Despite being underrepresented in theanimeworld, black charactersplay pivotal roles in some of its most notable series. Not only do these characters bring an added level of character depth with a unique style, they also exhibit impeccable strength and abilities. A gradual wave of black anime characters arose between the90sand2000s. This display ofdiversityis valuable for several reasons. For starters, the anime audience expanded heavily during this time period.
It wasn’t uncommon to see kids running through the neighborhood with their arms out imitatingNaruto. Secondly, itgave wayto a new lane of artists and creativeslooking for a new outlet among the varied black diaspora. These events correspond with the significance of what we are reviewing in this article - the top 10 strongest black anime characters of all time.
10Kilik Rung
‘Soul Eater’
Kilik Rung (Joel McDonald), a character from the anime seriesSoul Eater, is renowned asone ofthe most powerful figuresdespite limited screen time. As a top student at Death Weapon Meister Academy, he excels as a fighter with the unique ability to master both flames and lightning.
His twin gauntlets, “Fire and Thunder,” enable him to wield two powerful weapons simultaneously, allowing him to defeat opponents much larger than himself. This combination of skills solidifies his status as one of the strongest characters in the series.
Soul Eater
‘Hunter X Hunter’
Despite her child-like appearance, Canary (Mela Lee) is a force to be reckoned with inHunter x Hunter. Asa loyal guard for the deadly Zoldyck Family, she embodies lethal skill.
When armed henchmen attempt to storm the estate, Canary effortlessly defeats them with her incredible speed and signature staff. By the end, her enemies are left battered and broken, showcasing her strength and solidifying her place as one of the series' most powerful characters.
Hunter x Hunter
8Afro Samurai
‘Afro Samurai’
Just likeKendrick Lamarand even more so, likeThe Color Purple’s Sofia, a youngAfro Samurai(Samuel L. Jackson) had to fight his whole life! All puns aside, this harsh upbringing cultivated the birth ofone of the most skilled swordsmenin the anime universe. After witnessing the death of his father at the hands of Justice (Ron Pearlman), the Afro Samurai walks a path of relentless ambition and vengeance.
On his journey to obtain the Number 1 headband, said to incur god-like ability and complete and utter supremacy as a warrior, Afro viciously slices through a myriad of villains. Not even RPG wielding samurai, dual wielding gunslingers, or highly advanced cyborgs, enough to stop Afro’s quest for superiority. At the conclusion of the series, Afro manages to overcome the current wielder of the Number 1 headband, toofficially become the strongest fighter in his universe.
Afro Samurai
7Philly the Kid
‘Cannon Busters’
Cannon Busterstakes place in a sci-fi world where magic and highly advanced technology are coupled with the lawlessness of the Wild West. Audiences follow the story of the gunslinging immortal, Philly the Kid, as hetraverses this treacherous landscape in search of the tyrantswho destroyed his homeland. Throughout the series, we watch as he topples opponents who can’t beat his ability to return from the dead once killed.
Philly the Kid (Kenn Michael) is one of the strongest black anime characters because he simply cannot die. As a matter of fact, every time he is slaughtered in battle, a new tattoo appears as a reminder of how many times that has happened before. During the course of the series, this unrelenting character reaches his 40th death and still continues to fight another day. This unnatural prowess, in conjunction with his Cadillac which transforms into a massive mechanical bull, makes Philly the Kidone of the mostformidable protagonists in an anime series.
6Mohammed Avdol
‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventuretakes its title seriously with its showcase ofone of the most intricate anime worlds of all time. Making this show even better is its wise, but confident black character, Mohammed Avdol (Chris Tergliafera). In this fictional anime reality, “stands” are meant to represent the life force of its user. Avdol’s stand, called “Magician’s Red”, grants him the ability to manipulate intense flames at his discretion.
With his control over flames, Avdol joins a group consisting ofanime’s most talented fire wieldersto appear on-screen. His standoff with Jean Pierre Polnareff, a foe whosecunning matches series standout Dio Brando, is one for the books. Aside from this, Avdol’s battle with N’Doul during theJoJo’s Bizarre AdventureOVA episode, truly demonstrates how powerful this protagonist is and why he is so valuable to his allies.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
‘Castlevania: Nocturne’
Annette (Thuso Mbedu) is a powerful sorcerer and swordsman seeking revenge on the vampire who killed her mother. Born on a Caribbean plantation and inheriting her mother’s magical abilities, she escapes her past and teams up with Richter Belmont during the French Revolution.
With her mastery of earth and metal elements, Annettebecomes one of thestrongest characters inCastlevania: Nocturne. Her determination and willpower help her overcome the treacherous vampire Vaublanc, and as she faces each challenge in Season 1, her character grows stronger, making her a vital ally in Richter’s fight against vampires.
Castlevania: Nocturne
‘Fire Force’
Fans of the popular character Ogun Montgomery (Zeno Robinson) will be excited to know that Season 3 of the hit seriesFire Forceis slated for April of this year. This character is one of many whoexemplifies series creator Atsushi Ōkubo’s desireto include more diversity in his cast.
Like another standout character on this list, Ogun is an immensely powerful fire wielder. Audiences were able to see him exhibit full power in Episode 9 of Season 2, where he holds off a mindless demon while Shinra and the others figure out how to stop it. Moments like thisconvey the depth of his talent.We can expect more to come.
Fire Force
‘Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War’
In terms of strength, Yoruichi (Anairis Quinones) iswithout question one of the mightiest charactersin theBleachseries. Not only does she serve as a mentor for Ichigo, helping him realize his full potential, she also has several key moments where she defeats primary opponents.
Anyone doubting her, will have second thoughts after watching her mop the floor with high-level threats, such as the espada Yammy and Court Guard Squad Captain Soifon. In these fights, Yoruichi uses her lightning fast speed to show why she isone of Bleach’s strongest fighters to date.
Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War
‘My Hero Academia’
Being a top five professional superhero in the world ofMy Hero Academia, Mirko (Anairis Quinones) is easilyone of thestrongest beings on the face of the planet. When the heroes face off against the despicable One for All, they are beset by an obstacle that only the omnipotent All Might could defeat alone.
Unlike other characters in this series, Mirko is one of the very few who can keep up with the rapidly evolving Nomus, whom even All Might has struggled against in the past. During a raid on the Paranormal Liberation Front’s stronghold, Mirko proves why she is a top five hero, taking on a group of Nomus by herself despite suffering the loss of her right arm in the process.
My Hero Academia
1Killer Bee
‘Naruto: Shippuden’
Last, but not least, is the prolific hip-hop-loving ninja Killer Bee (Catero Colbert). There are a plethora of fights throughoutNaruto Shippudenthat reveal him asthe strongest black anime character of all time. Killer Bee is a wielder of the Eight Tails Jinchuriki, a notable feat in the world of Naruto, as he is one of nine people who can handle their immense strength.
Through a combination of hand-to-hand combat and his use of the Eight Tails’ chakra, Killer Bee lays downone of the mostimpressive beatdowns in anime history, when he fights off the legendary Sasuke Uchihia. This fight, amongst others, demonstrates why Killer Bee is a true powerhouse who can defeat eventhe most powerful ninjas in his universe, without missing a beat.
Naruto: Shippuden
Keep Reading:How To Watch the Naruto Movies in Order (Chronologically and by Release Date)
