Stories can prove their worth in many ways, from delivering a flawless plot to entertaining the viewers with pure enjoyability and good pacing. However, another significant aspect of showcasing writing skills is character development, the technique where a character goes through a specific arc of growth, whether that be good or bad. Like all mediums, anime has its fair share of shows with excellent character development.
Every anime has character development, such as Wind Breaker and Naruto, but these ten shows are the best in that regard. This list will rank the ten anime with the best character development based on quality, quantity, believability, pacing, writing, fan opinion, and critical consensus. Every anime here has at least one character who went through a significant and noticeable change that bettered the story.
15
‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995–1996)
Shinji in front of a sky full of clouds.Image via TV Tokyo
It may be one of the most polarizing anime series of all time, but Neon Genesis Evangelion does have some superb character development. With the world facing another apocalypse event from the angel-like aliens, humanity’s last hope of surviving is in the hands of Shinji, a self-conscious teenager, one bad day away from a breakdown.
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a psychological deconstruction of trauma and how it progresses. As Shinji experiences more trauma on top of what he already went through, not to mention the immense pressure and lost childhood, he slowly develops into the polarizing character that fans see. Shinji may not be a universally beloved anime character, but he and many other characters are handled well.
14
‘Dragon Ball’ (1989–1996)
Majin Vegeta in a BattleImage via Crunchyroll
The biggest shounen anime aren’t known for their character development, but sometimes shows like Dragon Ball shock everyone. Sent to Earth as a child to destroy the planet, Goku instead lived a peaceful life, spending his time training, which helped him face up against those who wanted to bring harm to him and his friends.
Battle shounen anime aren’t known for their character development, and as a whole, neither is Dragon Ball, but it has one flawless example with Vegeta. Starting as another arrogant villain, he underwent one of the best redemption arcs in anime, slowly becoming an honorable character through new interactions of kindness, hope, and need. It all comes full circle in the Majin Buu saga, where Vegeta proves himself to be a legend and a powerful Dragon Ball character.
Cast of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood taking a rest.Image via Bones Inc.
It isn’t easy to become the greatest anime ever, but Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is widely regarded as the best, which means it also has strong character development. When brothers Ed and Al lose parts or all of their bodies in a taboo alchemical experiment, they set out on a quest to find the philosopher’s stones. However, all they discover is a government conspiracy.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has a little bit of everything, including character development. From Scars’s profound journey of self-discovery, hate, and redemption to many micro-doses of growth in characters like Al, Ed, Mustang, and Winry, this anime handles its characters wonderfully, including their changes throughout the story.
12
‘Legend of the Galactic Heroes’ (1988–1997)
A blonde and brunette man standing in a space ship from Legend of the Galactic HeroesImage via K-Factory
This list features some old anime, and one of the first classics on here is Legend of the Galactic Heroes. After a century-long ceasefire between intergalactic nations, two young opposing leaders break it up, thrusting the galaxy into an operatic war of philosophies once more.
A lot of anime treats its characters as individual beings, but Legend of the Galactic Heroesportrays them as being influenced by the political environment. As the two leaders are forced to make tough decisions that question their morals and test their philosophies, they change bit by bit.
11
‘Nana’ (2006–2007)
The two Nanas meeting on the train for the first time in ‘Nana.’Image via Madhouse
Josei is an underrated demographic, with many fans never watching Nana. One girl is moving to Tokyo to reconnect and mend things with her ex-boyfriend, and another girl aims to kickstart her music career. The two of them have nothing in common, except that they share the same name and will be roommates in the near future.
Most of the anime on this list deal with character development through high-stakes battles where change is forced, but Nana is grounded in realism, making its character development more relatable and simply what we all experience as we age. Character development is earned in Nana, with characters repeating mistakes and being forced to deal with their codependency issues, making growth more rewarding.
