It’s not uncommon for anime characters to just disappear in between their series’ sequel seasons or films. This is especially true for supporting heroes and villains, since they’re understandably not the focus of their respective stories. However, this doesn’t make their sudden absences feel any less sudden or out-of-place in hindsight.

Whether it’s because of pressure on the animators or forgetful writing, several significant anime characters just suddenly vanished from their stories in between sequels. Fans were left confused, even if some of these disappearances had explanations. Some such anime characters return just in time to save the day, while others cease to exist altogether.

10

Future Trunks Returned to His Timeline & Stayed There

Dragon Ball Z Now Streaming on Crunchyroll

Dragon Ball Z establishes how dangerous the Androids were by introducing Future Trunks: Bulma and Vegeta’s son from a post-apocalyptic future where the Androids destroy everything. What’s more, Future Trunks is a hardened veteran of a harsh world. Future Trunks goes back in time to rewrite history in hopes of saving his future. When he finishes the mission, Future Trunks has no reason to stay and promptly leaves.

The present, youthful Trunks then became a Dragon Ball Z mainstay. However, his future self didn’t show up again until Dragon Ball Super, which aired almost 20 years after the fact. Despite his decades-long absence, Future Trunks’ popularity kept him around in Dragon Ball media long before he returned to the anime.

9

Ryoji Kaji Dies in Between Neon Genesis Evangelion Films

Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo Now Streaming on Prime Video

Ryoji Kaji isn’t one of Neon Genesis Evangelion‘s main characters, but he is still one of the most important people in the anime’s story. This is also the case in the Rebuild of Evangelion reboot films, in which Kaji sacrifices himself to stop the Third Impact and save the world. The thing is, Kaji’s death was only mentioned in passing after vanishing without a trace in between the second and third films.

What happened to Kaji was one of the many mysteries in Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, which is set 15 years after the previous film with no explanation. Kaji’s death and ultimate fate were only clarified in Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, which hit theaters nearly a decade after the third entry. How exactly Kaji dies is never explained, but he at least gets a respectful farewell.

8

Pokkle Suddenly Reappears in the Hunter x Hunter Reboot

Hunter x Hunter (2011) Now Streaming on Netflix

Pokkle wasn’t a part of Hunter x Hunter‘s main roster, but he was still someone who Gon Freecss and Killua Zoldyck relied on and even befriended. He’s introduced during the first Hunter Exam, eventually achieving the rank of Beast Hunter. After disappearing from the ’90s Hunter x Hunter anime, Pokkle returns during the reboot just in time for the Chimera Ants to kill him.

Worst of all, Pokkle suffers what is arguably one of the worst imaginable fates in Hunter x Hunter. After capturing him alive, Neferpitou lobotomizes Pokkle. Pokkle’s brain is then quite literally probed for information. When Neferpitou’s cruel exploration is finally over, she feeds him to the Chimera Ant Queen.

7

Ichigo Disappears From Oshi no Ko After Ai’s Murder

Oshi no Ko Now Streaming on Hulu

Anyone who watched Oshi no Ko’s feature-length prelude and opening arc would be forgiven for thinking that Ichigo Saitou, Ai Hoshino’s manager and father figure, would be a major player in the anime. Instead, Ichigo disappears without a trace after Ai is brutally murdered in broad daylight by a disturbed fan.

In Ichigo’s absence, his wife Miyako takes over the business and the task of raising Ai’s children, Aqua and Ruby. After the timeskip and now in Oshi no Ko‘s sequel season, Ichigo is only ever mentioned in passing. Some characters miss him, while others curse his sudden disappearance. Time will tell if he’ll ever return, although his presence has never really left Oshi no Ko or the lives of its characters.

6

Mewtwo Was Legally Prohibited From Appearing in Pokemon

Pokémon: The First Movie Now Streaming on YouTube

Mewtwo is undoubtedly one of the most important Pokémon within its anime universe. He is an incredibly powerful man-made Pokémon not only capable of sentience, but also effectively towers as a god among the other Pokémon. However, after making his grand entrance in Pokémon: The First Movie, Mewtwo rarely appears in the anime.

