The Chosen One trope has become so popular that it's synonymous with fantasy anime, especially. The Chosen One is a person that's foretold to save, or even doom, a fantasy world. The trope's used in anime storytelling so often, that it's considered a cliché.
Sometimes a Chosen One plot can seem forced because the writers feel like they're obligated to include it to justify their hero's worthiness. There are plenty of anime titles, however, that use the Chosen One trope thoughtfully and with careful purpose. Some anime titles like Mashle and Berserk unpack the Chosen One trope in turn by parodying it or inverted it entirely.
10 Little Witch Academia
Chosen Ones tend to have manifold magical powers in fantasy and witch anime, but that's not the case for Akko in Little Witch Academia. She's far from mastering every kind of magic. In fact, she is a total underdog with friends and classmates in magic school who perform extremely well in class.
Like Akko's magical girl counterpart, Sailor Moon, Akko is chosen by a magical artifact. Everything changes for her when she finds the Shiny Rod wand. Little Witch Academia unpacks what it means to be the Chosen One, and the kind of pressure it puts on a young person.
9 Magic Knight Rayearth
It's common for isekai anime to revolve around a Chosen One, or Chosen Ones in the case of Magic Knight Rayearth. Characters are pulled into a world separate from their own because they're destined to fulfill a prophecy.
There are three foretold chosen heroes in Magic Knight Rayearth, the Magic Knights Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu. Part of the problem with foretellings and prophecies is that they can be misleading because they're misread or manipulated. The Magic Knights suffer a rude awakening when rescuing Princess Emeraude goes completely off the rails.
8 The Saint's Magic Power Is Omnipotent
Sei goes from being a lowly desk worker to a foretold saint in The Saint's Magic Power Is Omnipotent. Chosen Ones tend to have a natural talent, skill, or unique personality that sets them up to be a powerhouse savior. Sei is a somewhat realistic version of the OP savior.
Sei brews potions like no other, crafting the most top-quality and effective potions without even trying very hard. But the great thing is that Sei doesn't stop there to rest on her laurels. She wants to learn more about her new skill and what that means about her place in the world of Salutania.
7 Fushigi Yuugi
Miaka and Yui are pulled into The Universe of the Four Gods through a book in Fushigi Yuugi. In that Universe, they are prestigious priestesses. Miaka in particular is the Priestess of Suzaku, the god who protects the Kingdom of Konan. Miaka may be an average student in the human world, but she has powerful gifts as a Priestess.
From the moment Miaka's transported, people are after her. Luckily, Tamahome and Hotohori are there almost immediately to protect her. Hotohori is the person who really sees the potential in Miaka; he thinks she can save Konan.
6 Pretear: The New Legend Of Snow White
Being the Chosen One can mean disaster, quite literally, for Himeno in Pretear: The New Legend of Snow White. The warrior, Hayate, who would be her best ally, keeps her at an arm's distance because he fears that her presence means the past is destined to repeat itself. The Pretear before Himeno was corrupted by a broken heart which transformed her into the worst version of herself.
Himeno's journeys adds some heightened stakes to the traditional Chosen One trope. If she fails her mission, Himeno won't just disappoint others, she will lose herself and become another Princess of Disaster. Himeno's saving grace is that her love makes her noble and generous rather than covetous.
5 Mashle: Magic And Muscles
Mashle: Magic and Muscles has a bone to pick with the Chosen One trope. Mash is a First Year at Easton Magic Academy, and he's definitely written and designed to be a nod to Harry Potter. Where Harry Potter's lightning scar singles him out as the Chosen One in the Wizarding World, Mash was rejected because he has no magical mark and people think of him as a magical dud.
Mash turns to developing his natural brute strength over relying on magic. He believes that magic is not nearly as important as hard work and sweat. And though the magical world rejected him, he wants to prove everyone wrong by becoming a Divine Visionary – God's Chosen One.
4 Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind
Nausicaa's people look to the story told in an ancient tapestry for hope that their people will survive and that their world will heal in Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. There are several markers that will highlight the person who is meant to be their savior. Primarily, that savior will wear blue and usher the people into a world of peace.
Nausicaa wears blue clothes from the start, from court dress to flight suit, but that's not what marks her as the savior in her people's eyes. It's her patient, brave, and self-sacrificing nature that sets her apart. Her selfless deeds when saving a baby Ohmu mark her as the savior – it's blood permanently stains her clothes blue. This complicates the idea of a Chosen One, hinting that one's actions more than predestination are what make someone a hero and a helper.
3 Fena: Pirate Princess
Fena is the runaway princess who becomes the captain of the Seven Samurai in Fena: Pirate Princess. After nearly being forced into a horrific life, Fena wants to start over completely. She discovers things she forgot about her past, and her integral role in the future.
Choosing the fate of others is a heavy burden for Fena to bear. Unpacking her past leads to a conclusion that puts her in a powerful position in this world and the next – that destiny nearly ruins her and everything she loves.
2 Berserk
Griffith and his retinue believe that he is Chosen among men and women to be a true leader in Berserk. But Griffith is not above using manipulation to position himself in a place of power. He's brave in battle, and he's willing to put himself on the line to save others, but he's also incredibly opportunistic from the start.
Griffith singles out the sweet and wide-eyed Princess Charlotte, playing the chivalrous knight to manipulate her heart into loving him. Charlotte is, of course, the key to the Midland throne. Griffith doesn't stop at coldly seducing a naive princess, either. He will do far, far worse to enact his ambitious dream of being a "savior."
1 Yona Of The Dawn
Yona's credibility as a leader is chipped away from the start in Yona of the Dawn. She's a young and ignorant princess who is ousted from her throne violently, but there is a rod of iron where her spine should be. She does get knocked down, but when she gets back up it's with ten times the strength and wisdom of before.
It's easy for Su Won to frame her as an inept usurper, but then Yona trains her body and mind, and comes to take back her place with foretold dragon warriors on her side. Her progress is complete – she hones her body, expands her once-limited understanding of the world., and fulfills an old prophecy with the dragons.
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