Many people have a list of amazing characters from their favorite anime series. However, not all of them are necessarily from shows that do justice to their greatness. After all, storylines in anime can have varying degrees of quality, to the where even the most legendary anime and manga around can become downright unwatchable after a point if the story, art, characters, or a combination of all three just don't hit the mark.
This can be a shame since some truly great characters end up becoming nothing more than footnotes due to their association with mediocre anime. The following characters suffer the most in this regard, although the mere fact that they're mentioned on this list means that some people have noticed their greatness after all.
10 Kenpachi Zaraki (Bleach)
Bleach is a series with a ton of potential that ultimately dipped in quality after the brilliant Soul Society arc. One of the characters introduced in this arc has become quite legendary within the fanbase, and that man is Kenpachi Zaraki.
The Captain is so monstrously strong that he doesn't even bother with developing his weapon. However, after a bit of training, he actually manages to unlock his Bankai — a moment that is going to be amazing in the new Bleach anime.
9 Kazuma Yagami (Kaze No Stigma)
Kaze no Stigma isn't really a great show that will capture anyone's attention. The magic system is as basic as can be and doesn't really make things all that interesting.
However, Kazuma is one character who makes events really interesting with his mere presence. It helps that his ideals are set in stone and make his personality all the more appealing.
8 Shinoa Hiragi (Seraph Of The End)
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Seraph of the End isn't a compelling show in the slightest. It's a shonen anime that is so painfully generic that trying to follow it can be incredibly grating at times.
However, there's one character that makes watching this show worth it, and that's Shinoa Hiragi. This character's sarcasm and amazing voice actor makes her an absolute gem that makes Seraph of the End a bit watchable.
7 2D-kun (Golden Time)
For an anime with a ton of promise, Golden Time doesn't really do the best job of giving a satisfying payoff. However, viewers who see 2D-kun in his element won't really care about the quality of this show after a while.
2D-kun is the shining light of an otherwise mediocre show. His hilarious quotes and unique worldview make him a riveting character who is a joy to witness on-screen.
6 Akari Yomatsuri (Captain Earth)
Captain Earth had the potential to be a great show with a powerful message. However, it settled for being a mediocre mecha anime that is carried by the hilarious antics of Akari Yomatsuri.
It helps that this character actually has a pretty riveting backstory that makes her motivations all the more admirable. She's arguably the only good part of this show in the latter half, which would've been an absolute snoozefest without her.
5 Kurumi Tokisaki (Date A Live)
Date A Live is a series that is just so disappointing to watch. The series is full of great and memorable characters, but the story just falls flat and wastes the potential these characters had.
Out of the many great characters in the show, it's Kurumi Tokisaki who stands out as a brilliant addition to the show. She might seem rather psychotic at first glance, but it's when the truth about her comes to light that she truly ascends to another realm of brilliance as a character.
4 Sho Iwaizumi (Rail Wars!)
It seems that athletic characters who eat a lot are bound to be fan-favorite characters. This is the case with Sho Iwaizumi from Rail Wars! who is a pretty engaging character in his own right.
The sheer number of amazing things he can accomplish should've given him the main character status. Instead, the incredibly boring Naoto Takayama gets the lion's share of the screen time instead.
3 Dan Eagleman (Guilty Crown)
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Guilty Crown is another show with a ton of premises that ultimately failed to live up to the life. It's a shame, especially since the first half of the series was decent enough.
However, the second half is a train wreck that is hard to follow at times. The only redeeming factor of this entire show is Dan Eagleman, whose infectious personality makes him the one shining light in an otherwise torrid show.
2 Charlotte Dunois (Infinite Stratos)
A mecha anime with comedic elements is a combination that could've been wildly entertaining. However, Infinite Stratos ends up veering off in terms of quality and becomes a rather mediocre experience.
The only reason why it's not a skippable show is because of one particular character called Charlotte Dunois. Even though her initial motive was questionable, Charlotte was a kind character who was obviously going to tread the path of good at some point.
1 Arata Kasuga (Trinity Seven)
Trinity Seven is a show with a pretty decent premise, although the show becomes rather rote and uninspiring after a point. Thankfully, its main character is highly engaging and makes the entire show worth a watch.
The fact that he constantly challenges and shatters classic anime tropes over and over again is pretty engaging. It's too bad that the anime doesn't make the most of this character and ends up being quite cliched, which is pretty ironic.