Do you remember the days when liking anime was considered unpopular and if you watched any, you had to keep it on the DL? I do. Thankfully, that trend has mostly changed as liking anime has become mainstream in the United States.
I was first introduced to the genre through the 4Kids dub of “Pokemon” and “Yu-Gi-Oh!” and eventually expanded my horizons thanks to Toonami and Adult Swim. And while I’ve continued growing my anime repertoire over the years, I still don’t talk about it too much out of habit. Anyway, the time has come to change that, because I’ve met plenty of fellow anime fans over the years, and I imagine a post like this will be well-received.
If you’re not an anime fan, then I don’t know where you’ve been the past 20-25 years, but you’re missing out. Sure, the genre has a lot of tropes and flaws and sometimes there’s really sketchy material, but ultimately, there’s something out there for everyone.
And, more to the point, anime offers such a colorful (sometimes quite literally) cast of characters, that you can’t help but find yourself becoming extremely attached to a few of them because of their unique physical designs, cool voice acting, alluring personality, neat powers/abilities, their strong character development, and/or the role that they play within the story.
That’s how I came up with this list: thinking about characters who have that “cool” factor for whatever reason, whose arcs are well-written and well-executed, and who just steal the show every time they appear.
Admittedly, I’ve seen a lot more shonen anime (action/adventure) than shojo anime (romance/comedy), so this list will lean a lot more on those types of characters.
I’ve listed the shows each character is from, so if you don’t want spoilers for that particular show, don’t read that entry.
One more thing before we dive into my Top 5 is that I compiled five others who could be considered in the Top 10, but I decided to make them Honorable Mentions. Here they are:
Honorable Mentions / #10-#6
Genkai from “Yu Yu Hakusho”
In a show where all the female characters get completely sidelined (quite literally in Season 2’s Dark Tournament arc), Genkai was the one exception. She’s also one of the few examples I can think of in any media — not just anime or animation — of a female mentor teaching a male student. It’s usually a male mentor and a male student (Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke, for example), and occasionally you get a few female mentors/female students and male mentors/female students in your movies and TV shows.
Genkai was totally brutal. She tolerated absolutely no nonsense, and she was extremely powerful even among the main cast of OP characters. She was also a nice counterweight for Yusuke, who has a personality similar to hers. They’re both stubborn, like to hear themselves talk, always think they’re right, and aren’t afraid to speak their minds and call people out on their shit. But while Yusuke was mostly shooting from the hip (pun intended) and loud-mouthing or boasting, Genkai actually had the strength and experience to back up everything she said. She was the personification of the heights Yusuke could reach if he actually dedicated himself and worked hard rather than slacking off and lucking his way into it.
So, ultimately the mentor/student relationship they formed was unique and had a really nice culmination in the S2 tournament arc. Getting a glimpse into her personal history with Toguro, who later killed her, made that final fight between him and Yusuke all the more meaningful. It also made her resurrection a really nice moment too.
Roronoa Zoro/ Pirate Hunter/ The King Of Hell from “One Piece”
Roronoa Zoro, also known as the Pirate Hunter and the King of Hell, is a beloved character from the iconic anime and manga series “One Piece.” With his impressive strength, unique fighting style, and signature green hair, Zoro has become a fan favorite. Fans of Zoro might be interested in adding Zoro’s Katanas to their collection. A Mini Katana modeled after Zoro’s sword would be a great addition to any One Piece collection. These high-quality, miniature swords are perfect for displaying alongside other anime merchandise.
Zoro’s unwavering loyalty to his captain, his unbreakable will, and his thirst for strength make him a complex and compelling character that fans adore. With his iconic phrase “nothing…happened,” Zoro never fails to bring a smile to viewers’ faces, and his character development throughout the series is truly remarkable. Especially in Wano Kuni Hen, you can see how strong he has grown.
Folken from “Visions of Escaflowne”
Folken is so undeniably cool. Between his awesome voice actor, big black cloak, black wings (that are revealed later), his calculating personality and his amazing character arc, how can you not like him?
