With anime becoming increasingly popular around the world, so has the demand for more diverse characters, and that has led to some of the most iconic black characters in anime. Black characters have become more popular both in Japan and outside, especially in the past few decades as anime fandom grows. Some mangaka, like Eichiro Oda, were way ahead of their time by incorporating Black characters in their work which paved the way for future creators to follow suit.
More than just a handful of small examples in lesser-known works, black characters can be found in even the biggest anime franchises. Trailblazers like Tite Kubo and Masashi Kishimoto have designed some of the most memorable black characters in anime and manga.
This set a precedent for a new generation of manga and anime creators who looked up to these icons and wrote some deep and multifaceted characters. The most iconic black anime characters are all shining examples of how diverse anime has become.
15
Kilik Rung
Soul Eater
Soul Eater
*Availability in US
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- rent
- buy
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- Cast
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Laura Bailey
, Micah Solusod
, Brittney Karbowski
, Monica Rial
, Todd Haberkorn
, Jamie Marchi
, Cherami Leigh - Release Date
-
April 7, 2008
- Seasons
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2
- Streaming Service(s)
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Crunchyroll
- Franchise(s)
-
Soul Eater
- Writers
-
Akatsuki Yamatoya
- Directors
-
Takuya Igarashi
- Main Genre
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Action
- Creator(s)
-
Atsushi Ohkubo
Creator of Soul Eater Atsushi Ohkubo designed Killik as he felt there was a lack of representation of Black characters in anime. Based off the main character of Kirikou and the Sorceress, Killik is one of the coolest characters in Soul Eater, not just because of his design, but also his personality. He is a kind character who would put his life on the line for his friends. He’s also on the stronger side, as he is considered one of the three strongest students in Death Weapon Meister Academy. He is a great combatant and one of the more popular characters in Soul Eater despite not getting much screen time.
14
Hibana
Fire Force
Fire Force (2019)
- Cast
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Derick Snow
, Jeremy Inman
, Christopher Wehkamp
, Sarah Roach
, Alexis Tipton
, Eric Vale
, Jad Saxton
, Ian Sinclair
, Jason Liebrecht - Release Date
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July 6, 2019
- Seasons
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2
- Streaming Service(s)
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Cruncyroll
, Hulu - Franchise(s)
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Fire Force
- Writers
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Yamato Haijima
, Tatsuma Minamikawa - Directors
-
Yuki Yase
, Tatsuma Minamikawa - Main Genre
-
Action
- Creator(s)
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Atsushi Ohkubo
Fire Force‘s Hibana is as gorgeous as she is strong. Another creation by Atsushi Ohkubo, Hibana is a fan favorite and one of the more complex characters in the show. She is very sadistic and bossy towards her subordinates but has a tragic past that led to her pessimistic ideals. In order to survive and exact revenge on those who killed her friends, she became ruthless and wholeheartedly immersed herself in her research. Hibana is a brilliant scientist and uses chemistry to power up. For all her faults, she was a great ally to Shinra and Company 8, helping them whenever they were in a pinch.
13
Darui
Naruto: Shippuden
Naruto: Shippuden
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Set two and a half years after the events of Masashi Kishimoto’s original anime, Naruto Shippuden continues the titular hero’s attempts to become the best ninja in the Hidden Leaf Village and bring his former friend Sasuke Uchiha back to the light. The 500-episode series features the return of allies such as Sakura Haruno and Naruto Uzumaki’s mentor Jiraiya, as well as the villainous organization Akatsuki.
