The world of anime and the ever-popular MCU have a surprising amount of overlap for many fans of pop culture. Both realms are often colorful and exciting, as advanced technology, superheroes, and magic powers are part of everyday life. The MCU is like a blend of My Hero Academia, One-Punch Man, and much more.
While a number of Japanese animation studios have created short series based on the Marvel universe, featuring characters such as Iron Man and Wolverine, it's not unthinkable for a variety of anime-only characters to find themselves within the MCU, and thrive in this partial isekai scenario. Such characters are used to robots, aliens, superheroes, and more, and they might even beat the Avengers at their own game.
10 Genos Is Powerful & Loves Technology (One-Punch Man)
The demon cyborg himself, Genos, is tailor-made for an adventure, or even an entire career, within the MCU. He is like the Iron Man of the One-Punch Man world, a steely superhero who can upgrade his mechanical body while also firing powerful energy blasts from his palms.
Genos is a hero at heart, and he has experience fighting powerful aliens and monsters in the city streets. If he had been there for the battle for NYC against Loki's hordes, he would have been a star.
9 Shikamaru Nara Could Lead An Avengers Squad In Battle (Naruto)
Shikamaru Nara is famed for his advanced leadership talents and his sharp battle strategies, and Lady Tsunade trusted him to form and lead a team to retrieve the rogue Sasuke Uchiha. As he grew older, Shikamaru's talents grew ever more refined. He also has nerves of steel, despite his lazy attitude.
In the MCU, Shikamaru would have no trouble leading a squad of superheroes, making the most of their talents and expertise. He's like Captain America without the shield, and his shadow possession jutsu could even work on the likes of Ronan the Accuser or Thanos.
8 Captain Akitaru Obi Is Even More Like Captain America (Fire Force)
Captain Akitaru Obi of Company 8 is almost exactly like the Captain America of Fire Force, including his emphasis on physical strength and conditioning rather than supernatural powers; in this case, fiery ignition abilities. Having no powers doesn't necessarily mean he's powerless.
Akitaru Obi is in peak physical shape, and he uses heavy shields, hatchets, fire suppression grenades, and other equipment to fight Infernals and even cult members on equal terms while serving as a tactical leader. He could contribute these talents to an Avengers team, too, such as in the battles for New York and Sokovia.
7 Kuvira Can Bend Metal & Earth To Fight Alien Threats (The Legend Of Korra)
In the story of The Legend of Korra, Kuvira was a ruthless empire builder, but in the MCU, she has no opportunity to flaunt her villainous side. Instead, she would help the Avengers protect the Earth from alien threats or the robotic menace of Ultron and his minions.
Fortunately for Kuvira, the modern world is packed with metal, from cars and planes to firearms and, of course, Ultron's minions. She can bend all of this with ease, and conventional earthbending should be fairly effective, too. She might even be able to bend pavement and asphalt.
6 Edward Elric Can Reshape Matter & Use Martial Arts (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Edward Elric is a brilliant alchemist with a mind of science, meaning he can understand, break down and rearrange absolutely anything around him, and he can think on his feet, too. The MCU's technology is more advanced than that of Amestris, but Ed is a quick learner.
Edward isn't tough like Drax the Destroyer or suited in armor like Black Panther or Iron Man, but he's an agile martial artist, like Black Widow, and his alchemy can be formidable against the likes of Ultron's army or Thanos' alien minions. A giant stone fist hurts, even for MCU villains.
5 Senku Ishigami Can Support Tony Stark & Bruce Banner In The Lab (Dr. Stone)
Senku Ishigami is reinventing human civilization in a new stone world, and he has reinvented some remarkable things with stone age resources. Still, he is most comfortable in the modern era, and if he never got petrified, then he could join S.H.I.E.L.D.'s R&D division.
Science and technology are potent tools in the fight against aliens and supervillains, and Tony and Bruce wouldn't mind the aid of the brilliant and crafty Senku Ishigami. He might even invent his own Iron Man suit to back up Tony in a fight if he's feeling brave enough.
4 Trunks Is A Tough Fighter Who Is Used To Aliens & Technology (Dragon Ball Universe)
Trunks, the son of Vegeta and Bulma, would have no trouble at all navigating the MCU. Like his Saiyan father, Trunks is vastly powerful, and he could keep pace with nearly any MCU villain in a fight, from Loki to Killmonger and perhaps even Thanos. And that's just the start.
Being half-human and used to Earth, Trunks has the benefit of understanding modern technology as well as alien tech, and he is a smart guy overall. The MCU would feel oddly familiar, being a place of powerhouse aliens and cool technology such as spaceships and Iron Man suits.
3 Vash The Stampede Is An Expert Gunman In Space (Trigun)
Vash the Stampede ranks among the greatest anime gunslingers, and it is eventually revealed that his abilities and body are, in fact, superhuman. He is a Plant, not an ordinary man, and it is fortunate that he uses his powers for good, unlike Knives.
Vash wanders the sci-fi desert planet of Gunsmoke, and he is used to facing robots, gunmen, and other threats. His marksmanship is legendary, and he fears no enemy. In the MCU, he could easily lead a S.H.I.E.L.D. fire team and score easy victories against HYDRA and other threats.
2 Motoko Kusanagi Is A Mighty Cyborg Agent (Ghost In The Shell)
The cyborg agent Motoko Kusanagi is similar to Genos and Vash the Stampede since she is a fast and agile machine while having the soul of a true hero. She is also a firearms expert, and she is quite comfortable with advanced technology of all kinds. Tony and Bruce would be impressed.
On top of all that, Motoko is insightful, well-trained, and has extensive combat experience, and she could support the Avengers with an elite fireteam backing her up. She could easily rival Black Widow and Hawkeye, and even Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes.
1 Franky Is A Cyborg Powerhouse With Engineering Skills (One Piece)
Many anime cyborgs are well-suited to a new life in the MCU, and Franky, a Straw Hat pirate, is in the same boat as Motoko and Genos. He doesn't typically use firearms, and instead, he is a skilled boxer who can improvise and use nunchucks in battle. He is a melee powerhouse, aided with the power of technology.
Franky and Genos would stick close to Iron Man to borrow some ideas for bodily modifications and put them to good use before Thanos and his minions arrive to wreak havoc. It also helps that Franky is a skilled mechanic and engineer, which are talents that the Avengers could put to good use.