Folken acts as a nice contrast and foil for his younger brother, Van the series’ co-main character, but you can tell he’s not completely malicious. He has a great respect for his brother and for life in general, but he’s just pursuing the wrong path in the hopes of preserving both. Eventually, he learns the error of his ways and has a beautiful and poignant death that completes his redemption arc. (Unlike Ben Solo where his death is basically the entirety of his redemption arc, because TPTB botched the execution. Can you tell I’m still bitter about this whole Episode IX thing?)
Also, when you watch the “Escaflowne” movie and see how cartoonishly evil and absurdly one-dimensional he could be, it gives you a whole new appreciation for how the show handled his backstory, personality and arc.
Me, watching the “Escaflowne” movie:
Vash the Stampede from “Trigun”
Along with an amazing voice actor, Vash has a really cool design and fascinating archetype that he plays into (the wanderer). I personally don’t like the reveal of him being a plant at the end, but whatever. I also really appreciate his strong moral center and overall personality, which is very similar to…
Kenshin Himura from “Rurouni Kenshin”
Vash and Kenshin are eerily similar characters. They’re both wanderers (or former wanderer in Kenshin’s case) who are extremely skilled in combat but strong moral centers. They also oscillate between being extremely goofy to the point where people think they’re totally helpless and being dead-serious. Both of them absolutely refuse to kill another person, even in self defense. However, while Vash is unable to keep his vow, Kenshin does even though the show has to pull several rabbits out of its hat to ensure that happens.
Overall, I think Kenshin is slightly cooler than Vash, partly because I personally like the swordplay in “Rurouni Kenshin” better than the gunplay in “Trigun.” But, that’s me. Also, “Rurouni Kenshin” executes its finale and Kenshin’s final fight against Shishio much better than “Trigun” did with Vash’s final stand-off with Knives.
Watching Kenshin absolutely demolish Shishio with the amakakeru ryu no hirameki is so satisfying after all the build up of Shishio, Kenshin’s final training, and the move itself (which had been left a bit of a mystery up to that point). I go back and rewatch it a lot because of how good that entire sequence is. That and the fight against Saito where Kenshin slips back into his Manslayer persona. Both of those moments are so powerful and memorable that they make me think much better of the anime as a whole than it probably deserves.
Yami Yugi / The Pharaoh / Atem from “Yu-Gi-Oh!”
Like Folken, Yami just oozes cool but to an even greater degree. The hair, the facial expression, the deep voice, his calm but slightly cocky demeanor, his theme music and the whole transformation sequence between him and Yugi Moto… He’s just so suave and charismatic. He’s honestly really mesmerizing to watch.
I always really liked the dynamic between him and Yugi Moto where they’re sort of the same but also not. They have a really fascinating partnership, and although I hate the Orichalcos story line, it was interesting to see Yugi and Yami separated for part of the arc.
Also, his climatic return in the “Dark Side of Dimensions” movie was beyond epic, and the brief moment he and Yugi shared was really poignant, partly because they didn’t need any cheesy dialogue to convey their feelings. It was all expressions and music.
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OK, now that we’re done with the “honorable mentions,” let’s move onto the main event:
MY TOP FIVE ANIME CHARACTERS
#5 – Piccolo from “Dragon Ball Z”
Remember the character who — in his first few appearances in the franchise — stomped on his opponent’s wounds and kidnapped a child? Yeah, he’s a fan-favorite now.
Piccolo is here partly because he has a cool design and an awesome voice actor, but mostly because he has one of the best arcs in the whole show. The “Dragon Ball” franchise loves turning Goku’s former enemies into his allies over the course of the story — which is a major trope in anime, FYI — but no one made that transition quite like Piccolo.
While Vegeta and the others’ alignment with the Z Fighters (as they’re called by the fans) was gradual, Piccolo’s was a lot more dramatic and seemingly out-of-nowhere.
