That's right. Bad fatherhood is something seen in a lot of places. Anime series are no exception to the rules. We're not talking
about "irresponsible fathers" here.
We're talking of the worst-kind-of-daddies-ever-seen-in-whole-history-of anime.
That's right, if once you complained about your dad. Just wait till you get a look at THESE guys. This is one messed up
fatherhood we're talking about... big time.

So, with no further ado, let's start with:
 
 

Worst Anime father #10

Choeki's father (from Cutey Honey)

This guy can't possibly be considered as a good role model for his son.
Along with his wife, he spends most of his time robbing banks and doing
other crimes of the sort.
Choeki, on the other hand, doesn't seem to take after his parents. As a
mater of fact, he tends to believe more in law and order. Just imagine the
interesting family dinner argument the three must have.
Although a caring father he is (maybe). He's also, as stated before, a
horrible role model.
 
 

Worst Anime father #9

Leon Schezar (Vision of Escaflone)

Allen Schezar's dad. Not much is known about this guy. It appears that he
abandoned his family a long time ago and dedicated his life to archeology.
Looks like that makes him a bad husband as well. It also looks like Allen
suffered much from it and wasn't able to forgive his old man for what he
did, until a couple of years later.
Allen even became a brigand in his younger years. Maybe having a paternal
figure might've helped out. Fortunately, Vargass was there to put on those
shoes.
 
 

Worst Anime father #8

Soun Tendou (from Ranma ½)

Okay sure, he loves his three daughters and cares a lot for their welfare.
Maybe even to the point of engaging them to a man they didn't even know (is
that actually a good thing?).
Still, Soun Tendou... is a wuss. No more, no less. This guy obviously lacks
the authority to be considered an imposing paternal figure. Therefore, if
there's no authority in a house, there's no order. And as most of you had
seen, the Tendou Dojo is a real madhouse.
Besides, I don't think Akane and Nabiki look up to him. I think along the
years they've lost any sort of respect they once felt towards him.
Not only that (yes, there's more!), but Soun Tendou also has that
incredible ability to turn-his-back-on-all-sort-of-trouble-that-threatens-
his-family-and-start-to-cry-like-a-little-baby-instead. You tell me if
that's how a good father should act. Have you ever wondered how things
would be at the Tendou Dojo, if Soun decided to set things straight in the
house. Probably life would be easier to tolerate for everyone, especially
for Ranma.
 
 

Worst Anime father #7

Son Goku (Dragon Ball Z)

Who would have thought that the strongest man in the DBZ world would turn
out to be such a lame father. Well... it's true.
Looks like fighting and raising children are two different things, and
Goku chose fighting of the two. Let's consider him as an "absent father".
I won't say that he doesn't love his two boys, Gohan and Goten. But let's
review both cases, shall we?
First we have Gohan. This guy was mostly raised by Chi Chi and Piccolo
(fortunately for him). Mostly forced to study during 90% of the day, except
when the new enemy of the week showed up. Actually, I think fighting is the
only thing Goku helps him with. Besides that, nothing else can be added.
Then we have Goten. Looks like he suffered from the same kind of
abandonment his older brother did. He didn't even knew who his father was
until he was six. Okay, so Goku was dead at the time. But take a look at
this; Goku temporally came back to enter the martial arts Budokai. He
could've asked to see his nearly born son during his birthday, but noooooo,
he had to ask to come back to Earth for a "fighting tournament" instead.
See how his priorities are set?
 
 

Worst Anime father #6

Vejiita (from Dragon Ball Z)

Looks like bad fatherhood is common between the Sayajin. If we can blame
Goku for being an "absent father", we could say that Vejiita is the exact
opposite. The fact that he's THERE makes him a bad example for his kids.
But don't take my word for it. Just try comparing the two versions of
Trunks.
Future Trunks never knew his father and was only raised by his mother. He
turned out to be quite a decent guy.
Present Trunks on the other hand, was raised (if you could say so) by
Vejiita. Although he's more cheerful that Future Trunks, he's also an
obnoxious little brat. So you tell me, which one is better?
Lets not forget Vejiita's personality also. Being a cold hearted assassin
with the ego the size of his home planet and who doesn't give a damn about
the others, doesn't really help in making him a concerned parent. Let's not
say a "good" parent.
My theory is that if you took both Soun Tendou's and Vejiita's good points
(you know, Soun's feelings and Vejiita's authority) you could make a quite
decent dad.
 
