Summary

  • Knights in anime are iconic figures, wielding swords with grace and honor to captivate fans with their skills on the battlefield.
  • Medieval fantasy anime has seen a rise of fan-favorite knights in popular series like Sword Art Online and Seven Deadly Sins.
  • Knights like Seiya, Parn, and Clare stand out in their respective series, embodying ideals of loyalty, compassion, and unmatched lethality.

Knights are very popular characters in anime that shine bright alongside or even as the main character of a series. Swords, shields, and spears in these characters' hands cut through battlefields with grace and honor and leave fans in awe of their skill.

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Medieval fantasy anime has had a significant increase in releases in the past years, and an abundance of new knights have hit the scene in fan-favorite series such as Sword Art Online and Seven Deadly Sin s. Some of these characters have become iconic as the fan favorites of their show and key components in the story.

Updated on March 9, 2024, By C.M. Edwards: Anime is home to many different types of archetypes that embody certain ideals, virtues, and vices. One of the archetypes that break out and shine brighter than the rest is knights in shining armor. Knights have been littered through history and fantastical tales, fighting against injustice, wielding swords with dire precision, and wearing armor to showcase their accomplishments. Anime also features countless knights throughout various series that capture the attention of thousands of fans and leave strong impressions.

12 Meliodas

A Short King Who Always Comes Through

meliodas Percival dragon handle
The Seven Deadly Sins
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Release Date
October 5, 2014
Studio
A-1 Pictures
Creator
Nakaba Suzuki
Streaming Service(s)
Netflix

At first glance, Meliodas is a half-pint rascal with a million-dollar smile, but behind his cheery disposition lies a secret of unimaginable proportions. Meliodas is the leader of the Seven Deadly Sins.

While not the most powerful of the Seven Deadly Sins, Meliodas is near unbeatable when giving it his all. As the offspring of the demon king, Meliodas has a wide range of abilities, both magical and darkness-inclined.

11 Lancelot

Half Immortal And Half Fairy

Four Knights Lancelot
The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse
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The main story of The Seven Deadly Sins has come to a close, and the spin-off series, The Four Knights of the Apocalypse, has sprung into high gear and unveiled its second season. This series takes place years after the original series and introduces a slew of new characters, one of which is Lancelot.

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Lancelot is the son of Bang and Elaine and has risen to his father's reputation and become a holy knight and one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Lancelot is a cool-headed and stoic person with a short fuse for dishonest people.

10 Seiya

A Silver Light Of Hope

saint seiya knights of the zodiac
Saint Seiya
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Release Date
October 11, 1986
Studio
Toei Animation
Creator
Masami Kurumada
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

Among all the knights that serve Athena in the great war, charged with protecting the galaxy from evil, none other knight stands out like Seiya. Seiya's story is unconventional; as the main character of Knights of the Zodiac, he pledges his loyalty to Athena and takes up the mantle, being granted the Pegasus cloth.

Over time, Seiya has become one of the strongest knights in the ranks and has retained his kind and honest personality. Seiya has faced grave threats but never for a moment allowed his conviction to waver.

9 Parn

A Stout Image Of Conviction

parn record of lodoss war
Record Of Lodoss War
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Release Date
April 1, 1998
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Record of Lodoss War is a classic within anime history that grew popular during the late 90s anime boom. The story follows a group of adventurers who must face off against an evil power to protect the land of Lodoss before its engulfed by chaos. Parn is the leader and the knight of the party; the sole responsibility to lead his friends to victory rests on his shoulders.

Parn is the child of a famously disgraced knight, which drove him to become one himself to redeem his family name. Parn is a very compassionate individual who believes in being on the right side of things and isn't afraid to speak his mind. In addition, he is an expert fighter, having gained insurmountable experience during several wars, earning him a fair amount of respect.

8 Skull Knight

A Black Armored Protector Of The Weak

skull knight berserk
Berserk
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Release Date
July 1, 2016
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Skull Knight serves as the immortal constant enemy of the God Hand within the Berserk universe; not much is known about his history, only that he is a victim of the eclipse. Surviving, he has devoted his life to destroying the members of the God Hand.

Skull Knight is also the savior of Guts and Casca, rescuing them from the God Hand's demonic realm during the last eclipse and treating Guts as a makeshift successor to his cause. Skull Knight has bestowed his knowledge of the God Hand on Guts and aids him in battle when necessary. This knight is an immensely powerful foe, able to travel to different dimensions and even fight on equal terms with Zod.

7 Clare

Beauty Paired With Unparalleled Lethality

clare claymore
Claymore
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Release Date
April 4, 2007
Studio
Madhouse
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

Claymore is another classic anime that paved the way for visceral and bloody series like Goblin Slayer and Attack on Titan. The series takes place in a world where an organization of female half-demon warriors engages in battle against demonic foes called Youma.

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Clare is the series' main protagonist and stands out as a mighty warrior and devout comrade. On the surface, she is a cold and efficient slayer of demons, or “Youma;” however, under the surface, she is as human as the people she saves every day. Clare's journey to put a stop to the demon menace takes turns she does not expect, and her growth is substantial.

6 Suzaku Kururugi

Noble To His Core And Loyal Without A Fault

suzaku code geass
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
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Release Date
October 6, 2006
Studio
Sunrise
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

Suzaku draws much respect as the character who rose up from nothing to become one of the most valiant knights within the Code Geass universe. Born in a world where Japanese descent is discriminated against, Suzaku faces a giant wall to prove that he and the Japanese people are admirable human beings.

Along the way, Suzaku loses himself after he has obtained everything he wants, which makes for one of the most interesting character developments. Suzaku stayed true to the oaths he swore as a knight even while scrutinized and became known as the White Grim reaper on the battlefield. Suzaku is a noble and strong-willed fighter who will stop at nothing to punish those who seek to cause chaos.

5 Arc

Proves The Armor Doesn't Make The Hero

ARC in skeleton knight in another world
Skeleton Knight in Another World
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Release Date
April 7, 2022
Studio
Studio Kai, Hornets
Creator
Ennki Hakari
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

Skeleton Knight in Another World introduces Arc as an armor-clad warrior who wields powerful magic and a long sword that cleaves trees in two. Underneath the armor, Arc is a NEET who was transported to another world after falling asleep playing his favorite game.

Arc adopted the persona of a chivalrous knight and portrayed the trope well, saving countless lives on his first day and earning the respect of all who encountered him. Arc can utilize strong magic spells like teleportation and Wyvern Slash that take out opponents in the blink of an eye. This, along with his incredibly powerful attributes, makes him an iconic knight who stands out among the crowd.

4 Arthur Boyle

A Delusional Force Of Nature

arthur fire force
Fire Force
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Release Date
July 6, 2019
Studio
David Production
Creator
Atsushi Ohkubo
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

Arthur Boyle is the self-proclaimed king of knights in the Fire Force anime; he is a member of the Special Fire Force Company 8 along with Shinra. Arthur is a very odd individual to his peers, resembling a teenager with what's known as Chunibyo, a victim of grandiose delusions that he believes to be real.

His fantasies have pushed him to adopt the persona of a knight of old that is to put a stop to the infernal menace that plagues the world. Arthur utilizes a heat sword that he uses in combination with his third-generation pyrokinetic abilities. He is skilled enough to go one-on-one with Shinra at his strongest and not become overwhelmed.

3 Saber

The Knight That Stands Above All As King

saber fate stay night
Fate/stay night
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Release Date
January 7, 2006
Studio
Studio Deen
Creator
Type-Moon
Streaming Service(s)
HIDIVE

Fate/stay night is filled with powerful characters, but none are as noble or dedicated as Saber. From her first appearance after being summoned by Emiya, Saber portrayed an elegance and confidence that raised her above the common servants in the series.

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In history, Saber was the once-great king, Arthur, who led the Knights of the Round Table and is arguably the greatest knight in existence. Saber uses the legendary sword Excalibur to battle against rival servants and protect the mages in her charge. She has often stepped on the battlefield against impossible odds and walked off triumphantly. With a great sense of justice and strength, she is one of the most iconic knights in anime.