There are many cool animes, but choosing the best anime characters from a wide range of options can be tricky. Anime characters are often hyperbolized versions of real people with grandiose personalities and amped-up looks. The coolest anime characters are almost mythical entities we’d love to be. Some are the epitome of goofiness, and others are serious, but the ones we’ve dedicated our list to are the coolest.
When the storyline is backed with weird and wonderful Japanese folklore, it creates even more badass anime characters. Let’s dig deeper into the world of these cool anime characters and explore their exceptional qualities and interesting backstories. There’s a fair share of not-so-noble samurai, like the ones from series like Samurai Champloo and Drifters. There is also a good chunk of assassins, and watching them do their thing is dope!
Which Anime Character Has the Most Fans?
All famous anime characters come with a dedicated fanbase willing to go to war for them. Of these, Goku is undoubtedly a character with the most fans. He has been the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball series for 32 years. His strength, charms, and humor have drawn fans far and wide. People love him and the series so much that they have shown commitment by getting inked with dragon ball tattoos.
Apart from Goku’s strength, his ability to turn his enemies into friends is one of his greatest assets. Fans love seeing his character transform from a bratty boy to the Earth’s most excellent defender, which is why he is one of the most popular anime characters ever.
Some anime characters are just as human as we are, but many have incredible superhuman powers. Scroll down to check out our list of the coolest top anime characters ever! Whether it’s from old-school anime or new shows, upvote the ones you love the most, and share this article with your anime-loving friends.
This post may include affiliate links.
L - "Death Note"
i personally think brother lost aura for dying he should be a little lower
Alucard - "Hellsing"
Alucard, the immortal vampire from the Hellsing family, is a creation of Kouta Hirano and can be met in the Hellsing manga and anime series. Alucard (also formerly known as Count Dracula) is known for his ferocious and cruel fighting style, although he's the series' protagonist. To lessen the blow of his dark traits, Alucard was given dandy-like outfits and stylish guns. While it is fun to know that Alucard is basically immortal and unbeatable, later in the series, the character of Father Alexander Anderson was created to be a match in powers to the vicious vampire.
Saitama - "One-Punch Man"
Saitama is the forever-bored superhero from the anime and manga series created by One and illustrated by Yusuke Murata, called One-Punch Man. He's a bald 25-year-old man who's fed up with fighting villains because he can defeat anyone with just one punch. Saitama became a hero 'just for the fun of it' and attributes this superhuman strength mainly to his exercise routine and healthy eating habits. While we all know that it is quite far-fetched (however much we'd like it to be true), Saitama is still an absolutely believable and even relatable character.
So Naruto should at least be in the top 5!! and I don't understand why I don't see him at all on this list
With all do respect he's great, but his character is just plain boring
Guts - "Berserk"
Guts is the protagonist of the medieval Europe-inspired dark fantasy manga by Kentaro Miura, called Berserk. Guts is a mercenary traveling from company to company and seeking to fulfill his calling. However, after one unlucky encounter, Guts loses his left forearm and right eye and seeks revenge on the wrongdoer. His story is that of a hero slowly turning into an anti-hero, and his character arc is so impressive with its embodiment of painful topics that Guts has become one of the most iconic manga and anime characters.
As a mention for anyone who wants to read it; the author sadly died so there will probably never be an ending to the story (unless someone else finishes it but it won't be the same anymore).
Broke my heart regarding the Author 😔😔😔😔😔, but Guts is my favorite Berserker ❤😁
Anime collecting is a hobby that is starting to increase in popularly. One of the many reasons for this popularity increase is the expansion of the anime genre. Now kid-friendly, there are individuals of all ages who enjoy collecting anime related merchandise. If you are interested in doing so, you may find the tips for beginners outlined below valuable in your quest to develop an anime collection. How to start your animes collection hobby ??? read it here on flifle. https://flifle.com/dantecandado/how-to-get-started-with-anime-collection/
Spike Spiegel - "Cowboy Bebop"
Spike Spiegel is a fictional character and the protagonist of the legendary 1998 anime series Cowboy Bebop, which just got a Netflix live-action remake. Spike is a former member of the criminal Red Dragon Syndicate that he left by faking his own death. Now he spends his days as a member of a bounty hunter crew aboard the spaceship Bebop. Spike's creator Shinichirō Watanabe said that the character's calm, collected, and secretive demeanor was inspired by real-life yakuza, so if you want a nice study of the criminal element, Spike Spiegel would be a good place to start.
