The anime world is incredibly vast, in fact, there are hundreds of series to choose from. No matter the genre, each anime tells a unique story, and each series varies in terms of writing quality, but like all works of fiction, the characters matter the most. The audience relates to characters, and a series that does not have relatable characters is in most cases doomed to fail.
There are many anime characters with outlandish appearances, but there are many more who look like ordinary people. Facial features aside, hair color is a very distinguishing feature, and a large number of characters possess some type of brown hair, just like many people in real life. Not all of these brown-haired characters are memorable, but there are a few that truly stand out.
Updated November 23, 2022 by George Voutiritsas: Hardcore anime fans have likely seen dozens of series over the years, and if that is the case, they have probably noticed a few similarities when it comes to male characters. Many of them have complicated backstories, and a fair number of them possess incredible physical and supernatural abilities. Another common thread is their appearance, specifically their hair color.
It is true that silver-haired male characters receive a great deal of love, but there are plenty of men with brown hair as well, which is understandable since brown is pretty common in real life. Most anime fans know who the best brown-haired male anime characters are, but there are other individuals who also deserve to be mentioned.
15 Shin’ichi Kudo – Detective Conan
Detective Conan's manga is still going after nearly 30 years, and Shin’ichi Kudo has been the main character since the beginning. One night, he took his childhood friend to a theme park and ended up solving a murder. Later that night he was given some untraceable poison. It did not kill him, but it did shrink his body to the point that he looks like a six-year-old.
Shin’ichi does not get scared, even when his life is in danger, and since he was a boy, he was known for being a distant yet cool guy. Prior to the poisoning, he adored the spotlight, but he has gained a great deal of humility since.
14 Seto Kaiba – Yu-Gi-Oh!
Seto Kaiba was technically the first villain to appear in Yu-Gi-Oh!, but he went on to become an anti-hero and one of the original series' best duelists. He is often portrayed as an arrogant and at times selfish character, as evidenced by his need to obtain the fourth Blue-Eyes White Dragon and the Egyptian God Cards.
He may be Yugi's rival, but he will help him if they have a common enemy. He loves his little brother and will go out of his way to save him if he is ever in danger. He even confessed his love for him in a very touching scene. Kaiba also has a soft spot for orphans, mainly because he and his brother were orphaned at a young age.
13 Yamato – Naruto Shippuden
There are quite a few well-written characters in Naruto, and Yamato is without a doubt a hidden gem. When he was an infant, he was abducted by Orochimaru, who turned him into a test subject. He injected Yamato with the 1st Hokage's cells, which is the reason why he can use Wood Release.
He was later found and recruited by Danzo, who treated him like an emotionless killing machine. It was not until Yamato met a young Kakashi that he knew what actual friendship was like. He may act like a stoic and serious individual, but he is actually quite playful.
12 Osamu Dazai – Bungo Stray Dogs
As a member of the Armed Detective Agency, Osamu Dazai helps to solve cases that are too difficult or violent for the police to handle, and these cases tend to involve supernatural beings. Prior to being a detective, Osamu was an executive of the Port Mafia, an underworld organization.
He is a mysterious individual who always keeps his true motives hidden, and he wields a power that allows him to nullify other abilities by simply touching the user. Osamu is a complex and at times conflicted individual, and his comedic actions hide the darkness within him.
11 King – Seven Deadly Sins
When he was first introduced, King felt as though he was not worthy of being the Fairy King, but by the end of the series, he obtained his fully-matured wings and became one of the strongest characters in Seven Deadly Sins. He wields a holy weapon that was crafted from the Sacred Tree, and it can take a number of different forms, each with its own ability.
He loves his little sister, and her initial death stuck with him for a long time. He is very caring, and there are times when he is the only rational member of the group. He loves Diane, but for most of the series, he was afraid to tell her the truth. King may be kind, but he will kill if he is pushed to his limits.
10 Eren Jaeger – Attack On Titan
When Attack On Titan began, Eren wanted to rid the world of Titans to save humanity, but as the series progressed, he became a villain with a justifiable motive. He became a Titan Shifter at a very young age, and he held the power of the Attack and Founding Titans. He later acquires the War Hammer Titan.
With the Founding Titan, he triggers The Rumbling by waking the Wall Titans, and he does this to wipe out humanity in order to save his friends. In reality, though, he wanted his friends to stop him so that the Eldians could be viewed as the world's saviors.
