AnimeSuki Forums

Haladflire65 · 2009-09-30, 15:31

I want some anime with strong male leads - not necessarily badass (that's cool though) but just deep in character, personality, etc. Preferred genres - fantasy, sci-fi, drama, action. I like darker things, but please don't get overly adult/gory.

A few characters I liked:

- Roy Mustang in FMA (he's not the lead but he's my ideal character)
- Hei in Darker than BLACK
- Tenma and Johan in Monster

And yes, they have to be male. One more thing - I like shorter series. But if it's good - why not? I mean, I'm watching Monster... 74 episodes

DanielSong39 · 2009-09-30, 16:05

How about Hellsing? It is consistently well-reviewed and the main character more than meets your description. 13 episodes, so it's not too long.

chaos_alfa · 2009-09-30, 16:13

If you are going to watch Hellsing I recommend watching the OVA series of Hellsing rather than the tv series, because the OVA adapts the manga much more faithfully and has the better visuals.

The OVA is still ongoing and has long passed the point where the TV series starts doing it's own thing.

goodman528 · 2009-09-30, 17:00

Legend of Galactic Heroes has nothing but strong male leads. Not badass, and not "cool" like teenager hanging on streets kind of cool either. All of them are deep with different and memorable personalities. The series was made about 20 years ago, and it has 4 seasons, with about 25 episodes in each season.

However... ... it's style of story telling is very different from most modern anime. There are no cool flashy special fighting moves, and no special effects that gives you a seizure. No cherry blossom petals falling all over the place, let's stare at the stars kind of romance scenes. And in my opinion, no cheese or cliches either... well, give it a try, the pace is a bit slow at the start, but it picks up very quickly because there are so many characters and so many stories going on at the same time... but it never gets too confusing that you can't follow it.

LoGH, is a very "classic" series.

Haak · 2009-10-01, 13:15

You might like Zwei in Phantom:Requeim for the Phantom. That's the guy on my avatar.

Shadow Kira01 · 2009-10-01, 14:18

Here are some suggestions:

Biohazard: Degeneration
Devil May Cry
Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus
Final Fantasy VII: Last Order
Growlanser IV: Wayfarer of the Time
Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~
Sengoku BASARA
TOKKO

Niji · 2009-10-01, 17:06

Utawarerumono - male lead should be along your lines

NightSamurai · 2009-10-01, 20:17

I'll third Zwei from Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom and add Layfon from Chrome Shelled Regios.

Haladflire65 · 2009-10-01, 20:32

Hmm... Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom sounds really interesting. I was also considering LOGH since quite a while ago. Hellsing and Utawarerumono are also on my list...

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys!

DeX-kun · 2009-10-02, 01:35

If you want an anime that contains a strong male lead and one of the best male leads I've seen in anime to date, that would have to be Tomoya from Clannad. Tomoya is such a deep character while physically and mentally fighting through life to earn himself some happiness but sometimes life just isn't fair.

Anyways, I highly recommend Clannad and it's second season, Clannad: After Story which makes his development complete.

Izayoi · 2009-10-02, 14:08

BLAME! I never seen the anime but the manga is beyond me. What is better than Killy going around with his GBE?

Godly_senselessness · 2009-10-04, 14:26

Kaze no Stigma has a very strong male lead.

Sackett · 2009-10-04, 17:35

Well, I like Kou from Cross Game, and Chrono from Chrono Crusade

Zu Ra · 2009-10-04, 22:42

I am not exactly sure what do you mean by strong . For me personally strong tends to be gar/manly . But the characters mentioned in Op.Post are far from GAR and no disrespect to the chara fans . The closest to GAR you will get is S.Kira mentioned and that is Sengokku Basara

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow Kira01

Here are some suggestions:
Sengoku BASARA

Magin · 2009-10-04, 23:32

I wouldn't personally recommend them due to insane length episode-wise, but you might want to go with any of the Shounen Big Three for strong male leads: Bleach, One Piece and Naruto

Most of the strong ones have been given already, but a few other ones are S-CRY-Ed's Kazuma, Casshern Sins (though it does get dark at the end, but Casshern himself remains strong throughout the entire series), Shounen Omyouji, possibly Black Lagoon (even though Rock isn't badass, he has insane determination and other skills), NEEDLESS (okay, the technical main character is weak, but there's another main lead who's GAR... outside the HUGE weakness), Black Blood Brothers, Rurouni Kenshin, and if you want a few other old but good series as well, there's Orphen and Yu Yu Hakusho. Then there's all the classic mecha series like Macross and Gundam

damn, I've seen so much anime I'm having a hard time recalling half of it

HayashiTakara · 2009-10-04, 23:44

Sagara Sousuke, Full Metal Panic.