Gintoki Sakata - "Gin Tama"
Gintoki Sakata is a fictional character and the protagonist in the Gin Tama manga and anime series franchise created by Hideaki Sorachi. He's a former rebel samurai living in a fictionalized version of 1860s Japan after it was invaded and transformed by aliens. Before that, he fought the same aliens fiercely, but decided that there was no point in it and became a freelancer in Edo alongside his friends. A cool-as-cucumber killer, Gintoki is often mentioned as the fan-favorite character from the Gin Tama series.
Hyakkimaru - "Dororo"
Hyakkimaru is the protagonist of the 1967 manga created by Osamu Tezuka. The Dororo manga was adapted to an anime series twice, and the image that you see here is from the 2019 release. Now, about Hyakkimaru - due to his father making a pact with 48 demons, Hyakkimaru was born malformed, limbless, without any facial features or internal organs. Being such, he was set afloat in a river but found by one Dr. Jukai, who gave the boy prosthesis. Because of these prostheses and the healing magic of Dr. Jukai, Hyakkimaru became invincible and determined to avenge the malevolent demons.
This child suffered so much.... But what a kick ass he became even when he was in pieces 😁👌🏾
Jotaro Kujo - "Jojo's Bizarre Adventure"
Jotaro Kujo is the main protagonist of the manga and anime series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure third story arc. Jotaro is depicted as this rough delinquent with a noble heart, wishing for nothing else but to save his mother's life and avenge his bloodline's sworn enemy Dio Brando. Jotaro's character was highly influenced by Clint Eastwood's stoic persona with a bit of added heroism. The character was so well-written that Jotaro even became a synonym of the manga and anime series as a whole.
Ok I was a bit confused while reading the Hyakkimaru description, but the author clearly is unfamiliar with the meaning of the word "avenge" they're using it as "get revenge on" while it means "get revenge for" (not that the readers here wouldn't know that)
Itachi Uchiha - "Naruto: Shippuden"
Light Yagami - "Death Note"
He was cool until his manga version took his fame >:D I prefer the manga art looks more awesome hehe
Load More Replies...Basically he was his own law with the death note…..buuut then it got out of hand
Yusuke Urameshi - "Yu Yu Hakusho"
Yusuke Urameshi, a fourteen-year-old junior high school delinquent, is the protagonist of Yoshihiro Togashi's 1990 manga YuYu Hakusho, which later got adapted to an anime series. Although Yusuke starts his story as a no-good teenager, one selfless deed gets him killed, and because the Underworld doesn't have a place for him yet, he's sent back to continue his life on Earth as an Underworld detective. Later on, we learn that Yusuke is a descendant of the demon king Raize, but that doesn't interfere with his plan of opening a ramen stand and helping humans and demons cooperate.
Kakashi Hatake - "Naruto: Shippuden"
Satoru Gojo - "Jujutsu Kaisen"
Who Is the Most Loved Female Anime Character?
Female characters in animes might often seem like one-dimensional love interests. But the truth is that they are just as diverse, powerful, engaging, and extraordinary as their male counterparts. It might be surprising, but one of the best female anime characters is Chihiro from Spirited Away. This is because she is realistically depicted, and the film covers her journey from being a whiny child to slowly maturing. Chihiro’s experiences and journey into adulthood won the hearts of many and made her one of the most popular female anime characters.
Mugen - "Samurai Champloo"
Mugen is a fictional character from the 2004 anime series Samurai Champloo. Besides having the coolest premise of a fictionalized version of the Edo period of Japan, it included one of the most awesome hip-hop soundtracks created by Nujabes, Fat Jon, Force of Nature, and Shinji Tsuchida. But let's go back to Mugen - he's a vagrant outlaw from the Ryukyu Islands with a deep mistrust stemming from his harsh and solitary life since childhood. Immature and kinda silly, Mugen uses self-taught sword techniques to fight anyone that gets in his way on the quest to find the Sunflower Samurai together with his friends.
