Coolness is one of the most mysterious and attractive traits in anime. Few characters have it, and the ones that do make people flock to them easily. There are many ways a character can be cool, and they don't have to be fighting for the good side either. To be cool, a character needs to be confident, they need to be themselves, and they have to be calm. Characters like Guts from Berserk embody this kind of stoic coolness perfectly.

Coolness can be bad too. Characters like Toji Fushiguro from Jujutsu Kaisen are cool because they don't care about rules. They do what they want and are strong and smart enough to get away with it. No matter why or how a character is cool, they're always one of the best reasons to watch a show. Cool characters are usually strong too, as there's nobody who can make them freak out in the first place.

10 Guts

The Black Swordsman is Equally Cool and Vicious

Created by
Kentaro Miura, Kouji Mori
First Film
Berserk: The Golden Age Arc 1: The Egg of the King
TV Show(s)
Berserk
Video Game(s)
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage, Berserk: Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Sho, Berserk and the Band of the Hawk
Latest Film
Berserk: The Golden Age Arc 3: The Advent
First TV Show
Berserk

Guts has one of the most tragic backstories in anime, but he doesn't let that get him down. While most other characters would break under the weight of Guts' past, the Black Swordsman marches on. He's focused on his quest and only uses the past as fuel to get him closer to his ideal future. Guts is one of the most stoic characters around. Most of his friends and allies can't tell what he's thinking by looking at him because his face doesn't really change unless he's in battle.

Guts becomes a beast in battle. He once fought 100 enemy soldiers at once in one of the best one-man-army moments in anime history. His viciousness only adds to his coolness. Guts is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, and will use his Dragon Slayer the entire time.

9 Satoru Gojo

The Strongest Sorcerer in Modern Jujutsu Society

Jujutsu Kaisen
TV-14
Animation
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Action
Horror
Supernatural
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Megumi Ogata
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Junichi Suwabe
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Yuma Uchida
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Yoshiki Nakajima

Release Date
October 3, 2020
Directors
Ryohei Takeshita, Masataka Akai, Chie Nishizawa, Daisuke Tsukushi, Tomomi Kamiya, Kakushi Ifuku, Ken Takahashi
Writers
Hiroshi Seko
Franchise(s)
Jujutsu Kaisen
Seasons
2
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu
Main Genre
Animation

As the strongest modern sorcerer in Jujutsu Society, it's hard for Satoru Gojo not to be cool. He's the of two of the strongest techniques in history in the Limitless and Six Eyes techniques, and he's mastered them in a way that makes him basically untouchable. Gojo is funny, confident, and altogether capable. He makes quick work of some of the strongest characters in Jujutsu Kaisen. When he fights Jogo, he's so confident in his ability to win that he brings Yuji to the battle just to watch. The best part is that Gojo has every right to do so.

Related
Jujutsu Kaisen's Kento Nanami Has Never Looked Cooler Than He Does In A New Cosplay

Jujutsu Kaisen's former salaryman hero, Nanami Kento, stuns in a cosplay photoshoot that flawlessly displays his brave and determined outlook.

Jogo was insulted but couldn't do anything about it. Gojo dominated his opponent easily, showing off for his student. Gojo is so cool that he survived death itself when Toji killed him. Instead of dying like a normal, not cool person, Gojo discovered the Reverse Cursed Technique, revived himself, and got his revenge against another insanely cool character.

8 Roronoa Zoro

One of the Straw Hat's Swordsman

One Piece
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Mayumi Tanaka
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Kazuya Nakai
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Akemi Okamura
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Kappei Yamaguchi

Release Date
October 20, 1999
Directors
Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou
Writers
Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda
Franchise(s)
One Piece
Seasons
21
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu, Pluto TV
Main Genre
Anime
Creator(s)
Eiichiro Oda

Roronoa Zoro is never panicked. When most other characters would have a full-blow meltdown, he might consider taking a nap. He doesn't care about much outside of becoming the strongest swordsman there is, which is an insanely cool endeavor. He's also as loyal as it gets to his fellow Straw Hat pirates. Zoro is notorious for his inability to navigate, but he doesn't care. He'll go wherever he goes and figure it out from there. His laid-back, confident attitude makes him the coolest character in One Piece by far.

One of the coolest moments in anime happens when Zoro decides to take damage for Luffy. When the Warlord Kuma goes to take Zoro's captain, Zoro steps in. Kuma sees his bravery and decides to spare Luffy if Zoro takes the damage that was meant for Luffy. Zoro agrees, and takes a near-lethal number of blows. After the Straw Hats revive, Sanji finds Zoro in a mess of blood. When Sanji asks Zoro what happened, Zoro simply responds that nothing happened.

