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Strong character writing is one of the trademark aspects of anime...barring a few infamous exceptions, that is. An anime can only be as good as the story it tells and the characters who drive that narrative. The majority of shows (especially shonen anime) feature protagonists with upstanding values and hard-to-hate characteristics. However, after a point, people get bored of these characters and want to witness some more depth
This is where anti-heroes come into the picture, protagonists with a darker side. Stories with more nuanced protagonists end up feeling all the more memorable, especially when these characters are crafty enough to save their skin multiple times. Here are some of the smartest anti-heroes in anime history who used their wits to great effect.
10 Light Yagami (Death Note)
It would be impossible to talk about smart anti-heroes in anime without mentioning this legendary figure. Light is one of the greatest characters in anime history and one of the best reasons to watch Death Note.
From the moment he gets his hands on the Death Note, Light sees a world of possibility where he rules as a God, inflicting his own sense of justice on everyone. His cat-and-mouse chase with L ends up being a massive highlight of the series from start to end.
9 Lelouch Vi Britannia (Code Geass)
This is another famous anti-hero whose wits help him to great effect throughout his story. The disgraced prince gets the power of Geass, allowing him to command his enemies to do his bidding.
The manner in which Lelouch uses this ability is extremely smart. While he does stumble along the way, he always picks himself up and gets another plan rolling. This what makes him such a special character — and one who most wouldn't want to get on the bad side of.
8 Hei (Darker Than Black)
In a world where Contractors roam the land and use their supernatural powers, one would expect someone like Hei to rely only on his abilities for success. However, Hei's intellect is what saves him from most situations.
His quick thinking allows him to make the most of his powers and get the advantage in a battle. Even outside of battle, Hei's planning is absolutely splendid and lets him take care of most issues without any collateral damage or wasted opportunities.
7 Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop)
Cowboy Bebop is one of the best anime of all time, featuring a cast of memorable characters and amazing stories that intertwine brilliantly. At the heart of this show is its lovable protagonist, Spike Spiegel.
Spike is a suave criminal whose bounty hunting takes him to several interesting corners of the universe. On the surface he has a happy-go-lucky attitude, but this facade hides a calculating mind that will always be one step ahead of everyone else.
6 Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto)
Sasuke is one of the most well-known anime characters of all time. His rivalry with Naruto is the stuff of legends, and will remain in viewers' memories for years to come.
Watching this Uchiha lose his way in the quest for revenge is rather saddening...although the battles that ensue due to his motivations are awesome to behold. Sasuke's powerful abilities, coupled with his excellent intellect, help him ace every battle he's been a part of in Naruto.
5 L Lawliet (Death Note)
Death Note's dynamic duo Light and L carry the show, with the latter being the favorite of many fans. L is one of the smartest characters in anime history, demonstrating incredible deductions and foresight being throughougt the story.
It takes a wild scheme from Light to finally shrug L's suspicions off him. If the aspiring God hadn't wiped his own memories, then it's quite possible that L would've caught Light.
4 Vegeta (Dragon Ball)
Initially appearing as an antagonist, Vegeta's transformation into a friendly rival to Goku has been amazing to witness in Dragon Ball. The Prince of All Saiyans never throws his pride away, even after getting accustomed to a relatively more peaceful life on Earth.
Vegeta might let his pride dictate things instead of his mind at times, but that doesn't take away from how intelligent he really is. It only takes a few moments to witness this character's true intelligence.
3 Itachi Uchiha (Naruto)
Itachi has one of the more tragic stories in Naruto. After discovering the dark path his clan was going to embark on, Itachi decided to risk it all in order to save his beloved younger brother.
While he ended up making his own brother hate him, Sasuke soon realized why Itachi had to do the things he did. This revelation instantly turned Itachi into one of the smartest shinobi in the world of Naruto.
2 Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)
Tokyo Ghoul's anime adaptation might've been a complete embarrassment, but don't let that take away from the qualities of the manga. Watching Ken Kaneki turn from an innocent teenager into a psychotic Ghoul is one of the most riveting transformations in the entire series.
His mind ends up sharpening after all the trauma he goes through, and he is able to function as a leader after maturing over time. He's one of the most riveting characters in the entire series and a big part of what makes Tokyo Ghoul so special.
1 Accelerator (A Certain Scientific Accelerator)
Accelerator portrays himself as a bad guy throughout A Certain Scientific Accelerator, even though his motivations are pretty understandable. He's easily one of the most complex and entertaining characters in the entire show.
Accelerator is an extremely powerful esper who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. On top of his strength, he's also extremely intelligent and is able to assess situations in the blink of an eye.