Levi Ackermann - "Attack On Titan"
Vash The Stampede - "Trigun"
Vash The Stampede is the protagonist of Trigun, a manga created by Yasuhiro Nightow in 1995, which later got adapted into an anime series. Although the most-feared outlaw in the No Man's Land/Gunsmoke planet, Vash is not your regular kill-all action hero. He's actually known for his kind heart and sparing his enemies’ lives; a refreshing plot twist, if you'd ask us. His mixture of seriousness and goofiness hooked the fans quickly, and Vash The Stampede is often met in various coolest anime characters lists.
Vegeta - "Dragonball"
Son Goku - "Dragonball"
Kogami Shinya - "Psycho-Pass"
Shinya Kogami is the protagonist of the 2012 anime series called Psycho-Pass. Shinya is a police officer in a cyberpunk dystopia obsessed with killing a criminal mastermind responsible for one of his allies' death. Kogami was given a strong sense of individualism to oppose the series's general vibe and stand out in the dystopian setting. He's a well-written character with an enviably good psychological growth arc written into him that made Kogami into one of the coolest anime characters ever.
Oh yeah. This is a cool dude. I definitely recommend to at least watch the first season
Took me years seeing Psycho-Pass on every damn top anime list before finally watching it during christmas period, even though the premise did not sound at all like the style I would like for anime (you know because it could be as easily done in real live-action) but I have to say first season was really good, I have not watched the third season.
Kenshiro - "Fist Of The North Star"
Kenshiro is the protagonist of the Fist Of The North Star manga created by Tetsuo Hara and Buronson, which later got adapted into an anime series. What makes Kenshiro an inherently cool character is the fact that his design was heavily based on Bruce Lee and the Mad Max film series. Kenshiro also has the ability to kill his enemies using their meridian points - a bloodless, stealthy end. Because of his undeniably boss characteristics, Kenshiro is often considered one of the anime series' strongest characters.
Toyohisa Shimazu - "Drifters"
Shimazu Toyohisa, while a real-life samurai, is also a character in the historical Drifters manga and anime series. His character in the series is, of course, a bit fictionalized, but the real Toyohisa was also quite an impressive character too. Drifters portrays him as a chivalrous soul and a fearless and determined fighter. However, unaware of his huge battle talents, Shimazu is also quite humble with his achievements. And it's no wonder that Toyohisa Shimazu quickly became one of the coolest anime characters to this day.
I saw this awhile ago, don't know if it's completed, but it was captivating 😁
When is season 2 coming out? I'm practically turning into a fossil waiting for it.
A very underated anime with a unique plot and so much interesting characters, highly recommend it, but I don't think it will be finished any time soon.
Baki Hanma - "Baki The Grappler"
Baki Hanma is a character in the Baki The Grappler manga and anime series by Keisuke Itagaki. Here, Baki Hanma is a teenager training and testing his combat skills with a variety of opponents in often deadly battles. His main goal is to defeat his ruthless and despicable father, who is known as the strongest creature on Earth. And while Baki's character arc might not be the strongest one, his honorable fighting and impeccable skills make him into one plenty marvelous persona.
Sukuna Ryomen - "Jujutsu Kaisen"
Roy Mustang - "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood"
Madara Uchiha - "Naruto: Shippuden"
Shouldn't he be in top 10 he is the master mind the brought millions to they're death plus he cool af
Lol. the master mind is Aiden. this whiny bitch lost to a tree. hahah
Load More Replies...Toph Beifong - "The Last Airbender"
It’s anime style, say genre, but not maid in Japan
Load More Replies...Who Is the Worst Anime Character of All Time?
Among so many iconic characters across shows, certain ones might divide a fandom. One such example is Boruto Uzumaki from the show Boruto, who’s often considered to be the most hated anime character ever. Boruto is the son of Naruto Uzumaki, a beloved anime cartoon character. Naruto even gave us one of the best anime quotes possible-
“If you don’t like your destiny, don’t accept it. Instead, have the courage to change it the way you want it to be.”
