10 Best God Anime Characters That You Should Know Update 04/2024

God Anime Characters

the most powerful anime gods, according to the official rankings of the top 15

Which anime gods might threaten Thanos, annihilate Odin, or destroy Darkseid??? CBR rates the most powerful weapons in existence.

Japanese anime takes a significantly different approach to the concept of divinity than most Western media. In Japan, Shintoism and Buddhism are the country’s two primary religions. Kami can be found in almost anything in Shinto (a word that has no direct translation in English but can roughly translate to “god” or “spirit”). Buddhism, on the other hand, places the emphasis on the potential for human enlightenment rather than the existence of gods, allowing it to be easily assimilated into other religious traditions. There are many examples of Western mythology and religion being used in anime, often in inventive ways.

What are the most powerful anime gods? Who might threaten Thanos, annihilate Odin, or obliterate and destroy Darkseid? The following list seeks to present a perspective on 15 of the medium’s most renowned deities’ strength, abilities, and general awesomeness. For the sake of diversity, this list will only include one god-like character from each anime series or movie. Which list do you agree or disagree with, and why? Are there any gods that we haven’t mentioned that people should be aware of? Please share your thoughts in the section below.

1. THE NARRATOR (SPACE DANDY)

THE NARRATOR (SPACE DANDY)

It’s no surprise that Space Dandy’s Narrator is a standout character. The characters are aware of his presence, and at times respond to him in kind. Chameleon aliens, shapeshifters who can take on the form of others, were the only physical manifestations of him. Ambienciens, the disembodied voices who give a laugh track in one episode, may also have a connection to the narrator. He was also bitten by a zombie at some point. Ultimately, he shows his divinity.

This is a monotheistic Abrahamic-style god who created the universe. However, he’s also deteriorating quickly. When this reality ends and a new one begins, the Narrator’s only hope for a successor is Dandy. Ascending to godhood would interfere with Dandy’s “physical pleasures,” so he rejects the Narrator’s proposal. In this way, the universe is reborn. Even though the Narrator served faithfully for 14.8 billion years, the clock has struck zero, and his final mission was a flop. Yet a billion-year-future flashback in “A Race in Space is Dangerous, Baby” indicates Dandy may eventually become a Buddha.

2. MADOKA KANAME

Madoka would be at the top of the list if the Puella Magi Madoka Magica TV series became legit. Her wish to become a magical girl in the last episode of the show is so great that it rewrites the entire universe and makes her a goddess. Replaces witchcraft with a system where magical girls who die in battle can rest in peace in her heaven, breaking the cycle of magical girls becoming witches. She loses her physical form and most people, except for her lover Homura and her younger brother Tatsuya, forget she ever existed, yet this goddess is powerful even if there are no devotees to call upon her.

However, in the Rebellion sequel film, she is undone by her one true devotee.

In the film’s controversial conclusion, Homura drags Madoka to Earth and transforms her into a normal adolescent. In this story, Homura becomes the Satanic equivalent to Madoka because of her fixation, and in the end, Satan triumphs. Although many fans would prefer not to accept this film as canon, it exists. Madoka’s power ranking plummets as a result of her defeat.

3. LAIN IWAKURA

LAIN IWAKURA

Experiments that take place over time Lain is one of those animes that you watch if you’re looking for a good scare and a lot of confusion. It’s pointless to try to make sense of it all on the first viewing; you just have to accept it and do your best to figure things out. How stable of a human girl is Lain Iwakura? Is this a sentient computer program? No, that’s not a joke. This woman appears to be all of these things. “The real world” and “The Wired,” a digital depiction of the internet, get blurred by her abilities. A life like this is exhausting and, in the end, very depressing.

For a time, Lain uses The Wired to find people she can’t find in the actual world, creating an online character that contrasts with her shy image in the real world. In addition, she grows more “evil” in her sadistic tendencies. At the same time that she comes to terms with her newfound godliness, her closest friend Alice is left traumatized by her loss of contact with the humanity she had sought to connect with. The only way Lain can regain control of her several personas and save Alice while also returning reality to some semblance of normalcy is by erasing herself from it. She continues to exist as an omnipotent deity, but no one knows who she is.

4. RYUK

As a classical tragedy, Death Note tells the story of the folly of man’s hubris in believing he is equal to the gods. When he acquires a notebook belonging to a death god, Light Yagami, the protagonist of the anime, manga, and many live-action adaptations, assumes the role of god. As “Kira,” Light creates a cult of followers who love him for his ability to select who should live or die on the spur of the moment. However, he does not possess the Death Note’s true power.

Despite Ryuk’s apparent lack of interest in letting Kira play with the Death Note, the shinigami’s actual power is undeniable.

Like in a good tragedy, the gods triumph over human stupidity in the end. It was Ryuk who wrote the name “Light” in the Death Note at the end of the story, after he had warned Light of his eventual fate at the outset. Ryuk, unlike in the Netflix film, isn’t overtly a bad influence on Light in the anime, frequently pointing out that Light is even more evil than he is. As far as he’s concerned, the outcome doesn’t really matter to him; he sees everything as a joke.

5. THE GREAT FOREST SPIRIT (PRINCESS MONONOKE)

THE GREAT FOREST SPIRIT (PRINCESS MONONOKE)

Encroachment of industry on the gods of the forest is a major theme in Princess Mononoke. Even if they’re clearly in the wrong, people aren’t represented as “evil” so much as just egotistical and ignorant of their deeds. Neither is nature portrayed as a force of moral “good,” but rather as a necessary power that humans play with at their peril. A deer and a gelatinous Night-Walker are both forms of The Great Forest Spirit, the god of life and death, who takes the form of the latter at night.

