10 insomniac anime characters, ranked by popularity

It's common to find our favorite anime characters with several flaws, so it's easy to find insomniac anime characters in the anime world. Insomnia is common in characters with higher IQs and complex character designs.

Characters like Levi, Kogami, etc. have experienced trauma at one or more points in life, this ingrained trauma factor regulates their character traits. Insomnia, apathy, passivity, and anger issues, are common traits to find in these characters.

Having psychological issues makes the character realistic and more relatable for the audience. Moreover, the insomniac anime characters would always have an interesting space in the plot. This listicle enlists 10 popular examples of insomniac anime characters.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion.

Jujutsu Kaisen's Gojo Satoru, Psycho-Pass' Shinya Kogami, and 8 more popular insomniac anime characters, ranked

10) Ryo- Devilman Crybaby

Ryo Asuka- Devilman Crybaby (one of the popular insomniac anime characters) (Image via Aniplex)

Very little is known about the real Ryo Asuka’s identity and personality in the phenomenal Devilman Crybaby anime. Ryo’s personality is more complex and intricate in this anime than in the original Devilman manga.

Ryo, later revealed as Satan suffered from an identity crisis and existential dilemma, which were enough to keep him awake through his nights. With Ryo’s duality, it is evident that he invested his night-time in his pursuits and scheming toward his goal.

Ryo’s psychological crisis turned him into an insomniac. Devilman Crybaby is highly critically acclaimed but quite unpopular, making Ryo rank in 10th place in this list.

9) Vincent Law- Ergo Proxy

Vincent Law (Insomniac anime characters) (Image via Manglobe)

Finding a Tyler-Durden-like character is not impossible in anime verse. One of the protagonists, Vincent Law from Ergo Proxy is one. Vincent’s identity is torn between his two selves. In the morning he stays as Vincent, and most of the night he lives his other persona- Proxy.

Ergo Proxy has a complex plot enriched with theological, philosophical, and existential arguments about human existence. Vincent Law’s character embodies these core conflicts.

Vincent’s fragmented personality is the result of his insomnia. His sleeplessness highlights many key aspects of the anime.

8) Shinji Ikari- Neon Genesis: Evangelion

Shinji Ikari- Neon Genesis (One of the popular insomniac anime characters) (Image via Gainax)

In Neon Genesis: Evangelion, Shinji Ikari suffers from sleepless nights, anxiety attacks, and nightmares. Shinji is also known to be very emotionally vulnerable and passive, which leads to a more complicated psychological state, that eventually turns him into an insomniac.

While it's not discussed in the anime, his conditions clearly show signs of insomnia. Neon Genesis has an intricate plot with complex themes, and Shinji’s insomnia embodies the complexity of his character as well as the series.

7) Shinya Kogami- Psycho Pass

Shinya Kogami- Psycho-Pass (one of the most popular insomniac anime characters) (Image via Production I. G.)

Shinya Kogami’s character from the infamous Psycho-Pass is a character tortured by his own repressed emotions and trauma. He is an insomniac, who indulges in work instead of sleeping to avoid the pangs of nightmares he suffers.

The brilliant detective Shinya Kogami could never get over the brutal death scene of his partner and became emotionally vulnerable. His traumatic past is the main inspiration for his character design. He is an eccentric, idealistic, and perfectionist character in the anime.

6) Osamu Dazai- Bungo Stray Dog

Osamu Dazai- Bungo Stray Dog (one of the most popular insomniac anime characters) (Image via Bones)

Dazai's character is designed upon a real-life author of the same name, and his character embodies the author Dazai’s traits. Dazai’s nihilistic character is an existential exploration of human life to understand, why “Man fears death and yet, at the same time, man is drawn to death”.

Dazai is a key figure in the Armed Detective Agency. He is the main brain behind all the major operations, therefore his professional engagements along with, his personal struggles tend to keep him awake through the night.

Dazai’s insomnia is the result of his complex past and his internal struggle. With his popularity, he is one of the most popular insomniac anime characters.

