Anime as a visual medium uses a complex language of colors to convey a deeper meaning about the character’s personality. You may often notice that anime characters have bright unnatural hair colors such as pink, blue, green, and orange.
However, natural hair colors are just as ubiquitous in anime. Black being the most common natural hair color, especially among Asians, it is no surprise there are tons of anime characters with black hair- both men and women.
Yet there are some anime characters with black hair who are more popular than others. So, who are some of these popular black-haired anime characters? Have a look at our list of the best anime characters to find out.
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9 inspirational depressed anime girl characters
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Contents
8 Best Anime Characters Men with Black Hair
Son Goku
Series: Dragon Ball
Number of Episodes: 153
Created By: Akira Toriyama
Voice Artist: Masako Nozawa(Japanese); Barbara Goodson, Saffron Henderson, Ian James Corlett, Peter Kelamis, Stephanie Nadolny, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Kirby Morrow, Jeffrey Watson, Lex Lang(English)
Son Goku or simply Goku is the most popular male anime character with black hair. He is so famous that even people who have never watched the Dragon Ball series can recognize him. Goku is the top anime character. His popularity later paved the way for Sasuke, Monkey D. Luffy, L and Itachi.
Akira Toriyama created Goku for his Dragon Ball series taking inspiration from the character of Sun Wukong(Son Oh-gong in Korea, Son Goku in Japan and Monkey King in the West), the protagonist of the Chinese novel Journey to the West.
Also read: 7 best Goku.to alternatives with reviews
Goku was initially introduced as an eccentric boy with a monkey tail and superhuman strength. However, it is later revealed that Goku is actually Kakarot, a member of the Saiyan race of Planet Vegeta. He is a truly iconic character that fans have seen grow from a young boy to a strong fighter and a family man.
Vegeta
Series: Dragon Ball
Number of Episodes: 153
Created By: Akira Toriyama
Voice Artist: Ryo Horikawa(Japanese); Christopher R. Sabat, Brian Drummond(English)
After Goku, the Saiyan prince Vegeta is the most recognizable anime male with black hair. Initially introduced as a villain, he is Goku’s key rival throughout the series even though he later joins the side of the heroes.
Also read: The best dragon ball super memes on Super Saiyan God Vegeta
The arrogant and short-tempered Vegeta is an iconic character not just in the context of the Dragon Ball franchise but in the history of manga and anime as a whole.
As a person, he is extremely hard-working and has a regal aura around him. Vegeta also frequently mentions his Saiyan heritage and royal status and believes that he should be regarded as the best fighter in the universe.
He eventually marries Bulma and has a son Trunks and a daughter Bulla with her.
Sasuke Uchiha
Series: Naruto
Number of Episodes: 220
Created By: Masashi Kishimoto
Voice Artist: Noriaki Sugiyama(Japanese); Yuri Lowenthal(English)
Talking about arch rivals with black hair, we have to mention Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto. A member of Team 7 along with Naruto and Sakura, he belongs to the notorious Uchiha clan known for its alliance with Konohagakure and the members’ stunning black hair in distinct styles.
Sasuke is one of the few living members of the Uchiha clan, most of whom were killed by his older brother Itachi(more on him later). He is a cold and distant pre-teen at the beginning of the series but later starts to care about Sakura and Naruto. His friendship with them notwithstanding, Sasuke eventually abandons his friends and home to find Orochimaru and become stronger.
He is one of the most popular characters from Naruto whose abilities are often regarded as being cooler than the titular protagonist by fans.
L Lawliet
Series: Death Note
Number of Episodes: 37
Created By: Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata
Voice Artist: Kappei Yamaguchi(Japanese); Alessandro Juliani(English)
No list of men anime characters with black hair can be complete without this mysterious and eccentric detective from Death Note. L Lawliet, or just L, is the guy tasked with finding the person who is mysteriously killing criminals all over the world.
While most people would expect an older, suave and intelligent man, L is anything but that. Instead, he is a recluse and an awkward and socially inept man in his 20s. His sweet tooth and his distinct sitting posture make him an instantly recognizable character.
L is shrouded in intrigue which has helped cement his popularity. Above all, he is smart and is able to see right through Light’s facade thanks to his own social ineptitude. You should watch Death Note just to witness the brilliance of L and Light’s mind games.
Itachi Uchiha
Series: Naruto
Number of Episodes: 220
Created By: Masashi Kishimoto
Voice Artist: Hideo Ishikawa, Yuka Terasaki(Japanese); Crispin Freeman, Michelle Ruff(English)
The Uchiha men including Sasuke’s older brother Itachi are known for their badassery and their black hair. Sure, Itachi killed all of his clan members and left Sasuke in a lurch but his remarkable life and the things he has been through have made him one of the most beloved Naruto characters.
