Hello to all! The other day, I found myself re-watching a show I started maybe. . . 10 years ago Hunter X Hunter. Lo and behold, I came across a lot of nostalgic characters, some who I now find annoying like . . . half the side characters and some who I find myself liking more and more even though I am older like Gon or Kurapika.
There was a strange moment for me though. I realized my favorite scenes had the sometimes villain Hisoka. My first reaction to this was, “Crap, he’s crazy. Why the heck do I like him?!”
My second thought was more introspective. “If he’s so crazy, WHY do I like him?”
That brings us to now. I decided to do a little self-reflecting by diving deep into a list of my 50 favorite anime/manga characters. It should be fun, if not good just for the artwork I might come across.
For each character I’ll answer the following questions:
What makes them stand out?
Do I like their design? If so, What do I like?
Did they teach me any life lessons?
Have I always liked them?
What is my favorite scene with them?
Do they make their prospective anime/manga better?
Would I like to meet them in person?
Let’s get this list on its way, shall we?
Oh, just an FYI. Some of these characters, specifically the romantic ones, tend to come in pairs. When this happens, I put the character in the relationship right above the other.
50. Renji Abarai, Bleach
What makes them stand out?
For me, it was the attitude and the tattoos at first. I tend to like guys with cool tattoos, even if I would never get them myself. After a while though, I admired his friendship and later romance with Rukia. He strikes me as a guy who tries hard not to outwardly show emotions but grows stronger because of them.
Do I like their design? If so, What do I like?
Like I said, it’s the tattoos that get me. I also have always liked his overall build and hair. Overall, his design and look have always been a favorite of mine.
Did they teach me any life lessons?
Thinking on it, not really. Though I admire Renji as a character he never taught me anything significant.
Have I always liked them?
Not at the beginning. I mean, in the first few volumes he comes off as a bit of a jerk.
What is my favorite scene with them?
Flashbacks to his and Rukia’s childhood.
Do they make their prospective anime/manga better?
Yes. I definitely think so. He is one of the strongest characters in terms of actual personality.
Would I like to meet them in person?
It would be interesting, but honestly, I would be too intimidated by him to actually talk to him.
49. Kyuu-chan, Wonder Cat Kyuu-Chan
What makes them stand out?
He’s such a kind cutie of a cat! In all seriousness, this series doesn’t focus on long chapters. Each story is only a page long at a time. He stands out simply because his adventures are wholesome and calming.
Do I like their design? If so, What do I like?
Kyuu’s design is rather simple but that’s okay. It’s cute.
Did they teach me any life lessons?
Maybe. . . be adventurous and bold in making friends? Hmmm. . . nothing beyond that really.
Have I always liked them?
Oh yes. The moment I picked up this manga I loved this adorable cat and his owner to pieces!
What is my favorite scene with them?
Too hard to decide. I can’t pinpoint one particular moment I liked more than others.
Do they make their prospective anime/manga better?
Of course! Without him in it, the manga wouldn’t have a purpose.
Would I like to meet them in person?
Maybe. I like animals in general so I would probably be happy.
48. Arte Spalleti, Arte
What makes them stand out?
Her passion for art and her dedication to learning. If you haven’t read this manga before, Arte is the only female training to be an artist in 16th century Florence, Italy. I’m still following the manga and marvel at how multi-dimensional her personality and growth are.
As her journey has taken her to Venice, in-person human dissections, and even the Courtesan houses, I’ve wondered more than once how Arte carries herself forward and keeps her moral principles in check.
Do I like their design? If so, What do I like?
Arte’s design is simple, but I like it well enough. What I like the most would have to be her hair and eyes.
Did they teach me any life lessons?
Not yet. But there is still time since the manga is not finished yet.
Have I always liked them?
When I first started reading the manga, I thought she was amusing. However, the more she’s matured the more I’ve grown to like her.
What is my favorite scene with them?
Any scene where she finds the spark behind the portrait she is working on. It’s as if she finally realizes what makes people tick, as though she has seen into their soul.
Do they make their prospective anime/manga better?
Yes. Renaissance artists needed someone with her spunk back then to help them realize women didn’t need to stay at home all the time.
Would I like to meet them in person?
Yes. I would love to sit down with her and have a nice long chat about art and living in Italy. I would also like to let her know things are a lot better now for women who want to pursue the arts.
47. Nishkata, Teasing Master Takagi-san
What makes them stand out?
For those who haven’t seen the show or read the manga, he spends most of his time trying to out tease/wit his classmate Tagaki, a girl who has a crush on him and is patient enough to wait for him to figure it out on his own.
