Akudama Drive is one of the best anime of 2020, and with good reason. Itās not just about the interesting storyline and studio Pierrotās quality animation, but the unique characters. There is something for everybody. Maybe you like hot and crazy characters? Well, weāve got Doctor. She is a sexy doctor who can re-attach her own torso and completely cut off legs. If that does not tickle your fancy, weāve also got Cutthroat. He literally licks people, doesnāt feel pain and is completely obsessive. Additionally, we have a fun brawler, a cool hacker and an emo biker. So thereās something for everybody. Now, letās get started with the list. Iām happy to present to you, my list of the top 10 best Akudama Drive characters!
10. Hacker
VA: Shun Horie
Hacker is bored of living a normal life, so heās constantly looking for ways to entertain himself by using his hacking skills. Itās all about increasing his blood pressure, as heās a junkie looking for a good high. And heās doing all of it because heās tired of the boring routine of everyday life and he wants something more. Doesnāt that sound like a relatable character? Well, let me tell you, the writers do nothing with this angle, as heās just used as a crutch for the storyline.
The problem with Hacker is simple; heās used as a cheat code and a bandage to fix all types of plot holes. If the gang encounters a locked door or a security system, you have the hacker who can get you into anywhere. It doesnāt matter how silly or ridiculous the method is, Hacker will find a way of achieving the impossible. In turn, I find this character to be a crutch. With that, I mean that heās only used until needed. Otherwise, he doesnāt matter in the slightest. He gets thrown away halfway through the show, and comes back in the end when heās needed again.
Hacker is a character whoās full potential was squandered. In turn, I canāt rank him any higher. However, I will say that I enjoyed his personality. Itās just sad they didnāt do more with him. He was just a cheat code; fixing every conundrum the writers created and they themselves could not re-write. Itās honestly quite surprising. With that said, Hacker gets the 10th spot on my list of the Top 10 Best Akudama Drive Characters!
9. Sister
VA: Kana Ichinose
Sister is a constant source of adorable energy, who represents human innocence with a great amount of endearing vulnerability. Itās like sheās the sunshine after rain, the joy after sadness. By that, Iām referring to her warm personality and lovable nature. After all, sheās the only one in the gang whoās genuinelly, wholeheartedly, good. While thatās a positive thing, it makes her less of a character and more of a shell for a bigger point that the anime struggles to get across.
While Sister is a decent secondary character, her entire behavior is too mushy. Itās like sheās just a cute character, without much more going for her, you know? Not to mention, her best scenes are together with Brother and Swindler, as she needs to interact with someone to be interesting. While I enjoy her cute behavior and lovable nature, itās the lack of depth that just hinders her from ranking any higher.
8. Master
VA: Akio Ootsuka
Execution Division Master is arguably the most badass character in Akudama Drive. With a skill set and abilities to match, Master is easily a highlight for the short amount of time he appears in Akudama Drive.
Personally I really enjoyed watching Masterās action scenes, but as a character, he left much to be desired. While heās a well-designed character with a distinct personality, thereās not much more to him as a character. But who are we kidding here? Akudama Drive is a show that puts heavy focus on exciting action scenes rather than good characters, and thatās pretty apparent, isnāt it? Only a few characters are actually well-written, but Master isnāt one of them. Thus, Iām ranking him rather low, just like Sister and Hacker.
7. Brawler
Brawler is the overwhelmingly positive and joyfulfighter, who simply loves punching things. It doesnāt matter if heās throwing hands with a robot or a human being, heās looking for a bloody good scarp. If heās satisfied with the combat, heāll smile like a kid on Christmas Day. If itās bad, heāll not be too pleased, and will encourage his opponent to pick up the pace. In turn, heās the lovable Brawler that loves to brawl, and I just find her very fun to watch!
When it comes to Brawler, heās similar to Master, as his eye-catching fights are the reason you will remember him! For better or for worse, Brawler is a highlight reel, and while that makes him entertaining, it doesnāt make him a well-written character. But thatās not a big problem, considering his rather small role in the story. Quite the contrary, because of his limited screen time, it actually works. However, thatās the reason Brawler doesnāt rank higher, as thereās not much to him aside from everything related to fighting.
6. Brother
VA: Maaya Uchida
From being mutilated to becoming an immortal vessel to voicing a black cat that ignited the storyline of Akudama Drive, Brother is a vital character in the story. In turn, heās pretty well-written, with an understandably stoic nature and a stand-offish behavior, with an egotistical goal for him and Sister. But in the big picture, it all makes perfect sense.
