10 Most American Anime Characters Ever, Ranked

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Anime often explores Japanese culture and history. But occasionally, anime turns its attention overseas, especially to the United States. Sometimes, it's respectful, and other times, it leans fully into caricature. Either way, when an anime character is meant to be American, there's rarely anything subtle about it. From cowboy aesthetics to love of fast food, the anime portrayal of America often feels quite exaggerated, but rarely ever offensive.

Some characters earn their stars and stripes through backstory. Others wear their American identity like a costume. And a few don't even have to be from the U.S. to channel everything about the country's culture. These characters, like Joseph Joestar and Vash the Stampede, might be lovable or downright ridiculous, but they all stand out for just how American they are in design or sheer attitude.

10 Spike Spiegel Is a Drifter With American Noir Swagger

A Jazz-Loving, Space-Wandering Cowboy

Close

Cowboy Bebop's Spike Spiegel may not be American by nationality, but his entire aesthetic is built on U.S. pop culture. From his love of jazz to his noir-inspired backstory, Spike's character is rooted in U.S. media traditions. His life in space mirrors the American pioneer spirit, wandering from place to place, always running from his past. Spike's dialogue is sarcastic and often filled with world-weary wisdom. He doesn't talk much about feelings, but his every move reveals a deeper emotional core.

His tragic past and sense of honor mirror the lone gunslinger seen in countless American Westerns. His wardrobe wouldn't be out of place in a 1940s detective film. Though not born in the U.S., Spike's soul is pure Americana. He's a lonely cowboy in space, driven by personal codes and an endless sense of motion.

Your Rating

close

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

Cowboy Bebop

TV-14

Action

Animation

Sci-Fi

Western

13

9.3/10

Release Date 1998 - 1999

Network Adult Swim

Cast

See All

Koichi Yamadera

Steve Blum

Showrunner Shinichirô Watanabe

Powered by Expand Collapse

9 Ryan Goldsmith Shows America's Obsession With Style and Fame in One Superhero Package

When Superhero Branding Meets American Flash

"Golden" Ryan Goldsmith enters Tiger & Bunny: The Rising with the confidence of a man who's never questioned his own greatness. Decked out in gold armor and shades, Ryan looks like an American football MVP who decided to fight crime instead of winning trophies. He's arrogant and so over-the-top that he practically glows with self-importance. Ryan's NEXT ability lets him manipulate gravity, which he uses constantly.

Related

9 Strongest American Anime Characters, Ranked

Popular anime like My Hero Academia and Solo Leveling feature strong American characters.

Posts

His image is everything. He knows how to pose, how to smile for the camera and how to spin a heroic moment into a branding opportunity. That obsession with personal fame and hero worship is deeply American in flavor, echoing the country's love for celebrity culture and sports-star charisma. Underneath the glamor, Ryan does grow into a better teammate, proving there's more to him than gold plating.

Your Rating

close

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

Tiger & Bunny

TV-14

Adventure

Animation

Comedy

Superhero

8.0/10

Release Date 2011 - 2022

Directors Keiichi Sato, Kunihiro Mori

Cast

See All

Wally Wingert

Yuri Lowenthal

Powered by Expand Collapse

8 Lt. Surge Is the Lightning American Who Fights Pokémon

The Muscle-Bound Veteran Exudes America

Lt. Surge doesn't need to tell anyone he's American. His design, voice and attitude do it for him. Introduced in the original Pokémon games and anime as the Gym Leader of Vermilion City, Surge is a towering, muscular figure who calls his Pokémon "baby" and yells like every conversation is a military briefing. According to the lore, he's a former soldier who used electric-type Pokémon in the war.

Everything about Surge is a throwback to American action movie soldiers, from his brash tone to his reliance on brute strength over strategy. He even refers to himself as "The Lightning American" in the original games, just in case there was any doubt. Lt. Surge is the kind of character that sums up a whole nation in one outfit and two lines.

