5 Best Anime Heroes of All Time

If there’s one thing anime does right, it is heroes.

In the last 50 years, countless of heroes and heroines have been introduced to eager anime fans all over the world. From extraterrestrial Saiyans to supernatural Soul Reapers, there are countless heroes in anime who make us want to be better people.

When it comes to picking your favorite anime heroes, the task is almost impossible. The subjective task can leave even the most experience anime connoisseurs overwhelmed. There are so many protagonists, each with their own origins, skill sets, and more. It’s no wonder that fans have a hard time choosing between Inuyasha and L when they are forced to decide.

Here at ComicBook.com, we have created an abridged list of five of the best anime heroes ever. These tested individuals are by no means the only heroes when it comes to anime, but they each embody a very unique style of superheroism that cannot be overlooked.

Spike Spiegel

When you look at Spike Spiegel, the man does not look particularly heroic. The space renegade most often struts about in a rumpled suit and has a cigarette poised between his lips. But, when it comes to Cowboy Bebop, Spiegel is one hell of a hero.

The man is former member of an intergalactic space syndicate who ditches his past when he falls in love. Spiegel then meets a new partner by the name of Jet Black who captains a ship known as Bebop, and the two set off as bounty hunters. During his adventures, the hero is drawn into a conflict with his old gang.

Though Spiegel was once a brash and violent man, he greets viewers with a collected smile. The hero sets himself apart from other anime leads because of his laissez-faire attitude and stubborn morals.

Astro Boy

Astro Boy might not be the flashiest hero, but he is certainly the first where anime is concerned. The child robot is imbued with all sorts of powers, but his most dangerous one is nostalgia.

When Astro Boy debuted in April 1964, the show was unlike what many had seen. The Japanese series featured primitive artwork of what we now know as anime today, and Astro Boy headed up the medium’s heroic archetype.

Created by Professor Ochanomizu, Astro was created by a doctor named Umataro Tenma after his son died in a traffic accident. However, when the doctor realized that Astro couldn’t replace his son, he sold the creation off to a cruel circus owner named The Great Cacciatore. However, Astro manages to escape and learns about humanity as he saves them from various calamities. 

Naruto Uzumaki

Believe it! Naruto Uzumaki is one of the greatest anime heroes of the 21st Century.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, the heroic ninja debuted in him titular anime years ago. The creator couldn’t have known how popular Naruto would become, but it isn’t surprising to see how many people love the outcasted character. If there’s one thing Naruto teaches readers, it is that persistence pays off. And, after all this time, it’s a lesson that millions of fans still gravitate towards.

If you aren’t familiar with Naruto, then you should know the boy is an outcasted ninja in a village known as Konohagakure. Naruto is known as a prankster and often referred to as a monster by the village’s people, a fact that prompts the boy to lash out for attention. However, Naruto refuses to let his reputation hold him back and foregoes the dark path that the village pushed him towards. Instead, he aims to become the world’s most powerful ninja and become the leader of Konahagakure so that everyone will have to acknowledge him.

Major Motoko Kusanagi

When it comes to female heroines in anime, you’ve got to give it up to The Major. Ghost in the Shell‘s Motoko Kusanagi is one cybernetic human you do not want to mess with. Her superhuman body and innate deduction skills make her a hero with both brawn and brains.

Motoko debuted in Ghost in the Shell under the hands of Masamune Shirow. The wildly popular manga was soon adapted into an even more successful anime franchise which celebrated the series’ cyberpunk heritage. Motoko led the story as its de fact protagonist. The character is a cybernetic human who heads up an enforcement agency known as Section 9. She and her cohorts chase after criminals who use their world’s tech to ‘ghost-hack’ humans with cyberized brains.

Over the years, Motoko has become a staple heroine in the world of anime. The character tackles difficult issues about her identity head-on, and Motoko’s fluid sense of self allows fans to meet a different iteration of the character time and again. 

Son Goku

Let’s be honest: You can’t have a list of anime heroes without Son Goku. It is just not possible. The iconic character hails from Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball franchise, and millions of fans all over the world have fallen for Goku’s bumbling yet badass charm.

Fans were introduced to Goku when he was little more than a child. The character was seen searching his world for a collection of wish-granting ‘Dragon Balls’ and training in martial arts. However, Goku eventually leveled up into a full-fledged hero by the time Dragon Ball Z debuted. Once fans saw the hero go Super Saiyan for the first time, they knew he was a force to be reckoned with.

In terms of strength, Goku cannot be matched. When the character’s use of Ki energy takes shape into a Kamehameha blast, you know its over.