Nishkata’s reactions are hilarious to watch, but it’s not the reason I like him as a character. He’s so self-conscientious not only for himself but for others. Teasing aside, he has amazing monologues in his head and plans that don’t ever go the way he likes.
Do I like their design? If so, What do I like?
I’m ambivalent. His design is simple but not distracting.
Did they teach me any life lessons?
Nah.
Have I always liked them?
From the time I started reading the manga, yes. That goes for when Nishkata and Tagaki are in middle school as well as when they are married with a daughter.
What is my favorite scene with them?
When he notices Tagaki isn’t teasing him because she had a fight with her mother. He sits and stays with her until she is ready to go home.
Do they make their prospective anime/manga better?
Oh yes! His reactions and relationship with Tagaki are the heart and soul of this story.
Would I like to meet them in person?
No.
46. Tagaki, Teasing Master Tagaki-san
What makes them stand out?
Tagaki is really clever and I’m always rooting for her to win the contests. Mostly so I can see Nishkata’s reactions. The more I watch her though, it’s clear she’s just a fun-loving person trying to spend time with the boy she likes.
Do I like their design? If so, What do I like?
Most of the time. Her earliest design was a little too sharp, especially in the eyes.
Did they teach me any life lessons?
Learn to outstrategize competitive men? Thinking on it though, no.
Have I always liked them?
Yes. I enjoy seeing her wit and strategies pay off.
What is my favorite scene with them?
That’s difficult. No scenes come immediately to mind. I just like her as a person.
Do they make their prospective anime/manga better?
Just like Nishkata, she is the heart and soul of this story. So, yes. Without her, who would tease him?
Would I like to meet them in person?
She would be a fun person to be friends with. That’s for sure.
45. Yotsuba, Yotsuba to!
What makes them stand out?
Yotsuba to! chronologies this young girl’s life of adventure. Yotsuba has such a wild imagination and has some of the funniest conversations with her family and neighbors.
I read this story to remind myself everyday life is just as exciting as any story.
Do I like their design? If so, What do I like?
Her design used to bother me, but over time I liked seeing her green hair.
Did they teach me any life lessons?
Tsuki-tsuki bouisi are actually tsikaedas. Oh, and milk comes from cows.
Have I always liked them?
Yes! from chapter one day one I have loved her!
What is my favorite scene with them?
When she play-acts a film-noir revenge story with her father and her neighbors. She carried a water pistol and knew a large amount of cryptic Humphrey Bogart-esque lines.
Do they make their prospective anime/manga better?
Do I even need to answer this question? Of course, she does!
Would I like to meet them in person?
Yes yes and yes! I would love to have a conversation with her.
44. Fumi Oono, Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet
What makes them stand out?
I’ve only recently come to appreciate heroines in Shoujo manga who actually have personalities beyond their love interests. Fumi is a great example of this. She loves collecting store coupons and researching ways to make at-home dishes.
Just like any heroine she has her share of hardships like her father leaving her to work as a nanny, and not having a mother. She does develop romantic feelings for the man she works for, but that doesn’t mean she changes who she is or doesn’t have any goals.
Do I like their design? If so, What do I like?
Yamamori (the original author) has a way of drawing beautiful characters with stunning facial features. For Fumi, I like her hair
Did they teach me any life lessons?
Hmmm. . . after reading this manga I remember a specific moment I realized it’s okay to acknowledge and accept my emotions. This may not seem like a big deal but I have a habit at times of taking intense emotions and burying them as deep as I can to avoid conflict.
Fumi showed a lot of courage acknowledging her feelings for Akatsuki and even more courage when she learned to let those feelings grow as their relationship changed. Love isn’t a one-time stamp and your done feeling. There are multiple layers of love that come only through living and learning together.
Seeing Fumi, I realized this for the first time.
Have I always liked them?
Not until two years ago. I had to grow into my love for Fumi as a character.
What is my favorite scene with them?
When she is sitting in a closet, waiting for Akatsuki to come home. She had told herself if anyone ever found her hidden away she would open up and be honest with her feelings. Well, Akatsuki does find her and she finally lets herself be vulnerable.
Do they make their prospective anime/manga better?
Indeed. Not just because she is the main protagonist.
Would I like to meet them in person?
I would like to learn a lot about her home dishes. Especially her pickled ginger.
43. Akatsuki Kibikino, Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet
What makes them stand out?
Akatsuki doesn’t stand out to me because he’s a silent hunk of a man. I was impressed with his maturity, especially in regards to his relationship with Funi.
He treats her with respect, doesn’t push a sexual relationship on her just because they’re dating, and doesn’t lie to cover up his and Fumi’s relationship from her father.
