It’s in those moments of frustration that I turn to the coolest of the cool – the Chads of the anime world. The characters that give a middle finger to the world and subsequently steal your girl. Here’re my top picks for the Chaddest of the Chads.
20. Shinji Tokita and Ryuujirou Kotobuki
Anime: Grand Blue I wanted to start things off with these two dudes as they’re the most realistic Chads anime has to offer. They aren’t demon lords or gods, but rather just two bros having a good time. They party hard but also take the time to guide their freshmen. And even though those two points sometimes overlap and said freshmen end up at college in their underwear, I still think they’re pretty cool dudes. They never seem too bothered about anything and just genuinely enjoy life. And as far as confidence is concerned, they have that stat maxed out. Especially if we’re talking about body positivity.
19. Sora
Anime: No Game, No Life Although I’m just mentioning Sora here, Shiro deserves just as much credit. These two are so alpha that they battled a god and then thought “might as well rule his world since we’re here”. It’s especially impressive and Chad-like since they don’t even have any special advantage! Their brains are the source of all their power, and they still know that they’ll come out victorious. Also, Sora’s speech about being human is one of the most inspirational things that I’ve ever heard in my life. That alone guaranteed a placing on this list!
18. Krusty
Anime: Log Horizon Although Krusty has the most unfortunate name (especially if his last name is Socks), there’s no denying his Chad status. The dude doesn’t care about stealing your girl. He immediately went a step above and decided to steal your princess instead. And I’ve got to say, the dude has some moves. Add to that the fact that he’s also a fearless warrior that charges head-first into battle. And on top of that, add his position as one of the decision-makers that strive for the prosperity of the people. Needless to say, he’s excelling in every field. And I’ll be darned if that doesn’t make him an absolute Chad.
17. Osamu Dazai
Anime: Bungo Stray Dogs The thing with Dazai is that he simply doesn’t care. You can strap him in a chair and torture him for five hours – and his biggest issue would be boredom. Even when facing the deadliest combatants his world has to offer, Dazai isn’t fazed and usually just jokes around. And when he does get serious, you already know that goosebumps are afoot. The way he effortlessly gets rid of his opponents always makes for some pretty hype moments. And whenever you get a peek into his backstory, you start to understand fanfic writers just a little bit more.
16. Yami Sukehiro
Anime: Black Clover Yami just looks like a Chad. Not only is he the buffest dude around, but he’s also rocking the coolest uniform and a katana. How do you even compete with that level of drip? But then you look at his character, and it gets even better. Yami is so nonchalant that whenever he’s losing a battle, he acknowledges the fact that “it’s time to go beyond my limits” and then does so. My dude literally knows that he’s a shounen protagonist and uses it to his advantage! And it’s not just empty rhetoric either as he has powered up mid-fight multiple times. No wonder even the Thorn Queen herself would like to give him a prick.
15. Bulat
Anime: Akame ga Kill! Bulat represents the type of bro culture we should all strive for. He simply loves all his friends and does his best to lift them up if they ever stumble. He’s just so lovable and confident that the main character seems to care for him a lot more than the countless waifus that are also in the room. And honestly, I can’t blame him. Bulat is like a beam of light. And in a world like Akame ga Kill, that’s quite valuable. Plus, he’s a badass on the field whose strength is almost unmatched. I swear characters with his hairstyle are somehow always Chads.
14. Alex Louis Armstrong
Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist If body positivity and testosterone ever needed a poster child, it’d be this man. From his glorious mustache to his raging muscles, he just exudes confidence. And while most of the characters in this show use alchemy in order to fight, Alex primarily sticks to simply punching people. Immediately followed up by an invitation to the gun show as he flexes in all of his glory. But it’s not all about muscle. Alex also has a very kind heart and continuously lifts the spirits of all his comrades. He simply has so much confidence that it rubs off on all those who are near him.
13. Joutarou Kuujou
Anime: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders The “you’re approaching me” meme (besides being hilarious) is one of the biggest Chad moments known to man. Joutarou doesn’t care who you are or what powers you have up your sleeve, he’ll punch you into submission and look cool while doing it. He only knows three emotions: brooding, anger, and “yare yare”. And I personally stan a consistent king who somehow manages to be cool in every scene he’s ever been in. He’s mister steal your girl (especially later on in the series), and one of the biggest Chads anime will ever see.
12. Levi Ackerman
Anime: Attack on Titan Levi is one of those characters that can easily carry an entire show on their back. This is because he’s so cool that nothing else on screen truly matters (which is saying something considering how good of a show Attack on Titan is). Just like a Super Saiyan, he’s moved way past just a normal badass and entered the realm of godhood. Even though he’s a regular dude, he’s one of the most powerful characters in the show. And his calm demeanor lets you know straight away that he means business. Be it slaying Titans or cleaning the house, Levi only accepts perfection. I don’t even want to know how many puberties this character has initiated, but I have to give him credit for being an absolute Chad.
11. Kusuo Saiki
Anime: The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Saiki is the textbook definition of a Chad. The hottest girl in his class (who’s so beautiful that people literally think she’s a goddess) only has eyes for him. And he can’t be bothered with any of that noise. My dude just wants to sit at home and watch television. He knows his worth and doesn’t need the approval of anyone on this planet. And it’s not like he’s mean (as he does save his friends multiple times). He’s just disillusioned about everything. So, he minds his own business, never getting in anyone’s way and enjoying his own company. A pretty Chad mentality if I do say so myself. At least he has his coffee pudding.
