The greatest anime of all time have equally spectacular protagonists to carry their stories. The best protagonists don't always begin as perfect characters, but they develop throughout the show. These leading characters feel real, which helps audiences to care about their journeys.
These protagonists' relatability and their development are not the only things that make them the best. Most of them have unforgettable personalities that have come to embody the franchises they spearhead. They are multidimensional characters that display a range of emotions, and they have flaws just like everyone else. These are the best main characters from the best shows that fans still love today.
10 Yona (Yona Of The Dawn)
Yona of the Dawn appears to be like any other fantasy reverse-harem anime on the surface, but that idea is proven incorrect by the show's protagonist, Princess Yona. Yona starts as an entitled, naive royal. But when she is chased out of the palace, she begins to take a more realistic and self-sufficient approach to her life.
Yona becomes determined to stand up for herself so her friends don't have to protect her anymore. She practices hard every day to become a proficient archer, and she even subjects herself to Son Hak's teasing so that he will help her train. While there are many cliché shojo elements in the story, Yona proves that generic, innocent princesses can learn to be autonomous.
9 Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran High School Host Club)
Haruhi Fujioka is not a typical shojo protagonist. Rather than being a demure, overly feminine ingénue, Haruhi is an androgynous realist. She thinks in facts and lives her life very logistically. Despite this, Haruhi never judges others for being different from herself. She encourages them to embrace who they are.
Haruhi is very self-sufficient, but she is also open to love. She may not be a romantic like her love interest, Tamaki Suoh, but she does believe in honesty and open communication. Haruhi is a great main character because she embodies realism in romance in a show that would otherwise delve straight into fantasy.
8 Violet Evergarden (Violet Evergarden)
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Violet Evergarden and her eponymous show emphasize the importance of love. Because she grew up only knowing war and death, Violet is the perfect person to take on the task of showing the profound impact various types of love can have on people's lives.
Violet is also open and eager to the idea of love. She demonstrates that she has a great capacity for it despite her lack of societal decorum. Violet is a great anime protagonist because she is steadfast in her study of love and grows her knowledge of it throughout the show. Violet even puts what she learns into practice in the hopes that she can love as deeply as her beloved Major Gilbert Bougainvillea.
7 Kaguya Shinomiya & Miyuki Shirogane (Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War)
Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane may be the leaders of Shuchiin Academy, but they are clueless when it comes to romantic feelings. Shinomiya and Shirogane are such lovable characters because they each work so hard to be cool. Their relatable struggle is not only endearing but hilarious, as their numerous attempts to get the other to confess first backfire.
Shinomiya and Shirogane are dynamic lead characters because their emotional journeys hit close to home. Like most teens, the President and Vice President are easily overwhelmed by their feelings but also have that much greater capacity to love. Though they are reluctant to admit it, their feelings for one another are so strong that even the most cynical viewer can enjoy Shinomiya and Shirogane's romantic journey.
6 Jinta Yadomi (Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day)
Jinta "Jintan" Yadomi is the main protagonist of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. While the show focuses on all the Super Peace Busters and their grief every so often, Jintan's sorrow is at the forefront. He is the one who blames himself the most for their friend Menma's death, which implies that he has the most to work through during the story.
Jintan is an interesting character because rather than honing talents or discovering new abilities, his flaws are the central focus of his journey. Jintan's reclusive lifestyle and apathetic personality are ingrained character traits that can only be resolved once he forgives himself and allows his friends back into his life. Jintan's plotline serves as a gut-wrenching display of accepting grief and owning his actions. It is only when he does these two things that Jintan is finally at peace, showing audiences that life can be regained after loss.
5 The Forger Family (Spy X Family)
The newly minted Forger family in Spy x Family is a little eccentric, but that is what makes them so great. Though they are only a fake family for the sake of a top-secret mission, each of the Forgers has fallen more in love with the idea of their familial bond becoming permanent. The daughter, Anya, is especially adorable as she does everything in her power to be useful to the mission, but Yor and Loid's devotion to Anya's well-being is even more touching.
The Forgers always look out for each other. Even though they don't know each other's ultimate secrets, each of them is willing to go above and beyond to help one another out. Whether Anya tries to befriend Damian Desmond, Loid pretends to be "Bondman," or Yor takes cooking lessons from her colleague, the Forgers do their best to show how much they love each other. Their bond is so endearing that fans cannot help but fall in love with Spy x Family.
4 Yuri Katsuki (Yuri!!! On ICE)
Yuri Katsuki is not the strongest or most bombastic protagonist, but he is one of the most realistic. He begins Yuri!!! On ICE as a discouraged skater. Yet, through a lot of hard work and self-discovery, Yuri improves. He even earns a medal by the end of the show. It may not have been the medal he wanted, but the anime shows audiences that Yuri's newfound confidence isn't going away anytime soon.
Yuri has many hurdles in his life, but he manages to overcome them. Even at his darkest point, he still finds the courage to start again (even if it is spurred on by his coach, Victor Nikiforov). Yuri is one of the best anime main characters because he always gets back up, no matter how many times he falls, on the ice or in life.
3 Yuji Itadori (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Yuji Itadori is a vivacious character from the beginning of Jujutsu Kaisen. He is energetic, easy-going, and extremely devoted to his friends and family. Yuji can be a little reckless during fights, but that is what makes him one of the best anime protagonists.
The risks Yuji takes always pay off through his strength and his friends' help. Yuji is reliable when it counts and lovably funny. He is an incredible combatant but remains a fun-loving teen at his core. Yuji can't be anyone but himself, which makes him an authentic character and a beloved lead.
2 Light Yagami (Death Note)
Light Yagami begins Death Note as a bright but regular high school student. However, his entire demeanor changes when he discovers the eponymous Death Note. Although Light falls deeper into villainy as the show goes on, it is his gradual descent into cruelty that makes him such a fascinating character.
Unlike most anime protagonists, Light is exceptionally egotistical. He is an expert manipulator and strategist, which allows him the freedom he needs to continue his reign of terror over Japan. Light is a larger-than-life character who is so compelling that audiences can't help but root for him, despite his terrible actions.
Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has become of the most popular and most recognized faces in anime. His original story by Hiromu Arakawa has reached global adoration not only for the sweeping story but also because of Edward's charisma and unrelenting quest to help his brother.
Like a lot of shonen protagonists, Edward is strong, brave, and heroic. However, what Edward has over most other main characters like him are human flaws. Too many protagonists are almost god-like in their skills, with few consequences for their actions. Edward, on the other hand, is hot-headed, a little reckless, and harbors a lot of insecurities about both his looks and the choices he's made. As he grows up, Edward is also not afraid to show his growing feelings for his childhood friend, Winry Rockbell. Overall, Edward is a well-rounded character who fans empathize with as he grows into adulthood by the end of the story.
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