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38 Best Male Anime Characters of All Time

toshiro bleach

In this article, we present the top male anime characters who will set your heart racing and leave you yearning for more. These best anime boys are not just good-looking; they possess a power or a personality that can drive you to obsession, and most of them contribute significantly to the success of their series due to their impact. From overpowering boys and genius individuals to handsome and badass characters, these anime males are truly worth your time!

Without further ado, the following list showcases the most popular male anime characters of all time.

38. Aladdin 

best anime characters

Kicking off the list of the best male anime characters with Aladdin, who is the protagonist of the Magi anime and manga series. He’s a young man with many special powers and was initially raised by Ugo in the Sacred Place, sent to this world to fight Al-Thamen and prevent a repeat of what happened when he was in his home world. Aladdin and his friends go on an incredible and magical journey that sees them experience all sorts of things.

37. Natsu Dragnel 

natsu fairy tail

Natsu Dragneel is a powerful male lead from the popular anime and manga series, Fairy Tail. Natsu was raised by The Dragon Igneel, who was not his biological father but nonetheless cared for him like he was. Igneel left Natsu with Makarov, the guild master of Fairy Tail.

One of the skills the dragon taught Natsu was his heritage as a Dragon Slayer and how to battle with the fire magic using his fists.

36. Osamu Dazai

osamu dazai

Osamu Dazai is the main character in Bungou Stray Dogs. He’s among the hottest male characters in anime history, who is portrayed as a member of the Armed Detective Company and a former Executive of the underworld organization, Port Mafia. As a member of this group, his task consists of taking down supernatural beings that society considered to be a threat.

He’s a badass male anime character who was first introduced as a guy who dreams and plans his own suicide, but later we will know that he is a badass guy who got the power to cancel abilities just by touching them.

35. Kageyama 

badass male anime characters

Kageyama is one of the main protagonists in the anime, Haikyuu! He has a deep passion for volleyball and is determined to help the karasuno’s team great once again. Throughout the series, Kageyama is portrayed as a badass anime guy who struggles with his ego and his need to be recognized as a great player.

Kageyama is an ace setter on the team and is considered one of the most talented players in his grade, but he has a tendency to get too competitive and meltdown when things don’t go his way. He has been working to resolve this issue with the help of his coach, who still believes that Kageyama can be one of the best setters in Japan if he can manage his stress.

34. Tatsumi 

akami-ga-kill

Tatsumi from Akame Ga Kill is a powerful anime male figure, portrayed as a skilled and experienced fighter with a strong sense of justice and a caring personality. He was a former glory seeker who became a revolutionary. Tatsumi’s skills and experience allow him to be a valuable asset to Night Raid. He is often seen taking up the rear during missions, and his goal is to put an end to the corruption of the capital, and he is willing to do anything to get there.

33. Roy Mustang 

mustang fullmetal alchemist

Roy Mustang is one of the most popular male characters in the Fullmetal Alchemist series. He is an op man with a vast and loyal fanbase. Roy Mustang from Fullmetal Alchemist is a Flame Alchemist who can control fire. His power is so strong that he is able to easily incinerate objects, create explosions, and melt metals with his mind.

32. Toshiro Hitsugaya 

toshiro bleach

Who doesn’t love a cute little snow fairy with a huge bad-ass sword? Not only is Toshiro’s noble spirit and skill in battle the talk of the town, but his handsome looks have also earned him a spot on this list of the best anime boys.

One thing you’ll notice about Toshiro from Bleach series, is that he isn’t the strongest when it comes to spiritual power. In fact, he is ranked below the other soul society’s captains in terms of strength. But he makes up for it with his smart decisions.

31. Juuzou Suzuya 

tokyo ghoul

Juuzou Suzuya has been an important anti-hero character in the anime and manga series, Tokyo Ghoul. He is portrayed as a ghoul hunter that has been exterminating ghouls. He is also known as the Quinx hunting dog, and is crazy, insane, and finds happiness in killing ghouls.

He may be ruthless and cold, but frankly speaking, Juuzou Suzuya is one cool dude. He’s one of the most popular anime male characters out there. You may not like what he does at times, but this anime guy knows how to handle himself in tough situations.

30. Kamina 

kamina

Kamina is a badass male character from the anime series Gurren Lagann. He is the leader of the team Gurren Lagann and he seeks to stop oppression by using his skills as a pilot to fight against the antagonist.

The Kamina character from the series Gurren Lagann is a prime example of a memorable male anime character. He has a strong personality that is well represented through his dialogue and actions. He can be seen as a positive role model for people because he always tries to achieve his goals by never giving up.

29. Sebastien

badass anime characters

Sebastian is one of the most popular and hottest male characters from The Black Butler anime series. He’s portrayed as a demon butler to Ciel Phantomhive, who he serves because he made a contract with Ciel when his family was murdered. Sebastian has an eternal flame that can be used to summon his familiars (demon servants that are loyal to him).

