20 Most Badass Anime Protagonists

Guts is tough. He grew up after his mother hanged him. He learned self-reliance fast; his abusive adoptive father Gambino was the only one who tried to help him young. Guts fought many battles. He faced terrifying demons. He joined a mercenary team. Guts rescued his kidnapped friend. He destroyed the attackers. His friend betrayed him. Guts kept going after losing everything and became a target for more demons. Guts walks through his bloody life, ignoring the suffering.

Spike Spiegel might not look ripped like other characters. Badassery isn't just about punching hard. A skilled martial artist, he is. This space cowboy is cool. He handles any bounty hunting job. Spike jokes the whole time. His past with Vicious and the Red Dragon crime syndicate adds mystique. It gives him something to fight for.

Alucard hunts other vampires. He does not seek to stop his violent brethren from causing chaos. Alucard wants maximum havoc without legal trouble. He is a sadist. He prefers to humiliate and disable opponents before killing them.

Alucard's vampire powers mean people probably avoid him in real life. However, he is fun to watch.

Outside of saving the world from monsters, Saitama is an ordinary guy. People mock his appearance; he is bald and wears a yellow jumpsuit. But putting on his hero cape makes him the most powerful being. One punch defeats his opponents. Battles offer no thrill because they end too fast.

Yusuke does not care how strong an opponent is. As a juvenile delinquent, Yusuke enjoys fighting anyone who challenges him. He does not care if they are bigger, stronger, or more experienced. That attitude stays with him as a Spirit Detective and into the Dark Tournament and beyond.Yusuke enters the Dark Tournament and beyond.Yusuke Urameshi faces tournaments and more. His Spirit Gun causes serious damage. His powers grow as the series progresses. Yusuke's coolness comes from his willingness to take any challenge, regardless of the odds.

JoJo's Bizarre AdventureJoJo's Bizarre Adventure is filled with tough guys. They show the strangest spirit of manliness in anime. Jotaro Kujo, the protagonist ofStardust CrusadersJotaro Kujo is probably the best example. He starts as a juvenile delinquent, fighting often but living an ordinary life. When his mother Holy gets seriously sick because of Dio, he leaves the country to fight back. His Stand, Star Platinum, has great strength, great speed, and special moves like Ora Ora Rush and Star Finger. Star Platinum is one of the strongest Stands in the JoJo universe, and Jotaro handles it easily.JoJoJotaro handles it without breaking a sweat.

Nicknamed The Humanoid Typhoon and the Stampede, Vash is an insurance problem for some—but a strong ally for others. Vash acts silly and exaggerates his nice traits to make people comfortable. But when the people he cares about face danger, he becomes calm, focused, and easily defeats the threat. His troubled past casts a long shadow, yet he stays strong because of it.

Mugen grew up on the crime-ridden Ryukyu Islands. He learned to fight with whatever he had. Mugen refuses to follow authority under any conditions; he prefers dying in a fight than obeying anyone. He acts erratic and impulsive, which frustrates straight-laced people like Jin. Regardless, Mugen is tough.

Kenshiro is one of the prototypical.Kenshiro is an old school anime.Kenshiro had to be on this list as a bad-to-the-bone protagonist. Kenshiro succeeds an assassination technique called Hokuto Shinken, letting him take opponents down using meridian points.. But even without this lethal practice, Kenshiro is strong enough to beat anyone who crosses him. He prefers peace when possible, but he will fight anyone who attacks—like when Shin kidnaps his fiancée Yulia, he fights to get her back.. Even without lethal practice, Kenshiro is strong enough to beat anyone who crosses him. He prefers peace when possible, but he will fight anyone who attacks—like when Shin kidnaps his fiancée Yulia, he fights to get her back.

Baki Hanma wants one goal: to surpass his father, Yujiro. He admires Yujiro and wants his love and respect first. After Yujiro kills Baki's mother, Emi, the goal shifts to revenge. His hard work makes him "the strongest boy in the world," but his martial arts skill means little until he reaches that goal. His tragic backstory shows awesome fighting prowess.

Most of the time, Gintoki is a lazy bum. He likes sitting around drinking strawberry milk and reading.Gintoki Sakata is from Shonen Jump.If you hurt his friends, Gintoki Sakata becomes a major threat. His "Shiroyasha" (White Demon) reputation fits because he handles hundreds of opponents alone. Gintoki can fight some of the universe's strongest alien races. Breaking a sword with his teeth or destroying an Amanto pirate ship shows Gintoki causes wild fights.

Being a great swordsman is hard. Try it without limbs or body parts. A curse from his father left Hyakkimaru without many parts: limbs, nose, eyes, ears, and skin. Still, he is an excellent swordsman who fights demons. Prostheses attach to his swords, helping him fight.

Toyohisa Shimazu enters the Sekigahara battle in 1600. He stays back to fight with his soldiers, risking his life. Summoned to a new world, he first fights for the injured elves needing help.Toyohisa Shimazu is not power-hungry. He simply fights enemies if he must.Toyohisa can tear his enemies apart. He only does this if it is necessary.

Hating Kogami is nearly impossible. His cool manner and sharp skills make him a great teammate. He fights well and thinks fast. Kogami alone can defeat Makishima, one of the top anime villains.Kogami fights the villains of all time..

Domon Kasshu lacks poise and reason. He delivers a serious beating while piloting his God Gundam. Domon pilots the God Gundam. Domon struggles with impulse control, but he fights when needed. He must fight because he faces his former mentor, Master Asia, who seeks to destroy humanity to fix Earth.

In the world of Kengan AshuraGladiators settle business disputes. Tokita Ohma was born in the right place; he loves fighting. His goal is to become the strongest fighter. Facing opponents twice his size brings Tokita Ohma an ecstatic grin. That is pure macho.

Joe hated boxing for cash. He joined the huge Megalonia boxing competition under a fake name. Other boxers used robot upgrades. Joe threw away his weak gear. He chose to fight with only his strength. This put him at a disadvantage. Still, he earned Yuri's respect, one of Megalonia's top boxers. Joe stuck to his beliefs. He was at his physical peak.

Captain Harlock avoids beating opponents. He is a principled man. His mission: find government corruption. He favors talking and compromise over fighting. Still, he does not fear those who ignore his peace. He is honorable and brave. He leads his crew to destroy totalitarianism and oppression across the galaxy.

Duke Togo works as an assassin. He takes almost any job. Most targets have moral flaws. This makes his ruthlessness easier to accept. Togo is a skilled sniper with a sharp strategy. He usually reaches his goals. Togo remains mysterious. He wants to hide his past. He eliminates anyone who gets near the truth.

Ryoma Nagare is hot-headed. He makes choices based on angry rage, not cool thought. Rash decisions cause mistakes. Still, Ryoma is dependable in a crisis. Whether wiping out Invaders or smashing things with his giant robot, he shows his own kind of manliness.