own actions and grow as a person.
The Only Bad Quality
- Some anti-heroes can be unsympathetic and unlikeable.
- Also anti-heroes can sometimes be jerks.
Examples of well-written anti-heroes
- Annie Leonhart (Attack on Titan)
- Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel)
- Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
- Blade (Marvel Comics)
- Boba Fett (Star Wars)
- Bruce Wayne/Batman
- Cassian Andor (Star Wars)
- Catwoman
- Coffy (Coffy)
- Deadpool
- Dexter Morgan (Dexter)
- Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald (Cracker)
- Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)
- Ethan Edwards (The Searchers)
- Faith Lehane (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
- Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
- Gene Hunt (Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes)
- Ghost Rider (Marvel comics)
- Goro Akechi/Crow (Persona 5)
- Gregory House (House)
- Han Solo
- Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry)
- Herrscher of Sentience/Senti (Honkai Impact 3rd)
- Hiei
- Itachi Uchiha
- Impmon (Digimon Tamers)
- Jack Bauer (24)
- Jack Burton (Big Trouble in Little China)
- Jack Carter (Get Carter)
- Jack Sparrow
- James Bond
- James "Sawyer" Ford (Lost)
- Jessica Jones
- Jimmy McNulty (The Wire)
- John Constantine (Hellblazer)
- John Luther (Luther)
- Judge Dredd
- Kerr Avon (Blake's 7)
- Kevin 11 (Ben 10)
- Kyoko Sakura (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
- Levi Ackerman
- Mal Reynolds (Firefly)
- The Man With No Name (The Dollars Trilogy)
- Marv (Sin City)
- Nagito Komaeda (Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair)
- Nozel Silva (Black Clover)
- Omar Little (The Wire)
- Osamu Dazai (Bungou Stray Dogs)
- Peter Jason Quill
- The Punisher (Marvel Comics)
- Randle Patrick McMurphy (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)
- Rick Deckard (Blade Runner)
- Rorscharch (Watchmen)
- Rocky Sullivan (Angels with Dirty Faces)
- Raiden Mei (Honkai Impact 3rd)
- Ryuko Matoi (Kill la Kill)
- Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon)
- Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto)
- Shadow the Hedgehog
- Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock)
- Snake Plissken (Escape from New York)
- Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel)
- Tony Stark
- Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)
- V (V For Vendetta)
- Vic Mackay (The Shield)
- Walter White (Breaking Bad)
- William Munny (Unforgiven)
- Wolverine
Examples of poorly-written anti-heroes
- Yo Mikawa (Angel Cop)
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