Artists must avoid overcomplexity, meaninglessness, and oversimplification. Otherwise, they’d risk making generic anime MCs. An easy way to distinguish a character from the cast is by giving them glasses, or in this case, eyepatches. I’m sure you have a good idea about the most beloved eyepatch-wearing characters in anime, but let me help broaden the selection a bit with picks across years and even decades.
20. Midari Ikishima
Anime: Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler Starting my list is the understandably edgy Midari Ikishimi from one of MAPPA’s more memorable works of the last decade, Kakegurui. Midari need not speak to convey her sadomasochistic (but mostly masochistic) personality: Her piercings, gun, tiny yet piercing pupils, and outrageous facial expressions are enough to give others a fair warning in approaching the president of Hyakkaou Private Academy’s Beautification Council. Why does Midari have an eyepatch? Nothing much. She just stabbed her own eye with a pen to pay her losses against Kirari Momobami. It’s ridiculous and hardcore, but Kakegurui fans wouldn’t want it any other way.
19. Sven Vollfied
Anime: Black Cat Black Cat is already pretty old. While I found the protagonist Train Heartnet unmemorable in the long run, the deuteragonist Sven Vollfied remains in my mind. How could I not admire his design and personality? The 30-year-old former agent has a classy look: white suit and shoes, red tie, blue shirt, and black shoes. Sven is an absolute gentleman, always displaying respect toward children and women alike unless there are fatal risks for doing so. He doesn’t let dire situations get the best of him, and his wizardry in crafting weapons and equipment is bewildering. Plus, Sven’s eyepatch has a bittersweet origin: Sven lost his right eye, but little did he know his clairvoyant partner Lloyd Goldwynne already signed up to be an organ donor just a week leading up to his death.
18. Kiyomasa “Crow” Senji
Anime: Deadman Wonderland Does anyone else really like his Crow Claw? It’s like what would happen if Pokemon’s Scyther was sent to (i.e. isekai-d into) the unforgiving world of Deadman Wonderland. His blood-red weapon, which can change form (and length, to the demise of his enemies) looks so good in action. But there’s so much more to Crow: This is a man who stood up against crime when the rest of the police force succumbed to corruption — and he lost four dear friends because of this fight for justice. It’s admirable to see that while he seems to have a thing for violence as a Deadman, there’s still some good in him. Enough to help Ganta survive in the prison and amusement park hybrid.
17. Badou Nails
Anime: Stray Dogs Howling in the Dark The Dogs: Stray Dogs Howling in the Dark is all but forgotten these days. But the 2009 David Production OVA did give anime fans an interesting, orange-haired, chain-smoking, eyepatch-wearing MC. Sure, there wasn’t enough screen time to know more about him (and his adventures with Haine), but the four episodes did show he was a delight to watch. I don’t even know which side of him is better: Is it his adorable cheerful self when he’s smoking, or just sees a mere cigarette stick? Or is it his annoyed killing-machine version once deprived of nicotine? Nonetheless, I do wish for another adaptation of the source manga.
16. Nice Holystone
Anime: Baccano! I never expected to find a name such as “Nice Holystone” in any piece or type of fiction ever, but here I am being grateful for Baccano and its stellar cast. Nice Holystone has one of my favorite (simple) character designs ever: She’s sporting an eyepatch to conceal her empty right eye socket, but also wears glasses to protect her damaged left eye. Then you see her collared, red sleeveless top and the black ribbon around her neck. Also, I absolutely love the relationship between Nice and her boyfriend, the anxious gang leader Jacuzzi Splot who displays courage when it matters most. Nice also has good leadership skills. And when she doesn’t have to take the helm from Jacuzzi, you can depend on her for all the explosions: the reason why she lost her right eye in the first place.
15. K. K.
Anime: Blood Blockade Battlefront K. K. reminds me of Pakunoda from Hunter x Hunter, and that’s a big plus because I find him damn cool. Similar to Deadman Wonderland’s Kiyomasa Senji, K. K. utilizes her blood for lethal purposes. Instead of blade-like weapons, her blood transforms into electricity to boost her gun skills. But more than her stylish attire and power, it’s her motherly and feminine characteristics that make her stand out (in a good way). I love how K. K. highlights the burden of a woman who wants the best for her kid but also has a job she can’t just ignore, even if it means skipping parental duties. Cheerful, caring, and also adorable when she’s deep into soap operas and gossip, K. K. is a valuable part of Blood Blockade Battlefront.
14. Saito
Anime: Ghost in the Shell Saito doesn’t look like he’s kidding around, and that’s what everyone not close or allied to him should think, if only for their own sake. Indeed, he’s not as much of a cyborg as the rest of Section 9. But why should he seek more body modifications when he’s already exceptionally skilled in firearms and is basically a god-tier sniper? If you need help taking down enemy snipers, just ask Saito. He’s terrifyingly accurate with his shots. And he can also get a good sense of where other snipers are due to his extensive combat experience, having fought in World War IV before joining Section 9.