- Cast
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Junko Takeuchi
, Kazuhiko Inoue
, Noriaki Sugiyama
, Chie Nakamura
, Shoutarou Morikubo
, Hideo Ishikawa
, Nana Mizuki
, Houchuu Ootsuka - Release Date
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February 15, 2007
- Seasons
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22
- Network
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Adult Swim
- Streaming Service(s)
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Crunchyroll
- Franchise(s)
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Naruto
- Writers
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Junki Takegami
, Satoru Nishizono
, Yasuyuki Suzuki
, Yasuaki Kurotsu
, Masanao Akahoshi - Directors
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Hayato Date
, Masaaki Kumagai
, Yasuaki Kurotsu
, Osamu Kobayashi
, Chiaki Kon
Nauto‘s Darui was the right-hand man to the 4th Raikage and eventually succeeded him as the 5th Raikage, making him an important character in Boruto. As the commander of the First Division of the Allied Forces, Darui played a crucial role in leading thousands of ninja against the Akatsuki. This confirmed Darui’s nature as a brilliant tactician who could foresee threats brewing before anyone else. A master of Kekkei Genkai, Water Style, Lightning Style and Water Style, Darui is one of the strongest ninja in Naruto, and his accomplishments in the war cannot be overstated.
12
Aomine Daiki
Kuroko’s Basketball
Kuroko’s Basketball (2012)
- Cast
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Kensho Ono
, Yoshimasa Hosoya
, Yuki Ono
, Hirofumi Nojima
, Chiwa Saitô
, Takuya Eguchi
, Dave Wallace
, Go Inoue
, Yasuhiro Yoshimoto - Release Date
-
April 7, 2012
- Seasons
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3
- Streaming Service(s)
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Crunchyroll
, Netflix - Franchise(s)
-
Kuroko’s Basketball
- Writers
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Noburo Takagi
, Tadatoshi Fujimaki - Directors
-
Shunsuke Tada
- Main Genre
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Sports
- Creator(s)
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Tadatoshi Fujimaki
Aomine Daiki is one of the reasons Kuroko’s Basketball is one of the best sports anime ever. He is by far the toughest opponent for Kagami, Kuroko and the Seinin High basketball team. What sets him apart from all the talented players in the series is his sheer talent, confidence and competitiveness. He doesn’t put in nearly as much work as others, but will still easily beat them in a game.
Aomine’s drive for basketball went down when he realized nobody could challenge him, but when he played Kagami, his true skills were put on display. Because of his dominating play style, Kagami went into the Zone and improved greatly as a player. All this adds up to making Aomine one of Kuroko’s Basketball’s best players.
11
Miguel Oduol Has Quickly Become One Of Jujutsu Kaisen’s Best Characters
Character from Studio MAPPA’s Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen
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Jujutsu Kaisen is a supernatural action anime that follows high school student Yuuji Itadori as he battles against magical curses. After Yuji selflessly saves a classmate by taking a curse into his own body, he is discovered and trained by a powerful sorcerer named Satoru Gojo. Gojo, who also happens to be a faculty member at a high school, enrolls Yuji there to help him and other students prepare themselves against the supernatural forces that plague humanity.
- Cast
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Junya Enoki
, Yuma Uchida
, Yuichi Nakamura
, Adam McArthur
, Asami Seto - Release Date
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October 3, 2020
- Seasons
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2
- Streaming Service(s)
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Crunchyroll
- Franchise(s)
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Jujutsu Kaisen
- Writers
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Hiroshi Seko
- Directors
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Sunghoo Park
, Shōta Goshozono - Main Genre
-
Animation
Jujutsu Kaisen isn’t that old an anime, but it’s still created a very iconic black character in Miguel Oduol. Not only did Jujutsu Kaisen 0 give Miguel an incredible spotlight where he legitimately stalled Gojo for time, but in the final arc, Miguel further proved his power by putting up one of the best fights against Sukuna out of anyone, with Miguel’s power even being explicitly compared to Gojo’s. Even with his lack of screen time, Miguel has managed to leave a lasting impression on people, and it’s especially great to see something like that with a minority character.
10
Afro Samurai
Afro Samurai
Afro Samurai
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Afro Samurai follows Afro, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, as he seeks vengeance against Justice, who killed his father. Set in a futuristic feudal Japan, the series blends elements of Western and samurai films with stylized action and unique animation.
