The world of Japanese animation features characters of all different sorts, and these diverse characters have very different methods and strategies for accomplishing their goals in any genre of fiction. Some anime heroes, such as headstrong shonen protagonists, tend to improvise and make things up as they go, and they tend to be rather resourceful, too.
Other anime characters tend to be brilliant planners, and while many scary anime villains are known for being total schemers, some anime protagonists or neutral third parties are also known for their habit of orchestrating complex plans, too. Planning ahead is these characters' primary strategy, and for some of them, scheming is actually fun, and they might identify with it to a degree.
10 Sokka Is The Idea Guy (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
Sokka is a non-bender, which sets him apart from his sister Katara, so Sokka focuses on his mind rather than the bending arts. Sokka has always been a cautious and calculating person, which is vital for the Southern Water Tribe's survival in the face of serious odds. He must outthink the Fire Nation to win.
Sokka soon established himself as Team Avatar's idea man, an insightful and resourceful character who can use anything and everything to turn the tide of battle, from jars of perfume to hot air balloons to a full-blown solar eclipse. Not even Zuko and Azula can outwit Sokka when he's serious.
9 Light Yagami Is Nothing Without His Schemes (Death Note)
The infamous antihero Light Yagami was a threat to the entire world, but not because of his fists or conventional weapons. Instead, his Death Note and his genius intellect were what allowed him to become Kira, the world's greatest serial killer/savior. For years, Light had become true justice in the eyes of millions.
Light spent the entire story of Death Note hopping from one brilliant scheme to another, and he won't dare make a move against L, Near, or Mello until he puts the finishing touches on a perfect plan of action. Light is also capable of improvisation, but he'd rather not resort to that.
8 Sosuke Aizen Is The Ultimate Anime Schemer (Bleach)
Ex-Captain Sosuke Aizen is one of anime's most fearsome and brilliant anime villains of all, a rogue Soul Reaper who arrogantly conspired to become the new God to reign over all of creation from the heavens. Such a goal calls for some serious planning over the decades.
Aizen spent many years crafting his plan, and he deceived, exploited, and even killed anyone around him if it meant getting closer to that goal. Among other things, he faked his death, killed Central 46, formed an Arrancar army, stole Kisuke Urarhara's Hogyoku, and arranged for Rukia'a execution during the Soul Society story arc. All according to plan.
7 Mary Saotome Keeps The Future In Mind (Kakegurui)
As opposed to her rival, Yumeko Jabami, who loves to take life as it comes, Mary Saotome the gambler student likes to plan ahead and lay all kinds of traps for her enemies. Mary is perfectly willing to rig any game of chance in her favor, and she nearly won against Yumeko during their first-ever game together by planning ahead.
Mary can adjust her plans on the fly and improvise as needed, but on the whole, she'd rather plan far ahead and make sure everything is in place before issuing or accepting challenges, especially from the mighty student council. Against president Kirari Momobami, Mary can't afford to leave everything to chance.
6 Shikamaru Nara Is The High-IQ Shinobi (Naruto)
As a whole, ninjas are expected to use all kinds of tricks, traps, and schemes to outwit their enemies and complete a difficult mission, but Shikamaru Nara the lazy genius takes this to another level. His mentor, Asuma Sarutobi, used games of shogi to determine that Shikamaru has an IQ of over 200, which is extraordinary.
Shikamaru is famed for his ability to think up a brilliant strategy for any situation and execute it, and he can think dozens of moves ahead if he must. Even crafty ninjas such as Temari, Tayuya, and Hidan can't keep up with his sharp mind, and later, Shikamaru became a commander of the united shinobi army in the Fourth Shinobi War.
5 Amon Had Everything Worked Out Ahead Of Time (The Legend Of Korra)
When Korra first arrived in the sprawling Republic City, trouble was already brewing, and Korra and her allies were not prepared for the Equalists to strike. The masked Amon led the Equalists, and he had the baffling ability to rid people of their bending with a touch. He also had hundreds of agents on his side, plus all kinds of vehicles and weapons.
Amon is a skilled fighter and a secret Waterbender, but that's not what really makes him scary. He is a cold, calculating villain who can outwit the entire city to get what he wants, and he can even use propaganda and terror to further his aims. It's a wonder Korra ever defeated him.
4 Ayame Himuro Always Has Another Hypothesis In Mind (Science Fell In Love, So I Tried To Prove It)
Sometimes, planning ahead is part of the job, and post-grad scientist Ayame Himuro would know all about that. She is a smart and serious professional, but she is also madly in love, and she decided to combine her career and personal life in a unique way. She's going to scientifically verify and quantity those romantic feelings once and for all.
For the sake of love and science, Himuro comes up with all kinds of hypotheses and tests to prove her amorous feelings toward Shinya Yukimura, and she has a lot of fun in the process. Ayame doesn't often get the results she wanted, but there's always next time. She won't give up.
3 Edward Elric Is Full Of Ideas (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Like many shonen protagonists, Edward Elric is hotheaded and proactive, and he's not afraid to improvise to fight his way out of a tricky situation. Though, unlike Goku or Luffy, Edward is also a crafty planner, and he doesn't like to make a move until he has already thought things out.
Edward actively pursues leads on the Philosopher's Stone and other topics, and he always knows what should come next in his quest. He has even outwitted the likes of Solf J. Kimblee before, and he used tricky schemes to escape the military police and stay on the run until the Promised Day arrived. He had it all figured out ahead of time.
2 Momo Yaoyorozu Can Create Anything (My Hero Academia)
Momo Yaoyorozu is class 1-A's smartest student, and she is likely the smartest student in all of Japan's heroics schools, too. Momo has a genius IQ, like Shikamaru Nara, but instead of shadow jutsu, she can use her Creation Quirk to fabricate non-organic items out of thin air.
Momo likes to plan out her battles ahead of time and use her Quirk to lay all kinds of traps and arm herself as necessary. Momo can think on her feet, but she's at her best when things go according to her plans. Once Momo got over her self-esteem issues after the sports festival, she became unstoppable.
1 Kaguya Shinomiya Is Always Up To Something (Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War)
Both Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane are smart students and skilled schemers, but, arguably, Kaguya is the more devious of the two, and she tends to think further ahead than Miyuki does. Winning the love war won't be easy, but Kaguya has a few key advantages, including her superior planning skills.
Kaguya will do anything to trick Miyuki and force a love confession out of him, from slashing her own family's tires to "forgetting" her umbrella, checking the weather forecasts, and even investigating other people's hobbies and recent activities. And it's clear that Kaguya enjoys every minute of this.