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Explore anime characters like Boruto, who inherit their fathers’ legacies, showcasing strength and complex journeys.
In anime, the theme of inheriting a father’s legacy is a powerful storytelling device. Some anime characters like Boruto struggle against embracing their fathers’ legacies, while others are more willing before eventually coming to terms with their destiny. Whether it’s warriors, scientists, or leaders, these protagonists walk the road paved by their fathers, carrying forward their strengths, ideals, and sometimes even their burdens.
In this article, we will talk about 10 anime characters who follow in their fathers’ footsteps.
NOTE: This article is subjective and reflects the writer’s opinion.
1) Gon (Hunter x Hunter)
Gon is a rookie hunter who is the son of Ging Freecss. His journey starts and revolves around understanding his father, who is a legendary hunter. Ging had left him at a young age with his cousin Mito. Rather than resenting his father for abandoning him, Gon idolizes him and chooses to follow in his footsteps. He becomes a hunter himself to understand how this occupation makes a father prioritize this over being with his son. However, his journey is not just about finding his father; he overcomes difficult obstacles to prove himself worthy of Ging’s legacy.
Gon proves himself to be a powerful character. He continuously works hard to become stronger, and he is naturally talented for someone his age. Also, when faced with challenges, he will do his best to defeat them. Gon is extremely confident in himself to the point that he will accept any battle, even if the opponent is stronger than him.
2) Thorfinn (Vinland Saga)
Karlsefni Thorfinn’s entire childhood is shaped by the death of his father. His father was Thors, a former warrior who abandoned a life of violence. Thorfinn loses his father at a young age and is left consumed by revenge.
Thors was an exceptionally strong warrior, but he chose peace over war. However, Thorfinn takes the opposite path for the longest time. He grew up on battlefields and sought revenge against Askeladd, who was responsible for assassinating his father. Unfortunately, this thirst for revenge was not fulfilled, and he was clueless about his future.
Over time, working as a slave, he realised that his father’s true strength was not his ability to fight and be recognized as a fighter, but his conviction to live without violence. Thorfinn’s main struggle started when he tried to live by embracing his father’s philosophy. When he finally understood the meaning behind Thor’s saying, “You have no enemies,” he truly transformed into a humble and kind person.
3) Zeke Yeager (Attack on Titan)
Zeke was the former captain of Marley’s Warrior Unit. He inherited the power of the Beast Titan and managed to manipulate both sides of the war between Eldia and Marley to achieve his agenda of causing the extinction of his people. He is one of the most complex characters in the series. Grisha Yeager raised him under extreme pressure to become a warrior and fight for Eldia. Despite going against his father’s wishes and joining Marley’s side, he was heavily influenced by him.
Zeke’s euthanization plan was a direct result of his attempt to correct his father’s mistakes. He was an intelligent man and displayed traits of being a good leader. During his time as a captain, he was known as one of the strongest warriors. Zeke could make strategic decisions and prioritize mission objectives over sentimentality. He empathized with his parents’ goal to free the Eldian race and continued trying to secure freedom for Eldians from Marley in his own way.
4) Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Van Hohenheim was a brilliant alchemist with vast knowledge in this field. He has two sons, Edward and Alphonse. From a young age, his older son Edward excelled in alchemy and pushed its limits just like his father once did. Both of them had done forbidden alchemy and now were carrying the burden of the consequence. Even though Edward initially refuses to admit it he is just like his father. They both have gone on the quest to find the philosopher’s stone and uncover the secrets of Alchemy.
As Edward’s journey continues in helping his brother to restore his body, he comes to understand the burdens that his father carries. He realized that true strength does not come from seeking power but from using existing knowledge responsibly. His growth as an alchemist and as a person reflects the similar struggles that Hohenheim faced. Despite their differences, Edward is his father’s son, which we see by the end of their journey. He follows his own path while carrying the wisdom his father left behind.
5) Senku (Dr. Stone)
Byakuya Ishigami was an astronaut and played an important role in inspiring his son, Senku, to work on his love for science. Even if he was not a scientist like his son, Byakuya encouraged Senku’s curiosity from a young age and supported him in every way he could. This fueled Senku’s determination to pursue science as his expertise. Even though Senku was naturally gifted, his father’s belief in him helped shape his ambition.
