Embracing both the serious and the silly with heartfelt honesty, theanimetradition has given us countless wonderful shows over the years. With its genuine treatment of every kind of idea, whether itsunique and thought-provoking onesor completely absurd, anime shows have shown that there are limitless ways to tell stories.
At the same time, it is up to the viewer to decide how much weirdness or silliness they are willing to accept and enjoy with any movie or show they may watch. If you go down the rabbit hole of anime, you will surely find weird shows and equally weird characters that will leave you pondering about the thought that went into them. Alongside the most iconic and amazing character designs in anime, there exist the weirdest-looking anime characters, too. Here is our take on the 10 weirdest-looking anime characters.
10Korosensei — Assassination Classroom (2013-2016)
KorosenseiofAssassination Classroomis possibly the most well-known anime character on this list. Not only is he a famous character in all of anime, but the entire premise of the show is based on his very existence. A seemingly otherworldly being, with looks and abilities that defy explanation, the show begins with his very sudden appearance in the world. Taking responsibility for the very recent destruction of the moon, he claims that he will do the same to the Earth in a year’s time. He then announces his intention to spend the remaining time being a school teacher.
Why We’re Including Him
Korosensei’s character design has become an enduring part of anime culture over time. His appearance is unique enough that it immediately finds a place in your memory at first glance. He presents himself as a land-faring octopus with a distinctive yellow hue and a huge grin permanently paced on top of a bulbous head.
The character has endeared himself to fans through a personality that mixes a variety of contradicting character quirks: despite claiming to be a threat to the entire world, he appears to be genuinely passionate about teaching. Despite possessing numerous abilities like superspeed, he is often seen in a vulnerable light, as he can be quite a bumbling mess in his personal life. The unusual contradictions go well with his appearance: even though Korosensei has one of the weirdest-looking designs in all of anime, it is quite easy to love the character’s looks.Stream on Crunchyroll
9Kikurage — Dorohedoro (2020)
The 2020 animeDorohedorohas a pretty satisfying art style that blends theclassic 2D anime stylewith a kind of realistic 3D animation. The world ofDorohedorois filled with all manners of supernatural creatures, including a protagonist whose whole goal is to find the sorcerer who gave him a lizard head. But the weirdest character of them all has to beKikurage, a relatively minor character who serves as a pet to another character and also holds the power to bring the dead back to life.
Why We’re Including Her
Kikurage’s real nature and origins are never explained in the series. Believed to be a female, she has white fur, cloven hooves, and large, rabbit-like ears. Her most compelling feature is her red teddy-bear mask that she wears at all times, creating something of a sinister effect with the stitches. She wears her incredible reanimation powers with a great deal of nonchalance, and often has to be coaxed to use them. Generally holding an apathetic attitude towards others, she is most fond of her owner, En.Stream on Netflix
8Excalibur — Soul Eater (2008-2009)
Sentient weapons endowed with various supernatural powers are a key premise of theSoul Eateranime, which follows powerful beings, including Death himself, as they engage in a war that can destroy the entire world. Of all the powerful sentient weapons of the anime, though, the most powerful is the holy swordExcalibur. However, the anime completely defies the ancient mythos behind this name by portraying Excalibur as yet another comedic doodle.
Despite being one of the oldest and most powerful weapons in the entireSoul Eateruniverse, Excalibur has a less-than-impressive presence. He is portrayed as a tiny, black-and-white creature that is best described as a bipedal mouse, carrying a cane. As one of the Great Old Ones, he also carries a madness wavelength that can drive people to madness.
This inherent nature is immediately visible in Excalibur’s personality: he suffers from severe and utterly intolerable narcissism, and the true challenge of his bearer is not to endure his power, but rather his constantly annoying demeanor. All these defining character traits go completely against Excalibur’s looks, which are completely out of place and appear as if drawn by a child.Stream on Hulu or Crunchyroll
Related:20 Anime Side Characters Who Outshine the Main Character
7Guttman Kubrick — Fairy Tail (2009-2019)
A prominent supporting character inFairy Tail’s “Key of the Starry Sky” arc,Guttman Kubrickappears in the series as a capable mage who joins the Zentopia Legion Corps after having been a prisoner at the Zentopia main prison. Capable of using a dangerous form of magic known as Rupture Magic, Kubrick exhibited sadistic pleasure at hurting his enemies and a rigid, unquestioning faith in the Zentopia Doctrine. In short, he had all the makings of a great and compelling villain. However, his appearance stood in contrast to all of thesefantastic villainous traits.
