There might not be another anime main character more well-known around the world than Goku. In the decades since its first chapter, Dragon Ball has become one of the most well-known manga and anime series, and as a result, people from all over know the series' leading man.
But plenty of other anime MCs have come around since Goku first hit the scene. As great and iconic as he is, you could make an argument that these anime protagonists are just better-written.
DBZ's Voice of Goku Officially Reacts to Dragon Ball Super Remake
Dragon Ball's English voice actor for Goku, Sean Schemmel, officially commented on the Dragon Ball Super remake while speaking with fans.
Gintoki Sakata
On the surface, Gintoki might seem like another goofy, fun shonen protagonist. He has his fair share of quirks, and his unique personality helps drive a lot of Gintama's absurdist comedy. But there's more to Gin and the series than well-executed comedic moments. Beneath it all, Gin stands as one of the more interesting shonen protagonists.
Though Gin comes across as a sort of layabout and can be fairly immature at times, there are plenty of times throughout the series that show a different, more grounded version of the character. Gin has faced adversity, and there are times throughout the series where he has to face his past. While they're often shown to butt heads for comedic effect, you can tell Gin really cares about Shinpachi, Kagura, and the rest of his inner circle. He doesn't necessarily have some grand goal to strive for or anything like that; he's just a normal guy who cares about the people around him and likes to read Jump.
Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama
Saitama might be the most famous of ONE's protagonists, but one could argue that Mob is the more interesting one. At first, Mob seems like a very typical shy, loner character. He doesn't look all that interesting, and doesn't do much, if anything, to stand out. But that's all by design. Though Mob seems unremarkable, he's actually an incredibly powerful psychic.
Most people would let that give them a bit of an ego, but Mob shows an unwillingness to rely on his psychic abilities. He joins his school's Body Improvement Club, looking to grow through hard work rather than just coasting on his psychic abilities. Mob's psychic abilities are incredibly advanced, but he doesn't let them affect how he acts or how he treats people. Having had so much power from a young age, Mob was forced to become reserved, and a big part of Mob Psycho 100 is watching Mob become more comfortable with himself, making him a great down-to-earth character despite his overwhelming power.
Haruhi Suzumiya
Goku might be the most well-known anime protagonist out there, but there was a time in the mid-2000s when Haruhi Suzumiya looked like she'd be the next big thing. Haruhi might not be the force of nature she was two decades ago, but she's still a great character.
Haruhi comes off as incredibly bossy at times and can be insensitive at times. But she's also incredibly caring and loyal to her friends in the SOS Brigade. She always attacks whatever she and the rest of the club do with an energy and enthusiasm that you can't help but admire. Can she be a little much at times? Sure. But that's part of the fun.
Guts
Is there a character in anime more tragic than Guts? Berserk isn't for the faint of heart. Its world is cruel and unforgiving, often showing us just how helpless people can be in the face of horrible adversity and unfortunate circumstances. Its main cast is no different.
The Golden Age Arc does a great job of establishing Guts as a character alongside key members of the Band of the Hawk like Casca, Griffith, Judeau, Pippin, Rickert, and Corkus. The arc shows us Guts' tragic past, how it shaped him into the loner mercenary we meet at the beginning of the series, and how his relationship with the Band of the Hawk helps him evolve into a more three-dimensional character. Guts tries to pave his own path, finding the will to live his life in a way that he sees worthwhile. Of course, certain events lead to Guts becoming a damaged, revenge-driven character. The difficult journey he sets out on, alongside the obstacles life has already thrown him, is why Guts is such an interesting character, and why fans have been rooting for him all these years.
Spike Spiegel
Spike is definitely one of the coolest anime characters out there. But beneath all the charm and old-school cool, there's a deeply damaged, amazing character who serves as the heart and soul of Cowboy Bebo p.
It's easy to see Spike's appeal as a main character. He's a cigarette-smoking, gun-wielding martial artist who stays cool and collected in the most dire situations, and has a laissez-faire attitude that you can't help but admire. But Spike is a much more damaged character than he initially seems to be. Beneath his nonchalance is a traumatic past rooted in loss and regret. Spike sort of just lingers on, unable to let go of the past. When you see it that way, his carefree, lazy personality goes from being charming to tragic. He's not a traditional hero. Though he does seem to be a decent person, Spike doesn't do things with a strong sense of justice in mind and instead does what he has to do to get by.
Edward Elric
It's hard not to feel for the Elric brothers. Orphaned at a young age and abandoned by their father, the boys' lives were already tragic enough before a misguided, grief-motivated attempt at bringing back their dead mother left both Edward and Alphonse Elric physically and mentally scarred.
Edward's journey throughout the series is a big part of why Fullmetal Alchemist is such a great show. He's still very immature, but he's had to shoulder so much and has already learned so many difficult life lessons that he has the kind of insight and perspective that not many shonen characters like him are shown to have. The guilt he feels over his and Al's accident lingers throughout most of the series, making him feel like he has to shoulder the burden alone, and eventually forcing him to let others in and accept help.
Eren Yeager
Eren is hands down the most controversial anime protagonist out there, and that's exactly why he's such a great MC. Starting out as a scrappy, angry underdog, we saw Eren face trial after trial, navigating the Titan threat, mysteries beyond the wall, and later on, the truth behind Paradis' past.
Anime and manga fans know how this plays out, with Eren playing the role of villain towards the end of the series and committing the most heinous act mankind had ever seen. While most anime protagonists are good, just people, Eren's morality is much more grey. He has blood on his hands, and while some understand his motivations and why he did what he did, others can't look past his transgressions. The conversation around Eren's actions is still going on to this day, which shows just how well-written a character he is.
