10 most iconic anime characters with white hair

The world of anime is filled with iconic anime characters, each with unique traits and designs. Fans love to find similarities between their favorite characters across different anime. One fun way to do this is by identifying them as sharing the same hair color. In this article, we will cover iconic anime characters who share the same visual trait of being anime characters with white hair.

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10 iconic anime characters with white hair

1. Killua Zoldyck – Hunter x Hunter

Role: Deuteragonist (main supporting character)

Debut in Manga: Hunter x Hunter Chapter 6 (1998)

Debut in Anime: Episode 3 (1999), Episode 3 (2011 remake)

Killua Zoldyck is one of the most iconic anime characters. He was born to the Zoldyck family, they are a famous assassin family. Since his childhood, Killua was given intense training to be a flawless killer, just like the rest of his family members. He is one of the most iconic anime characters because even if he has an icy cold demeanor when he is actively in battle, on the inside, he is just a playful, loyal, and deeply conflicted child who just wants friendship and freedom.

Killua is also an important person in Gon’s life as he serves to be his emotional support and a moral compass. His character arc revolves around how he evolved from being a trained assassin to a compassionate friend.

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2. Satoru Gojo – Jujutsu Kaisen

Role: Mentor / Supporting Protagonist

Debut in Manga: Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 2 (2018)

Debut in Anime: Episode 1 (2020)

Gojo Satoru has been one of the most fan-favorite iconic anime characters with white hair. Additionally, in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, he is one of the strongest characters to exist. His abilities make him unpredictable and almost invincible. Also, throughout the series, Gojo is hard to ignore. He is well aware of his strength and does not shy away from flaunting it every chance he gets.

Beneath the overconfident and cocky behaviour, he is more serious about overturning the current corrupt jujutsu world and protect the next generation. Finally, he was also the main mentor to Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, and Nobara Kugisaki. As one of the most iconic anime characters, Gojo is not only a powerhouse but also the one responsible for paving a path for the next generation to shine.

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3. Kakashi Hatake – Naruto

Role: Mentor / Supporting Protagonist / Sixth Hokage

Debut in Manga: Naruto Chapter 3 (1999)

Debut in Anime: Episode 3 (2002)

Kakashi Hatake is the mentor of Team 7 in Naruto, and fans see him as one of the most iconic anime characters to ever exist. He is a prodigy also known as Copy Ninja because he has copied over thousands of techniques with the help of his Sharingan. Kakashi’s personality is layered; he is disciplined most of the time, yet lazy. But one thing is for sure that he cares deeply about his students.

As a mentor, he ensured to guide Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura through battles, missions, and moral dilemmas. Later, when he is made the Sixth Hokage, he is responsible for bringing balance to Konoha when no one else was qualified to take up this role; he is truly one of the most iconic anime characters in the history of anime.

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4. Ken Kaneki – Tokyo Ghoul

Role: Protagonist / Antihero

Debut in Manga: Tokyo Ghoul Chapter 1 (2011)

Debut in Anime: Episode 1 (2014)

Ken Kaneki is again one of the most iconic anime characters with white hair, whose journey is one of the most psychologically intense ones witnessed in any animanga series. His story began as a shy character who was a victim of a ghoul attack that left him transformed into a half-ghoul through organ transplantation. And all of this was a result of him just choosing to go on a date.

After this event, he needs to find himself again as he is in a battle of retaining his humanity while his ghoul instincts want to take over. As Tokyo Ghoul’s protagonist, Kaneki evolves from prey to protector, from confused youth to revolutionary leader.

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5. Tomoe – Kamisama Kiss

Role: Deuteragonist / Love Interest

Debut in Manga: Kamisama Kiss Chapter 1 (2008)

Debut in Anime: Episode 1 (2012)

Tomoe is a fox yokai. In this series, he is bonded to Nanami Momozono and is her familiar. She was an ordinary girl who unexpectedly became a land god. Tomoe has been an iconic anime character in the shoujo genre. His white hair, fox ears, and piercing eyes have been a distinct design that fans cannot mistake him for someone else.

Initially, in Kamisama Kiss, he was dismissive of humans and liked to spend time in solitude. His life changed when Nanami Momozono entered, their relationship was rocky at first. Eventually, it developed into heartfelt romance, and Tomoe gradually stopped disliking humans, and he became one of the most iconic anime characters in the shojo genre.