Quzor · 2009-10-05, 02:46

Gungrave was pretty outstanding, both for story and character. The whole theme of the show may be a little more adult than you're searching for, but I don't recall the show being overly gory.

Also, seconding Yu Yu Hakusho. I'm watching it through a second time, and both Yusuke and Kuwabara are strong characters.

deathreape98 · 2009-10-05, 05:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeX-kun

If you want an anime that contains a strong male lead and one of the best male leads I've seen in anime to date, that would have to be Tomoya from Clannad. Tomoya is such a deep character while physically and mentally fighting through life to earn himself some happiness but sometimes life just isn't fair.

Anyways, I highly recommend Clannad and it's second season, Clannad: After Story which makes his development complete.

Tch, Dex-kun beat me to it. Seriously, go watch Clannad. Come down to my house this Saturday for a 16 hour marathon if you want.

As for a non-Clannad suggestion, I'll have to suggest Kaze no Stigma. He male lead was very weak in his youth, and was exiled from him family because of that, but then he comes back four years later all badass and can beat all of them without flinching.

I feel somewhat tempted to recommend Bleach as well. Although the male lead is somewhat of an idiot, he is literally... strong. Very strong. The anime is filled with endless fillers, though, since they decided to piggyback ride the manga.

Oh, and if you watch Clannad and enjoy it, I would suggest Air and Kanon 2006.

Zwei · 2009-10-05, 12:12

Gungrave > Brandon Heat.

Haladflire65 · 2009-10-05, 15:05

I think I'll like Gungrave - I like adult stuff as long as it's not too extreme. As for some of the other suggestions, like Bleach and Naruto - sorry I forgot to mention that I have this thing against Jump Shounens.

Right. I should tell everyone that I don't like Shounens unless it's Fullmetal Alchemist, which means more adult characters appeal to me. I'm sorry I'm so picky.

Just to clarify, 'strong' can mean strong in character or personality, so I'm not just looking for gar. Even though that's cool, too.

2009-09-30, 15:31	Link #1
Haladflire65 Senior Member Artist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Normandy SR-2 Age: 29	Strong Male Leads I want some anime with strong male leads - not necessarily badass (that's cool though) but just deep in character, personality, etc. Preferred genres - fantasy, sci-fi, drama, action. I like darker things, but please don't get overly adult/gory. A few characters I liked: - Roy Mustang in FMA (he's not the lead but he's my ideal character) - Hei in Darker than BLACK - Tenma and Johan in Monster And yes, they have to be male. One more thing - I like shorter series. But if it's good - why not? I mean, I'm watching Monster... 74 episodes __________________ Last edited by Haladflire65; 2009-09-30 at 16:32.

2009-10-01, 13:15	Link #5
Haak Me, An Intellectual Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: UK Age: 33	You might like Zwei in Phantom:Requeim for the Phantom. That's the guy on my avatar. __________________ MAL \| AnimeSuki Choice Awards 2020 Winners

2009-10-01, 20:32	Link #9
Haladflire65 Senior Member Artist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Normandy SR-2 Age: 29	Hmm... Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom sounds really interesting. I was also considering LOGH since quite a while ago. Hellsing and Utawarerumono are also on my list... Thanks for all the suggestions, guys! __________________

2009-10-02, 01:35	Link #10
DeX-kun Alto x Ranka :) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New York City	If you want an anime that contains a strong male lead and one of the best male leads I've seen in anime to date, that would have to be Tomoya from Clannad. Tomoya is such a deep character while physically and mentally fighting through life to earn himself some happiness but sometimes life just isn't fair. Anyways, I highly recommend Clannad and it's second season, Clannad: After Story which makes his development complete. __________________ "Aishiteru ~ I Love You"

2009-10-02, 14:08	Link #11
Izayoi I LOVE FLAN_CHAN Graphic Designer Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Flan-chan Age: 22	BLAME! I never seen the anime but the manga is beyond me. What is better than Killy going around with his GBE? __________________ I love Flandre Scarlet

2009-09-30, 16:05	Link #2
DanielSong39 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005	How about Hellsing? It is consistently well-reviewed and the main character more than meets your description. 13 episodes, so it's not too long.

