​Battle​ ​Athletes​ ​is​ ​a​ ​mostly​ ​forgotten​ ​anime​ ​from​ ​the​ ​late​ ​1990s.​ ​The​ ​story​ ​is​ ​practically​ ​a​ ​strange​ ​mix​ ​of​ ​Rocky and​ ​The​ ​Hunger​ ​Games,​ ​as​ ​humanity​ ​sends​ ​out​ ​a​ ​representative​ ​to​ ​compete​ ​in​ ​a​ ​test​ ​of​ ​physical​ ​strength​ ​against​ ​an alien​ ​from​ ​an​ ​extraterrestrial​ ​race.​ ​The​ ​process​ ​to​ ​decide​ ​who​ ​is​ ​the​ ​ideal​ ​human​ ​capable​ ​of​ ​carrying​ ​the​ ​weight​ ​of the​ ​world​ ​on​ ​their​ ​shoulders​ ​is​ ​decided​ ​by​ ​a​ ​university,​ ​with​ ​the​ ​winner​ ​being​ ​crowned​ ​as​ ​Cosmic​ ​Beauty.

Ichino​ ​Yanagida​ ​is​ ​Akari​ ​Kanzaki’s​ ​best​ ​friend,​ ​who​ ​also​ ​aspires​ ​to​ ​earn​ ​the​ ​coveted​ ​title​ ​of​ ​Cosmic​ ​Beauty.

While​ ​a​ ​capable​ ​athlete​ ​in​ ​her​ ​own​ ​right,​ ​Ichino​ ​struggles​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​up​ ​with​ ​the​ ​main​ ​character,​ ​creating​ ​a​ ​love/hate dynamic​ ​between​ ​the​ ​two.​ ​Although​ ​competitiveness​ ​is​ ​her​ ​primary​ ​personality​ ​trait,​ ​Ichino​ ​is​ ​a​ ​genuinely multi-layered​ ​secondary​ ​character​ ​that​ ​struggles​ ​to​ ​accept​ ​her​ ​feelings​ ​for​ ​Akari.​ ​For​ ​the​ ​time​ ​the​ ​anime​ ​was created,​ ​their​ ​relationship​ ​is​ ​actually​ ​quite​ ​progressive.

A​ ​series​ ​of​ ​unfortunate​ ​events​ ​give​ ​rise​ ​to​ ​Servamp’s​ ​main​ ​plot.​ ​Mahiru​ ​Shirota​ ​is​ ​a​ ​happy-go-lucky​ ​fellow​ ​who believes​ ​that​ ​simple​ ​thinking​ ​is​ ​really​ ​the​ ​only​ ​way​ ​to​ ​live.​ ​His​ ​world​ ​turns​ ​upside​ ​down​ ​when​ ​a​ ​strange​ ​young man​ ​suddenly​ ​shows​ ​up​ ​in​ ​his​ ​apartment.​ ​To​ ​make​ ​things​ ​even​ ​worse,​ ​this​ ​stranger​ ​happens​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​vampire.

Although​ ​he​ ​promises​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​after​ ​a​ ​single​ ​night,​ ​the​ ​duo​ ​ends​ ​up​ ​forming​ ​a​ ​contract​ ​and​ ​starting​ ​an​ ​unwanted friendship.

Kuro​ ​is​ ​easily​ ​the​ ​best​ ​thing​ ​about​ ​Servamp.​ ​Besides​ ​being​ ​a​ ​bloodsucker,​ ​the​ ​pacifist​ ​otaku​ ​is​ ​also​ ​capable​ ​of transforming​ ​into​ ​a​ ​black​ ​cat.​ ​The​ ​vampire​ ​prefers​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​conflict,​ ​as​ ​he​ ​would​ ​rather​ ​not​ ​have​ ​to​ ​make​ ​any difficult​ ​decisions.​ ​Kuro’s​ ​relationship​ ​with​ ​Mahiru​ ​is​ ​the​ ​cornerstone​ ​of​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​anime,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​couple​ ​makes for​ ​a​ ​hilarious​ ​pair.​ ​The​ ​vampire​ ​also​ ​has​ ​a​ ​troubling​ ​backstory,​ ​that​ ​is​ ​hinted​ ​at​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​series​ ​and​ ​the​ ​mere mention​ ​of​ ​it​ ​can​ ​turn​ ​Kuro​ ​into​ ​a​ ​much​ ​angrier​ ​demon.