13. Mei Misaki
Anime: Another It must be tough for Mei Misaki and the rest of Another to all be less popular than Yukari Sakuragi, the supporting character whose early death scene in the series is an all-time favorite in the general anime community. But once you get past the umbrella memes and see the series for yourself, you’ll appreciate Mei as well. Mei had a traumatic past. Particularly with the early death of her twin sister, whom she initially thought was just her cousin, and also her losing her right eye. Hence her prosthetic doll’s eye that can peer into dark matters. Then again, her present situation of social exclusion is also devastatingly miserable (not as if she’s unlikeable, but more like she doesn’t even exist). Yet her decision to (temporarily) stop the curse by herself shows she’s one of the most selfless characters in anime.
12. Captain Harlock
Anime: Space Pirate Captain Harlock (1979) As the oldest entry on my list (and one of the oldest anime series ever), Captain Harlock is a testament to the long-standing appeal of vintage character design. There’s a 2013 movie, but it uses 3D CG in place of 2D animation. Captain Harlock (or Herlock) is the protagonist here: a man with long brown hair you’d rather not comb because of how good it looks, especially when combined with his eyepatch and cross-shaped scar. The space pirate is easily compelling with his looks and personality. Many fans commend how he thinks and acts, sporting an individualistic perspective in life while also allowing introspection for his principles. He believes in the capacity of people to power systematic change, he keeps his promises, and values the life of each crew member, no matter how small their role is. Best of all, Captain Harlock doesn’t immediately resort to violence when hunted down, choosing instead to discuss the matter and hopefully enlighten others, if only because he still cares for Earth.
11. Lavi
Anime: D.Gray-man D.Gray-man and its sequel D.Gray-man Hallow have a ten-year gap between them. And it’s a blessing for both to have the amusing and (admittedly) good-looking redhead that is Lavi. He’s changed in more ways than one after over 100 episodes. But he’s still kept his eyepatch and (mostly) likable demeanor. Lavi’s development from someone forcing himself to be socially apathetic, into being a guy who’s finally more comfortable and attached to his peers (and humanity in general) isn’t anything new in anime. But that doesn’t diminish the satisfaction I got from seeing his growth. At the end of the day, Lavi is a smart and funny dude who can lighten up the mood when things get bleary in the world of Allen Walker.
10. Megumin
Anime: KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! As the queen (or princess) of isekai explosions, Megumin is one of the most popular eyepatch-wearing characters of the late 2010s. And how could she not be? She’s small, funny, and she completes the much-beloved squad of Kazuma. Plus, the movie highlighted her clan Crimson Demons, which includes Yunyun, Megumin’s ultra-adorable self-proclaimed adversary. Yes, Megumin did stop wearing her eyepatch all the time, but that’s alright. At the least, viewers got to know how much of a chuunibyou she is. Which is a bit ironic given that she’s in a fantasy world and her explosion magic is insane, although that comes at the expense of depleting her mana and collapsing immediately after casting.
9. Worick Arcangelo
Anime: Gangsta. Gangsta. was poised to be one of the better entries of Summer 2015, given the source manga material and the return of composer Tsutchie, known in the anime community for his work on Cowboy Bebop. Sadly, Manglobe had bankruptcy issues that inevitably affected the anime’s production. It’s pretty much nowhere after that news. Still, there’s enough material to understand the appeal of Worick Arcangelo (and the deaf MC Nicolas Brown). Here was a 35-year-old man with blonde hair in a ponytail and an eyepatch. He’s attractive in his own way, what with his tendency to smile and seemingly laid-back demeanor, so much so that women take quick notice of him. Plus, he can remember so many specific details and go through entire books with ease. Yet this amazing ability also means he has difficulties forgetting the most traumatic events in his life, forcing him to remember every horrific detail.
8. Sofia Valmer
Anime: Jormungand The sole female bodyguard in Koko’s Squad, Sofia Valmer can portray bloodlust and insanity like Midari Ikishima from Kakegurui, except that she’s actually adept with guns. Yet it’s her mastery of knives that makes her one of the coolest non-fantasy female fighters in anime. If her opponents have guns, she won’t mind: Sofia can just hack and slash them all while dodging bullets, even with a missing eye. If you haven’t seen her in action, I encourage checking her fight scenes. It’s amazing how intimidating her mere presence is, what with her tall stature and relatively muscular physique — all the while retaining her feminine allure.
