Do you have a thing for redheads? Well, who doesn’t, which is why we’ve put together this list of the top 20 red-haired anime characters.
These are some of the most amazing and memorable characters in anime history, and they all have one thing in common: fiery red hair!
Whether they’re male or female, these characters are sure to make your heart race with their passion and determination. So sit back anime fans and enjoy our countdown of the best red-haired anime characters ever created!
Before that, we need to establish some regular characteristics of red hair anime characters.
Table of Contents
What are the criteria for anime characters with red hair?
To be eligible for this list, the character must have red or ginger hair, and they must be main characters.
We also considered popular supporting characters in an anime series as well. We’ve also ranked them based on their popularity and overall level of awesomeness!
Red Haired characters sure are interesting to watch, and there’s no way they’ll ever back down from a challenge. That’s why we love them!
Without further ado, I hope you aren’t hot-headed by our picks… See what I did there?
Honorable mentions:
Tanjiro Kamado
Demon Slayer
Tanjiro’s hair is a deep black with striking red tips. We think he makes for a great anime character model with his unique hair color and put him in the black hair camp.
Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps to achieve his goals, one of which is finding a cure for Nezuko.
Even though he has experienced great loss, Tanjiro continues to be kind and compassionate towards others.
What are the top anime characters with red hair?
20. Zora
Black Clover
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Black Clover Black Clover‘s Zora is a member of the Black Bulls, one of the most powerful magic squads in the Clover kingdom.
He has a leather mask that covers the bottom half of his face, but with the mouth uncovered.
It’s similar to a Ninja, which creates a bit of a psychotic appearance.
He’s a cynical and grumpy character that is often quite disrespectful to those around him. However, Zora is not a bad person, but rather someone that has problems relating to people.
His dark magic allows him to create some extremely effective magical traps that can easily catch opponents off guard.
Most of the traps he sets are based on the magical abilities of his opponents. Additionally, he can construct large-scale traps for forthcoming difficult battles, given some time to plan ahead.
19. Yona
The Other Son
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The titular character of The Other Son, Yona is the kind-hearted princess of the Kingdom of Kouka. She’s brave and determined, but she also has a lot to learn about the harsh realities of the world.
Yona is considered a beautiful girl for her age and is often called pretty or cute. She has a slender build, short stature, and fair skin.
Yona and her mother Kashi share large, round violet eyes and many facial features.
However, where Yona differs is in her hair; she was born with wavy red hair instead of the straight black locks that are more common among their people.
This caused Yona much distress as a child since red hair was rare and made her stand out from others.
Later, it is rediscovered that she has red hair not because of any familial distribution, both of her parents have black hair, but because she is the reincarnation of King Hiryuu.
18. Yoko Ritona
Gurren Lagann
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The sexy and strong-willed sniper of Team Dai-Gurren, Yoko is a tough fighter who always stands up for what she believes in.
The young woman with red hair has a very recognizable character design, and her combat skills make her an essential part of Team Dai-Gurren.
Anime characters and firearms have always gone well together. Yoko Littner just so happens to be a master of skilled marksmanship.
She can take out giant mecha robots with a single shot.
Yoko’s red hair might be a warning sign for this anime character. She is a strong and knows how to use a gun. And to top it all off she is also very beautiful.
At first glance, Yoko may seem like she is only there for fanservice, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that she is much more than just a pretty face.
Yoko is a tough fighter who always manages to pick herself up and move on, no matter how difficult things get.
17. Satori Tendou
Haikyuu!!
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The captain of Karasuno High’s volleyball team, Satori is a gifted athlete with a sharp mind. He’s also one of the most popular boys in school, thanks to his good looks and cool demeanor.
Tendō has spiky, bright red hair with eyebrows to match. He also has large eyes that give him a tired appearance.
His eyes are small and dark red, and he often Smirks. He wears the standard Shiratorizawa uniform. He is tall, standing at 187cm, and has a medium build.
16. Rin Matsuoka
Free!
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A member of the Iwatobi Swim Club and a former national champion, Rin is a talented swimmer with a fiery temper. He’s also got a bit of a rivalry with his teammate Haruka, which makes him all the more intriguing!
Rin is a burly high schooler with dark red-maroon, semi-long hair. He has crimson eyes and large, shark-like teeth.
His winter go-to outfit is a pair of white pants, a black tee shirt, a buttoned white jacket, and complementary black shoes.
