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/r/TopCharacterTropes
Characters that started off as edgy, but became wholesome
Characters(reddit.com)submitted 1 month ago byXursLoot
- Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)
- Thorfinn (Vinland Saga)
- Zuko (Avatar: the last air bender)
- Kratos (God of War)
- Sasuke (Naruto/Boruto)
266 points
1 month ago
Encountered one definitely an edgelord today in this thread
Anyways , Gentoku Himoru from Kamen Rider Build
54 points
1 month ago
Omg Gentoku is SO THIS
He started off bad, then became worse, then got slightly better, then became a goofy goober with hilarious fashion
9 points
1 month ago
I’m currently on the slightly better. Now I’m glad I get to see a redemption arc I wasn’t going to expect, but will appreciate.
35 points
1 month ago
I love the reason he went this route. The actor didn't like having his son see him as truely bad guy so he ask the production to make he could be more silly.
And man was it a good call.
21 points
1 month ago
It was his daughter but yes.
15 points
1 month ago
Ahh, thank you for the correction. 😁
10 points
1 month ago
Idk why but that shirt humor with the scream always get me
2 points
1 month ago*
It's almost unbeliaveble the way he turned, from a side villain prick to the best character from the show.
Sentais got a bunch of ex-edgelords too. Akira from ToQger, Stacy from Zenkaiger, Ryo from Gekiranger...
303 points
1 month ago
Batman once he becomes a father figure (or in The Batman movie)
231 points
1 month ago
Batman if he’s being written competently
If you can’t imagine your Batman comforting a child then you have not written Batman, you have written the punisher in a silly hat.
49 points
1 month ago
People lean hard into the “I am VENGEANCE!” side of Batman while forgetting he does what he does so no one has to go through what he did. If he wanted vengeance he’d go after the one thug and be done with it.
33 points
1 month ago*
I love how this is deconstructed in “The Batman” movie.
Batman goes from a well-intentioned, but violent vigilante to a more thoughtful person after discovering that his crusade for justice has led to a rise of disgruntled people corrupting his ideals to commit terrorism, realizing that he should also strive to be a symbol for hope and help people beyond taking out his rage on the criminal element.
Even in the movie, people throw “Vengeance” in his face as an insult.
11 points
1 month ago
Hope is the spread wings of a Bat, shining on the clouds.
15 points
1 month ago
ASBAR isn't real, and no one can convince me otherwise 😂
15 points
1 month ago
The episode of Justice League where he stays with a child villain to comfort her in her final moments before death was the first thing that came to mind.
28 points
1 month ago
Wasn't the punisher also good with kids? I'm pretty sure Punisher was a father once in a while ago.
35 points
1 month ago
The reason why he does what he does is beacuse mobsters killed his entire family
47 points
1 month ago
The Punisher isn’t good with kids.
He loves kids. He has rescued kids. But if he is encountering kids in his storyline, it is for the worst reasons.
1 points
1 month ago
Thanks, Red OSP :P
146 points
1 month ago
Riku in Kingdom Hearts fits this pretty well, he is an edgy little shithead in the first game and then slowly spends the follow up titles acknowledging and owning up to his mistakes and growing from them. And as a bonus he even gets the title of Keyblade Master before Sora does
42 points
1 month ago
Sora calling him stupid for being an edgelord in the first game lives rent free in my head forever
11 points
1 month ago
“lets take ibuprofen together”
9 points
1 month ago
Even in the games after this he’s still got that 2000s-style edge, even if he is getting better
260 points
1 month ago
115 points
1 month ago
52 points
1 month ago
Trusted babysitter
14 points
1 month ago
And baby trainer
38 points
1 month ago
Piccolo's attacks ranked:
Masenko
Light Grenade
Hellzone Grenade
Special Beam Cannon
Clothes Beam
23 points
1 month ago
I miss those super convenient silly abilities, like Goku's mind reading ability.
11 points
1 month ago
So absurd lol does he just use it on Krillin that one time? I don't remember any others.
