Seinen anime, known for its mature themes and complex narratives, often features protagonists who defy traditional hero archetypes. These characters challenge conventional hero narratives, making them captivating and thought-provoking figures in the world of anime.
Whether they grapple with personal demons, ethical dilemmas, or the consequences of their actions, these protagonists stand as testaments to the genre’s storytelling depth. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best-written seinen protagonists in anime. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
10. Shotaro Kaneda – Akira
Shotaro Kaneda is a young and rebellious leader of a teenage motorcycle gang that rides the streets of Neo-Tokyo. While he isn’t gifted with powers or great intellect but is committed to the point that he readily prepares to fight for the soul of his friend Tetsuo to the bitter end.
Swallowed in the conflict against the anti-government elements to free Tokyo from the oppression of greedy politicians, Kaneda’s character sees a substantial development throughout the story making him a fitting example of a seinen anime protagonist.
9. Saichi Sugimoto – Golden Kamuy
Introducing quite aged or older heroes in the seinen terrain is a common practice and Golden Kamuy’s Saichi Sugimoto, in his mid-20s, makes the cut by his cynical and aggressive behaviour. Being a war veteran, he seeks to find the legendary Ainu gold.
Also known as Sugimoto the Immortal, Saichi is renowned for his feats in battle and incredible survival instincts. Although he seems like a rough and intrusive person, on the inside Saichi is actually kind and generous, and will do anything to help those in need.
8. Shinichi Izumi – Parasyte
In the face of adversity, Shinichi Izumi serves as a great example among the seinen protagonists in anime to tackle the situation upfront rather than running away from it. Once the aliens begin to invade Earth, Shinichi is initially terrified but not after he gets along with the parasite residing in his arm.
While Shinichi struggles to prevent the alien parasite from taking over his human body, he also comes to realize that the parasites are no different than he is as they are simply trying to survive. Seeing Shinichi rise despite his struggles is what makes him an appealing main character.
7. Ken Kaneki – Tokyo Ghoul
Kaneki used to be a mild-mannered college student and was living a normal life until he turned into a flesh-eating half-ghoul. Right after this incident, Kaneki’s life turns a 360 as uncertain of how to deal with his new reality his existence becomes absolute hell.
Desperately trying to cling to his humanity whilst being forced to confront the trauma that he’s repressed for a long time, Kaneki subdues his emotions and morals to get stronger. Even though the series tries to find ways to portray Kaneki as a hero, he’s still viewed as the predominant problem.
6. Johan Liebert – Monster
A protagonist need not be a hero always, and as far as the storyline of “Monster” is concerned Johan Liebert takes the spotlight. He’s precisely the best villain in anime history who appears to be a calm and polite individual but beneath his pleasant exterior lies the heart of someone who is decidedly evil.
Almost every one of his actions stems from the desire to experiment and test people for his own pleasure. He kills without any motives, hatred, or anger and influences others to an almost unimaginable level turning them into killers as well, which makes him one of the best well-written seinen protagonists in anime.
5. Saitama – One Punch Man
Carrying the name of the series proudly, Saitama was initially an average human being until he went through an intense training regime that completely transformed him into a superhuman and arguably one of the most beloved seinen protagonists in anime.
He doesn’t appear to be strong and isn’t technically immortal, but nothing he’s encountered so far has come anywhere close to bothering him. There simply isn’t another hero quite like Saitama who’s overpowered and emotionless yet funny at the same time.
4. Alucard – Hellsing
Hellsing is home to one of the most ruthless seinen protagonists in anime universe, Alucard. Alucard didn’t become a vampire hunter for anything resembling moral reasons – he does it because he thoroughly enjoys ending lives with no sign of remorse or mercy.
Being a villainous figure of the Hellsing organization, he goes into an all-out war against a war-crazed SS Major. Alucard’s terrifying charisma combined with his gunslinger and immortal body is the reason why he’s an alluring antihero in the eyes of the fans.
3. Ginko – Mushishi
Hailing from an anime based on Japanese mythology, Ginko’s nomadic lifestyle mostly revolves around the research of mysterious lifeforms known as Mushi. He continuously travels from place to place for his Mushi investigations and only stays in an area long enough to finish his hired cases.
He takes pride in his work and diagnoses mushi-related illnesses and phenomena with perfection. Pondering what it truly means to be alive and being, Ginko’s exploration brings the viewer to both intimate and spectacular settings of mythology that define life at its more strange base.
2. Thorfinn – Vinland Saga
From a cheerful little boy with a taste for adventure to an aggressive warrior and then back again to a peaceful life free of violence, Throfinn’s journey over the years has gone through various phases that have not just built him as a phenomenal character but also one of the best seinen protagonists in anime.
As Thorfinn struggles to be self-reliant and complete his vengeance in a violent and unforgiving world, he shortly after begins to learn the importance of a war-free future rather than looking single-mindedly at the past which makes him stand out as a nuanced character.
1. Guts – Berserk
In the violent and uncompromising world of Berserk, Guts lives the life of a mercenary whose soul never found peace since the day he came out of the corpse of his mother. Wielding a huge broadsword and a rough attitude, Guts is a man to not back down from a fight.
Enduring waves of suffering and frequent betrayals since his youth made Guts a cynical man holding a bleak outlook on life. Guts is the gritty emblem of not just all seinen protagonists, but in anime as a whole and one should respect him for that alone.
Which one of the following seinen anime protagonists is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other characters like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.
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