7 Anime MCs Better Than Goku – Investment Policy

Goku is arguably the most famous anime protagonist globally. Since Dragon Ball first appeared decades ago, it’s become a hugely popular manga and anime, making its main character instantly recognizable to people worldwide.

Goku was a groundbreaking anime hero, but many protagonists have emerged since then. While he remains incredibly popular, some argue that these newer characters are simply more well-developed and compelling.

Gintoki Sakata

Gintoki appears to be a typical funny protagonist in a shonen anime. He’s full of quirks and his personality is a big part of what makes Gintama so hilarious. However, both Gintoki and the series offer much more than just good comedy. Underneath the humor, Gintoki is actually a surprisingly complex and compelling character.

Gin often seems lazy and a bit childish, but the series also reveals a more mature and thoughtful side to his personality. He’s dealt with difficult experiences and frequently confronts his past. Despite their playful arguments, it’s clear Gin deeply cares for Shinpachi, Kagura, and his friends. He doesn’t have a big, overarching ambition; he’s simply a down-to-earth person who values his relationships and enjoys reading Jump magazine.

Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama

While Saitama is likely ONE’s most well-known character, many find Mob to be more compelling. Initially, Mob appears to be a standard, quiet loner—unassuming and seemingly ordinary. However, this is intentional. Beneath his unremarkable exterior lies an incredibly powerful psychic ability.

While most people would be proud of having psychic powers, Mob actively avoids depending on them. He chooses to join his school’s Body Improvement Club, preferring to build strength through effort rather than relying on his abilities. Despite being incredibly powerful, Mob remains humble and treats everyone with respect. Having grown up with so much power, he’s naturally reserved, and a key part of the story Mob Psycho 100 is watching him gain confidence and become more comfortable with who he is, making him a surprisingly relatable character despite his overwhelming abilities.

Haruhi Suzumiya

Goku is probably the most famous anime hero, but around the mid-2000s, Haruhi Suzumiya was predicted to become just as popular. While Haruhi isn’t quite the phenomenon she once was, she remains a compelling character.

Haruhi can be demanding and sometimes doesn’t realize how her words affect others. However, she deeply cares for her friends in the SOS Brigade and is fiercely loyal to them. She approaches everything the club does with amazing energy and excitement, which is really admirable. She might be a bit overwhelming sometimes, but that’s also what makes her so enjoyable to be around.

Guts

Few anime characters have a more heartbreaking story than Guts. Berserk is a dark and brutal series that doesn’t shy away from showing the harsh realities of life and how vulnerable people can be when facing terrible hardship. The characters themselves are often caught in incredibly difficult and unfortunate situations.

The Golden Age arc expertly introduces Guts and his important relationships with characters like Casca, Griffith, Judeau, Pippin, Rickert, and Corkus within the Band of the Hawk. This arc reveals Guts’ difficult past and explains how it turned him into the solitary mercenary we first meet. Being part of the Band of the Hawk allows Guts to grow as a person and find purpose. While he strives to forge his own destiny, devastating events ultimately lead him down a path of revenge. It’s this combination of a challenging life and the obstacles he faces that make Guts such a compelling character, and why audiences continue to support him.

Spike Spiegel

Spike is a truly awesome anime character. Beyond his cool exterior, he’s a complex and wounded individual who is central to the emotional core of Cowboy Bebop.

Spike is a naturally appealing character – a cool, skilled fighter who always seems calm, even in dangerous situations, and has a relaxed attitude that’s easy to admire. However, beneath that calm exterior lies a deeply troubled past filled with loss and regret. He’s haunted by what’s happened and struggles to move on. This changes how you see his easygoing personality; it’s no longer just charming, but actually quite sad. He isn’t a typical hero motivated by a strong sense of right and wrong. He simply does what he needs to survive.

Edward Elric

The Elric brothers are incredibly sympathetic characters. Losing their parents at a young age was just the beginning of their hardships. When they tried to resurrect their mother out of grief, it went terribly wrong, leaving both Edward and Alphonse with lasting physical and emotional trauma.

Edward’s growth is central to what makes Fullmetal Alchemist so compelling. Despite being young and somewhat naive, he’s faced incredible hardship and learned valuable life lessons, giving him a maturity rarely seen in similar anime heroes. He struggles with intense guilt over the accident involving him and his brother Al, initially trying to cope with the pain on his own before ultimately learning to rely on others and accept their support.

Eren Yeager

Eren is arguably the most debated anime main character, and that’s what makes him so compelling. He begins as a determined but frustrated underdog, and throughout the series, he’s constantly tested – first by the Titans, then by the secrets hidden beyond the walls, and eventually by the full history of Paradis.

Fans of anime and manga are familiar with storylines where the hero becomes a villain, and Eren follows this pattern, ultimately committing a terrible act. Unlike typical anime protagonists who are clearly good, Eren is a much more complex character with a questionable moral compass. He’s responsible for significant harm, and while some viewers sympathize with his reasons, others find his actions unforgivable. The ongoing debate about what he did proves how compelling and well-developed he is as a character.

2026-01-25 01:06