10 anime characters who are obsessed with fighting

Shonen battle series feature a plethora of anime characters who are obsessed with fighting. Most of them have at least one prototype character who rightfully boasts their skills and indulges in fighting at every chance they get. There are various motivations behind the facade of mindless obsession. Some endure a gruesome or tragic past that shapes their personality, while others are driven by acknowledgment from peers or trainers.

On the other hand, some anime characters show no reason for their obsession with fighting. They enjoy the adrenaline rush from putting their lives on the line. No matter the reason, viewers mostly enjoy the fighting scenes these characters present them with. This article lists 10 characters who possess exceptional fighting skills and are obsessed with showing them off.

Disclaimer: This article contains canon typical violence/gore and reflects the writer's opinions. Reader's discretion is advised.

Shinazugawa Sanemi, Bakugo Katsuki, and 8 other anime characters who love fighting

1) Todo Aoi (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Todo Aoi from Jujutsu Kaisen season 1 (Image via MAPPA)

Todo's first appearance in the anime provides a clear insight into his obsession with fighting. As soon as he arrives at Tokyo Jujutsu High in the Kyoto Goodwill Event arc, he challenges Megumi in a duel. However, Todo says that the onset of their fight will depend on Megumi's answer to the kind of woman he's into.

Todo is an exceptional fighter who skillfully uses his cursed technique and possesses immense physical strength. He singlehandedly defeated several cursed spirits unleashed by Geto Suguru in the Cursed Child arc. Since childhood, he found the world boring until Yuki became his trainer. He was introduced to a new dimension of power, which encouraged him to boast about his physical prowess and challenge other anime characters.

2) Takarai Nei (Gokurakugai)

Takarai Nei from Gokurakugai (Image via Sano Yuto)

Nei is a dedicated Maga killer who leaves no assignments for Tao and Alma. Her motivation to take on multiple assignments is driven by receiving compliments from her colleagues. Nei has always been diligent in fighting and defeating Maga. She has never suffered serious injuries in any of her assignments. Her blood is special, which helps garner Maga in one place and kill them with her remarkable sword skills.

When her attack didn't work on Yomi, she took out her frustration by taking up multiple assignments to kill Maga. She is similar to some anime characters who take solace in fighting when things don't go according to their plan. In the ongoing arc, the manga is beginning to reveal Nei's past and will hopefully give insights into the origin of her fighting spirit.

3) Shinazugawa Sanemi (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)

Shinazugawa Sanemi as seen in Kimetsu no Yaiba (Image via Ufotable)

Sanemi is the Wind Hashira who exhibits diverse emotions throughout Kimetsu no Yaiba. He is one of the anime characters whose first impression does not please viewers. Sanemi's fight against Tanjiro and his brutality towards Nezuko mark him as an immediate enemy. His hunger for fighting is evident in the Hashira Training arc when he indulges his trainees in harsh tasks.

Sanemi's never-ending appetite for training against Obanai and Giyuu further shows his obsession with fighting. His dynamics with his younger brother Genya portray yet another brutal tendency of the Hashira. However, the reason behind his unforgiving and hotheaded personality lies in his desire to protect Genya and humans from cruel demons.

4) Gabi Braun (Attack on Titan)

Gabi Braun as seen in Shingeki no Kyojin (Image via Anime PONY CANYON)

Gabi belongs to the prototype of anime characters who are hated from the beginning but earn the love and respect of the viewers through the dynamic emotions portrayed in the anime. Her actions are spurred by hatred towards Eldians, which the Marleyans instill in young warriors. Her journey to Paradis informs her that the Eldians are no different than themselves.

Throughout the evolution of Gabi's psyche, she never loses her fighting spirit. She excels during her training as a Marleyan warrior, becoming the next candidate to inherit Reiner's Armored Titan. When she observes the true nature of the Eldians in Paradis, she fights alongside them to deliver justice. This shows that she is prepared to fight regardless of her faction.

5) Bakugo Katsuki (My Hero Academia)

Bakugo Katsuki in Boku no Hero Academia season 7 (Image via TOHO animation)

As the deuteragonist of My Hero Academia, Bakugo's character arc is quite the rollercoaster. Bakugo and battles are two entities that cannot be separated. Even the first panel of the manga portrays Bakugo and his friends ganging up on a weak kid, whom Deku tries to protect. His bold spirit stems from possessing the strong quirk of explosion.