Guttman Kubrick made his first appearance in an effectively ominous light, as he was introduced as the latest joinee of the Zentopia Corps and was escorted in by guards in chains. But at the center of this effective lighting was a ridiculous figure: a cube-shaped head, a long neck, and a bulbous torso.
Kubrick looked somewhat like the result of a Lego experiment gone wrong. This was the figure that would commit numerous acts of villainy throughout the Key of the Starry Sky arc, punishing comrades for questioning the Zentopia Doctrine, and taking visible pleasure in torturing foes. The weird character design never fit quite right into the narrative.Stream on Crunchyroll
6Griffon Kato — Rave Master (2001-2002)
For whatever reason, “slime” characters are an established character type in anime, and they are exactly what they sound like: blobs that have come to life. Anime shows routinely bring such characters to the centerfold, making them indistinguishable parts of the show by giving them memorable attributes.Griffon KatoofRave Masteris one such character, a mainstay of the Rave Warriors team, who lends invaluable support to his crew using his impeccable navigation skills.
Barely two feet in height, Griffon Kato’s defining physical feature is his elongated blob head, which also doubles as his entire torso. Kato has no visible feet, and two solid dots serve as his eyes. He does have large red lips, though, and an ability to take on myriad shapes, as is common among blob-type characters.
While he may be completely useless in combat scenarios, Kato does his best to help out during fights by distracting opponents by taking on weird shapes. At the same time, he also does a lot of heavy-lifting for the show’s humor. Kato also embodies another common anime trope as an outright pervert, and his shameless antics often get him into a lot of trouble.Stream on Crunchyroll
5Jelly Jiggler — Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (2003-2005)
If it’s not obvious from the name,Bobobo-bo Bo-bobois acomedy anime seriesfilled to the brim with hopelessly childish characters that nevertheless manage to elicit laughs with their utter absurdity. An underrated show that has made a name for itself with its ludicrous humor, it is painfully childish, yet holds the self-awareness that allows it to transcend to another level. The show is based on numerous childish premises, such as characters that fight with their super-powered nosehairs and flatulence. The jelly-type characterJelly Jigglerfits right into the unreal levels of slapstick humor that define the show.
Jelly Jiggler, better known asTokoro Tennosukein Japanese, goes one step beyond other jelly-type characters as he is an actual mass of sentient, humanoid jelly (canonically speaking). An old friend and ally of the titular protagonist, Bobobo-bo, Jelly Jigger usually maintains a solemn demeanor, until he doesn’t. He is prone to volatile emotional outbursts during which his cube-ish face displays the entire range of exaggerated anime-style expressions.
His utility in battle is just as unusual, as he uses a fighting style that is variously referred to as Fist of the Wobble-Wobble and Shakey-Shake Fist. His shapeshifting abilities also make him a useful ally in battle, and Bobobo-bo often uses this ability to form various weapons and shields as needed.Stream on Netflix
4Zorc Necrophades — Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (2000-2004)
Yu-Gi-Oh!has solidified its place in anime history as one of its iconic shows, spawning a famous card game of its own and one of the longest-running anime franchises ever. It goes without saying that the lore ofYu-Gi-Oh!goes quite deep, with compelling characters sitting on both sides.Zorc Necrophadesappeared as the ultimate villain in the second series,Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, as the evil god created from the darkness within people’s hearts.
Not just that, but he was also the source of many essential parts of the show’s universe. He was credited with creating the Shadow Realm, the source of the Millennial Items, and also the father of the popular villain, Yami Bakura. In short, Zorc was a pretty important villain that anchored the show’s power system in a major way. However, this villain’s character design featured the most unbelievable feature that somehow made it all the way to the final product.
