The 24 Most Flamboyant Anime Characters of All Time

Anna Lindwasser
Updated May 20, 2024 38.4K views 24 items
Ranked By
9.6K votes
1.9K voters
Voting Rules

Vote up the flashiest characters that totally own their style.

Latest additions: Adam - 'SK8 the Infinity'
Most divisive: Papillon - 'Buso Renkin'
Over 1.9K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The 24 Most Flamboyant Anime Characters of All Time

Few things are more fun than an anime character who is totally flamboyant. These fabulous boys and men aren't afraid to embrace their feminine side - but many of them do so with the utmost drama. From confident, dramatic folks with attitude to drag queens in high heels and fishnets, flamboyant anime characters are awesome. 

Not every character rocking a flamboyant aesthetic is gay, although many of them are. Characters like Victor Nikiforov of Yuri!!! on ICE clearly display their love for other men, but others, like Pegasus J. Crawford from Yu-Gi-Oh!, actually fall in love with women. Others, like Yuga Aoyama from My Hero Academia, don't send a clear message about what their orientation might be. It just goes to show that gender presentation isn't the same thing as orientation, and that flamboyant guys can be straight, bi, gay, or anything else. Also, while some of these characters do identify to some degree with femininity, none of them are confirmed to be trans women. Rather, they're men who refuse to be limited by society's expectations of what men should be. 

Which ones do you think have the most style?

  • 1
    300 VOTES

    Tengen Uzui - Demon Slayer

    Tengen Uzui - Demon Slayer
    Photo: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba / ufotable

    As the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui is one of the most powerful characters in Demon Slayer. But power is only important to him if it's sufficiently flashy. Whether it's his jewelry, his makeup, his nail polish, or his attacks, stlye is what matters to Uzui. 

    300 votes
  • 2
    601 VOTES

    Tamaki Suou - 'Ouran High School Host Club'

    Tamaki Suou - 'Ouran High School Host Club'
    Photo: Ouran High School Host Club / Bones

    Every member of the Host Club has a different persona that they hope will be appealling to their guests. But Tamaki's ostentatiousness isn't just an act - it's who he is. 

    601 votes
  • 3
    777 VOTES

    James - 'Pokémon'

    James - 'Pokémon'
    Photo: Pokémon: Diamond & Pearl / OLM

    James' is the male half of the human part of Team Rocket. What he lacks in actual Pokémon-stealing abilities, he makes up for with style and attitude.

    777 votes
  • Ayame Sohma - 'Fruits Basket'
    Photo: Fruits Basket / TMS Entertainment

    Ayame Sohma is the snake of the Zodiac, but his personaltiy isn't especially snakelike. Instead, he's the kind of guy who has no problem telling his school principal that he's a bottom and then relaying this anecdote to his younger brother a decade later. The only person who can calm him down is the very serious Hatori, who he absolutely worships.

    507 votes
  • Howl Pendragon - 'Howl's Moving Castle'
    Photo: Howl's Moving Castle / Studio Ghibli

    Howl Pendragon is one of the most extra chracters in anime history. The powerful wizard once took to bed for days after accidentally dying his hair the wrong color. 

    548 votes
  • Victor Nikiforov - 'Yuri!!! On ICE'
    Photo: Yuri!!! on ICE / MAPPA

    Victor Nikiforov is a figure skater, so being flamboyant is part of the job. But his boistrous and confident personality follows him off the rink as well - and it's part of why Yuri loves him so much.

    747 votes
  • 7
    699 VOTES

    Yuga Aoyama - 'My Hero Academia'

    Yuga Aoyama - 'My Hero Academia'
    Photo: My Hero Academia / Bones

    Everything about Yuga Aoyama, from his personality to his room decor, is sparkly and fabulous. That's why his hero name is Can't Stop Twinkling. 

    699 votes
  • 8
    392 VOTES

    Shuu Tsukiyama - 'Tokyo Ghoul'

    Shuu Tsukiyama - 'Tokyo Ghoul'
    Photo: Tokyo Ghoul / Studio Pierrot

    Shuu Tsukiyama is a Ghoul, which means that he has no choice about eating humans. But that doesn't mean he can't do it in style - he actually hosts performance art events where his patrons get to eat rare delicacies. This includes Ken Kaneki, who is first impressed by Shuu's artistry, but then terrified once he learns his true intentions. 

    392 votes
  • 9
    280 VOTES

    Otohiko - 'Kamisama Kiss'

    Otohiko - 'Kamisama Kiss'
    Photo: Kamisama Kiss / TMS Entertainment

    Otohiko is a Wind God, but sometimes he's a little more focused on his crush on Ookuninushi than he is on his supernatural duties. His attitude ranges from dramatic and cheerful to a bit catty. 

    280 votes
  • 10
    264 VOTES

    Aleistor Chamber - 'Black Butler'

    Aleistor Chamber - 'Black Butler'
    Photo: Black Butler / A-1 Pictures

    Aleistor Chamber is a nobleman who frequently throws lavish get-togethers for other wealthy people to enjoy. While his personality is charming and delightful, it hides a horrifying criminal history - he holds underground auctions where he sells girls and women as pets, ritual sacrifices, and more. 

    264 votes
  • 11
    434 VOTES

    Bon Kurei - 'One Piece'

    Bon Kurei - 'One Piece'
    Photo: One Piece / Toei Animation

    Bon Kurei, also known as Bentham, is an assassin, but there's nothing subtle about him. Instead, he can usually be found singing, dancing, and otherwise making a spectacle of himself. At first, he's Luffy's enemy, but the two eventually become friends.

