Whether it’s Shonen Jump or Netflix Originals, there have been many hit anime titles that have introduced fans to new characters who have become beloved. But if fans love them or hate them, some do have odd and ridiculous designs.
While not all of them would be discussed as neither good nor bad, there are some who audiences just couldn’t quite initially shake off how ridiculous they are. Some have remained infamous for their designs while others have become embraced by audiences worldwide for their appearances.
Majin Buu – Dragonball Z
Dragon Ball Z was most likely one of the first series that introduced people to the world of anime. With some of the best friendships, super-human warriors, intergalactic adventures, and some of the most colorful cast of characters, there’s a reason it has remained beloved.
After the Z Fighters fought against an alien emperor and a time-traveling android, it surprised many that the next big bad was Majin Buu. The pink antagonist was certainly one of the most oddly designed with yellow gloves, puffy white trousers, and a tiny vest, and all while smiling proudly too. And with a childish attitude as well, there are certainly plenty of things that don’t make much sense about this character.
Ryoku’s Fighting Outfit – Kill La Kill
Studio Trigger’s first anime was the comedy-action series Kill La Kill. Set in a surreal and bizarre high school filled with super-powered outfits and overly confident teens, Ryuko sets foot inside the school in order to find the killer of her father.
During the series, Ryuko gets attached to a sentient sailor uniform named Senketsu who aids her in trying to find the murderer. And in some of the more intense action scenes, Ryuko can transform for combat into one of the most revealing and surreal battle outfits in anime.
Chikara – Naruto
Throughout its entire run, Naruto had a number of filler arcs and episodes that kept fans in suspense for the next major storyline and battles to come. And while some of these did have some interesting characters, others were an odd fit into the series.
One of them was Chikara, who only appeared in one episode. Having an outfit that’s reminiscent of a country-rock star and having an Elvis-style hair, mannerisms, and even a similar voice in the English dub, the character just doesn’t quite mesh with the world of ninjitsu.
Hollows – Bleach
Between 2004 to 2012, Bleach was one of the most popular anime series at the time with its art style and intense battles. The show focused on Ichigo who must protect the world from attacking spirits and guide lost souls to the afterlife. And after a long hiatus, the anime series will return to conclude with the Thousand-Year Blood War arc.
Since the 1st episode, the Hollows were introduced as ghostly monsters who often try to devour human souls. Their vast variety of designs may feature some terrifying foes for Ichigo to face, but there are others who are just too bizarre and look as though they don’t quite fit into the world of Bleach.
Kikirugwe – Dorohedoro
The world of Dorohedoro is already filled with ridiculous character designs in an oddball world that mixes steampunk and magic. The series follows Caiman, a man whose head was transformed into a reptile who tries to find the person responsible.
Perhaps one of the most peculiar in the series is a cat-like creature named Kikurage. Wearing a red horned mask and having the features of a small, fluffy dog and a cat with pink fur, this is also one of the most powerful characters as they can bring back people from the dead.
Gon’s Transformation – Hunter X Hunter
Hunter X Hunter may not have lasted long as an anime compared to its original manga source, but the 2011 series had many highlights and great episodes that fans expect in a Shonen story. The series followed Gon as he tries to find the father who abandoned him while trying to become a “Hunter,” someone who hunts down criminals and finds undiscovered creatures.
Between his fight with Neferpitou, Gon transforms into an older version of himself in order to defeat them. Among the youthful main cast of characters, this temporary form was odd with a muscular and mature Gon who had hair flowing seemingly endlessly upwards and continued to wear his outfit as a boy, even though it no longer fits.
Big Mom – One Piece
Since 1999, One Piece has become one of the longest running anime series and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The series follows Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates as they sail across the seas and come face to face with countless wacky rival crews.
There could have been many characters from Eiichiro Oda’s world of One Piece and honestly, his art style could easily warrant their own list of ridiculous character designs. But one of the most powerful villains, Big Mom, just had to be included with her oddly-porpotioned body and polka-dotted pink dress and yet, still one of the biggest villains that Luffy and his crew have faced yet.
Tournament Of Power Warriors – Dragonball Super
Acting as the last storyline in the Dragon Ball Super anime, the Universe Survival arc was a climactic showdown as 10 warriors from each universe competed in the Tournament of Power in order to save their universes from elimination.
Though this would be the center stage for some of the greatest fights in the entire series, it also showed how each universe hosted unique characters not seen in the entire Dragon Ball franchise prior that also proved to be the most powerful among the new characters. From the pink-pig sumo wrestler Napapaa to the warrior of love Ribrianne, Akira Toriyama can still create unique characters for his series after all these years.
Shin-Chan – Crayon Shin-Chan
Created by manga artist Yoshito Usui, Crayon Shin-Chan followed the exploits of 5-year-old Chin-Chan and his comedic antics at school and at home. Despite the anime premiering in 1992, episodes of the series are still being produced to this day.
Yoshito’s character designs are as ridiculous as they are funny to look at with the characters’ simple faces and squiggly outlines. But Shin-Chan’s small stature and limbs just makes him unique among the visually-unique cast of characters.
The Entire Cast – xxxHolic
xxxHolic was created by Clamp, a group of female artists who work on a series of manga publications. And it was even adapted for a 37-episode anime series that focused on Kimihiro working for a witch named Yuko in exchange for granting him a wish.
But the way that the characters were designed for the show was questionable. With small heads and elongated limbs, the anime has received criticism for the way they have been animated and stylized from the pages of the manga.