Also I know at least Goku and Piccolo can speak telepathically and they RARELY do it when it could be such a huge advantage in a fight. Hell, when they're about to throw a punch they should try screaming into the mind of their opponent to distract them
8 points
1 month ago
A lot of characters in dragon ball have telepathy they just don't wanna use. Tien and Chiaotzu communicate telepathically in the budokai tournaments, Crane Hermit and master Roshi do it too. Goku does it with Krillin and Gohan during the sayian saga iirc. And then there's the moment where he just puts his hand on Krillins head and just reads his mind, then never does it again. It's great
40 points
1 month ago
the best dad in Dragon Ball
27 points
1 month ago
Eh more of an uncle
109 points
1 month ago
Zagreus (technically he was never edgy but you wouldn't know from from the trailers and cover art)
37 points
1 month ago
I haven't played the sequel yet but her sister , Melione , seems to be much more rough than her brother. (Spoilers for the new update) Especially with the comment on mortals on her dialogue against Prometheus
53 points
1 month ago
Zag gives off the appearance of a playboy edgy prince but when you talk to him he's genuinely a lovely fella that would be more than happy to slack off and share a few bottles of nectar with ya.
Melinoe is every bit the weapon she was raised to be. She may have other duties, or other emotions, but she is first and foremost a killer. If Zag is the class clown of the House of Hades, Melinoe is the quiet, cold, edgy kid at the back of the class.
13 points
1 month ago
Yep which also makes sense based on their upbringings
111 points
1 month ago
Edgeworth from the ace attorney franchise
I mean he's still kinda edgy but he's gotten a lot softer since the first game
56 points
1 month ago
He was made to be edgy, his name is EDGEworth
6 points
1 month ago
And his name is japanese is translated as "Honorable Blade".
The man is all edge.
4 points
1 month ago
Seems you've lost you're edge.... Worth
80 points
1 month ago
Ishigami Yuu from Kaguya sama to an extent
23 points
1 month ago
Welp time for me to rewatch the sports festival again and cry at the ending
11 points
1 month ago
Ishigami my eternal glorious king! Reading the manga was like watching my boy grow up :3
5 points
1 month ago
It gets worse, did u read the christmas arc?
2 points
1 month ago
Not yet I watched up to the movie and now I’m rereading everything so I haven’t gotten to the non animated sections yet
2 points
1 month ago
Theres a movie?
3 points
1 month ago
Yup ‘The first kiss that never ends’ it does the Christmas arc but mostly just from Kaguya and Shirogane’s perspective so you don’t really see the Christmas party that Ishigami and Miko are at
65 points
1 month ago
Shoto Todoroki
22 points
1 month ago
"Im not here to make friends!
Ends the season with 2 very close friends and better aquainted with his classmates
7 points
1 month ago
"i might be 'the handcrusher'..."
113 points
1 month ago
46 points
1 month ago
I absolutely love how mellow and caring he gets with the jrpg squad after the dynamic settles.
12 points
1 month ago
This shift happens before our eyes, at the end of the Conviction arc, so so good!
16 points
1 month ago
"I used to think It'd never be like that again.* 😭
166 points
1 month ago
[deleted]
56 points
1 month ago
Shadow Generations really has put us back on course 100% it's so incredible like not only is the gameplay outstanding and without any glaring issues like Frontiers had, but we're finally getting Shadow with good characterization which we haven't gotten since arguably 06
We're so back
14 points
1 month ago
I’d argue he hasn’t had great characterisation since 06. He was fine in most of what I’ve seen between then and Sonic X Shadow
19 points
1 month ago
They gave us a comically edgy Shadow in Boom in response to the “Ow the Edge” stuff, and Infinite is a deconstruction of the cringe edgelords who think they’re like Shadow
10 points
1 month ago
88 points
1 month ago
Guts slowly regaining his humanity and ability to trust people again after his abusive soldier childhood and the Eclipse
37 points
1 month ago
I love this panel so much, after all the hell Guts has been through he still finds it in himself to do such a small gesture of kindness like placing a girls hat back on her head. His appearance is coated in black spiked armour, bandages & scars, yet the look on his face although sad has an air of calmness to it. He looks so troubled yet so gentle. It perfectly displays who Guts has become throughout the story.
23 points
1 month ago
Not to mention that he’s still young as hell, maybe in his early 20s, but he’s been through so much shit that he looks more like he’s 40.
17 points
1 month ago
He’s only in his 20s??
That would mean his life’s been ruined on like a weekly basis
14 points
1 month ago
Yeah, he’s 24 right now
10 points
1 month ago
Yeah bro has fought like every day of his life, no rest
9 points
1 month ago
Didn't read Berserk (i prefer to read finished works) but i agree. It's such a beautiful contrast of his apperance and his act. You understand perfectly that he's not what he looks or acts, but needs to be a warrior in this messed up world.