So, Piccolo and Goku team up to fight Goku’s evil brother Raditz, and Goku sacrifices himself in the process. Piccolo kidnaps Goku’s 4-year-old son, Gohan, who had displayed hidden powers during the fight, to train for when the next wave of Saiyans arrive on Earth. Piccolo is absolutely brutal to Gohan, abandoning him in the wilderness for six months and then returning to teach him how to fight (which involves hitting him a lot, obviously). However, Piccolo very slowly and subtly starts to develop a bit of a soft spot for the kid. It sort of flies under the radar until Gohan outright says that Piccolo has mellowed a lot and that he thinks of him as “a big green uncle.” This angers Piccolo and he stews about his new role for several hours.
Once the Saiyans show up, Piccolo has too high of expectations for the now 5-year-old kid and when Gohan understandably freezes up in a fight, Piccolo yells at him and says he’s useless. But, in a beautiful and epic moment, when Gohan is about to die at the hands of Nappa, Piccolo throws himself in front of the attack and sacrifices himself to save his pupil.
Until now, training you was out of vengeance — making you worthy enough to be my opponent. But, something’s changed. No matter what happens to you, Gohan, I’ll always be there to protect you. … Gohan, you’re the only real friend I’ve ever had. I want to thank you. I still remember the first day I brought you here. You were small, helpless. You’ve changed so much since then. The harder things got, the more determined you became. The more dangers you faced, the stronger you grew as a warrior. I know I was hard on you, but it was for your own good. You’re like the son I never had. I’m proud of you. Goodbye, my friend.
Piccolo, as he dies saving Gohan
It’s really hard to convey how well this moment lands if you haven’t seen the show. It feels both earned and yet out-of-nowhere. Remember: Piccolo was introduced to us as a villain whose goal in life is to kill Goku and take over the world. (This is a goal he inherited from his father, King Piccolo, whom Goku killed.) And yet, here he is, sacrificing his life to save the son of his sworn enemy. It truly is a beautiful moment.
It’s partly undercut by the fact that this is “Dragon Ball” and no one stays dead for long; but that actually works out, because Piccolo’s arc isn’t done. He does still want to fight Goku one day, but as a way to measure his strength rather than out of vengeance. Once he’s resurrected, he learns to work with the other Z Fighters to face their common threats until he seamlessly becomes part of the group.
Also, he retains a strong friendship and bond with Gohan throughout the rest of the series, to the point where every single “Dragon Ball Z” movie has a moment where Piccolo shows up out of nowhere to save Gohan from near-death (although without dying himself).
This is something that “Dragon Ball Super” — for all its serious flaws — smartly decided to lean into during the Tournament of Power arc. There’s a great callback to Piccolo’s sacrifice when Gohan jumps in front of Piccolo to save him (he doesn’t die, though), and Piccolo has a vision of his alter egos Nail and Kami silently encouraging him not to give up by emphasizing his bond with Gohan.
Ultimately, their friendship is such a fun thing to watch — because of how crucial it was to both of their arcs — even in a garbage series like “Dragon Ball Super.”
It’s also a bit of a running gag among fans that Piccolo started out as this total badass villain who wanted to rule the world and ended up becoming the babysitter to his foes’ children after he trained Goten and Trunks during the Buu saga and literally babysat Gohan’s daughter, Pan, in “Dragon Ball Super.” There’s also jokes about how Piccolo is more of Gohan’s father than Goku is, which is hilariously captured in the “Dragon Ball Z Abridged” YouTube series.
All in all, Piccolo is a memorable character who demonstrates how much one person’s kindness and determination can impact someone’s psyche and motivate them to become a better person.
#4 – Kakashi Hatake from “Naruto”
There’s two major aspects we need to talk about regarding Kakashi, and that’s his undeniable “cool factor” and his unique background.
Regarding the former, the way we’re introduced to Kakashi is very well done. Because his students, namely Naruto, are our avatars into this world of ninja, we see Kakashi the way his students do. He has battle experience and powers they can barely grasp, to the point where they severely underestimate him because he fails to dodge a harmless prank. We quickly learn during their first training session, though, that he’s simply messing with them. He’s able to defeat Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke with no effort. I mean, he even fights Naruto while reading a book because it’s not even a challenge for him.
