In something like anime, visual language is extremely important. Even the color of a character’s hair can communicate a lot about them. It is then no wonder that along with natural hair colors like black and brown, vibrant colors like blue, green and purple are also common in anime.
Coming to white, while it is a natural hair color, it is not limited to wise old characters. Even children can have white hair in anime. White-haired anime characters usually stand out not only because of the lack of color in their hair but also due to their personalities.
Such a color may be used to symbolize their uniqueness, lineage or transformation into something else(see: Ken Kaneki). Anime characters with white hair are often depicted as wise, mysterious or powerful. At the same time, it can be used to emphasize their divinity or purity.
It is, then, no wonder that so many white-haired characters end up as memorable fan favorites. Check out our list of the best anime characters with white hair to learn more about male anime characters with white hair and female anime characters with white hair.
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Contents
9 Male Anime Characters with White Hair
Satoru Gojo
Series: Jujutsu Kaisen
Number of Episodes: 42(as of November 2023)
Created By: Gege Akutami
Voice Artist: Yuichi Nakamura, Mariya Ise(Japanese); Kaiji Tang(English)
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Satoru Gojo is the most popular male anime character with white hair. His snow-white hair and eyepatch instantly make him a recognizable and memorable character.
Satoru is immature, childish and flamboyant most of the time and it is only after a while that it dawns on you that his carefree personality comes from the sheer amount of power he holds.
One of the strongest sorcerers in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe, he practically forced the Curses to create a barrier that prevented him from helping those inside. Satoru is still a likeable character and a great mentor to his students including Yuji Itadori.
His witty one-liners and his battle sequences especially where he takes off his mask will have your eyes glued to the screen without blinking.
Killua Zoldyck
Series: Hunter x Hunter
Number of Episodes: 62
Created By: Yoshihiro Togashi
Voice Artist: Kanako Mitsuhashi, Mariya Ise(Japanese); Annika Odegard, Cristina Vee(English)
While talking about anime characters with white hair, we have to mention the child assassin Killua Zoldyck from Hunter x Hunter. He is initially introduced as the cheeky and mischievous kid who befriends Gon during the Hunter exam. But coming from a family of assassins, you know he just cannot be a harmless kid.
His other side, thus, comes out during the Hunter exam. Killua demonstrates his ruthlessness and aptitude for killing by eliminating all the applicants in the first trial itself. Don’t let his cute looks fool you. He is deadly and bloodthirsty and demonstrates extreme tolerance to poison, electricity and pain in general.
At the same time, Killua is unfailingly loyal to his friends and puts them before himself without complaining.
Gintoki Sakata
Series: Gintama
Number of Episodes: 367
Created By: Hideaki Sorachi
Voice Artist: Tomokazu Sugita(Japanese); Michael Daingerfield(English)
Gintoki Sakata from Gintaka is an iconic white-haired anime character. He lives in a fictional version of 1860s Japan that has been invaded and settled by aliens. A former rebel samurai, he now earns a living by working as a freelancer for hire in Edo along with Shinpachi Shimura and Kagura.
Gintoki is also one of the most relatable shounen anime protagonists with his lazy personality and laid-back attitude. His sarcasm and snarky comments throughout the series run are legendary. Despite his laziness, Gintoki actually does his job well and shows excellent swordsmanship largely driven by his desire to protect his friends.
Ken Kaneki
Series: Tokyo Ghoul
Number of Episodes: 48
Created By: Sui Ishida
Voice Artist: Natsuki Hanae(Japanese); Austin Tindle(English)
In Tokyo Ghoul, Ken Kaneki had black hair originally which changed to white after he accepted the ghoul inside him. And he became a badass character after that point.
Ken is particularly famous for his eyepatch mask that covers his whole face except the Ghoul eye. The mask additionally has a zipper at the mouth that helps him keep his identity secret if it ever comes to eating a human.
Ken occupies a unique place in Tokyo Ghoul as he is neither a complete human nor a ghoul. His struggle to fight his ghoul side while trying his best to live like a normal human being, thus, forms a major part of the story.
As a university freshman, he was a quiet and reserved bookworm. He was also rather naive and easily trusted strangers which often put him in life-threatening situations. In his ghoul form, Ken is a badass and calculative fighter who was the talk of the town for a good amount of time.
Juuzou Suzuya
Series: Tokyo Ghoul
Number of Episodes: 48
Created By: Sui Ishida
Voice Artist: Rie Kugimiya(Japanese); Maxey Whitehead(English)
Tokyo Ghoul fans must be familiar with Special Class Investigator Juuzou Suzuya. He is a young boy with an androgynous appearance and most importantly, a mop of gorgeous white hair on his head.
