Portgas D. Ace Dies Shielding Luffy In 'One Piece'
[ranking: 1]
During a battle with the Marines, Portgas D. Ace finds himself in a fight he can't win. Although his fire abilities make him largely resistant to burns, he can't stand up to magma, which flows freely from the wicked Admiral Akainu.
From the first moments of their battle, Ace knows he's outmatched. However, when Akainu turns his attention to Ace's adopted brother Luffy, the pirate sacrifices himself to protect his family.
As Akainu hurdles towards Luffy, Ace steps into the line of fire, and a magma fist goes straight through his torso. He survives just long enough to thank his fellow pirates for loving him. His death marks one of the saddest moments in One Piece.
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Lelouch Lamperouge's Master Plan Is A Sacrifice In 'Code Geass'
[ranking: 2]
The entire plot of Code Geass is one long heroic sacrifice on Lelouch Lamperouge's part. His goal is to protect his helpless younger sister Nunnally, and create a world where she can be happy and safe.
Lelouch gives up his comfortable life as a student at Ashford Academy to engage in dangerous terrorist activities. His goal is to take down the Brittainian government and return control of Japan to the Japanese people.
As the fighting intensifies, Lelouch makes a terrible choice. He becomes a tyrant who both nations can hate, in hopes that the two sides will come together to destroy him, then live in harmony. He sacrifices his own happiness, and his life, for the prospect of peace.
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Neji Hyuga Throws Himself In Front Of His Cousin In 'Naruto'
[ranking: 3]
Out of all the heroic sacrifices in Naruto, Neji Hyuuga's is perhaps the most jarring, as he gives up his life to save his family and friends.
During a battle against the Ten-Tails, Naruto is nearly impaled by a vicious attack. With the show's hero down for the count, Hinata comes to his aid, determined to defend Naruto until the bitter end.
Neji isn't ready to see his cousin perish, so he stands in front of her and takes brunt of the beast's attack. As he dies, he tells Naruto to appreciate Hinata's dedication, and alludes to the time Naruto helped him overcome some problems he'd had with the complicated Hyuuga family.
Neji's death is devastating, as it's legitimately heroic and totally voluntary. Neji could have easily escaped while Ten-Tails had its way with Naruto, but he instead chose to give up his life so his friends might live on.
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Greed Learns To Be Generous In 'Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood'
[ranking: 4]
Yuzuru Otonashi Dies Saving Other People In 'Angel Beats'
[ranking: 5]
In the final moments of his life, Yuzuru Otonashi never stops to consider his own wellbeing. After he's gravely injured in a train accident, he uses the remainder of his strength to help as many of the other crash survivors as he can.
This noble act comes at the cost of his own convalescence, and before long, he's passed on into the afterlife setting of Angel Beats.
Otonashi's final act of selflessness isn't truly felt until after his death, as before he perishes, he signs a waver that allows doctors to harvest his organs. In Japan, it's extremely rare for people to agree to organ donation. Whether it was his parents choice or his own, overcoming cultural reluctance to save lives is a major act of heroism.
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Vegeta Self-Destructs To Try And Save The World In 'Dragon Ball Z'
[ranking: 6]
Midway through the Majin Buu Saga, Vegeta sacrifices his life to try and take down his horrific pink adversary. At first, Vegeta attempts to defeat Buu by beating him to a pulp. When he realizes Buu is far too powerful, he decides to end things using Final Explosion, a self-destruction technique that kills its user.
Vegeta's suicide marks one of the most painful moments in Dragon Ball Z. At the start of the series, Vegeta is totally evil, so his sacrifice shows just how much his character has grown and matured. Before he goes off to meet his demise and save the planet, he hugs his son Trunks for the first time.
Unfortunately, the explosion he causes isn't enough to permanently kill Buu, who soon regenerates and continues wreaking havoc on the planet. While Vegeta's sacrifice didn't save the day, he tried his best, and his efforts are truly courageous.