2009-09-30, 16:13	Link #3
chaos_alfa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Netherlands	If you are going to watch Hellsing I recommend watching the OVA series of Hellsing rather than the tv series, because the OVA adapts the manga much more faithfully and has the better visuals. The OVA is still ongoing and has long passed the point where the TV series starts doing it's own thing.

2009-09-30, 17:00	Link #4
goodman528 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009	Legend of Galactic Heroes has nothing but strong male leads. Not badass, and not "cool" like teenager hanging on streets kind of cool either. All of them are deep with different and memorable personalities. The series was made about 20 years ago, and it has 4 seasons, with about 25 episodes in each season. However... ... it's style of story telling is very different from most modern anime. There are no cool flashy special fighting moves, and no special effects that gives you a seizure. No cherry blossom petals falling all over the place, let's stare at the stars kind of romance scenes. And in my opinion, no cheese or cliches either... well, give it a try, the pace is a bit slow at the start, but it picks up very quickly because there are so many characters and so many stories going on at the same time... but it never gets too confusing that you can't follow it. LoGH, is a very "classic" series.

2009-10-01, 14:18	Link #6
Shadow Kira01 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: PMB Headquarters	Here are some suggestions: Biohazard: Degeneration Devil May Cry Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII: Last Order Growlanser IV: Wayfarer of the Time Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~ Sengoku BASARA TOKKO

2009-10-01, 17:06	Link #7
Niji Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006	Utawarerumono - male lead should be along your lines

2009-10-01, 20:17	Link #8
NightSamurai Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hawaii Age: 36	I'll third Zwei from Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom and add Layfon from Chrome Shelled Regios.

2009-10-04, 14:26	Link #12
Godly_senselessness Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007	Kaze no Stigma has a very strong male lead.

2009-10-04, 17:35	Link #13
Sackett Cross Game - I need more Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: I've moved around the American West. I've lived in Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Oklahoma Age: 45	Well, I like Kou from *Cross Game, and Chrono from Chrono Crusade*

2009-10-04, 23:32	Link #15
Magin #1 Akashiya Moka Fan Author Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Where magic is real Age: 36	I wouldn't personally recommend them due to insane length episode-wise, but you might want to go with any of the Shounen Big Three for strong male leads: Bleach, One Piece and Naruto Most of the strong ones have been given already, but a few other ones are S-CRY-Ed's Kazuma, Casshern Sins (though it does get dark at the end, but Casshern himself remains strong throughout the entire series), Shounen Omyouji, possibly Black Lagoon (even though Rock isn't badass, he has insane determination and other skills), NEEDLESS (okay, the technical main character is weak, but there's another main lead who's GAR... outside the HUGE weakness), Black Blood Brothers, Rurouni Kenshin, and if you want a few other old but good series as well, there's Orphen and Yu Yu Hakusho. Then there's all the classic mecha series like Macross and Gundam damn, I've seen so much anime I'm having a hard time recalling half of it __________________ Gifted...or Cursed? R+V fanfic- Chapter 4 of A Water Bride and a Vampire is now up at FF.net! All fans of Inner or Outer Moka, come join her fanclub!

2009-10-04, 23:44	Link #16
HayashiTakara Chicken or Beef? Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle Age: 42	Sagara Sousuke, Full Metal Panic. __________________ http://htakara82.deviantart.com/

2009-10-05, 02:46	Link #17
Quzor It's the year 3030... Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Spaceport Colony Sicilia Age: 39	Gungrave was pretty outstanding, both for story and character. The whole theme of the show may be a little more adult than you're searching for, but I don't recall the show being overly gory. Also, seconding Yu Yu Hakusho. I'm watching it through a second time, and both Yusuke and Kuwabara are strong characters. __________________

2009-10-05, 12:12	Link #19
Zwei Natural Born Killer Graphic Designer Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Roanapur Age: 32	Gungrave > Brandon Heat. <p>No iframe support, please <a href="http://youtu.be/HIlMaI7hwo4">watch on YouTube</a>.</p> __________________

2009-10-05, 15:05	Link #20
Haladflire65 Senior Member Artist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Normandy SR-2 Age: 29	I think I'll like Gungrave - I like adult stuff as long as it's not too extreme. As for some of the other suggestions, like Bleach and Naruto - sorry I forgot to mention that I have this thing against Jump Shounens. Right. I should tell everyone that I don't like Shounens unless it's Fullmetal Alchemist, which means more adult characters appeal to me. I'm sorry I'm so picky. Just to clarify, 'strong' can mean strong in character or personality, so I'm not just looking for gar. Even though that's cool, too. __________________