10 Most Iconic Anime Heroes

[Chris Beveridge]

<div>The history of anime is a history of its leading men and women. Because of the preeminent position of the larger-than-life hero in anime, when a character broke new ground, his series itself broke new ground. Below is a list of influential heroes, who pioneered new styles or genres in anime...

More... (http://www.mania.com/10-iconic-anime-heroes_article_119883.html)

[broodwars]

There's not much to disagree with on this list, though there are certainly names I'd have on there that are conspicuously absent (like Spike Spiegal from Cowboy Bebop or Shinji Ikari from Evangelion, the latter I would put in a different category from Amuro Ray and I don't know if I'd call the former a modern day Lupin).

[Betenoire]

There's not much to disagree with on this list, though there are certainly names I'd have on there that are conspicuously absent (like Spike Spiegal from Cowboy Bebop or Shinji Ikari from Evangelion, the latter I would put in a different category from Amuro Ray and I don't know if I'd call the former a modern day Lupin).

He didn't call Cowboy Bebop a modern day Lupin just that Lupin was an inspiration for that show. Shinji is a main character, but I don't know that "hero" is a word I would chose to define him. Then again, a few of these characters I would actually label "anti-heroes" due to the way they operate and "morals" they embrace.

[LenMiyata]

Grumble Grumble Grumble

And there is no female characters on this list... perhaps the subjects of another article???

Potential characters would have to include

'Yuri' and 'Kei' of 'Dirty Pair' (the original girl with guns series...)
'Nausicaä' from 'Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind' (the Miyazaki breakout film)
'Nadia' from 'Nadia - Secret of Blue Water' (Predates 'Shinji' for GAINAX Studio charaters plagued with self-doubt)
'Relene Peacecraft' of 'Gundam Wing' (one of the strongest female characters in all of anime...)
'Sakura Kinomoto' from 'Cardcaptor Sakura' (the famous CLAMP series)

[ABCBTom]

Grumble Grumble Grumble

And there is no female characters on this list... perhaps the subjects of another article???


I wouldn't be surprised if an article of that sort appeared eventually.

[Thomas Alan]

Grumble Grumble Grumble

And there is no female characters on this list... perhaps the subjects of another article???

Potential characters would have to include

'Yuri' and 'Kei' of 'Dirty Pair' (the original girl with guns series...)
'Nausicaä' from 'Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind' (the Miyazaki breakout film)
'Nadia' from 'Nadia - Secret of Blue Water' (Predates 'Shinji' for GAINAX Studio charaters plagued with self-doubt)
'Relene Peacecraft' of 'Gundam Wing' (one of the strongest female characters in all of anime...)
'Sakura Kinomoto' from 'Cardcaptor Sakura' (the famous CLAMP series)

Gotta include Usagi Tsukino and Belldandy on that list while you're at it.

[Kitelight]

Goku Rules!

[Buckeye]

Grumble Grumble Grumble

And there is no female characters on this list... perhaps the subjects of another article???

I am guessing that another article that consists of female characters is coming. Some females that should be near the top of that list are Fujiko Mine and Usagi Tsukino.

[kakugo]

That, uh... that's an image of Nagai's Satan, not Devilman. :sweat:

[ABCBTom]

That, uh... that's an image of Nagai's Satan, not Devilman. :sweat:

But could it not be argued that Satan is even more iconic than even Devilman? Go Nagai's work was a clear inspiration for Dante, Milton, South Park, and Akira Toriyama.

[kakugo]

Re-read what I wrote. I said "Nagai's Satan".

Satan is a character in Devilman - the final boss, at it were, of the original manga and the god-awful live action film (from which that very image is from). More specifically, Satan is Asuka Ryou in his non-human shell, the guy who convinces Fudou Akira to become Devilman, and in the end, both falls in love with him and kills him.

Imagine writing the Top Ten Comic Heroes, picking Batman as #5, and then putting up a picture of The Joker. That's basically what happened here.

Edit: Wait just a second... inspiration for Dante and Milton? As in the guys who wrote "The Divine Comedy" and "Paradise Lost" in the 16th and 17th centuries respectively?

[Fencedude]

Edit: Wait just a second... inspiration for Dante and Milton? As in the guys who wrote "The Divine Comedy" and "Paradise Lost" in the 16th and 17th centuries respectively?

Nagai's just that awesome.

[ABCBTom]

Re-read what I wrote. I said "Nagai's Satan".

Satan is a character in Devilman - the final boss, at it were, of the original manga and the god-awful live action film (from which that very image is from). More specifically, Satan is Asuka Ryou in his non-human shell, the guy who convinces Fudou Akira to become Devilman, and in the end, both falls in love with him and kills him.