Zorc Necrophades was portrayed as a humongous gargoyle-like monster that could rival Godzilla with his size. Demonic horns, bat-like wings, and a long, scaly tail showed him as a typical big bad. But what stood out the most was the dragon’s head that protruded from right between his legs. It leaves the viewer wondering about the entire sequence of approvals that must have gone before this feature made it onto the final show. It was only later that this design was changed, showing the dragon appearing from Zorc’s chest in one version, and spiraling around him in another.Stream on Crunchyroll
Related:10 Greatest Anime Villain Introductions of All Time
3Andou — Prison School (2015-2016)
Prison Schoolis possibly the best example of the weirdness that anime creators can drum up when given free rein withR-rated, ecchi humor. An all-girls school that turns co-ed, a prison administered by the students’ council, and five perverted male students are all part of the set-up that leads the way for an obtuse amount of weird, sexual humor.Reiji Andouis one of the five male students who gains admission to the school following the policy change, the most easy-to-recognize due to his unusual looks.
The animation style ofPrison Schoolappears conventional to anime at first glance, distinguished subtly by a touch of realism. This quality carries over to its visual exaggerations, as they carry their own uniqueness. Reiji Andou is characterized by this kind of weird design that is less about individual visual features than about an overall effect that seems to almost blend with the realism.
It isn’t that Andou is an obese character; it’s because his obesity is designed in such a weird way that gives him a place on this list. Despite having a large face, his actual facial features — his eyes, nose, and mouth, fit into a tiny part of the top half, making for a particularly dopey and weird look. Andou also casually walks around with humongous earlobes that have no other explanation dedicated to them. It’s a combination that leaves you feeling somewhat queasy on a level, yet the look is a perfect fit forPrison School.Stream on Crunchyroll
2Pist Shaz XI — Final Fantasy: Unlimited (2001-2002)
Final Fantasy: Unlimitedwas the second-ever anime in theFinal Fantasyfranchise. Released all the way back in 2001, its animation style clearly displays its age, as even the protagonists, the twins Ai and Yu Hayakawa, look quite simple compared to modern anime. The most unusual character in the entire show, though, has to bePist Shaz XI, a secondary antagonist and one of the Lords of Gaudium.
Pist Shaz XI has a relatively minor role in the stakes ofFinal Fantasy: Unlimited, appearing as the second-level commander whose schemes are designed to fail at the hands of the heroes. However, he is also a clever villain to fight against, as he created the Ocean Puzzle that can distort space to trap his opponents in various puzzles. That said, all these character traits fall second to his weird appearance.
Pist appears as a strange mix between a human, a starfish, and a dragon. His head resembles an elaborate hood or spire at best, and he seems to have his eyes in the middle of his torso. Although the permanent shoulderpads and cloak allow him to maintain something of a regal aura, the sharp head and limbs give off the appearance of a walking starfish at all times.Not Currently Available to Stream or Purchase
1Wadatsumi — One Piece (1999-Present)
One Pieceis rightfully counted among the “Big Three” shows in anime — the three most popular anime shows of all time. Throughout its longevity, it has made a name for itself with lovable characters, exciting adventures, and emotional story arcs for beloved characters. A standard feature ofOne Pieceis also its unique style of character design — oftentimes goofy and instantly recognizable, the series has amassed more than its fairshare of weird-looking characters. The fish-manWadatsumi, however, has to be up there among its weirdest.
A fishman of giant stature, Wadatsumi is a pirate with a fearsome reputation, originally working with the Flying Pirates crew. His design appears to be inspired by a stereotypical depiction of a sedentary, middle-aged man, with a round face, scruffy beard, and a sizable torso. However, his mannerisms reflect a completely opposite persona. Despite his size, he has the voice and mannerisms of a child, and he is gullible like one too. All these character traits come as a complete contrast to his unusual looks.Stream on Netflix or Crunchyroll
If you liked this article, check out our video below on the most popular anime of all time.