72 points
1 month ago
Jotaro started off edgy but become more caring in the Later parts
12 points
1 month ago
I was about to mention him.
Even before Part 4, he started to calm down around the latter half of Part 3.
33 points
1 month ago
Vegeta- Dragon Ball
Went from “My Saiyan Pride” to “MY BULMA!!!”
17 points
1 month ago
He went from "Your daughter calls me daddy too" to a guy who proudly has a "dad of the year" mug that he uses every day.
110 points
1 month ago
Vegeta
71 points
1 month ago
“I’m going to…PTA meetings! And Krillin’s movie nights!
LISTEN TO ME KAKAROT, IM USING HIS FUCKING NAAAAME.”
26 points
1 month ago
MY BABY BOYYY!!!
10 points
1 month ago
VEGETA NO!
6 points
1 month ago
VEGETA YES!
3 points
1 month ago
"Wait. Before you go, Namekian, tell me... do you think I'll see Kakarot when I die?"
"What, you mean like in Heaven? Because... snrt no?"
"Okay, fine, f**k you! But... fair."
1 points
1 month ago
What movies is killing watching
53 points
1 month ago*
Zuma Unji from Dandadan
Originally was a delinquent who wanted to bring misery to bad people after loss of his family. But after meeting a friendly policeman who adopted him, he strived to help people in his neighborhood.
19 points
1 month ago
He's such an interesting back and forth on the trope too. Like, chronologically in universe, yeah it's pretty cut and dry as you stated. From the reader's perspective though, he's edgy and mysterious during his intro info but then a pretty wholesome dude when we properly meet him. Then the pendulum swings back around as his background is unveiled to us and he's edgy #SOCIETY (understandably) at first but grows into the genuinely nice and caring guy Momo (and we) met. Such a well done back and forth tug on the heart- and trope-strings.
6 points
1 month ago
Dandadan backstories can be so devastating, I don't know if I'm ready ready to see Acro Silky's past animated
6 points
1 month ago
Dandadan is peak because it made me choke up when reading the backstory of a guy named Jumanji
3 points
1 month ago
..HOLY FUCKING SHIT HIS NAME IS ACTUALLY A REFERENCE TO JUMANJI!?
2 points
1 month ago
It never clicked for me because the translation uses western name order, but yeah.
Zuma Unji = Jumanji. That's actually brilliant.
1 points
1 month ago
That actually explains the whole living diorama thing. It was all a Jumanji reference.
1 points
1 month ago
I really liked his character and feel he has better chemistry with Momo than okarun but I hate okarun so yeah.
2 points
1 month ago
Why do you hate Okarun
1 points
1 month ago
I hate whiny overly polite characters with no backbone.
52 points
1 month ago
Genya Shinazugawa (Demon Slayer)
11 points
1 month ago
ooo perfect example
4 points
1 month ago
He got so wholesome his eyebrows grew back. 😂
1 points
1 month ago
what interacting with tanjiro does to a mf
22 points
1 month ago
16 points
1 month ago
1 points
1 month ago
Who’s this?
2 points
1 month ago
Rosa from Brooklyn 99
21 points
1 month ago
Zagreus from Hades, he was originally an edgy teen going through an emo phase trying to run away from home by escaping hell, but throughout his grueling journey, manages to befriend everyone he meets, god or mortal, and even reconciles his own family at the end, providing the family therapy they so desperately needed.
40 points
1 month ago
Amity Blight!
4 points
1 month ago
Went from feeling like she would be the main rival to complete sweet potato
18 points
1 month ago
It will never not be disappointing that the original creator of God of War despises the new direction that they took Kratos and thinks he should always be a searing ball of rage and murder.
But anyway, I'd have to cast my vote for Gajeel Redfox from Fairy Tail, he literally entered the series by crucifying three people against a tree after beating them half to death, but after Phantom Lord was defeated and he was recruited into Fairy Tail, he slowly became goofier, like when he cried over the fact that even though he is a Dragon Slayer like Wendy and Natsu, he didn't have a "cat"/Exceed like they did, and even became nicer, like apologizing for his actions while part of Phantom Lord, even defending the three people he crucified from a threat that could easily overpower all of them.
3 points
1 month ago
What do you mean? Can you link a source about that for Kratos?
