The 20 Greatest Anime Characters of All Time
17. Rintaro Okabe – Steins;Gate
Pojus/YouTube
A self-proclaimed mad scientist, Rintaro Okabe is an eccentric lab worker who has a lot of anime fans. He is the man behind the Future Gadget Research Establishment. He’s also extremely bizarre, which is part of his appeal. He thinks there is a secret society out to get him and often spends his time talking to himself on the phone. He also has a hysterical cackle that you can’t help but laugh at, while his relationship with Kurisu helps ground Okabe in reality. His character development in the second half of the series is also something to behold. A surprising choice for some, but I love Okabe and every moment he is on screen is a blessing.
16. L Lawliet – Death Note
Netflix India/YouTube
L Lawliet is the mysterious detective pursuing Light Yagami in the hit series Death Note. While he’s a bit of an eccentric, Lawliet spends much of the show trying his best to expose Yagami for the serial killer that he is. This forms the basis of the show as the two battle it out to one-up the other and discover each other’s true identity.
The addition of Lawliet in the show helps add something different to the series and gives Yagami a suitable person to come up against. The relationship between the two, which starts as enemies and evolves into a strange respect, is even more impactful when you consider the way Death Note ends.
15. Astro Boy – Astro Boy
The Dollar Theater/YouTube
For many readers, Astro Boy probably isn’t a familiar name. Created by Osamu Tezuka and first appearing as a manga character in the 50s, it wasn’t long before the character Astro Boy got his own animated TV series. For many in the West, this was the first taste of Japanese anime, and it left them wanting more.
Created by the ‘father of manga’ Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy is a wild take on the classic story of Pinocchio. Dr. Tenma builds Astro Boy to replace his dead son. But he soon abandons Astro Boy and sells him to a circus. The robot is eventually rescued by Dr. Elefun and shown love and care. Astro Boy then uses his powers as a crime fighter. There’s a lot going on with this anime.