He is a good-looking capable fighter and Butler, who provides Ciel with the wise council as well as being a bodyguard and teacher. He has red eyes just like most demons.

28. Yusuke Urameshi 

good anime characters

Yusuke Urameshi is the protagonist of YuYu Hakusho, a manga series that follows his battles against demons. The story begins with Yusuke being hit by a car and dying, but he is resurrected as a Spirit Detective and must fight to capture and seal away evil spirits called Youkai.

He is a perfect example of a good male anime character who has an extensive sense of justice and unbelievable power. He’s a brave individual, always standing for what is right. He has various abilities and possesses super strength. Though he can be at times cocky, his character is pure.

27. Ken Kaneki 

ken kaneki

Tokyo Ghoul is a Japanese manga series by Sui Ishida. It has been adapted into an anime series, which follows Kaneki Ken as he navigates his life as a half-ghoul and half-human hybrid. Kaneki was born human but becomes a ghoul after an incident. He is trying his best to live with ghouls and humans alike but must keep his identity hidden from humans.

26. Hisoka 

anime villain

Hisoka is a unique character in the world of Hunter x Hunter. He is among the craziest male anime characters of all time. In the series, he is a villain hunter, skilled in card magic, and has an unpredictable personality. Hisoka’s hobbies include teasing others and picking on them for his obsessive tendencies.

He joins the Phantom Troupe after getting bored of hunting down evil-doers and he often helps with their schemes in order to make himself feel important.

25. Yato 

op anime characters

Among the most op male anime main characters is Yato, who is a former warlord from the Japanese anime and manga Noragami. His weapon, his Regalia, was fashioned from humans who died fighting against their will. Yato fulfills all your wishes for coins and may even make you fall in love with him if you watch the show.

24. Sakata Gintoki 

sakata gintoki

Gintoki Sakata ifrom Gintama series, is a samurai who was once one of the strongest in the business. He is often seen carrying his bokuto (wooden sword) on his back and has an oversized scabbard for it on his waist. His days as a samurai are long gone. He is now a jack-of-all-trades, from being a samurai to being an artist, from being a teacher to being a bartender. In spite of his many talents, he still carries himself with dignity and style.

23. Izuku Midoriya

best anime characters

Izuku Midoriya, also known as Deku, is the male protagonist of the popular manga series My Hero Academia. The story follows the male lead’s journey to becoming a superhero and focuses on his character development and his relationships with other characters in the series.

Deku is a teenage boy with extraordinary talent and he idolizes his mentor All Might. When Deku was a child, he inherited All for One from All Might and became the successor to his legacy.

22. Spike Spiegel 

cowboy bebop

Spike Spiegel, the male protagonist from the popular anime series Cowboy Bebop, is a bounty hunter. The story follows Spike’s adventures as he travels with his crew on a converted spaceship called Bebop. This anime series is a stylish mix of science fiction and Japanese film noir set in a future universe where bounty hunters search for criminals throughout space colonies and various planets.

He excels with firearms, explosives, and fight skills. His quick wit & cool exterior hides a hardened heart that only cares about his next mission to satisfy his next goal.

21. Kenshin Himura 

kenshin anime

Kenshin is the main character of the anime, Rurouni Kenshin. He is depicted as a former assassin during the Meiji Restoration period in Japan. He is among the noblest male anime characters of all time, as he is portrayed as an honorable warrior with a kind heart who has taken it upon himself to defend Japan from oppression. As he travels the country, he meets many people and has many adventures but will be able to get rid of his bloody past?

20. Saitama 

best male anime characetrs

Saitama is an average, everyday hero. He has no need to do anything extraordinary or heroic because he can defeat any opponent with a single punch. However, even though he’s the strongest man alive, Saitama is bored with his power and has no interest in fighting crime or helping others.

His powers come from a different league and the series begins with a detailed overview of Saitama’s power, which stems from rigorous training. When asked about how it feels to be so powerful, he states that “it feels like nothing.”

19. Meliodas 

meliodas nanatsu no taizai

Meliodas is the captain of the Seven Deadly Sins. He is strong in both physical strength and has a very strong personality. When he was young, he had a hard life with nowhere to call home. He later became the captain of the Seven Deadly Sins after being found by Elizabeth Liones while she was on her quest to find the Seven Deadly Sins.

Captain Meliodas’ calm demeanor might trick you into thinking he’s not a tough fighter. But, one look at him and you realize that’s not true. He frequently manages to get his friends out of tricky situations with his brute strength and skills on the battlefield. Due to his cool appearance and powers, he is very popular among viewers!