After humanity is petrified, Senku awakens after three thousand years in a world where technology no longer exists. Byakuya’s legacy provides him with the motivation to rebuild civilization from scratch. Byakuya had dedicated his life to gathering all sorts of raw materials his son might need to rebuild the world again. This proved that his father always believed he would succeed.
6) Gohan (Dragon Ball)
Gohan, the son of Goku, follows in his father’s footsteps in more ways than one. From an early age, Gohan shows immense potential as a fighter, inheriting Goku’s Saiyan strength and surpassing him at key moments. Goku trains Gohan, pushing him to embrace his latent power, especially during major battles like the fight against Cell.
However, unlike Goku, Gohan doesn’t seek out fights for the thrill of battle. Instead, he follows his father’s path reluctantly, stepping up when necessary but preferring a life of academia. Even so, his ability to channel his Saiyan heritage when needed proves that, despite his personal preferences, he is truly his father’s son.
7) Naruto (Naruto)
Minato Namikaze was the Fourth Hokage for the Hidden Leaf Village and a legendary ninja known for his strength and intelligence. He was also the father of Naruto Uzumaki. Naruto grew up without knowing his father, but had inherited his incredible willpower and determination. Being unaware of his lineage at first, Naruto had worked a lot to prove himself.
As he grew up, Naruto finally learned the truth about his father, and it motivated him to work harder to surpass him. His journey from being an outcast to becoming the Seventh Hokage mirrors the tale of Minato, showing us that Naruto has always been his father’s son in spirit. Naruto has spent most of his life longing for a father figure whom he finds in Jiraya. By the time he understands the weight of his father’s sacrifice, he has already proved himself to be someone to respect in the ninja world.
8) Todoroki (My Hero Academia)
Shoto Todoroki is the son of the Pro Hero Endeavor. He was raised under the intense pressure of his father, who wanted to make him a perfect successor. Todoroki has been put under harsh training as he was obsessed with ensuring that his son surpasses All Might. Despite initially trying to reject his father’s influence, he has inherited Endeavor’s Quirk. With his parents’ quirks, he now has the power of Half-Cold Half-Hot. For the longest time, he refused to use the firepower he inherited from his father. Even if it is not evident, he follows in his father’s legacy and becomes a Pro Hero in the future, even if his goal is to achieve it differently from him.
As Todoroki starts embracing his fire power, he also gradually reconciles his feelings towards his father. Over time, he acknowledges Endeavor’s effort to change when he starts to accept that being a hero is more than trying to surpass anyone. In the end, Shoto becomes a true hero, proving that he is his own person while still carrying his father’s strength and legacy forward.
9) Soma Yukihira (Food Wars!)
Joichiro Yukihira is a legendary chef with world-class skills. He is the father of Yukihira Soma. Joichiro has made sure that he trains his son, Yukihira, who is constantly striving to improve his cooking and surpass his father. Unlike some of the other characters on this list, Soma embraces his father’s legacy and continues working on it. He was able to take the first seat of the Elite Ten Council just like his father within a year of joining Totsuki Culinary Academy.
Soma’s journey in Food Wars! is centered around proving himself worthy of the Yukihira name. He takes on challenges, competes against the best chefs, and continuously pushes his boundaries. Though he aims to surpass his father, Soma’s respect and admiration for Joichiro remain constant, making his journey one of friendly competition and personal growth.
10) Ichigo (Bleach)
Isshin Kurosaki is the father of Ichigo Kurosaki. In this series, Ichigo grows up believing that his father is just an ordinary doctor and is completely oblivious of his past as a powerful Soul Reaper. However, when Ichigo awakens his spiritual ability, he unknowingly follows the same path that his father once walked.
Just like Isshin, Ichigo takes on the responsibility to protect others and never backs down when facing increasingly powerful enemies. He has accepted the responsibility that comes with having these abilities. It is when Ichigo learns about his lineage that he comes to understand how much of his father’s strength and willpower he has inherited. By the time Ichigo has reached his peak, he has grown into his own as a Soul Reaper. Isshin has never forced his son to follow him, but Ichigo’s journey proved that he is destined to carry on the legacy and protect the people he loves and cares about without even realizing it.
Conclusion
Anime dads, whether they’re heroes, absent figures, or straight-up villains, leave a huge mark. These stories show us it’s not about perfectly matching their footsteps. Instead, it’s about how characters try to live up to their fathers’ legacies and, in doing so, discover their paths. It’s about taking what you’ve inherited and making it your own. Ultimately, it’s about finding your light, even when living in someone else’s shadow.
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