    434 votes
  • Josuke Higashikata - 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'
    Photo: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure / David Production

    Just about everyone in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is at least a little bit flamboyant, but Josuke Higashikata, the illegitimate son of Joseph Joestar, stands out. Just check out that pose!

    321 votes
  • 13
    447 VOTES

    Emporio Ivankov - 'One Piece'

    Emporio Ivankov - 'One Piece'
    Photo: One Piec / Toei Animation

    Emporio Ivankov is an okama, which is a complicated Japanese slang term that in the world of One Piece means crossdresser. In fact, he's considered the greatest okama of them all. His Devil Fruit allows him to manipulate hormones, which gives him the ability to create a more feminine appearance for himself whenever he wants.

    447 votes
  • 14
    374 VOTES

    Pegasus J. Crawford - 'Yu-Gi-Oh!'

    Pegasus J. Crawford - 'Yu-Gi-Oh!'
    Photo: Yu-Gi-Oh! / Studio Gallop

    Pegasus J. Crawford is the president of Industrial Illusions and the creator of Duel Monsters. His campy demeanor and style serve as a distraction for his villainous behavior.

    374 votes
  • 15
    445 VOTES

    Puri Puri Prisoner - 'One Punch Man'

    Puri Puri Prisoner - 'One Punch Man'
    Photo: One Punch Man / Madhouse, J.C. Staff

    Puri Puri Prisoner is an S-class hero who is serving time in Smelly Lid Prison for sexual assault. But the seriousness of his crimes is often overlooked because of his silly, flamboyant persona. 

    445 votes
  • 16
    380 VOTES

    Bob - 'Fairy Tail'

    Bob - 'Fairy Tail'
    Photo: Fairy Tail / Satelight, A-1 Pictures

    Bob is the founder and leader of the Blue Pegasus Guild. Typically friendly and flirtatious, he can become angry if he finds out that someone is being mistreated, and is quick to leap to their defense.

    380 votes
  • 17
    191 VOTES

    Roswaal L. Mathers - 'Re:ZERO'

    Roswaal L. Mathers - 'Re:ZERO'
    Photo: Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- / White Fox

    Roswaal L. Mathers is the lord of Roswaal Mansion. Despite being preoccupied with possessing the bodies of his descendants in order to meet his teacher Echidna once again, he manages to find time to look fabulous while doing it. 

    191 votes
  • 18
    115 VOTES

    Shaiapouf - Hunter x Hunter

    Shaiapouf - Hunter x Hunter
    Photo: Hunter x Hunter / Madhouse

    Shaiapouf is a Chimera Ant whose sole purpose in life is to protect Meruem, the King. With his giant butterfly wings, musical talent, and overall flamboyant demeanor, he provides an interesting contrast to his fellow royal guard, the rugged and masculine Menthuthuyoupi.

    115 votes
  • 19
    295 VOTES

    Charlotte Chuhlhourne - 'Bleach'

    Charlotte Chuhlhourne - 'Bleach'
    Photo: Bleach / Studio Pierrot

    Charlotte Chuhlhourne is a flamboyant drag queen who considers himself the most beautiful person on Earth. But while his personality is normally light-hearted, he gets serious in battle. 

    295 votes
  • 20
    208 VOTES

    Leeron Littner - 'Gurren Lagann'

    Leeron Littner - 'Gurren Lagann'
    Photo: Gurren Lagann / Gainax

    Leeron Littner can be campy and flirtatious, but he can also be serious when necessary. He works as a mechanic, a stereotypically masculine job, but he behaves in a feminine manner. That duality is part of what makes him an interesting character. 

    208 votes
  • 21
    149 VOTES

    Sunny - 'Toriko'

    Sunny - 'Toriko'
    Photo: Toriko / Toei Animation

    If something isn't beautiful, Sunny wants no part of it. In fact, he's so focused on looks that every single item of his Full Course Menu (basically a set of 8 dream dishes that everyone in the series has) promotes skin health and beauty.

    149 votes
  • 22
    56 VOTES

    Ronove Romiere - 'Welcome To Demon School! Iruma-kun'

    Ronove Romiere - 'Welcome To Demon School! Iruma-kun'
    Photo: Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun / Bandai Namco Pictures

    First appearing as an antagonist who is trying to take over the student council at Babyls Demon School, Ronove Romiere eventually becomes a hilarious side character who appears to literally sing his own praises and sometimes help save the day. Just don't touch him if you're a guy, or he'll flip out. 

    56 votes
  • 23
    17 VOTES

    Adam - 'SK8 the Infinity'

    Adam - 'SK8 the Infinity'
    Photo: SK8 the Infinity / Bones

    By day Ainosuke Shindo is a stern politician, but by night he's the flashy, theatrical underground skater Adam. From his flowery entrances to his Love Hug finishing move, there's no doubt he's the most flamboyant character of the series.

    17 votes
  • 24
    134 VOTES

    Papillon - 'Buso Renkin'

    Papillon - 'Buso Renkin'
    Photo: Buso Renkin / Xebec

    It's hard to get more flamboyant than a guy who regularly dresses like a butterfly who's into bondage. Papillon, also known by his real name Koushaku Chouno, is a homunculus who strives for eternal life, and isn't afraid to hurt others to get it.

    134 votes