Bakugo challenges anyone whom he deems strong but never admits it vocally. His confidence in his combat skills makes his character more appealing. He wins the U.A. Sports Festival when others doubt him. Furthermore, he does not back away from confronting pro-heroes, as seen in the Endeavor Agency arc. Bakugo delights in inventing new ways to use his quirk and continually improve himself as a hero.

6) Tomiyama Choji (Wind Breaker)

Tomiyama Choji as seen in Wind Breaker season 1 (Image via Aniplex)

Choji is the leader of Shishitoren, who climbed the ranks at a young age. This is attributed to his insatiable appetite for winning fights against other anime characters. He longed to see the view from the top, failing to realize that the best view is observed while spending time with friends. Umemiya helped Choji regain his senses when he was on the verge of being devoured by the loneliness at the top.

His participation in the Noroshi arc indicates that Choji fights to protect his friends rather than his urge to reach the top. The fact that his fighting spirit has been retained through the development of his character makes his friends appreciate his strength even more.

7) Akutagawa Ryunosuke (Bungo Stray Dogs)

Akutagawa Ryunosuke as seen in Bungo Stray Dogs season 5 (Image via KADOKAWA)

Akutagawa is known as the Hellhound and Ability User of Destruction and Disaster amongst his fellow anime characters. It is needless to mention that the nicknames come from his eagerness to plunge into combat. A member of the Port Mafia, he used to commit murders with brutality. Akutagawa's violent behavior emerged from Dazai's scornful comments in the past. As he viewed Dazai as his role model, his instinct pushed him to become ruthless as urged by Dazai.

Akutagawa sees Atsushi as a rival because he has received Dazai's approval, which Akutagawa has always desired. He is frequently observed to engage in a fight with Atsushi. However, the dynamics between the anime characters evolve as Dazai encourages them to collaborate against common enemies. Akutagawa's combat abilities help him regain his footing whenever an opponent is close to defeating him.

8) Power (Chainsaw Man)

Power as seen in Chainsaw Man season 1 (Image via MAPPA)

Power is a blood fiend with a childish personality. She often engages in fights and gains pleasure from boasting her skills. Power is another one of the anime characters who undergoes massive character development. Initially presented as a compulsive liar, Power liked exaggerating her capabilities to earn respect from others. She kept indulging in small fights with Denji, which helped build a familiar bond between them.

The subsequent arcs saw gradual changes in her behavior. Power, an initially self-centered fiend, sacrificed her life to protect her first friend, Denji. She fought Makima till her last moment to keep Denji safe. Even though Power's personality changed, her fighting skills were persistently observed till the end.

9) Hanazawa Teruki (Mob Psycho 100)

Hanazawa Teruki as seen in Mob Psycho 100 (Image via Warner Bros. Japan Anime)

As an esper, Teru is seen to be popular amongst girls. His egotistical nature allowed him to believe that nobody else could surpass him. He arrogantly defeats other anime characters with his psychic abilities. However, his worldview shatters when he meets Mob and loses the fight against him.

With his combat abilities intact, Teru eventually forms a close friendship with Mob and helps defeat common enemies together. In the ???% arc, Teru puts his life on the line to reason with Mob. His ability to fight along with his funny personality makes him grow as a person who can care for his friends as opposed to his initial narcissism.

10) Karino Shuka (Darwin's Game)

Karino Shuka from Darwin's Game (Image via Aniplex)

Known as the Undefeated Queen, Shuka is one of the strongest anime characters in Darwin's Game. She expresses her interest in Kaname and wishes to form a family with him to survive the game. However, she does not convey her thoughts without demanding a battle against Kaname. She considers him worthy of being a comrade only after he discloses his sigil and defeats her.

Shuka became popular amongst the players of Darwin's Game by killing a large number of them, which shows her obsession with battles. Though not afraid of dying, Shuka trained her skills to become stronger and was eventually able to kill Wang. Her friendly personality, in contrast with her deathly aura while fighting, makes her memorable amongst many anime characters.

Final Thoughts

Most of the anime characters obsessed with battles fall under the prototype of inconsiderate characters who undergo massive character development. By the end of the series, they become anime characters ready to sacrifice themselves to protect their friends or loved ones. Sometimes they meet their end, while other times they prevail. These characters tend to leave a strong impression on the viewers.