The realm of anime is filled to the brim with some of the best stories, worlds, fight scenes, romances, and everything else along the same lines. However, the first thing that comes to mind when people talk about the amazing facets of anime is definitely the character designs that are present in these shows. For the most part, characters that are present in anime are extremely unique, with striking designs that are bound to be memorable for all the right reasons.
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As a result, several characters end up being highlights of their show mainly due to the striking nature of their designs. Keeping this in mind, here are some of the most engaging and entertaining character designs of all time.
Updated June 21, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra:The artistic zeal behind most anime means that these shows are going to be full of breathtaking characters who are absolutely brilliant to look at. The sheer amount of work and effort that goes into these character designs is clear for everyone to see, with each minute detail standing out in its own unique way. Out of the wealth of beautiful and awe-inspiring designs around, the following characters are quite unique. With the wide array of anime art styles and character designs out there, this list has been updated to include more characters from shows spanning a variety of genres.
15Takeo Gouda (My Love Story)
For an anime grounded in realism, Takeo Gouda certainly stands out in a unique way. His broad and muscular figure seems natural and impressive in a pretty realistic fashion, unlike the exaggeration found in most anime.
Given how brawny he looks, it’s surprising that Takeo is actually a kind and understanding person. He’s extremely gentle and has a strong code, which makes him a very intriguing character.
14Goblin Slayer (Goblin Slayer)
There are several reasons whythe first season ofGoblin Slayergarnered so much attention. Aside from the controversy surrounding the nature of the material, the titular protagonist’s iconic design was also quite striking, catching viewers' attention
Given the gritty nature of the anime, it made sense for a character to be absolutely coated in metal armor. With this base, the titular Goblin Slayer has donned a suit that has become synonymous with the show itself.
13Shigeru Akagi (Akagi)
The idea of someone gambling their actual life is a wildly engaging concept, and something thatAkagibrilliantly executes. It’s a great show that fans of thriller anime should check out, both for its narrative and for its art style.
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Main character Shigeru Akagi has a striking and unique design, which somehow fits the background of a great gambler who won’t shy away from risking it all. He’s a great character who adds to the quality of this brilliant show.
12Iyami (Mr. Osomatsu)
Acomedy series that will make anyone chuckle,Mr. Osomatsuis a pretty offbeat show that can serve as a break from the usual grittiness of popular anime. It features several characters with excellent designs, making it hard to pick a solitary one.
Iyami is definitely a great pick here, with his personality exuding through his very design. He’s a hilarious antagonist who looks despicable and fits the part well.
11Elias Ainsworth (The Magician’s Bride)
People who want to see an example of a truly wild and interesting character design should look towardsThe Ancient Magus' Bride. There’s one particular character that is bound to catch everyone’s attention, and it’s pretty obvious who it is.
Elias Ainsworth has a mysterious origin which is reflected in his unique design. He has the skull of a wolf with the horns of a goat, and is one of the best characters in the entire show.
10Naruto During The Pain Arc (Naruto)
Naruto’sdesign was pretty stellar as a kid, although his character did end up taking a step back visually once he grew up. However, this minor issue was rectified when Naruto debuted his new outfit during the Pain arc.
Naruto’s new get-up was a thing of beauty, sporting colors that the ninja had never worn before. This, coupled with an impressive scroll on his back turned him into one of the best-looking characters duringthe greatestNarutoarc ever.
9Ryuk (Death Note)
Death Noteisone of the most popular shonen anime of all time. The battle of wits between Light and L is a thing of beauty that almost always delivers.
Of course, the shinigami of the show also elevate its quality to a whole new level. Ryuk’s design is especially striking, with most viewers not getting enough of this amazing character and his devilish personality.
8Super Saiyans (Dragon Ball)
Dragon Ballis a legendary shonen series thatpeaked withDragon Ball Z. Watching Goku and his friends fight against overpowering odds and coming out victorious never ceases to be entertaining.
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One of the best fights in the series has to be Goku’s battle against Frieza, where the Saiyan unlocked a new level of power after witnessing Krillin’s death. Super Saiyan’s introduction in the series was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy, further accentuated by its iconic design.
7Dio Brando (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventureis a show that’s filled to the brim with incredible character designs. In fact,the style of this show is so immensethat trying to choose just one character out of the lot can be a massive challenge.
However, Dio is a great choice out of the many amazing characters on this show. His villainous persona absolutely oozes out of every pore, and his character design is reflective of that.
6Saber (Fate/Stay Night)
Fate/Stay Nightis a popular anime based on a video game of the same name. The first anime to come out for the series featured Shirou Emiya being thrust into the Fifth Holy Grail War and almost dying during these battles.
However, the appearance of his servant, Saber, changed things. Her character design made it clear that she was not someone to be trifled with, and the manner in which her relationship grew with Shirou was a thing of beauty.
