The most polarizing protagonists in romance anime

Key Takeaways

• Haruki lacks compassion for his dying classmate, but this changes over time.
• Naoya's seriousness about love makes him callous and leads to a controversial relationship dynamic.
• Kotonoha's loneliness and attachment issues cause her to engage in manipulative behavior in her pursuit of love.

typical The protagonist of a romance animation They are very likeable and relatable because they embody desirable traits such as strong loyalty, compassion, and determination. However, not all the main characters are the same, and some of them make questionable decisions that raise eyebrows and create conflict within the story.

By subverting conventional expectations of romance, these flawed protagonists paint a much more realistic portrait of lovers and their complex choices. Although some of their actions or decisions are reprehensible, they are not necessarily evil because they often act out of fear, insecurity, and sometimes past trauma. Their unpredictable nature adds more layers to the story and polarizes viewers. Here are some: The most polarizing romantic anime protagonist Here's some information you might want to know.

5 Tomoya Okazaki (Clannad)

The bully who changed his life

• Okazaki's aimless and callous approach to life can be frustrating.

Tomoya Okazaki had a difficult childhood as he lost his mother in a terrible accident at a young age. Growing up in Hikarizaka City, he lived with his neglectful and callous alcoholic father. One day, he pushed Tomoya so hard against the wall that he suffered a dislocation, after which he was forced to quit playing basketball. Naturally, he grew up to develop a very cynical worldview.

When you want to cry, you shouldn't hold back your tears. You have to let it all out when you can cry… but as you grow older, there are times when you can't cry even if there are things you want to cry about.

Tomoya was not interested in school and was often late to class. He would skip all his classes during the day and often visit his friends at night. His emotional immaturity permeated every aspect of his life, making any serious consideration of his future seem impossible.

Tomoya's callous attitude toward life can be frustrating, but he experiences a dramatic change in his motivation after becoming friends with Nagisa Furukawa. Not only does she give him a new direction in life, but she slowly changes him as a person just by her presence. Tomoya must correct his past mistakes and face the responsibility he has been avoiding.

4 Shiga Haruki Boku (I Want to Eat Your Pancreas)

Shiga's ultimate transformation and change of heart humanizes him as a character.

• Boku's callousness towards his dying classmate makes him an extremely problematic character.

Haruki's I want to eat your pancreas He is an introverted young man who loves to get lost in books and is painfully inconsiderate of those around him. When he comes across the secret emotional diary of his classmate Sakura and she reveals to him that she suffers from an incurable pancreatic disease, he feels no sympathy for her and offers little emotional support.

Even though we are not related by blood, I will be your family from now on.

Haruki's unsympathetic and callous attitude is rooted in his personal difficulties in forming relationships. Due to their isolation tendencies and aversion to emotional attachment, they are reluctant to express themselves, which often leads to insensitive encounters.

But Sakura's constant positivity and openness soon forces Haruki to fight against his aversion to relationships and become more honest with himself. Over time, Boku overcomes his fear of disappointing others and learns to love and be loved himself in return. Haruki's transformation is refreshing, but his attitude toward Sakura's painful struggle with her illness is too callous to overlook. He appears to be trying to make up for his actions, but that still doesn't justify his callousness towards Sakura during the most difficult moment of her life.

3 Naoya Mukai (girlfriend)

Naoya's insensitive expectations make him a terrible partner to be around.

• Mukai's honesty and forthrightness are both his strengths and weaknesses.

After falling in love with his childhood friend Saki Saki, Naoya Mukai spares no effort to win her affection. His dedication to winning her over despite multiple rejections highlights his commitment as a lover. He is also a man of integrity whose extreme honesty often gets him into absurd situations.

Naoya's honest and straightforward approach to romance is commendable, but it paves the way for a disgusting disregard for emotional boundaries. Naoya, who shows an insensitive personality, shamelessly dates Nagisa and Saki Saki at the same time. His lack of self-control and disregard for people's feelings soon lead to even more problematic situations that make him a polarizing protagonist.

2 Katsura Kotonoha (School Days)

An introverted girl who turns into an obsessive lover

• Katsura's attachment issues pave the way for her manipulative attitude and questionable choices.

Kotonoha is an introverted high school student known for her introverted personality and calm demeanor. Although she is considered breathtakingly beautiful by her peers, Katsura's lack of a social life makes it nearly impossible for her to form close friendships. Interestingly, her polite and gentle nature has little effect on her loneliness. Because her emotionally distant and introverted nature thwarts her hopes for connection with others.

It is only after getting to know Sekai and Makoto that Kotonoha begins to experience changes in her social life. The bond gives her a sense of belonging, but it soon becomes detrimental as she becomes obsessively dependent on her relationship with Makoto. Attachment issues with him bring out the worst in Kotonoha. Because she is willing to do her best to keep him with her. Katsura frequently resorts to questionable tactics to keep Makoto in line, as manipulation and emotional blackmail begin to become second nature to her.

1 Kazuya Kinoshita (Rent a Girl Friend)

An indecisive lover who even lies to hide his insecurities.

• Kinoshita's deep-rooted insecurities have far-reaching consequences.

Kazuya Kinoshita Rent a Girl Friend An indecisive young man falls in love with the rental girlfriend he hires after being suddenly abandoned by his partner Mami. People with low self-esteem often lie whenever they are faced with an uncomfortable truth or difficult situation. Because Kazuya is an emotionally driven individual, he sometimes lacks common sense and may end up making decisions that are detrimental to him in the long run. Moreover, his cowardly nature prevents him from living a life true to his own desires and emotions, as he tends to be swayed by other people's expectations.

When my grandfather passed away, my grandmother took over both the store and my father and supported us all. So it would be better for my grandmother to be a god to our family. And God has only one dream. It's about finding a good girl before she dies.

Kazuya's fear of rejection keeps him trapped in a cycle of confusion and guilt, but he still has an encouraging attitude toward those close to him. In fact, he selflessly helps others and is willing to go the extra mile to support his friends while putting his own interests aside. His kind nature allows him to make sacrifices without expecting anything in return. He also showed moments of courage under extreme pressure, especially towards Chizuru. Ultimately, Kazuya Kinoshita is a complex character. His low self-esteem and insecurities are relatable to many, but he's also infuriatingly indecisive and immature, making him difficult to root for.