When it comes to strong anime characters, people often name characters like Saitama or other popular shounen shows. It is to be expected, but many other deserving characters like Clare, the protagonist of the fantastic supernatural-action-drama series called Claymore.
This anime has everything one could ask for, and more. Demons who survive on human flesh are killed on contract by a group of half human-half demon women known as Claymores. They are as deadly as they are intelligent, but one of them finds herself at cross roads one day. Clare decides to travel on her own path, and she fights many demons (and Claymores) on her way.
10 Berserk
Much like Clare, Guts is a mercenary who’s only known violence and bloodshed ever since he can remember. Every single day of his life is spent either in battle, or in making sure he survives to live the next day.
One day he finds himself face to face with a gang of mercenaries who call themselves the Band of the Hawk. Their very charismatic leader, Griffith, sees potential in Guts and recruits him. But it doesn’t take him long to understand things were not as black and white as he had assumed them to be.
9 Blood+
As one of the very rare vampire anime out there, Blood+ surely stands out. It follows the life of Saya Otonashi, who is unable to remember her past beyond the last year. Her memories come flooding back to her the day a vampire attacks her and she’s saved by Haji.
Haji makes her drink his blood, as a result of which she becomes strong enough to kill the vampire that attacked her. She is then introduced to the Red Shield organization, where she learns about the many mysterious creatures that surround humankind.
8 Attack On Titan
Young Eren Yeager watches horrified, as a titan eats his mother. This is when he swears to “kill all titans.” He grows up to be a soldier of an elite military unit called the Survey Corps. His friends Mikasa and Armin make the cut as well.
Every day is a battle of survival for the Survey Corps, who battle not only the titans on the outside, but traitors on the inside. Just when he thought humanity has lost all hope, he stumbles across a stunning revelation that changes the tides permanently in his favor.
7 Bleach
Much like Eren Yaegar, young Ichigo Kurosaki witnesses his family being attacked and having their souls devoured by a corrupt spirited called Hollow. Angry and vengeful, he accepts the offer of a Soul Reaper named Rukia. She gives Ichigo her powers and thus, Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper himself.
He begins fighting the Hollows alone, but along his journey he is joined by people like Uryuu Ishida, Yasutora Sado and Orihime Inoue, who share the same hatred for Hollows as Ichigo. Their combined powers make them a formidable team, and with an increasing number of kill count, they soon realize their real enemies aren’t the Soul Reapers.
6 Elfen Lied
Like Clare, Lucy is not fully human. She’s part of a species known as Diclonius. She was captured by the government so that they could perform various illegal and inhumane experiments on her. One day, she manages to escape and leaves a pool of blood behind her.
However, along the way she incurs a head injury because of which she develops a split personality. Two college students take pity on her and take her to their home so that they can take care of her. Unbeknownst to them, they instantly become the target of every secret government agency in the country.
5 Tokyo Ghoul
Ken Kaneki used to be a shy teenage boy, till the day a ghoul ate his insides and cast him aside to die. When he woke up healed from the injury completely, he soon realized he has become half ghoul. This opens him up to the mysterious world of ghouls, which most of human kind was unaware of.
As he struggles with fighting the urge to feed on humans, he also has to defend himself from ghouls as well as humans. But why do both of them wish to see him dead?
4 Hellsing Ultimate
In a world where vampires exist, Alucard is a vampire who works with the Hellsing organization to eradicate his own kind. On his job, he manages to save a dying human named Seras Victoria. He offers her the life of a vampire and when she agrees, he makes her his servant. With Seras along his side, he fights whosoever defies his existence – be it vampires or humans. With mankind facing its toughest challenge, will Hellsing be able to turn the tables in their favor?
3 Akame Ga Kill!
Wide eyed Tatsumi is the newest recruit of Night Raid, an organization that boasts of a specialized set of assassins. This organization is headed by the Revolutionary Army, a movement that is aimed at overthrowing the corrupt government in charge of their country. With every kill he makes, Tatsumi loses as many friends and comrades. He also uncovers more and more horrible secrets that make him more determined to get rid of the ruling Prime Minister.
2 Puella Magi Madoka Magica
This anime is unlike any magical-girl type of anime. Despite the protagonists of this show being pre-teen girls, they are shown to be extremely brave and loyal. Special mention goes to Homura Akemi, the protagonist of the show. When a too-good-to-be-true offer is made to her new friends, the smart girl urges them to reconsider as it may have serious implications in their lives. What follows are dangerous adventures these girls embark on, while saving the lives of innocent people.
1 Demon Slayer
Tanjirou Kamado is a teenage boy who one day returns home to find his mother killed by a demon, and his sister turned into a half demon. Shocked, angry and full of feelings of revenge, he embarks on a journey to turn his sister back to a human again. He is also very focused on wanting to kill the demon responsible for the misery in his life. Tanjirou joins hands with the mysterious and powerful organization called the Demon Slayer Corps, along with whom he does whatever it takes to make his life normal again.