Character development and personality are the most essential ingredients for creating a good anime character, but their costume is what really helps them stand out. A well-thought-out costume is instantly recognizable. A good example of this is Tanjiro's checkered jacket in Demon Slayer.
However, it's also important that a costume is functional and makes sense for the universe the character exists in, which is something a lot of anime have a tendency to fail at. A costume may look good and can be fun for fans to cosplay, but if it poorly reflects the character, lacks common sense, or is just boring, then it can't really be called a good costume.
10 Koga Doesn't Stand Out (Inuyasha)
Inuyasha has tons of amazing outfits that reflect the time period the anime takes place. Some outfits are incredibly elaborate while others are plain but still interesting. Not to mention, the diversity in costumes does a great job of indicating the wealth gaps between communities.
With all these great costumes, it's a shame Koga's turned out so boring. It makes sense to some degree for him to have a simple outfit, but since everyone in his clan dresses exactly like him, he ends up getting lost in the crowd. Something that reflects his superior status would suit him well and do a better job of showing off his character.
9 Yugi Is Trying Too Hard (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
Yugi's costume in Yu-Gi-Oh! may have worked well aesthetically in the early 2000s, but looking at it now, it definitely hasn't aged well. The flared jacket, multiple belts, and giant choker look comical when he's surrounded by normally dressed people.
It's great for a character to stand out, but Yugi's vibe doesn't really fit well with everyone else, so he ends up looking like a rock star surrounded by high schoolers. When Yugi trades spots with Yami, the outfit works a little better, but that's mainly because Yami is actually an adult whereas Yugi looks like a small child trying to cosplay for the first time.
8 Ban Values Fashion Over Function (The Seven Deadly Sins)
Low-rise pants and a crop top aren't necessarily a bad outfit combination — unless they were completely made out of leather. Ban's outfit may look good on him, especially with the red, but anyone who's tried to wear all leather knows how constricting it can be.
Tight leather pants aren't really a great move if Ban wants to fight anyone. He'd probably spend more time trying to lift his legs. The other costumes in The Seven Deadly Sins aren't much better, but everyone else seems to at least have the sense to wear something functional. In Ban's case, he seems to care more about fashion than function, leaving him with one of the worst costumes.
7 It's A Poor Choice To Wear White In The Desert (Trigun)
Trigun is an older series with an amazing cowboy/steampunk aesthetic. Vash the Stampede's costume is especially iconic and makes him appear far more menacing than he actually is. While most of the costumes look great and function well, one particularly stands out. Meryl's costume doesn't seem all that bad except for the fact that it's almost entirely white.
For someone who constantly travels through miles of desert, it seems pretty impractical to wear something that gets dirty so easily. Not to mention, even the smallest speck of blood could leave her outfit ruined. The costume may look nice on Meryl, but with all the cleaning she'd have to do, it can't be all that worth it.
6 Orange Is A Poor Choice For A Ninja (Naruto)
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Naruto's outfit from the original Naruto series is iconic. Even someone who has never seen the series can easily recognize it because of its bright colors and simplistic design. However, that bright orange color is exactly what's wrong with the costume. It seems pretty counterintuitive for a ninja who excels at stealth to wear something so loud and flashy.
Naruto may want to stand out, but it's a pretty poor move for him to wear something that can be so easily spotted by his enemies. Naruto improves his costume once Shippudden comes around by adding a little black. Still, it really doesn't help all that much.
5 Erza Should Never Fight Shirtless (Fairy Tail)
Erza from Fairy Tail has dozens of different costumes, each of which varies in style. One of her worst costumes in terms of function and defense has to be her Requip Clear Heart. This "armor" consists of red hakama, which is a traditional Japanese pants-like garment, and bandages wrapped around her chest.
Not only does this costume have zero protection, but there is no way the bandages can properly support or protect her chest. Despite the costume's cool appearance, when it comes to utility, it's one of the worst Requips Erza has ever worn.
4 Yaoyorozu Shouldn't Fight In Heels (My Hero Academia)
There are tons of diverse costumes in My Hero Academia, but when it comes to utility, the female characters tend to get the short end of the stick. This is especially true for Yaoyorozu, who requires her skin to be exposed when using her Creation Quirk. However, instead of wearing something that exposes her back and stomach, she wears a costume with a plunging neckline.
Not only does this costume offer zero support, but it doesn't really make sense considering she needs as much skin exposed. Furthermore, her entire back is covered, and she also wears a pair of booted heels, which can't be comfortable to fight in. Considering how amazing some of the boy's outfits are, fans can only pray that Yaoyorozu gets an upgrade.
3 Best Jeanist Wins For Ugliest Hero Suit (My Hero Academia)
As one of the most serious heroes in My Hero Academia, it's pretty strange that Best Jeanist would end up with the silliest costume. Wearing denim from head to toe may make it easier for him to use his Quirk that allows him to control clothing fiber, but the belt around his face definitely isn't necessary.
Just like leather, denim can be incredibly restrictive, and it runs hot in the warmer months. Considering he's one of the top heroes and one of the most intelligent, it doesn't make sense for him to make such a poor costume choice. Then again, he does tend to get stuck in his ways, so he may know how odd his costume is and just refuses to change it.
2 Gohan Had An Embarrassing Stint As A Super Hero (Dragon Ball Z)
Most fans of the original Dragon Ball Z have probably forgotten Gohan's Saiyaman suit — or they've chosen to forget it. The lime green gi is bad enough but the sunglasses and bandana make the entire outfit ten times worse.
The long flowing cap and the giant wrestling belt also do an incredible job of making Gohan look as silly as possible. He may think he looks cool when he's running around in this costume during his teens, but there is a good chance he's looking back at that costume in his later years with embarrassment.
1 Franky Needs To Cover Up (One Piece)
The characters in One Piece aren't particularly known for wearing super functional outfits. Luffy wears flip-flops to every fight and Nami has a tendency to wear super short skirts. However, these costumes pale in comparison to what Franky wears on a daily basis, which is a Hawaiian shirt with racing briefs.
Franky also has a tendency to go without shoes, which can't be all that comfortable or safe considering the uncharted locations the Straw Hats tend to find themselves in. Franky may be part robot, but considering the fact that he's still part human, it would make more sense for him to wear something that actually covers and protects him.