- Cast
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Samuel L. Jackson
, Phil LaMarr
, Ron Perlman
, Kelly Hu
, Yuri Lowenthal
, Greg Eagles - Release Date
-
January 4, 2007
- Seasons
-
1
- Network
-
Spike
- Writers
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Takashi Okazaki
, Derek Draper
, Chris Yoo - Directors
-
Fuminori Kizaki
- Showrunner
-
Takashi Okazaki
, Fuminori Kizaki - Main Genre
-
Action
- Creator(s)
-
Takashi Okazaki
Afro Samurai is the main character of the series of the same name. After witnessing his father’s murder, Afro Samurai is fueled by a desire for revenge that leads him to spare nothing and nobody in his quest. His strength is impressive, consistently putting him in the upper ranks of the best swordsmen in anime history. From his mastery of the sword, proficiency in hand-to-hand combatant, and incredible durability, Afro Samurai offers some great action for fans all over.
9
Canary
Hunter X Hunter
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
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In Hunter x Hunter, young Gon Freecss discovers his long-lost father is a legendary Hunter, an elite class of adventurer with the license to go anywhere or do almost anything. Determined to find him, Gon sets out to pass the Hunter Examination, a life-threatening challenge that draws hundreds of hopefuls seeking fortune, fame, and adventure. Along the way, Gon becomes friends with other candidates, including the vengeful Kurapika, the ambitious Leorio, and the enigmatic Killua. Together, they face a world filled with bizarre creatures, sinister criminals, and unpredictable adventures.
- Cast
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Megumi Han
, Mariya Ise
, Issei Futamata - Release Date
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October 2, 2011
- Seasons
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6
- Streaming Service(s)
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Netflix
, Crunchyroll
, Hulu - Franchise(s)
-
Hunter X Hunter
- Writers
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Atsushi Maekawa
, Tsutomu Kamishiro - Directors
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Hiroshi Kôjina
- Main Genre
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Action
- Creator(s)
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Yoshihiro Togashi
Canary is an extremely popular Black character, despite her short amount of screen time in Hunter X Hunter. As an apprentice butler for the legendary assassin family, the Zoldycks, she is tasked with guarding the house from any intruders. The Zoldycks place a great deal of confidence in her abilities as she has an important duty. Canary is a kind character but doesn’t show it, so that she can be as intimidating as possible. As loyal as she is to the Zoldyck family, she is much more loyal to Killua. She let Gon and his friends pass and see Killua as she was pleased to see Killua finally earn a friend who cares about him the way she does.
8
Loran Cehack Is One Of Gundam’s Most Underrated Heroes
Character from Sunrise’s ∀ Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam
- Cast
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Hirotaka Suzuoki
, Tôru Furuya
, Toshio Furukawa
, Kiyonobu Suzuki
, Michael Kopsa
, Brad Swaile
, Cathy Weseluck
, Chris Kalhoon - Release Date
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April 7, 1979
- Seasons
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1
- Main Genre
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Anime
- Creator(s)
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Yoshiyuki Tomino
, Hajime Yatate
∀ Gundam might not be the most recognizable entry in the Gundam franchise, but it’s still a standout series, especially for its protagonist, Loran Cehack. Loran’s strong adherence to pacifism lets him stand out among other Gundam protagonists, who typically have fewer reservations about violence, and he’s always written in a way that makes that trait come across as endearing as opposed to preachy or heavyhanded. Add in the progressiveness of Loran’s willingness to crossdress with little embarrassment, and he ends up as one of Gundam‘s most underrated protagonists, by far.
7
Killer Bee
Naruto Shippuden
Naruto: Shippuden
*Availability in US
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Set two and a half years after the events of Masashi Kishimoto’s original anime, Naruto Shippuden continues the titular hero’s attempts to become the best ninja in the Hidden Leaf Village and bring his former friend Sasuke Uchiha back to the light. The 500-episode series features the return of allies such as Sakura Haruno and Naruto Uzumaki’s mentor Jiraiya, as well as the villainous organization Akatsuki.