The older Uchiha sibling is a fan favorite with some badass skills and the best fighting techniques. This man is a prodigy who established the standards that all his clansmen aspire to reach.
However, more than anything else, it is Itachi’s love for Sasuke and his emotional story arc of going from a villain to the unsung hero of a whole generation that has heavily resonated with viewers.
Itachi was a cherished character when he was the handsome psycho killer but the reveals about his past and his redemption have turned him into an anime legend.
Also read: 9 best websites to watch Naruto movies and series
Levi Ackerman
Series: Attack on Titan
Number of Episodes: 94
Created By: Hajime Isayama
Voice Artist: Hiroshi Kamiya(Japanese); Matthew Mercer(English)
Levi Ackerman may not be the protagonist in Attack of Titan but no one can deny that this black-haired man is the most well-known character from the series. Apart from his good looks, Levi is known for his badass fighting skills and sharp tongue.
In Attack on Titan, people live in a post-apocalyptic society where gigantic man-eating Titans have brought humanity to the verge of extinction. Walled cities have been built to protect humans from these monsters. In this perilous world, Levi is the leader of the Survey Corps Special Operations Squad aka Squad Levi.
Our man is humanity’s strongest soldier- the best of the best who leads an elite soldier squad.
Levi can easily destroy anyone with razor-sharp precision with his ODM gear. His strength, dedication, skills and realistic outlook on life make him an admirable and badass anime character.
Roy Mustang
Series: Fullmetal Alchemist
Number of Episodes: 51
Created By: Hiromu Arakawa
Voice Artist: Toru Okawa, Shinichiro Miki(Japanese); Travis Willingham(English)
While Roy Mustang might still be just a colonel State Alchemist in Amestris’ State Military, he strives hard to become the leader of the Artemis. He is a highly ambitious man who works as a “Flame Alchemist” aka people who can create fire with alchemy. Roy is intelligent, tenacious and adaptable but also manipulative and arrogant.
Roy is calm most of the time but touch any of his loved ones and you would start regretting the moment you were born. Just see him fighting two different Sins with his flame alchemy skills to get an idea of his badass powers. Roy is also a competent commander who genuinely cares about the well-being of his subordinates.
Jotaro Kujo
Series: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Number of Episodes: 26
Created By: Hirohiko Araki
Voice Artist: Daisuke Ono, Natsumi Takamori(Japanese); Matthew Mercer, Dorothy Elias-Fahn(English)
Jotaro is the perfect example of a badass anime male character with black hair. In JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, he is the protagonist of the Stardust Crusaders arc. He is the grandson of Joseph Joestar and goes from Egypt to Japan to defeat DIO and save his mother’s life.
Jotaro is particularly popular because of his brooding badboy persona beneath which lies a heart of gold. Even appearance-wise, he is a buff and intimidating man whose one look can shut up people’s mouth.
When it comes to powers and abilities, Jotaro has a Star Platinum Stand that enables him to have incredible speed, strength and precision. Later on in the series, he also gains the ability to stop time for a few seconds. He stoic personality and heroic actions make him an unforgettable character.
7 Best women anime Characters with Black Hair
Yukino Yukinoshita
Series: Oregairu/My Youth Romantic Comedy is Wrong, as I Expected
Number of Episodes: 13+ 1 OVA
Created By: Wataru Watari, Ponkan8
Voice Artist: Saori Hayami(Japanese); Melissa Molano(English)
Oregairu’s Yukino Yukinoshita is beautiful, smart, wealthy and an Ice Queen. She hardly shows empathy or kindness and is, thus, nicknamed “Ice-cold Beauty” because of her demeanor. This black-haired girl is highly practical and logical to the point that she directly analyzes and honestly points out people’s flaws.
Yukino starts becoming kinder as she spends time with Yui and also gradually starts opening up to Hachiman. She later develops feelings for him and decides to accept his confession.
Mikasa Ackerman
Series: Attack on Titan
Number of Episodes: 94
Created By: Hajime Isayama
Voice Artist: Yui Ishikawa(Japanese); Trina Nishimura(English)
The world of Attack on Titan might be overwhelmingly male-dominated but Mikasa Ackerman sure is a girlboss in it. She was a girl who was raised in a loving environment until her parents were murdered by traffickers. She then lived with Eren Yeager and his family till the fall of Wall Maria.
Mikasa later joined the Survey Corps along with Eren to fight against the Titans. Most shounen anime would relegate a character like her to a cheerleader or emotional support for the male lead but she is much more than that.