5) Kaneki Ken- Tokyo Ghoul

Kaneki Ken- Tokyo Ghoul (One of the most popular anime characters) (Image via Pierrot)

Although insomnia is not one of the character traits of Tokyo Ghoul's Kaneki Ken, his sleeps are far from being peaceful. Due to excessive physical and psychological trauma, he suffers from nightmares and sleeplessness.

Kaneki is a half-ghoul, therefore he has a different physiology than a normal human. His danger sensitivity and professional stress add to his psychological disorders, making him an insomniac.

In the anime, Kaneki barely sleeps or rests, therefore it’s understandable that he suffers from sleeplessness. With his popularity, he is one of the popular insomniac anime characters.

4) Light Yagami- Death Note

Light Yagami- Death Note (One of the top 5 Insomniac anime characters) (Image via Madhouse)

Light Yagami from Death Note kept his night schedule free of sleep to make time for his killing spree. Light’s key characteristics are that of a sociopath, and he is one of the most popular insomniac anime characters.

Unlike, Dazai or Vincent, Light never had a fragmented identity to cause him sleepless nights, but his predatory nature kept him awake. Light leads a normal student life in the daytime, but at night he works as Kira.

3) Levi Ackerman- Attack on Titan

Levi Ackerman- Attack on Titan (3rd most popular insomniac anime character ) (Image via MAPPA)

Our OCD freak captain Levi has many more intricate issues than talked about. Levi lived in the harsh conditions of the underground city around his early 20s, which made him harsh and rude by nature.

Along with having an intrinsic affinity for cleanliness, he seemingly had an aversion towards sleep. However, his sleeplessness occurred due to his profound trauma, nightmares, and professional requirements.

The world of Attack on Titan is always in a hit-and-run situation, hence the survey corps barely gets any time to rest. Both Levi and Hanje are famous insomniacs in the anime.

2) Hatake Kakashi- Naruto

Kakashi- Naruto (2nd most popular insomniac anime character) (Image via Pierrot)

There are very few anime characters with such painful backstories as Hatake Kakashi from Naruto. Much like Levi, Kakashi witnessed his friends, and comrades getting murdered in missions, in assassinations, etc.

Kakashi was a prodigious shinobi driven by his idealism and staunch professionalism, his sense of responsibility made him kill Rin. However, he never got over these dead bodies and the smell of raw blood, which kept him awake through the night.

Kakashi’s insomnia is the result of his repressed trauma and guilt. Albeit suffering from nightmares and insomnia, Kakashi never slacked off in his responsibilities and developed a fake persona of himself to people. Nonetheless, Kakashi is still one of the most loved and popular insomniacs in the animeverse.

1) Satoru Gojo- Jujutsu Kaisen

Satoru Gojo- Jujutsu Kaisen (Most popular insomniac anime character) (Image via MAPPA)

With Jujutsu Kaisen winning Crunchyroll’s “Best Supporting Character” and “Best Voice Actor” awards for Satoru Gojo, his popularity remains unhinged even after he died in the manga. Even with Gojo’s immense popularity, many of his character traits remain unexplored, one such characteristic is him being an insomniac.

Gojo was the first to inherit the power of “six eyes” and “limitless” in 400 years. Since childhood, he has been targeted by assassins, and while his “all-seeing-eyes” helped him counter potential threats, it also developed insomnia for him.

As an adult, Gojo over-exhausted himself in countering curses and planning for future actions. In manga and anime, we find him barely taking rest or sleeping. With his skyrocketing popularity, he is clearly the most popular insomniac anime character.

Final thoughts

Unique character traits make anime characters more relatable for the audience. Showcasing psychological turmoils, or trauma makes them humanistic. While all characteristics of anime characters are not overtly discussed in the series, they can be analyzed through their actions and emotional expressions.

Insomnia is a common characteristic, found in many anime characters. Insomniac anime characters range from sleep-deprived high school students like Shinji Ikari to sociopaths like Light Yagami. Nevertheless, insomnia is a key feature that highlights the stress, trauma, and psychological turmoils of the characters.