He’s also bit mysterious in the first arc, because we learn that he has a Sharingan (a visual ability that he shouldn’t have because it’s exclusive to a certain group) and a scar over his left eye. He also has a cool nickname in “the Copy Ninja” thanks to the Sharingan and reportedly copied more than 1,000 jutsu (or ninja superpowers) with it. His first fight against Zabuza is a great introduction to exactly what people in this universe are capable of when they’re not bratty kids straight out of the academy.
Unlike many other mentor figures in anime, Kakashi has plenty moments of comic relief. He’s able to make jokes and be a bit carefree and relaxed. But these don’t diminish from the effortlessly cool vibe he gives off, particularly in the earlier parts of the story.
Eventually, we learn more about Kakashi’s backstory and it only endears him more to the audience, sets him apart from both the villains and fellow heroes, and sets up a nice little arc for him to complete over the remainder of the series.
Kakashi’s childhood was ripped straight from a villain origin story:
He presumably lost his mother at a young age given that she’s never mentioned; his father commits suicide after he abandoned a mission to save his comrades; then Kakashi’s teammate (and the closest thing he has to a best friend) dies protecting Kakashi in battle; then his other teammate (and the now-closest thing he has to a best friend) decides to kill herself by Kakashi’s hand because she didn’t want their enemies to use her as a weapon; and THEN Kakashi’s teacher dies when their village is attacked.
Because of all this, Kakashi mostly closes himself off from having close bonds with others until he meets and begins training Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. Through them, he starts to open up and invest in relationships with others again.
Unlike his pupil Sasuke — whose entire clan was murdered by his elder brother — Kakashi’s personal losses never motivated him to pursue evil, selfish or vengeful ends. And we get to see this clearly in a well-written conversation the two have right before Sasuke decides to leave the village to pursue his revenge:
Sasuke: Maybe if I was to kill the most important people in your life, everyone who’s ever meant anything, maybe then I’d listen to you. Because maybe then you’d have some idea how I feel.
Kakashi: Hmm. It’s an interesting theory. But, I’m afraid you’re a little late to put it to the test. Everyone you’re talking about has already been killed. I’ve been around longer than you have, kid, and I’ve seen my share of troubles. You’re not the only one who knows what it’s like to lose somebody. … So, it looks like neither of us has lead a charmed life, exactly, have we? Still, we’re not all that bad off. At least you and I have been lucky enough to find new comrades to help fill the void.
Once Sasuke does decide to pursue villainy and, much later in the series, when Kakashi learns he’s indirectly responsible for another loved one going over to ‘the dark side,’ his development centers on him trying to work through that guilt and right his wrongs while also supporting Naruto and Sakura on their journeys.
Basically, Kakashi has Sasuke’s effortlessly cool demeanor and Naruto’s tragic backstory and general kind-heartedness. He’s really the best of both worlds, and is just an all-around great character from the outset who becomes even cooler and more fascinating over the course of the series.
#3 – Blue from “Wolf’s Rain”
“Wolf’s Rain” is my all-time favorite anime. It’s only 26 episodes, but you get so attached to these characters in such a short amount of time because the stakes are so high and all the time you do get to spend with them is very concentrated and to-the-point. Plus, because it’s so short, it doesn’t have any problems with its pacing. There’s no dragged out arcs or plot lines that fizzle out — it’s all meaningful and well-executed. Ultimately, it’s short and sweet.
While all the characters are loveable in their own way, Blue is the one I’m the most attached to. She has such a cool character design both as wolf-dog and as a human, and I love her voice actress’ work in this role.
One downside is that while she’s introduced very early in the show, she disappears for several episodes and it’s only when she returns that she starts to have real agency in the plot. Still, she does get a nice little arc.
