20 Best Anime Characters With Black Hair
If there is a list that will contain almost all major anime characters in one place, it’s the list of anime characters with black hair. Being the most common hair color on humans in real life, black-haired anime characters are actually not that common, since most anime rely on colorful hairstyles to make their characters unique.
Black is a spooky color, often associated with the unknown or the negative. The color black represents strength, gravity, power, authority, mystery, and death. This mental association is very important in character design because the author of the story is able to relay the first impression a character should impart to the viewer.
So who are the best anime characters with black hair? Read this list and find out how many you can recognize. As always, beware of spoilers.
20. Hinata Uzumaki
Anime Name: Naruto
Formerly Hinata Hyuuga, Hinata Uzumaki was the former heiress of the powerful Hyuuga clan until she relinquished that title upon being deemed unfit for the duties of leading the clan. She was a member of team 8 which was led by Kurenai Yuhi and her teammates were Shino Aburame and Kiba Inuzuka.
Hinata deeply admired Naruto since they were kids and seeing the similarities she shared with him, she adopted his ninja way of never giving up, going as far as to protect him from Pain during the Pain Invasion Arc. Over time, she fell in love with him, and ultimately after Naruto became the seventh Hokage, they got married, and she joined the Uzumaki clan. The couple have two children, Boruto Uzumaki and Himawari Uzumaki.
19. Jotaro Kujo
Anime Name: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Arguably the most popular character in the series, Jotaro Kujo is the protagonist of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 3: Star Crusaders and the father of Part 5’s protagonist, Jolyne Cujoh. Extremely loyal to his friends and family, Jotaro travels to Egypt to save his mother and defeat his family’s archenemy, Dio Brando. Being the first JoJo to possess a Stand, Jotaro wields Star Platinum, one of the most powerful Stands in the series.
18. Kuchiki Byakuya
Anime Name: Bleach
Byakuya Kuchiki is the head of the noble Kuchiki Clan, captain of the 6th Division of the Gotei 13, and the elder brother of Rukia Kuchiki. He is one of the main supporting characters in the anime and coming from a noble clan, Byakuya carries himself in an aristocratic manner, very calm and apathetic towards people. He firmly believes in law and order and believes no one is above punishment for breaking the law, even going as far as allowing his sister to be executed.
17. Trafalgar D. Water Law
Anime Name: One Piece
Known by his epithet ‘The Surgeon of Death’, Trafalgar Law is a pirate from the North Blue, a doctor, one of the twelve pirates referred to as the Worst Generation, and the captain of the Heart Pirates. He is introduced during the Sabaody Archipelago Arc and briefly allied with the Strawhat Pirates and Kid Pirates after the Navy sent Marine Admiral Kizaru to the archipelago to neutralize the pirate crews that had gathered there.
During the Marineford Island Arc, he was very instrumental in saving Monkey D. Luffy’s life after he received a fatal wound from Admiral Akainu. Sometime during the time skip, he became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, but his position was later revoked when he formed an alliance with the Strawhat Pirates. Currently in an alliance with the Strawhat Pirates, his goal is to find the One Piece and discover the purpose of the Will of D.
16. Roy Mustang
Anime Name: FullMetal Alchemist – Brotherhood
One of the reasons FullMetal Alchemist is so popular is due to Colonel Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist and tritagonist of the series. He is a State Alchemist and the superior officer of the Elric brothers, and second only to Führer-President King Bradley.
Easily misconstrued as a superficial narcissistic man who is a serial womanizer, Mustang is an extremely capable commander who inspires loyalty from his subordinates and uses this facade to conceal his extraordinary intellect and tactical ability. His goal is to become the Führer of Amestris.
15. Portgas D. Ace
Anime Name: One Piece
Known throughout the Pirate World as Fire Fist Ace due to his Devil Fruit Mera Mera no Mi, Portgas D. Ace was the adopted older brother of Monkey D. Luffy and Sabo and the son of the legendary Pirate King Gol D. Roger and his lover, Portgas D. Rouge.
Ace was the central character of the Marineford Island Arc after he was captured by the Marines and with his execution scheduled, the Whitebeard Pirates came to his rescue (since he was the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates) together with the Strawhat Pirates.
Despite being rescued by his brother Luffy, Ace was killed by Admiral Akainu as he shielded Luffy from a strike that was meant for him. Being one of the most loved characters of One Piece, Ace’s death is one of the most impactful moments in all anime.
