Continuing the countdown of my 100 favorite anime characters, here are characters 30 to 21…

30. Monkey D. Luffy (from One Piece)

Seiyuu: Mayumi Tanaka

Luffy is my favorite main shonen hero. He’s carefree, optimistic, and fun-loving, but he also knows very well when it’s time to be serious and stamp out injustice, take down bad guys, and help the innocent. He has the most impregnable determination and unrivaled endurance, both physically and mentally, I’ve ever seen. His air-headed and utterly clueless attitude is probably his only flaw, but it’s also what makes him so funny and lovable.

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29. Nico Robin (from One Piece)

Seiyuu: Yuriko Yamaguchi

I think Robin has the most tragic past of any female character I’ve seen. She watched her friends, family, and homeland crumble before her eyes and spent many years afterward being unjustly branded as a criminal and constantly pursued without any remorse. Her life was spent being used and abused…until she met Luffy of course. Even the cool-headed Robin broke down under the torment she received in the Enies Lobby arc of One Piece. But although she was demoralized and depressed at first, her inner willpower came through and she was finally able to win back her freedom and return to the Straw Hats. Despite her traumatic life, she’s probably the most mature, intelligent, and level-headed of all the Straw Hats.

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28. Makina Hoshimura (from Shikabane Hime)

Seiyuu: Nana Akiyama

I’m not sure why I like Makina so much; perhaps I’m drawn to her tragic fate as a shikabane and her aggressive, gun-slinging side that masks inner sadness and other emotions. Just as the Shikabane Hime opening song is named, Makina’s a “Beautiful Fighter.”

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27. Umagon (from Konjiki no Gash Bell!!)

Seiyuu: Satomi Koorogi

I never thought a cute little pony whose only vocabulary is “Mermerome~” could be so likable. Although he doesn’t talk, Umagon’s personality and emotions are made clear; he’s nervous, mischievous, lonely, and frustrated before he finds his human partner, and he brings out his courage, determination, and inner super powers when he is finally needed.

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26. Kero (from Cardcaptor Sakura)

Seiyuu: Aya Hisakawa

Kero is one of the funniest little sidekick creatures of all. He gets pissed easily, he loves to eat, he’s not afraid to tell it as it is, but he can also be caring and understanding when Sakura needs him to be. His small form has such a simple design and yet his reactions and facial expressions are humorously dynamic. His Osaka accent and Aya Hisakawa’s great acting add to his fun character XD

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25. Sakura Kinomoto (from Cardcaptor Sakura)

Seiyuu: Sakura Tange

Sakura, one of the original moe girls, and also the very first character whose voice was the first Japanese voice (spoken, not in a song) I ever heard nearly ten years ago. Sakura is one of the cutest and sweetest heroines in one of the cutest, sweetest, and most beautiful anime series of all. Cardcaptor Sakura was the first anime I ever watched in Japanese so I can’t help but be forever sentimental about it.

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24. Rock Lee (from Naruto)

Seiyuu: Yoichi Masukawa

Rock Lee is probably the most mannered boy on Naruto; he isn’t as hot-tempered, aggressive, or self-absorbed as many of the others, and I believe he speaks to just about everyone using more polite Japanese. His epic battle with Gaara and the unfaltering determination and selfless dedication to his taijutsu are what make him so admirable.

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23. Hinagiku Katsura (from Hayate no Gotoku!)

Seiyuu: Shizuka Itou

I believe Hinagiku is the most sensible and overall “normal” character on Hayate no Gotoku!, her only faults being her flustering over her crush on Hayate and perhaps her intense fear of heights. But both of these things aren’t too outrageous; she’s basically a nice, well-mannered girl with a few little quirks that make her more interesting.

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22. C.C. (from Code Geass)

Seiyuu: Yukana

After enduring over 600 years of persecution, torture, and execution without ever being able to actually die, you can’t blame C.C. for being cold, cynical, and distant. Her unusual status as an immortal witch who carries such a heavy burden, together with her distant personality and her ambivalent but strong bond with Lelouch, plus a few other things (like her pizza obsession), make her a very cool character indeed.

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21. Maria (from Hayate no Gotoku!)

Seiyuu: Rie Tanaka

Maria is my favorite Hayate no Gotoku! character but she always gets the short end of the stick. She’s a great maid; reliable, polite, and understands Nagi very well. But she’s not the typical submissive push-over servant either, as she’s shown her suppressed temper on a number of occasions and is adamantly sensitive about some things, especially her age. She’s probably the wisest and least hyperbolic character in the series.

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Click here for characters 40 to 31.

Click here for characters 20 to 11.