True leaders inspire and motivate their followers by leading them with a clear vision and direction. Western audiences have seen such figures on screen through great TV shows or movies inspired by historical figures. Likewise, anime fans enjoy the archetype of heroic stories and are drawn to characters that are portrayed as such archetypes of leaders.
Characters like this can be found in the Naruto franchise, with fan favorites like Kakashi and Shikamaru captivating fans with their exceptional leadership skills. Their abilities were so impressive that they were chosen to lead entire villages later in the series. There are also mixed opinions about characters like Griffith, who led his team to great success but eventually fell into complete darkness, but their leadership qualities are hard to ignore.
10 Nara Shikamaru
Bored Ninja of Hidden Leaf Village
A laid-back ninja from Hidden Leaf Village, Shikamaru Nara initially appears to be a man of no real ambition, preferring to do the bare minimum and avoid anything that might disturb his peace.
It was during the Chunin Exam Arc that we observed his strategic talents, when he single-handedly paralyzed the entire Sand Village's powerful ninja force. Later, Hokage Lady Tsunade recognized Shikamaru's abilities and appointed him as her advisor, and also entrusted him with the task of recovering Sasuke. The mission was a failure, but thanks to his skills, none of his team members lost their lives.
9 Kyoujuro Rengoku
One of the greatest hashira in anime
For hundreds of years, the Demon Slayer Legion has fought against demons thanks to the fearsome warriors known as the Hashira. They have never gone into battle without risking their lives, and they are the reason the Legion has struggled for so long.
There are other Hashira in the series, but few have as much presence as Kyoujuro Rengoku. He is a flame Hashira who is dedicated to his duty, making him an incredible leader. The scene that best shows his abilities comes in the Mugen Train arc, where he sacrifices himself to protect innocent lives from the Upper Three Demon Akaza.
8 Integra Hellsing
A noblewoman among vampires
Integra Hellsing is the main protagonist of the anime series Hellsing and its OVA adaptation. As the last descendant of the Helsing royal family, she embodies the characteristics of a natural leader and is one of the best-written female characters in anime history.
Integra Hellsing is only 22 years old, but she is very intelligent, has a clear sense of priorities, and is not afraid to make bold decisions when necessary. When her uncle Richard Hellsing plots against her, Integra foils his plans, ultimately killing him and taking over the Hellsing Organization that she inherited.
7 Griffith
The controversial leader of the Band of Hawks
The classic anime and manga series Berserk featured one of the most charming friendships on TV between Guts and Griffith, which changed the fate of both characters completely as the series progressed. Griffith was a capable leader until his obsession with Guts ruined his dreams.
Griffith, founder of the Hawks, quickly rose through the ranks, transforming what began as a simple band of mercenaries into a powerful and royal force. He gathered the best warriors and built a reputation for them that his enemies feared to face on the battlefield, for they were virtually invincible.
6 Roy Mustang
A state alchemist who cares deeply for his followers.
At the beginning of Full Metal Alchemist, Roy Mustang is presented as a cold war veteran who seems indifferent to his ambitions. As the series progresses, we see a different side of him, as he is shown to be a great commander who cares for his men, defining what it means to be a leader.
His character develops greatly after seeing the brutality of the Ishval civil war and the corrupt state of the Amestris military, and he wants to lead his country to a brighter and more just future.
5 Kakashi Hatake
Kakashi, the leader of the iconic Team Seven
The Hidden Leaf Village had a strict shinobi training system, where even the Hokage learned how to become a great ninja. Many shinobi evolved through this system, but only a few became great leaders, one of whom was Kakashi Hatake.
Kakashi, the teacher of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, clearly understood their motivations. He provided them with the essential training they needed to grow and fulfill their destiny. In addition to being a great mentor, Kakashi also performed thousands of missions for the Hidden Leaf Village, which led to his becoming Hokage after the Fourth Shinobi War.
4 Lelouch Lamperouge
The villain prince who plays the rules of politics
Code Geass is one of those animes that can be analyzed from many different angles due to its fascinating story and complex themes. At its core is Lelouch Lamperouge, a Britannian prince turned traitor who swore to kill his mother and defeat his father.
Exiled at the age of ten, Relusch has known the hardships of life since childhood. Driven by a desire to dismantle the Britannian Empire and one day bring peace to the world, he took on the masked identity of Zero. Under this mask, he formed and led the Black Knights, inspiring them to create a massive political movement.
3 All Might
Always smiling Superman who loves helping others
My Hero Academia is often considered a great show for superhero fans, and is part of the shonen anime genre. The show glorifies heroism and absolute power, and All Might, with his overwhelming persona and classic heroic traits, may be the perfect embodiment of that ideal.
The show introduces him as a former Number One Hero with the One For All quirk, who now serves as a mentor to many students at UA High School. Although his prime is over, he remains the leader every hero aspires to be. Always smiling, All Might loves protecting the weak, and makes it his life’s goal to help others.
2 Edward Newgate
Father of many pirates he raised
Edward Newgate, aka Whitebeard, is considered one of the most powerful pirates in the One Piece fandom, with a very high bounty. With his immense height and overwhelming strength due to his Haoshoku Haki procession, he truly lives up to the title of the strongest man in the world.
He is a very fierce man, but he is also a great leader who understands and forgives his crew. He has made many allies and is deeply respected, many of whom are people he has taken in and adopted. They are very loyal to him and would gladly give their lives for him, and Whitebeard himself would go to great lengths for his crew.
1 Irwin Smith
Legendary Commander of the Investigation Corps
Attack on Titan focuses on the theme of human survival in the episode, emphasizing the soldiers who fight against the Titans. In this cruel world, joining the Survey Corps is a death wish, but Irwin Smith stands out because he is willing to sacrifice everything for the greater good.
His confident body language and strategic genius give Commander Erwin all the qualities needed to be a great leader. One of his shining moments in the show comes during the Battle of Shiganshina Earth, where he leads the Survey Corps from the front lines and rallies them to face the Titans head-on, even though he knows it is a suicide mission.
