Tall anime characters generally aren’t overly popular when it comes to most series, but there are a few instances where taller characters have made a significant impact and played an important role as a main or supporting character.
This is more commonly seen in popular sports anime shows, such as Haikyuu!! or Kuroko No Basket. In these anime, taller characters are much more likely to be seen throughout the story and use their advantage of height alongside their sports skills.
However, a few key tall characters are memorable and well-received by fans in a number of anime titles across different genres. These characters may use their height to enhance the special powers, skills or abilities they hold, or sometimes height can simply be a matter of character design. Either way, these characters have made a strong impact in their roles, which has led them to stand out from the others as the 10 best tall characters in anime.
10. Rem (Death Note)
Rem is a Shinigami who accompanies Misa Amane throughout the storyline of Death Note. Rem is exceptionally tall, as Ryuk is considered tall for a Shinigami, at 7’5″ – and she stands even taller again, at 8’0″. Just as Ryuk is tied to Light through his Death Note, Rem is tied to Misa through the Death Note that she gifts her.
Unlike Ryuk, who is fascinated with humans, but holds real concern for Light beyond his fascination with the experiment, Rem appears to despise humans, but to have developed genuine concern for Misa. Rem actively works alongside Misa in Light’s grand scheme, despite her dislike of the latter – and was willing to die to ensure Misa’s safety, as seen in her vow to break Shinigami rules and kill Light if he harmed Misa. Many fans have a strong attachment to Rem, as despite her role as Shinigami, she still seemed to be a good person at heart.
9. Mt. Lady (My Hero Academia)
Yu Takeyama, also known as Mt. Lady, is a much-loved character in My Hero Academia. She is well-known for her role as the pro hero ranked at number 23, and the use of her quirk, Gigantification. As the name of her quirk suggests, Mt. Lady’s quirk enables her to ‘gigantify’ herself and grow up to the incredible height of 67’7″!
Mt. Lady makes the most of this height, and it is key to her role as a pro hero, allowing her to use her size to gain the upper hand over her opponents. She is also extremely cautious of the city she protects, and takes care not to cause damage and destruction with her size. Mt. Lady also has a confident and somewhat vain personality, which makes her stand out from other characters in the Pro Hero role. Despite this, she is a brave and loyal individual who dedicates herself to protecting society, earning herself admiration from many My Hero Academia fans.
8. Alphonse Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Alphonse Elric is one of the main characters in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, known as the younger brother to main protagonist, Edward Elric. During an attempted resurrection of Alphonse and Edward’s dead mother using alchemy, Alphonse suffered the unfortunate fate of losing his physical body. Fortunately, Edward was able to sacrifice one of his arms to bind Alphonse’s soul to a suit of armor. This created Alphonse’s metal form, standing at an impressive 7’3″.
Though Alphonse’s metal form gives him a hulking and somewhat intimidating appearance, his personality remains kind and compassionate towards others. Alphonse is often the one pulling Edward back into line and talking sense into him before he makes any irrational actions or decisions. He sometimes uses his physical size to intervene in difficult situations without inflicting further harm to the parties involved. This made Al known as a gentle giant throughout the story, and fans couldn’t help but adore him for that reason.
7. All Might (My Hero Academia)
Toshinori Yagi, better known as All Might, is one of the main characters and focuses of the show My Hero Academia. Standing at 7’3″, All Might plays the important role of number one Pro Hero, and idol of series protagonist Izuku Midoriya “Deku”. It’s easy to understand why he makes such an influence in society of the MHA world, with his brave and courageous hero persona, wearing a bright smile in even the toughest of situations.
All Might’s height and physical appearance play an important factor in keeping up with his role as the ‘Symbol of Peace’, with everyone looking up to the number one hero as the always smiling, tall and muscular man who will protect them from danger with ease. Though All Might struggles with an injury and decline of his quirk, One For All, he never gives up on Midoriya or the students of U.A High. All Might takes the time to truly get to know each student he works with, enabling them to be the best possible future generation of Pro Heroes, and continue his legacy. Even if his loud and overly-cheery nature isn’t to your liking, it’s almost impossible to deny he’s a great character that brings a lot of positive impact to Deku and his friends, and acts like a true hero at all times, no matter the cost.
6. Atsushi Murasakibara (Kuroko No Basket)
Atsushi Murasakibara is one of the main characters and rivals in the basketball anime, Kuroko No Basket. Murasakibara is an established ex-member of the famous Teiko Junior High basketball team’s ‘Generation of Miracles’. At an impressive height of 6’10”, Murasakibara is now the star player of Yosen High, and is known for his powerful moves under the basket, such as his effortless blocks and explosive dunks.
Murasakibara has an interesting character arc in which his height plays a vital role. Beginning as an arrogant rival of Kuroko’s, Murasakibara has lost his offensive power and enjoyment for the game. This is due to boredom from holding himself back and not wanting to bother going all-out, for concerns of injuring anyone with his size. With a spark lit by his match against Kuroko and Seirin High, Murasakibara learns to find his love for the game again. From this moment onward, he is a much more passionate teammate, bringing back a competitive intensity in his games and appealing to viewers as a much more likable character.