Before being taken in by the CCG, he lived with a ghoul called Big Madam who had raised him since childhood. Juuzou’s behavior is often childish and carefree but he is also very skilled at exterminating ghouls. This is indicated by the fact that he was promoted to a Rank 2 Investigator in just one year.
He has a strong independent streak and tends to not cooperate with his colleagues and superiors. Juuzou does, however, mature later thanks in large part to Shinohara and becomes a leader of his own squad.
Jiraiya
Series: Naruto
Number of Episodes: 220
Created By: Masashi Kishimoto
Voice Artist: Hochu Otsuka, Yoru Nara(Japanese); David Lodge, Brad MacDonald, Todd Haberkorn, Richard Cansino, Wally Wingert(English)
The “Pervy Sage” Jiraiya from Naruto is an absolutely great white-haired male anime character. Along with Orochimaru and Tsunade, he is one of the legendary Sanin of Konohagakure. He also mentored both Naruto and his father Minato Namikaze.
Despite being a comical pervert character, Jiraiya is a good mentor and serves as a father figure to Naruto. He is loyal to Konohagakure but often leaves the village for long stretches of time to explore the world. On returning, he usually brings news about the activities of Orochimaru and the Akatsuki.
Jiraiya may be an eccentric and self-deprecating person but he is also an excellent shinobi who never gives up or succumbs to despair.
Atsushi Nakajima
Series: Bungo Stray Dogs
Number of Episodes:
Created By: Kafka Asagiri, Sango Harukawa
Voice Artist: Yuto Uemura(Japanese); Max Mittelman(English)
The white-haired Atsushi Nakjima is the protagonist of Kafka Asagiri’s Bungo Stray Dogs manga and anime. He is an eighteen-year-old orphan who learns about his supernatural power called “Beast Beneath the Moonlight ” after meeting Detective Osamu Dazai.
Atsushi has low self-esteem and lacks confidence because of the physical and emotional abuse he suffered at the orphanage but he is a pure-hearted person who wants to become strong to help the weak.
He starts gaining confidence after joining the Armed Detective Agency finally finding a purpose to live.
Griffith
Series: Berserk
Number of Episodes: 25(1997-98); 24(2016-17)
Created By: Kentaro Miura
Voice Artist: Toshiyuki Morikawa, Takahiro Sakurai(Japanese); Kevin T. Collins, Steve Staley(English)
The handsome and charismatic Griffith is the main antagonist in Berserk. He is the founder and leader of the mercenary group the Band of the Hawk which was instrumental in ending the Hundred-Year War and bringing peace to Midland. As a result of this, he is revered as the “Falcon of Light” across the continent.
Griffith started off as a street urchin but he is now indistinguishable from the nobility thanks to his mannerisms, keen intellect and exemplary fashion sense. There is no middle ground with him and people either end up seeing him with goodwill or harboring animosity towards him.
He shows a deep understanding of human emotions and motivations which combined with his unbridled ambition has enabled him to ascend alone above all.
Zen Wistaria
Series: Snow White with the Red Hair
Number of Episodes: 24+ OVA
Created By: Sorata Akizuki
Voice Artist: Ryota Osaka(Japanese); Jessie James Grelle(English)
The white-haired Zen Wistaria is the second prince of Clarines and Shirayuki’s love interest. He has a light-hearted personality and a general disdain for the formality of his status. As a result of an assassination attempt and exploitation as a political pawn, he has trouble trusting other people.
Zen becomes more open and friendly after meeting Shirayuki and eventually starts taking up more responsibility for official work. He is a nice person who cares for his servants and aides and is respectful towards them.
Zen is honest and sincere and can keep his composure most of the time but becomes jealous when Shirayuki talks about working with young guys.
6 Top Female Anime Characters with White Hair
Nao Tomori
Series: Charlotte
Number of Episodes: 13+ OVA
Created By: Jun Maeda
Voice Artist: Ayane Sakura(Japanese); Lauren Landa(English)
Nao Tomori is a first-year student and the student council president at Hoshinoumi Academy. She is depicted as having long white hair that is usually tied in two tails with dark hair ties. Her hair may also appear gray or pale blonde in certain episodes.
While Nao is hardworking and smart, she is also notorious for being narcissistic, self-righteous, short-tempered and a liar. She can make herself invisible but only to one person at a time. She uses this ability to attack people she thinks deserve to be kicked which in turn leads to Nao being shunned by her peers.
However, she is also the person who helped Yuu recover from the depression that was brought on by his sister Ayumi’s death. Nao eventually falls in love with him and stays by his side even after he loses all memories of her.