powerful​ ​ninja​ ​technique​ ​that​ ​is​ ​required​ ​for​ ​someone​ ​to​ ​be​ ​chosen​ ​as​ ​the​ ​Nabari’s​ ​ruler.​ ​Due​ ​to​ ​this​ ​power,​ ​the student​ ​is​ ​forced​ ​to​ ​join​ ​a​ ​ninja​ ​club​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​survive​ ​the​ ​many​ ​threats​ ​on​ ​his​ ​life.​ ​Kotarou​ ​Fuuma​ ​is​ ​the​ ​leader of​ ​the​ ​Fuuma​ ​village​ ​and​ ​has​ ​extensive​ ​knowledge​ ​of​ ​everything​ ​that​ ​has​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​ninjutsu.

Kotarou​ ​is​ ​a​ ​chronic​ ​liar,​ ​so​ ​whether​ ​he​ ​was​ ​actually​ ​born​ ​exactly​ ​a​ ​minute​ ​before​ ​the​ ​stroke​ ​of​ ​midnight​ ​on​ ​New Year’s​ ​Eve​ ​is​ ​debatable.​ ​As​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​evidence​ ​to​ ​the​ ​contrary,​ ​we​ ​might​ ​as​ ​well​ ​take​ ​the​ ​charismatic​ ​womanizer at​ ​face​ ​value.​ ​Kotarou​ ​desires​ ​the​ ​Shinrabanshou​ ​for​ ​himself,​ ​as​ ​he​ ​wants​ ​nothing​ ​more​ ​than​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the​ ​female spirit​ ​associated​ ​with​ ​the​ ​technique.​ ​While​ ​he​ ​is​ ​definitely​ ​not​ ​a​ ​hero,​ ​Kotarou​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​show’s​ ​highlights​ ​due to​ ​his​ ​unpredictable​ ​personality.​ ​While​ ​he​ ​loves​ ​to​ ​lie,​ ​this​ ​ninja​ ​is​ ​actually​ ​rather​ ​powerful​ ​and​ ​wise,​ ​so​ ​Kotarou remains​ ​a​ ​threat​ ​despite​ ​some​ ​of​ ​his​ ​sillier​ ​moments.

​Tamako​ ​Market​ ​is​ ​a​ ​cute​ ​slice-of-life​ ​anime​ ​about​ ​the​ ​young​ ​daughter​ ​of​ ​the​ ​owner​ ​of​ ​a​ ​rice​ ​cake​ ​shop​ ​in​ ​a popular​ ​shopping​ ​district.​ ​This​ ​entry​ ​is​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​unique,​ ​as​ ​the​ ​lead​ ​character​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​whose​ ​birthday​ ​is​ ​on​ ​New Year’s​ ​Eve.​ ​Tamako​ ​is​ ​a​ ​lovable​ ​girl​ ​who​ ​prioritizes​ ​her​ ​friends​ ​above​ ​her​ ​own​ ​happiness.​ ​Despite​ ​being​ ​sixteen years​ ​old,​ ​she​ ​is​ ​quite​ ​naive​ ​when​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​love​ ​and​ ​romance.

Tamako​ ​is​ ​an​ ​old-fashioned​ ​girl.​ ​She​ ​is​ ​perfectly​ ​happy​ ​with​ ​spending​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​her​ ​life​ ​working​ ​at​ ​her​ ​family’s rice​ ​shop,​ ​although​ ​she​ ​shows​ ​an​ ​admirable​ ​desire​ ​to​ ​modernize​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​store’s​ ​practices.​ ​Tamako​ ​is​ ​a​ ​really creative​ ​individual,​ ​as​ ​she​ ​spends​ ​most​ ​of​ ​her​ ​free-time​ ​coming​ ​up​ ​with​ ​new​ ​designs​ ​for​ ​mochi.​ ​The​ ​animators also​ ​pulled​ ​all​ ​the​ ​stops​ ​to​ ​make​ ​Tamako​ ​as​ ​adorable​ ​as​ ​possible,​ ​and​ ​they​ ​did​ ​a​ ​fantastic​ ​job.​ ​Due​ ​to​ ​when​ ​she born,​ ​Tamako's​ ​birthday​ ​is​ ​often​ ​overshadowed​ ​by​ ​New​ ​Year's​ ​Eve.

