There are quite a few anime that lack any semblance of good writing in favor of flashy visuals, tons of fan service, and gratuitous violence.
But there are definitely a few gems of genuine literary value.
It largely depends on whether the characters themselves are well written. It's their trials and tribulations that make up the anime's story, and with enough care, one incredible character can improve the entire show.
Some of them shine through their character development, while others simply play an important role in telling the show's story.
If that's what you're after, then here are some of the most well-written anime characters you love to learn about.
20. Joe Yabuki
Anime: Ashita no Joe
Joe is the greatest underdog.
He was an orphan who grew up riding in an orphanage until he decided to run away and become a wrestler. Since then, his life has depended on his fists.
Joe has a rather irreverent personality and gets angry quickly.
But if you take into account his upbringing, it will be fair. Throughout his life he had to fight if he wanted to survive.
By the end of the anime, Joe's every move carries the weight of all his past experiences. It makes everything much more meaningful and several times more exciting.
19. Kiritsugu Emiya
Anime: Fate/Zero
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
And few anime characters can tell you why better than Kiritsugu Emiya.
As a child, Kiritsugu witnessed how his father's experiments destroyed the island community and turned a caring girl into a monster.
Since then, he vowed to himself that he would never let that happen again.
While his pursuit of the Grail was to ask for an altruistic desire to protect people, his involvement in its creation and subsequent destruction made him responsible for countless deaths during the fire in Fuyuki City.
In the end, he became like the mages he sought to destroy.
He will eventually find redemption in Shiro, the child he rescued from the fire.
The fact that he was a loving father and a relatively normal life gave his soul some respite.
18. Shiki Ryogi