18. L Lawlet

best male anime characters

L Lawliet is one of the main characters of the anime, Death Note, and is a highly intelligent and logical male detective with an insatiable thirst for solving complex puzzles. His love of chess leads him to use this game as a metaphor for the battle of wits he has with Kira, the killer who claims to have created a new world without death. L utilizes his vast intellect and skills of deduction, breaking down people’s motives and actions to identify the killer.

17. Eren Jeager 

eren attack on titan

Eren is the main character of the Attack on Titan series. He is a tough, hardcore badass young boy who has the ability to transform into a Titan and also possesses the power to command other Titans.

As a child, Eren watched his mother die in the hands of one of the Titans, His hometown was destroyed by Titans. He Hates Titans! This traumatizing event has led him to develop a natural strength to protect others, and he is always craving revenge.

16. Vegeta 

male anime characters

Vegeta is one of the most iconic male characters in the Dragon Ball anime and manga series. He’s tough, sarcastic, and has plenty of power to destroy planets. Some people might see Vegeta as a representation of the bad boy archetype, but his noble qualities are equally prominent.

The anti-hero Vegeta is a very intelligent and strong warrior, as well as one of the strongest male characters in anime history. He first appears as an antagonist but later becomes a protagonist after changing his ways.

15. Shanks Akagami 

shanks akagami

Shanks Akagami is a former member of Gol D. Roger’s pirate crew and the founder of the Red-Haired Shanks Pirates. In the vast world of the One Piece anime series, there are numerous iconic male characters. However, one of the most renowned is the powerful pirate known as Red-Haired Shanks Akagami. He holds the distinction of being one of the earliest individuals Luffy encountered, quickly developing a fondness for him and eventually becoming his mentor.

Red-haired Shanks is one of the coolest and most op male characters in anime history that I know. He has always been kind-hearted, overpowered, and brave, despite losing his left arm in an attempt to save Luffy from death.

14. Roronoa Zoro 

roronoa zoro - one piece

Roronoa Zoro is one of the most skilled swordsmen characters in the One Piece anime series. He is the first mate of Monkey D Luffy and was the first person to join his pirate crew. Zoro’s fighting style is Santoryu style where he wields three swords, He can use all three at once or fight with just one or two swords sometimes.

Zoro also has great agility and reflexes to match his sword skills, as well as one of the most powerful techniques in One Piece. His dream is to become the greatest swordsman in the world.

13. Kakashi Hatake 

badass anime characters

Kakashi Hatake is one of the most popular male characters in the entire anime and manga series. He is cool, badass and an expert in ninjutsu. He is also a man of few words, meaning that you have to pay attention to catch glimpses of his personality.

He is one of the most respected people in the shinobi world. This is due to him quickly becoming an elite shinobi since childhood and then later being recognized for his use of – and mastery over – that eye technique.

Kakashi Hatake is one of the most popular male anime characters to date. He has a lot of fans in Japan and all over the world.

12. Killua Zoldyck 

killua hunter x hunter

Killua Zoldyck is a young boy that joins the Hunter Association and completes the Hunter Exam with Gon and their friends Leorio and Kurapika. He is a very young and powerful fighter. He was trained as an assassin from a young age by his family.

Killua is an amazing fighter who has spent so much time training from a young age. He has the skills to take on any opponent without hesitation or fear because of this, but he’s also one of Gon’s friends so he’s conflicted about what to do next.

11. Ichigo Kurosaki 

overpowered male anime characters

Ichigo Kurosaki is the protagonist in the anime and manga series, Bleach. He is a high school student with the ability to see spirits. This ability leads him to fight Hollows, evil spirits that attack humans. Ichigo seems like your average teenager but he is constantly faced with tough challenges, as he becomes a Soul Reaper, and his duty is to protect humans from evil spirits.

10. Lelouch Lamperouge

smart anime characters

At the start of the series, Lelouch is a high school student. As an exiled European prince, he lives in Japan under his alias Lelouch vi Britannia. His alter-egos have become known as “Zero.”

He is seen as an extremely intelligent person with high moral values but also possesses the ability to make difficult decisions. He is known for his willingness to sacrifice ideals for practicality, especially when it comes to punishing enemies. He starts off as a mere chess piece and gradually becomes more powerful. He pursues his goal with single-minded determination to establish himself as the most powerful figure in the world, commanding obedience from all those around him.

Lelouch’s story is quite sad. He wants to destroy Britannia after what they’ve done to Japan, but he shuts himself away from his family & friends in order to fulfill his duty and set up a better world for them.

9. Sasuke Uchiha

sasuke uchiha

Sasuke Uchiha is a fictional character from the popular manga, Naruto. He is one of the most popular and recognizable badass male characters in the series and has been consistently ranked as one of the best-loved anime characters in both fan polls and Shonen Jump’s popularity polls.

