One of the reasons people love anime is for the memorable characters, whether they're magical girls, concerned parents, or lovable animals. A common trope in anime is the Idiot Hero, a protagonist who acts stupid but is actually smart. Some have a highly attuned skill that few others possess, or a secret identity that they cover with an airhead act. This character might even be some sort of genius, but they hide it as a way to obscure their motives or further their plans.Idiot Heroes appear in every kind of anime, and though they often function as comic relief, they aren't any more common in comedy anime than in other genres. In fact, they are often the stars of serious and even terrifying animated shows. They can be most effective when story takes a surprising turn, and the audience learns that the goofy character isn't what they appeared to be.
10 L, Death Note
Almost everyone was fooled by L's initial act in Death Note, even Light himself. L pretended to be just another LEO in a suit when he called Kira out during a television broadcast, and Light walked right into his trap.
That was how the audience was first introduced to L, and his intellectual prowess was always an interesting contrast to how socially awkward he was. He would have beaten Light, too, if it hadn't been for that pesky second Shinigami.
9 Usagi Tsukino, Sailor Moon
When Naoko Takeuchi first created the character of Usagi, she wanted her to be as average and unremarkable as possible. That's one of the reasons she spends most of Season 1 of Sailor Moon being such a ditz. It's intended to be a twist when she turns out to be the leader of the Senshi, Neo-Queen Serenity, and eventually the Messiah.
Usagi actually has a character arc that be can traced from the start of the series. When it comes to leadership skills and understanding the nuance of a tense situation, she might be one of the smartest characters in anime history.
8 Pikachu, Pokemon
He's little more than the cute sidekick at first, but there's more to this adorable pocket monster than meets the eye. Pikachu is one of the few Pokemon who can have a conversation with his owner, though everything he says has to be translated through Ash Ketchum, and he actually has some smart things to say.
Pickachu might be comparable to other characters that have a lot to say with a limited vocabulary, like Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, but he really has more in common with characters like Yoda. He's the brains of the team and contributes a lot in the way of advice and wisdom, like the rationale he made for refusing to evolve.
7 Maes Hughes, Full Metal Alchemist
When the audience first meets Maes in Full Metal Alchemist, he's giggling over the phone about how deeply in love he is with his wife. For a guy who's supposed to be having a serious chat with a superior officer, he comes off as a total clown. Playing the fool is how Maes gets close to his enemies, but he was easily one of the smartest characters in the show.
His demeanor changes completely when his real mission starts. In a flash, Maes turns into a badass secret agent who's savage with only three inches of honed steel. Even the Homonculous fall for his act. Maes could be the only normal human who made a mark on Envy, one of anime's most powerful antagonists.
6 Joseph Joestar, JoJo's Bizzare Adventure
Most of the protagonists in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure represent the Idiot Hero in some form, ranging from the pure-hearted innocent to the cold, calculated planner who's feigning naivete. Joeseph Joestar is the latter.
He's the grandson of the original protagonist Jonathan, who was a great example of the good-hearted fool who gets played but perseveres. Joseph, on the other hand, has learned from his grandfather's flaws and only pretends to be an idiot. His planning and strength, which is hidden under a rebellious nature that came from a rough upbringing, can seem like stupidity — but it's all a part of the plan.
5 King Bumi, Avatar: The Last Airbender
There's some debate on whether or not Avatar: The Last Airbender is an anime, but as a serialized animated series featuring a kid with magical powers, it earns a spot on this list. Bumi's whole thing is playing the fool, but not just any fool. ​​​​​When the audience first meets Bumi, he's a unhinged and erratic, the stereotype of a mad king.
King Bumi's chaotic nature is what keeps his enemies guessing. However, he's not only one of the most powerful Earthbenders alive, but he's also a clever tactician and a meticulous planner who is instrumental to Aang's success.
4 Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece
Also known as Straw Hat Luffy, or just Luffy, the main protagonist of One Piece not stupid as much as he is silly and carefree. Luffy is the kind of guy who constantly overeats and occasionally acts impulsively, but he's never impetuous or irresponsible when it comes to protecting his crew and his friends.
Luffy seems to enjoy acting like an idiot sometimes, just because it's fun. Secretly, though, he's very shrewd and courageous, as he has shown plenty of times throughout the series' impressively long run.
3 Goku, Dragon Ball
Oh, sweet little Goku! This aspect of his character is pretty consistent, and doesn't just refer to child Goku from the original Dragon Ball series. There is that whole matter of getting dropped on his head as an infant, but apparently, that had the beneficial side effect of making him a hero as opposed to a villain.
Goku is one of those lovable idiots who gets easily taken in by more intelligent and malicious characters, but it's not because he's stupid. It's only because his optimistic nature keeps him from suspecting bad intentions.
2 Gourry Gabriev, Slayers
Every party needs a tank, and anime fans who are also into RPGs will appreciate the character of Gourry for just this reason. He's the classic Fighter: a bit slow on the uptake with most things, but when it comes to his sword, he's an expert.
Gourry has an uncanny ability to know exactly where to strike his foes, almost like he has a permanent Alert or True Strike buff. That's ideal when the adventuring party needs a tank, and with the DPS powers of Lina Inverse, Gourry can really show off his prowess as a master in combat.
1 Kotetsu, Tiger and Bunny
Also known as Wild Tiger, the name of his superhero persona, Kotetsu's biggest problem is that he's just too good a person to be on television. It makes him look like a naive fool because he's in over his head when it comes to the pressure and publicity of sponsors and commercials, but it's because he's awkward as opposed to simple.
Kotetsu is the only superhero who seems to understand what true heroism is, as opposed to the other so-called "heroes" who just want to impress their sponsors, including Bunny. Wild Tiger is actually the smart one, it's everyone else on Tiger and Bunny who's stupid.