Do I like their design? If so, What do I like?
Oh yes. What I like most is his overall frame and his EYES. I tend to like narrower eyes and long torsos.
Did they teach me any life lessons?
Yes. To find a man who won’t overstep what I am comfortable with within a relationship. I also admire how hard he pushed himself to face conflicts in their relationship.
Have I always liked them?
At first not so much. But the farther I got into the manga the more I liked him. The defining moment for me would have to be when he purposefully set boundaries in their relationship and explained to Fumi why it was important. (It was to cherish her and her needs.)
What is my favorite scene with them?
When Fumi asks to sleep next to him, (not meaning in the slightest what most adults think that means), Akatsuki plainly tells her he loves her and wants to cherish her. In order to do that, they need to set boundaries. It was at this moment I saw how thoughtful he was.
Loving someone is not just about being physically intimate. It’s also understanding and respecting a person enough for the right time.
Do they make their prospective anime/manga better?
In time, yes. But it takes a little time.
Would I like to meet them in person?
I would if it meant I could buy one of his books. (I forgot to mention he’s an author. Not only that but he writes historical Japanese fiction.)
42. Yousuke Koiwai (Yotsuba’s Dad), Yotsuba to!
What makes them stand out?
He’s a great father. I love watching him interact with his daughter Yotsuba, especially when he needs to discipline her. Let me explain, instead of outright yelling at her, he works with her to fix anything that’s been broken, painted on, etc.
He also finds ways to get to the root of what is causing bad behavior. I never saw him yell at her. He also takes single parenting with a cool head. He also doesn’t shy away from the fact he found Yotsuba and decided to adopt her.
Do I like their design? If so, What do I like?
Hm. No. His blocky hair bothers me sometimes.
Did they teach me any life lessons?
Yes. I would love to be a parent like him someday.
Have I always liked them?
Oh yeah! He’s hilarious especially when he’s around his friends.
What is my favorite scene with them?
When he finds out Yotsuba is lying about breaking dishes with an exercise ball. He takes her calmly out of the house to a shrine and finds a way to help her understand it’s okay to make mistakes but it’s important to be honest.
Reading this scene helped me reevaluate how I react to bad behavior as a teacher. It also gives me hope I can be a parent like him.
Do they make their prospective anime/manga better?
Yes. His influence on his daughter is absolutely magical to me.
Would I like to meet them in person?
Oh yes. I mostly would like to know what other languages he knows, since he is a translator.
41. Deku, Boku no Hero Academia
What makes them stand out?
He’s not afraid to be emotional. Sometimes, I think men aren’t allowed to cry or experience negative emotions except for anger. It was refreshing for me to see a young hero who is driven by more than just anger or brazen emotions.
I also think he stands out because he wants to be a hero even WHEN he didn’t have any powers. He still jumped in and tried to save others, even though it was clear he had no chance of winning.
Characters like Deku are fascinating to me. I love seeing them in shows.
Do I like their design? If so, What do I like?
Actually, yes. His eyes are rounder than I’m used to and not in the cylinder sort of way characters like Ash Ketchum are. They are round, open, and expressive.
Did they teach me any life lessons?
That’s hard to say. I have barely made it through the first ten episodes. (That just shows how much of an impression on me Deku has already made.)
Have I always liked them?
From the beginning.
What is my favorite scene with them?
So far it is when Deku decides to help Bokuga, even though he doesn’t have a quirk. When I first watched it, I felt humbled thinking of the many times I opted out of doing something just because I lacked ability.
Some things are more important than keeping face or staying safely away from trouble.
Do they make their prospective anime/manga better?
Definitely. We need more protagonists like him.
Would I like to meet them in person?
Yes. In fact, I would love to be his friend.
From the Perspective of an Old Soul 
Some of these made me chuckle. I love going back over the anime and manga I’ve enjoyed to see what’s changed.
Great post!
Thanks!
Any time! Thanks for sharing!
Deku’s a decent character, he kinda gives off some young Daniel LaRusso (from The Karate Kid) vibes from his adventures and heroic journey. Note though I haven’t caught up to the recent season since I last watched in 2018 😅
I really should watch the show all the way. There are so many I want to explore it’s hard sometimes
Yeah I totally feel you, it’s a good feeling to fully know the ins and outs of whatever show you’re focused on. For me, for a long time now I’ve been caught up with a lot of shows that are so much more interesting (e.g. Love Live, Inuyasha, Cardcaptor Sakura, Angel Beats, Hyouka, etc) that I end up basically pushing other ongoing shows in the backburner.
I know the feeling. Plus sometimes I never get to certain shows because I’m not in the mood at the time.