For years, Mewtwo was absent from the anime’s biggest crises, which was odd given how he promised to protect all Pokémon around the globe. This was caused by a rights dispute between The Pokémon Company and the estate of the anime’s original writer, Takeshi Shudo. Mewtwo finally returned in the 2020s, most notably in the film Detective Pikachu. His long absence is excused either by imprisonment or his desire for secrecy.

5

Joseph Joestar Retires Off-Screen Due to Old Age

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Now Streaming on Crunchyroll

Something Joseph Joestar doesn’t get enough credit for is being a major character in three of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure‘s six anime series. Joseph was the star of Battle Tendency, then he became a supporting character in Stardust Crusaders and Diamond is Unbreakable. But afterward, Joseph Joestar disappears and is rarely brought up by his surviving family or other characters.

Given how Joseph aged naturally throughout the anime and was in his seventies in Diamond is Unbreakable, his absence in Golden Wind makes sense. However, fans who got used to seeing Joseph found his sudden disappearance concerning. Thankfully, creator Hirohiko Araki confirms that Joseph is alive in Stone Ocean, albeit older, senile and most definitely retired.

4

Milly Thompson Goes Inexplicably Missing in Trigun Stampede

Trigun Stampede Now Streaming on Crunchyroll

The newest Trigun anime, Trigun Stampede, caused a firestorm of controversy when it seemingly replaced fan-favorite Milly Thompson with the new, anime-only character, Roberto de Niro. It didn’t help that Roberto was paired up with Meryl Stryfe, Milly’s partner in both Trigun‘s original anime and manga.

As it turns out, Trigun Stampede is neither a sequel to the original, nor a reboot. Rather, Trigun Stampede is a prequel in disguise. Milly doesn’t appear in the new anime because her time in the story has yet to begin. Milly is expected to finally return in the anime’s upcoming sequel, which is tentatively titled: Trigun Stargaze.

3

Amuro Ray May Not Exist in the Gundam Universe Anymore

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuux To be Made Available on Prime Video

Unlike the franchise’s more recent adaptations, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is a direct continuation of the original anime and the long-awaited return to the Universal Century. The anime film and its upcoming series are sequels to the very first Gundam anime, although it’s set in an alternate history where Amuro Ray may or may not even exist.

Without Amuro, Char Aznable and the Principality of Zeon dominated Gundam‘s One-Year War, winning with ease. For now, GQuuuuuuX has yet to clarify what exactly happened to Amuro, since he hasn’t been mentioned at all. Much to fans’ relief, his strange mystery will undoubtedly be answered by the forthcoming series.

2

Ymir’s Brutal Off-screen Death Is Forgotten in Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan Now Streaming on Crunchyroll

Ymir’s very existence was one of Attack on Titan‘s biggest surprises. Not only does she turn out to be a lot older than she lets on, but Ymir is also a Titan Shifter. More importantly, Ymir’s romantic feelings for Historia Reiss become all but confirmed. Despite these significant revelations, Ymir is hardly ever mentioned again after she’s killed off-screen.

To be specific, Ymir is devoured by Porco Galliard, the last holder of the Jaw Titan, in between Attack on Titan‘s third and fourth seasons. Ymir’s death is only brought up because Reiner Braun recounts it, but then she’s basically forgotten by the story and — most glaringly — by Historia. Although Ymir returns for the final fight, she doesn’t even say anything.

1

Ganju & Kukaku Shiba Go Silent Until Bleach’s Final Arc

Bleach Now Streaming on Crunchyroll

Without Ganju and Kukaku Shiba, Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends wouldn’t have been able to enter Soul Society at all during Bleach‘s first major arc. When Kukaku helped Ichigo’s team break into Soul Society, Ganju fought alongside them. After this, the Bleach duo is never seen again in canon material.

Given how massive Bleach‘s character roster is, this fate isn’t unique to the Shibas. Many of Ichigo’s minor allies and foes fall out of focus as the story moves on, and they only return much later through either Bleach‘s grand finale, the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, or filler material. The Shibas’ absence is more egregious than the others’ given their prominence in Soul Society’s civil war and their family ties to certain major characters.