TOP 10 GREATEST ANIME CHARACTERS

Who are the best characters created in the history of anime? It's a debate that has been held on Internet forums since Internet forums were invented. We thought it was time to revisit this hotly-debated topic and hopefully bring some new perspective to the conversation, so we've compiled a new list of the most original and awesome characters in Japanese animation.

10
Vegeta : First anime appearance: Dragon Ball Z, 1989

Prince of the Saiyans, but forced to play second fiddle to Goku ever since his Google Glass told him that Goku's power level was OVER NINE THOUSAND, Vegeta was often the true outlet for creator Akira Toriyama's creativity. Goku's path as the leading hero and shining light of goodness was pretty straightforward, but Vegeta progressed along a different road with many twists and turns. He started out as the iconic, typical bad guy. But over the course of his history he switched sides and became first a hesitant ally, then a frenemy, and loving father.
Still, he couldn't quit being bad cold turkey, and there were times when he went back to being a bad guy. But at the heart of his wicked ways was a deeply rooted inferiority complex; he was the prince of the Saiyans, and yet overshadowed by Goku at every turn. His ego couldn't take it for years, until finally he matured and realized he didn't have to define his life that way.

9
Kakashi Hatake : First anime appearance: Naruto, 2002

It's tough to outshine a lead character in his own series, but Kakashi pulled it off and often outranked Naruto in popularity polls. He's a complex character, with an iconic character design and a laid back attitude that just exudes cool. He's the kind of teacher everyone wishes they had; smart, relatable, chill, and utterly devoted to his students. He's saved Naruto's bacon countless times during his journey to maturity. Where Naruto himself was formulaic and predictable, Kakashi had many surprising traits that helped him steal the show (including his habit of reading erotic love novels).
Kakashi has a storied history that's full of sadness, loss, and retribution. Some of the most poignant stories in the Naruto lore involve Kakashi's past. From the story of Kakashi's father's suicide, to the tale of how he aquired the Sharingan and his eye scar, Kakashi has always proven to have many tales to tell despite his quiet demeanor. He's got enough interesting back story to have a series of his own (which many Naruto fans would no doubt love).

8
Edward Elric :
First anime appearance: Fullmetal Alchemist, 2003

Wildly ambitious, wickedly smart, and wise beyond his years, the precocious Edward Elric entered the stage with a fresh take on the modern shonen anime hero. Unlike those who came before him, he wasn't the lovable but dim-witted guy with a heart of gold. He was smart, calculating, arrogant, and shrimp sized. But most daring of all was the fact that Edward is technically handicapped, having had both an arm and a leg lost in a tragic accident fueled by love and hubris.
In Edward we had a character who was truly multidimensional. He could be comedic and pull off wild takes and sight gags. He could be placed in the most tragic circumstances and portray the deepest kind of sadness. He could be a complete badass, but he could also be the nicest guy on the planet. And most of all we saw Edward discover harsh truths about the world, and learn that he didn't know nearly as much as he thought he did.

7
Light Yagami : First anime appearance: Death Note, 2006

Diabolical, calculating, and determined to remake the world in his own image, Light Yagami was the force that drove Death Note and made it a phenomenon. The manga was incredibly addictive; it was absolute can't-put-it-down material (largely due to author Tsugumi Ohba's masterful use of cliffhangers). The story heavily relied upon Light's cleverness, and the layers upon layers that comprised his plans. Light started out as a good kid, doing well in school and heading to a bright career in police work like his father. But when he gets possession of the death note, he begins a remarkable transformation into a disturbing mastermind who becomes judge, jury, and executioner for the entire world.
But Light's character remains complicated throughout the story. His ultimate goal is to make the world a happier, safer place; a noble goal but perhaps misguided. His idealism and nobility still shine through when he doesn't have the Death Note. When he temporarily relinquishes ownership of the death note to throw L off his trail, Light loses all memory of the death note and he reverts to his normal personality. His sense of morality returns and he shows more compassion for those around him. He even refuses to use Misa Amane to get information out of her when L asks him to. These qualities help to create a complex character who ends up being a detestable villain, yet you still kind of root for him to come out of this story as a winner.

6
Goku : First anime appearance: Dragon Ball, 1986

Arguably the archetype of modern shonen anime lead characters, Goku was somewhat of an innovative creation back in his day. When the plucky, pint-sized kid Goku first appeared in Dragon Ball, the trend for male heroes was to have larger than life muscle heads (which Goku ironically turned into in his adulthood). Goku also grew up; another drastic change in a time when characters rarely changed much.
But Dragon Ball Z is where Goku truly earned his fame. Goku isn't even the most popular character in DBZ sometimes, but he is the foundation of the series. His heroism, strength, and dedication make him the perfect core for a kid's show where the themes are meant to be pretty simple. He may not be the most complex character in anime history, but he's perfect for the goal he was meant to accomplish. But Goku isn't ranked so high so much for his complexity; it's his influence that cannot be denied. He was, in many ways, a character that bucked the trends of his time and defined the direction of shonen manga/anime for decades. The creators of Naruto, One Piece, and many other manga/anime have openly admitted that Goku heavily influenced their stories and character designs.