His son, Boruto, is often disliked because of his bratty attitude and selfishness. Although he comes from a loving and supportive family, he displays a lot of hatred toward his father and manages to tarnish his reputation. Fans love him for his power and mastery over the Lightning Release in the Rasengan, yet his behavior throws a shadow on his skills.
Mikasa Ackerman - "Attack On Titan"
Love her. Loyal to a fault! ❤❤❤❤❤ she painfully found out how loyalty can hurt 😔.
what the hell is she doing in the top 30s bruh such a trash character
Tokita Ohma - "Kengan Ashura"
Tokita Ohma, a professional gladiator fighter, is one of the characters in the Kengan Ashura manga and anime series created by Yabako Sandrovich and Daromeon. A fighter in his late 20s, Tokita is picked to be a representative fighter of a big-shot company. Haunted by his mysterious past, Tokita is an undefeated fighter that's hard to manage, and his true intentions of becoming a fighter-for-hire are slowly revealed throughout the series.
Sasuke Uchiha - "Naruto: Shippuden"
Bruh hiw is he behind zoro? Like idc about him being this late but why behind zoro
Zoro Roronoa - "One Piece"
Ban - "The Seven Deadly Sins"
He’s brilliant. Loyal. Witty. Has vices. Selfless. Excellent character.
I so love this guy!!!! Oh yeah, higher rank indeed! I see him as a real cool😎 big Brother 😘😘😘😘😘
Domon Kasshu - "Mobile Fighter G Gundam"
Domon Kasshu is the protagonist of the Mobile Fighter G Gundam 1994 anime series created by Sunrise studios. Being the protagonist of the series, Domon is the representative fighter of Neo Japan. Strong, short-tempered, yet determined, Domon is willing to do whatever it takes to complete the mission at hand. And although he might appear uncaring, his softer side is revealed with his feelings for Rein, whom he later marries. And boy, do we love ourselves a fearless yet loveable fighter!
Captain Harlock - "Space Pirate Captain Harlock"
Captain Harlock, an archetypal Romantic hero, is the protagonist of the Space Pirate Captain Harlock manga and anime series. As the name indicates, he's a space pirate fighting against totalitarian regimes all over the universe. He's a mix of opposites - both noble and taciturn, rebellious and compliant - a hero with a multilayered personality. Harlock first saw the light of day in 1977 when the original manga was created and has graced our screen in various adaptations throughout the decades.
Yami Sukehiro - "Black Clover"
Akabane Karma - "Assassination Classroom"
Gaara - "Naruto: Shippuden"
My favorite character in terms of character development, loved his growth start to finish. ❤️
Yes, I agree, his development was spot on! Always loved him! 😎❤❤❤❤❤
Pain/Nagato - "Naruto: Shippuden"
How the fvck is pain behind a fvcking pirate one piece of dragged on sh1t
Edward Elric - "Fullmetal Alchemist"
Focusing is what makes him cool. 😎 Fixing what he screwed up makes him cool😎👌🏾
Duke Togo - "Golgo 13"
Duke Togo, also known as Tadashi Togo and Togo Rodriguez, is the protagonist of a Japanese manga and anime series by Takao Saito. The manga series itself entered the pages of history books by snatching a Guinness world record for having the highest number of volumes for a single series. Now, back to Duke Togo - he's a professional assassin with no known history. He has a very quiet, withdrawn personality and accepts jobs from anyone who can hire him. Duke is a real cold-blooded killer with a flair for the ladies, an embodiment of coolness.
Which Popular Anime Character Is the Strongest?
Regarding strength, picking between the best anime characters of all time becomes challenging. They all have a diverse skill set and range of abilities. Yet one character stands out a bit more than the rest. Goku from Dragon Ball Z has proven himself to be Earth’s savior due to his legendary Super Saiyan.
He is considered one of the strongest anime characters because his Super Saiyan can reach an immense power level of 150,000,000. In Ultra Instinct, he also got access to the Power of the Gods and has been mastering that. His fighting spirit and bravery in battle also make him a badass anime character.