5. Lev Haiba (Haikyuu!!)
Lev Haiba is a recurring side character of the immensely popular volleyball anime, Haikyuu!! Standing at 6’5″, Lev is both the tallest player and self-proclaimed ace of Nekoma High, who uses his height in his position as a middle blocker. Nekoma is the rival team to the main high school and focus of the series, Karasuno High. This means Lev is frequently seen throughout the anime and given time to progress both his skills on-court and his characteristics and traits.
Lev is tall and confident, but his large frame and focused gaze often leaves others thinking he’s much more intimidating than he actually is. While there may be times when Lev acts out or is inconsiderate about the heights of shorter players, Lev is playful and cheerful, as well as enthusiastic and competitive playing volleyball. Fans can’t help but want to see Lev achieve his goals – and there is something about him that keeps you cheering for him, no matter what.
4. Korosensei (Assassination Classroom)
Korosensei is the iconic main antagonist of Assassination Classroom, appearing as a supernatural, yellow Octopus-like creature, and standing at approximately 9’8″. Korosensei is a fascinating character, and while he is ultimately an antagonist, there are many moments throughout the anime that viewers find easy to forget, as Kurosensei’s caring and considerate side is often showcased.
Korosensei is set to destroy the world if nobody succeeds in assassinating him by his desired set date. Set to fulfill a promise he once made before he destroys Earth, he offers a school principal the bizarre deal of being assigned to their Class E, a secluded off-campus classroom filled with the ‘worst’ students in school, to teach them in the art of assassination. While educating the students on how to best assassinate him, Korosensei also teaches regular subjects, and gives many important life lessons – as well as hilarious impressions of pop culture. He shows genuine care for his students, and makes a significant impact on their lives, changing them for the better. There’s absolutely no denying Korosensei is incredibly important and well-loved by all, as seen by both characters in the show, and fans of Assassination Classroom!
3. Ryuk (Death Note)
Ryuk is a main character in the iconic Death Note anime, known for his role as the Shinigami tied to Light Yagami, aka Kira. Bored with his role of Shinigami, Ryuk lets his Death Note fall into the human world, and it ends up in the hands of Light. From here, Ryuk decides to participate in an experiment to see how much Light could accomplish with ownership of the Death Note. Ryuk’s height often causes him to slouch around Light, as even for a Shinigami, he is considered tall at 7’5″.
Though Ryuk is the one responsible for initiating Light’s ideals and persona of Kira, he simply observes Light as he finds him fascinating – it is Light’s own actions that make him such an antagonist, not Ryuk. Watching Ryuk take a back seat and pass his time in the human world by obsessing over apples is entertaining to watch, and his apathy and curiosity for humans makes fans that much fonder of him.
2. Ban (The Seven Deadly Sins)
Ban is a main character in The Seven Deadly Sins, known for his title as the Fox Sin of Greed. Standing at 6’8″, Ban is selfish, and for obvious reasons, a greedy person. However, it is this ounce of mischievous and rebellious bad boy energy that instantly made fans fall in love with his character.
Despite his greed, Ban also has qualities that make him a good person. There are moments where he can act rather caring towards others, and act heroicly to help these people he cares for. Ban also comes from a place of struggle, with a tragic backstory that fans connected to and used to develop a deeper appreciation for his character and quirks. It is Ban’s resilience and heart of gold that have him make such an impact with his role in the show, bringing the other characters together and making amends with his past.
1. Bertholdt Hoover (Attack On Titan)
Bertholdt Hoover is a major character and antagonist in Attack On Titan. Bertholdt is an incrediby fascinating character who befriends main trio Eren, Armin, and Mikasa during their time together in the 104th Cadet Corps. Bertholdt spent time creating a bond with Eren and friends, and graduated with them into the Scouts, where they would continue to fight back against the Titans together. Bertholdt always appeared quiet, but friendly – which is what made his betrayal such a huge moment in the series. During Season 2, Bertholdt is revealed to be Eren’s greatest enemy – the menacing Colossal Titan. Alongside him, his friends Reiner Braun and Annie Leonhardt complete the trio, as the Armored Titan and Female Titan.
Bertholdt is already a tall individual at 6’4″, but his form of the Colossal Titan only amplifies this, standing at approximately 60 metres tall! His height in Titan form makes him one of the most deadly encounters and biggest threats of the series, with him responsible for the collapse of Wall Maria, all from a single kick. The situation for the trio of Bertholdt, Annie, and Reiner is complex. While they are antagonists of the series and responsible for much death and destruction, the causes behind their actions often have a deeper goal or means of sacrifice for themselves. Fans can’t help but feel bad for Bertholdt and his friends, as despite all the bad things they did, were simply a group of kids sent off to war as soldiers. It is this fact, as well as the significance he plays throughout the storyline, that makes him such an incredible character.
If you’re an anime enthusiast, check out some more of our anime inspired content! If you’re looking for recommendations on what shows to watch next, check out the best anime of October 22! Or perhaps something a little more genre specific, such as the best anime about video games, or the best mystery-based anime! If show recommendations aren’t your thing, you can also play one of our fun quizzes instead – perhaps you’d like to discover which Demon Slayer character you are, or which Titan you would be in Attack on Titan!
About the author