- Cast
-
Junko Takeuchi
, Kazuhiko Inoue
, Noriaki Sugiyama
, Chie Nakamura
, Shoutarou Morikubo
, Hideo Ishikawa
, Nana Mizuki
, Houchuu Ootsuka - Release Date
-
February 15, 2007
- Seasons
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22
- Network
-
Adult Swim
- Streaming Service(s)
-
Crunchyroll
- Franchise(s)
-
Naruto
- Writers
-
Junki Takegami
, Satoru Nishizono
, Yasuyuki Suzuki
, Yasuaki Kurotsu
, Masanao Akahoshi - Directors
-
Hayato Date
, Masaaki Kumagai
, Yasuaki Kurotsu
, Osamu Kobayashi
, Chiaki Kon
The rapping and multiple sword-wielding Jinchuriki is an icon and a fan favorite in Naruto Shippuden. As the host of the 8 Tails, Killer Bee was integral in the story as he was the one who taught and helped Naruto to control the powerful 9 Tails inside of him. Without his guidance, Naruto would be long dead and the war lost. He brings comic relief to the series, but quickly abandons that role and takes on the most powerful of enemies. He almost killed Sasuke when he was attacked, fought the reincarnated Pain, and has many other accomplishments to his name.
6
Yoruichi Shihoin
Bleach
Bleach
Bleach is a multimedia franchise created by Tite Kubo. The franchise started as a Japanese manga series. Ichigo Kurosaki is the main protagonist who is granted the powers of a being called the Soul Reaper. The success of the manga led to two anime TV shows, four feature-length animations, and several video games.
- Created by
-
Tite Kubo
- First Film
-
Bleach: Memories of Nobody
- First TV Show
-
Bleach
- Cast
-
Johnny Yong Bosch
, Michelle Ruff
, Stephanie Sheh
, Jamieson Price
, Derek Stephen Prince
, Wally Wingert - TV Show(s)
-
Bleach
, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War - Character(s)
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Ichigo Kurosaki
, Rukia Kuchiki
, Orihime Inoue
, Yasutora ‘Chad’ Sado
, Uryu Ishida
, Renji Abarai - Video Game(s)
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Bleach: Blade Battlers
, Bleach: Soul Resurrección
, Jump Force
Yoruichi is an extremely accomplished and powerful character in Bleach from a noble family, but her humble and relaxed attitude made fans fall in love with her. Known as the Flash Goddess, she was the former Squad 2 Captain and former commander of the Stealth Unit. She retired from her days as a soul reaper and hung around Urahara in her cat form. Although she prefers a relaxed life, she doesn’t hesitate to help out her former comrades. Yoruichi has played a major supporting role in nearly all of Bleach’s major arcs and plays a key role in the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc.
5
Usopp
One Piece
One Piece (1999)
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One Piece chronicles the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, an easy-going young pirate with the power to stretch like rubber, gained from eating a Devil Fruit. Luffy and his diverse crew sail across the Grand Line in search of the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, to become the Pirate King.
- Cast
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Mayumi Tanaka
, Kazuya Nakai
, Akemi Okamura
, Kappei Yamaguchi
, Hiroaki Hirata
, Ikue Ôtani
, Yuriko Yamaguchi
, Kazuki Yao
, Chō - Release Date
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October 20, 1999
- Streaming Service(s)
-
Crunchyroll
- Franchise(s)
-
One Piece
- Writers
-
Junki Takegami
, Shoji Yonemura
, Hirohiko Uesaka - Directors
-
Kônosuke Uda
, Junji Shimizu
, Munehisa Sakai - Main Genre
-
Action
- Creator(s)
-
Eiichiro Oda
The third person to join the Strawhats on their 1000+ episode journey, Usopp of One Piece is loved for many aspects of his personality. In a world filled with vicious and fearless pirates and marines, many fans can relate with Usopp as he is afraid and not as daring as others. However, that doesn’t mean he is a coward; far from it. He is one of the bravest because he faces his fears for the sake of his friends and what’s right. Usopp is a master marksman and important to the Strawhats, despite not being as strong. His kindness is heartwarming, even making up stories for the sick Kaya to cheer her up.