Imagine writing the Top Ten Comic Heroes, picking Batman as #5, and then putting up a picture of The Joker. That's basically what happened here.

Edit: Wait just a second... inspiration for Dante and Milton? As in the guys who wrote "The Divine Comedy" and "Paradise Lost" in the 16th and 17th centuries respectively?

I was just making a joke in light of the graphical error. Several images were submitted, so there apparently was a mix-up. :sweat:

[Njr Scrawl]

OK, next, "10 Most Iconic Female Heroines"

In your list, if mixed gender, should have been Rei Ayanami, Sailor Moon, Motoko Kusanagi & Cutie Honey.

[Betenoire]

OK, next, "10 Most Iconic Female Heroines"

In your list, if mixed gender, should have been Rei Ayanami, Sailor Moon, Motoko Kusanagi & Cutie Honey.

I disagree on Rei. Doesn't quite rise to that level for me.

[Njr Scrawl]

Ought to add Ruri Hoshino & perhaps Noa Izumi.

Rei Ayanami is definitely iconic.

[Betenoire]

Ought to add Ruri Hoshino & perhaps Noa Izumi.

Rei Ayanami is definitely iconic.

Iconic yes, hero...she is too passive to be considered a hero for me.

[Konoha]

If there is a female list, Oscar from Rose of Versailles needs to be on it.

[Doom86]

Ought to add Ruri Hoshino & perhaps Noa Izumi.

Rei Ayanami is definitely iconic.

Iconic yes, hero...she is too passive to be considered a hero for me.

She gave Gendo the middle finger, and screwed him over royally. Automatic heroine in my book. ;) Plus, she sacrificed herself to save Shinji, how is that passive?

[ABCBTom]

It's funny. Anytime I mentioned this article, people always ask about heroines. You'll just need to bookmark this site and visit it every day and see if anything like that emerges.

[The Great Bear]

It's funny. Anytime I mentioned this article, people always ask about heroines. You'll just need to bookmark this site and visit it every day and see if anything like that emerges.

It's anime. It's all about the ladies, you know ;)

[Fencedude]

It's funny. Anytime I mentioned this article, people always ask about heroines. You'll just need to bookmark this site and visit it every day and see if anything like that emerges.

I'm pretty sure most of us don't need the bookmark.

Anyway, I take it as a sign that this list is more or less agreed upon, and thus what's the interest in discussing it?

Now, a list of heroines is almost guaranteed to generate drama.

[guyverfanboy]

Devilman was a big influence on my favorite manga, Guyver. :)

[LenMiyata]

Grumble Grumble Grumble

Now there is a male character that is missing, and probably the 2nd most spoofed character behind Space Pirate Captain Harlock. That would be Kenshiro from 'Fist of the North Star' fame...

[Buckeye]

Pretty much can't disagree with anybody on this list. But Kenshiro has a strong case to be included.

[Njr Scrawl]

What about Ryo Saeba? More a "hero" than Ataru Moroboshi. Equally lecherous. :)

[sir_integra]

What, no Char?!!!

[Steve_the_Talking_Pie]

Char in the original Mobile Suit Gundam is far from hero status.


I liked the list quite a bit. Definitely a nice little history lesson on anime in Japan. Kenshiro and Ryo would be very nice additions.

[Red Comet]

If there is a female list, Oscar from Rose of Versailles needs to be on it.

I completely agree! As well as the poster(s) who mentioned Fujiko, Sailor Moon and Cutey Honey.

I was going to mention some other femme fatales...but the ones I thought of were not heroines.

And, another poster mentioned Char. He's an anti-hero. ;)

[Njr Scrawl]

Is Fujiko really a heroine?

Should Min Mei Lin from Macross be included?

[Fencedude]

Is Fujiko really a heroine?

Should Min Mei Lin from Macross be included?

Minmei is a villain.

[ABCBTom]

Is Fujiko really a heroine?

Should Min Mei Lin from Macross be included?

Minmei is a villain.

Does this mean Miaka Yuki from Fushigi Yuugi doesn't count as a heroine, either?

[2old2care]

Shouldn't Doraemon be on this list? Time Magazine (or another rag) named him an 'Asian Hero' or something.

[Betenoire]

Shouldn't Doraemon be on this list? Time Magazine (or another rag) named him an 'Asian Hero' or something.

Part of being an iconic figure is being revered, but also being copied. Not to many have successfully tried to copy him. Plus what kind of hero fears mice anyway?