For many reasons, anime has caught the eyes and imaginations of audiences across the world. Anime has grown into a valuable medium that has had an ongoing impact on popular culture due to its gorgeous illustrations, fascinating plot, and unique characters.
Anime has given us some of the most famous and popular characters in all of fiction, from the legendary heroes of the Shonen series like Dragon Ball Z and Naruto to the intricate and multifaceted figures found in psychological thrillers like Death Note and Evangelion.
This article will look at the 61 greatest anime characters of all time. These characters have become a global standard, inspiring innumerable fans with their bravery, humor, and charm, from the famous Goku to the interesting Lelouch vi Britannia. Whether you’re an anime expert or a beginner, this list will introduce you to some of the most iconic and adored characters in anime history.
So sit back, relax, and prepare to be transported to the world of anime via the eyes of its most famous characters. Whether you’re looking for action, drama, romance, or comedy, these characters will leave a permanent impression on your heart and mind. Don’t forget to comment down your favorite Anime or Manga character. Let’s take a look at the 61 greatest anime characters of all time!
Also Read: 50 Anime Characters That Are Stronger Than Mob From Mob Psycho 100
1) Levi Ackerman – Greatest Soldier Of Mankind
Levi Ackerman is a protagonist in the iconic anime and manga series Attack on Titan. He is the captain of the Survey Corps’ Special Operations Squad and an outstanding combatant. Levi is well-known for his remarkable combat abilities, notably his usage of ODM gear, which allows him to maneuver with amazing speed and agility.
Despite being a supporting character, Levi is praised the most, even by the central protagonist. His backstory is shown during the interaction with Kenny Ackerman, who later reveals to him as his maternal uncle. Levi was inspired by Rorschach in Watchmen.
Levi was named 5th best male character in the 3rd Newtype Anime Awards, and Hiroshi Kamiya (Official Japanese voice actor) was named second best voice actor. He came in third place for Most Valuable Player at the Animedia Character Awards.
He was named Best Male Persona in the 36th Anime Grand Prix. Matthew Mercer (Official English Voice Actor) got a nomination for Levi at the third BTVA Anime Dub Awards.
- Anime Series – Attack On Titan
- Creator – Hajime Isayama
- Japanese Voice actor – Hiroshi Kamiya
- English Voice Actor – Matthew Mercer
2) Kakashi Hatake
Kakashi Hatake plays an important role in the Naruto manga and anime series. He is a skilled ninja from Hidden Leaf Village, and he is an important part of Team 7, along with Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. Kakashi is well-known for his mastery of the Sharingan, an elite eye method that permits him to mimic and repeat the techniques of the other person.
Kishimoto had initially intended Kakashi to be an extreme teacher, but the writer eventually changed his mind. Rather, he altered him greater in generosity in order to comfort his pupils in times of difficulty, to the point of giving him feminine characteristics.
Kakashi’s persona has been acknowledged and rejected across multiple anime and manga media. Kakashi has been named among the top 5 characters in each official Weekly Shonen Jump popularity poll, twice taking first place as the most beloved character.
Kakashi was named “Best Supporting Male Character” in the 2006 Anime Awards by About.com. He also received a nomination for “Best Hair in Comics” at the very first “Nickelodeon Magazine Comics Awards,” but lost to Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes.
- Anime Series – Naruto
- Creator – Akira Toriyama
- Japanese Voice actor – Kazuhiko Inoue
- English Voice Actor – Dave Wittenberg
3) Itachi Uchiha
Itachi Uchiha is a Naruto character from the manga and anime series. He belongs to the Uchiha clan, which is one of the most prominent and respected clans in Hidden Leaf Village. Itachi is recognized for his extraordinary intellect, ninja abilities, and command of the Sharingan like Kakashi.
Itachi’s avatar is well-liked among manga viewers and has attracted favorable reviews from critics. A number of authors praised his entrance as an enemy. However, some thought that his initial appearance was predictable.
Itachi frequently appears in the top ten of the Weekly Shonen Jump popularity surveys for the whole series. In 2011, he came in 5th place in the polls. Itachi was voted as the 2nd best-known character in the franchise’s history in an online global survey held in honor of the manga’s 20th anniversary, after only Minato Namikaze.
- Anime Series – Naruto
- Creator – Akira Toriyama
- Japanese Voice actor – Hideo Ishikawa
- English Voice Actor – Crispin Freeman, Skip Stellrecht
4) Baki Hanma
Baki Hanma is the protagonist of the Baki anime and manga series. He is a brilliant martial artist who has spent his entire life training from the age of 3 to turn into the world’s strongest fighter to beat and prove his father, Yujiro. Baki is well-known for his tremendous physical strength, responsiveness, and combat expertise.
Netflix started broadcasting on June 25, 2018, in Japan and started to stream on December 18, 2018, outside of Japan, with improved animation adaption. A few video games were also made inspired by the series. Tomy’s fighting game for the PlayStation 2 was launched.
The different Baki series had over 85 million compiled volumes in distribution as of May 2021. Allen Divers and Jason Thompson, respectively reviewing for Anime News Network, praised this series as “very engaging” and a “demented battles manga” in their brief descriptions.
Netflix is done with three seasons, with Baki: Son Of Ogre being the latest in which he defeats Biscuit Oliver, the second strongest Human Being after Yujiro Hanma (Baki’s Father).
- Anime Series – BAKI
- Creator – Keisuke Itagaki
- Japanese Voice actor – Nobunaga Shimazaki
- English Voice Actor – Troy Baker, Blake Jackson
5) Killua Zoldyck
Killua Zoldyck appears in the Hunter × Hunter anime and manga series. He is a part of the legendary Zoldyck family, a family of assassins. Killua is famous for his enormous quickness and skill, as well as his fearsome combat abilities.
He is initially presented as a lively, happy, and naughty youngster who meets Gon at the Hunter Exam. His brutality and ability to murder reveal a different side of him. He is comfortable with his abilities while remaining humble about them. He also happens to be one of the show’s most sharp-witted protagonists.
He happens to be one of the initial ones to defeat Greed Island, aids in the defeat of the Chimaera Ants, and makes use of his sibling Alluka’s special skills to treat the dying Gon.
Killua is a famous character among fans, having topped the series’ initial two popularity polls.
- Anime Series -Hunter × Hunter
- Creator – Yoshihiro Togashi
- Japanese Voice actor – Mariya Ise
- English Voice Actor – Cristina Valenzuela
6) Johan Liebert
Johan Liebert is the central villain of the Monster anime and manga series. He has a twisted viewpoint regarding the world and is a very bright and cunning individual. Johan’s background is unknown, although it is revealed that he experienced extreme torture as a child, which caused the formation of his dark attitude.
The narrative revolves around an unsolved mystery of his previous life. He has been referred to as a monster, the next big Dictator, and Satan itself. He is attractive and intelligent, but he is also clever, manipulative, and misleading.
He used his abilities to control and manipulate others, frequently with no obvious goal except to create pain and devastation. His intention is to kill everyone who is aware of his presence.
Johan Liebert has become one of the most complicated and dangerous villains of all time, and why is brutally apparent. Johan’s cynical nature makes him both fascinating and frightening.
