In keeping with my Saturday Anime Idea and my predilection for Top Ten Lists, this is a list of my 10 favorite Male characters in Anime (I've Seen). I'm starting with guys cause I am one (last I checked) and I'll be limiting myself to adults and one character per universe. Let's do this crazy thing!
10) Starscream: Transformers
While the character has undergone a lot of changes over the years, Starscream has always been one of my favorite Transformer. While some will say that the original character was a toadie and a coward, I beg to differ. If Starscream understood one thing, it was tactics. He does and says what he must to placate Megatron, who is pretty obviously a power-mad psychotic who earned his position by being the most powerful and dangerous Decepticon. "Starscream is a coward!" the nay sayers ballyhoo, and to that I say that Starscream retreats whenever he knows there is nothing to be gained by fighting. He often seems to commit to a particular attack just long enough to placate the lunatic he works for. If anything, he is the Sun Tzu of the Transformers universe.
9) Kusanagi Mamoru: Blue Seed
When he first arrives on the scene announcing that he must kill her, it is the first sign that Momiji's life is about to change. However, when he stops Yamata no Orochi from sacrificing her, he decides to continue to protect her. It quickly becomes clear that he is a valuable ally, and his habit of arriving just when Momiji needs him most, a cocky demeanor, and the power bestowed upon him by the seven Demon Souls Orochi planted make him a lot of fun.
8) Ikari Gendo: Neon Genesis Evangelion
This one may be a head scratcher to some. But if there is one thing I love, it's characters that are justifiably smug and enigmatic. Though his appearances in the series are limited compared to other main characters, every second he is on screen is packed with meaning. Gendo runs Nerv to his own ends to pull strings attached to the most diabolical puppets, and only Fuyutsuki, Ritsuko, and Gendo himself seem to know what his endgame truly is. Quiet and reserved as he plans the course of his machinations, and subtly triumphant when their intended results come to pass.
7) Vegeta: Dragon Ball Z
The last prince of the Saiyan homeworld, Vegeta was proud to the point of arrogance. When he first appears in DBZ, he is a sarcastic battle hardened soldier, stronger than most, but still subservient to his master Freeza. He relishes reminding others that he is their better in battle. After he is defeated on Earth, he eventually comes to call it his home and his more noble traits become more pronounced. He is still a smugly proud man, but he also does whatever it takes to protect the people he cares about.
6) Batou: Ghost in the Shell series.
Batou is a tank. He is a tough as nails, no nonsense, shoot-now-ask-later tank. And yet, he is also the guy that takes special care of the Tachikomas and has large, obvious soft spot for one Major Kusanagi Motoko. He is one of those brilliant characters that is equally believable as a sensitive softy and a guy who wouldn't hesitate to head-but a terminator. I don't know how much of his body has been cyberized, but I am pretty sure his Heart is real.
5) Masaki Tenchi: Tenchi Muyo
There is a part of me (and most Tenchi Fans I could name) that hate's Tenchi. He is the luckiest SOB in the history of fiction. Surrounded by alien girls that are all crushing on him in a major way, he maintains his neutrality, treating them all as equal adopted members of his family without diminishing their interest in him. But when it comes down to it, there is a line in that video that says it all. When Kagato mocks him for trying to defend the girls when he could have saved his own life by not getting involved, Tenchi's response epitomizes why he is such a likable character. Bonus: I recently read that according to the original creator of the series, as far as the OAV continuity is concerned, Tenchi ends up married to...
4) Alucard: Hellsing
Come on, you had to know this was coming. Alucard is the definition of what an "Antediluvian" level Vampire should be, and why Twilight will forever suck. His power is vast and his appetite for battle insatiable. It should be noted that Hellsing has a system of control magic cast over Alucard that limits the amount of his true power he can wield, and in the video there, he's only released a small fraction of it. The prospect of a true challenge makes him giddy, and his disdain for weakling vampires that fail to live up to his expectations is deliciously violent. In all honesty, I almost had to give this spot to Alexander Anderson, the priest, as he has always been an intriguingly perfect foil to Alucard. All their fights are ludicrously awesome.
3) Zechs Merquise/Milliardo Peacecraft: Gundam Wing
Couldn't find a very good vid that was just about Zechs, but that promo is awesome. The prince of a pacifist nation, Milliardo Peacecraft was forced to face the grim realities of war after it killed his father and destroyed his country. Donning the mask of the Lightning Baron and taking the name Zechs Merquise, the last prince of the Sanc Kingdom became the most talented mobile suit pilot in the world. Piloting a technologically inferior suit, the Tallgeese, Zechs routinely bested the Gundam Pilots through experience and sheer talent. When he broke ties with Treize Kushrinada and attempted to foster peace between earth and the space colonies, he eventually came to the grim realization that the only way to prevent future wars was to provoke a conflict so dire that mankind would shudder at the idea of war. With his new Gundam Epyon, he leads the White Fang resistance, rallies the colonies, and wages his endgame war.
2) Spike Spiegel: Cowboy Bebop
Spike is an interesting dichotomy. For most of Cowboy Bebop's run, he is a bounty hunter with enough skill in weapons and martial arts to allow him to light-heartedly mosey from one bounty to the next without distress. However, if he encounters a truly dangerous enemy (Peirrot Le Fou for example) or when his past revisits him, he becomes a single-minded force of nature, incapable of allowing himself not to oppose the threat. He states that he feels as though his life as a bounty hunter is nothing but a dream, which may explain why he doesn't seem to be taking it seriously.
1) Onizuka Eikichi: Shonan Junai Gumi and GTO
Ah, Onizuka. The Devil of Shonan Beach, One half of the OniBaku Duo, one of the most respected and feared Bosozoku leaders in Japan... Becomes a Teacher!?
And his first class is famous for destroying the morale of their homeroom teachers. But with his laid back personality, goofy sense of humor, optimistic attitude that sees the value in every one of his students, and un-killable body (trust me, it comes in handy) Onizuka begins to win them over. As the hard line students continue to attempt to oust him, he continues to win more support, including their secret weapon Kanzaki Urumi . And while he is undoubtedly a bit of a slob, perv, and brute, he is the most genuine and honest teacher his students have ever had, and they are actually excited to come to school. Onizuka will do anything for his students, whether it's steal thousands of dollars worth of sushi or getting shot multiple times.
And now, your moment of AMV Zen... From GTO even!
