Continuing the countdown of my 100 favorite anime characters in commemoration of my ten years as a fan, here are characters 70 to 61. As I’m doing these lists, I still find myself second guessing on the order, even after I’ve completed them. I could probably spend a long time contemplating how much I like some of these characters more than others, but I have to decide on an order eventually…
70. Nuriko (from Fushigi Yuugi)
Cross-dressing aside, Nuriko is a beautiful man on the inside and outside; his interesting background, his love for Miaka despite the fact that she was loved by Tamahome and Hotohori, and his fun but compassionate personality. Even his death was beautiful.
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69. Ken Ichijouji (from Digimon Adventure 02)
Ken has one of the purest redemption stories of all. He started off as the seemingly heartless, brutal, self-centered Digimon Kaiser only to unveil a realistic, heartbreaking past before eventually changing his ways for the better. I still can’t fully forgive him for some of the cruel things he did, which is why he’s not higher on my list. But I feel he was given a very complete self history and a believable turnaround (and I’ll admit he was one of my first anime crushes in my high school days XD)
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68. Tamaki Suou (from Ouran High School Host Club)
Without being obnoxious or hyperbolic, Tamaki is a fun, silly, charismatic guy that you just can’t help but love. Behind his pretty-boy appearance, he’s kind and sensitive yet firm in his feelings for Haruhi.
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67. Haruhi Fujioka (from Ouran High School Host Club)
Haruhi is a unique female protagonist, especially for a shoujo/romance series. She’s not the shy, uncertain, submissive type nor the denying, foul-tempered type; she’s tomboyish without being too haughty and feminine without being too girly.
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66. Washu (from Tenchi Muyo!)
As I said previously, the continuity in the Tenchi Muyo! series is disjointed amongst its various spin-offs. But during my early anime years, I adored Washu in the original Tenchi Muyo! OVAs and manga. She’s clever, mischievous, and eccentric, but also kind, wise, and understanding. She’s definitely nothing like the cold, cynical, and/or twisted scientists you usually see in anime.
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65. Lilan (from Kemono no Souja Erin)
This magnificent creature is a stunning example of how naturally fascinating, wondrous, and just plain happy creatures can be away from the oppressiveness of humans. Although ohju (beast lords) are fictitious, I believe Lilan’s story is applicable to animals in real life – from the gentle, compassionate way she was raised by Erin rather than the bullying, by-the-book way, to her yearning to fly freely, and her natural, gorgeous mating ritual. Lilan’s bond with Erin speaks volumes about the relationship between human and beast, as well as the utter arrogance and ignorance humans have towards other creatures.
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64. Nausicaa (from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind)
Nausicaa is one of the most compassionate and bravest princesses I have ever seen. She cares deeply not only for her people, but even the potentially dangerous creatures that dwell outside her realm. She values all life, from those in her own valley to those in the poisonous forests. Her selflessness and willpower are not soon forgotten.
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63. Ushio Okazaki (from Clannad After Story)
If I ever had a child, I would want one like Ushio. She’s not whiny, loud, grabby, nor annoyingly hyper or cutesy. She displays no resentment, depression, or bratty behavior when Tomoya finally reaches out to her. She’s well behaved though a little quiet and cautious at first, but she eventually loves and accepts him.
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62. Noe Isurugi (from True Tears)
Noe was the only source of energy and brightness in the otherwise slow-paced, uneventful True Tears. She also had a number of unique, and sometimes weird yet endearing qualities lingering behind her sadness, such as her affection for chickens and her treatment of Shinichiro as a replacement for Raigomaru. But in a series where almost nothing intense happens, I was surprised how much Noe’s eventual tragic fate touched me.
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61. Yunyun (from CANAAN)
I don’t usually care for the comic relief, especially in an otherwise serious show like CANAAN, but Yunyun’s humor never seemed intrusive and she always brought a smile to my face. She was not only good comic relief but she also displayed great friendship, honor, and bravery towards Maria and Canaan. Haruka Tomatsu’s energetic voice acting definitely helped bring out her charm too.
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Click here for characters 80 to 71.
Click here for characters 60 to 51.
Great call on Nausicaa; though I find 64 to be a rank rather ill fitting for Miyazaki’s greatest heroine…
That aside though, have you read the Nausicaa manga?
I kept second-guessing my own list, too. In fact, many characters would be totally stricken off the list as I went, and lots of orders were changed. Interestingly, you’ve got a case right here! Nausicaa was stricken form my list because I didn’t feel I’d read enough of the manga to talk about her, and she was replaced by Noe Isurugi!
Tamaki and Haruhi are both characters that were on my original 100 charas list and I really feel could have made the new one if I’d seen Ouran more recently. Yunyun is another really fun character.
@ Snark
I haven’t read the Nausicaa manga, just seen the movie a few times. I feel she’s a bit “too good to be true” which is probably why I didn’t feel like putting her higher. There’s actually another Miyazaki character I personally like a little better.
Heh, a more shoujo-leaning list this time. Can’t wait to see the next!
@ Yumeka
Yeah, Nausicaa in the movie is a little bit too perfect. The manga however presents her in a darker, more realistic light.
Upon seeing those anime character I just want to see then all!!!
Isurugi Noe: not only was an important character in the story that had influence on the protagonist, but her strong personality and her cutness brought her to be one of the favourite anime characters.