- Anime Series – Monster
- Creator – Naoki Urasawa
- Japanese Voice actor – Nozomu Sasaki
- English Voice Actor – Keith Silverstein
7) Saitama
There’s no need to introduce this character, but… Saitama is the protagonist of the well-known anime and manga series One Punch Man. He’s a superhero with a one-of-a-kind ability: he can take out any rival with a single punch.
Regardless of his enormous strength, Saitama is a modest and unnoticed individual who is frequently bored and looking for new challenges. In the year 2019, a Singaporean guy named Seah duplicated Saitama’s method that he outlined at the beginning of the series in order to get fit, with outstanding outcomes.
In a manga fan poll, Saitama came in top place. Animax Carnival Malaysia 2016 featured a series of attractions in which guests were encouraged to hit more hard than the character. Anime News Network praised his initial chapters/episodes and his connection with Genos because they are both entertaining.
Among European superheroes in particular, Anime News Network compared Saitama to All Might, a well-known character from the manga series My Hero Academia.
- Anime Series – One Punch Man
- Creator – One Yusuke Murata
- Japanese Voice actor – Makoto Furukawa
- English Voice Actor – Max Mittelman
8) Monkey D. Luffy
Monkey D. Luffy is the protagonist of the classic and the longest anime and manga series, One Piece. He is a pirate with a one-of-a-kind ability to stretch his entire body like elastic. Luffy is well-known for his optimistic demeanor, passion, permanent zeal for his friends, and, most importantly, infectious spirit.
Luffy is the captain/leader of the Straw Hat Pirates, and he has wanted to be a pirate throughout the time he was a boy, thanks to the effects of his idol and teacher, Red-Haired Shanks. He happens to be the sole character throughout One Piece who features in all of the series’ storyline arcs.
Luffy has become one of the world’s most recognizable animated and manga characters as a result of the franchise’s worldwide popularity. Aside from the One Piece franchise, the protagonist has appeared in plenty of manga and anime collections, as well as shared video games. His feedback has been mostly favorable.
- Anime Series – One Piece
- Creator – Eiichiro Oda
- Japanese Voice actor – Mayumi Tanaka
- English Voice Actor – Colleen Clinkenbeard, Erica Schroeder, Chuck Powers
9) Goku
Goku is the central character in the Dragon Ball manga and television series. He is a powerful Saiyan warrior with amazing speed, agility, and power. Goku’s character embodies the force of determination and the value of refusing to give up, determining him among anime’s most popular and legendary heroes.
Goku emerged as one of the most recognizable and hallmark manga/anime figures in the entire world as a consequence of the series’ popularity worldwide. Goku originally debuts as a monkey-tailed youngster fostered by the hermit martial artist Gohan in Dragon Ball.
A lot of well-known public people have expressed their thoughts about Goku or his place in the culture at large. Jackie Chan has stated that Goku is his favorite Dragon Ball figure.
Many “top” superhero lists have included Goku. Goku was named first on IGN’s list of the Top 25 Anime Characters of All Time for 2009. He was again on that exact list in 2014; however, this time, he was placed 3rd.
In a March 2010 Newtype vote, Goku was ranked the 5th most influential male superhero from the 1980s. Goku has often been rated above in the Anime Grand Prix poll for “best male character” in the latter part of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s.
- Anime Series – Dragon Ball
- Creator – Akira Toriyama
- Japanese Voice actor – Masako Nozawa
- English Voice Actor – Sean Schemmel
10) Erwin Smith
Erwin Smith appears in one of the intense, action-packed wildly manga and anime series Attack on Titan. He is the previous commander of the Survey Corps, a military division tasked with knowing the outer world and fighting the Titans, huge human-like beings who have almost wiped off humanity.
Erwin is noted for his technical brilliance, strategic planning, and dynamic leadership style. He is a well-liked character between both those who support him and those who oppose him.
After Hange chooses to resist Eren’s strategy to eliminate everything outside the Walls, Erwin serves as one of the soldiers who stays in mind as Hange is trying to convince Jean and Mikasa that their lost colleagues would not support killing the world.
He will be among individuals of massacred Survey Corps troops to greet them in death when Hange gives their life to assist their colleagues’ rescue from the Rumbling in Odiha. And lastly, his speech before the massacre will be remembered eternal in the world of anime
- Anime Series – Attack On Titans
- Creator – Hajime Isayama
- Japanese Voice actor – Daisuke Ono
- English Voice Actor – J Michael Tatum
11) Light Yagami (Kira)
Light Yagami is a famous central character who leads in the manga and anime series “Death Note.” He is a smart high school student that gets the Death Note, a mysterious notebook with the power to murder anybody whose name has been written in it.
Ohba (Writer and Creator) portrayed Light as an unfortunate victim of the Death Note, saying that getting it “destroyed” his life. The light was “a teenager who was able to understand the suffering of another” when he first saw the Death Note, stated Ohba.
Among the critic reactions, IGN’s Tom S. Pepirium stated that he was shocked to hear that some people wished Light to win the game while enjoying the series. Coz, initially, he wanted to kill bad people and create a safe, good society; but later became a mass murderer.
Light also placed 18th in IGN’s 2009 list of the greatest anime characters of all time, with author Chris Mackenzie complimenting Light’s “mesmerizing” qualities.
- Anime Series – Death Note
- Creator – Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata
- Japanese Voice actor -Mamoru Miyano
- English Voice Actor – Bradley Swaile
12) Obito Uchiha
Obito Uchiha is one of the legendary characters from the “Naruto” manga and anime series. He was an earlier part of the Uchiha clan and a growing-up buddy of one of the series’ significant main characters, Kakashi Hatake.
Obito’s life is filled with misery and suffering. Obito’s main objective is to bring up world peace through the use of a strong method called the ‘Infinite Tsukuyomi’, which puts everybody in a dream-like trance.
Prior to his identity being revealed, Jason Thompson of Anime News Network was surprised to hear that Tobi was the actual ruler of Akatsuki, especially when Tobi described himself as Madara Uchiha.
Due to his capacity to re-create the 6-tailed fox creatures, a UK Anime Network critic loved Obito’s fight scenes with Naruto, Killer Bee, Kakashi, & The Might Guy.
- Anime Series – Naruto Shippūden
- Creator – Akira Toriyama
- Japanese Voice actor – Wataru Takagi
- English Voice Actor – Michael Yurchak
13) Vegeta (Dragon Ball)
Vegeta is an anti-hero in the hugely successful manga and anime series “Dragon Ball”. Vegeta is a prince of the Saiyans, an alien warrior species. He first appeared as a villain, working for the evil dictator Frieza and trying to take over Earth with his companion, Nappa.
However, he slowly develops into an anti-hero and, finally, a main character in his own sense. Vegeta has usually obtained positive feedback from manga, anime, and other entertainment reviewers. According to Theron Martin of Anime News Network, Vegeta’s pride is a contributing factor to the series’ success.
Vegeta is a loved character in the series, ranking 4th in the 1993 Dragon Ball character popularity poll picked on by Weekly Shonen Jump readers and moving him towards 2nd in the 1995 poll.
Marcus Brimage, an American UFC fighter, and Michael B. Jordan (Killmonger) from Black Panther are both Vegeta fans.
- Anime Series – Dragon Ball
- Creator – Akira Toriyama
- Japanese Voice actor – Ryō Horikawa
- English Voice Actor – Christopher R. Sabat, Brian Drummond
14) Mikasa Ackerman
Mikasa Ackerman is one of the key characters from already talked and more to talk manga and anime series “Attack on Titan”. She is one of the main characters of the series and a member of the Survey Corps with Levi and more.
Mikasa’s personality is influenced by her terrible history. She saw her parents’ murder as a kid and was adopted by Eren Yeager’s family, whom she considers her own. Anime News Network applauded Mikasa’s portrayal for shining out as a competent heroine and said that her emotional moments concerned her attachment to Eren.
She received the title of “Best Female Character” in the 2013 Newtype Awards. Mikasa placed 4th in the favorite female character section at the Newtype Anime Awards 2016-2017. She got the award for “Best Female Lead Character” in the Anime Awards Selecta Visión.
She came in 2nd place for “Best Female Character” at the 36th Anime Grand Prix. Mikasa’s voice Trina Nishimura took home the award for her English dub at the 3rd BTVA Anime Dub Awards.
- Anime Series – Attack On Titans
- Creator – Hajime Isayama
- Japanese Voice actor – Yui Ishikawa
- English Voice Actor – Trina Nishimura
15) Eren Jaeger
How can I keep Eren Away from Mikasa, as every fan wanted them to be together? Eren is the ultimate hero or anti-hero of the manga and series “Attack on Titan.” He, too, is a member of the Survey Corps with Levi, Mikasa, Erwin, Armin (on the way), and many more.
Eren’s personality evolves dramatically over the series. He begins as a young man who is innocent and optimistic, with an intense desire to explore the world beyond the walls that guard mankind. But as he suffers pain and trauma, he grows more rigid and cruel, eager to go to any extent in order to accomplish his goals.
Eren was named the 7th best male character in the 2013 Newtype Anime Awards. Eren was selected as the 4th favorite male anime character in Animage’s Anime Grand Prix 2014 polls, behind Levi, who received votes to be the most popular.
Eren received nominations for numerous Animedia awards, including “Most Essential Player,” “Darkness,” “Hot,” as well as “Brave,” but he ended up winning the “Hot” category but placed highly in the others.
- Anime Series – Attack On Titans
- Creator – Hajime Isayama
- Japanese Voice actor – Yuki Kaji
- English Voice Actor – Bryce Papenbrook
16) Reigen Arataka
He is one the smartest and most enjoyable to watch a character in the manga and anime series ‘Mob Psycho 100!’. He is the business owner of the “Spirits and Similar Consultation Office,” a company that specializes in exorcising evil spirits and assisting persons with paranormal problems.
He has the best street-smart ability to talk himself out of any issue. Ignoring the fact that he is a cheater with no real psychic skills, he is a great scam artist and master of lies. Reigen essentially acts as a mentor and parental figure to the story’s main character, Mob, a 14-year-old psychic with incredible abilities, all throughout the series.
He teaches Mob valuable life skills such as duty, kindness, and the real purpose of his psychic power. He’s an expert manipulator of others and is capable of telling fabricated stories and direct lies with comfort.
I failed to find any award or nomination for Reigen, but if it ever happens, it will be for the ‘Best Multi-talented Character’ OR the ‘Best Lier Character’.
- Anime Series – Mob Psycho 100!
- Creator – ONE
- Japanese Voice actor – Takahiro Sakurai
- English Voice Actor – Christopher Niosi
17) Naruto Uzumaki
I should have kept Naruto in the top 10 because of his fan following, but I failed to. No problem, as it is not a ranking article. Naruto is the main hero of the manga and anime of the same name, ‘Naruto’, which already gave us numerous great characters alone.
Naruto is a youthful ninja from the Hidden Leaf village who also serves as the handler of the Nine-Tailed Fox, a strong and terrible demon who attacked his community when he was a child. Kishimoto (creator) made Naruto “simple and naive” in the first part of the story despite giving him many of the traits of a perfect hero.
The character has become the focus of literary studies, which makes him unique in fiction due to his characteristics and improvements. Naruto has been ranked in the top 5 in each official Weekly Shonen Jump popularity poll of the series and remained in 1st place three times as of the start of 2012.
Naruto received a nomination for “Best Fight” in Boruto: Naruto’s Next Generations in the Crunchyroll Awards in 2022. Olympic running legend gold champion Usain Bolt publicly expressed his affection for Naruto & the entire Naruto universe on Instagram multiple times.
Naruto had an impact on hip-hop music too. Plenty of rappers, whether underground or popular, have included Naruto references in their lyrics.
- Anime Series – Naruto
- Creator – Masashi Kishimoto
- Japanese Voice actor – Junko Takeuchi
- English Voice Actor – Maile Flanagan
18) Edward Elric
He is the main hero in Hiromu Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist manga and anime series. A lot of articles in different publications are being written about Edward’s personality. Critics applauded Edward for striking a balance between the usual smart youngster and the courageous kid mindset. Manga fans loved Edward’s character.
Ed, short for Edward, is a teenage alchemist who is trying to revive his brother Alphonse’s body, which went missing in an unsuccessful effort to restore their late mother by way of alchemy.
He has finished the highest/first in all of the Monthly Shonen Gangan popularity polling. Edward was also awarded the Twenty-sixth Annual Animage Readers’ Poll, Anime Grand Prix, in the “Favourite Male Character” type, while Romi Park, who voices Edward in Japanese, took the award in the “Favourite Seiyu” section.
Edward received the award for “Best Lead Character – Male” in the 2006 About.com Anime Awards. Many manga, anime, and various other popular entertainment journals have praised and criticized Edward’s character.
- Anime Series – Fullmetal Alchemist
- Creator – Hiromu Arakawa
- Japanese Voice actor – Romi Park
- English Voice Actor – Vic Mignogna
19) Gon Freecss
Yoshihiro Togashi designed him as the primary character of the manga and anime series Hunter x Hunter. Gon is a young boy who dreams of being a Hunter, a type of warrior strong in numerous arts such as hunting, tracking, and battle.
The starting reception to Gon’s character was mostly positive, including critics supporting his growth as a character, design, and numerous actions throughout the series that define him. Gon Freecss is a fan favorite, ranking 3rd in the very first two popularity polls for the entire series.
Gon was named among the best characters from anime of all time in an IGN article, with statements focusing on the way his character is defined by the fact that his dad is missing. Initially, the significant reaction to Gon was a yes, with Charles Solomon, an author for The New York Times as well as Los Angeles Times, complimenting the protagonist’s moral gravity, a trait that gives the central character “an attract his constantly happy opponents miss.”
Early reactions to Gon’s portrayal ended in an unfavorable response to the protagonist because he looked to be a usual trope.
- Anime Series – Hunter x Hunter
- Creator – Yoshihiro Togashi
- Japanese Voice actor – Megumi Han
- English Voice Actor – Erica Mendez
20) Koro-Sensei
He is both hero and an anti-hero from the manga and anime series Assassination Classroom. He is a one-of-a-kind creature with a circular body full of yellow tentacles and a happy smiley ball face on his head. He not just lectures topics in academia to his students but moreover prepares them to be great killers/assassins.
He is able to take the shape of an octopus having eight tentacles, and the color of his skin changes depending on how he feels. He is also knowledgeable enough to teach practically every topic to all of his students on his own.
Originally initially believing him to be an alien, he afterward explains that he was actually once a famous human assassin known as the Reaper.
- Anime Series – Assassination Classroom
- Creator – Yūsei Matsui
- Japanese Voice actor – Jun Fukuyama
- English Voice Actor – Sonny Strait
21) Roronoa Zoro
He is one of the entertaining main characters and the first crewmate to join Monkey D. Luffy’s crew when he is saved from being killed at the Marine Base by Captain Morgan. He is a great swordsman and an integral part of Monkey D. Luffy’s Straw Hat Pirates.
Zoro continues to be one of the top 3 most-loved characters, generally coming in second only to Luffy. Except for the fifth on the list, he came #2 in every Shonen Jump character popularity polling.
In a 2007 poll conducted by Oricon, he was ranked as the 4th most requested character for a spinoff. Mackenyu will play Zoro in Netflix’s live-action adaption of One Piece.
- Anime Series – One Piece
- Creator – Eiichiro Oda
- Japanese Voice Actors – Kazuya Nakai (adult), Megumi Urawa (child)
- English Voice Actors – Brian Zimmerman, Marc Diraison, Christopher Sabat
22) Minato Namikaze
Minato Namikaze is a popular main character of the manga and anime series ‘Naruto'(as mentioned before). He is recognized as the Hidden Leaf Village’s “Fourth Hokage” and is viewed as a legendary character in the Naruto world.
He had been Jiraiya’s student and the mentor and teacher of Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara. Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze took first place in the Narutop99 Worldwide Character Popularity Poll, as announced in a launch on the Jump Comics Channel on the internet, with 792,257 votes, defeating Itachi and Sakura to the number one spot.
The mangaka announced that he had started working on an upcoming short manga for Minato, which will focus on Minato’s jutsu.
- Anime Series – Naruto
- Creator – Masashi Kishimoto
- Japanese Voice actor – Toshiyuki Morikawa
- English Voice Actor – Tony Oliver.
23) Pikachu
There’s no need for an introduction to our childhood favorite, cute character, the one and only Pikachu. And his famous dialogue, ‘Pika Pi Pikachu’. He was one of the legendary characters in the world of anime when it started to levitate around the world.
Pikachu is a little, yellow mouse-like creation known for its electrifying abilities and adorable face. He is an important character in the Pokémon franchise, as well as the primary mascot for Nintendo. Pikachu and Ash’s relationship is looked at as the ultimate symbol of friendship and brotherhood.
Topeka, Kansas Mayor Joan Wagnon changed the city name “ToPikachu” for one day in 1998. Since 2001, a Pikachu balloon has been regularly included in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Pikachu, with the other ten other Pokémon, was selected as Japan’s 2014 FIFA World Cup mascot.
Pikachu got positive feedback from critics. Time named it the “2nd best person of the year” in 1999, calling it “the most popular anime character after Hello Kitty.”
- Anime Series – Pokemon
- Creator – Satoshi Tajiri, Ken Sugimori
- Japanese Voice actor – Ikue Ōtani
- English Voice Actor – Kate Bristol
24) Doraemon
My favorite childhood character after Pikachu till date, when I didn’t even know what anime is. I bet the people who have watched this show, once in a lifetime, dreamed or wished for a friend like Doraemon to help them in their difficult times, like Nobita with his gadgets (don’t forget about the anywhere door).
Doraemon is a character who is loved and adored by both children and adults for his knowledge, nature, kindness, and obviously the 4-dimensional pocket. This character felt us feel connected to it and life by teaching us a wide range of subjects and life lessons.
He is a robotic cat from a distant future who has been brought back in time to help a little kid called Nobita Nobi solve his problems. Doraemon is regarded as one of the most well-known manga of history, a truly Japanese cultural icon and symbol, and a vital part of the Japanese postwar time generation’s family life.
Doraemon got positive feedback. “For children whose lives can often be so regulated,” noticed Mark Schilling, “Doraemon symbolizes an appreciated breeze of liberty and an image of a funnier, kinder reality in which all desires, even stupid ones, are possibly true.”
Doraemon has won multiple awards. It earned the Japan Cartoonists Association Award two times, in 1973 and 1994, for Excellence Award and Minister of Education, Science, and Technology Award, respectively. There’s no stop when you talk about Doraemon.
- Anime Series – Doraemon
- Creator – Fujiko F. Fujio (they are two individuals)
- Japanese Voice actor – Nobuyo Ōyama
- English Voice Actor – Mona Marshall
- Hindi Voice actor – Sonal Kaushal
25) Ryuk
He is one of the great characters in death note and is the beginner cause of what occurred in the anime series and manga Death Note. He is a Shinigami, a death god from his realm of the dead, who, bored, drops a Death Note, a notebook that has the power to kill anybody whose name has been written in it, into the human world.
The story of Death Note revolves around Ryuk’s relationship with the main character, Light Yagami (which is already discussed). For the classic Ryuk with red apples, Ohba(creator) stated that he always included apples in the previews because he wanted to express “the death message that Shinigami only consumes apples and red “fits great” with Ryuk’s black figure.”
Tsugumi Ohba, Death Note’s storyline writer, stated that Ryuk is his favorite Shinigami and added that “if I had failed to mention Ryuk here, his entire personality would go to waste.”
Ryuk was picked out as the major example by Zac Bertschy of Anime News Network, who described him as “a horrific towering monster, the sort of creature that most individuals might think of if they were asked to visualize what a grim specter of death might seem like.”
- Anime Series – Death Note
- Creator – Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata
- Japanese Voice actor – Nakamura Shidō
- English Voice Actor – Brian Drummond
26) Jiraiya
Jiraiya is a great Sannin who is considered one of the world’s finest ninjas. Jiraiya was a pupil of the 3rd Hokage and also a founding member of Team 7, together with Orochimaru & Tsunade. Upon quitting the squad, he went on to become a famed ninja and adult novelist, which Naruto later learned, much to his regret.
He was Naruto’s powerful father figure. Jiraiya, together with Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha, and Haku, were some of the writer’s favorite characters. Kishimoto (creator) named Jiraiya as his favorite protagonist other than Naruto at the 2015 New York Comic-Con.
Jiraiya happens to be one of the “favorite characters” of audiences, according to voice actor David Lodge. ActiveAnime’s Davey Jones thought Jiraiya’s training with Naruto was amusing and said the two characters are comparable.
Jiraiya was described as to be “the greatest character Masashi Kishimoto has ever generated in this show” by DVDTimes’ Matt Shingleton.
- Anime Series – Naruto: Shippuden
- Creator – Masashi Kishimoto
- Japanese Voice actor – Hōchū Ōtsuka
- English Voice Actor – David Lodge
27) Madara Uchiha
Madara was a legendary ninja character in the Naruto anime and manga series, identified for his unmatched force and capability and also for his part in establishing the Uchiha clan & the Hidden Leaf Village with Hashirama Senju.
Masashi designed him to serve as a challenging opponent in the story’s last arc, opposing the series’ hero, Naruto Uzumaki. He is on the vast majority of great anime character lists compiled by various anime critics. He was ranked #3 on Comic Book Resources’ listing of the “25 Most Powerful Anime Villains,” with his strength highlighted.
