When fans think of anime protagonists, they think of characters who possess the most interesting, powerful characteristics of the franchise. Main characters tend to have distinct abilities and special skillsets that uniquely qualify them to lead the story in an interesting way, but a character who's good at everything tends to be a bit boring for fans.

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It's often the case that anime protagonists have huge, glaring flaws in their personalities. For many main characters, particularly in shonen anime, intellect is one of these flaws. Protagonists tend to be on the dumber side of the scale, allowing for unique, genius characters to pick up their slack.

10 Naruto: Shikamaru Was The Smartest Leaf Genin

Shikamaru in Naruto.

The world of Naruto has a wide variety of characters with above-average intelligence. These characters have forged skills on the battlefield, and honed instincts and strategies that make them deadly killing machines.

But while Naruto himself has certainly developed an aptitude for battle wisdom, it's obvious to fans that he is no genius. The smartest of the Naruto cast is surely Shikamaru Nara, who boasted an insane IQ from a very young age. Shikamaru may just be a side character, but he's got the brains of a protagonist.

9 The Promised Neverland: Norman Was A Genius Among Geniuses

The Promised Neverland Norman

Unlike many shonen anime, The Promised Neverland is a story in which almost all characters are geniuses to some extent. While they have their specialties and unique interests, each main character of the anime boasts an IQ well above the average.

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Despite that, the anime's main character Emma seems to be the least intelligent of the bunch. That title would instead go to Norman who, as only a pre-teen, managed to devise a plan that would topple an entire world of demons and allow his family to thrive.

8 Dragon Ball: Bulma Is Even Smarter Than She Seems

Bulma with her hands up in Dragon Ball

Many classic shonen protagonists tend to be on the simpler side of intellect. This is particularly true for Goku in the Dragon Ball series. Goku is one of the most powerful warriors in the universe but is still a bit of a meathead as far as intelligence goes.

Luckily for him, he has a wide variety of friends to help him out when the need arises. The oldest of these friends is Bulma, who he met all the way back when he first started his journey. Bulma is a lot of things, but primarily she is an excellent inventor.

7 One Piece: Usopp Is The Most Clever Straw Hat Pirate

One Piece Usopp

One Piece is a charming adventure of friends and pirates. The best man to lead that story was without a doubt Monkey D. Luffy. But when it comes to intelligence, Luffy does not quite clear the bar.

Fans love him for his simple-mindedness and straightforward view of the world, but when the Straw Hats need brains, there are multiple other crew members to go towards. Usopp may not be the most well-read or scientifically gifted, but he has proved himself clever and tricky enough to survive in a world far stronger than he is.

6 Attack On Titan: Armin's Intellect Saved Him From Death

Attack On Titan Armin

Attack On Titan is a complex story with deep characters and rich worldbuilding. Its main character, Eren Jaeger, is one of the most interesting personalities to come out of modern anime. But Eren can be a bit of a dunce sometimes, particularly in Attack On Titan's earliest seasons.

While you could always count on him to fight with all of his might and try harder than anyone else, the role of strategist often landed at the feet of his best friend Armin. Armin is a coward at times, but it can't be denied that he has a natural aptitude for strategy during serious moments.

5 Hunter X Hunter: Killua Is A Prodigy At Everything

Killua Smiling While Taking The Hunter's Exam In Hunter X Hunter

Hunter X Hunter is like many shonen anime in the sense that its main character is on the simpler side. Gon is a charming protagonist who fans absolutely adore. He also has a surprisingly deep emotional complexity that appeared during the Chimera Ant arc.

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But despite his depth and power, Gon was never one to be considered smart. While Killua is no super genius, the bar isn't exactly high when your best friend is a classic shonen goofball. Killua's training as a master assassin gives him a leg up in the intelligence department.

4 Haikyuu: Kenma Is Karasuno's Genius Rival

Kenma sleeping in Haikyuu!.

Haikyuu has a unique brand of intelligence in the world of shonen anime. Unlike many of its peers, Haikyuu has no characters with decades of war experience or surviving in a world of demons. It's a simple story of high school volleyball players but its ability to create smart characters comes across nonetheless.

Hinata may not be a genius, but his rival Kenma certainly is. Kenma is the setter for the Nekoma volleyball team and is considered the brain of their operations. Their entire playstyle centers around his strategies and abilities as a setter.

3 Steins;Gate: Kurisu Brings Science Credibility To Okabe's Laboratory

Kurisu from Steins;Gate gesturing like Hououin Kyouma.

Steins;Gate is a complex sci-fi anime that explores the devastating world of time travel. Most of its character would be considered intelligent in some way or another. It's hard to pinpoint just how smart the main character is due to his wacky personality, but his lack of progress prior to the anime's start indicates he is not an intellectual titan.

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Luckily for Okabe, he'd go on to meet Kurisu Makise early into the story. Kurisu is everything Okabe isn't. She's a genius scientist with a background that more than proves her worth as an academic.

2 My Hero Academia: Momo Has To Be A Genius For Her Quirk

My Hero Academia Momo

Unlike many shonen anime protagonists, Deku is actually fairly intelligent. Fans first met him when he was taking diligent notes and studying the various powers used by superheroes in day-to-day society. But compared to him, Momo Yaoyorozu is a super genius.

Her unique ability to create any nonliving material requires that she constantly study and memorize the complex chemical makeup of everything she creates. It's a difficult ability that could only work for a character as smart as she is.

1 Yu Yu Hakusho: Kurama Keeps Yusuke Alive With His Cunning

Kurama in Yu Yu Hakusho.

Like many of his shonen contemporaries, Yusuke Urameshi of Yu Yu Hakusho is an utter buffoon. He is the pinnacle of brawns over brain and accomplishes all of his feats by the sheer power of his fists. While this often gets him into trouble, fans find this aspect of the character endearing.

That said, even Yusuke occasionally needs some intelligence on his side. That often comes in the form of Kurama. Kurama is a fox demon and has the cunning to match. Fans adore Kurama's backstory, but above all else, they love his wit.

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