20 Most Iconic Black Anime Characters

With anime becoming increasingly popular around the world, so has the demand for more diverse characters, and that has led to some of the most iconic black characters in anime. Black characters have become more popular both in Japan and outside, especially in the past few decades as anime fandom grows. Some mangaka, like Eichiro Oda, were way ahead of their time by incorporating Black characters in their work which paved the way for future creators to follow suit.

More than just a handful of small examples in lesser-known works, black characters can be found in even the biggest anime franchises. Trailblazers like Tite Kubo and Masashi Kishimoto have designed some of the most memorable black characters in anime and manga.

This set a precedent for a new generation of manga and anime creators who looked up to these icons and wrote some deep and multifaceted characters. The most iconic black anime characters are all shining examples of how diverse anime has become.

20 Kilik Rung

Character From Bones' Soul Eater; Based On The Manga By Atsushi Ohkubo

Creator of Soul Eater Atsushi Ohkubo designed Killik as he felt there was a lack of representation of Black characters in anime. Based off the main character of Kirikou and the Sorceress, Killik is one of the coolest characters in Soul Eater, not just because of his design, but also his personality.

Kilik Rung is a kind character who would put his life on the line for his friends. He's also on the stronger side, as he is considered one of the three strongest students in Death Weapon Meister Academy. He is a great combatant and one of the more popular characters in Soul Eater despite not getting much screen time.

19 Hibana

Character From David Production's Fire Force; Based On The Manga By Atsushi Ohkubo

Fire Force's Hibana is as gorgeous as she is strong. Another creation by Atsushi Ohkubo, Hibana is a fan favorite and one of the more complex characters in the show. She is very sadistic and bossy towards her subordinates but has a tragic past that led to her pessimistic ideals.

In order to survive and exact revenge on those who killed her friends, Hibana became ruthless and wholeheartedly immersed herself in her research; for all her faults, she was a great ally to Shinra and Company 8, helping them whenever they were in a pinch.

18 Darui

Character From Studio Pierrot's Naruto: Shippuden; Based On The Manga By Masashi Kishimoto

Nauto'sDarui was the right-hand man to the 4th Raikage and eventually succeeded him as the 5th Raikage, making him an important character in Boruto. As the commander of the First Division of the Allied Forces, Darui played a crucial role in leading thousands of ninja against the Akatsuki. This confirmed Darui's nature as a brilliant tactician who could foresee threats brewing before anyone else.

A master of Lightning Style, Water Style, and a rare form of black lightning,Darui is one of the strongest ninja in Naruto, and his accomplishments in the war cannot be overstated, especially with him becoming the fifth Raikage in the time between the war and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

17 Daiki Aomine

Character From Production I.G's Kuroko's Basketball; Based On The Manga By Tadatoshi Fujimaki

Daiki Aomine is one of the reasons Kuroko's Basketball is one of the best sports anime ever. He is by far the toughest opponent for Kagami, Kuroko and the Seinin High basketball team. What sets him apart from all the talented players in the series is his sheer talent, confidence and competitiveness. He doesn't put in nearly as much work as others, but will still easily beat them in a game.

Aomine's drive for basketball went down when he realized nobody could challenge him, but when he played Kagami, his true skills were put on display. Because of his dominating play style, Kagami went into the Zone and improved greatly as a player. All this adds up to making Aomine one of Kuroko's Basketball's best players.

16 Miguel Oduol

Character from Studio MAPPA's Jujutsu Kaisen; Based On The Manga By Gege Akutami

Jujutsu Kaisen isn't that old an anime, but it's still created a very iconic black character in Miguel Oduol. Not only did Jujutsu Kaisen 0 give Miguel an incredible spotlight where he legitimately stalled Gojo for time, but in the final arc, Miguel further proved his power by putting up one of the best fights against Sukuna out of anyone, with Miguel's power even being explicitly compared to Gojo's. Even with his lack of screen time, Miguel has managed to leave a lasting impression on people, and it's especially great to see something like that with a minority character.

15 Garterbelt

Character From Studio Trigger's Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt; Directed By Hiroyuki Imaishi

Garterbelt is one of the eponymous heroes of Studio Trigger's Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. Garterbelt is the priest of Daten City and is in charge of giving Panty and Stocking their missions to take down Ghosts, and while the Anarchy Sisters deal with each new Ghost, Garterbelt typically spends his time hitting on young boys and indulging in his bondage fetish.

While some parts of Garterbelt's personality and design can be considered offensive, Garterbelt is a great character to watch because of the hilarious nature of his scenes and the surprising amount of depth he gets late into the series, especially in the largely phenomenal English dub. Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt's sequel series airs in 2025, and once it's out, it's sure to give fans old and new even more to love about Garterbelt.

14 Afro Samurai

Character From Gonzo's Afro Samurai; Based On The Manga By Takashi Okazaki

Afro Samurai is the main character of the series of the same name. After witnessing his father's murder, Afro Samurai is fueled by a desire for revenge that leads him to spare nothing and nobody in his quest. His strength is impressive, consistently putting him in the upper ranks of the best swordsmen in anime history. From his mastery of the sword, proficiency in hand-to-hand combatant, and incredible durability, Afro Samurai offers some great action for fans all over.

13 Canary

Character From Madhouse's Hunter X Hunter; Based On The Manga By Yoshihiro Togashi

Canary is an extremely popular black character, despite her short amount of screen time in Hunter X Hunter. As an apprentice butler for the legendary assassin family, the Zoldycks, Canary is tasked with guarding the Zoldycks' house from any intruders, and she has the power to back that position up. The Zoldycks place a great deal of confidence in her abilities as she has an important duty. Canary is a kind character but doesn't show it, so that she can be as intimidating as possible. She let Gon and his friends pass and see Killua as she was pleased to see Killua finally earn a friend who cares about him the way she does.

12 Loran Cehack

Character from Sunrise's ∀ Gundam; Directed By Yoshiyuki Tomino

∀ Gundam might not be the most recognizable entry in the Gundam franchise, but it's still a standout series, especially for its protagonist, Loran Cehack. Loran's strong adherence to pacifism lets him stand out among other Gundam protagonists, who typically have fewer reservations about violence, and he's always written in a way that makes that trait come across as endearing as opposed to preachy or heavyhanded. Add in the progressiveness of Loran's willingness to crossdress with little embarrassment, and he ends up as one of Gundam's most underrated protagonists, by far.

11 Lille Barro

Character From Studio Pierrot's Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War; Based On The Manga By Tite Kubo

Lille Barro is a major antagonist of Studio Pierrot's Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. In addition to being the leader of the Schutzstaffel, Yhwach's elite guard, Lille was also the first Quincy granted a Schrift by Yhwach, and both of those facts result in Lille having fierce loyalty and devotion to Yhwach's cause, something repeatedly emphasized in his fight with Kyoraku.

Lille's Schrift, The X-Axis, lets him both fire unblockable attacks and make himself intangible, two powerful abilities that only get stronger with his Vollsterndich and its increasingly bizarre forms. It got to the point that Kyoraku had to help Nanao unlock the similarly overpowered abilities of her Zanpakuto to defeat Lille, and overall, Lille Barro was a great addition to Bleach because of his immense power and how wonderfully over-the-top his design and personality evolved to be.