He was also ranked 9th on Comic Book Resources’ list titled “10 Anime Characters Who Got Stronger After Coming Back From The Dead.”
- Anime Series – Naruto
- Creator – Masashi Kishimoto
- Japanese Voice actor – Naoya Uchida
- English Voice Actor – Neil Kaplan
28) Izuku Midoriya
Deku (hero name) is an energetic kid who aspires to be a hero regardless of being born without any supernatural abilities, known as “Quirks,” in a world in which they are common.
Critics have praised Izuku’s character growth and charm, and he has consistently appeared in popularity polls relating to the series. Izuku received 11,429 votes in Crunchyroll’s 2018 My Hero Academia character popularity poll.
Izuku was named first among the most popular anime and manga characters of 2020 on Tumblr. During the 42nd Anime Grand Prix in 2020, he placed 6th in the Best Male Character section.
Teo Bugbee of The New York Times wrote in his analysis of My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising that Izuku’s softness ” included to the movie’s unexpected dramatic depth.”
- Anime Series – My Hero Academia
- Creator – Kōhei Horikoshi
- Japanese Voice actor – Daiki Yamashita
- English Voice Actor – Justin Briner
29) L (L Lawliet)
L Lawliet, also known as ‘L’, is an internationally recognized investigator respected for his odd behavior, genius, and unique investigating actions. L is assigned to the Death Note case, which involves a dangerous supernatural notebook that can kill anybody whose name is put in it.
He has been assigned with finding the person in possession of the notebook, who calls himself by the identity “Kira,” and putting an end to their killings. For this, L partners with the main character, Light Yagami, who has obtained the Death Note & is really Kira.
L has been characterized as “the coolest, most advanced character in anime right now.” by IGN’s Tom S. Pepirium. Anime News Network concluded that the mind fights within L and Light are exciting to series fans since one tries to know the real identity of another while also trying to mask one’s own.
In 2009, IGN named L the 12th greatest anime character, writing, “Every single good lead protagonist deserves an opponent, and L created the challenge that the Death Note anime needed to hook viewers.” L placed #1 in the women’s polling and #2 in the men’s polling in an Oricon spinoff poll.
- Anime Series – Death Note
- Creator – Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata
- Japanese Voice actor – Kappei Yamaguchi
- English Voice Actor – Alessandro Juliani
30) Lelouch Vi Britannia
Lelouch Vi Britannia is the central hero of Sunrise’s anime series Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. He is a previous Holy Britannian Kingdom prince who turns a revolutionary leader into the masked person called “Zero.”
Around the time that Code Geass aired on television, the personality of Lelouch was recognized to be one of Japan’s biggest-selling characters, ranking at the top of multiple surveys. Lelouch was seen as a fascinating character in anime and manga media.
Lelouch was named the most popular male character in Animage magazine’s yearly Anime Grand Prix in 2006, 2007, & 2008. He was chosen as the finest anime male character of the decade by Newtype magazine.
He was selected for being among the best male characters in the 2008 Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation Awards. Because of his dual identity and uncertain ways, IGN connected him to Light Yagami of the Death Note anime.
- Anime Series – Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.
- Creator – Ichirō Ōkouchi Gorō Taniguchi Clamp
- Japanese Voice actor – Jun Fukuyama,
- English Voice Actor – Johnny Yong Bosch
31) Meliodas
Meliodas is the captain of a group of knights called Dragon’s Sin of Wrath because of the dragon tattoo or symbol on his shoulder (has a story). He is a demonic entity who is cursed and punished for his sin to remain young for Eternals.
If you watch the series, you’ll get to know he is 3 thousand years old and also happens to be the son of Demon King. His personality also adds a title pervert to his name because of his actions around women or especially Elizabeth.
Meliodas is considered one of the most well-known and recognizable anime characters, as well as an important component of the Shonen Magazine brand.
- Anime Series – The Seven Deadly Sins
- Creator – Nakaba Suzuki
- Japanese Voice actor – Yūki Kaji
- English Voice Actor – Bryce Papenbrook
32) Shinchan
Shinnosuke Nohara, sometimes known as Shinchan, is a naughty and often perverted five-year-old kid. He is one of the nostalgic characters of our age besides Doraemon, Pokemon, etc.
Shinchan is well-known for his wonderfully vulgar actions, which usually include wrong language and behavior for his young age, along with his love for action films and superheroes (in particular Action-Kamen).
From its premiere in the early 1990s, the show has been successful in Japan and has now earned a global audience. It has resulted in numerous anime series, films, and computer games and has grown into an icon of culture in Japan.
His latest 3D film is set to be released on August 4, 2023, and is sure to make us chuckle. The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting banned the television show in October 2008 due to its high level of complaints for nudity.
- Anime Series – Crayon Shin-chan
- Creator – Yoshito Usui
- Japanese Voice actor – Shinnosuke Nohara
- English Voice Actor – Laura Bailey
33) Erza Scarlet
Erza Scarlet is the primary female main character in the manga and anime adaptation of Fairy Tail, after our main hero Natsu (more on that later). She is one of the most powerful people in the “Titania” group.
Erza is an outstanding fighter who specializes in the use of magical armor and arms. Erza has around 100 unique sorts of armor and 200 various kinds of weaponry.
She has a significant fan base among those who watch anime and is regarded as one of the finest female (no doubt) anime characters of all time, alongside Mikasa and many others.
According to writer Hiro Mashima, after Erza’s character’s intro, almost everything about her has either been made up along the way or made up suddenly.
Erza won the Miss Fairy Tail Contest, an audience poll and storyline event held during the Battle of Fairy Tail arc.
- Anime Series – Fairy Tail
- Creator – Hiro Mashima.
- Japanese Voice actor – Sayaka Ohara
- English Voice Actor – Colleen Clinkenbeard
34) Ichigo Kurosaki
He is a high school student who receives the abilities of a Soul Reaper, a spiritual entity responsible for leading the souls of the deceased to the beyond and destroying evil Hollow souls.
Ichigo frequently appears in Weekly Shonen Jump character popularity surveys. In Bleach, he continues to be seen as the greatest popular character. Ichigo was voted one of the highest 100 most popular anime characters in the 2007 Japanese Newtype magazine polling.
His sword, Zangetsu, came in third place in the Zanpakut popularity polls (imagine). Ichigo was named the greatest anime male character of 2008 by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA).
He was also ranked 20th among the “Top 25 Anime Characters of All Time” by IGN. Tite Kubo stated that he got a message from a reader who chose the name “Ichigo” for his son.
- Anime Series – Bleach
- Creator – Tite Kubo
- Japanese Voice actor – Masakazu Morita
- English Voice Actor – Johnny Yong Bosch
35) Natsu Dragneel
Natsu is the main lead and leader of the fairy tale guild, as talked earlier with Erza. Natsu is a Dragon Slayer, a wizard who is able to manipulate and command dragon fire using magic.
Natsu is Mashima’s (creator) favorite character, and he claims that he modeled him after himself. Natsu appears in various Fairy Tail video games, including the PlayStation Portable action game Fairy Tail: Portable Guild.
Natsu can also be found in crossovers video games, and he appears in all nine Fairy Tail original video animations. Natsu came in #2 in a popularity poll released in the 26th edition of the Weekly Shonen Magazine, receiving 7343 votes.
