Every few years, a new character will walk into the spotlight and forever alter the landscape of anime and manga. While a lot goes into writing a character, and making them effective enough to connect with several different generations of fans,their design is arguably the most important piece of the puzzle.
Whether they set new fashion trends, are incredibly eye-catching, or simply look cool, only a few select characters are able to appear on the scene and immediately make themselves known to the larger anime community. Some may be complex, while others are simple but effective, but either way, these 10 characters shaped the industry.
10Saitama
One Punch Man, Animated by Madhouse and J.C.Staff, Based on the Manga by ONE
There isn’t a ton of room left for innovation when it comes to superheroes, which makesOne Punch Man’s Saitama such a refreshing satirical take on the genre. On the surface, there isn’t much about him that screams ‘cool’, but rather it’s his absolute unwillingness to fit within typical superhero standards that makes him a badass.
His all-yellow get-up and white cape aren’t exactly special, and his exaggerated rounded facial features aren’t the most intimidating. Nevertheless, nothing about Saitama dares to communicate to the audiencethat he’s as strong as he is, and there’s something undeniably cool about that.
9Vash the Stampede
Trigun, Animated by Madhouse, Based on the Manga by Yasuhiro Nightow
Trigunis packed with style, edge, and that unmistakable ’90s aesthetic that anime fans adore, and that’s reflected in its protagonist, Vash the Stampede. The decade that saw the peak of anime Space Westerns, including the release of the 1998 classicCowboy Bebop, set new standards with flashy, stylish visuals, andTrigunis no exception.
Vash is incredibly powerful, and his appearance mostly reflects that. However,Trigun’s leading character is actually a pacifist, and, despite his intimidating stature, is a goofy, lighthearted presence, which only further helps to get viewers on his side.
8Naruto
Naruto, Animated by Pierrot, Based on the Manga by Masashi Kishimoto
Narutois one of the most successful anime and manga franchises in history, and for good reason. The series helped to shape the landscape of battle shōnen as a member of the ‘big three’, and its protagonist has become instantly recognizable over the years.
At a time when the mainstream view of ninjas typically involved weapon-wielding figures cloaked in black, Naruto burst onto the scene with an unmissable bright orange get-up and his identity out in the open for anyone to see. His design changed slightly over the years, but it remainsone of the most recognizable in anime.
7Rei Ayanami
Neon Genesis Evangelion, Animated by Gainax, Original Anime Series
Neon Genesis Evangelionwas influential for a number of reasons. Not only did it masterfully make use of and deconstruct popular anime tropes of the time, but it also created some new ones that shows would go on to emulate for years to come. One of which has become a popular character archetype known as the Rei Ayanami Expy.
Named afterEvangelion’s instantly recognizable, mysterious, soft-spoken, blue-haired love interest, the Rei Ayanami Expy has appeared in countless anime series over the three decades since she first appeared on-screen. To this day, however, the originalRei remains arguably the most popular version.
6Denji
Chainsaw Man, Animated by MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto
Much like his name suggests, Denji arrived in the pages ofWeekly Shōnen Jumpand took a chainsaw to conventional battle shōnen storytelling. Suddenly, a stream of new stories began appearing which prioritized character-driven narratives over flashy, but occasionally shallow action.
Much of the series' success has to do with Denji’s incredibly striking hybrid design. Just one look at the boy in a shirt and tie with chainsaws sticking out of his limbs and countless anime fans were instantly hooked. Stylish, otherworldly, gory, and undeniably awesome—Denji continues to make a strong first impression on new viewers years after his debut.
5Luffy
One Piece, Animated by Toei Animation, Based on the Manga by Eiichiro Oda
There aren’t many anime or manga series which can boast the sort of successOne Piecehas enjoyed for nearly 30 years. Today, the series remainsWeekly Shōnen Jump’s most popular title, and at the center of that lasting success is its protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy.
Pirates have never typically been viewed as gentle and kind-hearted characters, but Luffy has done quite a bit to change that image throughout the years.
Luffy’s design is relatively simple, yet he and his iconic straw hat have become an unofficial mascot of anime around the world. Pirates have never typically been viewed as gentle and kind-hearted characters, but Luffy has done quite a bit to change that image throughout the years.His many transformationshave also helped to keep his look fresh and exciting.
4Dio Brando
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Animated by David Production, Based on the Manga by Hirohiko Araki
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventuremight be the most surprising massive success in the history of anime and manga, and its striking character designs have something to do with that. Few artists can match the creativity in Hirohiko Araki’s character designs, and the incredible focus put into fashion and other distinct traits which easily separate them.
Dio Brando, the iconic villain ofJojo’s Bizarre Adventure, may just be the best example of Araki’s talent. Despite a handsome, well-dressed, incredibly stylish appearance,Dio is the epitome of pure evil, and it doesn’t take long for his otherwise unimposing air to fill the viewer with dread.
3Motoko Kusanagi
Ghost in the Shell, Animated by Production I.G, Based on the Manga by Masamune Shirow
Ghost in the Shell, likeTrigun, is overflowing with that unmistakable and beloved ’90s aesthetic in many of its adaptations, even those that came out later down the line. As arguably the most popular cyberpunk anime franchise ever,Ghost in the Shellhas been influential across several mediums, and its central character is largely to thank for all of that.
Motoko Kusanagi is the full cyborg protagonist of the series, and her appearance actually changes quite a bit throughout its many installments. Nevertheless, her short hair and stoic demeanor are pretty consistent, and her futuristic sense of style has inspired countless other titles in the cyberpunk genre.
Kusanagi is set to return to screens with another new design inScience Saru’s upcomingGhost in the Shelladaptation, coming to screens in 2026.
2Guts
Berserk, Animated by OLM, Based on the Manga by Kentaro Miura
Despite being one of the most acclaimed and celebrated manga series ever,Berserkhas hada rocky history with anime adaptations. However, despite the quality of the show in which he appears, Guts is always undeniably cool. The troubled swordsman is the epitome of ‘big muscle man with a big sword’, and yet it always just works so well.
Guts is intimidating in stature, and the crazed look on his face in battle often leads others to mistake him for a demon. On the other hand, his many wounds tell a story of struggle on their own, and those who get to know Guts quickly find out that he cares deeply for those around him. There have been quite a few Black Swordsmen since, but none compare to the original.
1Goku
Dragon Ball, Animated by Toei Animation, Based on the Manga by Akira Toriyama
Goku’s design, like Luffy and Naruto after him, is relatively simple. However, his image has become forever burned in the collective mainstream consciousness in areas around the world. From his silhouette alone, both anime fans and those who’ve never seen a second of anime would likely recognize him.
His eventual Super Saiyan transformation, which was in line with Akira Toriyama’s simple but effective designs, changed the battle shōnen genre forever, and opened the door for countless other protagonists to take on powerful forms that were little more than a hair change.
Not many anime franchises can matchDragon Ball’s lasting success, and the light-hearted but immeasurably strong Goku remains one ofanime’s most popular heroesdecades on from his debut.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
