The best black anime characters

The world of anime is huge, but most fans can agree that it lacks racial diversity. Characters from different racial backgrounds are uncommon in anime, but several franchises are becoming more inclusive. There were some black anime characters which have appeared in some old-school shows, but some are controversial due to their portrayal and appearance.

Fortunately for fans, today's shows are on the way to include more black characters and represent them respectfully. Many have appeared as key supporting characters, but some shows have them as main characters. Either way, these characters are memorable and some of the best characters in the anime world.

Updated on September 14, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Galleries have been added for each black anime character listed below.

Fire Emblem, AKA Nathan Seymour (Tiger & Bunny)

A flamboyant non-binary hero who loves himself despite his sad past

The tiger and the bunny

Release date

2011–2022

directors

Keiichi Sato, Kunihiro Mori

Writers

Masafumi Nishida

One of the few non-binary characters in the anime world, Fire sign is an effeminate hero bullied by his classmates and rejected by his parents for showing an interest in makeup, jewelry, and dresses. Even though Fire Emblem is haunted by this, he is still a confident person and accepts himself for who he is. Fire Emblem is close to his friends and likes to hang out with the heroines. They flirt with the male protagonists and don't seem to mind. If anything, they're poking fun at Fire Emblem and not shying away from it, even if they're a bit clever.

Flashy and proud, Fire Emblem sums up its own character in one quote: “They say a man is made of courage and a woman is made of love. So what does that mean for people who are both? We are invincible!” They are probably the most mature of their group, giving and offering advice to their companions and breaking up arguments. It could even be argued that they are what hold the team together. Their friends do not mention their gender presentation or sexual orientation; they just accept Fire Emblem for what it is.

Kuzan, AKA Aokiji (one piece)

A highly respected sailor turned pirate

Kuzan he is an easy-going man who was an admiral in the marines. He was such a cool guy that some of the Marines couldn't believe it when they heard his rank. Very few things have been able to shake his lax attitude, but Kuzan is quick to get serious when he needs to. Many people underestimate him because of this attitude, but Kuzan has proven that he can be one of the most brutal fighters.

Even now that he is part of the Blackbeard Pirates, Kuzan still cares for his allies as seen when he saved Smoker from Doflamingo. He has some respect for the Straw Hat Pirates, despite being their adversary, and has helped them on several occasions.

Afro Samurai (Afro Samurai)

A strong samurai that few can cross

Afro Samurai

Release date

2007–2007

Network

Spike

Showrunner

Takashi Okazaki, Fuminori Kizaki

One of the most famous black anime characters, Afro Samurai is a highly skilled swordsman who can deflect crossbow and bullet shots and even fight in the air. He is ruthless in battle and people considered him a monster because of it. He disposed of thugs and warriors with relative ease. He is seen wearing the number two headband, marking him as the second strongest swordsman in the world.

Although he is quite cold and reserved, Afro Samurai has shown that he cares for a few people such as Jinno and Otsuru. Even though Otsuru was sent to kill, it was revealed that he had an emotional attachment to her and kept her hairpin after her death.

Muhammed Avdol (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

A man who wants to look good and responsible

A very important ally Stardust Crusaders because he is the one who helped find a way to defeat Zeus. He is very concerned with his “image” and this could easily sound self-centered, but it is not, because he wants others to know that he is responsible and mature. His sense of duty and loyalty is very strong, and he was dedicated to helping the Joestar family put an end to Die. He is one of the wisest characters in the series, making him a valuable ally.

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Avdol he was confident in his abilities and wasn't afraid to brag about them and the strengths of his Stand. He was a mentor and great friend to Jotaro Kujo, helping him understand how the Stands worked and teaching him and the rest of the group many things.

Michiko Malandro (Michiko & Hatchin)

She is loud and immature but cares deeply for those she loves

Michiko she may not seem equipped to take care of a child, but she has a heart of gold. After escaping from prison, Michiko bursts into the life of Hana “Hatchin” Morenos and helps her escape from her abusive family. The two set out to find Hatchin's father, whom Michiko has a crush on.

