Making box office history, the colossal success ofDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibe the Movie: Mugen Train is an undeniable triumph for anime and foreign-language films as a medium. Unique to the Demon Slayer movie is its place in the chronology of the series—essentially the film covers the narrative arc that bridges the first season and the second.
While Tanjiro Kamado is the protagonist, Mugen Train heavily features the heroic Kyojuro Rengoku, a powerful leader within the Demon Slayer Corps known by his title as the Flame Hashira. After watching the blockbuster movie and now waiting for the highly anticipated second season, fans of Rengoku may find new ways to set their hearts ablaze by watching other anime that Rengoku's voice actor, Satoshi Hino, has lent his talents to.
Bakuman: Akito Takagi
A touching and inspiring tale of the trials and tribulations of the manga industry, Bakuman details Moritaka Mashiro and Akito Takagi's journey to make it as mangaka in Japan. Mashiro, while a talented artist, is hesitant to commit to his dream of becoming a serialized manga artist due to his uncle's death that resulted from overworking himself in that very industry.
The decision paralysis Mashiro feels is on-brand for his timid and indecisive personality; Akito Takagi, highly intelligent and driven, serves as a perfect partner to Mashiro in temperament and skill set. Mashiro's excellent drawings are paired with Takagi's flair for writing in an effort to make their shared dream a reality as a team.
Code Geass: Ryou Sayama
Following the conquering and subsequent colonization of Japan by the Holy Britannian Empire, Code Geass explores the political and societal ramifications of a country forcefully stripped of its traditions and even name. Elevens, formerly known as Japanese, have the opportunity to integrate themselves into Britannia's empire as second-class citizens or face even harsher persecution.
Ryou Sayama is an Eleven that believes in the fighting spirit but not in the same grandiose way as other characters who glorify the notion of revolution. Rather than political or ideological motivators, Ryou's impetus is finding a home for his friends; stylized in a way that pays homage to delinquent culture, Ryou has developed a violent and volatile temperament as a means for protecting those he cherishes.
Gintama: Kamui
Set in an alternate-history Earth that has been irrevocably changed societally and technologically by the invasion of aliens, Gintama blends genres—ranging from comedy and slice of life to intense battle shounen—in a style that is reflective of the anachronistic elements of a Japan that features futuristic spaceships, Tokyo-esque highrises, and Edo-period villages.
Kamui is a major antagonist to the series and a member of the Yato tribe of humanoid aliens with incredible fighting and regenerative abilities, seemingly only weak to the sun. Kamui is a quintessential example of his race's ferocity and combat capabilities, as he is able to fight multiple highly skilled warriors simultaneously.
Haikyuu!!: Sawamura Daichi
Haikyuu!!'s ascension into the rarified air of anime's upper-echelon of popular and critically acclaimed series comes on the wings of its jaw-dropping animation and heart-warming character development. At the center of the anime and Karasuno's high-octane offense is the dynamic duo of first-year players Tobio Kageyama and Shouyou Hinata.
While the younger players are certainly responsible for elevating Karasuno to new heights, the team's captain, Sawamura Daichi, is responsible for motivating his players and encouraging them to do their best. Daichi's personality is as rock-solid as his defense; he is kind and determined with a natural aptitude for leadership.
Overlord: Ainz Ooal Gown/Momonga
Contributing to one of anime's most widely used genres—the "isekai," or "transported to a new world"—Overlord is a love letter to MMORPG power fantasies. As a high-level end-game player, Ainz Ooal Gown and his guild dominated the online game "YGGDRASIL." After a mysterious event that saw Ainz seamlessly move from his game as its servers were being permanently closed to a "New World" predicated on a blending of game mechanics with worldly consequences, he discovers that NPCs are now intelligent and conscious beings.
Ainz embodies the "strategic player" archetype, as he is incredibly cautious and tends to act only once he has ed for all possible outcomes. Possessing immense power and responsibility in the New World, Ainz seeks to balance the care of his subjects with his proclivity for min/maxing as a strategist.
The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.: Kineshi Hairo
A major aspect of The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.'s charm stems from its casts' diverse and interesting personalities being played against one another or in paranormal situations for comedic effect. Kusuo Saiki's world-altering psychic powers and desire to remain aloof aren't enough to prevent his classmates from forming bonds with him, and Kineshi Hairo is no exception.
Incredibly enthusiastic, driven, and athletic, Hairo's burning ion for nearly any task is as infectious as a spreading flame—once he has set his focus it's likely that he'll soon have the whole class giving their all towards a shared objective. While Hairo's personality is nearly a direct foil to Saiki's, the Hairo often finds some good-natured or unintentional means for roping Saiki into participating in a group activity.
The Familiar Of Zero: Saito Hiraga
Responsible for contributing to the early popularity of the isekai genre, The Familiar of Zero follows an average Japanese boy summoned by magic to another world to serve as a mage's familiar. Protagonist Saito Hiraga, the titular familiar, is astonished to find himself in service to princess Louise de la Vallière in a world filled with typical fantasy elements: kingdoms, magic, and mystical creatures.
While Saito is summoned against his will and forced to adapt to an entirely new environment, he eventually grows attached to Louise and a number of her peers. Adorned in runes and manifesting an aptitude for wielding weapons, Saito proves himself to be a surprisingly useful familiar.
Shakugan no Shana: Yuuji Sakai
Taking place between Earth and a plane of existence known as the Crimson Realm, Shakugan no Shana details a conflict between two factions of beings that far sur the power of humanity, the Crimson Denizens, and the empowered bidimensional Flame Hazes. Denizens utilize a force originating from life known as "The Power of Existence," which they often steal from humans in a ploy for power that disrupts the balance between dimensions.
Yuuji Sakai is a human-turned-torch, essentially a person drained of their Power of Existence and exists only as a shell of their former self. It is later revealed that Yuuji is in possession of a powerful device that maintains his existence, which allows him to dedicate himself to assisting the Flame Haze he names "Shana."
