Top Ten Best Anime Protagonists
Zeno – Dragon Ball Super – The most powerful and strongest anime character of all time Zeno is the ruler of each of the realities in Dragon Ball Super. He has the ability to create and destroy all...
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Top 25 Most Hated Anime Characters Of All Time
Kurosaki Ichigo is also a walking testosterone factory. We've seen him in various forms, states of mind, and hair styles, but one thing remains the same: Kurosaki Ichigo is, was, and forever will be the hottest anime character of all time.
For a boy who wasn’t born with superpowers, Midoriya sure has the heart of a hero. Living in a world where almost everyone around him had some type of unique ability (known as Quirks), Midoriya had always longed to be part of the superhuman race.
Dragon Ball ‘s Goku is the most legendary protagonist on this list and the surrogate father to many protagonists from the new wave of anime. Generally outgoing and charismatic, Goku’s love and dedication to martial arts have inspired many to train diligently to reach their physical goals in both anime and real life.
Unlike Goku, Ichigo Kurosaki doesn’t necessarily look for the fight, but he won’t shy away from it, either. Strong-willed and usually the voice of reason, Ichigo is always quick to defend those who can’t protect themselves.
Anyone who thinks that “superheroes are ordinary people just like us” has to be referring to Saitama. The popular OP character was once a regular guy living in a world of superheroes and honestly wasn’t interested in fighting or hero work until he had a brief skirmish with a monster attempting to attack a young boy.
The most powerful of the Seven Sins, Meliodas is one of the most unassuming anime protagonists you’ll ever see. For the most part, young Meliodas (who is centuries old) is a happy-go-lucky, pervy, outgoing boy who just wants to get drunk and have fun.
When it comes to crawling from the depths of adversity, Edward Elric is a shining example of a human’s innate will to overcome everything. After losing his mother, Ed and his brother, Alphonse, attempted to resurrect her through forbidden alchemy. As a result, Ed lost an arm and leg, while his brother Al lost his entire body.
This guy is a little different than your typical protagonist. Eren Jaeger has lost everything to the Titans: friends, family, freedom, and even his own mind.
22. Guts. First anime series: Berserk: Legendary Wind Sword, 1997. The horror/fantasy/action anime Berserk (See it on Amazon) was set in a cruel fantasy world so horrible it makes the Game of Thrones setting look like a child's playground. A brutal place needed an equally brutal hero, and that man was Guts.
Kakashi. First anime appearance: Naruto, 2002. It's tough to outshine a lead character in his own series, but Kakashi pulled it off and often outranked Naruto in popularity polls (See Naruto on Amazon). He's a complex character, with an iconic character design and a laid back attitude that just exudes cool.
It was Lupin's love of women and his dirty mind that provided much of the comedy in the series, and it was the first time racy humor found itself in popular anime.
Sure, there are many anime characters who are wildly famous and provide the engine for a commercial machine, but sales and marketing don't make a character great. Skillful writing, design, and ingenuity make a character great.
Haruhi Fujioka. First anime appearance: Ouran High School Host Club, 2006. The reverse harem anime genre had been done to death by 2006. We knew the tropes, we knew what to expect. But then Ouran High School Host Club (See it on Amazon) introduced us to Haruhi, and new doors were opened.
Kenshin. First anime appearance: Ruroni Kenshin, 1996. Arguably the template for other characters on this list like Vash, Kenshin marked the anime scene with a unique trait; he was a killer who wouldn't kill anymore (See Ruroni Kenshin on Amazon).
Haruhi isn't one of those typical anime school girls. She's super tomboyish, demure, and not at all moe. In a series that often satirizes the usual shojo genre stereotypes, Haruhi wins by just being completely free of typical teen drama. That's not to say that Haruhi hasn't seen her fair share of difficulty in life.
13 Hachiman Hikigaya (42,723 Votes) The anime industry has taken a hit with the current crisis, with one of the most infamous delays being for the long-awaited return of My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU.
14 Kurisu Makise (42,666 Votes) Steins;Gate was a pivotal and influential anime in more ways than one, but the area that really counts is in crafting one of the most famous tsunderes in anime. Kurisu "Christina" Makise is the reluctant partner in crime and science to the series' lead (more on him later).
9 Naruto Uzamaki-Naruto (58,366 Votes) Sitting at #9 is one the main characters of the infamous "Big Three," the Hidden Leaf Village's "Nine-Tailed Fox," Naruto Uzamaki.