Mirajane Strauss
Series: Fairy Tail
Number of Episodes: 328+ 9 OVAs
Created By: Hiro Mashima
Voice Artist: Ryoko Ono(Japanese); Monica Rial(English)
Mirajane Strauss is a white-haired S-class mage and pin-up girl for the Weekly Sorcerer magazine. She is also the Guild’s barmaid and administrator. The elder sister of Elfman and Lisanna, she has the variety called Satan Soul which allows her to take the form and powers of the demons defeated by her.
Mirajane initially resented her magic because of its Demon-like nature. She often questioned whether she was human until Elfman and Lisanna learned their own Takeover varieties to comfort and connect with her. The mage used to be temperamental but her personality changed after an incident involving her sister’s supposed death.
Mirajane is now a more loving and kind person who plays a motherly role within the Guild.
Appearance-wise, Mirajane is slim and has long, white hair that curls at the ends with two bangs that frame either side of her face.
Komugi
Series: Hunter x Hunter
Number of Episodes: 62
Created By: Yoshihiro Togashi
Voice Artist: Aya Endo(Japanese); Ryan Bartley
Komugi is a blind girl from the Republic of East Gorteau. She appears as childish and clumsy but is actually a reigning champion of the board game Gungi. She may lack common knowledge at times but is absolutely brilliant at Gungi and is the only person Meruem has not been able to defeat.
Komugi came from a poor family of twelve and took to being a professional Gungi player to make money for her family. She also tends to talk herself down and does not ask for help for fear of inconveniencing others.
Emilia
Series: Re: Zero
Number of Episodes: 50(as of December 2023)
Created By: Tappei Nagatsuki, Shinichiro Otsuka
Voice Artist: Rie Takahashi(Japanese); Kayli Mills(English)
The half-elf girl Emilia is the main female protagonist of the Re: Zero anime. She is a Spirit Art User who is one of the candidates in the race to become the 42nd King of Lugunica. Although she is over a hundred years old, her mental age is more like a teenager.
Emilia is an energetic girl who likes to take care of others but refuses to admit that. She is of the mindset that one should always appear strong and, hence, does not trust other people with her emotions and remains closed off.
This has caused her to be overly childish and often rely on others like Puck or Subaru. However, Emilia manages to stand up for herself in a predicament at the Sanctuary.
Shiro
Series: Deadman Wonderland
Number of Episodes: 12+ OVA
Created By: Jinsei Kataoka, Kazuma Kondou
Voice Artist: Kana Hanazawa(Japanese); Monica Rial(English)
Shiro is an albino girl who is Ganta Igarashi’s childhood friend and used to be a test subject for Hagire Rinichiro. In fact, it was Hagire’s experiments on her and Sorae that created the first Deadman. Her second personality, the Wretched Egg, was created alongside to cope with her suffering.
Shiro has white hair that reaches down to her knees, pale skin and red eyes. The Wretched Egg too looks like Shiro but has a lazy look to her eyes and a bloodthirsty smile on her face.
In her real self, Shiro is a bubbly, energetic girl who eats nothing but sweets. She is physically very strong and uses that strength to protect Ganta. At the same time, she has a childlike outlook on life and has a very simplified idea of things.
Elizabeth Liones
Series: The Seven Deadly Sins
Number of Episodes: 24+ 2 OVA
Created By: Nakaba Suzuki
Voice Artist: Sora Amamiya(Japanese); Erika Harlacher(English)
Elizabeth Liones is originally from the Kingdom of Danafor but was adopted as the third princess of Liones after the former was destroyed. She is also the current incarnation of the Goddess Elizabeth and is the lover of the Seven Deadly Sins’ captain Meliodas.
Elizabeth is frail and far from being a fighter but this doesn’t stop her from trying to protect others, even at the cost of her own health. She is polite and caring and her determination often serves as inspiration for others. Elizabeth is probably the only person who shows respect and trust to the Seven Deadly Sins despite the bad rumors about them.
Who Has White Hair in Naruto?
Naruto has many white-haired characters. Prominent among them is the “Pervy Sage” Jiraiya who is a legendary Sanin and mentored both Naruto and his father. He is also known as the “Toad Sage” because he can summon toads as allies during battle.
Apart from that, Tobirama Senju, Kaguya Otsutsuki and Suigetsu Hozuki are some other characters with white hair in Naruto.
Tobirama was a founder of Konohagakure along with his older brother and the Uchiha clan. He became the Second Hokage after his brother’s death. Kaguya was the matriarch of a branch of the Otsutsuki clan and became the first wielder of Chakra after ingesting the fruit of the God Tree.
Suigetsu is a shinobi from the Hozuki clan who is heralded as the Second Coming of the Demon.
