15 Best Protagonists in Anime, Ranked

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Updated Feb 12, 2026, 8:36 AM EST

Eddie Possehl is a dynamic and driven writer/director with a passion for the written word and all things film, television, comics, and games. His passion for storytelling led him to establish his own production company in hopes of achieving his dreams.

His dedication to his craft has attracted renowned talent like Yuri Lowenthal to collaborate with him on his projects. As he grows and improves, Eddie is a shining example of a self-starter.

An anime's protagonist can either make or break the show's story and, in return, the audience's enjoyment of the series. It's difficult to accurately define what makes a good anime protagonist, as it's an incredibly layered and complicated concept. But in general, a great anime protagonist is someone the audience can root for, who is active, holds a strong will, is capable of substantial growth, and, finally, can make you feel.

There are countless anime that have lost viewership or not been appealing because the protagonist of the series wasn't appealing, making it hard for viewers to get behind and cheer for them. Sometimes, not even a spectacular story can save an anime from a bad protagonist. This is why when a series has a great protagonist, they absolutely define the anime and can go as far as to change the viewers watching them for the better.

15 Frieren

'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' (2023–Present)

A female character looking down at the camera in Frieren

Some of the greatest protagonists come from classic series, but some modern characters quickly sneak their way into fans' hearts. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End naturally follows Frieren, an elf who outlives her former party. Wishing to say unsaid words, she travels with the pupils of her former party members to the land of the dead.

Frieren is a complex character that the anime still manages to make interesting despite having a Stoic and calm personality. Even with centuries of experience, she still subtly develops as a character through her interactions. Frieren leads a nostalgic and relaxing plot with grace, humor, action, badassery, and overall originality, making the show one of the best anime on Crunchyroll. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck

14 Sakata Gintoki

'Gintama' (2006–2018)

This list has plenty of influential and well-written shōnen protagonists, but Sakata Gintoki is one of the most original. Gintama is set during the feudal period of Japan in an alternate reality where aliens take over. Gintoki is a former samurai and now takes on odd jobs with his eccentric cast of friends and enemies.

Most shōnen protagonists are young underdogs, but Gintoki is the opposite, an older, lazy samurai with plenty of experience, and is also overpowered. That distinct nature separates him from other protagonists, but what stands out is his well-written character. His dynamic with the main villain is spectacular and plays into the themes and story, plus his profound moments mixed with his overall comedic personality make him one of the best anime protagonists. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck

'Vinland Saga' (2019–Present)

Thorfinn fighting with a sword in Vinland Saga.

There are a lot more historical anime shows coming out, largely thanks to Vinland Saga, which blew up onto the scene. It follows Thorfinn Thorsson, who joins the crew of the Vikings who murdered his father, hoping to enact his revenge. However, after the years pass, he must rethink his goals when his motivation dies.

Thorfinn still has a lot of development to go, and will naturally climb this list, but he has already shown incredible development. Vinland Saga is an excellent manga with some of the greatest character development in the medium. Thorfinn shows profound development through his journey, resulting in a well-written and deeply motivational character. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck

12 Shigeo Kageyama (Mob)

'Mob Psycho 100' (2016–2022)

Mob (Shigeo Kageyama) from Mob Psycho 100

A character doesn't need to have development to be well-written, but it certainly helps, and Mob Psycho 100 has one of the best examples of character development in anime. Shigeo Kageyama, also known as Mob, is the world's strongest psychic, but because he suppresses his emotions, his powers explode.

Shigeo is one of the most endearing characters on this list, and he also pairs nicely with Reigen, arguably the greatest side character in anime. His journey to handle his emotions and be open about his feelings is a relatable experience that he makes fun, entertaining, riveting, and action-packed. Mob Psycho 100 has many great points, but its characters are the best, and Mob is the heart of it all. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck

11 The Joestar Family

'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure' (2012–Present)

Promotional image of all the Joestar protagonists in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

This entry feels like cheating since it includes multiple protagonists, but the Joestar family are all too iconic. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure follows a different protagonist in every part as they embark on their own respective journey, whether it is fighting a vampire, an evil priest, or the President of the United States.

