There are many brilliant anime about kings and queens, however, there are only a few great leaders who truly became unforgettable anime kings. Anime fans could meet some of the most iconic royal families in anime but not all great kings had royal blood. Some of the most powerful anime kings fought hard and used their unmatched intellect and supernatural abilities to achieve their goals.

While some kings in anime are traditional kings there are also all sorts of royal leaders that anime lovers could get to know while watching fantasy, isekai, and the best historical anime shows. From the best anime kings to the worst, viewers could meet mighty, cute yet powerful kings and even anime demon kings who decided that instead of protecting others they'll use their might to cause pain and mayhem.

Updated on February 14, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The sheer number of memorable characters in anime can truly boggle the mind. It's easy to see why people get attached to certain characters while actively hating others. Royalty has been depicted time and time again in anime, with some kings being either beloved or reviled for their actions. Regardless of what most people may feel about some of the most iconic kings in anime, there's no denying that these characters have become such a phenomenon for a reason.

13 King Cold

Lord Frieza's Father

Frieza was one of the toughest antagonists that the Z Warriors had to deal with. Goku had to unlock a whole new level of power to attain victory, which is why the saviors of Earth were horrified to find out that Frieza was landing on the planet with a power level that was comparable to his own.

King Cold's appearance in Dragon Ball Z was brief but memorable, with many people remembering Frieza's father and how fearsome he looked. However, with the advent of Future Trunks, both Frieza and his father were made to look like absolute chumps when faced with the might of a Super Saiyan.

12 Charles Zi Britannia

98th Emperor Of The Holy Britannian Empire

Code Geass is a mind-bending thriller with mecha elements that fans absolutely love. After getting the power of Geass, Lelouch decided to try and usurp the throne from his father, only for the emperor to show him just how out of his depth he really was.

With a single use of his Geass, Charles zi Britannia rewrote his son's memories and sent him back to square one. Lelouch had to rise from the ashes once again, acutely aware of just how powerful his tyrannical father was.

11 Yhwach

Emperor Of The Wandenreich

After the horrible Fullbring arc, it was clear that Kubo needed to bring out the big guns for the next arc, and that's exactly what he did. Yhwach was a powerful antagonist who wasted no time in establishing himself as a threat to all of Soul Society.

The effortless manner in which he cut Captain-Commander Yamamoto down was a harrowing moment that served as a wake-up call to the other Shinigami. They needed to hone their skills to even stand a chance against the son of the Soul King, with Ichigo pushing himself to the next level to even stand a chance against this imposing threat.

10 King Vegeta

Ruler Of Planet Vegeta

Fans could meet all kinds of powerful characters while watching the best Dragon Ball movies and shows but very few leaders were as memorable as King Vegeta. He is the mighty king of the Saiyan race who ruled Planet Vegeta and created a militaristic culture and strength-driven society.

King Vegeta isn't just a figurehead, but an impressive and powerful warrior himself. He was blessed with the iconic Saiyan combat prowess, that made him one of the most feared rulers who ever lived. However, beneath his battle-hardened exterior, he was a caring father who truly loved his son and had a genuine concern for his people's future. King Vegeta's legacy goes beyond his royal lineage, and thanks to his resilience and power he was able to create a powerful kingdom in the face of overwhelming odds.

9 King Bartra Liones

Eleventh King Of The Kingdom of Liones

The Seven Deadly Sins' mighty King Bartra Liones is the ruler of the Kingdom of Liones. Bartra is known for his deep sense of justice, wisdom, and his uncanny ability to foresee the future through visions, a trait that deeply influences his decisions as a king. While he was considered controversial due to his prophecies, he always tried to make sure that his people lived peacefully and happily.

King Bartra Liones had a gentle demeanor, and he always held immense faith in the Seven Deadly Sins, especially when many others doubted them, since thanks to a prophecy he knew they would be the kingdom's salvation. He's much more than a traditional stoic king since he's a perfect blend of a caring father, a wise leader, and a prophetic sage.

8 Karl Fritz

The Tyrannical And Cruel Eldian King

Attack on Titan not only had one of the most iconic anime guilds but also the anime world's most mysterious king, Karl Fritz, who was a fascinating but troubled character. He was the 145th king of Eldia and played a crucial role in the series' history. Thanks to the constant war and bloodshed caused by the Titans, King Fritz became disillusioned and decided that it was best if they retreat to the island of Paradis.

