Anime is a form of animated media that includes all forms of animation from around the world. It is a diverse, complex and popular art form that has been evolving for over 100 years.
Anime is one of the most influential art forms in the world and has had a profound impact on not only Japanese culture but also American culture. This article will examine some of the best anime characters ever created and why they are so important to anime as an art form.
The article will cover 30 different anime characters and give reasons as to why they are considered one of the best in this medium. These reasons will be drawn from various perspectives such as their design, their personality traits, or even their cultural significance in Japan.
30. Arsène Lupin III — Lupin III
Arsène Lupin III is an anime character. Arsène Lupin III is the grandson of the legendary thief Arsène Lupin. He is a master thief and an expert in disguise. Lupin III has been called “the most gentlemanly thief in the world” because he always takes care to not steal from people who cannot afford it, and because he often robs from rich people to give to the poor. .In the original manga and anime series, Arsène III has a genius-level intellect, is the best swordsman in his generation, and can perform many other amazing feats such as reading minds or changing his appearance.The “III” in “Arsène Lupin III” is pronounced as “Triple.”
29. Shōtarō Kaneda — Akira
Shōtarō Kaneda is an anime character. Shōtarō Kaneda is the protagonist of Akira. He is a member of a biker gang called the Capsules, and he has an alter ego called Shotaro Kaneda. Kaneda is one of the few people in Neo-Tokyo who have psychic powers. , the ability to project their thoughts into the minds of others.Tagomi is a high-ranking member of an international intelligence agency and also a friend of Kaneda’s.Shōtarō Kaneda is the protagonist of Akira. He is a member of a biker gang called the Capsules, and he has an alter ego called Shotaro Kan eda. He is a young, troubled boy who enjoys riding his motorcycle with his two friends, Tetsuo and Kenji, much to the dismay of their parents. To get away from their parents and the potentially violent confrontations with them at home, they often spend time in Tokyo’s abandoned Neo-Tokyo district during their free time.
28. Ichigo Kurosaki — Bleach
Ichigo Kurosaki is an anime character. Ichigo Kurosaki is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Bleach. He is the main protagonist of the series, as well as its main character.
Ichigo is a high school student who can see ghosts and spirits. When he was young, his mother died to save him from a Hollow that he could not see. The Hollow went after him when he tried to protect her from it. Ichigo was then adopted by Kisuke Urahara and raised in his family’s home with two sisters, Yuzu and Karin, who are also adopted by Urahara’s family.
Ichigo later learns that he has the ability to wield a unique type of Soul Reaper sword called Zangetsu (meaning “Wings of Death”).
27. Kirito — Sword Art Online
Kirito is an anime character. Kirito is the protagonist of the anime Sword Art Online.
Kirito is the protagonist of the anime Sword Art Online. Kirito has a rare talent called dual wielding. He can wield two swords at once and has been seen using both hands to fight on occasion.
In the first episode, Kirito was introduced as a skilled player in an MMO called Sword Art Online. When he was about to log out, he noticed that he could not find his name on the list of players logged out. To his horror, he realized that this meant that he would be unable to log out and would remain in this virtual world for life with no way of dying or even sleeping without being killed inside the game world.
26. Yugi Muto/Yami Yugi — Yu-Gi-Oh!
Yugi Muto is an anime character. Yugi Muto is a fictional character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. He is the protagonist of the series and gets his name from the Japanese word for “game” (as Yugi means “game” in Japanese) and “heart”.
Yami Yugi is a fictional character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. He is Yugi’s other personality, who was created by a magical Egyptian necklace. that absorbed the spirit of the pharaoh Atem into Yugi.Yami Yugi is an alternate version of Yugi that resides in the spiritual realm, and appears to him in his dreams. When he inhabits a physical body, his name is written as “Yugi Muto”. Yami Yugi’s personality contrasts with his more naïve counterpart, as while Yugi is kind and polite, Yami Yugi is aggressive, often making snide remarks towards his counterpart. However, they are still close friends.He has a small but loyal following of “Dark Magician Girl”, “Dark Magician” and “Red-Eyes Black Dragon”.
25. Izuku Midoriya/Deku — My Hero Academia
Izuku Midoriya is an anime character. Izuku Midoriya is one of the main protagonists in My Hero Academia. He is a student at U.A. High School and the wielder of the Quirk “One For All”.
Izuku Midoriya has a dream to become a Hero and save people from evil villains. He was born without any Quirks, but he still had his dreams, which eventually became reality when he met All Might and inherited his Quirk, One For All. The series is a commercial success and has received various accolades and awards. It garnered a nomination for an Emmy Award in 2016 and was the subject of controversy due to its depiction of diversity, but also gained praise for its representation.