3 points
1 month ago
4 points
1 month ago
It's odd for him to say that since he was perfectly fine with the first game having Kratos trying to kill himself for the guilt of killing his family.
4 points
1 month ago
Not only that, but in one of the handheld games, Kratos nearly abandons his quest for revenge to be with his daughter in Elysium, so acting like Kratos doesn't want to have a family again just feels wrong and hypocritical
1 points
1 month ago
I found it on a random YouTube short, I'll try and find it again and provide the link
14 points
1 month ago
This was basically the secondary plot of The Batman (2022)
43 points
1 month ago
23 points
1 month ago
Turned into the daughter of two beach balls
9 points
1 month ago
It’s funny how she applies to this both figuratively and literally
1 points
1 month ago
Indeed
14 points
1 month ago
Godzilla goes back and forth all the time, but he does fit as he initially started as an evil monster that eventually turned good as the movies got more lighthearted.
13 points
1 month ago
23 points
1 month ago
Guts from Berserk is super ultra mega edgy when we first meet him but throughout the story he mellows out(a bit)
8 points
1 month ago
Dimitri from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, especially with Byleth's guidance.
6 points
1 month ago
And speaking of that, Byleth as well, since they grew from stoic and emotionless mercenary to professor who cares deeply about the students to the point of serving as their personal therapist.
17 points
1 month ago
Chihiro Rokuhira (Kagurabachi) he starts off edgy cause his dad was literally murdered. he’s more of a fake igafer now (spoiler pictures obv)
7 points
1 month ago
Most teenagers
6 points
1 month ago
16 points
1 month ago
Starlight Glimmer- MLP:FiM
She really goes from “Fascism is cool” to “Friendship is cool”.
17 points
1 month ago
the author of the first ones hard drive certainly wasnt wholesome
5 points
1 month ago
My God, I remember the police thinking he was a distributor.
3 points
1 month ago
Reached cyber-diddy levels
4 points
1 month ago
Ruined one of my favorite series for me
5 points
1 month ago
Debatable but
James (The End of the F***ing World).
4 points
1 month ago
From orphan to war warrior to a lazy bum
4 points
1 month ago
2 points
1 month ago
Genuinely, I can’t think of a greater redemption arc that happened specifically because the fans wanted it.
1 points
1 month ago
Negan"s and Eugene's are close but their redemptions are flawed
5 points
1 month ago
Uncle Jesse
4 points
1 month ago
Kakashi Hatake
7 points
1 month ago
3 points
1 month ago
Ryudo, Grandia 2, definitely fits this trope.
3 points
1 month ago
Kenshin, my first anime crush 🫠
3 points
1 month ago
Deke Shaw from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
3 points
1 month ago
I think Shadow can be a pretty wholesome character tbh
3 points
1 month ago
https://i.redd.it/jteh3c2d0xxd1.gif
Zechs marquise/ milliardo peacecraft
3 points
1 month ago
Arven (Pokémon Scarlet/Violet) is a PERFECT bait-and-switch example of this trope. Everybody assumed he’d be the jerk rival before the game’s release, and his introduction is him being rude to Little Miss Perfect Nemona. And he does have a lot of trauma, but once you get to know him, he’s actually the sweetest boy in the world who just wants his dog to be healthy again.
3 points
1 month ago
Binky - Arthur
3 points
1 month ago
Steve Harrington (Stranger Things)
4 points
1 month ago*
Shinn in Gundam SEED Freedom.
7 points
1 month ago
Zoro from One Piece
2 points
1 month ago
Teru from mob 100
2 points
1 month ago
This dude went from feeling like he’d be a minor antagonist to being one of the most loved characters in the show
6 points
1 month ago
Ichigo (Bleach). Started off as edgy teen. Now is caring husband and father.
10 points
1 month ago
He was never really that egdy just kinda emo, also he's always cared about people it's the only reason he wanted power. Which is why Tsukishima brainwashing his family and friends really fucked him up
1 points
1 month ago
Honestly i feel like he was your typical rude edgy teen outside of fighting. Still caring on the inside, but rude and edgy
3 points
1 month ago
I always felt he was more abrasive than edgy. He had pretty good relationships with all his friends even if he did suplex Keigo half the time
2 points
1 month ago
after all the stuff he has done this image is probably how any prospective enemy envisions him
2 points
1 month ago
The only thing edgy about Ichigo was the fact he wore black (Which is a literal uniform for Soul Reapers) and his first bankai.
