Aside from a few exceptions, most protagonists in anime tend to be bastions of purity who never give up on their goals and always support the people around them. Individuals who conform to these tropes heavily also have a habit of empathizing with a villain that has given them a tough time over and over again. It can honestly get grating at times but watching certain heinous villains see the light and join hands with the protagonist still makes for a great time.
The following characters serve as great examples of this trope, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, most people actually consider these characters to be the very best in the series, so it's easy to see that even their incessant compulsion to befriend their enemies becomes endearing in its own way.
8 Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)
It would be impossible to talk about anime protagonists who love befriending their enemies without mentioning Naruto, the man known for his patented Talk-no-Jutsu. The sheer number of times Naruto has made his enemies have a change of heart through his words alone is pretty hilarious in its own way.
That being said, Naruto should be commended for holding on to his ideals in the face of adversity time and time again. This stubbornness is a huge reason why people love one of shonen anime's most iconic protagonists.
7 Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
Monkey D. Luffy is another iconic shonen protagonist who needs no introduction. The star of One Piece has played a major role across pretty much all of its arcs, with the pirate making it a point to give villains a much-needed earful before pummelling them into the ground over and over again.
That being said, there's no denying that Luffy would want to seek out the path of peace before incurring such major harm. He only beats up the people who deserve it and tries to convince others to join the Straw Hat Pirates, which reason why he's such an endearing character.
6 Son Goku (Dragon Ball)
Speaking of iconic anime protagonists who prefer to walk down the path of peace, Goku is another character notorious for befriending his villains across the series time and time again. Piccolo and Vegeta were already pretty notable additions to the Z Warriors, and the fact that he managed to form an alliance with Frieza of all people, shows just what Goku's all about.
Sure, some of his decisions can be absolutely harebrained at times, but there's no denying that Goku's insistence to avoid battle unless completely necessary is pretty admirable indeed. Again, just like the rest of the characters who have been discussed up to this point, this is a huge part of Goku's character as well.
5 Josuke Higashikata (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
All the heroes of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure have a habit of trying to befriend certain people who initially crossed their path as enemies. Josuke is no exception to this rule, with the slice-of-life elements in Morioh turning each and every character into a mainstay of the show.
So, there are times when Josuke beats the ever-living crap out of a foe only for the same person to help him further down the line. This makes the dynamic between Josuke and the show's villains pretty exciting indeed, although some might be more entertaining than others.
4 Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia)
Midoriya is a classic shonen protagonist, to the point where some people find him too cliched for his own good. However, there's no denying that his heroism does make him an easy character to root for in the series time and time again.
From trying to rationalize the behavior of his bully to covering up for Gentle Criminal's actions — Midoriya has shown just how much of a positive presence he really is time and time again. He's an interesting character to watch in a show that really needs to pick up the pace in the next season.
3 Saitama (One-Punch Man)
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Saitama is one of the most intriguing anime characters of all time. Most people would say that he doesn't really want to make any friends in the first place, but his nonchalant attitude and monstrous strength truly make him a force to be reckoned with.
His personality almost attracts people to him, with characters like Genos and King becoming his friends after apparently standing in his way. It's a shame that this series hasn't received a third season yet, but maybe time will change that.
2 Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho)
Yu Yu Hakusho is a classic shonen series where a group of fighters (including two high school students) combine their powers to fight against the many demons that plague the world. The protagonist of this show is a smart-mouthed Spirit Detective with immense potential.
Yusuke has been a focal point of most arcs, with him gaining a ton of power to fight his enemies time and time again. He makes it a point to empathize with his foes, even when it comes to the worst ones like Toguro or Sensui.
1 Mob Kageyama (Mob Psycho 100)
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Mob Psycho 100 is a great series that takes a look into the life of a powerful esper named Mob Kageyama. However, instead of taking advantage of his powers to succeed in life, Mob tries to make the most of his own skills without relying on these supernatural powers.
His shy personality hides a wealth of power that he can use to decimate even the strongest foes around. The fact that characters like Dimple and Teruki have become his friends after initially standing against him shows just how likable Mob really is.