24. Rem — Re: Zero-Starting Life in Another World
The Rem — Re is an anime character. The Rem — Re: Zero-Starting Life in Another World is a Japanese light novel series written by Tappei Nagatsuki and illustrated by Shinichirou Otsuka.
The story follows Subaru Natsuki, who is summoned to another world on his way home from the convenience store. He is killed and revived by a mysterious creature named Satella, who tells him he has been chosen as a hero.
The series was first published in 2012, with twelve volumes released as of December 2017. It has been adapted into two manga series and an anime television series which aired between 2016 and 2017. The anime has been licensed for streaming by Crunchyroll outside of Asia.
23. Kamina — Gurren Laggan
Kamina is a fictional anime character in the anime series Gurren Laggan. He is voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama in the original Japanese version of the anime and by Johnny Yong Bosch in the English dub.
Kamina is introduced as a hot-blooded man who has an over-the-top personality and tends to act before he thinks. He’s also very confident, bordering on arrogance, and has a strong sense of justice. Kamina is shown to be quite perceptive at times, able to understand what people are thinking even if they don’t say it outright.
22. Rei Ayanami — Evangelion
Rei Ayanami is a fictional anime character from the anime series, “Neon Genesis Evangelion”. She is one of the only characters to appear in all 26 episodes of the series.
Rei is introduced as an enigmatic figure who seems unaware of her own identity. She has a pale complexion, blue hair and red eyes. Rei’s most notable physical characteristic is her unusual prosthetic soul which is grafted into her chest. The origin and significance of this device are not explained in the anime.
Rei’s name means “zero” in Japanese, which may be a reference to Rei’s personality and role as an observer, who watches over Shinji Ikari from afar without ever getting involved with his life or emotions.
21. Akira Fudo/Devilman — Devilman
Akira Fudo is a fictional anime character. In 1972, Go Nagai created the manga Devilman. The manga is about Akira Fudo who becomes the half-demon Devilman after he is possessed by a demon. After being possessed, Akira has to fight against demons and other evil beings with his powers.
Devilman was one of the first anime series to feature nudity and profanity on Japanese TV in 1973. This anime series was not intended for children due to its content of violence and nudity. In addition, it also had some religious references that could be considered blasphemous to some people’s beliefs.
The Devilman manga has been adapted into many different types of media such as video games, mangas, and an OVA series in 1984.
20. Astro Boy — Astro Boy
Astro Boy is a fictional anime character. Astro Boy is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka. The story follows a robot named Astro Boy, who has human emotions and experiences as he tries to fit into the world.
The manga was first published in 1952, with the final installment released in 1968. The series has been adapted into a variety of media including anime, films, video games, and comic books. It received acclaim from critics for its storytelling and character development.
19. Sailor Moon — Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon is a fictional anime character. Sailor Moon is a Japanese manga and anime series created by Naoko Takeuchi. The series follows the adventures of Usagi Tsukino as she transforms into the titular Sailor Moon to fight evil.
The Sailor Senshi are a team of five girls who each represent one of the five major planets in our solar system. They have been given special powers from their planet’s ruler, and they use them to protect Earth from various villains that would seek to destroy it.
The series was published by Kodansha in Japan, and was at first serialized in Nakayoshi magazine. It then moved to run monthly in Ribon magazine with new episodes appearing bi-monthly until 1997 when it switched to an irregular schedule due to the author’s poor health.
18. Totoro — My Neighbor Totoro
Totoro – My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese anime film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film follows the two young daughters of a professor who moves with his family to be closer to the mother’s work, where they encounter a friendly wood spirit in the nearby forest.
The movie has been translated into many languages, and has been released on DVD and Blu-ray in Japan. It was also released on DVD in North America by Walt Disney Home Entertainment on March 29, 2006.
The movie was made for children but adults can enjoy it too. This movie is about two sisters who are moving to the countryside with their father so that their mother can continue her research. They meet Totoro, an enormous forest spirit who only appears at night.
17. Saitama — One-Punch Man
Saitama is a fictional anime character. Saitama is a superhero that was born with the ability to defeat any opponent with just one punch. He became bored of his power and decided to become a hero for fun.
He has no superhuman powers or abilities, but he is still one of the most powerful superheroes in the world. He is known as “the strongest man in the world” and “the hero who could beat anyone”.
The reason why he can defeat any opponent with just one punch is because his body developed an extremely high level of resistance to physical injury and pain, which allows him to take punches from opponents without feeling any pain or being slowed down by damage.
16. Eren Yeager — Attack on Titan
Eren Yeager is a fictional anime character in the manga series Attack on Titan. He is the protagonist of the series, and he has been given the power to transform into a Titan.
Eren Yeager is an important character in Attack on Titan. He was born as a human with the power to transform into a Titan, which made him an outcast among his peers during his childhood. As he grew older, Eren began to resent all Titans because they killed his mother and destroyed their home town. In order to stop them from attacking other people, he joined the Survey Corps and became one of its top soldiers.