4
Michiko Malandro
Michiko & Hatchin
Year Released | 2008 |
Number of Episodes | 22 |
Where to Stream | Crunchyroll, Funimation |
Michiko’s striking design makes her an instantly recognizable character, but examining her even deeper will reveal just how great a character she is. Although she is loud, jealous, and arrogant, Michiko shows incredible loyalty towards those she cares about, especially Hatchin, who becomes her daughter in all but name. There are few portrayals of a black character in media as good as Michiko, and she and Michiko & Hatchin, as a whole, are a perfect example of Shinichiro Watanabe’s constant use of positive representation in anime.
3
Brock Is Still One Of Ash’s Most Iconic Friends In Pokémon
Character from OLM, Inc.’s Pokémon anime
Pokémon (1997)
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Ash Ketchum, a ten-year-old from Pallet Town, embarks on an adventure to become a Pokémon Master. With his first Pokémon, Pikachu, Ash sets out to capture and train Pokémon while battling other trainers in Pokémon Gyms to earn badges. Joined by his friends Brock and Misty, Ash consistently thwarts the plans of the nefarious Team Rocket, all while making new friends and encountering Pokémon across various regions.
- Cast
-
Rica Matsumoto
, Mayumi Iizuka
, Yūji Ueda
, Tomokazu Seki
, Kaori Suzuki
, Fushigi Yamada
, Megumi Toyoguchi - Release Date
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March 7, 1992
- Streaming Service(s)
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Hulu
, Netflix - Franchise(s)
-
Pokemon
- Writers
-
Takeshi Shudo
, Junki Takegami
, Atsuhiro Tomioka
, Aya Matsui
, Shoji Yonemura
, Dai Saito - Directors
-
Kunihiko Yuyama
, Daiki Tomiyasu
, Jun Owada
, Saori Den - Main Genre
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Adventure
While Brock from Pokémon is more an example of an anime character who simply has dark skin as opposed to actually being a person of color, that doesn’t make him any less iconic. Pokémon always used Brock being older than Ash and his friends to put him in the role of the supportive older friend, with Brock’s cooking and occasional moments of wise advice always doing a lot to help out Ash and others. Brock was always one of Ash’s best traveling companions, and it’s easy to see how he’s remained such an iconic part of the franchise decades later.
2
Muhammad Avdol Is One Of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s Most Iconic Characters
Character from David Production’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
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JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is an anime adapted from Hirohiko Araki’s manga, following the Joestar family whose members discover their unique supernatural abilities. Spanning multiple generations and diverse settings, each arc explores different members’ battles against malevolent forces, blending action, horror, and fantastical elements.
- Cast
-
David Vincent
, Matthew Mercer
, Daisuke Ono
, Unshô Ishizuka
, Tôru Ohkawa - Release Date
-
October 4, 2012
- Main Genre
-
Animation
Some of the most iconic characters of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure were introduced in Stardust Crusaders, and one of those was the major supporting character Muhammad Avdol. While not as involved in the plot as the rest of the cast, Avdol’s strategic mind and powerful Stand always allow for some truly creative battles in Stardust Crusaders, and the way he plays off the rest of the cast always makes for great character moments, as well. Avdol is technically an Egyptian character as opposed to a black African, but he’s still a great representation of a person of color in anime, regardless.
1
Casca Is Still One Of Anime’s Most Iconic Heroes
Character from OLM, Inc.’s Berserk
Berserk
- Created by
-
Kentaro Miura
, Kouji Mori - First Film
-
Berserk: The Golden Age Arc 1: The Egg of the King
- TV Show(s)
-
Berserk
, Berserk (1997) - Character(s)
-
Guts
, Griffith
, Casca
, Judeau
, Pippin
, Corkus
, Rickert
, Gaston (Berserk)
, Puck (Berserk)
, Farnese de Vandimion
, Serpico
, Isidro
, Schierke - Video Game(s)
-
Sword of the Berserk: Guts’ Rage
Berserk is one of the most iconic anime and manga of the past several decades, and its heroine, Casca, has always played a big part in that. Casca is a standout female character for her constant acts of bravery and leadership, all of which are still impressive by modern standards, and the way that’s balanced out with occasional moments of vulnerability fleshes her out even further. Casca has always been at the heart of what makes Berserk so great, and she still stands out as one of the most iconic black characters in anime, if not the most iconic.