Your Rating

close

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Pokémon

TV-Y7

Animation

Adventure

Anime

Fantasy

98

9.7/10

Release Date 1997 - 2023

Network TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC

Cast

See All

Rica Matsumoto

Satoshi (voice)

Ikue Otani

Pikachu (voice)

Powered by Expand Collapse

7 Alex Louis Armstrong Carries the Patriotism of an American Action Hero

A Shining Beacon of Patriotism and Over-the-Top Emotion

Alex Louis Armstrong from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood isn't technically American, but everything about him screams "U.S. military strongman". With his bulging biceps and noble heart, Armstrong feels like anime's affectionate mimicry of the honorable American soldier. He's always loud and always dramatically proclaiming his feelings in public. Armstrong is part of Amestris' military, but his behavior feels more inspired by over-the-top American portrayals of service members.

His love of discipline and family legacy would fit right in with the patriotic tropes often found in U.S. war movies. Despite his goofiness, Armstrong is a serious ally when it counts. He's both a parody and a tribute to American ideals of heroism, showing how anime can exaggerate Western tropes while still honoring them. If anime ever needed a spokesperson for "honor and gains," Armstrong would win by unanimous vote.

Your Rating

close

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

Shonen

44

8.6/10

Release Date 2009 - 2010

Cast

See All

Maxey Whitehead

Alphonse Elric

Vic Mignogna

Edward Elric

Powered by Expand Collapse

6 Star and Stripe Is a Superpowered Tribute to American Military Might

The Symbol of American Power

Close

Star and Stripe is My Hero Academia's ultimate tribute to American superhero culture. As the United States' No. 1 Pro Hero, she doesn't just represent America, she is America. Her costume resembles the U.S. flag, her quirk is named "New Order," and she flies around in a fighter jet formation. Star and Stripe's personality is modeled after American action heroes. She idolizes All Might, but adds a distinct sense of military confidence and national pride.

Her epic clash with Shigaraki is about power and symbolism. Her power lets her rewrite reality with her own rules, a fitting metaphor for American exceptionalism. While she doesn't last long in the anime, her impact is immediate and overwhelming. She might as well be Captain America with a bigger budget and fewer rules.

Your Rating

close

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like

My Hero Academia

TV-14

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Anime

111

9.1/10

Release Date April 3, 2016

Network TBS, MBS, Nippon TV, YTV, CBC, Tulip Television, BSN, tys, NBC, FBS, Chukyo TV, RNB, FCT, HBC, STV, RKK, KNB, i-Television, SBS, IBC, BSS, MRO, OBS, TUF, RSK, TUY, tbc, RKB, HTV, YBS, SBC, KUTV, RAB, TVI, YBC, RBC, UTY, RCC, MRT, atv, MBC, TSB, MMT, TeNY, RNC, NIB, KKT, TOS, KTK, NKT, ABS, JRT, Daiichi-TV, FBC, RKC, KYT, KRY

Cast

See All

Fumiko Orikasa

Yuuga's Mother (voice)

Hikaru Midorikawa

Best Jeanist (voice)

Powered by Expand Collapse

5 Eda Slings Guns Undercover

The Southern-Talking Nun with CIA Secrets

Eda from Black Lagoon looks like a nun, but don't be fooled. Beneath the religious garb lies a foul-mouthed, cigarette-smoking, gun-toting American mercenary who also works for the CIA. Her thick Southern drawl, constant sarcasm and reckless behavior make her feel like she was ripped straight out of an American action-comedy. In an anime filled with criminals and killers, Eda still manages to stand out. She treats every firefight like a party and always seems a little too calm while pointing a gun.

Related

10 MHA Heroes Who Would Be Even More Popular in America Than Japan

These My Hero Academia characters are already high-profile heroes in Japan, but they could be even more popular if they moved to America.

Posts

Her religious disguise only makes her more outrageous, turning a nun's habit into a symbol of American-style irreverence. Eda doesn't just represent the U.S., she embodies its more chaotic, shoot-first-ask-questions-later image in anime form. Her casual relationship with violence and government work says a lot about how anime often views American power.