15. Lelouch Lamperouge — Code Geass
Code Geass is an anime series. It is set in an alternate reality where the world is under the control of a powerful organization known as the Holy Britannian Empire.
Lelouch Lamperouge, a member of the exiled Royal Family of Britannia, commands a force that opposes Britannia, seeking to destroy its hold on the world. His most trusted friend and confidant, Suzaku Kururugi, has developed his own power of Geass and uses it to fight against Lelouch’s enemies.
Lelouch Lamperouge — Code Geass is an anime series that follows Lelouch Lamperouge who commands a force that opposes Britannia, seeking to destroy its hold on the world.
14. Motoko Kusanagi — Ghost in the Shell
Motoko Kusanagi is the protagonist in the Ghost in the Shell series. She is a cyborg and her body is composed of prosthetic parts. She has a cyberbrain that allows her to access the Internet and hack into computer systems.
Motoko Kusanagi was born in Japan on November 29, 2035, but was then transferred at a young age to England where she spent most of her life before returning to Japan at age sixteen. She attended college and became fluent in English, but she never lost her fluency in Japanese.
She has been fighting crime as an officer with Public Security Section 9 for years before being chosen for Project 2501 (aka Puppet Master). Her cyberbrain allows her to hack into computers, which makes her an invaluable asset for Section 9’s hacking missions .A liquid metal humanoid robot, Ika-Musume is capable of transforming into a more powerful form. Her real name is Ichika Orimura and she attends the same school as Hacking Nine’s members. She underwent an experimental operation with Hacking 9 to be given cyberbrain implants which allow her to hack into computers like Motoko Kusanagi.
13. L Lawliet — Death Note
L Lawliet is the main antagonist of the manga series Death Note, and is a genius detective who takes on the alias L. He is a member of the Japanese Task Force and his goal is to catch Kira.
L Lawliet is an extraordinarily intelligent individual with an IQ of over 200. He has a complete understanding of human psychology and can read people’s thoughts from their body language, actions, and speech. .27. A person with an IQ of around 100 is considered “average.”28. The high intelligence quotient is not always associated with the possession of giftedness or a superior intellect, but instead lies in one’s high ability to learn through experience and memorize information.
12. Vegeta — Dragon Ball
Vegeta is a fictional anime character from the Dragon Ball series. He is an extraterrestrial Saiyan and the prince of all Saiyans. He was once a villain, but later becomes a protagonist in the series. He is one of the most popular characters in manga history. and is often cited as one of the most popular anime characters. of all time.Bardock is the father of Goku and grandfather of Beerus. He first appears in chapter #142 of the Dragon Ball manga and in episode #133 of the anime, where he fights against Frieza’s army with his Super Saiyan form, but dies after a few minutes.Bardock is one of two Saiyans shown on-screen. He is the father of Goku, the protagonist of Dragon Ball. He is first seen in battle with Frieza’s forces where he dies from his injuries and leaves a final message to his son, telling him to always keep fighting and never give up.Bardock – WikipediaBardock | Dragon Ball Wiki | FANDOM powered by WikiaTitle: BardockSeries: Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z /Dragon Ball GT/Dragon Ball SuperEpisodes: 1-2424.
11. Light Yagami — Death Note
Light Yagami is a fictional anime character. Light Yagami is the protagonist of Death Note and he possesses a supernatural notebook called the Death Note.
Light’s life changes drastically when he finds the Death Note on his school grounds. He decides to use it to rid the world of criminals, but as his list increases, Light realizes that there are consequences for every action.
The story follows Light as he becomes a criminal mastermind and faces off with L, a genius detective who is determined to stop him. The story culminates in a final confrontation where Light loses everything in his pursuit of justice.
10. Levi Ackerman — Attack on Titan
Levi is a major anime character in the Attack on Titan series. He is a skilled fighter and the leader of the Survey Corps. Levi Ackerman is a major character in the Attack on Titan series. He is a skilled fighter and the leader of the Survey Corps, which makes him one of humanity’s strongest soldiers. Levi is the son of a farmer from Shiganshina District who has taken in as his foster brother a boy named Mikasa Ackerman, in order to take care of her. He is mainly known for his highly skilled blade skills, which he uses to train under Jean after they were saved by him when she was young and abandoned at an orphanage .Eren YeagerEren is Mikasa’s older half-brother who, at the age of 10, was forced to live with his abusive mother and was taken away by the government in order to be used as a weapon. He is also one of the key player characters within Attack on Titan.