- Anime Series – Fairy Tale
- Creator – Hiro Mashima
- Japanese Voice actor – Tetsuya Kakihara
- English Voice Actor – Todd Haberkorn
36) Shikamaru Nara
He is part of the Nara clan, a line of Hidden Leaf Village thinkers and fighters. Shikamaru Nara is one of the most intelligent characters in the Naruto anime manga series.
Many critics praised his sloth and genius, as well as his development into a leader.
Shikamaru is also quite popular among Naruto fans, ranking high in various popularity polls. Shikamaru always appears in the top 10 of the Weekly Shonen Jump popularity polls for the series, gaining a fourth spot in one poll.
Customers at NTT chose him as their 16th favorite black-haired male anime character. Shikamaru happens to be one of CyberConnect2 CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama’s favorite Naruto protagonists.
- Anime Series – Naruto
- Creator – Masashi Kishimoto
- Japanese Voice actor – Showtaro Morikubo
- English Voice Actor – Tom Gibis
37) Guts (Black Swordsman)
Guts was born from his mother’s corpse and adopted by mercenaries, where he quickly learned martial skills. Guts has been recognized for the ideas he represents as a result of his terrible history and how, in the process, he turns an anti-hero, becoming one of the most memorable characters in manga and anime.
Even studies have been conducted on Guts’ characterization. Guts, as stated by SyFy, argue with fate and is continually opposing the force of predetermination.
As reported by Mania, The Fandom Post, and Anime News Network, Guts’ terrible and painful past, as revealed in the Golden Age storyline, shows that he is a far more detailed character.
- Anime Series – Berserk
- Creator – Kentaro Miura
- Japanese Voice actor – Nobutoshi Canna
- English Voice Actor – Marc Diraison
38) Zero Two ( Code:002, 9’℩)
She is one of the most well-praised and loved characters among female leads portrayed in any anime series or show. She is a half-human, half-Klaxosaur fusion which works as a pilot for a Franxx, a type of mecha.
She was intended to be the show’s most significant figure and trademark. Zero Two is a manmade life form that attempts to be totally human. Zero Two was named Best Female Character at the Newtype Anime Awards 2017-2018.
Kotaku’s Eric Van Allen regards Zero Two as “a lot a leading lady as Hiro” and her character’s development as “probably one of the show’s strongest parts.” Zero Two was voted the greatest Winter 2018 character by Tokyo Otaku Mode News through both male and female votes.
Many internet memes revolve around Zero Two. Kim Kardashian shared an image of Zero Two on her personal account on Instagram on March 5, 2018, saying that the character inspired her haircut.
- Anime Series – Darling in the Franxx
- Creator – Masayoshi Tanaka
- Japanese Voice actor – Haruka Tomatsu
- English Voice Actor – Brittany Lauda
39) Roy Mustang
Roy Mustang is a State Alchemist as well as the Amestrian State Military’s Flame Alchemist. Mustang has been highly liked by fans since his entrance into the manga series, with him finishing #2 in each series popularity vote.
Oricon held an online poll in January 2007 asking Japanese fans which of the characters within any series they would most likely want to appear in the spin-off series. Mustang placed 6th in the poll called “Men’s Choices.”
Mustang finished again 6th in the poll of the finest anime male lead characters in the July 2009 edition of Newtype. He has received high scores in Animage’s Anime Grand Prix polls for top male characters.
He was voted the third-best “guy” in an Anime News Network survey.
- Anime Series – Fullmetal Alchemist
- Creator – Hiromu Arakawa
- Japanese Voice actor – Toru Okawa
- English Voice Actor – Travis Willingham
40) Violet Evergarden
She is an ex-soldier who, as a result of her military training, has difficulties expressing her feelings and understanding the feelings of people. Violet becomes an Auto Memory Doll shortly after the war, an expert writer who writes letters for customers who are incapable of writing themselves.
Violet Evergarden earned the biggest award in the novel category of the 6th Kyoto Animation Award in 2014, becoming the very first work to do so in among all three categories, which include novel, scenario, and manga.
Akiko Takase received a nomination for Best Character Design in the third annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Yui Ishikawa was named Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 15th Seiyu Awards for her(Violet). Similarly, Mikiko Watanabe won the award for Best Art Direction at the Tokyo Anime Awards Festival.
- Anime Series – Violet Evergarden
- Creator – Kana Akatsuki, Akiko Takase
- Japanese Voice actor – Yui Ishikawa
- English Voice Actor – Erika Harlacher
41) Pain (Nagato)
Pain is the head of the criminal organization Akatsuki along with one of the series’ main villains. He believes that humanity is faulty by nature and that pain is required for humans to develop and evolve. He wants to spark a “revolution” that would eventually lead to a more peaceful society.
Kishimoto imagined Nagato as a villain, an innocent victim of war, who was going to show the effect of world conflicts on Naruto. His last battle with Naruto is considered by many as one of the greatest in the entire series.
According to IGN, he has been named the 4th best person in the plot. Because of the level of complexity he has given to the series. He has been called “one of the most morally and emotionally deep characters.”
- Anime Series – Naruto
- Creator – Masashi Kishimoto
- Japanese Voice actor – Kenyu Horiuchi
- English Voice Actor – Dave Wittenberg
42) Eikichi Onizuka
Onizuka is a former criminal or gangster who decides to work as a teacher because he wants to go after his romantic relationship with a high school student. Onizuka is well-known for his unique teaching methods, which often involve physical violence, as well as his openness to go against guidelines in order to assist his students.
Great Teacher Onizuka won the 22nd Kodansha Manga Award under the shonen category in 1998. Jason Thompson describes the manga series as “shameless, sometimes sexist, and completely hilarious” in Manga: The Complete Guide.
He acknowledges the series for being relevant through illustrations, detailed graphics, and pop culture discussion. From my personal experience, you should definitely give it a shot because you will not be disappointed.
- Anime Series – Great Teacher Onizuka
- Creator – Tooru Fujisawa
- Japanese Voice actor – Wataru Takagi
- English Voice Actor – Steve Blum
43) Kiyotaka Ayanokouji
Ayanokuji is considered one of the genius characters and a master manipulator who has zero emotions or care for any person except the goal he is behind or wants to fulfill. Kiyotaka is an outstanding student who attends the highly selective Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School, which accepts only the best 1% of students in Japan.
Kiyotaka acts behind the scenes in order to reach what he wants and find the school’s mysteries. Kiyotaka Ayanokouji has no real achievements or awards. Supporters and Fans of the Classroom of the Elite series, on the other hand, consider him a highly talented and logical genius figure, including me.
He is getting recognized in recent times due to a lot of talks on social media regarding his personality and character.
- Anime Series – Classroom of the Elite
- Creator – Shōgo Kinugasa, Shunsaku Tomose
- Japanese Voice actor – Shōya Chiba
- English Voice Actor – Justin Briner
44) Might Guy
The Guy is one of the best and cool characters in Naruto due to his inhuman abilities despite of unable to use any ninjutsu. Might Guy is a highly talented, legendary, and tough ninja who serves as Naruto Uzumaki’s trainer.
Masashi Kishimoto, the series author, compared Guy’s flaming demeanor with that of the teacher of sports he had during junior high school but highlighted that the teacher wasn’t a model for Guy’s character.