For spring and summer, his go-to outfit consists of white trousers, a black polo shirt with a pink collar, and black shoes.
He wears black, long-legged swim skins with a red pattern or brown, black and white pattern when he competes in swimming races.
15. Shuichi Minamino (Kurama)
YuYu Hakusho
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Every shonen anime has at least one side character that makes a lasting impression, and in YuYu Hakusho, it was Yoko Kurama. His zen attitude contrasted with his unique physical features – namely his bright red hair – which made for a bold and memorable character design.
A powerful demon fox that was once the enemy of Yusuke Urameshi, Kurama is now a force for good. He’s also one of the most popular characters in the franchise, thanks to his cool and collected personality.
Kurama is cunning, which fits him well since his soul has been embedded by a demon fox.
He becomes a gentle character and is very calculating and analytical.
He can use his demonic form and powers, though that form is the opposite of his human personality. In his human form is where we find his long vibrant red hair and his demonic fox form has silver hair.
His signature rose whip and plant seeds make for a deadly combination of fighting tactics.
He is not someone that should ever be underestimated. Kurama was originally an underworld fox demon before he was reborn into the human world.
By doing so, he learned the concept of empathy through his newfound family.
Check out the top girls with white hair!
14. Taiga Kagami
Kuroko’s Basketball
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The tall and talented power forward of Seirin High’s basketball team, Taiga is a gifted athlete with a passion for the game. He’s also got a bit of a temper, which makes him all the more exciting to watch!
Kagami is extremely muscular for a high schooler. His height also makes him quite intimidating, with some saying he gives off the feeling of being wild and untamed like a tiger.
His two-toned hair is dark red and black, and his eyes are equally striking in color. They’re pointed and narrow, with thick eyebrows that are split in the middle–something Murasakibara likes to point out.
He wears the red, black, and white Seirin High jersey with the number 10. He also wears black and red basketball shoes.
He also wears a necklace with a ring on it occasionally, which symbolizes his brotherhood with Tatsuya Himuro.
He wears his school uniform with the gakuran unzipped and a white shirt underneath.
O, and he can enter the “zone” and dunk like no other. What else is there to say?
13. Chelsea
Akame ga Kill!
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A member of the Revolutionary Army and one of the most powerful fighters in the franchise, Chelsea is a skilled warrior with a fiery personality. She’s also got a bit of a soft spot for her teammates, which makes her even more likable.
With her delicate butterfly headphones, Chelsea looked like she could be sweet and innocent or up to no good. Her pale skin was offset by shocking pink hair, and mischievous eyes promised trouble.
She wore a white long-sleeved shirt with the collar tied in a red ribbon under a black vest, a red checkered miniskirt, and black leather below-the-knee boots.
She was almost always seen sucking on a lollipop.
12. Hisoka
Hunter x Hunter
Hisoka Hunter x Hunter
A former member of the Phantom Troupe and one of the most dangerous criminals in the world, Hisoka is a deadly fighter with a twisted sense of humor.
He’s also got a thing for Gon, which makes the character feel like a stalker with murder vibes at times.
Hisoka’s hair was originally blue when he made his first appearance in the 1999 anime series. However, after a revamp of the show, it was replaced with a red or almost neon pink color to match that of the manga.
Hisoka’s appearance changes throughout the anime and manga, depending on the story arc. For example, in the 2011 anime, Hisoka has red hair and light amber eyes.
However, during the Yorknew City arc of the manga series, Hisoka dyes his hair light green. These variations symbolize how complex his character is.
11. Kushina Uzumaki
Naruto Shippuden
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Kushina Uzumaki Naruto Shippuden
A powerful ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village and the mother of Naruto Uzumaki, Kushina is a skilled fighter with a kind heart. She’s also got a bit of a temper, which makes her even more endearing.
Kushina starts off hating her bright red hair, only growing to love it thanks to her future husband Minato.
It would later become her staple since this combined nicely with her outbursts of anger crowned her the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero.
But man, I love Kushina. Not enough love is given to amazing mother figures in anime. And giving up your life to save your son? The ultimate sacrifice.
10. Shanks
One Piece
Shanks One Piece
Red-Haired Shanks, better known as just “Red Hair”, is the head of the Red Hair Pirates and one of four emperors over the New World.
