Anti-hero characters?

[Scorrere]

What are some anime series where the main protagonist/protagonists are anti-heroes?

[Telmah]

Light from Death Note certainly fits the bill.

Leloush from Code Geass could also be considered one.

[Navel]

Also, the Count from Gankutsuou.

[Snooker]

Shiki Ryougi from Kara No Kyoukai - She is tsundere type and popular anti-hero.

[Fweakin]

Originally Posted by Scorrere

What are some anime series where the main protagonist/protagonists are anti-heroes?

Elfen Lied definitely fits the bill. The main female lead is certainly an anti-hero in one persona.

Ga Rei Zero may qualify as well, with one of the female leads. Doesnt really kick in til later in the series though.

With Evangelion you could argue for several characters really. Take your pick.

[SeijiSensei]

I nominate the entire cast of protagonists in Black Lagoon. All four crew members certainly qualify. Balalaika, too, is an heroic figure, particularly during the Afghan war but also afterward when she and her comrades embark on a criminal career. Since the entire show is populated with criminals, even the "good guys" can at best be anti-heroes.

The antagonists often display heroic motives, too. Characters like Roberta and Jin devote themselves to duty and family.

[Woodchips]

Ga-Rei, Elfen Lied and Evangelion all seconded.

And you could probably add Rozen Maiden to the list as well. There's a great anti-hero character in there. Although it's not really explored much until the sequels Rozen Maiden: Träumend and Rozen Maiden: Ouvertüre.

[Aquillion]

Michiko Malandro from Michiko to Hatchin for your oldschool Bonnie and Clyde antihero.

[mit7059]

Absolutely second Black Lagoon, no one is innocent in that series

[Proto]

Akagi from... Akagi. A mahjong series taking place in the yakuza gambling rounds.

[willyvereb]

at the start of Linebarrels of Iron the male protagonist was a total anti-hero(of Justice), but now seems to be somewhat normal.

[npcomplete]

Samurai Champloo

[CeDeR]

Dark Schneider from bastard kind of

[ganbaru]

I am not sure if they fit the anti-hero standart, but Kino ( from Kino no tabi) and Ichise ( from Texhnolize) are definitively not hero.

I second Black Lagoon and Elfen Lied.

[Proto]

Kino is definitely not an anti hero. In fact he almost perfectly fits the mold of a neutral bystander who only fights to protect himself.

PS: My choice of words was intentional. Any witty remarks at any apparent mistakes I might have made will be sneered at.

[Aquillion]

Kino does interfere on a few occasions, generally when the nation's own laws make it possible. However, the show also occasionally seems to be saying that Kino's detachment is wrong in some ways

Spoiler:

at least when visiting a country guilty of serious crimes as, basically, a tourist -- the end of A Peaceful Land in particular comes to mind. And regarding never fighting for other people, don't forget Arena, where Kino is definitely fighting for something else -- Kino's original plan, to force the first opponent to accept a surrender at gunpoint, would have worked fine except that then someone else would have died in Kino's place.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by Aquillion

Kino does interfere on a few occasions, generally when the nation's own laws make it possible. However, the show also occasionally seems to be saying that Kino's detachment is wrong in some ways

Spoiler:

at least when visiting a country guilty of serious crimes as, basically, a tourist -- the end of A Peaceful Land in particular comes to mind. And regarding never fighting for other people, don't forget Arena, where Kino is definitely fighting for something else -- Kino's original plan, to force the first opponent to accept a surrender at gunpoint, would have worked fine except that then someone else would have died in Kino's place.

I have read up to the 11th novel ...

Spoiler for spoiler fron the novel:

and Kino interfered only 2 times, in colliseum/ avengers and the land of the boat/ on the beach in novel 8. Strangely in both occasion, Shizu was present/involved.