The “Morning Peacock,” Guy’s signature maneuver, is also a fan favorite. Might Guy was voted the 12th most beloved character in the series in a popularity poll done by Shonen Jump in 2008.
Furthermore, Might Guy was selected as the “best teacher” in the “Naruto” anime in a survey organized by Anime News Network in 2015. In my opinion, you can call him Batman in the team or World of SuperHeroes because he lacks superpowers but remains a popular favorite and badass.
- Anime Series – Naruto
- Creator – Masashi Kishimoto
- Japanese Voice actor – Masashi Ebara
- English Voice Actor – Skip Stellrecht
45) Shigeo Kageyama
Commonly known as Mob, he is considered of the overpowered characters in the world of anime like One Punch Man’s Saitama. His God-level psychic makes him unbeatable at some points. Keigan from above happens to be his mentor.
Mob is a powerful esper with great psychic talents, yet he is also a nice and kind person who seeks to live a regular life. One designed Mob as an alternative to his earlier One Punch Man main character, Saitama, with the intention of portraying Mob as a weak hero (although he is not) who however, becomes involved in multiple fights.
Journalists often praised Mob’s character for his work in comics and animation. “Mob Psycho 100” was nominated for and won numerous awards, including “Best Shonen Manga” at the 2017 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
Otaku USA really enjoyed Mob’s abilities and the amount of setup the narrative provides for each conflict he has.
- Anime Series – Mob Psycho 100
- Creator – ONE
- Japanese Voice actor – Setsuo Ito
- English Voice Actor – Kyle McCarley
46) Houtarou Oreki
He is well-known for his introverted personality, quick intelligence, and ability to solve mysteries. Honobu Yonezawa, the author of the “Hyouka” light novel series, received the Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel in 2010 for his series’ debut novel.
The development of the personality of Houtarou Oreki and the subjects discussed in “Hyouka” have been lauded for their complexity and depth. Because of him, Hyouka came first in the 2012 Spring Anime category. It was also named one of the best 100 anime of the decade by Crunchyroll Editorial.
- Anime Series – Hyouka
- Creator – Honobu Yonezawa
- Japanese Voice actor – Yuichi Nakamura
- English Voice Actor – Adam Gibbs
47) Gaara
Gaara, who in the start debuted as a competitor for Naruto, is a Sunagakure-connected shinobi and the child of Sunagakure’s leader, the Fourth Kazekage. Gaara was designed as a rival to Naruto Uzumaki, the series’ name character, because both of them were born under similar conditions.
Gaara remains famous among Naruto fans, regularly placing high in popularity polls and being in the top 10 characters. Gaara finished 4th in the most current poll in 2011.
AnimeCentral ranked him to be the 9th best villain in anime, with reviews focusing on the way his memories made him an awful character while also matching Naruto Uzumaki.
- Anime Series – Naruto
- Creator – Masashi Kishimoto
- Japanese Voice actor – Akira Ishida
- English Voice Actor – Liam O’Brien
48) Ohma Tokita
Ohma happens to be the main hero of one of the best action martial arts anime series after BAKI. I too, got hooked by the animation style and activating power through his heart and becoming a beast.
Ohma Tokita is a mystery fighter with no knowledge or little of his background. He is commonly referred to as “Ashura” because of his amazing strength and fighting ability, and he participates in the Kengan Annihilation Tournament to learn more truth about his past.
In July 2020, Daromeon and Keisuke Itagaki created a crossover art depicting Ohma Tokita and Baki Hanma of Baki the Grappler to advertise the arrival of both series on Netflix. And Netflix surely kept the status of these characters and even enhanced them.
In 2019, the manga received the 64th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Regular category. The anime version received nominations for Best Fight Scene as well as Best Ending Sequence for its performance at Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2019.
For an action fan, these two series are a must on Netflix. I myself am waiting for their upcoming seasons.
- Anime Series – Kengan Ashura
- Creator – Yabako Sandrovich, Daromeon
- Japanese Voice actor – Tatsuhisa Suzuki
- English Voice Actor – Kaiji Tang
49) Armin Arlert
He is the weakest but still the most strategic genius in the series. He is also a childhood friend of Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman, the greatest characters as well as one of the stories’ secondary main characters.
Armin Arlert has not received any honors on his own, but his role is an important component of the “Attack on Titan” franchise’s popularity and applause, which is an indication of Isayama’s success as a creator.
Armin is described as “withdrawn but gradually growing to a level where he’s capable of expressing what he thinks” by Inoue (voice).
- Anime Series – Attack on Titan
- Creator – Hajime Isayama
- Japanese Voice actor – Marina Inoue
- English Voice Actor – Josh Grelle
50) Vinsmoke Sanji
Following the battle with Don Krieg, Sanji becomes the 5th member and 4th chef to become part of Monkey D. Luffy’s pirate crew. Sanji is also known for his loving demeanor, continually flirting with whatever beautiful female he comes across, giving him the title of “hero-cook.”
Sanji was placed 4th in the very first Shonen Jump One Piece popularity polling in 1999 and ranked third in each of the succeeding surveys in 2002, 2006, and 2009. Sanji was the 4th top-voted character in the most current poll of 2021, which was the first poll done internationally, with 970,286 points.
Crunchyroll senior staff writer Daniel Dockery stated that Sanji has one of the strongest character debuts in anime.
- Anime Series – One Piece
- Creator – Eiichiro Oda
- Japanese Voice actor – Hiroaki Hirata
- English Voice Actor – Eric Vale.
51) Rias Gremory
If you have been a fan of the Ecchi or Harem genre, you would have come across this character and even got a crush as a waifu or you yourself decide. She happens to be one of the top-placed female lead characters in Harem and such genres.
Rias is the main romantic attraction of Issei Hyoudou, our main character. After restoring the hero, Issei Hyodo, as a devil after his death, Rias becomes his master. She also becomes the head of her own private devil team, the Occult Research Club, and works together with Issei and her other members to defeat supernatural beings and save the human world.
In Anime News Network’s original review of the High School DxD television series, Theron Martin criticized the “big-breasted” Rias’ character for separating herself by “hardly becoming a tsundere (arrogant).”
Rias came in 8th position for female characters in an internet survey done on Facebook by Tokyo Otaku Mode, which asked male and female respondents about the characters from anime they most want to date.
- Anime Series – High School DxD
- Creator – Ichiei Ishibumi
- Japanese Voice actor – Yoko Hikasa
- English Voice Actor – Jamie Marchi
52) Annie Leonhart
Being one of the strong characters in the series, she is a Scout Regiment member recognized for her amazing combat abilities and brains. Annie is commonly referred to as the Female Titan since she can transform into a Titan, giving her immense power and regenerating powers.
Annie is presented as a silent and isolated woman who keeps to herself at first, but as the story grows, it becomes clear that she has a more challenging character and motives. Annie takes part in a number of significant plot moments and fights, like the Battle of Trost District as well as the Clash of the Titans.
Her excellent swordplay and defenseless combat abilities earned her the #4 spot in the popular vote.
- Anime Series – Attack on Titan
- Creator – Hajime Isayama
- Japanese Voice actor – Yui Ishikawa
- English Voice Actor – Lauren Landa
53) Totoro
Totoro is one of the iconic characters from Ghibli Studio made by Hayao Miyazaki, a well-known and well-respected animator, director, and screenwriter who has produced a number of popular and highly praised films like “Spirited Away,” “Princess Mononoke,” & “Howl’s Moving Castle.”