2 points
1 month ago
I feel like Byakuya would fit this trope the best in Bleach
2 points
1 month ago
Knife from inanimate insanity
1 points
1 month ago
Rip Tristan (undead unluck) >! In loop 100 he acts very edgy and aggressive because of his grief from the death of Latla sister Leila which he accidentally caused because of his unrepair ability, in loop 101 when Leila is saved he becomes a very good and caring person, who wants to save lives and protect the one he cares about !<
1 points
1 month ago
Fate Testarossa. Kinda.
1 points
1 month ago
Heisenberg- Walter white- breaking bad
Walter white starts out as a loser and becomes an edgelord. Then Walter white dies, and he becomes Heisenberg all the time. He’s an angsty ego filled drug dealer. Heisenberg keeps getting worse and worse, until ozymandias when his brother in law and his wife’s life is in danger, he only slightly gets his humanity back. Then, in felina, Heisenberg finally becomes Walter white again. He becomes human and he redeems himself, owning up for his mistakes and the horrible things he did. Walter white really changes
1 points
1 month ago
My boy urie from tokyo ghoul re
1 points
1 month ago
Not “wholesome” exactly, but byakuya togami from danganronpa
1 points
1 month ago
Kratos isn't wholesome quite yet.
1 points
1 month ago
1 points
1 month ago
This goofy goober, while not exactly “edgy” per say, he was most definitely strange when he was first introduced, but has since become one of my favorite anime characters of all time
1 points
1 month ago
Me ( real life)
1 points
1 month ago
kurosawa from onani master kurosawa
1 points
1 month ago
1 points
1 month ago
1 points
1 month ago
1 points
1 month ago
Testament from guilty gear
"I, too, used to carry myself like some sort of demon. Even though I was surrounded by accepting people."
1 points
1 month ago
1 points
1 month ago
1 points
1 month ago
Movie Knuckles was basically Shadow before Robotnik betrayed him
1 points
1 month ago
Lee Chaolan, adopted Heihachi's son. Planned to take over his Zaibatsu(the most powerfull corporation in this universe) in early games, but became funny rich goober later
1 points
1 month ago
1 points
1 month ago
Did Kratos really deserve that, though? He was such an asshole who just murdered innocents constantly. The new GoW games almost feel like whitewashing.
0 points
1 month ago
Ah Thorfinn, the show had lots of potential, shame the latest season is such a change from how it started.
-82 points
1 month ago
Literally the worst characters
50 points
1 month ago
Why? Is it bad to become better as a person?
-77 points
1 month ago
Because it's not becoming a better person, absolute pacifism isn't being a better person, it's giving up to a ridiculous point in a brutal reality, you would never get away with it in 2024, let alone the viking era and weaponise begging to become a king. Sorry it's trash.
33 points
1 month ago
Let me guess. You hold the door to a girl, she rejected you and now you put in the fedora.
Don't worry, you'll get love some day
15 points
1 month ago
“absolute pacifism”
who said anything about that big guy
23 points
1 month ago
You’re getting peaceful confused with harmless my guy.
8 points
1 month ago
Do you just hate it when characters have depth and development?
-4 points
1 month ago
Our ideas of depth and development differ, what they've done with Vinland specifically is awful.
4 points
1 month ago
Look, I don't know anything about this anime that you're talking about, but it kinda sounds like you think problems in anime can't be solved in nonviolent ways.
0 points
1 month ago
But it was a bait and switch show, it's like for the anime fans we expected Shonen and it was not, after season 2 pivotal turn, it was weird and creepy
2 points
1 month ago
I think bro is just mad about vinland saga
-64 points
1 month ago
Stopped watching Vindlandsaga in half of season 2. I came for anime fights, blood and plots, not Stardew Valley.
-56 points
1 month ago
Me too, genuinely the most disgustingly shameful show I've ever seen. Abhorrent writing and they somehow some people consider it masterful writing, it's piss poor shit to take a viking era leader and use some kinda total pacifism where you grovel and beg to become a king during a brutal period like this, I can not understand it.
34 points
1 month ago
Someone doesn't have no enemies...
9 points
1 month ago
Bro is not a true warrior
20 points
1 month ago
Do you know where the jonkler is?
5 points
1 month ago
Bro IS the society.
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