7 Yami Sukehiro

The Black Bulls' Captain Is Never Panicked

Black Clover
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Dallas Reid
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Jill Harris
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Cris George
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Christopher R. Sabat

Release Date
October 3, 2017
Directors
Tatsuya Yoshihara, Ayataka Tanemura
Writers
Kazuyuki Fudeyasu, Kanichi Katou
Franchise(s)
Black Clover
Seasons
1
Streaming Service(s)
Netflix
Main Genre
Action
Creator(s)
Yūki Tabata

Yami Sukehiro is unnaturally calm. He doesn't care about most issues, and will only get angry when someone threatens his Black Bulls. He's one of the strongest characters in Black Clover and he carries himself like he knows it. Yami doesn't allow anyone to talk back to him or his squad. He's the first one to charge into battle and would never ask his Black Bulls to do something that he hasn't done himself. He's a great leader, a powerful mage, and the first person in Black Clover to use a katana in battle. It doesn't get any cooler than that.

Yami is so cool that he makes other characters look cool. When Asta was exhausted fighting the powerful villain Dante Zogratis, Yami's words of inspiration lit a fire underneath the Anti-Magic and picked him back up. Their combined efforts were enough to take down Dante, and if it wasn't for Zenon's sudden appearance, they would've won the day.

6 Itachi Uchiha

Itachi Is Cool Even Past Death

Naruto: Shippuden
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Junko Takeuchi
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Kazuhiko Inoue
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Noriaki Sugiyama
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Chie Nakamura

Release Date
February 15, 2007
Network
Adult Swim
Directors
Hayato Date, Masaaki Kumagai, Yasuaki Kurotsu, Osamu Kobayashi, Chiaki Kon
Writers
Junki Takegami, Satoru Nishizono, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Yasuaki Kurotsu, Masanao Akahoshi
Franchise(s)
Naruto
Seasons
19
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu, Spectrum

Itachi Uchiha has one of Naruto's best, and saddest, backstories. He was tasked by his village with the slaughter of his entire clan. While he spared Sasuke, he wasn't able to save anyone else. He had to become the ultimate villain in order to save both Konoha and his younger brother. Itachi's self-sacrifice is one of the darkest versions of coolness in anime. He committed horrific acts thinking that somebody had to. Rather than letting Shisui or another member of the Uchiha end their people, Itachi took it upon himself to carry out the slaughter.

Related
10 Darkest Moments in Naruto

Naruto was a dark story cleverly depicted as a ninja story. It always lurked in the background but was sometimes impossible to cover its presence.

Itachi then lets Sasuke spend his life hating his older brother. He understands that it's the easiest way for Sasuke to move forward. He also fights Sasuke in battle, dying to his younger brother so that he can take Itachi's eyes and obtain the legendary Mangekyou Sharingan.

5 Jotaro Kujo

Jotaro Doesn't Care About Much

Created by
Hirohiko Araki
TV Show(s)
JoJo Bizarre Adventure
Video Game(s)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R
Character(s)
Will A. Zeppeli, Jonathan Joestar, Giorno Giovanna, Jotaro Kujo, Joseph Joestar, Jolyne Cujoh, Johnny Joestar, Josuke Higashikata, Gyro Zeppeli

Jotaro Kujo doesn't care about anything, not even the fact that he's one of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. He's 6'5", incredibly handsome, and more muscular than most bodybuilders. He always keeps an aloof attitude but does grow to be a loyal man to his friends. He has all the characteristics of a cool person, and they mix well for Jotaro. He's the coolest character in every iteration of JoJo he's in.

Jotaro starts part three of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure as a delinquent. He beats up four people at once and puts himself in jail for it, another ridiculously cool feat. When he's in jail, he proves he's "possessed" by stealing a guard's gun and shooting himself in the head. His stand, the stupendously cool Star Platinum, then catches the bullet in midair, forcing Jotaro to live to see another day. Jotaro is undeniably cool in Stardust Crusaders, and gets even more time to shine in Diamond is Unbreakable and Stone Ocean, where it's clear that he only gets cooler with age.