Saya,​ ​we​ ​barely​ ​knew​ ​you.​ ​In​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​coolness,​ ​Black​ ​Cat​ ​ranks​ ​among​ ​the​ ​industry's​ ​top​ ​tier.​ ​Train​ ​Heartnet​ ​is​ ​a legendary​ ​killer​ ​who​ ​works​ ​for​ ​an​ ​elite​ ​organization​ ​known​ ​as​ ​Chronos.​ ​The​ ​talented​ ​gunman​ ​is​ ​completely​ ​aware of​ ​his​ ​employer’s​ ​questionable​ ​morals,​ ​but​ ​he​ ​largely​ ​does​ ​not​ ​care.​ ​Train​ ​is​ ​more​ ​than​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​do​ ​what​ ​he​ ​is​ ​told, although​ ​that​ ​starts​ ​to​ ​change​ ​once​ ​Saya​ ​steps​ ​into​ ​the​ ​picture.

Saya​ ​works​ ​as​ ​a​ ​sweeper,​ ​who​ ​are​ ​practically​ ​bounty​ ​hunters.​ ​She​ ​is​ ​good​ ​at​ ​her​ ​job​ ​and​ ​ends​ ​up​ ​striking​ ​up​ ​a friendship​ ​with​ ​Train.​ ​Saya​ ​instigates​ ​a​ ​personality​ ​change​ ​in​ ​Train,​ ​inspiring​ ​his​ ​decision​ ​to​ ​abandon​ ​the​ ​ways​ ​of a​ ​killer​ ​and​ ​quitting​ ​Chronos.​ ​The​ ​anime​ ​changes​ ​her​ ​role​ ​considerably​ ​from​ ​the​ ​manga,​ ​but​ ​she​ ​probably​ ​plays​ ​a more​ ​crucial​ ​role​ ​in​ ​the​ ​adaptation.​ ​Train​ ​barely​ ​gets​ ​to​ ​know​ ​anything​ ​about​ ​Saya,​ ​yet​ ​the​ ​sweeper​ ​ends​ ​up meaning​ ​the​ ​world​ ​to​ ​him.​ ​This​ ​enchanting​ ​character​ ​left​ ​a​ ​lasting​ ​impression.

Love​ ​or​ ​hate​ ​it,​ ​Bleach​ ​was​ ​a​ ​landmark​ ​release​ ​of​ ​the​ ​shounen​ ​genre.​ ​Tite​ ​Kubo​ ​knows​ ​how​ ​to​ ​write​ ​entertaining action​ ​scenes​ ​with​ ​visually​ ​pleasing​ ​characters.​ ​Pretty​ ​much​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​cast​ ​is​ ​uniquely​ ​designed​ ​and​ ​instantly recognizable.​ ​Kisuke​ ​Urahara​ ​is​ ​not​ ​only​ ​far​ ​from​ ​an​ ​exception,​ ​he​ ​just​ ​might​ ​be​ ​the​ ​best​ ​of​ ​the​ ​bunch.​ ​Earning​ ​the nickname​ ​of​ ​sandal-hat,​ ​due​ ​to​ ​his​ ​traditional​ ​Japanese​ ​attire,​ ​Urahara​ ​is​ ​an​ ​ambiguous​ ​figure​ ​that​ ​is​ ​rarely motivated​ ​by​ ​morals.Polite​ ​to​ ​a​ ​fault,​ ​sandal-hat​ ​is​ ​a​ ​pretty​ ​laid-back​ ​dude​ ​who​ ​tries​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​conflict​ ​as​ ​much​ ​as​ ​possible.​ ​That​ ​is​ ​not​ ​to say​ ​that​ ​Urahara​ ​cannot​ ​hold​ ​his​ ​own​ ​in​ ​a​ ​fight,​ ​as​ ​he​ ​is​ ​an​ ​extremely​ ​talented​ ​swordsman​ ​and​ ​tactician.​ ​For​ ​a time,​ ​he​ ​served​ ​as​ ​one​ ​of​ ​Soul​ ​Society’s​ ​captains,​ ​before​ ​hanging​ ​up​ ​his​ ​hat​ ​to​ ​pursue​ ​different​ ​goals.​ ​Bleach​ ​tends to​ ​be​ ​rather​ ​straightforward,​ ​with​ ​most​ ​characters​ ​letting​ ​their​ ​fists​ ​do​ ​the​ ​talking,​ ​so,​ ​Urahara​ ​stands​ ​out​ ​as​ ​he​ ​is not​ ​that​ ​type​ ​of​ ​fighter.​ ​He​ ​prefers​ ​to​ ​manipulate​ ​events​ ​from​ ​a​ ​distance​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​having​ ​to​ ​get​ ​his​ ​hands​ ​dirty.