Joe - "Megalo Box"
Gearless Joe (also known as Junk Dog, or just simply Joe) is a character from the boxing anime series called Megalobox produced by TMS Entertainment. He's a Megalo Boxer who fights fixed battles in an illegal underground ring, all the while longing for a real fight. Upon meeting the champion boxer Yuri, he decides to enter into a fight with him without wearing his robot braces, thus being dubbed 'Gearless Joe.' Joe's character was favorably met by the critics, who liked his goofy demeanor and entertaining fights. Together with the series development, Joe's character also developed some darker sides, making his persona a multilayered one.
Ken Kaneki - "Tokyo Ghoul"
How the f**k is kaneki not in the top 5, easily one of the most badass and complex characters ever made in all of anime
Lelouch Vi Britannia - "Code Geass"
Ryoma Nagare - "Getter Robo"
Ryoma Nagare is one of the characters in the Getter Robo mecha manga and anime series. Ryoma is a hot-headed teen with the ability to control several robot machines. Besides that, he's also a proficient martial artist known for his flair for brutality. In the anime series, he's depicted somewhat less aggressive but is, nonetheless, one of the greatest fighters in history.
Ichigo Kurosaki - "Bleach"
Killua Zoldyck - "Hunter X Hunter" (2011)
Didn't know what to make of this guy at first... I'm in love with him now! Young and 😎cool❤❤❤❤❤!
Monkey D. Luffy - "One Piece"
You can't help but love Monkey D. Luffy and everything about him! 👑 Future King of the pirates ☠ ♡
This dollar store mister fantastic should be lower or ommited from the list all together cause he's not cooler than pain, ichigo , kenfxckingpachi, Edward ,Hisoko,Dante tf, chrollo, Revy fck no one here is less cooler than luffy's wack asz
Rin Okumura - "Blue Exorcist"
Keigo "Hawks" Takami - "My Hero Academia"
Not sure about him yet, but I'm intrigued by him, cool for sure 👍🏾❤❤❤❤❤!
Neji Hyuga - "Naruto: Shippuden"
At first I couldn't stand, him... He stole my heart as time passed 😘😘😘😘😘👍🏾
Edward Newgate - "One Piece"
Hisoka Morow - "Hunter X Hunter" (2011)
Rebecca "Revy" Lee - "Black Lagoon"
Which Popular Character in Anime History Suffered a Lot?
If you are a diehard anime fan, you’ve probably encountered the compelling antihero Itachi Uchiha. His backstory is rife with suffering and despair. He was brought up in a war-torn childhood that made him desperate for peace. This made it easy for him to get manipulated by a corrupt government official, which led him to annihilate his family. He believed it was the only way to prevent a civil war and save himself and his brother, Sasuke Uchiha.
After killing his family, he also goaded his brother into committing revenge to awaken his Mangekyo Sharingan. And if you thought it couldn’t get any worse, he was also battling with an unknown terminal illness!
If all that seems too heavy for you, take a breather and check out these cute Naruto illustrations made with regular objects.
Sesshomaru - "Inuyasha"
Motoko Kusanagi - "Ghost In The Shell"
Byakuya Kuchiki - "Bleach"
Mewtwo - "Pokemon"
Natsu Dragneel - "Fairy Tail"
Kenpachi Zaraki - "Bleach"
Thorfinn - "Vinland Saga"
Piccolo - "Dragonball Z"
Sinbad - "Magi: Adventure Of Sinbad"
Hated what happened to his Dad, scuzzy as he can be, I loved how he helped the young ones, he's cool😎😎😎😎😎
Ulquiorra Cifer - "Bleach"
Garou - "One-Punch Man"
Katsuki Bakugo - "My Hero Academia"
Charlotte Katakuri - "One Piece"
Recognized person who was stronger than his and will become Luffy Pirate of King.
Dante - "Devil May Cry"
Why not? This legendary broke ass pizza and strawberry sundae fiend is cool even with his maximum power set in the lore, in the end laid back cambion in my opinion.
Hei - "Darker Than Black"
Gildarts Clive - "Fairy Tail"
Izaya Orihara - "Durarara!!"
Jellal Fernandes - "Fairy Tail"
Which Popular Anime Character Has the Highest IQ?
