Top 10 Black Anime characters

Anime and black protagonists have had a sketchy past. We took on stereotypical looks in anime's earliest days and were often either played as characters or more simple criminals. But that doesn't mean all black anime characters were bad — we've seen plenty of really awesome black characters of all kinds over the past four decades.

And they weren't just cameo appearances or performed as jokes. For this list, we're looking at ten of the most famous black anime characters ever, meaning we're looking at series worth many decades, so don't be shocked to see characters from much older series than usual. Let's just look!

10. MICHIKO MALANDRO - MICHIKO & HATCHIN

Michiko acts as one-half of the Michiko & Hatchin series ' main characters, serving as the fiery adult to her reserved child partner. She's an Afro-Latina with a design based on R&B singer Aaliyah. In pursuit of her one true love, Hiroshi Morenos, she breaks out of a seemingly impossible jail to escape.

Of course, the show is about more than that, and so far Michiko gets credit for being the only black female protagonist. Clever, stunning, she deals with everything from police to bounty hunters with ease.

9. BOB MAKIHARA - TENJOU TENGE

A South African student, Bob comes to Toudou Academy with his school friend Souichiro Nagi. The two immediately think they'll have no trouble winning Toudou, only to get both humiliated by people who aren't even the school's best.

Earlier, however, people recognize Bob for his tremendous strength and ability to tap into a fight's rhythm with his capoeira skills. Although the anime eventually leaves him somewhat behind, the manga gives him his due, establishing him as one of the series ' strongest characters.

8. CLAUDIA LASALLE - MACROSS

Young fans won't remember Claudia LaSalle. After all, her show is from the' 80s, and thanks to Robotech we have never seen the pure Macross approved in the States.

Claudia LaSalle is a key character running the Macross series bridge. Although she's not a main character in the show, she's a big part of what makes things run smoothly on the ship while everyone else is panickingbecause... well, because they're at war with a group of alien giants who don't understand what culture is.

7. KILLER B - NARUTO: SHIPPUDEN

Who dislikes Killer Bee? A Kumogakure leader, Killer B is amazing because not only is he the person in whom the Eight-Tails reside inside, but he managed to friend his Tailed Beast. Therefore, the level of control he shows over his abilities is second only to Naruto... maybe.

He's one of the ninja world's most impressive shinobi, because literally all about him is unique— his wrestling combat style, link with his tailed beast, and particularly his swordsmanship. He still has time to think dope rhymes despite being one of his village's best ninjas.

6. MARIK ISHTAR - YU-GI-OH: DUEL MONSTERS

There's space for a villain, of course. If people thought Pegasus was frightening, they'd never seen anything. He was still playing kid sports, locking relatives in Viewmasters and Betamax tapes. Marik attempted genuinely to kill Yugi, intent on taking out his cruel Pharoah upbringing.

He came to beat Yugi legally without cheating with his crazy Infinite Card Ra scheme, and he was responsible for almost killing Joey twice. First, by brainwashing him, second, by making him contend with Ra's power in a Shadow Duel.

5. CAROLE STANLEY - CAROLE & TUESDAY

One of Carole & Tuesday's main characters, Carole Stanley is a young orphaned girl in Alba City on Mars. She spends much of her time working a variety of jobs that never seem to go well until she meets Tuesday because she refuses to take any shit from her clients or bosses, she's a hero before she even starts working with her musical partner.

Despite living in a dump, Carole never gives up on her dreams. She's constantly working on music and playing before crowds in her spare time.

4. NILS NIELSEN - GUNDAM BUILD FIGHTERS/FIGHTERS TRY

Nils feels like Gundam Build Fighters ' cheat code. His mom and dad are popular, and he managed to exceed them both somehow, gaining three Ph.D.'s. He's just 13 when the series shows off. Using his Sengoku Astray Gundam, he pushes Sei and Reiji to their limits, and they showed him Gunpla's joy when he lost.

But, as he appears again in Gundam Construct Fighters Seek, we're not shown what he can do anymore. His understanding of Plavsky Particles is so strong that he considers it an unfair advantage to compete.

3. CANARY - HUNTER X HUNTER

Hunterx Hunter rarely saw Canary, but she still deserves our respect. She's going to be an apprentice butler to the Zoldycks, a family of the world's deadliest assassins. But, despite being an apprentice, there's no problem putting Gon down.

Admittedly, Gon wasn't really the man to conquer the odds like most shonen protagonists, but he was still good enough to win Hunter's license... and Canary was sure enough not to care. But she also has a tender spirit, and Killua's loyalty trumps her loyalty to the Zoldyck family.

2. YORUICHI - BLEACH

Anyone who doesn't like Yoruichi? A member of the Soul Society's Four Noble Families, she became the first woman to become her clan's chief, becoming one of the Gotei 13's most powerful captains. Despite being a century out of work, Yoruichi can still keep up with many of the modern-day heavy hitters.

She's also so good at Flash Move she's being known as the Flash Queen, and as such we've seen her wipe out entire squadrons in seconds. After a century, even her lieutenant couldn't keep up with her power.

1. AFRO SAMURAI

C'mon, he was on this list right? Afro Samurai is a cold manga written by Takashi Okazaki. After all, having Number 2 headband means you're the world's second best swordsman, capable of challenging Number 1. But only if you can withstand any other warrior constantly challenging you for your spot.

Grabbing actor Sam Jackson for the lead role, Afro Samurai brings us a show that is as much in love with hip-hop culture as it is with sleek battle scenes, giving us one of the best anime swordsmen.