Itachi Uchiha is the anti-hero that fans didn't think for a second was bad, as they stared into his dreamy, Sharingan filled eyes. Whether it's his iconic design, mysterious history, or cool moves, Itachi made millions of fans everywhere question why he isn't the Uchiha the series focused on.
And while the studios may compete for a share of their audience, anime characters themselves also indirectly compete for attention, with the faces of the industry constantly changing within the fans' eyes.
Appropriately entering in at #3 is the leader of Shounen Jump's "Big Three," the Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy. The son of an infamous revolutionary and the grandson of a beloved marine, Luffy surprisingly had humble beginnings as just a little kid looking up to his pirate hero, "Red Haired" Shanks. After eating the Gum Gum fruit and being raised by bandits, Luff would go on to lead his own journey to become King of the Pirates, leading a loveable crew of misfits and outcasts that have ingrained the series with tons of personality.
Acting as the protagonist to one of the greatest Shounen anime of all time, the "Fullmetal Alchemist" Edward Elric has brought fans equal parts spunky, underdog passion and morally conflicted human drama that most, if any, other Shounen protagonists don't achieve.
Inuyasha is one of the most popular anime of the 2000s and is still a big hit to this day. While so many love this classic series, Inuyasha fans tend to agree that Kagome is one of the worst parts of the series. Many have even hated her since the beginning, finding her bossy attitude, jealousy, and treatment of Inuyasha hard to put up with.
Without a doubt, Attack on Titan is a huge name in anime and is one of the most popular series around. Every anime fan has heard its name, and many have fallen in love with the series since the beginning. While protagonist Eren Jaeger started as one of the many aspects of Attack on Titan that fans love, it doesn't stay that way forever.
Takemichi Hangaki is very different from the typical shonen protagonist. While plenty of protagonists start out weak, they work hard and grow stronger than ever by the end. However, this growth never seems to happen for the protagonist of Tokyo Revengers.
Opinions on Sword Art Online have varied from the start. However, it can't be denied that it's a widely successful series in its own right that still maintains many fans who love it. One thing fans and haters alike can agree on, though, is that Kirito is an awful protagonist. Many have stated over the years how bland and uninteresting he is.
The Dragon Ball franchise is one of the most famous and beloved series in the history of anime. Naturally, the series protagonist is equally as loved and well-known. Despite that, plenty has recognized throughout the years that Goku isn't the best protagonist out there. He's incredibly strong, and that's usually why people love him so much.
Orange is a surprising take on the slice-of-life genre, as well as shojo itself. It resonates well with many anime fans and is highly praised, covering heavy subjects and going into much darker territory than most series like it.
Everyone has heard of Pokémon before. It framed so many childhoods and is still a major part of media today. With more Pokémon than ever before, catching 'em all is exciting and fun. However, the anime series protagonist Ash Ketchum is neither of these.
Tatsumaki is one of the few anime characters here who doesn't actually need to have great hand-to-hand combat skills. Her power comes from her psychic abilities. She's called the Tornado of Terror as a result of what she can do.
The titan shifter Eren Yeager is a very powerful anime character who has the ability to transform into a 15 meter tall Titan with incredible regenerative abilities. However, the reason he’s so high up on this list is because of his ability to command legions of Titans with the power of the Founding Titan inside of him.
Though dissociative identity disorder means "Lucy" has many voices that make up her character, Lucy tends to be the strongest of the bunch. It's Lucy who most often utilizes the character's numerous abilities.
After three years of rigorous training, he can withstand any blow and defeat any enemy with a single serious strike.
This oranged-haired Shinigami has a broad, and sometimes confusing, set of powers that allow him to defeat even the most overpowered of foes. His strength and swordsmanship allow him to take down all-powerful deities and reality-bending gods while he gains new powers from each set of foes he defeats.
A young man who gained a natural command over alchemy after tragically losing his right arm and left leg while trying to bring his mother back to life, Edward Elric is extremely powerful. He can alter the terrain of any battlefield with his alchemy skills, and transform nearly any substance into a weapon to complement his versatile fighting style.
In fact, in the sequel Clear Card series, Sakura's own magic is so great that she rewrites the cards over the course of the series. She can use the magic inside of her to augment the cards, make them stronger, or create her own. The use of the cards allow her the power of flight, super strength, speed, and more. She is, however, still one of the youngest Magical Girls in anime, ensuring that she lacks the same ruthlessness of some of her older counterparts.