 

Worst Anime father #5

Principal Kuno (from Ranma ½)

What can I say. The guy is nuts. Just look at his kids. An idiotic samurai
boy wanna-be, and a psychotic gymnast girl, who just happen to be the only
two characters that don't know that Ranma and the pigtailed girl are the
same person. You could consider those two as the fruit of the Principal's
labor as a father. Actually, you don't see either Kuno or Kodachi
considering him really as a father, now do you? What could be a worst
punishment for a father than being denied by his own children?
 
 

Worst Anime father #4

King Andragoras the Third (from The Heroic Legend of Arislan)

Also known as the father of prince Arislan and former ruler of the kingdom
of Palse. Not only he's a cruel and cold hearted king, but those attributes
apply to his personality as a father as well. Even his son admits that he's
as bad as a father as well as a king. And believe me, that is bad.
Andragoras would rather think of his own interests (or own pride) before
his son's or country.
Besides, what kind of lunatic would send his son to war at the age of
thirteen?
 
 

Worst Anime father #3

Genma Saotome (from Ranma ½)

The legend of Genma Saotome has been heard in several lands. He is a
cretin, selfish, inconsiderate father whose lame paternal instinct can be
hardly matched. Ranma once said that wild animals could've raised him
better and I must agree with him completely.
Few are the ones who can actually turn their son's life into complete
hell, and Genma just happens to be one of them. Let's make a list:

1) Because of him, his son has now an aquatransexual problem.
2) Because of him, his son has a sever case of cat phobia, also known as
Aluro phobia.
3) Because of him, his son is now engaged to almost half of Japan...
Without him knowing it.
4) He sold his son for food!!! And more than once!!
5) He actually took him away from his mother arms when nearly born.
6) Because of him, his son isn't able to see his mother due to a stupid
promise that he made about making him a man among man (you can imagine the
problem).
7) His son always ends up fixing the problem HE is responsible for causing.
8) He never helps his son with anything, and when he does, it just makes
things worst.

I think you get the idea now. Even when he says he loves his son, you just
can't avoid asking yourself. Is this love really worth all the suffering?
 
 

Worst Anime father #2

Heiachi Mishima (from Tekken)

I know, I know, he's a videogame character. But believe it or not, the
Tekken anime is already out in Japan. And if Heiachi acts like the way he
does in the videogame (which I've heard, he does), then his place here is
very well deserved.
We're talking about one bad ass dad here. Strict, cruel and able to kill
his own son... which he does successfully may I add, by throwing him into
an active volcano.
Maybe his son Kasuya wasn't such a good person either. But you can imagine
from who he got that. Whatever Kasuya's nature may be, that doesn't make
Heiachi a better father.
And let's not forget about his huge corporation looking for world
domination.
In other words, Heiachi is your average cruel dad who wants to conquer the
world. Simple, isn't it?
 
 

Worst Anime father #1

Gendou Ikari (from Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Meet commander Gendou Ikari, the WORST dad ever seen in Anime history.
Colder than an iceberg, as insensitive as a rock and no less cunning.
Gendou is the kind of man who doesn't care which means are used to reach
his goals. Everyone is expendable, that's his philosophy. And his son
Shinji tends to be the target of all his cruel tactics by forcing him into
doing things he doesn't feel confortable with. Like killing an Angel with a
friend of his on board, for example.
If Gendou has any warm feelings towards his son, he sure knows how to hide
them. Shinji would probably suffer less if killed by multiple stabbing than
by living the way he does under the orders of his father.
Overall evaluation: The guy is a paternal representation of HELL!!
 
 
 

Well, that's it.
I'm a little lazy for updating my "Top 10" lists. Still, I always welcome
any sort of comment on this selection. Even though I won't change the list,
feel free in sending me names of other anime characters that would fit in
this selection.

Julian Soullard.
e-mail address: [email protected]