Haikyuu!!​ ​does​ ​not​ ​lack​ ​awesome​ ​characters.​ ​The​ ​sports​ ​genre​ ​is​ ​stacked​ ​with​ ​fantastic​ ​series,​ ​and​ ​this​ ​volleyball anime​ ​stands​ ​among​ ​the​ ​best.​ ​Karasuno​ ​High's​ ​entire​ ​team​ ​is​ ​charming​ ​and​ ​well​ ​developed,​ ​with​ ​their​ ​captain serving​ ​as​ ​the​ ​rock​ ​that​ ​holds​ ​everyone​ ​together.​ ​Due​ ​to​ ​his​ ​somewhat​ ​grounded​ ​personality,​ ​Daichi​ ​does​ ​not always​ ​stand​ ​out​ ​and​ ​tends​ ​to​ ​take​ ​a​ ​backseat​ ​for​ ​the​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​the​ ​story.​ ​Surprisingly,​ ​this​ ​does​ ​not​ ​detract​ ​from his​ ​overall​ ​character,​ ​as​ ​the​ ​captain​ ​never​ ​fails​ ​to​ ​deliver​ ​when​ ​called​ ​up​ ​to​ ​the​ ​plate.

Daichi​ ​is​ ​supportive​ ​and​ ​goes​ ​out​ ​of​ ​his​ ​way​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​his​ ​teammates'​ ​needs​ ​are​ ​being​ ​taken​ ​care​ ​of.​ ​As​ ​the leader,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​Daichi's​ ​job​ ​to​ ​maintain​ ​the​ ​team's​ ​harmony​ ​and​ ​motivation,​ ​something​ ​which​ ​he​ ​does​ ​not​ ​struggle​ ​to do.​ ​That​ ​doesn’t​ ​mean​ ​he​ ​is​ ​a​ ​pushover,​ ​as​ ​the​ ​captain's​ ​fuse​ ​is​ ​on​ ​the​ ​short​ ​side​ ​and​ ​you​ ​do​ ​not​ ​want​ ​to​ ​see​ ​him get​ ​angry.​ ​Loved​ ​and​ ​feared​ ​by​ ​his​ ​teammates,​ ​Daichi​ ​is​ ​number​ ​one​ ​in​ ​our​ ​book.

​How​ ​does​ ​someone​ ​start​ ​to​ ​explain​ ​One​ ​Piece?​ ​By​ ​this​ ​point,​ ​the​ ​story​ ​is​ ​so​ ​vast​ ​that​ ​is​ ​would​ ​take​ ​a​ ​dissertation to​ ​explain​ ​how​ ​this​ ​universe​ ​functions.​ ​Still,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​only​ ​a​ ​single​ ​character​ ​who​ ​can​ ​be​ ​credited​ ​with​ ​lighting​ ​the fire​ ​that​ ​fuels​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​adventure.​ ​In​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​screen-time,​ ​Gol​ ​D.​ ​Roger​ ​is​ ​practically​ ​a​ ​non-entity.​ ​Yet,​ ​no​ ​other person​ ​played​ ​as​ ​important​ ​of​ ​a​ ​role​ ​in​ ​establishing​ ​One​ ​Piece's​ ​world.​ ​Gol​ ​D.​ ​Roger​ ​is​ ​who​ ​every​ ​pirate​ ​aspires​ ​to be.

Gol​ ​D.​ ​Roger​ ​is​ ​the​ ​reason​ ​the​ ​anime​ ​is​ ​called​ ​One​ ​Piece.​ ​After​ ​a​ ​long​ ​and​ ​influential​ ​life​ ​as​ ​the​ ​king​ ​of​ ​the pirates,​ ​Roger​ ​hid​ ​away​ ​his​ ​fortune​ ​just​ ​before​ ​getting​ ​napped​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Government.​ ​Seconds​ ​before​ ​his​ ​death,​ ​the king​ ​announced​ ​the​ ​existence​ ​of​ ​the​ ​One​ ​Piece​ ​and​ ​that​ ​whoever​ ​discovers​ ​its​ ​location​ ​will​ ​be​ ​crowned​ ​as​ ​the​ ​new pirate​ ​ruler.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​start​ ​of​ ​the​ ​story,​ ​Roger​ ​has​ ​been​ ​long​ ​dead,​ ​yet​ ​he​ ​is​ ​the​ ​first​ ​person​ ​introduced​ ​to​ ​readers.

Luffy​ ​is​ ​One​ ​Piece's​ ​hero,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​anime​ ​would​ ​not​ ​exist​ ​without​ ​Gol​ ​D.​ ​Roger.

