Top 10 Anime Delinquents

“Shaman King” (2001-02)
Whatever you do, do not mess with his hair, otherwise you’ll find yourself with a wooden sword to the face. Though he started off as something of an antagonist, over time this eccentric bruiser found himself becoming a Shaman as well as one of Yoh’s closest allies. He has no problem beating the crap out of people, but his undying devotion to his gang, his look and constant failure with the ladies makes him as beloved as he is feared. Either way, the less said about the dub version, the better...

“Beelzebub” (2011-12)
When you’re chosen to be the adoptive father for the future lord of Hell, then chances are you’re not exactly a paragon of virtue. While he was originally the ideal candidate for raising hell, due to his nasty nature, over time Tatsumi mellowed into a much more approachable person…mostly. To say he still retains his sadistic love of pummelling anyone who wrongs him would be an understatement, but at least he’ll do it for a good cause. The path to being a decent parent is never an easy one…

“Cromartie High School” (2003-04)
In a high school infamous for having a student body made up of delinquents, you have Shinichi Mechazawa. He’s regarded as one of the most popular, most charismatic, and well respected students around, But there’s something fishy about Mechazawa… Oh, yeah he’s also a robot, and barely anyone seems to notice, even when he transforms into a motorcycle equipped with rockets. In a school packed with delinquents that can make any tough guy crumble, Mechazawa stands on top as our favourite.

“My Hero Academia” (2016-)
One look at that costume and you know you’re in trouble! A rather villainous hero-in-training, Katsuki has a drive that will lead him to no less than the top. His aggressive nature and lack of mercy toward his enemies, is reflected in his Quirk, which causes his sweat to explode. Despite this, he actually shares the same as admiration as protagonist Izuku for their own personal hero, All Might. Though he more so sees him as a milestone to exceed. Katsugi seems to have some semblance of good nature behind his unlikable personality…Just be sure to avoid him when he works up a sweat.

“School Rumble” (2004-05)
He may look like your typical bad boy, but that’s really just for show, deep down he’s really a sweetheart but that all changed when he fell in love. After rescuing high school student Tsukamoto Tenma, he immediately falls for her and reshapes his life just so he can attempt to earn her affections. He may still have one hell of a swing, but for the remainder of the series he’s all he’s fighting is humiliations, misunderstandings and all sorts of romantic obstacles in order to try and win the girl of his dreams. Needless to say, we’ve never wanted a guy with such a weird goatee to succeed. Hats off to you Kenji!

“Persona 4: The Animation” (2011-12)
If you took a glance at this guy, chances are all you’d see is a muscle bound delinquent who thrives on fighting. Truth be told that’s just what he wants you to think. Conflicted about what it means to be strong, Kanji originally wanted nothing more than to be the manliest guy around. After being kidnapped and taken into the TV World like others before him, we see that deep down he’s just afraid of being himself. Throw ambiguous sexuality into the mix and you suddenly have a layered character who isn’t tough because he can take on Shadows, but because he finally starts to accept who he is as a person. Aww.

“Slam Dunk” (1993-96)
So much for the girls wanting the bad boys, because on this list it’s the definitely the other way around. Sakuragi is no exception. At the start of the series he was nothing more than a short-tempered slacker whose size and strength could easily win him a fight. Alas the same can’t be said for his heart, which immediately fell for the sweet and basketball-obsessed Haruko Akagi. Originally joining the Shohoku High School Basketball Team to impress her, he eventually became invested with the sport itself. While he still has a temper and prone to outbursts, Sakuragi went from loser to champion with a slam dunk! Never underestimate the underdog!

“Great Teacher Onizuka” (1999-2000)
How do you handle a class that is regarded as unteachable? You call in a homeroom teacher like no other! An ex-gang member, and virgin, Onizuka only has one thing on his mind – getting freaky with the ladies. After seeing how influential a teacher can be over young women, he bluffs his way into a teaching position in the hopes of getting lucky. What he or his students didn’t expect is how successful he would be. Due to his method of teaching, which can border on criminal, he slowly manages to help each of his new students while finding a new purpose in life, even if he never gets laid!

“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” (2012-)
While he originally thought his monstrous strength was due to being possessed by an evil spirit, Jotaro Kujo soon discovered he was in possession of a Stand, a supernatural power that acts as a guardian to its user. As a descendant of Jonathan Joestar, Jotaro finds himself resuming his ancestor’s long-time battle with the villainous Dio Brando. He’s got the sharp tongue and attitude of a rebel, however there’s no doubt he’s a good person at heart. That’s not to stay he’s not a fighter though, because if you mess with those close to him then he will give you the beating of a lifetime.

Before we reveal our number one delinquent, here are a few rebellious honourable mentions.

Rokurouta Sakuragi
“Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin” (2010)

Mondo Owada
“Danganronpa: The Animation” (2013)

Arakita Yasutomo
“Yowamushi Pedal” (2013-15)

Naruto Uzumaki
“Naruto” franchise (2002-)

“Yu YuHakasho” (1992-94)
Life for Yusuke was a pretty simple one. Cutting class, being nagged at by his love interest, and of course, frequently getting into fights. And then he died. After giving his life to save a child, not only is he given another chance at life, but he’s also given a job as a Spirit Detective; battling the ghostly forces that threaten both the Spirit World and the Earth. Even though he’s still using his fists more than his head, over time his new role and companions grow on him - to the point where he abandons his selfish nature, and gives his all into protecting his world and those he loves. He’ll always be a rebel, but he’s the rebel that the world needs!

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