Often, heroes are expected not to prove negative emotions. Particularly for heroes who happen to be men, crying is somewhat frowned upon. Luckily, shonen anime frequently strays from these toxic norms and enforces that all emotional expression is good for you.

Many fan-favorite anime heroes face immense trauma and pain. It would be unrealistic for these guys to maintain a calm facade — or fifty-fifty an optimistic one — with some of the things they've experienced. When massive amounts of loss, pain, and suffering are endured, it'southward only natural to respond to these things with sadness and grief. Consequently, crying is a natural manifestation.

10 Jean Pierre Polnareff Has No Issue Expressing Sadness (JoJo'due south Bizarre Adventure)

Polnareff poses with the Stand Arrow.

During Jojo's Baroque Gamble: Stardust Crusaders, Polnareff was the least stoic member of the Joestar gang. Initially, he appears rather arrogant and boastful — and also very in bear upon with his emotions. He expresses his feelings boldly, whether it's anger or happiness. He could even be considered the most considerate, kind member of the Joestar gang.

One key element of his personality in Part 3 is that he openly mourns his losses. Whether his sister or his friends, he doesn't hide his emotions. This leads to everyone else keeping Avdol's recovery a underground from him. Additionally, he was broken upon seeing the brutal deaths of Iggy, Avdol, and Kakyoin.

9 Gon Cries To Express Helplessness & Guilt (Hunter Ten Hunter)

Gon tries to return Hisoka's badge Hunter X Hunter

Gon is shown crying a few times throughout Hunter X Hunter. Even so, two of those times revealed much well-nigh his character. The first time he shared tears was during the Fourth Stage of the Hunter Exam. During this scene, he sheds tears and expresses how humiliated he feels from losing to Hisoka and being made powerless. This is Gon's first time experiencing his pride existence wounded.

The second pivotal moment of Gon shedding tears was when he saw Killua again — simply information technology was while he was killing Pitou. Gon cried for a few reasons, such as feeling guilt for seeing merely how much he sacrificed to get his revenge. Secondly, Killua'due south advent fabricated him remorseful for everything that happened.

8 Katsuki Bakugo Sheds Tears When His Ego Is Bruised (My Hero Academia)

Bakugo Cries During Fight With Deku

Throughout My Hero Academia, Bakugo has grown a lot throughout the story. His outset crying scene is early. It occurs because his pride was damaged upon seeing how successful Izuku was during the Boxing Trials. He as well felt similar he was kicked while he was downwardly when he realized that Shoto is stronger than him physically, and that Yaoyorozu was correct in her observation that Katsuki is too chaotic.

Later in the series, he cries because he feels guilty for indirectly causing All Might's retirement. Despite his crude demeanor, people forget that Katsuki is a teenager crushed by the weight of expectation.

vii Atsushi Nakajima Is Tormented By His Trauma (Bungo Stray Dogs)

Bungo Stray Dogs Atsushi

Atsushi was driveling in an orphanage. The abuse was severe, and he was even isolated from the other kids while there. This trauma torments him throughout the rest of his life, and he doubts if his life really has whatsoever worth.

When the orphanage director died, many Bungo Devious Dogs fans were confused almost why Atsushi broke down crying over his death. Despite his constant mistreatment, Atsushi still viewed the homo as his father effigy even though he besides recognized his abuse. Atsushi shows the complexity of dealing with trauma from abuse.

6 Zenitsu Agatsuma Wears All Of His Emotions On His Sleeve (Demon Slayer)

Scared Zenitsu Agatsuma from Demon Slayer

Although other characters who weep seem to have deep-rooted reasons for expressing their emotions, Zenitsu is a character who shows that y'all don't e'er necessarily need a reason to cry or feel whatsoever other emotion. Zenitsu's cowardly nature, despite being criticized by fans frequently, is actually a pretty natural response to his situation.

Later all, he'south a 16-yr-old tasked with killing demons and witnessing unbelievable horrors. He even says that he just wants to live a normal life. He'due south seen crying often, merely it's understandable.

v Atsushi Murasakibara Cries Because He Has A Passion For Basketball game (Kuroko's Basketball)

Atsushi Murasakibara from Kuroko's Basketball.

Despite challenge to not care well-nigh basketball exterior of winning, Murasakibara loves the sport a lot in Kuroko's Basketball. He even bankrupt down crying after he lost the game against Seirin during the Winter Cup, despite his declaration that he would quit. Murasakibara'due south emotional expression is among the well-nigh relatable and realistic examples of salubrious emotional expression in anime.

He's not crying because of some grandiose occurrence or immense trauma. He'south crying considering he lost at basketball, and despite what he'd have others believe, he cares about basketball a lot. It also contradicts his usual demeanor of not caring virtually much and avoiding things that he thinks are annoying.

iv Naruto'south Emotions Feel Real (Naruto)

Naruto loses Sage Mode during Pain fight

Naruto is one character who expresses emotions every bit soon equally they come up. Whether enthusiasm, rage, or grief, Naruto will express emotion as presently equally he feels them. Every time Naruto cried during the show, information technology felt authentic. Although all shonen protagonists are emotional to an extent, Naruto is one of the most iconic examples of an emotional male protagonist.

Naruto also is compassionate. This can be seen when he was in tears over Obito's death. Naruto felt that he and Obito were very like, realizing that the ii shared the same ideals and parallel histories.

3 Tanjiro Is In Impact With His Emotions (Demon Slayer)

Tanjiro Kamado's scar is the mark of a Sun-Breather in Demon Slayer

Tanjiro has experienced a lot of trauma throughout Demon Slayer. His entire family was slaughtered, his sis became a demon, and he'south constantly tasked with battling the strongest demons of them all. On top of all of that, he experiences many more losses throughout the serial.

One of the master components of Tanjiro'southward character is that he is incredibly empathetic, even towards demons. He believes that demons who have committed atrocities should die mercilessly, while demons who express remorse for the pain they've caused should never exist mocked.

ii Takemichi Is Often Overwhelmed By His Emotions (Tokyo Revengers)

Takemichi screams in Tokyo Revengers

While fans often criticize Takemichi for crying too frequently, this attribute of his personality makes him a rather interesting principal character for Tokyo Revengers. It's rather unexpected for the main character of an anime centered around biker gangs to weep at the drib of a hat. However, Takemichi's situation is understandable.

He'southward tasked with going back in time to change the future events, all the while witnessing numerous deaths, fights, and atrocities between the street gangs. It's understandable for Takemichi to be overwhelmed past his emotions considering, despite Tokyo Revengers' rather heavy subject matter, these are all teenagers.

one Izuku Never Tries To Hold Back His Tears (My Hero Academia)

My Hero Academia Izuku Crying

I of the main criticisms of My Hero Academia is that Izuku Midoriya cries too much — mainly because he's the protagonist of the show. However, this is a rather unfair cess of his character. When the circumstances are considered, crying is a natural response to the story's events. Izuku essentially lost all hope when All Might approached him and gifted him One For All, which was why he broke downwardly in tears upon reassurance that he could be a hero.

Furthermore, in that location are many events throughout the story where Izuku's emotions are justified. For example, when he felt guilty about not rescuing Eri but he couldn't tell his friends about the investigation, on tiptop of dealing with his worries that he wasn't a suitable candidate to exist All Might's successor. He felt the weight of the world on his shoulders at that point. Though it's truthful that he cries often and doesn't hide such expressions, it'due south non a bad thing.

Adjacent: Top 10 Emotionless Anime Characters, Ranked