Top 20 Anime Characters of the Century (So Far)

“Mob Psycho 100” (2016-19)
He’s got no powers to his name, is a con man by trade, has spent most of his life bullshitting friend and foe alike, and yet somehow in a series that features espers who can lift whole cities, Reigan is still the standout character. Compared to everyone else who is trying to exert their psychic abilities to conquer or trying to hide it away, Reigan is world-savvy, has a firm grasp of what it’s like to live in the real world, and likely the only man who can take down a superpowered organisation by breaking down their self-esteem with words alone. He’s no saint, but Mob couldn’t ask for a better mentor.

“My Hero Academia” (2016-)
He dreamed of one day becoming a hero despite not having any powers in a world dominated by them, only to go on to be chosen as the successor to the greatest hero of the age. A humble fanboy at heart, if All Might is the embodiment of the Silver Age superheroes, then Deku is the one to take those ideals into modern times and all the societal perils that come with it. He’s an awkward cinnamon roll at the best of times, but as he’s proven over and over, when the chips are down, he will rise to the occasion and do what’s right, no matter which monster stands in his way. Plus ultra.

“Kaiji” (2007-11)
The undisputed king of losers, who serves as the greatest example of why you never want to get into debt or become a slave to gambling. After falling into financial hell, Kaiji’s only recourse is to battle his way through a series of life or death games for the amusement of the obscenely wealthy. It’s one of the worst predicaments a person can imagine themselves in, and it's where Kaiji as a character thrives; the ultimate underdog scraping by with wit alone, and in that regard we can’t help but feel captivated by his antics. Even if he somehow makes every situation worse with that greed of his.

“One Piece” (1999-)
Alas, Luffy and Zoro made their appearances just before the turn of the new millennium, which means the Straw Hats are out of consideration…but that doesn’t apply to this legend of the golden age of piracy. One of the Four Emperors of the Sea, or just Pops to those who serve under him, despite being well into his twilight years, Edward Newgate is a force of nature. From his Devil Fruit, his size, to the respect he’s garnered the world over. He was willing to go to war with the Navy just to save a single member of his crew, and even when his life was finally snuffed out – he still died standing.

“KonoSuba” (2016-17)
From the very first explosion, this little lady won us over. Oh sure: watching Aqua step her foot in it never gets old, Kazuma is the best example of an anti-isekaier, while Darkness is…well…Darkness, but it’s Megumin with her mischievous nature, earnest love of explosion magic, and theatrics as the supposed best Archmage of the Crimson Demon Clan that continues to endear her to us. She’ll smite down whatever gets in her path, and look adorable while doing it! At least until she faints after a single use. She’s simultaneously the best and worst spellcaster you could want in a party!

“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable” (2016-)
Look, we’d love to put Joseph or Jotaro on here, but they already made animated appearances prior to the 2000s. Not to say that Josuke doesn’t deserve his time in the spotlight, since his JoJo-ness is as good as any of his predecessors. He’s just your average teen...who happens to be blessed with a Stand that can give free hands like nobody’s business, not to mention heal anyone on the verge of death. Truly humble and considerate to the end. Oh, unless you make fun of his hairdo, in which case prepare to die. Not even a mass murderer with a hand fetish that can make people go boom could handle Josuke’s brand of swag.

“Kill la Kill” (2013-14)
On your knees you pigs in human clothing, because Lady Satsuki is about to bring the pain and look damn good while doing it! Ryuko may be a sassy ball of vengeance, but it’s her sister’s ice queen persona, skill with a sword, and inner compassion that left the longer lasting impression. Not only was she a badass with her Kamui, but her dedication to her end goal of liberating the world from her tyrannical mother no matter the cost proved how she was far more than a simple rival for Ryuko to overcome. Put all that together and what do you get? The greatest waifu of the century thus far!

“Monogatari” series (2009-19)
Nowadays there are so many harem protagonists out there you could fill a whole encyclopaedia, most of which you’ll likely find come in various shades of milquetoast. And it is in that capacity that Araragi stands alone. Not only is he part of one of the most visually dynamic franchises in recent memory, but he’s also kind of an asshole. A vampiric asshole who is constantly having to save his love interests from crazy oddities linked to their emotional burdens, but an asshole nonetheless. He screws up, he gets his backside handed to him, he crosses lines no one should when it comes to brushing teeth, and it’s all refreshing to behold.

“Attack on Titan” (2013-)
Eren may be able to transform into a rampaging monster, Mikasa may have abs for days, Armin may have the purest heart in this broken, messed up world, but there’s only one man among the Survey Corp that’s a unit unto himself. Raised in squalor, Levi has seen the ugliest sides of both humans and Titans, and come out of it as a soldier capable of slicing apart both with equal ferocity. He’s a man of few words, but put him in front of an obstacle, and he’ll chop it to bits within the blink of an eye. Pretty sure he single-handedly re-defined what badass could be in his debut alone. If we were Zeke, we’d be sweating bullets.

“Haruhi Suzumiya” series (2006-09)
Brash, arrogant, inconsiderate, and just about the last person you’d want to have the power to rewrite the universe. Haruhi is a lot of things, an unaware God just happens to be one of them. While this might make her sound utterly hateable, and she certainly has her moments, it’s her fascinating exploits with the SOS Brigade that slowly started to endear Haruhi to us, especially when her uncontrollable abilities start flaring up during their high school hijinks. Thanks to the rocky relationship she eventually builds with Kyon, this would-be-deity isn’t so much concerned with dominating all life as she is rewinding time so her summer fun can last forever. Yeah, she’s a headache, but you’ll love her all the same.

“Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood” (2009-10)
While he stole the show back in the day, we can agree this second iteration of the older Elric brother is the definitive take. While his hatred for being called short and eagerness to deliver an automail punch to anyone who wrongs him remains unchanged, what truly elevates this fledgling alchemist above his peers is his unwavering sense of loyalty to his brother, as well as the unspoken guilt he feels due to the childhood mistake that cost both him and Alphonse their bodies. Battle-hardened, unrelenting in his pursuit of the Philosopher’s Stone, and undeniably human no matter how much of him is artificially replaced, you couldn’t ask for a better face for a universally acclaimed franchise.

“Fate” series (2006-)
Considering that by this point there are legions of Saber-class Servants taking part in all manner of Holy Grail Wars located all across this franchise, we’re specifically focusing on Artoria Pendraon – King of Knights, esteemed owner of Excalibur, occasional lover of Shirou, and overall badass capable of bringing down the competition with a single, radiant slash. Just, noble, though not without her fair share of regrets, watching her take on other Servants and Masters in pursuit of her wish will never not be awesome, especially if you delve into her canon of work across Fate/Zero and Unlimited Blade Works.

“Bleach” (2004-12)
Say what you will about the rise and fall of this Big Three juggernaut, its resident strawberry still Bankai’d his way through to become one of anime’s most recognisable bad boys. Between taking down punks during school to invading heaven itself to save his companion from execution, this Substitute Shinigami simply refused to let a little thing like death slow him down. His hilarious interaction with the extensive cast of the Gotei 13 along with iconic battles against the likes of Byakuya, Grimmjow and Ulquiorra elevated him to superstardom in the eyes of fans, something that not even a mismatched series conclusion could take away.

“One Punch Man” (2015-19)
In a time where everyone was becoming a superhero out of a sense of moral responsibility or because they were blessed with great power, seeing some dude in cape do it because it was fun was a much welcome addition. Of course, the fact he can inexplicably wipe out everything in his path with a single strike doesn’t hurt either. In what sounds like it could be a doomed formula, Saitama’s eternal “meh” attitude combined with a total disregard for heroic theatrics somehow resulted in him rising up to become the caped crusader both his world and the anime scene desperately needed. Hard to believe just one punch can cause so much hype.

“Naruto” series (2002-17)
Yeah, yeah, settle down in the back. While a certain orange wearing ninja may be the face of this long-running franchise, it’s his masked mentor that stands tall for not only accumulating some of the best moments, but is just an overall better character! A veteran shinobi, entrusted with the Sharingan by his dying friend, going on to become the unorthodox teacher for the next generation, all the while delivering fight scenes that weren’t only straight fire, but also harboured true emotional weight. Seriously, even a cursory glance at his showdown with Obito still leaves us stunned. Plus, the man is a purveyor of smutty literature. Points for that alone.

“Steins;Gate” (2011)
In our mind, there’s only one person worthy of the title of mad scientist, and it goes to the guy who cracked time travel with nothing more than a microwave and a text message. Upon discovering they can alter timelines via this crazy combo, Okabe and his merry band of misfits revel in their scientific triumph…at least until they start attracting some unwanted, murderous attention from a certain shadowy organisation. This is where Okabe truly comes into his own, for beneath the veneer of a wacko in a lab coat is a sensitive soul who would defy the laws of the universe to save those he loves. Especially if it's Kurisu.

“Gintama” (2006-)
There are comic relief characters who have badass moments, then there are badasses who might crack the occasional joke. Very rarely do you find one who is the embodiment of a savage shounen sword-swinger…who also breaks the fourth wall relentlessly. Whether it's parodying literally everything under the sun or delving into a heart-breaking backstory, Gintoki doesn’t settle for mediocrity. Goes to show that if they’re well-written, even someone willing to troll the audience with a fake movie trailer can have dramatic layers to them. And he’s coming back for another season. God help us.

“Death Note” (2006-07)
Light may be the God of the New World that made us question just how much can we cheer for a nihilist on a bloody crusade, but not for one second did we waver in our support for this oddest of detectives. With unique mannerisms and a dizzying intellect that could even match that of Kira, L was very much the social anomaly, but one with a very traditional sense of justice, making him the perfect opponent for the hubristic Light. No matter what you think of his policy on no socks, his methodical approach and dedication to solving crimes made him a wholly likable figure we could rally behind. No wonder his death crippled so many…

“Gurren Lagann” (2009)
The man was killed off after only eight episodes, and yet his legacy remains strong as ever. That should tell you just how much of a beast Kamina was, serving as an inspiration to the remnants of humanity with nothing more than some nonsensical speeches, hatred for shirts, unfiltered machismo, and genuine love for his kid brother Simon. Sure, he was taken away from us too soon, with none of the other cast “truly” succeeding in measuring up to the shadow left behind, but the fact this goofball still resonates in the minds of fans speaks volumes. He truly did make every moment count. Though we’re guessing he wished he spent way more with Yoko.

“Code Geass” (2006-08)
Emperor. Rebel. Tyrant. Zero. This man was all of these and so much more, all of which culminated in creating the best damn anti-hero to grace anime thus far. Determined to overthrow the Britannian Empire and undo the evils of his own family, Lelouch stoked the fire of revolution by assuming the role of a masked vigilante, who just so happened to be able to control the minds of those who caught in the Geass’ gaze. Of course, you can’t overturn a global superpower without getting blood on your hands, with Lelouch’s constant blurring of the line between saviour and anarchist painting him as the ultimate morally grey lead.