9 Neji Hyuga – Naruto
One of the reasons why the Leaf Village is considered to be the strongest ninja village is because the Hyuga Clan lives there. Every member possesses the Byakugan, an ocular ability that grants the user a nearly 360º field of vision. It also allows the user to see a person's chakra circulatory system.
Neji was considered to be a prodigy because he mastered advanced techniques at a young age despite being part of the clan's branch family. He originally believed that everyone's fate was predetermined, but he changes his view after meeting Naruto. He realizes what true freedom is when he sacrifices himself to save Naruto during the 4th Great Ninja War.
8 Duo Maxwell – Gundam Wing
Many consider Gundam Wing to be one of the franchise's best series, which is understandable seeing as it created a new generation of fans. It was the first series that featured a group of teenagers piloting the iconic mobile suits, and Duo Maxwell piloted the Deathscythe.
Duo is the most sociable of the five pilots, and he looks like a happy, laid-back, and relaxed individual, but he is far more complex. He had a terrible childhood which involved seeing a lot of death, and he chooses to hide that side of himself from others.
7 Tatsumi – Akami Ga Kill!
Akame may be the main character of Akame Ga Kill! but Tatsumi is indeed the dual protagonist. He was raised in a small village, and he travels to the capital of the Empire to make money for his people. While there, he quickly learns how cruel and corrupt the Empire really is.
He ends up joining Night Raid, a covert division of the Revolutionary Army, and he acquires the Incursio Imperial Arm which gives him powerful full-body armor. Tatsumi loses a lot throughout the anime, and he sacrifices himself to protect the capital from its failed Emperor.
6 Kaname Kuran – Vampire Knight
There are several decent vampire anime, including Vampire Knight, which sees vampires and humans attending the same school. Kaname Kuran is one of the only remaining pureblood vampires, and despite his teenage appearance, he is actually over 10,000 years old.
He is a stoic and authoritative individual, but he becomes warm and gentle whenever he is around Yuki. He is also incredibly powerful, as he can control other vampires against their will. He can turn his body into a weapon, use telekinesis, erase memories, and turn other purebloods into humans.
5 Shinichi Izumi – Parasyte -The Maxim-
In Parasyte -the maxim-, small worm-like aliens arrive on Earth and bury themselves within hosts. Once this happens, they travel to their host's head and take over their brain. Shinichi is a high school student, and he managed to stop one of these parasites, but it ended up taking over his right hand instead.
This parasite is called Migi, and the two become reluctant allies, but they do develop a friendly relationship along the way. Shinichi is forced to fight other parasites, who are emotionless and bloodthirsty. Over the course of the series, Migi gains more and more humanity, while Shinichi loses some of his own.
4 Tai – Digimon
Digimon has been popular for a while, but most of the love is directed towards the original series, which has had its own movie, as well as several sequels. Tai is extremely energetic and adventurous, and he is the bearer of the Crest of Courage, which says it all.
He may have issues with Matt, but he is the joint leader of the DigiDestined, and he is partnered with Agumon. Fans watched Tai become more mature with Agumon by his side, and his rivalry/friendship with Matt added a surprising amount of drama to the kid-friendly anime.
3 Shinji Ikari – Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a dark and complex series that sees giant mechs battling against large monsters called Angels. Shinji Ikari is the main protagonist, and he is the pilot of Evangelion Unit-01, which contains the soul of his dead mother.
In the beginning, Shinji's personality is pretty calm and laid-back, but he possesses a great deal of emotional pain and internal fear caused by perceived abandonment issues. His fragile emotional state causes him to shut out the rest of the world, but that does not stop him from trying to save others.
2 Light Yagami – Death Note
Death Note is arguably one of the best mystery anime of all time, and Light Yagami is the center of the entire series. Light was an ordinary high school student until he found a Death Note, and he soon learned that he could use this notebook to kill anyone as long as he knew their name.
He initially killed criminals who had escaped proper justice, but he ended up developing a god complex, and his goal then evolved into creating a utopia filled with people who he deemed to be honest and kind. He becomes a megalomaniac, and worst of all, he becomes the very thing he sought to destroy.
1 Sosuke Aizen – Bleach
Many Bleach fans believe that the series should've ended with Aizen being the final villain, and with good reason. He was the main villain for the majority of the series, and he proved time and time again to be a genius and master manipulator. He also possesses abilities that are otherwordly in terms of strength.
Aizen's power was complete hypnosis, as his sword release allowed him to control all five of a person's senses, and it allowed him to take on some of the series' strongest Bankai. He achieved true immortality, and his goal was to kill the Soul King and replace him.