Your Rating

close

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

Black Lagoon

TV-MA

Action

Animation

Crime

Thriller

8.2/10

Release Date 2006 - 2006

Directors Sunao Katabuchi

Cast

See All

Brad Swaile

Maryke Hendrikse

Powered by Expand Collapse

4 Vash the Stampede Embodies the American Western Spirit

Trigun Shows Japan's Deep Love for Spaghetti Westerns

Vash the Stampede isn't American by origin, but he might as well be the anime version of a classic Clint Eastwood hero. In Trigun, Vash walks through desert towns, wearing a long red duster and carrying a massive revolver. His world is straight out of a Spaghetti Western, and so is his personality. Despite the violence around him, Vash refuses to kill, always choosing compassion over vengeance. This puts him in direct contrast to the harsh, lawless land he roams.

Vash is the ultimate fusion of anime depth and American myth. He's the wandering hero who saves towns and breaks hearts, all while hiding deep pain and impossible responsibilities. He isn't just an American character in anime. He is anime's love letter to America's most iconic genre.

Your Rating

close

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

Trigun

TV-PG

Action

Sci-Fi

Adventure

9.0/10

Release Date 1998 - 1998

Directors Satoshi Nishimura

Cast

See All

Masaya Onosaka

Hiromi Tsuru

Powered by Expand Collapse

3 Alfred F. Jones Is the Literal Personification of the United States

His Design Reflects Stereotypical U.S. Culture

No character screams "America" more than Alfred F. Jones in Hetalia: Axis Powers. In the anime, every major world power is turned into a human character, and America is exactly what one might expect. Alfred is loud, overconfident and obsessed with fast food and aliens. He constantly interrupts meetings to talk about himself, and believes every problem can be solved with brute force. He wears a bomber jacket, goggles and a wide grin, like a WWII pilot crossed with a comic book superhero.

His personality is a blend of optimism and obliviousness, often annoying allies and enemies alike with his over-the-top antics. Yet somehow, he remains likable mainly because of his genuine desire to do good, even if he causes chaos in the process. He's intentionally over-the-top, acting as a satirical take on how the world sees Americans.

Hetalia: Axis Powers

Comedy

Historical

4.0/10

Release Date 2009 - 2015

Powered by Expand Collapse

2 Bandit Keith Wears His National Pride Like a Headband

He Takes Being American Very Personally

Bandit Keith is the most American anime character ever, and he wants everyone to know it. From his stars-and-stripes bandanna to his sunglasses and leather jacket, everything about Bandit Keith is soaked in American symbolism. He's always boasting about how everything is better in America. His constant shouting of "IN AMERICA!" became a meme for a reason.

Related

10 Anime Movies So Good, They Won American Awards (& Where to Stream Them)

There are anime movies out there that have won some pretty great awards, and some of them have even won some prestigious American awards.

Posts

Introduced as an antagonist in Yu-Gi-Oh!, Bandit Keith is a disgraced former champion who cheats and throws tantrums when he loses. He's not subtle, but that's the point. Bandit Keith is both ridiculous and iconic, showing just how far anime is willing to go when making a character scream "USA" in every scene. He's not very smart or even particularly skilled, but he is unforgettable. Bandit Keith is American to the brim, sunglasses and all.

Your Rating

close

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

Yu-Gi-Oh!

TV-Y7

Animation

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

Family

Action

Adventure

10.0/10

Release Date 1998 - 1997

Cast

See All

Megumi Ogata

Yugi Mutou

Toshiyuki Morikawa

Katsuya Jonouchi

Powered by Expand Collapse

1 Joseph Joestar Is Just Like a Classic American Hero

British by Birth but American by Attitude

Close

Joseph Joestar starts out British, but becomes more American with every season of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. By Stardust Crusaders, he's living in New York, rocking a bomber jacket and cracking jokes like a classic sitcom dad. He talks fast and is always ready to punch first and ask questions later. Joseph's fighting style is pure improvisation. He wins battles by thinking on his feet and bluffing his way out of danger. He constantly shows off, and somehow, this makes his complete lack of discipline seem charming.

Later in the series, Joseph officially becomes a U.S. citizen, but he always acted like one. His brashness and refusal to take things too seriously make him stand out in a family full of stoic heroes. Joseph Joestar is what happens when anime imagines a loudmouthed American action star and lets him run wild.

Your Rating

close

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Supernatural

30

8.7/10

Release Date October 6, 2012

Showrunner Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu

Cast

See All

Kazuyuki Okitsu

Jonathan Joestar

Tomokazu Sugita

Joseph Joestar

Powered by Expand Collapse