It’s almost impossible to choose a single favourite anime characters and anyone who has watched as much anime as I have has at least a few favourites! From my extensive research I’ve found the world’s most popular anime characters and here I’ll be exploring the male favourites.
1. My Hero Academia: Midoriya “Deku” Izuku
While Midoriya “Deku” Izuku doesn’t even have a superpower at the start of My Hero Academia – which makes him a minority in a universe populated by those who hold powers known as ‘Quirks’ – it quickly becomes apparent that this is his story to becoming the world’s greatest hero.
2. One-Punch Man: Saitama
Saitama has become bored after 3 years of training has he can defeat anybody with just a single punch – hence his name: One-Punch Man.
Saitama cannot find anyone who can really provide a challenge, despite the best efforts of his opponents and no shortage of powerful beings who attempt to defeat him.
3. Gintama: Sakata Gintoki
While Sakata Gintoki doesn’t necessarily come across as great samurai owing to being largely unemployed and obsessed with sugar, he is arguably the greatest alien-fighting samurai in anime.
We learn that before the start of Gintama that his sword skills have made him world famous amongst his compatriots and infamous amongst his adversaries.
4. Naruto: Nara Shikamaru
While Nara Shikamaru is undoubtedly one of the laziest anime characters ever, he is also the most intelligent shinobi in the Naruto series. We can’t help but wonder if Nara would be a fan of online pokies Australia!
Of course he would prefer not to have to do anything, but the love he has for his friends and his fierce intellect combined make him a force to be reckoned with.
5. Princess Mononoke: Ashitaka
A central character in the 1997 Studio Ghibli smash-hit Princess Mononoke, the last prince of the Emishi people – Ashitaka – joins forces with the Princess herself to help protect the forest from humans.
Ashikata is one of anime’s favourite characters as he not only participates in battle, but also helps to rebuild the community.
6. Fairy Tail: Gildarts Clive
Gildarts Clive of Fairy Tale is known for being one of the Fairy Tale Guild’s S-Class Mages, its Ace, its Fifth Guild Master, and at one time its most famous Mage.
Being incredibly powerful, Gildarts is clearly the most powerful of the current generation and he must fight against factions with the Fairy Tale Guild and beyond.
7. Hellsing: Alucard
Alucard is a member of the supernatural-contending Hellsing Organisation and is one of their most important fighters.
He is the most powerful weapon of the Hellsing Organisation and is rumoured to be one of the most powerful vampires of all time.
8. Soul Eater: Sid Barrett
While Sid Barrett is his American name, his kanji name is written as “Shido” using the characters for “dead” and “person”, making him the ultimate undead.
As a zombie teaching at the Shibusen Academy, the protagonists of Soul Eater are trained to battle supernatural creatures with the help of Sid who was named after Pink Floyd’s original frontman Syd Barrett.