My Neighbour Totoro won several awards in 1988, including the Animage Anime Grand Prix, the Mainichi Film Award, as well as the Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film. In the exact same year, it got the Special Award at the Blue Ribbon Awards.
The film has been regarded as one of the best-animated pictures of all time, placing 41st in Empire magazine’s “The 100 Best Films of World Cinema” in 2010 and first in the 2012 Sight & Sound Critics’ Poll of all times greatest cinema.
- Anime Series – My Neighbor Totoro
- Creator – Hayao Miyazaki
- Japanese Voice actor – Miyazaki uses a combination of grunts, roars, and other vocalizations.
- English Voice Actor – Combination of animal sounds and other effects.
54) No Face
Japan’s highest-earning movie’s mysterious spirit appears as a tall, faceless figure with a white mask and a black robe. No-Face shows what feeling alone and lonely might do to a person. One of Spirited Away’s main concepts is the concept that solitude can be a black hole that catches everything.
In an interview held at the Imperial Hotel after the film’s finishing in July 2001, Miyazaki clarified No-Face’s existence, saying, “When I’m not there, the producer’s supposedly has been telling everybody, “No-Face is Miya-san’s alter-ego.”
- Anime Series – Spirited Away
- Creator – Hayao Miyazaki
- Japanese Voice actor – Members of the production staff
- English Voice Actor – Bob Bergen
55) Yujiro Hanma
Yujiro is called the strongest human or creature on earth and happens to be the father of ur grappler, Baki. He is the primary villain of the anime, for which or against Baki is training to avenge his mother’s death.
He has no mercy for anyone because he considers mercy to be a “weak” quality. Yuujirou is also a master of emotional manipulation. Yuujirou does have a “soft” side to him.
The manga’s creator says that he was inspired to develop Yuujirou by Matsutarou Sakaguchi, the protagonist in the Notari Matsutarou manga novel. Yuujirou appears to be the same as the Street Fighter figures Akuma.
No one is aware of the true limit of Yuujirou’s strength, not even Baki.
- Anime Series – Baki the Grappler, BAKI
- Creator – Masashi Ebara, Keisuke Itagaki
- Japanese Voice actor – Akio Otsuka
- English Voice Actor – Kirk Thornton
56) Kirito
Kazuto Kirigaya is Kirito’s real name, and he is a great swordsman who ends up trapped in the virtual reality MMORPG videogame “Sword Art Online.” Kirito is a kid who was picked as among the 1,000 beta testers for Sword Art Online, the newest virtual reality computer game.
In a review, Kotaku’s Richard Eisenbeis called Sword Art Online “the most clever series over the last few years.” Kirito is a well-known character in Sword Art Online. In an anime website Charapedia poll, 10,000 people picked on their favorite anime lovers, with Kirito and Asuna dominating the list.
Bilibili conducted a reader vote to determine the most popular “moe” characters of 2015, with Kirito ranking #6 among the male top eight. The conclusions of a recent character fame poll were published in the August 2014 edition of Newtype, with Kirito placing first among all male characters.
- Anime Series – Sword Art Online
- Creator – Reki Kawahara
- Japanese Voice actor – Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
- English Voice Actor – Bryce Papenbrook
57) Ippo
Ippo is among one of the best-selling manga series of all time. He is the main hero of the series. Ippo’s adventure motivates a lot of other characters as well as series fans, making him one of the most widely beloved sports anime protagonists of all time.
In 1991, Hajime no Ippo received the 15th Kodansha Manga Award in the shonen genre. It also got a Special Prize at the 43rd Kodansha Manga Award, which celebrated Kodansha’s 110th anniversary in 2019. Hajime no Ippo placed 47th in TV Asahi’s Manga Ssenkyo 2021 survey, in which 150.000 viewers voted for their favorite 100 manga series.
Anime Academy praised the very first anime series; each of the five critics gave it higher than 90%, with one calling it “the cream of the crop” in anime’s sports category.
- Anime Series – Hajime no Ippo
- Creator – George Morikawa
- Japanese Voice actor – Kohei Kiyasu, Rikiya Koyama
- English Voice Actor – Steve Cannon
58) Haku
Haku is among one the famous or can say second main characters from Spirited Away anime and highly praised and popular characters by Hayao Miyazaki. Haku assists Chihiro on her path and helps her understand the amazing and often unsafe realm of spirits.
Haku is mystical and knowledgeable in the rules of the spirit world. He is a little child who is a river spirit disguised as a human who assists Chihiro when her parents convert him into pigs.
- Anime Series – Spirited Away
- Creator – Hayao Miyazaki
- Japanese Voice actor – Miyu Irino
- English Voice Actor – Jason Marsden
59) San
San is the main lead character after Ashitaka in one of the masterpiece movies from Ghibli, which shows the consequences of messing with mother nature and harming her for your own benefit, irrespective of the destruction.
San is a strong and independent young woman, and she was raised by wolves and is well-known for her combat skills. She is frequently seen wearing a wolf’s fur mask and is deeply linked to the mother nature world.
Princess Mononoke is the very first animated film to be awarded the Japan Academy Award for Best Picture. Given August 2022, 93 percent of 114 critic reviews for Princess Mononoke were favorable, with an overall rating of 8/10 on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes.
- Anime Series – Princess Mononoke
- Creator – Hayao Miyazaki
- Japanese Voice actor – Yōko Honna
- English Voice Actor – Claire Danes
60) Migi
Migi is one of the genius, logical characters among their mysterious, unknown alien parasites from one of the best anime series with great, sad, and outstanding animation. Besides Shinichi, he serves as one of the primary characters.
Migi is a parasitic organism, and as a result, he lacks human feelings. His major goal is to keep himself and his human companion alive, even if it means destroying his own species.
Migi is seen to transform into many things and shapes during the series.
Migi is the single parasite based on someone the author knew.
- Anime Series – Parasyte
- Creator – Hitoshi Iwaaki
- Japanese Voice actor – Nobunaga Shimazaki
- English Voice Actor – Max Mittelman
61) Ash
Ash is the name on every child or adult’s mind and mouth once you mention Pikachu or Pokemon. He is the main hero of the series, and he aspires to become a Pokemon master. He recently won the world Pokemon championship called ‘Monarch’.
Ash Ketchum, also known as Ash, first appeared in a video game in the Pokémon Play It! dialogue. Because of his role as the main character of the Pokémon anime, Ash ultimately went on to grow into one of the most popular and iconic fictional characters of all time.
However, in the series depiction, he often gets outpaced by the company’s mascot, Pikachu (as already indicated). He is regarded as an icon of popular culture and the leading character of the late 1990s anime boom.
Business Insider Australia praised Ash for being an ideal role model for children and for continuing to fight while being a minority.
- Anime Series – Pokémon
- Creator – Satoshi Tajiri, Ken Sugimori
- Japanese Voice actors – Rica Matsumoto
- English Voice Actor – Veronica Taylor, Sarah Natochenny
Finally, the 61 greatest characters of all time have caught our emotions and imaginations through their own characteristics, stories, and challenges. These personalities have influenced popular culture and remain to motivate the next generation of fans.