Every Joestar presents a unique personality, separating them from each other while keeping things fresh. Still, each one is well-written, engaging, and fun. Jonathan is kind, caring, and one of the nicest protagonists in anime. Joseph is widely regarded as the best because of his fun personality, battle IQ, and unique characterization. Jotaro is cool, calm, and badass, representing the best of the show's action. Josuke is relatable, compelling, and fits in perfectly with his story. Giorno is an overpowered character well-known in the power scaling community. Jolyne is fierce, funny, and an overall unique protagonist. Together, these characters combine to create one of the best cast of characters in anime. —Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck

10 Shinji Ikari

'Neon Genesis: Evangelion' (1995–1996)

Shinji Ikari sitting in an Evangelion cockpit in Evangelion 1.0

Shinji Ikari is the son of Gendo Ikari, the commander of NERV. After being abandoned by his father for most of his life, he's called to pilot a mech called Evangelion Unit-01 when an Angel, a supernatural kaiju-like threat, and is quickly indoctrinated into being the permanent pilot of Evangelion Unit-01, against his own will.

While many anime protagonists tend to lean on a power fantasy for the viewer, holding immense power that any sane person wishes they could have, Shinji Ikari is the opposite of that. Where protagonists like Goku hold power and determination to win, Shinji holds anxiety, trauma and self-loathing. But underneath those things is a profound sense of responsibility and care. Shinji is a young man who is scarred by his emotional past and, rather than being a power fantasy for most viewers, he is a lot closer to a mirror. Shinji is a great protagonist because of how real he is, making him all the more relatable.

9 Guts

'Berserk' (1997–1998)

After being a mercenary for most of his life and then becoming a branded warrior afterward, Guts began to find a newfound purpose in his life after joining up with the Band of the Falcon. After spending so much time not doing so, Guts decides to set out from the Band of the Falcon and pursue a dream of his own, setting him on a path to face off against God Hand.

Not only is Guts an all-around cool anti-hero thanks to his awesome armor, immense skill, and carrying the general characteristics of a cool lone-wolf hero, but on top of that, he's an incredibly compelling character. Over everything, Guts is a symbol of the constant fight against trauma that many people face. After going through a slew of horrible heartbreak and suffering, Guts somehow finds a way to emerge on the other side of that trauma, finding the strength to never give up. He's an inspiration to many who have been through great suffering, never backing down, even when the weight of his pain becomes too much to bear at times.

8 Lelouch vi Britannia

'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' (2006–2008)

Lelouch looking backwards in Code Geass.

Many people on the internet like to say that Lelouch vi Britannia walked, so Eren Yeager could run, and it could not be truer. Lelouch began his life as the illustrious 11th prince of Britannia until, one day, he was exiled to Japan as a political hostage. He would soon gain the power of Geass from a woman named C.C. and use that ability to control others to seek out his mother's murderer.

Lelouch found love among anime fans for his dedication to his own goals. While he can act frighteningly at times and is quite arrogant, Lelouch actually has quite righteous intentions in his actions that sometimes get others killed. He envisioned a better future for himself, his sister, and the entire world, and he didn't care whether he lived or died to get it. These character traits make him a very active character, consistently pushing the plot forward and keeping the series engaging at all times.

7 Sailor Moon

'Sailor Moon' (1992–1997)

Sailor Moon winking at the camera while doing the peace sign with the moon on the background.

When Usagi Tsukino is told that she is destined to protect Earth from the forces of evil, she is given the ability to turn into the superhero Sailor Moon. After locating the other Sailor Guardians, she sets out on an adventure to fulfill her destiny and save Earth.

Sailor Moon is arguably one of the greatest female superheroes of all time. Airing in an era in which women didn't receive much representation, Sailor Moon was a positive role model for children all across the planet in the late 90s. While Usagi was, on the surface, a stereotypical teen "girly girl", she transcended those stereotypes and showed that femininity didn't indicate weakness. She still proceeded to be a strong and successful heroine. At the start of the series, Usagi seemed to put herself down a lot. But as the series went on, she found more strength, and she began to do this less and less. She was a great representation of self-love and how possible it is to begin loving yourself.

6 Eren Yeager

'Attack on Titan' (2013–2023)

Eren Yeager staring ahead as people talk behind in Attack on Titan.

Eren Yeager recently took the world by storm with the overwhelming success of Attack on Titan. In the first three seasons, after losing his mother to the plague that was the Titans and discovering that he can also turn into a Titan, he won the hearts of fans everywhere. Then, within the debut of season 4, he broke the hearts of many with his downward spiral into madness as he took the power of the Founding Titan and activated the Rumbling onto the world.

Much like fans of Lelouch, fans of Eren love him because he consistently stands by what he believes in, even when those around him hesitate. He goes against the grain, which often inspires others around him, making him an icon for both the characters and viewers of Attack on Titan, inspiring many viewers to believe Eren was right in his actions in Season 4. He, too, is a wonderfully active character, always pushing the plot to move as well as the characters within the show. He's not fond of diplomacy and has zero problems taking action to achieve his own goals.

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