Blue is a dog who helps her owner hunt down the last wolves in existence. However, she eventually learns that she’s part-wolf and begins to awaken that side of her, which allows her to taken on a human appearance. In this way, she’s able to interact not only with the other wolves but also with the humans, including her (former) owner, Quent. Along with her love interest Hige, she forms very strong bonds with fellow wolf-raised-by-humans Toboe and human Cher.
Toward the end of the series, there’s a really heart-wrenching scene where Blue, who’s been separated from Quent for like a dozen episodes, reunites with him for the first time in her human form. She’s able to explain to him what really happened to their hometown and how his hatred of wolves is completely misplaced.
Blue is ultimately torn, because while she wants to be accepted by the other wolves, she also still feels a great attachment for humans, particularly Quent. While the wolves more-or-less accept her by the end of the story, Quent takes much longer to come around. Similarly, while Blue realized long ago that she can’t hunt her own kind anymore, she still feels a great loyalty for Quent that she struggles to abandon. In my opinion, this prevents her from fully realizing herself as a wolf, but then again, she is part-dog, too, so I guess that makes sense.
Ultimately, I don’t think I can fully explain why Blue is such a favorite, but I hope this at least gives you an idea.
#2 – Sesshomaru from “Inuyasha”
So, if you take Folken’s general personality, Kenshin’s combat prowess, Kakashi’s effortless cool factor, and Piccolo’s arc, you’ve got yourself a Sesshomaru.
Like Folken, Sesshomaru is calm, collected, strategic and menacing, which is in perfect contrast to his loud and hotheaded younger half-brother, the series’ co-main character Inuyasha. Sesshomaru also has a humongous ego and is a little bit of a diva, which is no wonder considering he’s basically demon royalty and thinks everyone is beneath him.
He’s unarguably the most powerful character in the whole series, especially in “Inuyasha: The Final Act,” and just has an alluring presence whenever he shows up.
The best thing about Sesshomaru, though, is his character development, because he’s like Piccolo if you crank the evil deeds and daddy issues up a few notches and let him simmer for like 100-plus episodes.
Sesshomaru starts out the series actively trying to kill our heroes, not once but several times. He is obsessed with the Tessaiga, the powerful sword Inuyasha inherited from their father. He believes he should be its rightful owner and not Inuyasha, whom he generally despises for being half-demon.
His arc is two-fold in that he learns to be compassionate, and to let go of his obsession with the Tessaiga and realize his own strength. Unlike Piccolo, Sesshomaru’s development is very slow but it has an unbelievably satisfying pay-off at the end of the series.
Throughout the series, Sesshomaru begins to understand why his father would leave Inuyasha the Tessaiga instead of him (the elder, full-demon son) and eventually passes the one combat-useful ability of his heirloom sword, the Tensaiga, to Inuyasha. After that, he realizes his full strength and unlocks his own sword, Bakusaiga, which is ridiculously overpowered but also unbelievably cool.
Regarding the other part of his arc, like I said, Sesshomaru starts out actively hating humans and looking down on his younger brother. However, that changes when he shows compassion for the orphan girl Rin by resurrecting her after she’s killed by wolves and allowing her to travel with him. He also allows a boy named Kohaku — whom he tried to kill earlier in the series — as a companion as well. While he certainly cares about Rin more, he does protect both kids from danger on several occasions. He also shows compassion for the dying Kagura, who was once his enemy, and later protects Inuyasha and Kagome during the final battle. He also spares their friend Sango after she nearly killed Rin and offered to die as punishment for her transgression.
While Sesshomaru is slated to be a major factor in the “Inuyasha” sequel series, considering that we’re five episodes in right now and he hasn’t really made an appearance yet, I’ll leave talking about his arc there for another time. But, if what I theorize is true, he continues on a path of humility and compassion rather than pride and power, which is what he was like when he was first introduced on “Inuyasha.”
I mean, you can see why he’s the most popular character in the whole franchise, right? He’s just so fucking cool!
