Throughout anime and manga, particularly ones with a fantasy setting, many parallels can be found with Dungeons and Dragons. While they might not always overlap, it is clear that inspiration has been taken from each other in the creation of the stories they tell.
Dungeons Masters can draw upon the stories in anime to build their next adventure, and there is plenty for players of D&D to take from the medium as well. Many of the most popular and interesting characters would make for the perfect inspiration for their next character build.
10 Naruto Would Be A High-Level Monk
While some might associate the skills of a classical ninja with that of a rogue, the abilities demonstrated by the shinobi and kunoichi in Naruto are very much like that of a monk in D&D. Even the chakra they use has many parallels with ki in Dungeons and Dragons.
It goes without saying that a powerful shinobi such as Naruto Uzumaki would make the perfect monk in any D&D game and would no doubt be an excellent inspiration for anyone brainstorming their martial-arts character.
9 Madoka Kaname Made A Warlock Pact
Madoka Magica is about as much of a deconstruction of the magical girl genre as you can get, and very quickly, all expectations are broken. Things go downhill after the titular character Madoka encounters a strange being known as Kyubey.
Kyubey makes Madoka an offer: make a contract in order to gain magical powers. This is exactly the same path a Warlock in D&D follows, and much like many such characters, Madoka has no idea what she is getting herself into.
8 Guts Is The Epitome Of A Fighter
There are countless powerful and memorable warriors in anime, but none fit the role of an archetypal Fighter more than Guts from Berserk. He has the look and the skills to inspire any number of D&D adventurers.
It is pretty clear that Guts rolled some amazing stats as well. Not only is he incredibly strong, dextrous, and tough, but his keen intellect has helped him overcome many of his foes. Due to his sheer martial excellence, it is pretty obvious that Guts picked the Champion subclass as well.
7 Inosuke Is A Demon Slaying Barbarian
Many characters in anime and manga use anger to fuel their strength, but that is not enough for one to claim the title of barbarian. Barbarians are warriors of the wild, who fight with a ferocity unmatched by any others, and if there is one character who fits that bill perfectly, it's Inosuke from Demon Slayer.
Not only was he raised in the wild by a pack of boars, but Inosuke truly knows how to rage. His sheer determination to be the best drives him to perform amazing feats of strength and toughness, making the fan's favorite boar-headed Demon Slayer the perfect Barbarian.
6 Ashitaka, The Ranger Beastmaster
The main protagonist of Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke, Ashitaka of the Emishi makes for the perfect Ranger. Not only does he wield his bow with skill, but he also rides a giant serow, meaning he has clearly chosen the path of the Beastmaster.
His companion and titular character of the film, Princess Mononoke, could also make an excellent Ranger, though in her case, with her origin of being raised by wolves, she probably has taken some Druid levels as well.
5 Akame Is An Assassin Rogue
There are plenty of rogues and assassins in anime, but not all of them would be fitting for your typical D&D game. However, the skilled assassin Akame from Akame Ga Kill would be the perfect Rogue.
Not only is she supremely stealthy, but her elite sword skills allow her to take down some of the most powerful enemies she encounters in one blow. If that isn't the definition of a Rogue's Sneak Attack skill, nothing is.
4 The Fullmetal Alchemist Makes A Fine Wizard
Anime as a genre is inundated with magic users of all kinds, and any number of them would make excellent inspiration for a D&D Wizard. One of the best, however, is Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist.
Alchemy in the show functions very similarly to magic in Dungeons and Dragons, and there are even parallels between spell components and Transmutation Circles, but, of course, Edward is lucky enough to have turned his own arm into his Spell Focus, giving him an edge over his opponents.
3 Clare Has Taken A Paladin Oath
Few characters have what it takes to fight evil with the same passion as a Paladin in D&D, but Clare from the anime Claymore certainly does. She even has some supernatural powers to help her on that quest.
Though her skills may not be magical like most Paladin's, the Claymore's dedication to the goal of wiping out the Yoma is very much similar to the Oaths they would take. Her outwardly cold demeanor yet passionate inner-being is very much in line with the class as well.
2 Mimosa Vermillion Is An Unorthodox Druid
There are several magic users in manga and anime that utilize the power of nature, much like the Druid class in D&D. The somewhat unlikely Mimosa Vermillion from Black Cover is one such character.
Not only is her plant-based magic fueled by the mana of the land itself, but her healing and creation magics are also very typical of the types Druids wield in Dungeons and Dragons. In addition, having learned magic from Dryad, it's clear that this young noblewoman's magic is intrinsically tied in with the natural world.
1 Priestess Is Literally A Cleric
The story of Goblin Slayer is very much a D&D adventure in anime form. The characters form parties and go on quests exactly like those from the tabletop game, so it's no surprise the characters match those tropes as well.
Priestess' Miracles work exactly like Cleric's magic, and even the equipment she uses is taken straight out of the Player's Handbook. There is no better match for the Cleric class than her.