4 Future Trunks

Future Trunks Killed Mecha Frieza Like Nothing

Dragon Ball Z
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Kazuyuki Sogabe
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Kozo Shioya
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Masako Nozawa
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Ryo Horikawa

Release Date
April 26, 1989
Directors
Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Osamu Kasai
Writers
Akira Toriyama, Neil Bligh, Hiroshi Toda, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Aya Matsui, Keiji Terui, Reiko Yoshida, Toshiki Inoue
Franchise(s)
Dragon Ball
Seasons
9
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll
Main Genre
Action
Creator(s)
Akira Toriyama

Future Trunks' arrival in the present timeline was multiple cool events at once. Frieza had just arrived on Earth with revenge on his mind. He was going to kill the Z Fighters and surprise Goku with his survival, enacting his vengeance on the Super Saiyan. Future Trunks had other plans though, showing up out of nowhere to quickly dispatch Frieza's men. Frieza could barely put up a fight once he saw Future Trunks' golden hair.

Related
10 Smartest Dragon Ball Characters, Ranked

Dragon Ball's characters aren't exclusively about fighting--some of them are actually quite brilliant. Here are the smartest characters of all.

Future Trunks is one of the few characters in Dragon Ball to use a sword, and he makes it look exceptionally cool. He attacked Mecha Frieza, using his Burning Attack to put the galactic tyrant right in position for Future Trunks' devastating Shining Sword Attack. Future Trunks diced Frieza up into a dozen pieces before blasting him away with an energy attack. The result is one of Dragon Ball's most shocking moments, as it permanently ended the series' biggest villain to date while also setting up a ridiculously cool new hero.

3 Levi Ackermann

Humanity's Greatest Soldier

Attack On Titan
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Matthew Mercer
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Josh Grelle
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Hiroshi Kamiya
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Shiori Mikami

Release Date
April 7, 2013
Seasons
4
Main Genre
Action
Franchise
Attack on Titan
Production Company
Wit Studio, MAPPA

If there's any Attack on Titan, it's Levi Ackerman. He's humanity's strongest soldier, and it's easy to see why. Levi is a decisive factor in every battle he's in. He's a master at killing Titans and his enemies alike, and is more than willing to do both on multiple occasions. When his former father figure, Kenny Ackerman, comes after him, Levi goes on a defensive killing spree that ends up being one of the best one-man-army moments in anime.

When Erwin Smith and the rest of the Scout Regiment sacrifice their lives for Levi, he makes it worth it. He rushes the Beast Titan and cuts him down quickly. Levi's mysterious aura, lethal intent, and overall rogue demeanor makes him one of the coolest characters in anime.

2 Toji Fushiguro

His Heavenly Restriction Is as Cool as It Gets

In of time in the story, Toji Fushiguro was a cliffnote in Jujutsu Kaisen. In of impact, however, there aren't many characters bigger than the former Zenin. He was only in the series for a handful of chapters and episodes and made a splash every time he was around. He doesn't care about anything other than being free of the Zenin Clan and being the best bounty hunter/assassin he can be. With his mastery of his Heavenly Restriction, he's one of the strongest characters in Jujutsu Kaisen as well.

Toji was resurrected later in the series and was a threat once again. He flies around the battlefield faster than most Sorcerers using their Jujutsu, and he hits harder than them too. If it wasn't for Gojo's enlightenment and the Reverse Cursed Technique, Toji would still be around causing mayhem.

1 Spike Spiegel

The Epitome of a Cool Character in Anime

Cowboy Bebop
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Koichi Yamadera
  • Headshot Of Steve Blum In The Los Angeles Premiere of The Boxtrolls
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Megumi Hayashibara
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Wendee Lee

Release Date
April 3, 1998
Network
Adult Swim
Showrunner
Shinichirô Watanabe
Directors
Shinichirô Watanabe
Writers
Keiko Nobumoto, Shinichirô Watanabe
Franchise(s)
Cowboy Bebop
Seasons
1
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu

Spike Spiegel is the epitome of a cool character in anime. He hasn't been around for more than 20 years, but he's still the first person people think about when they picture a cool anime character. He's a martial arts master, more than experienced with pistols, and always has a knife close by. He's the bad boy of cool characters, and he's not going to apologize any time soon. Spike's also an expert pilot in his Swordfish II, his handy ship equipped with machine guns, missile launchers, and even a plasma cannon.

Related
One Of Cowboy Bebop's Funniest Quotes Is Secretly Key To Understanding The Entire Series

An offhand comment by Spike during a contentious moment comes off as funny, but it really reflects the true reality of living in Cowboy Bebop's world.

1

Cowboy Bebop's amazing art direction and style add to Spike's coolness. He always looks light on screen, floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee. Spike has a cynical sense of humor and is much closer to an antihero than a traditional hero, but that only makes him cooler. Each of his character traits and flaws only adds to his mystique, making him the coolest character in anime.