Many anime characters must be intelligent and witty to get through some of the scrapes they have been in. One of anime’s greatest protagonists—Lelouch VI Britannia from Code Geass, uses his high IQ to master his power. After receiving the Geass, he took the time to learn about its limitations and strength and then take down the Kingdom of Britannia.
His eloquence, ability to manipulate people and improvisational skills make him the most brilliant anime character. Code Geass is also considered one of the best anime series.
Gajeel Redfox - "Fairy Tail"
Mello - "Death Note"
Man that 2nd half of Death Note really did him and Matt dirty, wished they had more screentime. :/
Chrollo Lucilfer - "Hunter X Hunter" (2011)
Afro Samurai - "Afro Samurai"
Could've been higher, the voice actor whom I know, had me going 😁❤❤❤😎
Accelerator - "A Certain Magical Index"
Beerus - "Dragonball Super"
Akatsuki Ousawa - "Aesthetica Of A Rogue Hero"
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji - "Classroom Of The Elite"
Near - "Death Note"
I may get downvoted but I really wished he got killed too :l I know he doesn't deserve the hate but still :<
Ghislaine Dedoldia - "Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation"
Ryuko Matoi - "Kill La Kill"
Frieza - "Dragonball Z"
Tatsuya Shiba - "The Irregular At Magic High School"
Gilgamesh - "Fate/Zero"
Angelo Lagusa - "91 Days"
Kyoya Hibari - "Katei Kyoshi Hitman Reborn!"
Shiki Ryougi - "The Garden Of Sinners"
Joseph Jobson - "Blassreiter"
Firo Prochainezo - "Baccano!"
Rokurouta Sakuragi - "Rainbow: The Seven From Compound Two, Cell Six"
Have You Shortlisted the Coolest Anime Character?
Believe us, this list of amazing anime characters can go on forever! With so many intelligent, powerful, quirky, and badass options, it can be hard to pick just one. Let us know which anime character from this list stood out for you and why. If we’ve missed a character you think is fantastic, let us know in the comments. Here is a list of must-see anime movies to complicate things even more. We’re confident you’ll find even cooler anime characters in these films.
The person who did this list is wack as f**k... The rating is so damn boring.... Not true at all.. duh
where are the aura farmers? ainz ooal gown sung jin-woo gol D. Roger marshall D. teach dio brando perfect cell koro-sensei anti spiral honorable aura farmer:denji
Honest question. Where is Anos Voldigoad from The Misfit Of Demon King Academy?
Kusuo Saiki should be on the list, some people think he can actually neat Satiama, in physical strength Kusuo would absolute stand no chance but Kusuo would probably be able to evade his punches but he really cant do that forever (Satima is one punch man after all)(some people even consider him a God) But all Kusuo has to do is use his mind control to take Satiama out but it would be a rough fight with a lot of close calls. Plus Kusuo would be able to go back in time multiple times meaning he could take Satiama out before he became super strong.
a lot of people underestimate Kusuo’s abilities and its just sad ;(
Load More Replies...I dont know most of these people but I have watched some of these animes like OPM, MHA, BE, SDS, OP, TG, AC .I havent finished (but I started) Bleach, TIAMHS, DN,
This comment has been deleted.
Load More Replies...The person who did this list is wack as f**k... The rating is so damn boring.... Not true at all.. duh
where are the aura farmers? ainz ooal gown sung jin-woo gol D. Roger marshall D. teach dio brando perfect cell koro-sensei anti spiral honorable aura farmer:denji
Honest question. Where is Anos Voldigoad from The Misfit Of Demon King Academy?
Kusuo Saiki should be on the list, some people think he can actually neat Satiama, in physical strength Kusuo would absolute stand no chance but Kusuo would probably be able to evade his punches but he really cant do that forever (Satima is one punch man after all)(some people even consider him a God) But all Kusuo has to do is use his mind control to take Satiama out but it would be a rough fight with a lot of close calls. Plus Kusuo would be able to go back in time multiple times meaning he could take Satiama out before he became super strong.
a lot of people underestimate Kusuo’s abilities and its just sad ;(
Load More Replies...I dont know most of these people but I have watched some of these animes like OPM, MHA, BE, SDS, OP, TG, AC .I havent finished (but I started) Bleach, TIAMHS, DN,
This comment has been deleted.
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