Animation has been a staple in the world of entertainment since the early 1900s. This has given storytellers ways to present their films or shows with barely any limitations. Ever since then, animation from around the world has made a cultural impact on society. Non-more so ever than Japanese Animation or “Anime” for short. Out of the world of anime have come some very amazing characters that we just can’t get enough of!! Here are at least 5 anime legends we just can’t get enough of.
5 Anime Legends Who Will Remain Immortal
1.) Goku (Dragon Ball Series)
In 1984, Japan was introduced to the world of Dragon Ball, created by Akira Toriyama. This series follows the adventures of Son Goku and his friends to find the Dragon Balls and become the strongest fighters on Earth. In 1986, we started getting the series in the form of animation. From then on, as the world of Dragon Ball grew bigger, so did the love for the series’ main character, Son Goku. Goku started off as a boy with a monkey tail and a magical staff, living in the woods alone after his grandfather died.
Over time, he would meet friends who would make a lasting impact on him and enemies who would shake him to the core, driving him to be stronger! His story is why we love him so much, that and his love for fighting and food. He’s an encouraging figure who will always defend his friends and family, even if his own ambition might get everyone killed. Thus, he is part of the 5 Anime Legends list.
2.) Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop)
One of the coolest bounty hunters and anime legends around, Spike made his debut in the manga Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star back in 1997 in Monthly Asuka Fantasy DX before being animated for the show Cowboy Bebop in 1998. He’s one of the most carefree gunslingers of space with a dark past that haunts him. Spike used to be part of a crime syndicate called the Red Dragon and was partnered with a man named Vicious until he fell in love with Vicious’s lover, Julia, which caused some issues between the two. Spike was forced to fake his death in order to leave the Red Dragons and leave Julia behind.
After that, Spike meets a man named Jet, who was a former police officer, teaming up with him to take on bounties. Throughout the series, he also meets Faye Valentine, a hacker called Edward, and the lovable dog called Ein. They become his family and, in a way, change him for the better. Spike’s cool nature makes him one of the favorites in the world of anime, with his skill in martial arts and his piloting skills, flying the Sword Fish MK: 2, he will always be talked about, even after his own incredible ending.
3.) Edward Elric (Full Metal Alchemist/ FMA: Brotherhood)
Even though he is young and short, Edward Elric is one of the most accomplished alchemists in the anime world and, therefore, makes the anime legends list. Full Metal Alchemist had its start in Monthly Shonen Gangan in 2001 and made its anime debut in 2003. After losing his mother, Ed and his brother Alphonse Elric decide to learn alchemy in order to bring her back.
Things go wrong, resulting in Ed losing his brother’s body and his own right arm and left leg. Afterwards, they get a visit from Roy Mustang, who encourages Ed and Al to become state alchemists. When they both make a decision, they set out to become alchemists for their country so they can use the resources in order to find the philosopher’s stone to restore their bodies.
Throughout both Full Metal Alchemist and FMA: Brotherhood, we see Ed has to sacrifice more than his body in order to get his hands on the stone itself. As a character, he can be a little bit bullheaded and selfish, but you also have to remember that he’s still just a child taking on adult responsibilities. That being said, he shows more love for the people around him than anyone in that world of the Fullmetal Alchemist, which is why we love him.
4.) Saitama (One Punch Man)
It’s hard being the strongest man in the world, and Saitama knows exactly what that’s like. This character made his debut in the One Punch Man webcomic created by One in 2009. In 2012, a digital remake started happening on the website for Tonari no Young Jump, and later was picked up in North America by Viz Media for the Shonen Jump magazine. After all that, Madhouse decided to produce the anime series’ 1st season, with the second and third seasons being produced by A.J.C. Staffing. One Punch Man is about a man named Saitama who decides he wants to become a superhero, as a hobby.
Set my girls through what he calls Spartan training in order to push himself to the limits for three years, which eventually makes him pretty unbeatable. He makes friends with a cyborg by the name of Genos, who also becomes his disciple. Saitama is one of your everyday humans who just wants to test his limits. He loves to shop, especially on coupon days. He loves to water his plants, and he loves video games. This itself made him part of the anime legends list we all love.
He will, however, when the chance is given, take his chance to test the strength and limits to see if he can be beaten. It also helps that he has a pretty shiny bald head, which makes me wonder what kind of wax he uses on that thing?
5.) Kafka Hibino (Kaiju No. 8)
Kaijui No.8 first hit the manga scene in 2020 on Shonen Jump+ online services and was later picked up by Viz Media for its US publication, and was later adapted into an anime by Production I.G.. Kafka Hibino was just your normal thirty-something-year-old man who had kind of given up on his dream of being in the Defense Force after failing so many exams. Instead, he ends up working for the cleanup crew that cleans up cities after Kaiju destruction. The premise already sold the viewers, which in turn made him one of the anime legends.
When a young man named Reno Ichikawa starts working with him to study the anatomy of a Kaiju, Kafka is told that the cut-off age for exams has been pushed back, meaning that he can take the exams one last time. When a kaiju tries to attack Kafka in Reno and then ends up in the hospital, Costco makes the decision to try out for the defense force. Unfortunately, at that time, a parasite crawls into his mouth, turning him into Kaiju himself. From then on, Kafka decides to use his new Kaiju powers to fight other Kaijus, but has no choice but to keep his powers a secret from those around him.
Kafka is driven by his goal to work by the side of his childhood friend Mena Astrio, who, as children, both vowed to become members of the ‘Japanese Anti-Kaiju Defense Force’. Even though he has kaiju powers and his human form, he is not that tough. He makes up for that with his knowledge and his time with the Kijui cleanup crew. When he transforms, he is a force to be reckoned with. He can take on some of the toughest Kijui, whether they’re big or small. For many, he is one of the biggest anime legends out there.
With anime, we will always have characters that we love to follow. But who are some of the anime legends that you can’t get enough of? Are the characters who are just heroes of their own story, or are they the villains of the piece? Feel free to let us know.