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Hannes Stops Mikasa And Eren From Being Eaten In 'Attack On Titan'
[ranking: 7]
Hannes doesn't fit into the conventional anime hero mold, but he puts his life on the line when it matters most. Before the Titans commenced their attack on the town of Zhiganshina, Hannes spent most of his time drinking, and was little more than a societal leech.
However, when Hannes sees a Titan going after Eren, Mikasa, and Carla, he does everything he can to ensure their survival. He can't save Carla, who is trapped under the debris from her destroyed house, but he does manage to get Eren and Mikasa out of harm's way.
Hannes prioritizes their safety over his own, which leaves him open to attack, and he's soon eaten by the ravenous Titan. Death is a daily reality in Attack on Titan, but his unexpected sacrifice deserves special acclaim.
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Lucy Heartfilia Cuts Ties With Her Childhood Friend In 'Fairy Tail'
[ranking: 8]
Madoka Kaname Gives Up Her Humanity In 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'
[ranking: 9]
Most of the time, Madoka Kaname sits back and watches while her friends risk their lives fighting witches. She can't decide if she wants to be a magical girl, as she doesn't know what she'd wish for in exchange for her service, and she's not sure the perks justify the inherent danger.
After repeatedly seeing her friends suffer in the pursuit of witch-killing, Madoka sacrifices her humanity to put a stop to the main antagonists of Puella Magi Madoka Magica.
Madoka becomes a magical girl, and wishes for history to be rewritten so that witches never existed. In doing so, she becomes a god-like being, but permanently loses her status as a normal human. She may be powerful, but she'll never be able to interact with her friends and family again.
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Kittan Bachika Volunteers For A Suicide Mission In 'Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann'
[ranking: 10]
During the Anti-Spiral War Arc, Kittan and the rest of Team Gurren become trapped in a dense space sea produced by the Death Spiral Machine.
In order for them to escape, someone or something needs to go out and destroy the horrific device. This is easier said than done, as the machine is surrounded by a near-impenetrable force field.
After an outward assault fails, Kittan volunteers to fly inside the Death Spiral Machine's defenses, destroy the shield, then launch a missile at its core. Even if the space sea's extreme gravity doesn't kill him, the resulting explosion definitely will (and does).
When anime characters are faced with their immanent demise, they typically use their final moments to deliver flowery emotional speeches. During his departure, Kittan subverts this trope by remarking, "I ain't gonna say some showy crap like, 'Later buddy!'"
Kittan dies on his own terms, and saves most of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann's other heroes in the process.
Rem Allows Herself To Be Tricked In 'Death Note'
[ranking: 11]
As a shinigami, Rem is not allowed to intentionally extend a human's life, as it's an offense punishable by death. However, when Light Yagami puts Misa Amane in danger, Rem breaks this rule by killing L and Watari to save her.
Light is counting on Rem's feelings clouding her judgment, and the shinigami's decision to intervene plays right into the self-proclaimed god's hands.
When Rem dies, she's fully aware of Light's manipulative actions, as he routinely tries to control pretty much everyone in Death Note. She could have easily let Misa die, but she willingly sacrifices herself out of love for the human girl.
Killing L and Watari isn't necessarily heroic from a plot perspective (since they're both working for the good of society), but Ren's sacrifice is still inarguably noble, as she gives up her life to protect a loved one.
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Yukishiro Tomoe Protects Her Husband In 'Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal'
[ranking: 12]
Ichiro Inuyashiki Blows Up A Meteor (And Himself) In 'Inuyashiki'
[ranking: 13]
At first, the elderly Ichiro Inuyashiki is an extremely unlikely protagonist. However, that all changes when his consciousness is uploaded into a robot that comes equipped with alien weaponry. Before the transformation, he focused on his job, his family, and his cancer diagnosis, but soon after Inuyashiki begins, he's forced to contend with epic space battles.
As a meteor careens towards Earth, Ichiro realizes the only way to save the planet is to use his self-destruct function. For perhaps the first time ever, society appreciates this meek salaryman, as his sacrifice allows human life to continue.
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