9. Asuka Langley — Evangelion
Asuka Langley is a fictional anime character from the Japanese anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. She is the pilot of Evangelion Unit 02.2. Langley was born in Ft. Worth, Texas. Her father used to be a military pilot who often told her stories of his missions in the Middle East, and of how they were saved by the blue-eyed commander of Evangelion Unit 02 – Commander Ikari Gendo Ikari. She had not seen her father since he left three years ago on another mission.2.1 “I’ll do my best”Langley’s father was one of the original members of Nerv and later became the commander of Evangelion Unit 02, before he left for another mission three years ago. She had not seen him since.
8. Guts — Berserk
Guts is a fictional anime character. The manga, Guts — Berserk, is about a man named Guts who is known for his superhuman strength and also for his ferocity. The story follows him as he joins a group of mercenaries and takes part in the Hundred Year War, where he becomes an infamous fighter known as the “Black Swordsman.”
Guts was born from a witch who was burned at the stake after she gave birth to him. This event caused Guts to be cursed with a piece of demon’s flesh on his neck that would grow into a demon should he ever lose his will to live. This curse forces him to constantly keep fighting or risk being possessed by the demon inside of him.
7. Edward Elric — Fullmetal Alchemist
Edward Elric is a fictional anime character. Edward Elric is the main protagonist of the Fullmetal Alchemist series. He is a prodigy alchemist and a State Alchemist.
In the series, Edward lost his right arm and left leg during an attempt to resurrect his mother, Trisha Elric with human transmutation, which resulted in him becoming a state-certified alchemist at age eleven. He became known as “Fullmetal” because he wore a suit of armor that was made from an unknown type of metal from an ancient civilization he had been studying.
6. Naruto Uzumaki — Naruto
Naruto Uzumaki is a fictional anime character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto. He is the protagonist of the series and is voiced by Junko Takeuchi in the original animated series.
Naruto’s goal in life is to become the Hokage, which he achieves at the end of Part I. His trademark ability, the “Shadow Clone Technique”, creates clones of himself that can perform techniques like Rasengan or even Tailed Beast Bomb.
In Part II, Naruto gains Kurama’s power through a ritual, becoming able to use Sage Mode and Six Paths Sage Mode as well as manifesting Kurama’s chakra arms from time to time.
5. Monkey D Luffy — One Piece
Monkey D. Luffy is a fictional anime character. Monkey D. Luffy is the protagonist of the One Piece series. He is a pirate and the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. He ate a Devil Fruit known as Gum Gum Fruit, which gave him elastic abilities, such as stretching his body and self-healing.
Luffy’s childhood was largely shaped by his rivalry with Shanks, an older pirate who became Luffy’s idol. They first met when Luffy accidentally ate one of Shanks’ Devil Fruits (the Gomu Gomu no Mi), which gave him rubber powers for ten minutes before it disappeared. Ten years later, he meets up with Shanks again at Loguetown after hearing about his exploits from a newspaper article by Kaya, who has grown up to be a doctor in that time period.
4. Ash & Pikachu — Pokémon
Ash and Pikachu are a fictional anime character. Ash and Pikachu are the protagonist and main anime character of the Pokémon series.
Ash Ketchum is a ten-year-old boy who is traveling across the world to become a Pokémon Master. He met Pikachu in Pokémon: I Choose You! and it has been his best friend ever since.
Pikachu is a yellow, mouse-like Pokémon that can generate electricity in its cheek pouches. It is also capable of storing up large amounts of electricity to unleash in a powerful electric attack called Volt Tackle.
3. Shinji Ikari — Evangelion
Shinji Ikari is a fictional anime character. Shinji Ikari is the protagonist of Evangelion. He has a deep sense of loneliness, and he is often bullied by his peers. He feels that his mother cares more about his father than him and as a result, he’s left with an inferiority complex.
Shinji’s story begins when he moves to Tokyo-3 to live with his estranged father, Gendo Ikari. Shinji’s life changes after he meets Rei Ayanami and later Asuka Langley Soryu.
2. Spike Spiegel — Cowboy Bebop
Spike Spiegel is a fictional anime character. Spike Spiegel is one of the main protagonists in the anime Cowboy Bebop. He is a former member of the Red Dragon crime syndicate and an Interpol agent.
Spike’s character was created by Shinichiro Watanabe and Yutaka Minowa. In Watanabe’s words, “I wanted to create a hero who was more like an animal, but at the same time, I didn’t want him to be any less cool than a human.”
1. Goku — Dragon Ball
Goku is a fictional anime character. Goku is the protagonist of the series. He is introduced as a monkey-tailed child who, upon meeting Bulma, decides to follow her in search of the Dragon Balls. After his quest for the Dragon Balls ends, Goku helps defend Earth against various villains such as Piccolo Daimao and Vegeta.
He then meets his older brother Raditz and learns about his Saiyan heritage, but Raditz tells him that he must kill all humans to keep them from conquering other planets. Goku refuses to do so and defeats Raditz instead. However, this leads to Bulma’s death when she sacrifices herself to save him from another one of Raditz’s attacks.
