After a run-in with the Band of the Hawk, a very strong troop of mercenaries, Guts is recruited by their larger than life leader Griffith, nicknamed the "White Hawk." As he quickly climbed the ranks in order to become the head of the offensive unit, Guts proves to be a mighty addition to Griffith's force, taking Midland by surprise. However, while the band's quest for recognition continues, Guts slowly realizes that the world is not as black-and-white as he once assumed. The story of Berserk is a dark, gritty tale that follows one man's struggle to find his own path, while supporting another's lust for power, and the unfathomable tragedy that begins to turn the wheels of fate.

Guts is a man who is determined to survive by any means, throughout every battle he encounters, whether it be on the battlefield or within. Day in and day out he puts his life on the line to make sure that he gets by, moving on from one bloodshed to the next. His life is a constant cycle of ups and downs, but his tenacity to continue moving forward toward the light is something we can admire. Clare and Guts are very similar because they're two characters who were both ridiculed and thrown out of their society, with their sword in hand as the only answer. They had to fight their way back out of the trenches with every ounce of strength in their body, protecting those who mean everything to them. Both characters show raw power, and tenacity when faced with danger and never give up despite their odds. Be sure to check out the recent 2016 update to the Berserk franchise as well, as it continues from the last installment with more action!

Allen must deal with his past nightmares, and confront a much darker future, as the evil Millennium Earl plots to destroy the entire existence of humanity with his creation of Akuma. This incredible weapon uses the souls of the dead which are then trapped within it until the use of Innocence, an Anti-Akuma weapon, releases them from their prison. After spending a number of years under the guidance of General Cross, Allen decides to enlist himself with The Black Order in hopes to prevent Earl's evil reign of terror, while using his new weapons to bring peace back to the souls that have been tormented.

Allen much like Clare had trouble fitting in with society due to their differences. Many ridiculed them for their flaws, and never displayed any care for their well being. It reminded us of the ugly ducking story where the duck was never accepted in the beginning, but through an incredible transformation, was able win over the hearts of those who initially didn't care. Clare and Allen put everything on the line in order to destroy the evil that was about to terrorize their town, and didn't care whether people liked it or not. Their mission was to eradicate evil and to bring peace into a world that was full of corruption and cruelty.

Blassreiter is a sci-fi action anime which takes place in a fictional Germany. Joseph Jobson, the main protagonist is out to destroy the outbreak of biochemical creatures called “Demoniacs”, which have the ability to fuse with most technological advancements, such as motorbikes, and greatly intensify the overall performance of the vehicle. XAT, which stands for Xenogenesis Assault Team are the ones who eventually help to secure peace from the destruction of the Demoniacs, but to also discover the truth behind their unknown abilities. It's Joseph's job to survive while at the same time learning how to control the biochemical curse that lives within him.

Joseph was an experiment that went wrong, and now his body has become half-human and half-demoniac. Similar to Clare's situation, the two just couldn't fit in with society and were chased out for not being entirely human. They now had to use their powers which were created by the enemy against them, in order to stop a major threat that could destroy the planet. The two never asked for their powers, and were thrown into the gauntlet to figure out why it all turned out the way it did. Both of them make use of a sword with immense power, and slash their way through enemies clean like butter. There's nothing but action in every scene that will leave you cheering for the underdog, to ensure that peace is restored not only around them, but within them as well.

Maria is a Japanese photographer currently working in Shanghai, China. Along with her partner Mino, she searches for potential newsworthy stories throughout the city. When really odd events take place at a local festival, Maria and Mino decide to investigate. Quickly, the two are immersed in a battle between unknown masked men and a strange, white-haired woman. Just when Maria is about to be caught in the barrage of bullets, an old friend by the name of Canaan appears and helps Maria escape unharmed. But a sinister plot over a deadly virus soon develops, and Canaan learns she must face up to her dark past if she wants any chance at stopping the perpetrator and saving her friends.

Canaan and Clare have a lot in common where the two have acquired a superhuman ability that allows them to kill their enemies with ease, and recover very quickly. They have male roles who assist them along their journey, acting more as a supporter more than the attacker. The two have a very dark and cold exterior which comes from their grim past, and now the two must learn to overcome the darkness within in order to find focus. Their inner rage comes out in their battles as it becomes their only outlet to unleash their pain onto the world, while trying to collect as much data as possible about their upbringing.

Based on the supernatural fantasy manga of the same name, Pandora Hearts tells the story of fifteen-year-old Oz's journey to discover the meaning behind the eerie events that have become a burden on his life. Teaming up with a mysterious Chain named Alice, whose nickname is "Bloodstained Black Rabbit," and members of a clandestine organization known as "Pandora," Oz begins to notice that his existence may have more meaning than he could have ever imagined.

The major similarity with all of the anime on this list is that, each main character has gone through some sort of life changing experience that they now have to discover more about. Clare's past was filled with confusion and despair, while Oz must come to terms with how his entire life was a mere experiment and why he was chosen out of everyone. Two characters must deal with a huge conundrum, and they must scour every path they walk on for every piece of information they need in order to uncover the truth. Every direction that is taken is one that either leads them closer to their answer, or one that puts their strength to the test. Oz experiences many dark flashbacks which only cause more pain, much like Clare, but the two must learn to understand why these flashbacks continue to repeat themselves and seek the truth.

To overcome the threat that the Gastrea pose, "Cursed Children", who are essentially female children whose bodies contain trace amounts of the virus which grant them superhuman abilities, are given partners called Promoters. These are individuals who dedicate their time and energy to guide and protect the young Initiators. These teams of two are sent out on missions to fight the monsters created by the Gastrea virus and keep them at bay. The story of Black Bullet revolves around the strong team of Enju, an Initiator, and Satomi, a Promoter, as they go on missions to fight the growing threat of Gastrea in their hometown of Tokyo, while uncovering the truths behind why this ordeal is happening.

Enju's body was tainted with the very same virus that she must now eliminate, and so she teams up with other individuals in order to destroy the threat before it spreads. Clare and Enju are essentially half and half, which means that they resemble that of a regular human, but now have the superhuman ability of the enemy as their wild card. The two never asked to be in the position they were in, and so their entire existence solely relies on having to fight for the peace of all society, while having to deal with a misfortune that were forced on them without their consent. Many people considered them to be trash and a waste of oxygen to the community, forcing them out of their normal lives and having to work with certain people who accepted them for their differences. These two shows have very powerful stories that we suggest watching, since both really show a determination to bring all evil to an end swiftly.