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6. Gabimaru – Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku

Role: Protagonist

Debut in Manga: Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku Chapter 1 (2018)

Debut in Anime: Episode 1 (2023)

Gabimaru in Hell’s Paradise was also known as Gabimaru the Hollow. He was wrongfully accused and sentenced to death because he wanted to abandon his clan. Initially, Gabimaru was introduced as an emotionless killer, but as the story developed, his facade of being ruthless crumbled. He was just a simple man who wanted to earn his freedom and live a peaceful life with his wife, and this duality made him one of the most iconic anime characters in the shonen genre.

To earn his freedom and clear his name, Gabimaru had to find the elixir of life, and in this journey, it is seen that he is more than capable of being extremely violent. The only reason he managed to survive this treacherous journey is love for his wife and the idea of being reunited with her. As his story comes to an end, Gabimaru evolves as he rediscovered empathy, forged bonds with allies, and questioned the beliefs that were deeply instilled in him since childhood.

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7. Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Role: Protagonist

Debut in Manga: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Chapter 1 (2020)

Debut in Anime: Episode 1 (2023)

Frieren is an elf who was part of a team who were considered to be the greatest heroes after they defeated the Demon King. Currently is considered to be an iconic anime character because of how she begins to confront the emotional cost of immortality and tries her best to bond with others. Her story begins years after the defeat of the Demon King, as she came to know that her friend and comrade Himmel was dead.

This event made her want to understand human emotions. There is no doubt that she was a strong mage and one of the most iconic anime characters, and could take down enemies in any battle, but her story was more about emotions than strength. Throughout her journey, she slowly learns the value of memories, gestures, and fleeting human lives.

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8. Senku Ishigami – Dr. Stone

Role: Protagonist

Debut in Manga: Dr. Stone Chapter 1 (2017)

Debut in Anime: Episode 1 (2019)

Senku Ishigami is not your average shonen hero is one of the most iconic anime characters in modern anime. He has taken it upon himself to revive human civilization after being mysteriously petrified by an unknown source. Senku is a scientific genius, and with clever improvisation, he manages to come up with inventions that could help his goal. His hyper intelligence helps him to cover up the fact that he is not physically strong.

Senku’s journey is an inspiring ode to the power of intellect, showing that the mind can be the sharpest weapon of all. Moreover, he has strong allies to make up for all the things he is not good at. As the protagonist of Dr. Stone, Senku is the embodiment of human potential because, throughout the series, despite having next to no access to modern gadgets, he has made things work by coming up with interesting ways.

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9. Itsuomi Nagi – A Sign of Affection

Role: Male Lead / Love Interest

Debut in Manga: A Sign of Affection Chapter 1 (2019)

Debut in Anime: Episode 1 (2024)

Itsuomi Nagi is a charming student who crosses paths with Yuki, a sweet and shy deaf girl. He is fluent in many languages and finds himself drawn to learning sign language to communicate well with Yuki. What sets Itsuomi apart is his respectful and genuine interest in understanding Yuki, and he is quite sensitive in being humble while approaching her.

With his openness and emotional intelligence, Itsuomi Nagi is looked at as one of the most iconic anime characters because he created a safe space for her to open up at her own pace. Their relationship slowly transforms from friends to lovers in a slow-burning romance. It is quite heartwarming to witness them as they navigate through life and mutually understand what it means to discover a sense of emotional grounding.

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10. Edward Newgate (Whitebeard) – One Piece

Role: Major Antagonist-Turned-Ally / Pirate Legend

Debut in Manga: One Piece Chapter 234 (2002)

Debut in Anime: Episode 151 (2003)

Whitebeard is one of the most iconic characters in anime and is a legendary figure in One Piece. Moreover, during his time in the story, he was seen as the strongest man in the World. Despite his fearsome reputation, Whitebeard is a deeply principled and paternal figure to his crew and sees each of them as his son. He never sought the treasure of fame; his only goal was to protect what he cared for.

His final stand during the Marineford War is one of the most powerful moments in One Piece, where he sacrifices everything to protect Ace and uphold his ideals. And during his final moments, Whitebeard’s final words shook the world to its core and changed the trajectory of the story.

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Overall, white hair sets these characters apart, creating a memorable visual identity. This feature often signifies depth, mystery, or power, qualities that resonate with fans. White-haired anime characters have trended across generations, becoming iconic for both their roles and striking appearance. For mangaka, giving a character white hair is a bold artistic choice that usually pays off.