​Kimi ni Todoke ​is​ ​a​ ​love​ ​story​ ​for​ ​the​ ​ages,​ ​and​ ​Sawako​ ​Kuronuma​ ​is​ ​a​ ​big​ ​reason​ ​why​ ​this​ ​anime​ ​works​ ​so​ ​well.

On​ ​the​ ​surface,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​nothing​ ​particularly​ ​unique​ ​about​ ​the​ ​premise.​ ​Sawako​ ​is​ ​a​ ​misunderstood​ ​teenager​ ​who has​ ​absolutely​ ​no​ ​friends.​ ​Like​ ​pretty​ ​much​ ​every​ ​other​ ​girl,​ ​she​ ​has​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​crush​ ​on​ ​the​ ​popular​ ​Kazehaya Shouta,​ ​although​ ​she​ ​would​ ​never​ ​dream​ ​of​ ​approaching​ ​him.​ ​Eventually,​ ​the​ ​two​ ​start​ ​talking​ ​and​ ​one​ ​thing​ ​leads to​ ​another.

Sawako’s​ ​backstory​ ​is​ ​really​ ​unique.​ ​Despite​ ​being​ ​a​ ​genuinely​ ​sweet​ ​schoolgirl,​ ​Sawako​ ​is​ ​defined​ ​by​ ​her physical​ ​appearance,​ ​as​ ​she​ ​happens​ ​to​ ​look​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​the​ ​ghost​ ​from​ ​The​ ​Ring.​ ​Jumping​ ​to​ ​conclusions,​ ​her classmates​ ​assume​ ​that​ ​she​ ​has​ ​malicious​ ​intent​ ​and​ ​start​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​her.​ ​Kimi ni Todoke ​never​ ​makes​ ​fun​ ​of Sawako’s​ ​plight,​ ​as​ ​her​ ​loneliness​ ​is​ ​depicted​ ​in​ ​crystal-clear​ ​fashion.​ ​As​ ​her​ ​friendship​ ​with​ ​Kazehaya​ ​blossoms,Sawako​ ​learns​ ​to​ ​open​ ​herself​ ​up​ ​to​ ​those​ ​around​ ​her.​ ​​ ​Over​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​two​ ​seasons,​ ​she​ ​goes​ ​through​ ​a​ ​fair amount​ ​of​ ​character​ ​development.

Very​ ​few​ ​heroes​ ​are​ ​capable​ ​of​ ​landing​ ​a​ ​punch​ ​like​ ​Klaus​ ​von​ ​Reinherz.​ ​As​ ​the​ ​leader​ ​of​ ​Libra,​ ​this​ ​warrior​ ​is​ ​the master​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Brain​ ​Grid​ ​blood​ ​battle​ ​style.​ ​Physically,​ ​Klaus​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​be​ ​caught​ ​somewhere​ ​in​ ​between​ ​human and​ ​animal,​ ​although​ ​he​ ​is​ ​easily​ ​the​ ​most​ ​polite​ ​and​ ​honest​ ​gentleman​ ​working​ ​at​ ​Libra.​ ​Admittedly,​ ​that​ ​is​ ​not saying​ ​much,​ ​but​ ​he​ ​does​ ​go​ ​out​ ​of​ ​his​ ​way​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​those​ ​who​ ​cannot​ ​protect​ ​themselves.

Klaus​ ​ranks​ ​among​ ​the​ ​strongest​ ​humans​ ​in​ ​Hellsalem's​ ​Lot,​ ​as​ ​he​ ​is​ ​capable​ ​of​ ​wiping​ ​out​ ​vampires​ ​with​ ​his massive​ ​cross-shaped​ ​weapons.​ ​Acting​ ​as​ ​a​ ​role​ ​model​ ​for​ ​the​ ​protagonist,​ ​Klaus​ ​plays​ ​a​ ​secondary​ ​role​ ​for​ ​the majority​ ​of​ ​the​ ​episodes,​ ​while​ ​still​ ​taking​ ​on​ ​the​ ​most​ ​dangerous​ ​enemies​ ​himself.​ ​He​ ​is​ ​not​ ​quite​ ​as​ ​loud​ ​or funny​ ​as​ ​Zapp​ ​or​ ​Leonardo,​ ​but​ ​no​ ​other​ ​character​ ​comes​ ​close​ ​to​ ​matching​ ​Klaus'​ ​epic​ ​fights​ ​or​ ​charm.