In the possession of the immense power of the Founding Titan, he erected the now iconic massive walls, Maria, Rose, and Sheena, while using countless Colossal Titans to then wipe the memories of the Eldians within the walls to give them a semblance of peace, free from the knowledge of the world outside. King Fritz was a pacifist by nature, whose story shows the complexities of peace, sacrifice, and the moral dilemmas leaders must face in times of war.

7 King Cobra

The Twelfth King Of The Arabasta Kingdom

King Cobra was one of the fairest and most patient kings in anime who deeply cared not only about his own family but all people in the Kingdom of Arabasta. He was of royal blood and took his royal duties seriously so much so that he would even sacrifice his life to protect the throne and the kingdom.

While he didn't have superhuman powers he was still a strong king who managed to find his inner strength during dire circumstances. He was one of the kindest characters in One Piece who went on a few fun adventures with the Straw Hat pirates. One Piece is one of the best anime series of all time about Luffy, a young pirate, who embarks on an epic adventure to become the King of Pirates.

6 Sora

King Of The Commonwealth Of Elkia

Sora is one of the youngest and cockiest anime kings who didn't come from a royal family but won his throne thanks to his almost unmatched intellect. He was also one of the most intelligent anime characters who used his wit, charm, and manipulation skills to always get what he wanted.

Sora was also a brilliant gamer who was able to defeat an actual god. No Game, No Life is one of the greatest slice-of-life anime with a unique story and two of the most brilliant queens and kings in anime. The story follows Shiro and Sora who get transported into a new fantasy realm where every dispute is resolved by playing games.

5 Andragoras III

The Eighteenth King Of Pars

Andragoras III is one of the best anime kings of all time who was not only a powerful warrior but also a ruthless king of the Pars kingdom. He was one of the most power-mad anime kings who murdered his brother to get the throne, and he felt he deserved it more than anyone else.

The Heroic Legend Of Arslan is one of the most visually beautiful and twisty military anime series about a young crown prince named Arslan who gets kidnapped from his palace in Pars. When he manages to escape he sets out on a journey that opens his eyes to life beyond his fancy Royal Palace.

4 King Bradley

The Ruthless Fuhrer Of Amestris

King Bradley is one of the strongest and worst anime kings of all time. The ruthless Führer of Amestris had superhuman powers and was the most skilled and powerful swordsman in the series. Since he was one of the homunculi created by Father he had unmatched abilities and was able to easily defeat not only other warriors but even powerful alchemists.

Thanks to the Philosopher's Stone that was infused with Bradley's body he became one of the strongest kings in anime who had superhuman strength and reflexes, and he was also able to anticipate his opponent's moves thanks to his ultimate eye. Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most popular anime franchises ever about the Elric brothers who set out on a journey to find a Philosopher's Stone and get back their original bodies.

3 Muzan Kibutsuji

The Demon King

Muzan Kibutsuji is one of the most ruthless and strongest demon kings in anime. He is one of the most intelligent demons of all time who used his intellect to physically and mentally torture others. He not only despised humans but liked to play with them, and he didn't care much about other demons either.

However, he was also one of the strongest anime kings who used all his deadly might to murder and torture everyone who stood in his way or simply to amuse himself. Demon Slayer is one of the most popular anime shows with iconic anime guilds, mighty and brave heroes, and a deadly anime demon king no viewer will ever forget.

2 Soo-Won

King Of The Sky Tribe

Soo-Won is the proud king of the Sky Tribe who has been working hard to create a strong nation for all his subjects. He came from a long line of royals and was one of the strongest characters in Yona Of The Dawn. Thanks to his intelligence and strategic thinking Soo-Won became one of the best anime kings of all time.

While he was able to be merciless and calculating he was always led by good intentions and wanted to lead his people bravely. Yona Of The Dawn follows the story of a young princess named Yona who has to flee her land after her father gets assassinated. She sets out on an epic adventure to find the four dragons who will help her take back her kingdom.

1 Bojji

King Of The Bosse Kingdom

There is no doubt that Bojji is not only one of the strongest anime kings of all time but also the most intelligent and kindest one. He was the tiny crown prince of the Bosse Kingdom who became king after defeating his mighty father King Bosse. He became one of the youngest anime kings who inspired and motivated fans with his determination.

Even though Bojji was deaf and much tinier than the giants of the Bosse Kingdom he was always hard-working and thanks to his brilliance and good heart he was able to win all his battles. Ranking of Kings is one of the most uplifting and entertaining anime about kings and queens, and it follows the story of Bojji who dreams about becoming a great king just like his father, so he sets out on all kinds of adventures to fulfill his dream.