8 Anime MCs Better Than Naruto Uzumaki

Naruto is a hugely popular anime character, even known by people who don’t typically watch anime. Created by Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto Uzumaki was the central figure in the long-running and highly successful series Naruto, which appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump for over ten years. For many anime fans, Naruto is a nostalgic and beloved character, and he’s considered one of Kishimoto’s best creations. The series and its main character continue to be talked about and enjoyed, even years after the story concluded.

This highlights the lasting influence of this groundbreaking character. While Naruto is undoubtedly fantastic, he’s not necessarily the greatest anime protagonist of all time. Several other main characters from anime and manga are strong contenders for that title, and some fans even believe they surpass Naruto in various ways.

Monkey D. Luffy

Monkey D. Luffy is a hugely popular character worldwide. He’s the main character in One Piece, the best-selling manga series of all time, and has been leading the story for nearly thirty years, consistently growing as a character.

Luffy and Naruto share similarities as main characters in popular action stories, but they approach challenges and the world around them in distinct ways. Luffy particularly values freedom and will always fight against anything that tries to control others.

Edward Elric

Edward Elric is the main character in the hugely popular anime series, Fullmetal Alchemist. Many fans consider Fullmetal Alchemist to be one of the best anime ever made. The story is exceptionally well-crafted, and Edward’s development as a character makes him a particularly endearing protagonist.

Edward wins battles not by finding lucky items, but by being clever and adjusting his strategy to overcome his opponents. A particularly strong part of his story is his bond with his brother.

Eren Yeager

Eren Yeager didn’t initially receive as much attention as he does now. Before the time jump in Attack on Titan, characters like Levi Ackerman were generally more prominent.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Eren! He’s honestly one of the best main characters we’ve seen in a long time, especially in Shonen. What makes him so compelling is how incredibly complex he is – his choices in the final part of Attack on Titan really sparked a lot of debate, and some people even think he ended up being the villain! But despite all the controversy, he’s still a character a lot of us really connect with.

Gon Freecs

Gon Freecss is the central character in the popular anime and manga series, Hunter x Hunter. Widely considered a fantastic and one of the best shonen series of all time, Hunter x Hunter, while sometimes shifting its focus, consistently features Gon as a standout character, even after the conclusion of the Chimera Ant arc.

Gon is typically a relaxed person, but he demonstrated his strong will during the Chimera Ant storyline when he risked everything to defeat Pitou. He doesn’t currently possess Nen abilities, and many fans are eager to see him return to the story and regain his power.

Goku

Son Goku from Dragon Ball is arguably the most recognizable anime character globally. He was a groundbreaking figure in Shonen Jump, and his influence is immense – in fact, many later series like Naruto wouldn’t have been possible without him. Goku served as a key inspiration for creators like Kishimoto, the author of Naruto, and countless others who followed in Dragon Ball’s footsteps.

As a huge anime fan, I’ve always noticed how much Naruto reminds me of Goku! Honestly, I think Goku was a massive influence on Naruto’s creation. It’s fascinating to think about – Naruto really might not be the character we know and love if Goku hadn’t paved the way!

Guts

Guts is widely considered one of the greatest protagonists in anime and manga. He’s the main character in the incredibly popular series Berserk, a highly acclaimed manga for adult audiences. Berserk delves into much more mature and disturbing themes than series like Naruto, which means Guts constantly battles incredibly brutal and terrifying enemies.

Throughout his life, Guts has endured immense hardship, and he’s become stronger because of it. Many fans are eager to see how his story concludes and hope the Berserk saga continues.

Thorfinn

Thorfin is the main character in the anime and manga series Vinland Saga, and he experiences significant growth and change throughout the story.

Following his father’s death, Thorfinn is driven by anger and a desire for revenge. However, throughout the story of Vinland Saga, he rediscovers who he truly is. He’s a remarkably well-developed character, and his growth is compelling – he’s truly one of a kind.

Jotaro Kujo

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure stands out from most manga series. Rather than following a single protagonist throughout, it’s divided into separate story arcs, each with its own main character. The series currently has nine parts, and Jotaro Kujo, who leads the third part, is widely considered the most popular and recognizable character.

Jotaro is most central to the story in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 3, but he experiences significant character growth in later installments. Some of his strongest moments occur in Part 6, where his bond with his daughter, Jolyne Kujo, is a key focus.

2025-12-02 05:35