Top 10 Anime Heroes

One of the first female protagonists in mainstream anime, Sailor Moon is the alter ego of schoolgirl Serena Tsukino. A lazy daydreamer with an enormous heart, she spends her days sleeping, eating, yearning for the affection of that oh-so-hunky Tuxedo Mask and being the de-facto leader of the Sailor Scouts. She may be a bit of an airhead, but she always puts the good of others before herself, and can sure kick ass even in a short skirt.

He is the definition of cool. This planet-hopping bounty hunter is a crewmember aboard the starship Bebop and a former member of the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate. Throwing away his criminal background for the love of a taken woman, he’s both a wise-cracking badass and contemplator on what it means to be truly alive. Being voiced by Steven Blum doesn’t hurt either.

Another example of a killer-turned-hero, Kenshin was a legendary swordsman and assassin known as the manslayer; but he turned his back on his killing ways. While wandering Japan offering his sword to those in need of protection, he encounters multiple friends and even a few ex-enemies who teach him that he’s worthy of atonement, and to conquer the killer’s nature inside him.

Half dog-demon, half human: put it all together and what do you get? A sword-wielding hybrid who knows how to take care of business. Originally wanting nothing more than to become a full demon, his human heart trumped his selfish desires, leading him to fall for the modern-day schoolgirl he vowed to protect. Fighting through feudal Japan to recover fragments of the Sacred Jewel, InuYasha can be both cold and rude, yet heartfelt and compassionate. Plus, he makes us laugh whenever we see this happen.

Also known as the Flame Alchemist, Roy Mustang is a character almost as beloved as the show’s central protagonist. While initially depicted as a careerist and womanizer, the Lieutenant Colonial cares deeply for his subordinates and countrymen – ideals he gained as a soldier during the Ishbal Civil War. After being forced to commit atrocities using his flame alchemy, he vowed to become his nation’s next leader. While he may be arrogant, he’s got the ironclad loyalty of his fellow state alchemists and some hot moves to back up his talk.

Talk about a rough childhood. After having a powerful demon sealed inside of him, Naruto was a social outcast in the shinobi village he grew up in; but that didn’t stop him from pursing his dream of becoming the village leader to gain the respect and admiration of those who once shunned him. Naruto’s growth as both a ninja and human can be seen throughout the series, as the bonds of friendship he forges make his dream worth fighting for.

You’d think being born with the ability to see ghosts would be enough, but not for this high-school bruiser. After a fateful encounter with a Shinigami, Ichigo gains the power of a god of death, and is tasked with defending his home from the malicious spirits known as Hollows. As his seemingly endless battle stretches to other planes of existence and some truly frightening enemies, this orange-haired swordsman will keep fighting no matter what.

Out of all the shonen anime heroes, this straw-hatted rubber-man takes our vote. With the dream of grabbing the title of Pirate King, Luffy is a man who thinks with his stomach and fists rather than his head. Always in the pursuit of adventure, this happy-go-lucky guy may be the last person you consider when you think pirate captain. But you’d be wrong: You mess with Luffy’s crew and he’ll declare war on the entire world to save them.

Edward learned the true meaning of sacrifice when he and his brother Alphonse tried resurrecting their deceased mother, resulting in the loss of his limbs, and his brother’s body. Ever since, he’s been on a mission to correct his mistake for the sake of his sibling. A gripping, funny and fully realized character with strong morals and endless love for his family and friends, Ed proves even a small guy can be a badass and save the world. Rock on, Fullmetal!

Before we unleash our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Speed Racer “Speed Racer”
- Astro Boy “Astro Boy”
- Yusuke Urameshi “YuYu Hakusho”
- Eren Yeager “Attack on Titan”

Was it that obvious? Sorry, we at WatchMojo.com love our “Dragon Ball”! And apparently so do you guys! But hey, what’s not to like? While Goku may be dim, he cares for all living things in the universe. Good thing too, considering he constantly has to save it. A Saiyan who was raised on Earth, Goku is the super-strength, Kaio-ken, flying, Kamehameha-blasting defender of good that we can all rally behind. Simple, yet brilliant, and that’s why he’s our number one pick.

Do you agree with our list? Who is your favorite anime hero of all time? For more anime-related countdowns published daily on our channel, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.