Only fourteen?

Here are the nominees so far for my upcoming “most heroic character in anime” poll:

Alphonse Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Homura Akemi (Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica)
Kenshin Himura (Samurai X; Rurouni Kenshin)
Masane Amaha (Witchblade)
Nanoha Takamachi (Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha)
Nausicäa (Nausicäa)
Robin Sena (Witch Hunter Robin)
Simon (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
Son Goku (Dragonball)
Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop)
Togusa (Ghost in the Shell)
Yakuta (Outlaw Star?) ((The only character by this name I found was in episode eight of Outlaw Star, which I haven’t seen. Is that the one, or is there someone else?))
Yoshika Miyafuji (Strike Witches 2)

And that’s it. Just fourteen. Note that in previous polls there were 27 villains nominated, 31 scary girls, and almost 60 babes. Surely there are more gallant characters in anime than this.

Here are a few more names to consider:

Balsa
Gourry Gabriev
Priss Asagiri
Ayumu Aikawa
Pretty Sammy
Giroro

Addendum: Shep, from Interstella 5555

Would someone care to second any of these? Who else should be nominated? If I don’t get more names, I’m going to include Sailor Moon and Mao-chan in the poll.

10 thoughts on “Only fourteen?”

  1. Here’s a few of my favorites:
    Astroboy
    Joe Yabuki
    Captain Harlock
    Vash the Stampede

  2. I’ll second Balsa, and Hogart’s suggestion of Captain Harlock.

    As for other nominations, how about Wenli Yang (Legend of the Galactic Heroes)?

  3. I thought of nominating Priss, but I passed because she doesn’t really have heroic motivations, she just likes to blow stuff up. I ruled out a lot of other characters for the same reason.

    Here are some more nominees for you:

    Sakura Hinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura)
    Sakura Shinguji (Sakura Taisen)
    Kurosagi Ichigo (Bleach)
    Rick Hunter (Robotech)
    Aika (Agent Aika)

  4. Couple nominees:
    Hotohori (Fushigi Yuugi)
    Maka Albarn (Soul Eater)
    Allen Schezar (The Vision of Escaflowne TV)

  6. Star Blazers/Space Battleship Yamato:
    Derek Wildstar (aka Kodai Susumu)
    Lt. Nova (aka Mori Yuki)
    Captain Avatar (Okita Juhzoh)

    Hajime Murata (Shingu)

    I’ll second Kenshin (not that he needs it).

    I don’t know why I can’t think of any other heroic characters just now. Obviously there are lots of them.

  7. There is a difference between heroism and badassery.

    Prince Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke is pretty heroic, as is the films antagonist Lady Eboshi.
    Yoshimori Sumumura and Tokine Yukimura from Kekkaishi are both top notch heroes; Tokine probably more so. The fact that they are genuinely heroic made a by the numbers Shonen Sunday show watchable.

    I second (or third) the nominations for Nausicaa, Vash the Elrics and Harlock. FMA in particular has several people in hopeless situations trying to save the world against impossible odds.

    Meia Gisbourne from Van Dread and Shizuru Fujimura from the otherwise forgettable Godannar do real heroism with considerable panache (in Meia’s case, with or without her falsies). Sayaka Yume from Mazinger Z keeps getting in that deathtrap Robot of hers every week to get thrashed because she is fighting to save the world from NAZI mad scientists. Similarly Teh Glorious Yoko from TTGL has one up on some of the other Gurren pilots in that she’s smart enough to know the odds against them, yet she still goes forth, not out of some Shonen Jump style need for a challenge, but because, as is firmly established, she a very good person.

    James Links in Z.O.E. Dolores-i overcomes his many flaws to pull himself out of the gutter in an attempt to save his ex-wife, his family and the whole solar system. He’s also a humanistic and decent fellow.

    Cashaan’s Tetsuya sacrifices his body to become able to defend the planet against the robot hoards of Braiking Boss.

  8. If I’d known about this place before today, I would have gladly nominated Vash the Stampede, so consider it seconded (or thirded by now). I also think you should qualify Rem Saverem, who wasn’t a super-powered dead-eye marksman, but who saved many lives through nothing more than her philosphy, courage, intelligence, and determination.

    And can we also nominate Western anime-influenced characters? Because Samurai Jack is a great hero too. If not, then I would like my other nomination (besides Rem Saverem) to be Jack Hofner and Rowe Rickenbacher of L/R.

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