He is a member of the Konoha Uchiha clan and used to be part of Team 7. He’s one of the remaining Uchiha alive. There are many different opinions about Sasuke’s character within the anime, manga & fandom. Some people love him and others hate him, but no one can deny that he inspires a lot of thought among fans.

8. Monkey D. Luffy

monkey d luffy from one piece

Next up, we habe Monkey D. Luffy is the main character in One Piece. He’s a pirate and the leader of his own crew. Luffy’s big dream is to become the “King of the Pirates,” which means being the top pirate. He gained special powers from eating the Gum-Gum fruit, which lets him stretch and shape his body however he wants. Luffy’s bravery and determination set him apart from other anime characters. His adventures and his close friendships are at the heart of the story.

7. Naruto Uzumaki 

naruto uzumaki

Naruto is among the most inspiring male anime characters of all time. Naruto’s parents were killed by the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, also known as Kyuubi. The Nine-Tails’ chakra was sealed into Naruto at birth to prevent it from destroying Konoha.

The series showcases the story of Naruto Uzumaki as a teenage ninja who is struggling to balance his life as a ninja while striving to become Hokage, the leader of his village. He has a complicated past and an aptitude for learning new skills.

6. Portgas D Ace

best male anime characters

In One Piece, Portgas D Ace is a prominent figure as he is the brother of Luffy and captain of the 2nd division of Whitebeard Pirates. He is also known as Fire Fist Ace. His fame in the manga and anime rose with Luffy and Whitebeard trying to save him from execution.

He was also known as one of the most powerful pirates in history alongside his father Gol D Roger. His strength reaches its peak when he uses his devil fruit which allows him to create explosions with fire at will.

5. Itachi Uchia 

itachi uchiha

Itachi Uchiha is one of the most complex male characters in the anime and manga Naruto. He had a very complicated past and his actions had some questionable consequences. We will explore how Itachi’s past influences his actions in the present, and what he is like as a character.

He is a genius ninja with an evident strength who rose through the ranks of Konohagakure quickly while still a child. He seemed cold, indifferent, and cruel at first sight, but he has complete control over his emotions.

He was introduced as the prodigy of the Uchiha clan who sought to wipe out his entire clan, but after his death, he was revealed to have been only trying to protect them from an even worse threat. A lot of people were shocked when they found out Itachi was never evil but instead had wanted to save his family.

4. Levi Ackerman

levi attack on titan

He is the captain of the Survey Corps, and his skills are unmatched. He is strong and confident, but he is also critical of others who do not live up to his expectations.

Levi is considered to be one of the most popular male characters in the entire anime show. He’s also considered to be the strongest soldier humanity has. He leads his squad into battle with a deep understanding of strategy and tactics and they always scrape out a victory.

Captain Levi is interesting because he showcases how his personality changes. At the start of the series, we get the impression that he’s a cold-blooded killer who doesn’t show mercy to his opponents, but we later see that this surface-level assessment of him is incorrect; deep down, there is a caring and sensitive side to him which we never get to know in the first episodes.

3. Edward Elric 

male anime characters

Edward Elric is the main protagonist in the anime series Full Metal Alchemist. He and his brother Alphonse live in a fictional world where alchemy is one of the most important sciences. Edward and his brother are known for their struggle to restore their bodies and souls.

Now, he uses an artificial arm and leg called Automail to replace them. while his brother’s soul is embedded into an armor.

Edward Elric is one of the hottest and most overpowered male anime characters that has a kind heart but has a short temper that often gets him into trouble.

2. Son Goku 

male anime characters

Son Goku is a famous fictional character and protagonist in the Dragon Ball series. He is a Saiyan and was sent to Earth as a baby to destroy it. Son Goku, however, trains hard and becomes Earth’s greatest defender while at the same time helping people along the way; among other things, he defends his people from villains.

So far, Goku has superhuman strength, speed, and endurance. He is also well-versed in martial arts and is always there to protect his friends and family.

1. Light Yagami 

light yagami

Light Yagami, the protagonist of the anime series Death Note, has one of the largest fan bases among the best male anime characters to date. His popularity with anime lovers is evident in the fact that he is portrayed as an anti-hero who can do wrong to carries out justice with his Death Note. However, this may not be an accurate portrayal at all.

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Written by Mohsin Lag

I'm Mohsin the founder of Bakabuzz.com and Bakabuzz channel on Youtube. We, the BakaBuzz Editorial Team, are true fans of anime, gaming, and manga. We enjoy watching, discussing, and diving into the world of Japanese entertainment. As fellow fans, we share recommendations on what to watch, play, or read. Our goal is to bring our expertise and knowledge to fans like you, creating a space where we can all explore the exciting realms of Japanese anime, manga, and gaming together.
All our topics are carefully reviewed by Mohsin, the owner and author behind Bakabuzz's articles on anime, manga, and gaming, boasting 20 years of experience.

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