In battle, other gods may succumb, but the Great Forest Spirit stands firm. Despite Lady Eboshi, Irontown’s human leader, shooting off the Forest Spirit’s head, it refuses to succumb to the god’s wrath. The Forest Spirit poisons all he touches when he is without his head, causing devastation in both the natural and human worlds. As soon as Ashitaka and San give him back his head, all is well again. There are still traces of his presence in nature that humanity must learn to respect, even as his bodily form fades away.

6. THE TRUTH (FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD)

There are several ways to refer to God, but he’s the most common. The entire globe. The Cosmos. All of us. “You.” A more abstract and brutal conception of “God” is presented in The Truth, which fits well with Fullmetal Alchemist’s critical attitude against organized religion. In a sense, it’s the world itself, and it enforces its own rules without pity or mercy. Should we worship a god that tortures and kills children in order to bring their mother back to life? Is it even possible to believe it is what it claims to be? Edward Elric, an atheist, doesn’t believe it.

This list would be incomplete without The Truth, despite the fact that its unquestionable enforcement of natural laws and its verified presence on every planet in the universe make it a “god” to some. You’ll never be able to defeat the Truth. To become a deity, Father, the ultimate villain of the original Fullmetal Alchemist manga and the 2009 Brotherhood anime, takes on The Truth’s power, but as The Truth’s entire MO is keeping mankind from infringing onto God’s territory, this naturally fails for Father. Despite your best efforts, you’ll have to make a sacrifice in order to recoup the worth you’ve lost to The Truth’s deceit.

7. ZENO

ZENO

Dragon Ball characters could easily fill half of this list if it weren’t for the one character per series limit. For more than any other anime, the Dragon Ball series is known for its growing power levels (over 9000!) and the regular presence of god-level threats. Who among the gods is the most powerful? To put it another way, Dragon Ball Super answered the question of who is the strongest in 12 universes, the most recent anime in the series. The strongest in 18 universes at one time, this goofy-looking god got angry and destroyed six of them, as it turns out now. Zeno the Omni-King has a power level like that.

Zeno’s prestige in Dragon Ball is best demonstrated by the fact that no one dares to challenge him.

As long as everyone knows he’s capable of annihilating them in the blink of an eye, he’s happy to organize tournaments and watch the action from the sidelines. Zeno is the most powerful god in the multiverse, even if he appears to be an ordinary mortal. Even in a future scenario, he is the sole living god, and one of the only surviving beings in general, along with Trunks and Mai

8. ARCEUS

This list’s rankings have entered into a very contentious area. Arceus vs. Zeno: The most powerful gods from the two most popular anime series face off in one of the most popular online fantasy bouts. People are vehemently divided on this, and it’s easy to see why. More universes are under Zeno’s power than Arceus governs, which is merely the Pokemon universe. Unlike Zeno, Arceus has more dimensions under his control.

When it comes to controlling time, Arceus has an advantage over Zeno because he has access to more dimensions. Because he lacks the ability to alter the course of time, Zeno must rely on the assistance of a time machine if he is to avoid a terrible future. A time machine’s movement in spacetime can be stopped even when Zeno has access to one in the middle of a conflict. Arceus has a speed edge over Zeno because Zeno has been demonstrated to be confused and surprised by motions at the fastest speeds. In theory, Zeno could destroy Arceus by convincing it to give up its plates, a move that would end Arceus’ immortality. However, Zeno isn’t that cunning. The Pokemon can be identified by pointing at it.

9. HARUHI SUZUMIYA

HARUHI SUZUMIYA

What if God was just like the rest of us, a slob? A high school student is God in The Melancholia of Haruhi Suzumiya, although she does not realize it. Out of boredom, Haruhi Suzumiya created the universe three years ago. By her desire alone, she would win any battle with other anime gods. Her subconscious desires are always fulfilled. There are aliens and ESP and time travel because she wants them to exist. Even though she’s a genius, she doesn’t know it. Aware of these, she would get bored and inflict more turmoil on the situation to satisfy her own desires. Her SOS Brigade pals (the majority of whom are also secretly supernatural beings) have the duty to keep her entertained, but not too entertained, so as not to jeopardize the delicate equilibrium of their universe.

There are still persons who list their religion as “Haruhiism,” whether jokingly or not.

After a series of young adult novels were made into an anime in 2006, Haruhi became something of a cultural phenomenon among Japanese otaku. The term “Haruhiism” is still used to describe a person’s faith, whether playfully or not. In retrospect, it’s clear how depraved and unsettling Haruhi is as a god. She’s adorable, and her pranks are often amusing, but just thinking about how she uses her power is a little unnerving. Despite her lack of respect for societal norms, the other key characters tolerate her abuse because they know that if she does, the world will end.

10. OSAMU TEZUKA

Okay, so Osamu Tezuka isn’t a deity in the eyes of normal humans. But what about the characters in anime and manga? Isn’t he the reason that none of your favorite things exist? This is a subject that can easily become pretentious, yet Osamu Tezuka is known as the “God of Manga” for a reason. It’s true that many people refer to Osamu Tezuka as “the god of manga,” therefore in a sense, he’s the most powerful “anime god.”

If you’re not familiar with Tezuka’s work, you may recognize some of the characters he’s drawn. His most well-known works in the United States are Astro Boy (the first ever TV anime) and Kimba, the White Lion (which Disney may or may not have taken off for sections of The Lion King). Among the many genres in which he has had an impact are everything from fairy-tale princess stories like Princess Knight and Black Jack to philosophical science fiction like Phoenix and even more risqué fare like Phoenix. All of the manga and anime you enjoy today would not have been possible without the work of Tezuka. Is it snobbish to refer to someone as “the god of manga?” Maybe. Everybody, though, does it for Tezuka.