10. Ken Ryuguji
Anime: Tokyo Revengers I was originally going to put Mikey on this list, but since Draken is a lot more mature, I decided to talk about him instead. He’s the big brother of the group. He boasts some serious firepower in a fight but also helps the group (especially Mikey) remain grounded. He’s a genuinely nice guy that just happens to be completely dripped out. In fact, I’d even say he has the best visual design in the entire show. All of this culminates in a very noticeable aura surrounding him. His confidence, power, and strength make him the undisputed Chad of the playground.
9. Kamina
Anime: Gurren Lagann In an anime where people are operating mechs the size of a universe, Kamina’s voice is somehow the most powerful asset the protagonists have. This is because Kamina can give just about anyone a confidence boost. No matter who or what you are, five minutes with Kamina are bound to turn you into an Alpha. His vocal cords are literally made out of Chadimantium. That’s the only way that I can explain how Kamina has this much presence on screen. And it’s not just plot armor, as even the viewer is bound to feel better after seeing this dude on screen. His raw Chadness transcends the very medium he was born in.
8. Satoru Gojou
Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen Gojou is like the new hot exchange student within the anime community. And for good reason. My dude just doesn’t care. You can face him with the most powerful curse in existence and he’ll calmly state “I bet I’m stronger”. And he’ll then go on to put his money where his mouth is! Probably my favorite Gojou moment was when he left a fight just so that he can grab Itadori. Not so that Itadori could help him, but rather so that he can watch him. Imagine bringing an audience to a fight and lecturing someone as you mop the floor with your opponent. Such levels of Chad energy are hard to come by.
7. Dio Brando
Anime: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure For this one, I also want to describe a favorite scene of mine. Polnareff is closing in on Dio. He just needs to climb some stairs and face his ultimate enemy. Dio, armed with the power to stop time, freezes him in place as he’s walking up the stairs. But instead of just killing him, he walks over to Polnareff and places him slightly lower on the staircase. He then proceeds to troll him like this a few more times. Could you imagine being so confident that you pull a stunt like this? Is it really a surprise that he’s one of the most recognizable and beloved anime villains of all time? You just can’t ignore the GOAT and even calling him a Chad doesn’t do him enough justice.
6. Tengen Uzui
Anime: Demon Slayer Tengen is the type of dude who can boot up Elden Ring and immediately have maidens. Like three of them at the very least. He’d then one vs one the Tree Sentinel with his bare fists and proclaim himself the flashiest man that has ever lived. And honestly, can you really disagree with him? My dude is brimming with confidence. And when he decides to wear “normal clothes”, he’s like a model that just happened to get lost. And in a fight, he’s a real force to be reckoned with. He has literally attempted to “steal your girl”, he leaves an impression wherever he goes, and he protects his waifus with his life. Truly a fine specimen!
5. Rokurouta Sakuragi
Anime: Rainbow Chad characters tend to leave a strong impression on those they come across. This dude was one step away from forming a religion with him as the figurehead. Even in prison (where people aren’t usually known for their friendly attitude), Sakuragi managed to become a saint in the eyes of his cellmates. And it wasn’t through overwhelming power or a 500 IQ, but rather through his character. The dude is nice, believes in justice, and gives everyone a fair shake. He’s such a good person that the villains had nightmares about him even after he wasn’t a threat anymore. He’s living proof that you don’t need to scare someone straight. Just use your immaculate Chad status in order to change their entire worldview.
4. Sakamoto
Anime: Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto This entire show is a testament to how amazing Sakamoto is. His Chad levels are so high that they transcend age, gender, class, and logic. Do you want to bully Sakamoto? Well, now you want to cuddle with him! Bringing him to your house? Your mom just opened a Tinder account and is rapidly approaching. Nothing can stop this man. He’ll find a way to make anything he does look like a cinematic masterpiece, and everyone in a one-hundred-mile area is going to become a tier 3 sub.
3. Sinbad
Anime: Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic Sinbad is one of the very few characters that are fully aware of their own Chad nature. He’ll use his good looks and smooth words to literally conquer kingdoms. If that doesn’t work, he’ll use his immense power to scare everyone into submission. There’s not a single person in the Magi universe that’s neutral about this man. You either love or fear him and he’s rather aware of that. He walks with the swagger of a thousand Suns and never doubts his own abilities. He’s the Singularity and he plans to live up to the hype. Legitimately one of my favorite characters of all time as whenever he’s on-screen, you can feel his excellence oozing out from the screen. I also love the fact that the prequel showcased how he was always like this. I guess some anime characters are just born with Chad-ness in their blood.
2. Anos Voldigoad
Anime: The Misfit of Demon King Academy Anos arguably has the most impressive flex track record of any anime character. He’ll defeat his opponents in such absurd ways that any form of resistance is immediately crushed. From blowing away an attack by blinking to repeatedly killing a foe by allowing his heartbeat to be heard, Anos is showcasing how in control he truly is. He’s such a Chad that his battle squad consists of powerful mages that just sing songs about his greatness while he takes on the threat by himself. That honestly goes beyond flexing. He’s just making fun of the entire world at this point.
1. Escanor
Anime: The Seven Deadly Sins Escanor will always have a special place in my heart. This is because he has the coolest one-liners of any anime character in existence. “I don’t hate you; I just pity you”, “Who decided that?”, telling the Commandment of Truth that he’s the strongest… Escanor is out here being the cockiest dude imaginable, and it honestly feels earned. There’s not a force in this world that can make Escanor doubt his own abilities. His pride shines with the power of the Sun (quite literally), melting those who oppose it. If you haven’t seen the show, he might sound like just another cocky overpowered MC. But trust me, it’s a lot better than that. Escanor is THE Chad of anime, and you’ll just have to see it in order to believe it.
