Leaders are the most important part of any team. They’re the ones who make decisions, raise morale, and are usually the heart of the team. Having a good leader is important to any organization or team, and a poor leader can leave a team struggling to stay alive.
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Lots of anime feature a team or an organization as part of their worldbuilding,such as sports clubs or adventurer’s guilds. Organizations like these naturally need strong leaders that can help guide their members to success. Here are some of the best leaders in anime that have shown how well they use their authority.
8Yoichi Hiruma (Eyeshield 21)
Sports teams need a reliable leader to lead them to victory on the battlefield. For the Deimon Devilbats football team, that leader is Yoichi Hiruma, a devilish young man who gets into all manner of illegal activities, including collecting firearms, gambling, and blackmailing people to get what he wants.
Despite his various unscrupulous actions, Hiruma is one of the best captains the Deimon Devilbats could ask for. As the team’s quarterback, Hiruma is responsible for many of the team’s plays, and while he may seem ruthless and obsessed with victory at first, he also cares deeply about the well-being of his team.
7Bright Noa (Mobile Suit Gundam)
The Gundam series has always beena story of faction vs. faction, and the originalMobile Suit Gundamis no different. Hero Amuro Ray ends up on the ship White Base while escaping from Zeon’s attack, which is helmed by Bright Noa, a mere ensign. Despite his inexperience, Bright manages to wear the mantle of captain well, eventually helping to bring victory to the Earth Federation.
Despite the extremely high death rate in the Universal CenturyGundamseries, Bright Noa manages to not only survive the original series, but every series up to Char’s Counterattack and beyond. While he does not make great decisions every time, he has to be given credit for his tenacity and strength.
6Yami Sukehiro (Black Clover)
The Black Bulls are seen as the worst magic knight squad in the Clover Kingdom, and Yami Sukehiro is its captain. The Black Bulls are constantly known for being reckless and destructive,and Yami is no different, caring little for the concerns of his fellow captains.
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Despite this, Yami is a good leader to his subordinates. He does his best to keep them out of trouble and always makes sure to protect them as much as he can. Furthermore, his accepting nature allows him to give people like Asta and Noelle who wouldn’t be accepted anywhere else a place to belong.
5Sailor Venus (Sailor Moon)
While Usagi Tsukino is certainly the herodue to her ability to transform intoSailor Moon, by no means is she the leader, being far too airheaded and naive for the role. Instead, the role falls to Minako Aino, who transforms into Sailor Venus.
Minako has had the most experience as a Sailor Guardian compared to the others and has already spent quite some time as a solo fighter under the name Sailor V. As a result, she often leads the other Sailor Guardians against the various enemies they face.
4Roy Mustang (Fullmetal Alchemist)
At first, Roy Mustang seems like an ambitious, career-minded man with a lecherous streak. While his status as a State Alchemist and an esteemed veteran of the Ishbal Civil War earned him his rank of colonel, Mustang is far from satisfied, wanting to become the next leader of Amestris.
However, Mustang is not merely acting out of ambition. The horrors of the war he saw and the corruption ingrained in Amestris' military government stoke a desire inside of him to change things for the better, something he can only do as leader. While carrying out a secret revolution is incredibly difficult, Mustang’s sharp mind and loyal subordinates allow him to keep the upper hand.
3Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass)
The exiled son of the King of Britannia, Lelouch, wants revenge against his father for the death of his mother, but is powerless to do so. That all changes when Lelouch receivesthe power of Geassfrom a mysterious girl, allowing him to impel others to perform one command that can never be taken back.
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Disguising himself as Zero, Lelouch becomes the leader of the Black Knights, a resistance group in Japan fighting back against occupying Britannia. His unique powers and incredible tactical skills allow the resistance to mount a powerful attack against the Empire, leading to an upheaval of the world order.
2Griffith (Berserk)
As the charismatic leader of the Band of the Hawk, Griffith had only one goal in life: to become a king,despite being an orphaned commoner. His blinding charisma and incredible tactical skills brought such a dream within his grasp, only for it to be taken away by his own follies.
After being reborn as Femto, Griffith’s leadership skills and charisma remain core facets of his personality. With a new Band of the Hawk, Griffith continues the path of conquest he had started before, establishing the empire he had always dreamed of creating.
1Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
Monkey D. Luffy isn’t justone of the most recognizable characters in anime, he’s also one of the best examples of a leader as well. As the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Luffy serves as a charismatic heart for the group, rallying them and supporting them even when they’re down.
Luffy’s impact isn’t limited to just his crewmates; new friends, former rivals, and even past enemies have given into Luffy’s charm and helped him out of the many crises he has found himself in. Luffy isn’t the smartest leader around, but he’s got a strong charisma that naturally brings people to him.