14. Obito Uchiha
Anime Name: Naruto Shippuden
Obito is one of the few remaining survivors of the Uchiha Clan and one of the primary antagonists in the series. Being presumed dead for the major part of the series after being crushed by a giant rock, he conceals his true identity and assumes the identity of a feared ninja from the past, Madara Uchiha.
Obito suffered from PTSD and strived to destroy the world that only brought pain to his life. He attacked his former village and formed an organization for rogue ninjas called the Akatsuki, whose objective was to collect all nine tailed beasts and create a perfect world where war, loss, and pain were nonexistent.
13. Mikasa Ackerman
Anime Name: Attack on Titan
Mikasa is the top-ranked graduate of the 104th Cadet Corps and is considered the best soldier in the Survey Corps. She was rescued from kidnappers who killed her family by Eren Yeager and adopted by Grisha Yeager after she was orphaned. Owing to her Ackerman heritage, Mikasa is outrageously proficient and is considered to be worth 100 soldiers.
She is a calm, direct, unassuming person who is particularly loyal to Eren Yeager and protects him fiercely. She is often seen in the company of Eren and Armin Arlert, her childhood friend. Though she is often viewed as hostile, Mikasa desires to live a peaceful life with her two friends and only enlists in the Survey Corps to follow Eren and protect him.
12. Madara Uchiha
Anime Name: Naruto Shippuden
Famed as one of the most feared shinobi in the Naruto universe, Madara Uchiha was a legendary ninja who led the Uchiha clan before the creation of Konoha village and alongside his friend and arch-rival, Hashirama Senju, he founded Konoha village.
Before shinobi villages were ever formed, Madara and his younger brother, Izuna Uchiha, were considered the most powerful ninjas of the Uchiha clan. Even by his clan’s standards, Madara’s chakra was especially powerful. He grew up at a time of war where they constantly fought with the Senju clan.
After he obtained the Mangekyō Sharingan, Madara took control of the clan and after fighting extremely devastating battles with the Senju clan’s leader, Hashirama Senju, the two formed a truce and decided to create the Konoha village and ensure the end of all wars. However, due to the distrust that Hashirama’s younger brother, Tobirama Senju, possessed of the Uchiha clan, Madara was sidelined from the village, and he left, never to return again.
11. Monkey D. Dragon
Anime Name: One Piece
Monkey D. Dragon is the son of Marine Vice Admiral, Monkey D. Garp, father of the Strawhat Pirates captain, Monkey D. Luffy, and the Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Army. Often referred to as the ‘World’s Worst Criminal’, Dragon was born in the Goa Kingdom and after unknown events occurred, he formed the Revolutionary Army with the goal of overthrowing the World Government.
Dragon was first introduced in the Loguetown Arc, where he helped his son Luffy escape from Marine Captain Smoker’s clutches. Since then, Dragon occasionally shows up throughout the anime as an important background character and was responsible for saving Sabo after his ship was blown up by a World Noble. He later made Sabo his second-in-command.
10. Kuchiki Rukia
Anime Name: Bleach
Kuchiki Rukia is the sister of the Captain of the 6th Division, Kuchiki Byakuya, the lieutenant of the 13th Division of Gotei 13, and a close friend of Ichigo Kurosaki and Abarai Renji. Initially born into a lower class of Soul Society, Rukia retains her humility, even as an adopted member of the noble Kuchiki clan. During a mission in Karakura Town, Rukia and Ichigo met, and after a confrontation with a Hollow, she transferred her Shinigami powers to him, so he could defeat the Hollow.
Having violated the laws of Soul Society, Rukia was charged and sentenced to death, but was rescued by Ichigo and his allies after the latter invaded Soul Society. Towards the end of the story, Rukia obtains her Bankai and becomes the captain of the 13th Division and also marries her childhood friend, Abarai Renji.
9. Son Goku
Anime Name: Dragonball
The main protagonist of the Dragon Ball franchise and named Kakarot at birth, Son Goku is an alien from the Saiyan race who is raised on earth. Originally sent to annihilate Earth as a newborn, a concussion alters his memory, effectively freeing him of his initial objective and permitting him to grow up to become Earth’s greatest defender.
Son Goku is pure good, retaining no negative emotions or reflections. He is particularly devoted to his friends and family, even willing to sacrifice himself to save others. Additionally, he seems to have a special effect on people.
