23 Anime Characters With Disabilities

Edward Elric stars inFullmetal AlchemistandFullmetal Alchemist: BrotherhoodEdward Elric lost an arm and a leg trying to bring his mother back using alchemy. After the initial shock, Ed learned to use mechanical limbs, became a state alchemist, and eventually saved the world.

At age three, Ukitake (onBleach) got a lung condition that looked like tuberculosis and causes him serious pain. This disease does not stop him from being a valued member of the Soul Society.

Trying many medical treatments for his lung disease gave him healing techniques. These techniques helped his comrades survive a violent war.

One Piece's Shanks got his arm bitten offwhile rescuing young Luffy from a sea monster. He called it "just an arm" and kept pirating as if nothing happened.

Shanks is known more for his bright red hair than his missing arm. This reflects how common pirate injuries are. His badass nature means no one treats him differently because of the loss.

Ayase Shinomiya, one of the protagonists ofGuilty Crownlost the use of her legs before the series began. She hates feeling pitied, even fighting someone who suggested she shouldn't cause trouble because of her disability.

She is proud of her condition. She says her wheelchair makes her unique; her only real disability is dealing with other people's ignorance. Go, girl!

Komugi is a young blind girl who appears inHunter x Hunter.Despite being blind, Komugi shows great skill in the board game gungi.

Komugi feels worthless because of her blindness and her gungi skills. She threatens suicide if she loses a professional match. Komugi's story shows a damaging way people view disabled individuals.

Shizuka Kawai spends the first part ofYu-Gi-Oh DMShe waits in the hospital for surgery to stop her from going blind. Because she comes from a poor family, her only hope is her brother, Katsuya Jounouchi, who tries to win money in a dueling tournament.

Despite these problems, she is very kind and encouraging to those around her. Unlike many femaleYu-Gi-Ohside characters, she actually learns to duel a little.

N'Doul is a minor antagonist inJoJo's Bizarre Adventure. N'Doul is blind and uses a cane for mobility. He uses the cane as a weapon, hitting a rock with it to almost kill a fly. His Stand gives him power, so he has little fear of consequences.

Nunnally Lamperouge appears inCode GeassNunnally Lamperouge is Lelouch's kind, innocent younger sister. Her paralysis and blindness push him to build a better world for her. By Season 2, Nunnally becomes an enemy to her brother's madness. She truly finds herself.

All Might, the hero Deku admires inMy Hero AcademiaAll Might was badly hurt in a fight. After several surgeries, he could do hero work for a short time. Then, he loses that time, reverts to a weak state, and coughs blood. He hides his limits, yet remains an effective hero and teacher.

Prince of TennisYukimura Seiichi stands out among disabled anime characters. He has a specific condition. It is not just heart problems or lung issues.

Seiichi has Guillain-Barré Syndrome.Seiichi has Guillain-Barré Syndrome.This autoimmune disease causes limb paralysis. Seiichi must stop playing tennis to treat it, but he returns after a successful surgery.

Kimimaro was a possible host body for Orochimaru, one ofNarutoKimimaro was one of Naruto's first villains. A tuberculosis-like illness made him an unsuitable host.

Kimimaro felt lost losing his life's purpose. He kept fighting for his goals. This is impressive, even if those goals seem questionable. He worked for Orochimaru after all.

Nagisa, the heroine of CLANNAD,Nagisa, the heroine of CLANNAD.Nagisa has an unnamed, recurring illness that nearly killed her as a child. This makes her parents drop their career goals, making Nagisa feel like a burden.

Her parents state this is false. They believe caring for her matters more than any job. They tell her not to limit her goals because of an imaginary debt she feels she owes them. This is a loving family's message of support.

Nicolas Brown, a main character inNicolas Brown Can't Be Bothered With You If You Don't Know Sign Language.Nicolas Brown is a former mercenary now working for Benriya, a group that does illegal odd jobs.

Because he is a "twilight," Nicolas was born with great strength but was also deaf. Nicolas uses sign language to talk. He can speak, buthis voice rhythm shows he cannot hear.If someone cannot communicate with him, he ignores them. He has more important, tough things to do.

Yoshino Shimazu of Maria-sama ga Miteru.Yoshino Shimazu of Maria-sama ga Miteru.Yoshino Shimazu begins the series with a heart condition. Her cousin Rei protects her, but Yoshino wants independence despite her disability. A successful heart surgery gives Yoshino more energy, letting her fight her cousin's loving, maybe wrong, protection.

Chihiro Shindou Has Anterograde Amnesia.Chihiro Shindou Has Anterograde Amnesia: a tale of memories.Chihiro Shindou has a car accident. This causes her to lose an eye and developChihiro Shindou Has Anterograde Amnesia.She cannot keep memories past thirteen hours.

Chihiro feels her amnesia is a prison she wants to escape. It stops her from forming a real bond with Renji, whom she loves. However, in the final episode, Chihiro finds a fix. If she thinks about him once every thirteen hours, she remembers him. Some person figures this out right away.

Kouyama Mitsuki, the 12-year-old main character ofFull Moon oSagashite, Mitsuki dreams of being a pop singer. Terminal throat cancer makes these dreams seem impossible. But a "shinigami" gives Mitsuki the power to make the most of her last year and reach her stardom.

Rika, one of the main characters ofHanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora,suffered a dangerous genetic heart defect. Hospital life is lonely; she spends time learning classics from authors like Ryonosuke Akutagawa.

Over the series, she starts a relationship with fellow patient Yuuichi Ezaki.

Jun Misugi is aJapanese soccer playerfromCaptain Tsubasa J, one of the first sports anime. He has huge potential and could be a top player in Japan, but his failing heart limits him to only a few minutes in games. Jun stays committed to giving his all to the game despite these problems.

Yomi, a demon fromYu Yu Hakusho,Kurama attacked Yomi, blinding him. Yomi grew extra ears to compensate, making his hearing super strong. This is weird, but he had to do it. His reckless nature calmed down, and he eventually worked with Kurama, even though Kurama blinded Yomi first.

Kaori is a talented violinist who inspires the main character ofYour Lie in April, Kousei, to start playing piano again after a difficult dry spell.

She also has an unknown fatal illness that has plagued her since childhood. Knowing she will die, she decides to live fully and pushes others to do the same.

Angel Beats, a series about teenagers in the afterlife, features Yui. In the living world, a car hit Yui at age four, paralyzing her from the neck down.

She lived under her mother's care, staying in her room most of the time. In the afterlife, she moves freely and does everything she could only watch on TV in life.

Rika Harada, a character inHoney & Clover,She runs her own design company. Her husband used to run it. A car accident killed him. Severe injuries left her unable to walk without a cane and medication.

Rika handles the business alone. She juggles work and her disability. She still struggles to open her heart to falling in love again.

Subaru leads the Crimson Knights, a powerful faction in the virtual world of .hack//sign..hack//sign.She is the avatar for Mariko Misono, a paraplegic student. Mariko uses the game to move like she could before her accident.

Mariko does not only live through her character. As the series moves on, she falls in love and makes friends in the real world.