An anime’s protagonist can either make or break the show’s story and, in return, the audience’s enjoyment of the series. It’s difficult to accurately define what makes a good anime protagonist, as it’s an incredibly layered and complicated concept. But in general, a great anime protagonist is someone the audience can root for, who is active, holds a strong will, is capable of substantial growth and, finally, can make you feel.
There are countless anime that have lost viewership or not been appealing because the protagonist of the series wasn’t appealing, making it hard for viewers to get behind and cheer for them. Sometimes, not even a spectacular story can save an anime from a bad protagonist. This is why when a series has a great protagonist, they absolutely define the anime and can go as far as to change the viewers watching them for the better.
10 Shinji Ikari
‘Neon Genesis: Evangelion’
Shinji Ikari is the son of Gendo Ikari, the commander of NERV. After being abandoned by his father for most of his life, he’s called to pilot a mech called Evangelion Unit-01 when an Angel, a supernatural kaiju-like threat, and is quickly indoctrinated into being the permanent pilot of Evangelion Unit-01, against his own will.
While many anime protagonists tend to lean on a power fantasy for the viewer, holding immense power that any sane person wishes they could have, Shinji Ikari is the opposite of that. Where protagonists like Goku hold power and determination to win, Shinji holds anxiety, trauma and self-loathing. But underneath those things is a profound sense of responsibility and care. Shinji is a young man who is scarred by his emotional past and, rather than being a power fantasy for most viewers, he is a lot closer to a mirror. Shinji is a great protagonist because of how real he is, making him all the more relatable.
9 Guts
‘Berserk’
After being a mercenary for most of his life and then becoming a branded warrior afterward, Guts began to find newfound purpose in his life after joining up with the Band of the Falcon. After spending so much time not doing so, Guts decides to set out from the Band of the Falcon and pursue a dream of his own, setting him on a path to face off against God Hand.
Not only is Guts an all-around cool anti-hero thanks to his awesome armor, immense skill and carrying the general characteristics of a cool lone-wolf hero, but on top of that, he’s an incredibly compelling character. Over everything, Guts is a symbol of the constant fight against trauma many people face. After going through a slew of horrible heartbreak and suffering, Guts somehow finds a way to emerge on the other side of that trauma, finding the strength to never give up. He’s an inspiration to many who have been through great suffering, never backing down even when the weight of his pain becomes too much to bear at times.
8 Lelouch vi Britannia
‘Code Geass’
Many people on the internet like to say that Lelouch vi Britannia walked, so Eren Yeager could run, and it could not be more true. Lelouch began his life as the illustrious 11th prince of Britannia until, one day, he was exiled to Japan as a political hostage. He would soon gain the power of Geass from a woman named C.C. and use that ability to control others to seek out his mother’s murderer.
Lelouch found love among anime fans for his dedication to his own goals. While he can act frightening at times and is quite arrogant, Lelouch actually has quite righteous intentions in his actions that sometimes, get others killed. He envisioned a better future for himself, his sister and the entire world, and he didn’t care whether he lived or died to get it. These character traits make him a very active character, consistently pushing the plot forward and keeping the series engaging at all times.
7 Sailor Moon
‘Sailor Moon’
When Usagi Tsukino is told that she is destined to protect Earth from the forces of evil, and is given the ability to turn into the superhero Sailor Moon. After locating the other Sailor Guardians, she sets out on an adventure to fulfill her destiny and save Earth.
Sailor Moon is arguably one of the greatest female superheroes of all time. Airing in an era in which women didn’t receive much representation, Sailor Moon was a positive role model for children all across the planet in the late 90s. While Usagi was, on the surface, a stereotypical teen “girly girl”, she transcended those stereotypes and showed that femininity didn’t indicate weakness. She still proceeded to be a strong and successful heroine. At the start of the series, Usagi seemed to put herself down a lot. But as the series went on, she found more strength, and she began to do this less and less. She was a great representation of self-love and how possible it is to begin loving yourself.
6 Eren Yeager
‘Attack on Titan’
Eren Yeager recently took the world by storm with the overwhelming success of Attack on Titan. In the first three seasons, after losing his mother to the plague that was the Titans and discovering that he can also turn into a Titan, he won the hearts of fans everywhere. Then, within the debut of season 4, he broke the hearts of many with his downward spiral into madness as he took the power of the Founding Titan and activated the Rumbling onto the world.
Much like fans of Lelouch, fans of Eren love him because he consistently stands by what he believes in, even when those around him hesitate. He goes against the grain, which often inspires others around him, making him an icon for both the characters and viewers of Attack on Titan, inspiring many viewers to believe Eren was right in his actions in season 4. He, too, is a wonderfully active character, always pushing the plot to move as well as the characters within the show. He’s not fond of diplomacy and had zero problems taking action to supply his own goals.