His authentic compassion for others and love of life in its most simple nature is capable of inspiring them to transform somewhat for the better, even causing multiple enemies to become his allies. However, his lack of emotional maturity has also left him somewhat naïve, which frequently makes many inaccurately consider him to be rather stupid.
8. Nico Robin
Anime Name: One Piece
One of the most liked characters in One Piece, Nico Robin is the archaeologist of the Strawhat Pirates and a target of the World Government due to her vast knowledge as an archaeologist and ability to read Poneglyphs. She joined the Strawhat Pirates in the Alabasta Arc after being rescued from the grips of the World Government by Luffy and his crew.
Having eaten the Hana Hana no Mi Devil Fruit as a young girl, she possesses the ability to reproduce any or all parts of her body on any surface at will. She is the calmest and most rational of the Strawhats and has been shown to treat Luffy with greater respect than the rest of the crew. She and Zoro are the only members of the crew that support Luffy’s decisions unconditionally.
7. Sasuke Uchiha
Anime Name: Naruto
Sasuke Uchiha is a powerful ninja of Konoha village, brother of Itachi Uchiha and a member of Team 7 alongside Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno. Due to the trauma of losing his parents and entire clan after they were killed by Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke has one goal, to kill Itachi Uchiha and avenge his clan. However, when he learned the true reason why Itachi killed them, Sasuke decided to attack Konoha village and take vengeance against the village that burdened and betrayed his brother.
Sasuke is the arch-rival of Naruto Uzumaki and has fought him severally in deadly battles, eventually losing his hand in the final battle. At the end of the series, Sasuke marries Sakura Haruno and together, they have a child, Sarada Uchiha. Sasuke now operates as a shadow Hokage, protecting Konoha village from external threats.
6. L Lawliet
Anime Name: Death Note
Death Note is one of the most popular anime, and one of the major reasons is due to the cat and mouse game played between L and Light Yagami. L is a prominent detective who takes on the challenge of capturing the mass murderer known as Kira, who is responsible for mysterious deaths happening all over the world. During his investigation, L becomes suspicious of Light Yagami and makes it his objective to prove that Light Yagami is Kira.
5. Lelouch Lamperouge
Anime: Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Lelouch VI Britannia, Lamperouge is the assumed name of the central protagonist of Code Geass and the son of the 98th Britannian Emperor. Lelouch is known for having a very Stoic personality, but behind it is an exceptionally intelligent person who relishes challenges.
In battle, he is very callous and strategic. He is willing to sacrifice civilians and soldiers alike if that is what it takes to accomplish the goal.
4. Itachi Uchiha
Anime Name: Naruto
One of the most complex characters ever written, Itachi Uchiha is the elder brother of Sasuke Uchiha and the man responsible for the decimation of the Uchiha clan. A prodigy who understood the importance of peace more than adults far much older than him, Itachi was given the dirty task of killing his clansmen to prevent an all-out war in the village. After he was branded a rogue ninja, Itachi joined the rogue outfit Akatsuki, with the intention of spying on them.
3. Levi Ackerman
Anime Name: Attack on Titan
Known as the strongest soldier of humanity, Levi Ackerman is a captain of the Survey Corps and a descendant of the legendary Ackerman family. Undefeated in battle, Levi is without doubt the strongest Survey Corps soldier and this is evident from his battles against the Female Titan, Beast Titan, and Jaw Titan. He was recruited into the Survey Corps by the then commander, Erwin Smith, and ever since, he has devoted his life to the freedom of humanity from the titans.
2. Guts
Anime Name: Berserk
Known as the Black Swordsman, Guts is the protagonist of Berserk and a former mercenary and branded wanderer who travels the world in an enduring internal struggle between seeking his own ambitions and upholding his attachments to those dear to him.
One of the most tragic anime characters, Guts is depicted as a cynical man who holds an overall bleak outlook on life, as a consequence of the perpetual waves of suffering and numerous betrayals he’s experienced since his youth.
1. Monkey D. Luffy
Anime Name: One Piece
A character who needs no introduction, Monkey D. Luffy is one of the most popular anime characters and the main protagonist of the masterpiece, One Piece. He is the captain of the Strawhat Pirates and only has one goal, to become the Pirate King. As the only protagonist of the big 3 anime whose story is yet to conclude, we can only hope that he finds the One Piece and becomes the Pirate King we wish him to be.