We all like to talk about the dumbest characters in anime. I think we had a thread on that a while back, but it’s gone now. I thought of reviving it, but then I thought, “What about all the anime characters with real brains? Let’s give them some recognition.”
So here is my list, in no particular order, of genius anime characters.
Senkuu from Doctor Stone. Imagine yourself suddenly waking up in the distant future where civilization has disappeared, and survivors are living in a new Stone Age. Senkuu adapts using science. He creates a battery, invents a cell phone, but no flush toilet yet?
L, Light, and Near from Death Note. I had to mention all three. L is the greatest detective of all time, but he is outwitted by Light. So I guess Light is the true genius of this series. Except that Near outwits Light, and Near is just a kid. So Near is the real genius. Scary.
Satou from Ajin: Demi-Human. Now here is a real evil genius. The immortal Mr. Satou has his battle plans well laid out in his war to destroy humanity. No one can stop him. Fellow Ajin, the teenaged Kai, however, will try to bring him down.
Lelouch from Code Geass. Exiled royal prince Lelouch seeks revenge on his family, taking on the identity of Zero and leading a force of rebels. His thinking keeps him one step ahead of his enemies, and when things go wrong, he finds a way to take advantage of his defeats. A true tactical genius!
Okabe from Steins;Gate. Doing a little research to help me come up with ideas, and to refresh my memory with anime long past seeing, it is Karisu who most list as the genius of Steins;Gate. She does have the degrees, reputation, and years of publications. But Okabe, a self-described mad scientist, has had more success on the applicable level. He actually breaks the time barrier, though he might not totally understand how, and leads the way to thwarting the villains.
Taichi Keaton from Master Keaton. He’s a college professor, an archeologist, an expert on ancient civilizations, and a detective. Did I mentions he is also a former SAS agent? As the trailer stated, Keaton is “a jack of all trades, and master of them all.” Between his sharp eye and intellect, he is well suited for whatever situation he finds himself in.
Edward from Cowboy Bebop. You wouldn’t know to look at her, but Edward is part of the Bebop brain trust -- though no one else really thinks of her that way. She is an expert computer wiz/hacker, and her childish ways do tend to hide the fact that she is aware of more than what she lets on. The crew rely on her skills more often than they probably admit.
Johan from Monster. Quiet, unassuming Johan is another evil genius. He lives to kill, though he seems to prefer having others do his dirty work for him. Johan is playing a deadly game, and he plays it well, outsmarting his foes as he seeks additional victims. As Johan hunts future victims, he himself is hunted by Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a brilliant surgeon who once saved Johan’s life and is now framed for Johan’s murders. And Tenma is hunted by Police Inspector Lunge.
Laurent from Great Pretender. French born con-man Laurent only sets his sights on wealthy criminals and low lives. It gets pretty dangerous, but Laurent always has a way to come out ahead. His protégé, and series main character, Edamura has a hard time keeping up. Maybe.
O-Ei from Miss Hokusai. This movie was based on an actual 19th Century family of artists. O-Ei is not just talented, but a genius who develops her talent over the course of the film, but still remains in the shadow of her more famous father.
You got any?
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