Anime is stuffed with turning factors, moments so essential {that a} single totally different determination may’ve modified all the story. A few of these “what if” moments hang-out followers lengthy after the credit roll, not due to what occurred, however due to what may’ve occurred.
What if a personality had lived as a substitute of died? What if somebody made a unique selection, walked away, or by no means picked up the cellphone? These aren’t simply throwaway hypotheticals, they’re home windows into alternate realities that might have unraveled into fully totally different outcomes, for higher or worse.
On this listing, we dive deep into 9 of essentially the most compelling “what if” moments in anime.
9
What If L Didn’t Die in Demise Word?
Demise Word
L’s demise in Demise Word wasn’t only a plot twist, it marked some extent of no return. His quiet, weird conduct and razor-sharp mind had saved Mild Yagami on edge, cornered, and humanized. However as soon as L was gone, the story shifted. The cat-and-mouse sport that had fueled the primary half of the anime gave technique to a extra world, ideological battle with Close to and Mello stepping in as his successors.
However what if L had lived?
L was already suspicious of Mild, narrowing in on him together with his traditional surgical precision. He was piecing collectively proof, observing behaviors, and even taking dangerous strikes like chaining himself to Mild. Given a bit extra time, there’s an actual likelihood he would possibly’ve uncovered Mild with out the guesswork that Close to and Mello relied on. The world might need seen Mild fall in a extra public, plain manner.
The second half of Demise Word may’ve been one thing totally totally different. Possibly L and Mild would’ve pushed one another into deeper ethical and psychological territory. Maybe Mild, unable to kill L, would’ve spiraled sooner into desperation and errors. We’ll by no means know. What we do know is that the chessboard misplaced its best participant too quickly.
8
What If Eren By no means Touched Historia in Assault on Titan?
Assault On Titan
When Eren touched Historia’s hand through the medal ceremony in Assault on Titan Season 3, one thing irreversible occurred. That contact allowed him to entry the Founding Titan’s reminiscences, reminiscences of his father, of Ymir, and of a world formed by cruelty and vengeance. It was the primary actual step towards the Rumbling.
However what if that contact by no means occurred?
With out these reminiscences, Eren wouldn’t have recognized the reality about what his father did or what the longer term demanded of him. He wouldn’t have seen the reminiscence of himself pushing his father to kill the Reiss household. The trail wouldn’t have been set.
The Rumbling would possibly by no means have occurred, or Eren might need delayed his insurrection towards Marley and the world. He may’ve remained nearer to Armin and Mikasa, as a substitute of pushing them away. His selections would have remained grounded within the current, slightly than being dictated by a reminiscence of the longer term.
That single contact modified all the pieces. It gave Eren a purpose, a plan, and a crushing inevitability that turned him from a hero into essentially the most tragic villain the sequence had ever seen.
7
What if Future Trunks By no means Introduced The Drugs?
Dragon Ball Z
In Dragon Ball Z, Future Trunks appeared with one aim: forestall the demise of Goku and the longer term apocalypse brought on by the Androids. He introduced coronary heart virus drugs and a warning, altering the course of the principle timeline eternally.
However what if he hadn’t made the journey?
With out the drugs, Goku would’ve died earlier than the Androids even emerged. The Z Fighters would’ve confronted Android 17 and 18 with out their strongest warrior, resulting in an consequence a lot nearer to Trunks’ unique timeline, one full of demise, spoil, and desperation.
Cell wouldn’t have been stopped both. With out Goku and with out Trunks’ interference, the Android Saga may’ve simply ended with Cell absorbing the others and reaching his excellent type with out resistance.
What’s attention-grabbing is that Trunks’ actions created an alternate timeline the place the worst was prevented… however his personal world remained shattered. He saved a actuality he by no means obtained to reside in. That’s one of the crucial bittersweet ironies in Dragon Ball Z, Trunks was the savior of a world that was by no means his.
6
What If Lelouch By no means Turned Zero in Code Geass?
Code geass: Lelouch Of The Insurrection
Lelouch’s determination to create the persona of Zero was impulsive and emotional. After witnessing the bloodbath of harmless Japanese civilians, he selected to take up arms towards the Britannian Empire. That masks allowed him to unite the oppressed, deceive his enemies, and change into an emblem of insurrection.
However what if he by no means donned it?
With out Zero, the Black Knights wouldn’t have shaped. There would’ve been no unified resistance towards Britannia, simply scattered outbursts of violence. Lelouch would’ve remained a scholar, hiding his powers as a Geass consumer, and maybe finally dropping management of them.
Suzaku, too, would’ve remained on his path of adjusting the system from inside, however with out Lelouch to problem his beliefs, he might by no means have questioned his loyalty. Euphemia might need lived, and the bloodbath on the Particular Administrative Zone of Japan would possibly by no means have occurred.
But, with out Zero, the world would not have been pressured to confront the failings of energy and conflict. The world Lelouch dreamed of, the one the place Nunnally may reside in peace, may by no means have existed.
5
What If Guts Had Left the Band of the Hawk Earlier in Berserk?
