A series can look beautiful, be flashy, and have a high production value all it wants. Ultimately, none of that matters. If a story doesn’t have characters worth following, then a show is pretty much dead in the water.
Although the best anime fortify themselves with a well-rounded cast, there are instances when a single character rises above the rest. These are the characters that stick with you long after a series comes to a close. They take what is already good and bring it to a higher level.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of characters introduced in a given year, so to secure a spot on this list, they must be something special.
Let the rundown begin: