Today I am turning my attention to the narcissistic characters of the anime world. I’m going to clarify, this is not just a list of narcissists though. It’s pretty easy to make a character narcissistic. What is difficult is to make the audience actually like the self-loving individual.
So who would you have put on a list of narcissistic characters from anime?
Please Note – There are spoilers below. You have been warned.
Honourable mentions this week go to Claire Stanfield from Baccano and Kurama from Kamisama Kiss. Kurama kind of failed to make the list because even though he seems self-absorbed he just doesn’t have the confidence of a true narcissist. Not like those who made the list below.
A more recent honourable mention goes to Takato from Dakaichi. He’s the best kind of narcissist. One with an inferiority complex.
Number 5: Kazuya Shibuya from Ghost Hunt
The guy is nick-named Naru the Narcissist within a day of Mai meeting him. He is completely convinced he is brilliant (not helped by the fact that compared to the company he keeps, he is). Kazuya is 17 years old and running his own company. He hunts ghosts for a living. Not to mention, while the other spiritualists may not approve of his methods they have to approve of his results and track record.
However, just when you start really hating they guy, you get some more insight into his life and his personality. Honestly, the show just wants you to like him (given it is mostly narrated by Mai and she clearly does like him) and it does a good job of helping you see past his narcissistic exterior. At times.
Number 4: Loki from Fairy Tail
I know that there’s a whole other side to this character, but focussing on how he is when Lucy first meets him, he is a womanizing narcissist. The later character arcs for Loki do a lot to make you empathise with him and understand him, and he also just develops beyond the shallow existence he was living, but he is still definitely a narcissist.
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Number 3: Seiya Kanie from Amagi Brilliant Park
This one is too easy. The guy loves himself. A grown up child star who completely believes he is amazing. I really wouldn’t want to meet him after the events in the series because I am certain that while he has grown emotionally in some ways, his success will just make him more of an unbearable narcissist. But that is why he is on my list. Because he does grow and develop throughout the series so even though you still don’t much like him, you want him to succeed. I found that was some very affective writing that made me actually want him to win.
Number 2: Yumichika Ayasegawa from Bleach
We could just look at his picture and realise, yep, this guy is definitely a narcissist. Even his seat number (fifth seat) was chosen because he didn’t want to take the third seat from his friend and he liked the number 5 more than 4. Really? And this guy won’t even fight against ugly people unless they really annoy him. He is so incredibly vain. You have to laugh when his hair, outfit or face get messed up. It’s just too perfect.
Number 1: Alex Louis Armstrong from Full Metal Alchemist
I couldn’t resist this one. Yes, there are greater narcissists in the world, but none of them as lovable. And that is why Alex Louis Armstrong tops out my list. True, it is only his physical appearance and alchemy that he is self-absorbed with and he is well aware of his limitations in other areas (hard not to be with so many people willing to point that out).
There’s just something completely charming about him even as he is completely crazy. While I think more of him in the series would have been a bit hard to swallow, his appearances were regularly marked by humour or sweet and touching moments that made his character all the more memorable.
So, who did I miss? Share your thoughts on the narcissists of the anime world below.
Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James
Kanie é perfeito sendo arrogante e Narcisista u.u
Yumichaka is such a good choice and it was funny with how he would always say he would fight or do something “beautifully”.
I don’t know if he is narcissistic or just arrogant but Escanor from Seven deadly has to be thought of. I mean he is one of my favourite chracters of all time bceause he is too funny
“This method of short-distance sprinting has been passed down the Armstrong line for generations!”
Nice list! Yumi’s so legit. I wasn’t expecting Loki, but yeah. Makes sense.
P.S. Atobe Keigo from Prince of Tennis CANNOT see this list. He’ll sue you for not mentioning him! 🤣😂
Prince of Tennis has forever been on my list of anime to eventually watch. I still haven’t actually gotten to it though.
Great Post
I’d make a sensible comment but i can’t take my eyes off Alex Louis Armstrong’s abs!
My additional suggestion – Gary Oak – i can’t think of any other character with their own set of cheerleaders
Alex Louis Armstrong is the one narcissist in this list that I can’t just bear to hate. He’s so adorable! I would’ve added JJ from Yuri on Ice. I can’t hate him either, although I find him annoying. His JJ-style gesture has become a normal gesture for me now. Good and entertaining post. Cheers!
I think if I re-did the list post Yuri on Ice, JJ would definitely be added. I don’t know where in the list he would sit because I don’t think he is quite as narcissistic as Armstrong but still JJ clearly needs a spot these days.
Oh, I see. Makes sense. Hmmmm. I think I would have out him at first but perhaps that’s just be being biased as I’m still so into YOI wonderland. 😂
I don’t know. He mostly manages to keep his clothes on unlike Armstrong.
Ahahahaha! That’s true. Armstrong’s clothes just pops right off and those diamonds flashing in the background…
I always wondered whether the diamonds were somehow attached to him or if they just floated nearby waiting for the chance to appear.
Ahahaha! That’s so true. At least JJ didn’t have that. Although he has that very catchy theme song and that annoyingly cool JJ-style pose.
Yeah, what was with that pose? And do fingers actually make that shape when you try it in reality?
It does. I tried it. I actually do it all the time. Takes a bit of practice but it does really look like that in reality.
A good list and now new anime to watch as I now need to ‘meet’ Seiya Kanie and Kazuya Shibuya! I love narcissistic characters!
Kazuya is an awesome character and I really love Ghost Hunt. Seiya is funny for about two episodes and then the show itself takes a downhill slide but his character kind of grows on you.
I will def watch Ghost Hunt then! Will bump it higher on my list. Will wait on the other one thou
Hope you enjoy it.
I love your list. I would also place Armstrong in top 1 if I have to create a post like this. Upon reading your title, he’s already in my mind. Haha.
You made the top spot someone who’s not only narcissistic, but likable? I approve.
Kanie-kun <3
Hahaha good list
Loved your list ahaha Armstrong number one wouldn’t have picked anyone else 😊
I’m glad Armstrong got a look in and as I’ve been binging Bleach recently it out a smile on my face to see Yumichika.
Yumichika really deserved to be on this list as narcissism is definitely his defining personality trait and yet he still kind of grows on you as a character.
Most definitely ^^