Shanks is a former member of the legendary Roger Pirates, the only pirate band to successfully conquer the Grand Line.
He started as a pirate apprentice in Gol D. Roger’s crew, but after the latter’s death, he soon formed his group.
He is the one who gave Luffy his trademark straw hat, Shanks is a relaxed pirate that loves to have fun and parties.
He has a distinct dislike of conflict and will avoid it at all costs. He’s a pacifist, and well-respected deeply by his crew.
Shanks is not without his enemies, which include Higuma, The World Government, and Marshall D. Teach. Anime fans will know that red-haired characters are rare, making Shanks all the more iconic.
9. Renji Abarai
Bleach
Renji Abarai Bleach
A member of the Gotei 13 and a close friend of Ichigo Kurosaki, Renji is a skilled Soul Reaper with a strong sense of loyalty. He’s also got a bit of a rivalry with Byakuya, which makes him all the more exciting to watch!
Renji Abarai is a friend of Rukia with whom he grew up in Rukongai, where he was born.
They became estranged from each other due to the adoption of Rukia by the noble Kuchiki family. Shortly before Rukia left for the human world (and thus the start of Bleach), he was promoted to lieutenant of the Gotei 13’s 6 Division.
Although he doesn’t show it at first, he is very attached to Rukia. His dearest dream is to surpass Captain Kuchiki.
He previously passed through Divisions 11 (under Zaraki Kenpachi) and 5.
He is very loyal to his friends and captain, willing to fight anyone who threatens them.
Renji is one of the most talented Shinigami in Gotei 13. He possesses great spiritual power, which is recognized by many high-ranking Shinigami.
His Zanpakutō has very powerful and unique abilities.
8. Yukihira Soma
Food Wars!
Yukihira Soma Food Wars!
The talented and ambitious chef of Totsuki Academy, Yukihira is a gifted cook with a passion for the culinary arts. He’s also got a bit of a rivalry with his father, which makes him all the more exciting to watch!
Sōma is a young teenage boy with yellow eyes and a vertical scar on his left eyebrow.
He has had this scar since elementary school. Sōma has spiky dark-red hair with short bangs.
Sōma is always striving to improve his cooking skills to one-up his father, Jōichirō Yukihira.
Sōma is always seeking to better his skills by challenging others and pushing the limits of his cooking.
This often leads him into difficult situations during duels or other challenges, but Sōma’s spirit has never been broken.
7. Rias Gremory
High School DxD
Rias Gremory High School DxD
Rias Gremory, AKA the Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess, is another of anime’s most memorable redheads.
The beautiful and powerful heiress of the Gremory Clan with long red hair, Rias is a skilled Devil with a kind heart.
Now, this is a very ecchi series but Rias is shown to have high raw intelligence and there is plot development.
What? I am serious, the storyline is interesting haha.
She is with Issei but also allows him to have a pseudo-harem and manages all of the girls herself.
Rias is not only powerful, but she has also set principles for herself. So, she is far from naive.
She isn’t extremely complex, but she doesn’t have to be. Her character makes for the perfect focal point of the anime.
6. Karma Akabane
Assassination Classroom
Karma Akabane Assassination Classroom
A member of Class 3-E and a guy that seems like a serial killer, Karma is a gifted student with a but can be very scary. He’s also got a bit of a temper, which makes him all the more exciting to watch!
Karma has pale skin, short red hair, and piercing eyes that look like mercury or gold. He usually has a smiling face that hides his sadistic personality. He is slender and also has sharp canine teeth.
Karma is known among the students for his violent behavior and troublesome attitude. He is often manipulative, tricking others into doing what he wants.
According to Karasuma, “he comes across as being a lazy sort, but there’s a strong sense of mischief in his eyes”. Itona has described him to have a “certain vision” of Terasaka.
5. Eijiro Kirishima
My Hero Academia
Eijiro Kirishima My Hero Academia
A member of Class 1-A at UA Academy and a close friend of Izuku Midoriya, Eijiro is a brave and determined hero with a strong sense of justice.
An energetic, loud, and rash boy who respects people with courage and is one of the most admirable characters in the series.
His Hardening Quirk allows him to sharpen and harden his skin by varying its hardness.
This gives him an advantage on both the offensive and the defensive abilities.
With training, he has learned to greatly increase the hardness he can achieve but also to use it in a more precise way, for example, by hardening only one part of his body.