5 Light Yagami
‘Death Note’
Light had been bestowed the menacing Death Note, a notebook that has the power to kill anyone, as long as he writes their name within it. Starting his journey with good intentions, Light sets out to rid the world of criminals with his newfound power. The people of Japan stamp his killings under the name Kira, believing there to be a serial killer running amok across the country. His ownership of the Death Note brings about the presence of a shinigami named Ryuk.
Many protagonists in anime happen to be heroes, fighting for good, no matter the cost. That is not the case with Light Yagami. Light is known by many as a villain for his horrendous actions in the Death Note anime. He’s a very interesting character to watch and follow because he’s practically a genius, with abundantly ambitious plans that viewers can’t help but want to watch to find out if he’s actually going to accomplish them.
4 Spike Spiegel
‘Cowboy Bebop’
Once he left the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate, Spike Spiegel began his work as a bounty hunter aboard a ship called the Bebop with his crew. Spike is also a very accomplished and skilled person, being able to proficiently fight in hand-to-hand combat. He’s an arguably lazy, very laid back and nonchalant character that can’t seem to let go of the past. His vibe perfectly fits the genre of a sci-fi western.
Spike’s detached and loafing attitude and actions make him a very relatable character. He often walks around, slouching and tired-looking. He also happens to be quite funny while simultaneously being a pretty lonely guy that the audience simply can’t help but love. He’s a misfit, which most viewers can relate to, given that everyone seems to feel like a misfit sometimes. He’s a joy to watch, making the plot of Cowboy Bebop way more entertaining than it already is.
3 Naruto Uzumaki
‘Naruto’ Franchise
When Naruto, a shinobi of the Uzumaki clan, was born, he was made the human vessel of the Nine-Tailed Beast, Kurama. This power given to him caused him to be evaded by the village of Konoha. Growing up, he joined Team 7 and relentlessly trained to become the next Hokage, the strongest shinobi in the village. Together with Team 7, Naruto would face immense struggle and come to discover who he is and hone his true strength.
There’s no question as to why viewers love Naruto. He’s an incredibly positive role model, being kind to every living creature, whether they’re human, animal, or even his ruthless Tailed-Beast. Not to mention, he holds an intense refusal to give up, reminding audiences everywhere that no matter how much they struggle or suffer, they can always find the strength to push forward through it all, no matter how much it hurts. Naruto is a symbol of perseverance.
2 Son Goku
‘Dragon Ball’ Franchise
When Goku was sent to Earth by his parents as a baby, he was taken under the wing of Grandpa Son Gohan, who became Goku’s adoptive grandfather and eventually was passed on to Master Roshi after the passing of Grandpa Son Gohan. Goku had been programmed at a young age to be destructive in nature with the goal of destroying all life on Earth, but due to a head injury as a child, that programming was wiped from his memory and Goku’s true nature emerged, making him the world’s greatest hero.
At surface value, many would think that Goku is beloved because of how powerful he is, being one of the most powerful characters in anime. While his power may be a factor in his likability, many find love for Goku in his personality. While he may love a good fight, Goku maintains the ability to have a pure heart and his affection and warmth shines far brighter than his power level. He may look like a buff, fighter who cares little for others, but he’s far from that on the inside. On that topic, what many love about Goku’s power is that it didn’t come to him from birth. Goku began his journey as a weak child and trained to grow up to be one of the strongest heroes in the universe. He earned all of his power and is a shining example of the ability to make oneself better.
1 Monkey D. Luffy
‘One Piece’
Ever since he was a child, Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming the king of the pirates by finding the illustrious One Piece, hidden by the dead Gol D. Roger, because he believes that being the Pirate King means having the most freedom of anyone in the world. In hopes of achieving his goal, he formed his band of pirates called the Straw Hat Pirates, named after Luffy’s iconic straw hat. Throughout his adventures with the Straw Hat Pirates, Luffy and his crew have gained huge infamy across the world for the battles he’s fought, currently with a 3,000,000,000 dollar bounty.
There’s a reason that One Piece is one of the, if not the most popular anime on the planet and, in turn, Luffy is one of the most popular anime characters of all time. Luffy is ambitious in his goals and will stop at nothing to achieve them. He’s far from perfect and falters a lot, making him anything from a perfect man, which makes him all the more relatable. Luffy embodies everything he wants: freedom. He wants to live freely and not conform to society’s boundaries. He’s also incredibly real with people, being absurdly blunt and never wasting any time to give out a big speech to his comrades, another reason as to why he is so relatable. His ability to freely express himself and his feelings is admirable and a quality most viewers strive to have. He’s true to himself and everyone around him. Luffy is the personification of what many truly want from life, so it feels impossible not to root for him.
