A true leader inspires passion and motivation among his followers, by guiding them with clear vision and direction. Western audiences have seen such personalities on their screens, whether through great TV shows or movies inspired by historical figures who were phenomenal leaders. Similarly, anime fans enjoy the archetypes of heroic stories and are drawn to characters who appear as these quintessential leaders.
Such characters can be observed in the Naruto franchise, with fan favorites like Kakashi and Shikamaru, who have won fans over with their remarkable leadership skills. Their abilities were so impressive that they were chosen to lead their entire village later in the series. There are also mixed opinions about characters like Griffith, who led his team to great success but eventually fell into absolute darkness, but their leadership qualities are hard to ignore.
10Shikamaru Nara
Bored Ninja Of The Hidden Leaf Village
Shikamaru Nara, the laid-back ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village, initially comes across as someone with no real ambition, preferring to spend his life doing minimal work and avoiding anything that might disrupt his peace.
It’s during the Chunin Exam Arc, where we observe his strategic brilliance, when he paralyzes the entire squad of powerful Ninjas of the Sand Village, all by himself. Later on, the Hokage Lady Tsunade recognizes Shikamaru’s abilities and appoints him as her advisor, also entrusting him with the mission of Sasuke’s recovery. Even though the mission failed, his skills ensured that none of his team members lost their lives.
9Kyojuro Rengoku
One Of The Greatest Hashiras In The Anime
For hundreds of years, the Demon Slayer Corps has been battling demons,thanks to their fearsome fighters known as Hashira. They have never gone into battle without risking their lives, and are the reason behind the Corps' long-standing struggle.
While there are other Hashira in the series, few match the presence of Kyojuro Rengoku, the flame Hashira whose dedication to his duties makes him an incredible leader. The best display of his abilities comes during the Mugen Train arc, where he sacrifices himself to protect innocent lives from the Upper Three Demon, Akaza.
8Integra Hellsing
A Noblewomen Among The Vampires
Integra Hellsing is a main character of the anime series Hellsing, and its OVA adaptations. As the last descendant of the Royal Hellsing family, she embodies the traits of a natural leader and is one of the best-written female characters in anime history.
Despite being only 22 years old, Integra Hellsing is very intelligent and has a clear sense of priority, as she isn’t afraid to make bold decisions when necessary. When her uncle, Richard Hellsing, conspires against her, Integra thwarts his plans and ultimately kills him, taking over the Hellsing Organization she inherited.
7Griffith
The Controversial Leader Of The Band Of Hawks
The classic anime and manga series Berserk showcased one of TV’s most compelling friendships between Guts and Griffith, one that completely altered the fate of both characters going further into the series. Before Griffith’s obsession with Guts ruined his dream, he was a capable leader.
As the founder of the Band of the Hawk, Griffith turned what started as a simple mercenary group into a powerful and royal force, quickly moving them up the ranks. He brought together some of the best fighters and built their reputation to the point where enemies were afraid to face them on the battlefield, as they were virtually unbeatable.
6Roy Mustang
The State Alchemist, Who Cares A Lot About His Followers
At the beginning of Full Metal Alchemist, Roy Mustang appears as this cold-hearted war veteran who seems to be indifferent, beyond his own ambitions. As the series goes on, you see a different side of him when he is shown as a great commander who looks after his men, something that defines what it means to be a leader.
His character goes through a major development, after seeing the brutality of the Ishval Civil War and the rotting condition of the Amestris' military. Thus, he desires to lead his country towards a brighter, more just future.
5Kakashi Hatake
Kakashi, The Leader Of The Iconic Team Seven
The Hidden Leaf Village had a rigorous Shinobi training system, where even Hokages had learned to be great Ninjas. While many shinobis have evolved through this system,only a handful have been exceptional leaders, one of whom is Kakashi Hatake.
Kakashi, as the teacher of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, clearly understood each of their motivations. He provided them with the essential training they needed to grow and fulfill their destiny. On top of being a great mentor, Kakashi also tackled thousands of missions for the Hidden Leaf Village, in the service of which he was made a Hokage after the Fourth Shinobi War.
4Lelouch Lamperouge
A Rogue Prince Playing The Rules Of Politics
Code Geass is one of those anime that invites analysis from many different angles because of its fascinating story and complex themes. At its core is Lelouch Lamperouge, a Britannian prince turned rebel who has vowed to avenge his mother’s death by taking down his father.
Exiled at just 10 years old, Lelouch knew the hardships of life from an early age. Driven by a desire to one day bring peace to the world by dismantling the Britannian Empire, he takes on the masked identity of Zero. Under this guise, he formed and led the Black Knights, inspiring them to create a massive political movement.
3All Might
The Ever-smiling Superman Who Loves To Help Others
My Hero Academia is often seen as a great show for superhero fans, in the genre of Shōnen anime. The show glorifies heroism and absolute strength, and All Might, with his overpowered persona and classic hero traits, might be the perfect embodiment of that ideal.
The show introduces him as the former Number One Hero possessing the One For All quirk, who now serves as a mentor to many of the students at U.A. High School. Even though his prime days are behind him, he remains a leader every hero aspires to be. With his ever-present smile, All Might loves to protect the weak, making it his life’s purpose to help others.
2Edward Newgate
A Father To Many Of The Pirates He Fostered
Edward Newgate aka Whitebeard isconsidered one of the strongest pirates with an extremely high bountyin the One Piece fandom. With his staggering height and overwhelming power due to the procession of Haoshoku Haki, he truly lives up to the title of the strongest man in the world.
Despite being so fierce, he’s also a brilliant leader who is both understanding and forgiving towards his crew. He had many allies and commanded deep respect, as many of them were those he took in and adopted. They’re so loyal to him that they’d willingly lay down their lives for him, and Whitebeard himself will go to great lengths for his crew.
1Erwin Smith
Legendary Commander Of The Survey Corps
Attack on Titan focuses on the themes of human survival in its episodes, emphasizing on the soldiers who guard against the titans. In this brutal world, joining the Survey Corps is a death wish, but Erwin Smith stands out for his readiness to sacrifice everything for the greater good.
His confident body language and strategic genius give Commander Erwin all the qualities he needs to be a great leader. One of his brilliant moments in the show comes during the Battle of Shiganshina District, where he leads the Survey Corps from the front, rallying them to face the Titans head-on despite them knowing it’s a suicide mission.