Though there are many other red-haired anime characters, Eijiro Kirishima is one of the best boys and most admirable characters in the show.
The Sturdy Hero, Red Riot has shown so much growth, not only on his journey to becoming a pro hero but also as a classmate.
It shows in his ability to be one of the only characters to befriend the loner Bakugo and also in his willingness to put himself in danger to save others.
All while being one of the most stylish characters in anime. Eijiro rocks that red hair like no other.
4. Gaara
Naruto & Naruto Shippuden
Gaara Naruto & Naruto Shippuden
The jinchūriki of the One-Tailed Shukaku and the current Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village, Gaara is a powerful ninja with a dark past.
He’s also got a bit of a rivalry with Naruto, especially after he is defeated in Naruto the first series and learns to become a better person.
Gaara belongs to the very famous Naruto Manga and Naruto Anime.
He was born premature and was raised a lonely boy by his father.
Having the one-tails inside him led to an extremely tough childhood.
He would try to approach others throughout his childhood while roaming around the village, but the people would move away due to his unusual features and powers.
Gaara can handle a good number of opponents, all with a near-indestructible level of defensive capabilities thanks to his sand.
He improves his skills later in the show and eventually becomes Kazekage, the leader of the sand village featured in the second part of Naruto.
3. Shōto Todoroki
My Hero Academia
Shōto Todoroki My Hero Academia
Shoto is a gifted student who attends UA Academy. The son of the powerful hero Endeavor got into the academy through official recommendations and is training to become a Pro Hero.
Shoto is a tall and muscular young man who is well-built for his age. He has long hair, though it doesn’t pass his neck, and wears bangs that are parted twice to not obscure his vision.
His hair is two colors, white on the right side and crimson red on the left. This coloring is because of his Quirk half cold half hot.
Furthermore, he has heterochromia iridum, meaning his left eye’s iris is turquoise while his right is a brownish dark gray.
He was “created” by his father trying to produce a child with abilities strong enough to surpass All might.
2. Sora
No Game No Life
Sora No Game No life
The older of a two step-siblings combo and the main protagonist of the franchise, Sora is a gifted gamer with a sharp mind.
As a good brother to Shiro with an extremely strong bond, his determination to raise her properly provides some fun comedic moments.
He’s a fast thinker, even in high-pressure situations. He also has a twisted sense of logic that has been helpful for him throughout the anime series.
At a young age, Sora always believed that humans were weak and stupid. However, after meeting Shiro, he regained his faith in humanity.
His only problem is that whenever he gets separated from his sister, he loses his self-confidence. He’s a truly loyal character and one that’s always ready to help out with all of his heart.
1. Erza Scarlet
Fairy Tail
Erza Scarlet Fairy Tail
Hailing from the magical world of Fairy Tail and being a member of the Fairy Tail Guild should be enough to get on a list right? Well, she is also one of the most powerful wizards in the Fairy Tail world.
Erza is a skilled fighter with a strong sense of justice. She’s also got a bit of a temper, which makes her even more endearing.
Even people who don’t like Fairy Tail are known to make fan-art of her.
On the surface level, Erza seems very strict and O.C.D. about her duties. However, she is a caring person that wants the best for her friends.
Her guild can always rely on her amid battle. Erza is a skilled wizard who can use a special ability called Re-equip: The Knight.
She can store both offensive weapons and defensive armor in her pocket dimensions, and even combine different sets all together to form a new one.
The S-class mage is a shining example of what a member of Fairy Tail can be.
There is no one more coordinated or experienced in battle than her, and her mastery of Re-quip magic allows her to manifest weapons, armor, and clothes instantly during combat.
When that’s combined sword magic with armor magic she becomes nigh unstoppable.
Who is your favorite character with red hair? Comment below.
FAQs
What anime character has red hair?
There are many anime characters with red hair, but some of the most popular ones include Erza Scarlet, Sora, and Shōto Todoroki.
Do all red headed anime characters have fiery personalities?
No, not all redheaded anime characters have fiery personalities. Some are quite mild-mannered.
What anime character has white and red hair?
Shoto Todoroki has red and white hair. He is a character from the anime My Hero Academia.
Who is the most dangerous redheaded anime character?
Hisoka from Hunter x Hunter is one of the most dangerous redheaded anime characters. He is a former member of the Phantom Troupe and one of the most dangerous criminals in the world.