Top 10 Epic Anime Entrances – Best of WatchMojo
For this list, we'll be looking at anime characters that make explosive entrances during their respective series. They don't necessarily have to be a first appearance, but there will be a few of those along the way. The scene itself can be hilarious, frightening, cute or just plain cool - what matters is that it leaves a lasting impact on the audience.
Talk about making an impression. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we are counting down our picks for the top ten epic anime entrances.
For this list, we’ll be looking at anime characters that make explosive entrances during their respective series. They don’t necessarily have to be a first appearance, but there will be a few of those along the way. The scene itself can be hilarious, frightening, cute or just plain cool - what matters is that it leaves a lasting impact on the audience.
#10: Dio Brando
“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures” (2012-)
While the Pillar Men certainly made a fabulous entrance befitting of this awesome but unusual series, there’s no one that can dethrone the dastardly and finely dressed vampire, Dio Brando. Decades after the death of the Johnathan Joestar, this vampiric scoundrel is still in the business of tormenting his descendants and their allies. Appearing before Jotaro’s ally, Jean-Pierre Polnereff, Dio reveals just a fraction of his power, and in typical Dio fashion it involves plenty of MENACING. As his Stand is revealed, Dio demonstrates his mastery of time manipulation in a small but impactful way. Walking down a set of stairs has never been so terrifying.
#9: Rikka Takanashi
“Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!” (2012-13)
Life can be a little mundane at times. Sometimes you just stare at the night’s sky and hope something new will come your way. For Yuuta Togashi, that wish came true in the form of a peculiarly dressed girl climbing down onto his balcony. After a series of miscommunications we see the delightfully delusional Rikka invite Yuuta to return to a world of make-believe that he’s trying ever so hard to forget. This scene may perhaps be the cutest entrance anime...or weirdest, we’re still deciding.
#8: Levi
“Attack on Titan” (2013)
When your enemies are giants that hunger for human flesh, you need to be a special kind of badass to keep it cool. Standing above all others is Levi of the Survey Corps. When we are first introduced to this rather short and grumpy captain, he gave us enough reason to believe taking on titans is just second nature to him – he is damn good at killing them. Able to slice them to pieces with extreme precision and speed, fans actually had a reason to believe that humanity could survive as long as this guy was leading the charge.
#7: Haruko Haruhara
“FLCL” (2003)
The moment when the series descended into complete insanity can be pinpointed when we were introduced to the bass-playing, Vespa scooter-riding, heroine, Haruka. More specifically when she collides with the withdrawn Naoto. In the space of about a minute she runs him over with her scooter, performs CPR, and slams him over the head with her bass guitar…which consequently turns his head into a dimensional gateway for all manner of crazy stuff to come out of. Yep, that’ll set the tone of the show alright.
#6: Char Aznable
“Gundam: The Origin” (2015-)
He’s the iconic poster boy of the Gundam franchise that continues to overshadow all who have come after him. Is it any surprise that The Red Comet’s origin story opens with one of the coolest displays of power? Char makes his debut in the midst of a mind-blowing space battle between the struggling Zeon forces and the mighty Earth Federation. Char weaves through enemy forces and proceeds to shoot down any enemy ships he comes across. The lush animation and rapid pace fully captures Char’s prowess as an ace pilot, in a scene that may even surpass his confrontation with Amuro in the original.
#5: Saber
“Fate/Stay night: Unlimited Blade Works” (2014-15)
It isn’t easy being Shiro Emiya. Having your family die in a fire, struggling to remain loyal to your ideals of justice, and later being stabbed in the heart by a lance. Despite growing up under the tutelage of veteran Kiritsugu, he wasn’t exactly ready to become a participant in the Fifth Holy Grail War. Attacked once again by Lancer, he inadvertently summons his Servant, who happens to be the tough-as-nails Saber. After elegantly materializing, she wastes no time in proving her worth as a warrior and badass in general by dispatching their attacker – and asking that unforgettable question...
#4: Naruto Uzumaki
“Naruto Shippuden” (2007-)
There have been many times when this knuckleheaded ninja has leapt in out of the blue to save the day. However, this is the one where he showed he was no longer a child, but a great ninja. Amidst the ruins of the Hidden Leaf Village, adjourned in a new look and showing mastery of Sage Mode, Naruto arrives on the head of a gargantuan toad. It’s the perfect start to what would turn out to be an epic fight against the unparalleled Pain. Who knew he had it in him?
#3: Team Rocket
“Pokemon” (1997-)
Oh these lovable losers. Where would Pokemon be without them? The trio of Jessie, James and their talking feline, Meowth, have had only one goal in life for the past twenty years - to capture that Pikachu. Of course when the series first started, there was an actual air of threat to them. Ever since their debut, the iconic motto has become something of a routine – albeit with slight changes every now and then. It’s a much a part of the series as the Pokemon themselves. Thanks for everything Team Rocket, now kindly blast off again.
#2: Kamina
“Gurren Lagann” (2007)
One of the greatest things that this anime ever contributed was the universally loved character of Kamina. What was there not to like? He was constantly sure of who he was as a human being, his confidence could never be shaken, and overall just a man among men. Which is what made his death so damn shocking. To our delight, he returned to the series briefly when Simon and the others are trapped in a multiverse of the Anti-Spiral’s making. Even if he isn’t exactly alive, the spirit of Kamina manages to reinvigorate Simon, allowing the team to break free of the illusion and finish the fight.
Before we reveal our number one pick, here are a few honourable mentions.
Shinobu Oshino
“Nisemonogatari” (2012)
Luke Ainsworth
“The Sacred Blacksmith” (2009)
Nono
“Diebuster” (2004-06)
Vegeta
“Dragon Ball Z” (1989-96)
The Whitebeard Pirates
“One Piece” (1999-)
Ragyo Kiryuin
“Kill la Kill” (2013-14)
#1: Toyotomi Hideyoshi
“Sengoku Basara 2” (2010-11)
This particular period of Feudal Japan is depicted as being one of bloodiest in all of history. With mighty samurai and warlords battling for unification or personal gain, there are a number of characters from this series who could be contenders for this top spot. But how could we not, in good conscience, give it to the giant of a man who can punch away an entire sky filled with arrows. With a power-level bordering on the ridiculous, Hideyoshi makes one hell of a first impression. In the midst of so many warring clans, maybe the guy who can break apart the earth and sea like it were paper should be the one sitting on the throne.