Mikasa is a skilled warrior and you bet she gives her all to protect the people she cares about. Her charming side that only comes out in front of Eren does a great job of humanizing her. She has faced lots of tragedies but has not let them deter her resolve.
Mai Sakurajima
Series: Rascal Does Not Dream
Number of Episodes: 13
Created By: Hajime Kamoshida, Keji Mizoguchi
Voice Artist: Asami Seto(Japanese)
Rascal Does Not Dream’s protagonist Mai Sakurajima is an intriguing character. She is a celebrated actress and model who tasted fame at a very young age. As she goes on hiatus due to her abusive mother, Mai begins worrying that she will be forgotten by everyone.
She decides to run an experiment by standing in the middle of the school library in a bunny girl outfit to test whether people notice her or not. This moment is definitely one of the most unforgettable character introductions in an anime.
Mai is stoic and emotionally distant due to her upbringing. However, behind the chilly exterior is a kind and strong-willed girl trying to figure out life. She is levelheaded, polite, unexpectedly funny and ends up being providing Sakuta’s younger brother Kaede the support he desperately needed.
Kaguya Shinomiya
Series: Kaguya-sama: Love is War
Number of Episodes: 37+ 1 OVA
Created By: Aka Akasaka
Voice Artist: Aoi Koga(Japanese); Alexis Tipton(English)
Kaguya-sama: Love is War’s titular character is a well-written and multidimensional female anime character. As the student council vice president, she is serious and competent. As the daughter of a business conglomerate, she is cold, calculative and prideful.
However, beneath the prideful exterior, Kaguya is an innocent, kind and fair-hearted teenager whose loneliness and isolation caused her much emotional suffering.
While Kaguya is quite smart when it comes to academics and student council work, she is fairly naive in matters of the heart. Her goofy side comes out with Miyuki- her arch rival.
Nezuko Kamado
Series: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Number of Episodes: 55(as of November 2023)
Created By: Koyoharu Gotouge
Voice Artist: Akari Kito(Japanese); Abby Trott(English)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba begins with the Kamado family being slaughtered by a demon leaving only two survivors- the protagonist Tanjiro Kamado and his sister Nezuko. The latter has been turned into a demon though she still shows human emotion and thought.
It is easy to dismiss Nezuko as the cute younger sister but she is much more than that. She is a strong and likeable character on her own and leaves an impression every time she appears on screen. Her one-to-one fight with Daki is one of the best moments in the series.
As a demon, Nezuko often craves human flesh but she bravely overcomes that urge to become an ally of the Demon Slayer Corps. This gives her character some much-needed depth and cemented her popularity as a strong female anime character with black hair.
Shinobu Kocho
Series: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Number of Episodes: 55(as of November 2023)
Created By: Koyoharu Gotouge
Voice Artist: Saori Hayami(Japanese); Erika Harlacher(English)
Shinobu Kocho works for the Demon Slayer Corps and is the current Insect Hashira. She lost her parents and later her sister to a demon attack and joined the organization to protect others from suffering a similar fate.
Shinobu is an incredibly beautiful woman with purple-hued black hair. She is a creative, intelligent and cool-headed woman whose skills are par excellence.
Outwardly cheerful, Shinobu harbors a deep rage inside her towards demons for taking away her loved ones. She may not have the strength to directly behead them but her deadly stinger katana that can inject a wisteria-based lethal poison to kill or incapacitate them is more than enough.
Megumin
Series: KonoSuba
Number of Episodes: 20+ 2 OVAs(as of July 2017)
Created By: Natsume Akatsuki
Voice Artist: Rie Takahashi(Japanese); Erica Mendez(English)
When it comes to unique female black-haired anime characters, we have to mention Megumin from the KonoSuba series. This adorable girl is a sorcerer who joins the main character Kazuma Satou to defeat the Devil King.
She is eccentric, cocky and specializes in nothing except explosion magic. Megumin strives to perfect her one explosion spell and is not interested in learning any other type of magic. On the other hand, she is also perhaps the most sensible person in the group.
KonoSuba itself is a satire of the fantasy genre and Megumin comes across as a particularly hilarious parody of most anime witches and magical girls.
However, like we said before, for all her antics, she is fairly intelligent and the one who has the most common sense in Kazuma’s group. But it cannot be denied that Megumin’s gags and shenanigans make her an unforgettable anime character.
Who has Black Hair in Naruto?
There are many characters in Naruto who have black hair. It is, in particular, the most recognizable physical trait of the Uchiha clan. Pretty much all Uchiha men such as Sasuke, Itachi and Madara have jet black hair.
However, many non-Uchiha characters like Neji Hyuga also have canonically dark black hair. There is, thus, no dearth of characters with black hair in Naruto.
