10 mysterious anime characters like Imu in One Piece

Mysterious anime characters can come in a lot of shapes and forms, with Imu from One Piece currently being a great example of that trope. He or she is the World Government and not much is known about this character, although he or she is bound to play a pivotal role in the story, especially considering the influence he or she has had in several plot points of the series.

In that regard, the mysterious anime characters stand out because they often have a major role to play in their stories or simply haven’t been able to contribute as of yet. They are oftentimes a major villain or someone who is an obstacle to the protagonist, although some of them are also allies and could be of great help in some key plot points.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for all the series mentioned here. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda as a whole.

10 mysterious anime characters like Imu from One Piece and why they are similar

1. Void (Berserk)

The original Godhand, featuring Void (Image via Young Animal).

The Godhand as a whole could make up a list of the most mysterious anime characters but Void is certainly up there on his own. He seems to be the leader of the Godhand in Berserk and a flashback shows that he was with four former members centuries ago, which suggests that he has been a part of this group of dark deities longer than the rest.

Even in life, author Kentaro Miura said that people must keep an eye on Void, which was only further emphasized by this flashback. He also seems to have a long history with the Skull Knight, with fans coming up with several theories of how they knew each other when they were friends, perhaps mirroring the conflict Guts and Griffith have in the series.

It's difficult to gauge Void's real intentions since the story has not given him attention thus far. However, considering that the endgame of the manga seems to be near, it would make sense that his motivations are going to be revealed soon.

2. Gyro (Hunter X Hunter)

Gyro as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha).

When it comes to mysterious anime characters like Imu from One Piece, there is a strong argument to be made that Gyro could even surpass the leader of the World Government in that department. That is because Hunter X Hunter author Yoshihiro Togashi has only given very small details about this character but enough to warrant a lot of attention and curiosity from its readership.

Gyro was the leader and so-called "King" of the NGL, where most of the Chimera Ant arc took place, and ran away from the place as a newborn Ant. However, he kept all of his memories because of his pride and his hatred for humanity, which was a result of the abusive childhood he went through due to his alcoholic father.

It seems now that Gyro's sole goal is to spread hate and destruction upon the world, although not much has been revealed about him. He is one of the most mysterious anime characters out there and his eventual appearance in the story is probably going to change Hunter X Hunter forever.

3. Soul King (Bleach)

The Soul King as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot).

Very few mysterious anime characters have the impact and relevance that the Soul King has in Bleach since he is the source of everything that happens in the story. He is the creator of the three main worlds of the series (the human world, Hueco Mundo, and Soul Society) and the creator of the Shinigami, Fullbringer, and Quincy.

The whole structure of the Soul Society is a direct result of the noble houses betraying the Soul King and his status as a battery for the three worlds serves as a motivation for the two main villains of the story, Aizen and Yhwach. However, the way he fell and the consequences of this event are still discussed within the fandom of this series.

The Soul King was by far the most popular individual of his time and the nobles wouldn't have been strong enough to take him down. Therefore, there is the question of how he was betrayed and whether he allowed himself to be trapped or not, especially considering that his version of the Almighty could allow him to see even further into the future.

4. Shibai Otsutsuki (Boruto)

One of the most mysterious anime characters at the moment (Image via Shueisha).

Boruto might be a very divisive sequel to a lot of Naruto fans out there but there is no denying that the introduction of one of the most mysterious anime characters like Imu from One Piece, Shibai Otsutsuki, was a smart decision. It added a bit more to the lore of the Otsutsuki clan and also established someone who could be the final boss of the franchise as a whole.

Amado explained that Shibai was an Otsutsuki, who arrived on this planet centuries before Kaguya and ate several Chakra Fruits to the point of reaching godhood. At some point, he abandoned his mortal coil and has transcended, with many fans theorizing that he is going to return at some point and even go as far as claiming that he is going to take over Boruto's body, although that is mere fan speculation.

The truth of the matter is that, much like Imu, there are a lot of mysteries surrounding the character of Shibai, who could be a major player in the series moving forward.

5. Chronos (Saint Seiya)

Chronos as seen in Next Dimension (Image via Akita Shoten).

Saint Seiya is currently in a very peculiar state where fans don't know if the series is going to continue or not after the ending of the Next Dimension manga. However, when it comes to mysterious anime characters like Imu from One Piece, there is no denying that Chronos might be one of the most interesting players in the current conflict in the series.