Berserk
Guts’ determination to go away the Band of the Hawk was private. He needed to forge his personal future, not one which orbited Griffith. However his timing was fateful. His departure shattered Griffith, who then made the fateful determination to seduce Princess Charlotte, and finally obtained imprisoned, tortured, and damaged.
However what if Guts had left earlier?
If Guts had walked away just a bit sooner, Griffith might have discovered a technique to preserve management, even perhaps protecting his ambitions intact with out the desperation that led to his downfall. There would’ve been no want for the Eclipse. The Band of the Hawk would possibly’ve remained complete, even when diminished.
Alternatively, had Guts left earlier, he might have had the energy to alter his personal destiny. Maybe he may’ve warned the others concerning the hazard Griffith posed. Possibly even returned to cease the Behelit from getting used in any respect.
It’s the sort of state of affairs that’s arduous to flee when you’ve seen what occurs. The horror of the Eclipse lingers in each hypothetical, and Guts’ presence at that second sealed each his and Griffith’s darkish destinies.
4
What If Thorfinn Killed Askeladd Sooner in Vinland Saga?
Vinland Saga
Thorfinn’s whole youth was consumed by hatred. He adopted Askeladd’s band of mercenaries throughout Europe, fueled solely by revenge. His single aim was to kill the person who murdered his father, Thors. However he may by no means convey himself to do it, not till it was too late.
What if he had?
Had Thorfinn killed Askeladd early on, he would’ve by no means found the complexity of the person who formed him. He would’ve misplaced his solely supply of objective, sure, but in addition his solely actual information in a brutal, unforgiving world. Askeladd’s demise by the hands of Thorfinn would’ve left the younger warrior directionless, consumed by vengeance with out even understanding what it actually meant.
Askeladd might have been the villain, however he was additionally a twisted mentor. He taught Thorfinn survival, endurance, and finally, even when painfully, humanity.
In Vinland Saga, Askeladd’s finish wanted to return the way in which it did: a sacrifice for a greater future, a demise that gave delivery to a person who would at some point change into greater than a killer. If Thorfinn had taken his revenge sooner, he by no means would’ve change into the rest.
3
What If Violet By no means Obtained That Remaining Letter in Violet Evergarden?
Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden
- Launch Date
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2018 – 2018
- Administrators
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Taichi Ishidate, Haruka Fujita
- Writers
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Reiko Yoshida, Tatsuhiko Urahata, Taaki Suzuki
Violet had at all times been a software of conflict, obedient, environment friendly, and impassive. However after the conflict ended, she discovered herself misplaced. Her journey via Violet Evergarden was about studying what love meant, what being human felt like.
After which the letters got here.
The letter from Gilbert’s household, written posthumously in his title, wasn’t only a message, it was salvation. It gave her closure, a purpose to reside, and a deeper understanding of what Gilbert had meant when he advised her he beloved her.
However what if that letter by no means arrived?
Violet would possibly’ve remained emotionally numb, clinging to the reminiscence of her Main with out ever processing her grief. She might have stopped rising, emotionally or socially, and stayed caught in a limbo of guilt and self-hatred.
The ultimate letter was greater than ink on paper, it was the final piece of Gilbert’s love, reaching out to tug her from the sting. With out it, Violet’s story might need ended quietly, not with peace, however with silence.
2
What If Mild Used the Demise Word for Justice Solely?
Demise Word
Mild Yagami had a dream: to rid the world of evil. At first, he used the Demise Word to kill criminals. The early deaths have been methodical, calculated, and arguably justified throughout the twisted logic of deterrence.
However then the facility obtained to him.
What if Mild had caught to his unique aim?
If he by no means killed harmless individuals, by no means focused regulation enforcement, and by no means performed god, he would possibly’ve change into an emblem of justice slightly than concern. The world would possibly’ve continued to take a position about Kira, however with out realizing who or what he was, the thought alone may’ve impressed societal change.
L might need even struggled to justify looking him down with out the morally grey actions that Mild finally took. Kira may’ve remained a fantasy, revered, feared, however untouchable.
The tragedy of Demise Word is that Mild may have been a reformer. However he selected to change into a god. And in doing so, he proved that absolute energy corrupts completely.
1
What If the Elric Brothers By no means Dedicated Human Transmutation?
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
It was one of the crucial iconic and painful moments in anime historical past, Edward and Alphonse Elric attempting to resurrect their mom via human transmutation. The fee was brutal: Ed misplaced a leg, Al misplaced his physique, and Ed sacrificed an arm to anchor Al’s soul to a go well with of armor.
However what in the event that they hadn’t tried?
They’d’ve by no means misplaced their our bodies, by no means gone in the hunt for the Thinker’s Stone, by no means uncovered the reality behind Amestris and Father’s plans. Winry’s mother and father would possibly nonetheless be gone, however the boys would’ve grown up peacefully in Resembool, possibly even turning into peculiar State Alchemists.
But with out that mistake, the world would’ve remained at risk. The Homunculi would have succeeded. The human sacrifices would not have gathered to cease Father. And nobody would’ve ever seen the Gate or questioned the boundaries of equal trade.
The Elric brothers broke the last word taboo, however in doing so, they set a sequence of occasions in movement that saved the world. Their sin gave them objective, and their ache turned their energy.