Although a bit childish, Michiko is a strong, independent and caring woman. She and Hatchin tend to argue due to their opposite natures, but gradually come to love each other like mother and daughter. Although she has been arrested many times, Michiko is not a terrible person and Atsuko Jackson (Michiko's ex-girlfriend and the one who arrested her) knows it.

Olive Biscuit (Baki Hanma)

Mr. Unchained lives up to his reputation

Baki

Release date

2018 – 2020-00-00

directors

Toshiki Hirano

Writers

Tatsuhiko Urahata

Baki is about enthusiastic men who engage in exaggerated battles involving various martial arts from around the world. While it's pretty silly at times and not really designed to be taken seriously, the anime is a lot of fun and should definitely be checked out by anyone even remotely interested in shonen battle. Now you will have to go through many episodes to meet Olive cookiea hulking Cuban fighter who is introduced at the end of the original 2001 series and doesn't become a major player until the 2018 Netflix sequel. Held as a prisoner in Arizona, Oliva works for the US government as their hitman and is absolutely terrifying in every single way.

Firmly established as America's strongest fighter, Oliva is simply effortlessly intimidating and enters every fight with the confidence of a man who knows that none other than Yuujirou Hanma can defeat him. While he's technically a prisoner, he's basically running the facility and living in luxury, to the point where he has absolutely no reason to leave (and probably could if he wanted to). I will say that Olive's cool factor has diminished somewhat during this Baki Hanmafirst season; however, he's still a great character overall.

Musa Kamara (Running with the Wind)

A great member of a great team

While it technically features two protagonists in Kakeru and Haiji, Run with the wind is closer to the ensemble, especially since the story emphasizes the importance of teamwork and connecting with others. Kakeru's entire character development revolves around him gradually learning to trust his university dorm mates, almost all of whom are relative novices when it comes to marathon running. The first half of the anime revolves around the characters training and mainly developing stronger friendships, while the second half is dedicated to the actual races. One of the best sports anime, Run with the wind is an easy recommendation for genre beginners and veterans alike.

Transfer student from Tanzania, Musa Kamara is one of the most well-rounded black anime characters. Although his origins are occasionally mentioned, he is never defined by his race or subject to stereotypical characterization. He's just a three-dimensional figure that does a lot more than just take part in races, and he's very likable.

Killer B (Naruto)

The Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails is powerful and dreams of being a rapper

He was chosen to protect his village, but he aspires to be the greatest rapper of all time. fan favorite Killer B he is a very strong shinobi and the only jinchuruki of the Eight-Tails that he managed to make friends with. He was able to gain complete control over it and the two worked together seamlessly. Killer B is confident in his abilities and power to the point of being cocky, but he can back up his talk.

Killer B can wield seven swords at once through a combination of kenjutsu and his unique fighting style. This style is somewhat chaotic, almost appearing as if they are breakdancing in their control, and its movements are unpredictable. Even Sasuke's Sharingan couldn't help him during their fight and he almost died when Killer B impaled him.

Usopp (one piece)

Straw Hat Pirates Sniper

Usopp he had a bit of a rough start when he first appeared, but became a core member of the Straw Hat Pirates, who stuck around for decades (manga and anime wise). He started off as a liar and was afraid of combat, but has since become a great sniper and is willing to help his friends even when he is afraid. He may not be as strong as Luffy, Sanji and Zoro, but Usopp is not helpless in a fight.

Even after temporarily leaving the crew, Usopp's bond with them remained strong and he eventually rejoined the Straw Hats. He works well with each of them and has grown a lot since joining the team, but he's still a fun guy that the fans love.

Coffee (Cowboy Bebop)

She made her one-off appearance count

She only appeared in one episode Cowboy Bebopbut Coffee left a lasting impression. A bounty hunter who happened to be looking for the same guy that Edward and Ein are looking for. Needless to say, Coffee found herself in some strange situations revolving around the duo, but she was still focused on finding the man. It's almost funny how serious she was while Edward and Ein were just being their eccentric selves in the middle of a gunfight and car chase.

Her one-off appearance was more than enough for fans to love her. It's hard to have a smooth grenade launcher and look awesome, but Coffee does it effortlessly. If there is one character that could have his own spinoff series, Coffee would be an interesting character to watch.