10
‘Berserk’ (1997–1998)
Guts smiling with a sword over his shoulder in Berserk (1997).Image via OLM-Animation Studio
Fantasy anime seems to be all the rage nowadays, but Berserk is a classic that might have started the trend with its iconic story. The 1997 anime highlights the Golden Age arc, one of the most renowned in anime and manga. It showcases Guts’ past, from a child soldier to a mercenary in the Band of the Hawk to a broken individual who lost everything.
It’s no shock to see Berserk on this list, but it may be surprising that it’s so low. However, this is because the list ranks anime, not manga, which would be first. While Guts experiences the best character development in the manga, the anime still develops the character significantly. It tortures him and gives Guts everything before taking it away, going on a roller coaster of development, making Berserk a dark anime not for kids.
9
‘One Piece’ (1999–Present)
Ace Dies in Luffy’s ArmsImage via Toei Animation
With over a thousand episodes and still counting, One Piece is one of the longest-running anime series and naturally has lots of character development. Monkey D. Luffy sets sail to find the titular treasure and become King of the Pirates, but to do so, he must find a crew and make a name for himself. This expansive journey tests will and passion, developing many characters in the endless cast.
One Piece doesn’t land on this list because of one or two great examples of development, but countless cases of decent growth that are impressive in their own right. This anime brilliantly uses backstory to develop characters and tell fans why they are the way that they are. Characters like Luffy, Robin, Sanji, Usopp, Law, Oden, and Bon Clay highlight an impressive roster of growth, delivering some of the deepest quotes in One Piece.
Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would Be Your Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt
Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.
🎖️Rambo
🍸James Bond
🏺Indiana Jones
🔧John McClane
🎭Ethan Hunt
01
You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.
02
You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission.
03
You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of.
04
The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.
05
How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.
06
Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.
07
Things go badly wrong and you’re captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.
08
What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn’t replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn’t know you had.
09
Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.
10
It’s the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one.
Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…
Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.
Rambo
Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.
James Bond
Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.
Indiana Jones
Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.
John McClane
Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.
Ethan Hunt
Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.
8
‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)
Image via Crunchyroll
Few anime broke the internet like Attack on Titan, whose ending marked an important time in anime history, whether fans liked it or not. When the Titans destroy his village, Eren Yaeger vows revenge but gains the ability to turn into one of the beasts. He uses his newfound power to lead humanity outside the wall and fight their true enemies, changing everyone when they learn the truth.
Many characters go through changes, including Reiner, Armin, and Mikasa, but Eren is the most notable star of the anime. His idea of freedom enslaved him from the beginning, going from someone who would kill monsters to gain freedom to eradicating humanity in order to survive. The anime brought up philosophical debates, but Eren’s dark character development is why Attack on Titan is an anime series that’s already a modern classic.
7
‘March Comes in Like a Lion’ (2016–2018)
Rei Kiriyama looks depressed in March Comes in Like a LionImage via Crunchyroll
Not all sports are physical, as March Comes in Like a Lion is about a shogi player’s life and growth. Following Rei, who moves to avoid the pressure, he lives a reclusive lifestyle, not taking care of himself and only leaving the house occasionally. But when a new family moves close to him, they show him the kindness he needs and begin his development into a better self.
March Comes in Like a Lion isn’t a complex anime with new themes or messages, but it does everything sincerely, which makes it renowned and beloved. Rei’s development is a beautiful and well-paced journey accentuated by some of the best animation in anime. Overcoming this relatable issue provides a moving story and tear-jerking character development.
6
‘Mob Psycho 100’ (2016–2022)
Mob scratching his head in Mod Psycho 100.Image via Bones
Mob Psycho 100 is a renowned anime and beloved series by the same creator of One Punch Man. Despite being the world’s strongest psychic, Shigeo only wants an everyday life. But because he holds in his emotions, they explode through psychic outbursts. While he takes on other espers, he must deal with his inner feelings and suppressed emotions.
Mob has one of the best arcs for an anime protagonist, developing in a unique way compared to most shōnen. While other characters and villains grow through Mob’s kindness and power, his development is the best part. When his power hurts someone he cares about, Mob holds onto his powers and, therefore, his true feelings, with the show masterfully developing him to be genuine through dramatic events.