7. Kenpachi Zaraki
Anime: Bleach Isn’t it amazing how a character who literally had no name when he was young, eventually had one that not only honored his lawless district, but also how strong he’s become? Kenpachi Zaraki is one the most familiar Bleach characters — and he’s one of the highest-ranked shounen guys on my list. This Shinigami has a daunting appearance (thanks in part to how much soap he applies to his hair), and his love of fighting is unmatched. But while it’s easy to criticize this primary interest of his, he also becomes more admirable once you see that he doesn’t go beyond fighting. Kenpachi has no interest in killing opponents (unless they refuse to stop fighting). And he won’t continue anymore if they seem too weak to go on. Also, I just love how his eyepatch undergoes multiple design changes.
6. Asuka Langley Soryu
Anime: Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo Even if her lovely pirate-like eyepatch (that has a tiny glow) was only introduced in the third entry of the Rebuild of Evangelion, that was more than enough to catapult her to this spot. After all, Asuka is one of anime’s all-time best girls. And her undeniable charisma is very much present in You Can (Not) Redo. It’s not clear why exactly she donned the eyepatch in Part 3. But there’s good reason to believe it had to do with her horrific ordeal in Part 2, You Can (Not) Advance. Fans just aren’t sure whether it’s because of some angel contamination or a serious injury. Regardless, Hideaki Anno appeased millions of Asuka fans around the world with this surprising look of her. And I love that it’s also a callback to her iconic fight at The End of Evangelion.
5. Ken Kaneki
Anime: Tokyo Ghoul Look, I know everyone wants a reboot of the anime adaptation. But you can’t completely hate the series. Tokyo Ghoul had top-notch OP and ED theme songs, and Ken Kaneki’s Season 1 finale fight against Jason was well worth the hype. Also, Ken’s character development (and transformation from human to one-eyed ghoul) is nothing short of amazing. This was a shy guy who just wanted a date with the lovely Rize Kamishiro. But that turned his life upside down, introducing him to a world where ghouls and humans either strive for unity or kill one another in a quest for domination. And he for sure deserves this spot: One of his aliases quite literally translates to “eyepatch”.
4. Rikka Takanashi
Anime: Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Megumin’s idol is probably Rikka Takanashi, the No. 1 chuunibyou girl in anime history who reminds the male MC that he can’t escape the chuunibyou life. Her eyepatch supposedly hides an amazing power. Even though it’s just an ordinary eye with a colored contact lens. But there’s a good reason why Rikka acts this way. And it’s in revealing why she behaves like this, that the anime becomes more than just a well-animated (it’s from Kyoto Animation, after all) school-based slice-of-life comedy. Even if you’ve yet to see the series and the film, you’ve likely seen her photo on anime forums. Seriously, the kawaii GIF loop of her making circles with her hands was everywhere back then.
3. King Bradley
Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood It’s hard to forget the intensity and madness of King Bradley. Especially with how seemingly gentle and even friendly he was in the series. Thus, it’s fitting that he’s the original Fuhrer of Amestris: His high-rank military outfit and mustache will easily remind viewers of Adolf Hitler, and that’s a very intentional design decision. Like the German dictator and fascist, he was (originally) a human who wielded massive political might and had evil intentions underneath his facade. Lastly, King Bradley is already fearsome with one sword in hand. But then you realize he can wield many at a time — and that’s before he unleashes the Ultimate Eye hidden beneath his eyepatch.
2. Kakashi
Anime: Naruto Kakashi is easily the most popular eyepatch-wearing shounen character, and Naruto fans will know that he deserves all the love and admiration. Sure, he was just this funny, mysterious, and perverted shinobi leading the main trio’s team at the start. But Kakashi has become so much more than that. As the renowned Kakashi of the Sharingan (hence why his forehead protector became an eyepatch for his left eye), he’s one of the most powerful ninjas of Konoha. He can go head-to-head with both Kisame and Kakuzu, and his contribution to the downfall of Kaguya Otsutsuki is far from negligible. Kakashi absolutely deserved to be the Sixth Hokage — and fans should get more scenes of him with his entire face displayed.
1. Ciel Phantomhive
Anime: Black Butler No other anime character comes to mind first when I think about eyepatches. I’m unsure if Black Butler is still popular today, but I don’t doubt Ciel’s lasting legacy. For one, he has a fittingly elegant name and beautiful character design: Ciel has a slender frame, dark blue hair, strikingly blue eyes, a noble outfit, and his trademark eyepatch to conceal his contract with Sebastian. The Internet is rife with fanart and cosplays of him. And second, his (non-romantic) chemistry with his demon butler is one of the best in anime. Whether they’re doing nothing important or solving mystery cases, it’s there. I don’t think the anime is done. And I’m sure fans would welcome a new season (or even just one film) with open arms.