Chronos helped Athena and Shun travel back into the past to help Seiya recover from the wound Hades caused him with his sword. However, in the final moments that were shown during the events of the Next Dimension manga, it was revealed that Chronos allowed her to do this because he knew that Zeus was going to be angry.

Therefore, he is one of the most mysterious anime characters because he allowed major events that could have destroyed time and space. In that regard, it begs the question of what was his motivation and what could he have gained from that.

6. Astaroth (Black Clover)

Among the most mysterious anime characters in Black Clover (Image via Shueisha).

There is an argument to be made that Lucius Zogratis already makes the cut as one of the most mysterious anime characters in recent years, but the Devil known as Astaroth deserves a lot more attention. When considering all things, the entirety of the Black Clover story wouldn't have happened without Astaroth's influence, despite the fact the character has never made a physical appearance in the story.

At some point and for reasons that the series is yet to address, Astaroth left the Devil realm and struck a contract with Lucius of the Zogratis family, giving him the Time Magic, thus allowing him to manipulate events across the story. That is something that has proven to be pivotal for the series and the character of Astaroth is yet to be revealed.

A lot of people have come up with the theory that he is Asta's father, hence why the protagonist's unique abilities, but that is yet to be confirmed by author Yuki Tabata. Be that as it may, his influence on Black Clover makes him one of the most mysterious anime characters and one that generates many questions.

7. Death Devil (Chainsaw Man)

One of the biggest mysteries in Chainsaw Man (Image via Shueisha and MAPPA).

One key aspect of the most mysterious anime characters like Imu from One Piece is that the reader or the viewer must have many questions surrounding said individual and the Death Devil in Chainsaw Man, who fits in that area quite well. That is because the apocalypse has been hinted at throughout the second part of author Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga and this could define the entire franchise.

The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse has been foreshadowed throughout most of the second part of Chainsaw Man and the Death Devil seems to be the most powerful since, naturally, dying is what people fear the most. However, this Devil is yet to be introduced and no one knows what it looks like, only adding to its role as one of the most mysterious anime characters at the moment.

8. Sailor Galaxia (Sailor Moon)

One of the most interesting examples of mysterious anime characters (Image via Toei Animation/ Netflix)

It is fair to say that Sailor Galaxia might not be one of the most mysterious anime characters when compared to others on this list, especially when considering her revamped origin story of the 90s anime, but she definitely has an interesting role in the manga. She is the final boss for the vast majority of the last arc of the series and her rise to power could be the source for a lot of questions.

According to her own words, she was a regular Sailor who managed to rise through the ranks, conquer and destroy entire planets, to the point that she was capable of competing with someone with borderline divine powers such as Usagi. Therefore, it begs the question of how old Galaxia was, how she became stronger, and how she managed to accomplish such goals.

Sure, the variable of Chaos playing a role is very likely, but she had the potential from the get-go. Therefore, her rise to power is what makes her one of the most mysterious anime characters like Imu from One Piece and definitely a special one in Sailor Moon.

9. Grand Priest (Dragon Ball Super)

One of the most mysterious anime characters when it comes to Dragon Ball (Image via Toei Animation).

There is no denying that the Grand Priest was one of the most mysterious anime characters for a long time because of the way he was depicted during the vast majority of his time in Dragon Ball Super. There were a lot of fans who thought that he was manipulating Zeno and even playing the universes like puppets during the events of the Tournament of Power arc, with people coming up with all kinds of theories on the matter.

However, neither the anime nor the manga have shown anything that could prove that the Grand Priest is evil or something along those lines. It is simply a matter of characterization, although he is stated to be one of the strongest characters in the entire multiverse, so fans are eager to see him in action.

10. Siegfried (Record of Ragnarok)

Siegfried is heavily connected to Brunhilde (Image via Graphinica).

The Record of Ragnarok manga revealed that a warrior named Siegfried has been imprisoned by the gods, which has already made him one of the most mysterious anime characters at the moment. Siegfried, according to Norse mythology, is half-god and half-human, so it makes sense that he could be used as a bridge between these two factions.

Furthermore, it has been theorized for a long time that Brunhilde, the main Valkyrie of the series, is in love with Siegfried, following the trend of the myths. Therefore, most fans have assumed that this tournament has been a ploy of hers to rescue the legendary warrior, although that is yet to be confirmed.

Final thoughts

There are more mysterious anime characters like Imu from One Piece, although some of the most prominent are the ones mentioned here. That is because they are part of a very notorious and popular series, which has only added to their legacy and curiosity throughout the years.

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Edited by Bharath S