The realm of anime is filled to the brim with some of the best stories, worlds, fight scenes, romances, and everything else along the same lines. However, the first thing that comes to mind when people talk about the amazing facets of anime is definitely the character designs that are present in these shows. For the most part, characters that are present in anime are extremely unique, with striking designs that are bound to be memorable for all the right reasons.
As a result, several characters end up being highlights of their show mainly due to the striking nature of their designs. Keeping this in mind, here are some of the most engaging and entertaining character designs of all time.
Updated February 17, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: The artistic zeal behind most anime means that these shows are going to be full of breathtaking characters who are absolutely brilliant to look at. The sheer amount of work and effort that goes into these character designs is clear for everyone to see, with each minute detail standing out in its own unique way. Out of the wealth of beautiful and awe-inspiring designs around, the following characters are quite unique. With the wide array of anime art styles and character designs out there, this list has been updated to include more characters from shows spanning a variety of genres.
15 Takeo Gouda (My Love Story)
For an anime grounded in realism, Takeo Gouda certainly stands out in a unique way. His broad and muscular figure seems natural and impressive in a pretty realistic fashion, unlike the exaggeration found in most anime.
Given how brawny he looks, it's surprising that Takeo is actually a kind and understanding person. He's extremely gentle and has a strong code, which makes him a very intriguing character.
14 Goblin Slayer (Goblin Slayer)
There are several reasons why the first season of Goblin Slayer garnered so much attention. Aside from the controversy surrounding the nature of the material, the titular protagonist's iconic design was also quite striking, catching viewers' attention
Given the gritty nature of the anime, it made sense for a character to be absolutely coated in metal armor. With this base, the titular Goblin Slayer has donned a suit that has become synonymous with the show itself.
13 Shigeru Akagi (Akagi)
The idea of someone gambling their actual life is a wildly engaging concept, and something that Akagi brilliantly executes. It's a great show that fans of thriller anime should check out, both for its narrative and for its art style.
Main character Shigeru Akagi has a striking and unique design, which somehow fits the background of a great gambler who won't shy away from risking it all. He's a great character who adds to the quality of this brilliant show.
12 Iyami (Mr. Osomatsu)
A comedy series that will make anyone chuckle, Mr. Osomatsu is a pretty offbeat show that can serve as a break from the usual grittiness of popular anime. It features several characters with excellent designs, making it hard to pick a solitary one.
Iyami is definitely a great pick here, with his personality exuding through his very design. He's a hilarious antagonist who looks despicable and fits the part well.
11 Elias Ainsworth (The Magician's Bride)
People who want to see an example of a truly wild and interesting character design should look towards The Ancient Magus' Bride. There's one particular character that is bound to catch everyone's attention, and it's pretty obvious who it is.
Elias Ainsworth has a mysterious origin which is reflected in his unique design. He has the skull of a wolf with the horns of a goat, and is one of the best characters in the entire show.
10 Naruto During The Pain Arc (Naruto)
Naruto's design was pretty stellar as a kid, although his character did end up taking a step back visually once he grew up. However, this minor issue was rectified when Naruto debuted his new outfit during the Pain arc.
Naruto's new get-up was a thing of beauty, sporting colors that the ninja had never worn before. This, coupled with an impressive scroll on his back turned him into one of the best-looking characters during the greatest Naruto arc ever.
9 Ryuk (Death Note)
Death Note is one of the most popular shonen anime of all time. The battle of wits between Light and L is a thing of beauty that almost always delivers.
Of course, the shinigami of the show also elevate its quality to a whole new level. Ryuk's design is especially striking, with most viewers not getting enough of this amazing character and his devilish personality.
8 Super Saiyans (Dragon Ball)
Dragon Ball is a legendary shonen series that peaked with Dragon Ball Z. Watching Goku and his friends fight against overpowering odds and coming out victorious never ceases to be entertaining.
One of the best fights in the series has to be Goku's battle against Frieza, where the Saiyan unlocked a new level of power after witnessing Krillin's death. Super Saiyan's introduction in the series was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy, further accentuated by its iconic design.
7 Dio Brando (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a show that's filled to the brim with incredible character designs. In fact, the style of this show is so immense that trying to choose just one character out of the lot can be a massive challenge.
However, Dio is a great choice out of the many amazing characters on this show. His villainous persona absolutely oozes out of every pore, and his character design is reflective of that.
6 Saber (Fate/Stay Night)
Fate/Stay Night is a popular anime based on a video game of the same name. The first anime to come out for the series featured Shirou Emiya being thrust into the Fifth Holy Grail War and almost dying during these battles.
However, the appearance of his servant, Saber, changed things. Her character design made it clear that she was not someone to be trifled with, and the manner in which her relationship grew with Shirou was a thing of beauty.
5 Yusuke's Demonic Form (Yu Yu Hakusho)
Yu Yu Hakusho is a legendary anime featuring the story of Yusuke Urameshi as he came back from the dead to become a Spirit Detective. The storyline of this series might dip in the final arc, but the series as a whole is pretty solid.
Yusuke is undoubtedly the show's biggest highlight, with his transformation being quite notable. Watching the protagonist channel Raizen's powers to transform into a demonic being is quite awe-inspiring, and it's a shame that this form didn't get the love it deserved after its reveal.
4 Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Fullmetal Alchemist is a series that is bursting with amazing character designs. As the protagonist, Edward is easily one of the most engaging characters on the show.
It helps that his persona is also pretty engaging in its own right, along with his character design being quite unique. Not many male characters in anime look a lot like Edward.
3 Saitama (One-Punch Man)
It takes some serious artistic chops to make a bald person look hilarious and intimidating at the same time. This is precisely what One-Punch Man accomplishes with the artwork of Saitama.
The protagonist of this show is the beating heart that drives all the events of the series. His humorous persona makes for one of the most entertaining aspects of the show by a country mile.
2 Shoto Todoroki (My Hero Academia)
My Hero Academia is a great anime that takes the concepts of superheroes and weaves them in a fresh and exciting manner. Given the ostentatious nature of some of the heroes in this show, several worthy candidates can take over the crown of being the most well-designed character on the show.
However, Shoto is in a class of his own. The perfect child that Endeavor strived to "create" has a simple yet striking look that makes him a standout character in the show.
1 Akira (Devilman Crybaby)
Devilman Crybaby is one of the most gruesome watches anyone can expose themselves to. The show looks at the monstrous nature of man and wastes no time in showing viewers just how brutal things can be.
At the heart of this show is Akira, the half-man half-devil who shows that his morals are way more defined than the other regular humans around. His character design might be great, but it's truly heartbreaking to see how his story evolves over the course of the show.