5
Alucard : First anime appearance: Hellsing, 2001

There have been many vampires in anime, but none have been as deliciously sadistic as Alucard. He revels in his battles, enjoying every moment of them. He doesn't sparkle in the sunlight, and he doesn't make women fall madly in love with him. He's just a demon who enjoys being given full reign to destroy other monsters in any way he sees fit, which usually involves him playing with them.
Alucard is practically invincible, which would normally be boring. But Alucard uses that invincibility to dramatic effect as he often lets his opponents damage him, only to regenerate and take utter delight in their disappointment when they thought victory was so close. This vampire doesn't just feed on blood; he revels in the despair of his enemies. It's fortunate that he's a "good" guy.
But there are softer sides to Alucard too. He has a great fondness for the members of his team who are devoted to destroying the forces of evil who threaten humanity. Even though the anime version of Alucard mentions that he doesn't entirely understand humans anymore, he seems happy to work in the service of them, and to protect them from devils who aren't as honorable as he is.

4
Vash the Stampede : First anime appearance: Trigun, 1998

Ever the reluctant fighter, Vash was a living contradiction. He's gifted with superhuman fighting abilities, but also a superhuman capacity for compassion and kindness. He's a character who suffered countless scars and wounds to his own body to protect others, even the very villains he was trying to stop. His vow to never take a life provides plenty of drama in the series as his enemies use his virtue against him.
Vash is called "the humanoid typhoon" because utter destruction tends to follow him wherever he goes, and there's a huge bounty on his head. But in reality he's humanity's secret guardian angel on the distant, wild planet of Gunsmoke. As a "Plant", he's a being with power that few can comprehend. He's the greatest gunman on the planet, and all the criminals he faces don't stand a chance against him. But Vash's true challenge is in saving the world from his "brother" Knives, and it's this conflict that brings out Vash's real heroism. The tale of Vash's childhood and his mother figure Rem is a great story, as is the story of how Knives ended up being the polar opposite of Vash. Although Vash is often portrayed as a childish goofball, in reality he's a very complex and tortured character who is doing his best to save people who never even know what he's done for them.

3
Eikichi Onizuka : First anime appearance: Great Teacher Onizuka, 1999

He'd never be able to help you with geometry or neoclassical art studies, but he can teach more life lessons than damn near anybody. Onizuka ranks right up there with the great eccentric teachers of fiction; Keating from Dead Poets Society, Wayne Kotter, etc. But where those other teachers were just unorthodox academics, Onizuka is straight up gangster (like, literally, he was in a gang right before he decided to become a teacher). He wouldn't have even passed college if he hadn't cheated.
So, how did a guy like this get into teaching? For women, of course. At least, that was his original intent. Once he starts getting into the profession he discovers that his street-wise perspective can actually help kids with the challenges of adolescence. Onizuka is put in charge of a class so bad it had already driven several teachers insane by the time he got there (and this is at a private school). But Onizuka handles those brats like a boss and he ends up befriending his students.

2
Lelouch Lamperouge : First anime appearance: Code Geass, 2006

The first of the maniacal and murderous masterminds on this list (but not the only one), Lelouch was one of the best examples of a hero gone astray. As often happens in dramatic stories, his good intentions paved a road to a dark place. The words "the ends justify the means" were his mantra, but his desire to right wrongs and create a better world for his sister led him to become the exact kind of despot that he was trying to fight against.
His rise and downfall is almost Shakespearean in nature, as his own pride and arrogance cloud his judgment and he misses out on what was truly important. But at least he did it all with a sense of dramatic flair! His alter ego Zero, complete with mysterious helmet and flowing cape, was an iconic tool to secure a place in the psyche of both his enemies and his followers. But it wasn't just a costume; slowly Zero becomes a persona for Lelouch until eventually the hopeful boy he was starts to fade away. In the end, Lelouch's plans are successful, though not in the way anyone ever expected

1
L : First anime appearance: Death Note, 2006

Every good lead character needs a challenge, and L provided the opposition that the Death Note series required to captivate fans. L was an oddball, for sure. Unkempt hair, a disdain for shoes, and a penchant for crouching on chairs and eating junk food. He wasn't exactly the image that brings to mind "master detective", but geniuses often are quite eccentric, and L certainly was a good contrast to Light's sociopathic personality and the mask of perfection he wore. L was weird, a little creepy, and badly in need of some sun, but he was the good guy, and the pretty boy was the one trying to kill everybody.
L was every bit as brilliant as Light, and the battle of wits between them created a dramatic tension that just keep fans starving for more. If it hadn't been for Light's supernatural help, L might have won in the end.