#1 – Gohan from “Dragon Ball Z”
Gohan is undoubtedly one of the most misunderstood characters in all of anime, and I’ve wanted to set the record straight for a long time. People remember this moment where he goes Super Saiyan 2 in his fight against Cell as this moment of pure badassery, but it really isn’t.
Unlike his dad — shonen wonder boy Goku — Gohan has never liked fighting. And, when he did fight, Gohan was always out of his league: against the Saiyans, against Frieza’s men, against Frieza himself, and then against Cell. The only time he stands a chance is when he’s filled with anger or rage. His power explodes and he can no longer contain it. He does it when Raditz is beating up his dad, when Piccolo dies, when he thinks Frieza killed Krillin, etc. But, as the closing narration says when he turns SSJ2, it was a power that would vanish after a moment and couldn’t be controlled or sustained… until the fight with Cell.
So, Gohan has always been someone with a lack of fighting spirit who may have a lot of inner potential but can only tap into it when his loved ones are in danger or killed.
Basically, Gohan’s like the Hulk if his transformation only lasted a few minutes. Really, though, Gohan is more like Bruce Banner: calm, bookish, cheerful, friendly and warm. His kindness and determination completely won over Piccolo, who was a villain earlier in the series and who admitted he only wanted to train Gohan out of self-preservation and revenge.
Gohan also cares about people and about the sanctity of life, which is exactly how Android 16 tries to motivate him to tap into his inner strength and defeat Cell:
I know how you feel, Gohan. You are gentle; you do not like to hurt. I know, because I too have learned these feelings. But it is because you cherish life that you must protect it.
Android 15
In recreating this moment, the “Dragon Ball Z Abridged” YouTube series characterized him as a coward for not wanting to fight Cell. And while it’s a comedy series, and they do acknowledge that Gohan doesn’t like fighting and that his dad overlooked that before throwing him into the ring with Cell, it only reinforces this false expectation of Gohan’s character among DBZ fans. Because he’s not a coward!
Gohan — who is 11 YEARS OLD (!!!) in this arc — was basically thrown to the wolves by his own dad in the fight against Cell. He never knew he had such power let alone how to tap into it. He’s a child who’s asked not only to fight — something he mostly disliked — but to kill someone. Even though Cell has devastated the planet and murdered thousands of innocent people, Gohan can’t destroy him until Cell kills 16 and Gohan finally unleashes this terrible power that he can’t mentally control.
It’s like giving your kind and quiet Honor Roll fifth-grader a gun and asking them to kill Adolf Hitler with the rationale that they’re the only one who can do it — there has to be another way.
Which is why I interpret that above scene differently than most DBZ fans. Is it satisfying to see Gohan finally realize his inner potential and achieve a form that had been built up for an entire arc? Yes. It is devastating to see a literal child make a terrible choice, lose his innocence and watch a friend die in the process? Also yes. Those tears on Gohan’s face aren’t just an indication of his sorrow over 16’s death, but also the last bits of his childish innocence and kindness evaporating away as his brain is filled with a rage he can’t totally control. And while I disagree with other people’s reasoning, I agree that this moment where he goes SSJ2 against Cell is one of the best moments in all of anime.
People also give Gohan a lot of crap for what happened to him after the Cell arc. He spends seven years focusing on his studies instead of training, and while he does gain a new level of power before fighting Ultimate Buu, he again regresses in power in the “Dragon Ball Super” movies and TV series. Apparently, it’s so bad that he nearly dies from going Super Saiyan and he can’t even defeat base-form Frieza. People complain how weak he is now and said he peaked in the fight against Cell.
Once again, I’ll say: that’s not who Gohan is! He never wanted to be a fighter. It was something he was pushed into because of who is dad is and the hidden powers he possessed. People want Gohan to be this copy of Goku — the perfect shonen protagonist — and when he has different ambitions, values and personality, they get mad.
LET GOHAN BE HIS OWN CHARACTER AND DO WHATEVER MAKES HIM HAPPY, YOU ASSHOLES!!!
Me, trying to sum up this entry / rant:
