Have you noticed that in many anime the main character ends up losing his powers? Did you know that this phenomenon may have a cultural origin? That's right. In several shonens – anime and manga series aimed at male teenagers – we can see this cliché come to fruition.
Spoiler Alert!
In "Bleach", at a certain point in the series, the protagonist Kurosaki Ichigo even loses his Shinigami powers, while in "Hunter x Hunter", the main character Gon loses his "Nen" abilities after fighting an arduous battle against Neferpitou. In several other anime and manga, this pattern can be seen, as in the case of Naruto, in which the protagonist of the series loses Kurama (the nine-tailed fox).
After all, why is this pattern repeated so much in these stories?
In this article, we will try to understand more about this common phenomenon in pop culture. Let's also remarkable moments in anime when the main character was stripped of his powers and became a normal human being.
Table of Contents
The Cultural and Historical Influence
This cliché of losing power can be linked to cultural and historical themes in Japan, where there is a strong dichotomy between the divine and the human. A clear example is Emperor Showa (Hirohito), who, after the Second World War, had to give up his divinity and declare himself an ordinary human being, marking the end of an era of spiritual leadership. This transformative event may have influenced the creation of stories where powerful characters are humanized.
In addition, Japanese mythology also offers various figures who lose their powers over the course of stories. The Kappa, a folkloric creature that lives in rivers, loses its abilities when the water over its head is spilled. The influence of mythology and folklore reinforces the idea that the transition from divine to human is a powerful theme in the Japanese imagination.
Samurais and the Decline of Power
Another historical parallel can be drawn with the samurai, who for centuries were powerful and revered figures. However, with the advent of the Meiji era and the ban on carrying swords, the samurai lost their special status and were forced to integrate into society as ordinary citizens. This decline in samurai "power" may have inspired narratives about protagonists who also lose their supernatural abilities.
Impact on Stories
In anime and manga, this transition of the protagonist from a powerful figure to an ordinary person creates a moving narrative of vulnerability and reinvention. Often, after losing their powers, the protagonist embarks on a journey of self-knowledge or finds a new source of strength. This theme recurs in series such as Naruto and Dragon Ball, where once-powerful characters move on to humbler or more human roles at the end of the stories.
Anime characters who lost their powers
Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)At a crucial point in the series, Ichigo loses his Shinigami powers after the fight against Aizen. This leads to a phase of great vulnerability until he regains his abilities later on.
Gon Freecss (Hunter x Hunter)After using all his Nen energy in an intense battle against Neferpitou in the Chimera Ants saga, Gon loses his abilities and is on the verge of death, unable to use his Nen.
Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto Shippuden/Boruto): Naruto loses connection with Kurama, the Nine-Tails Fox, during the events of Boruto, which leaves him without one of his greatest sources of power.
Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood): At the end of the series, Edward sacrifices his ability to use alchemy to restore the body of his brother Alphonse, losing his abilities permanently.
Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho): Yusuke temporarily loses his spiritual powers at various points in the series, especially after the Sensui arc.
Natsu Dragneel (Fairy Tail)Natsu faces moments when he loses his ability to use Dragon Slayer Magic, but this is usually linked to exhaustion or temporary blockages.
Meliodas (Nanatsu no Taizai)Meliodas loses control of his demonic powers several times throughout the series, and at times he is forced to give up his powers to protect those around him.
Saitama (One Punch Man)Although Saitama doesn't exactly lose his powers, his extreme boredom with invincibility makes him feel "purposeless", which symbolically puts him in a position of "emotional power loss".
Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)During the series, Eren faces challenges related to his Titan powers, temporarily losing control of his abilities on several occasions.
Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass)Lelouch temporarily loses control of his Geass, and his inability to use it at certain critical moments directly impacts his actions in the plot.