Brother isnāt necesarily the most interesting character, but heās indirectly the protagonist of Akudama Drive. Heās the reason the Akudama meet each other, and heās the reason they are working together. But not out of free will, but from a collar bomb around their necks, making Brother an anti-hero. But thatās a part of his character, isnāt it? Considering everything that heās been through, he doesnāt care about ālifeā or āhumanityā anymore. He just wants to be free and go to the moon, literally. In turn, heās a child trying to find his way in a world that he has never understood, making for a very sympathetic and empathetic character.
While this character can be considered quite simplistic, I would completely disagree. Heās one of the most well-written characters in the anime, alongside Swindler and Hoodlum. Itās simply a matter of preference if you like him or not, as heās definitely a bit special. Personally, I find myself somewhere in the middle. But, I enjoy what he brings to the table, and his backstory is really good as well. In turn, heās #6 on my list of the best Akudama Drive characters!
5. Hoodlum
VA: Subaru Kimura
Hoodlum plays the role of an adaptable faker; heās everything you want him to be, even when heās nothing at all! Therefore, heās a chameleon, even though his acting skills are horrendous. But thatās what makes him so human and relatable, as heās not crazy powerful like the other Akudama. In turn, heās just a human being trying to survive a terrible situation with hardened criminals, and Swindler.
Iād like to mention that Hoodlumās high rank has a lot to do with the second half of Akudama Drive. In it, we see Hoodlum changing and growing, following the death of his ābrotherā, the Brawler. Thus, we see a genuine human struggle when heās trying to find his his place in a world that heās always played a small part in. Consequently, he ends up making morally difficult decisions in hopes of saving whatās left of his soul. But this was bound to happen when you constantly lie to others and expect to walk away harmless.
Overall, Hoodlum is a good comedic relief character, whose journey is actually interesting. Heās the most human character, aside from Swindler, and that makes him very relatable. Thus, Iām more than comfortable giving Hoodlum a high spot on my list. Heās #5. No way heās lower.
4. Doctor
VA: Megumi Ogata
When it comes to ridiculous characters, it doesnāt get any more unexplainable or odd than Doctor, right? After all, weāre talking about a character that gets cut in half, and is capable of stitching herself together. Oh, letās not forget that she re-attached Cutthroatās cut-off legs as well! Isnāt that convenient? But with all of that being said, Doctor is so damn well-designed and entertaining that she climbs over many other characters on this list.
Let me explain, okay? Doctor redeems herself in the second half of the anime, in which she becomes a full-blown villain to the remaining Akudama. And it works because sheās been a narcissist from the moment she was introduced, and sheās been making egotistical decisions all the way through. From making a deal with the Boss to using Hoodlum as a pawn in her plans, Doctorās motivation and decision-making are logical. In turn, sheās a fun character to follow, as she has a gruesome introduction and an even more disturbing (but fitting) ending.
š„ Courier
Courier is the cool, calm and collected character, whoās constantly putting up with everyone else, just because he has to. For him, itās not about the money, but finishing the job that he has accepted, as itās a binding moral contract for the Courier. Whether he lives or dies doesnāt necessarily matter in the big picture, as his personal motivation in finishing what heās started is more important than anything else.
Why doesnāt Courier rank higher? Simply put, heās a rather shallow character that never grows or changes as a person. Admittedly, this is the case with most Akudama Drive characters. But Courier is Akudama Driveās poster boy, so thereās no excuse writing him this way. While he has a distinct personality and is involved in many great moments, itās not enough to rank him any higher in my book. Itās a classic case of a cool and likable character not having enough meat on their bones, so they come across as entertaining, and not necessarily that good.
š„ Cutthroat
VA: Takahiro Sakurai
Cutthroat is one of the biggest draws of Akudama Drive, as heās a walking, talking, highlight reel, with every one of his moments being downright captivating. Whether itās his playful and childish nature or his bloodthirsty and psychopatic behavior, he always manages to steal the spotlight. But thatās no small feat in an ensemble cast, where heās fighting for attention against many other noteworthy and well-written characters.
The irony of Cutthroat is that heās not necessarily as well-written as Swindler or Hoodlum, but somehow manages to be even more eye-catching and enchanting. Maybe itās his visceral and instinctual nature? Perhaps itās the way he approaches humans, as if they are disposable and beneath him? Well, I think itās all of the above, including his behavior and personality. Simply put, Cutthroat is absolutely great, considering his role in the story.
š„ Swindler
VA: Tomoyo Kurosawa
This is a predictable pick, isnāt it? Being that Swindler is the lead character of Akudama Drive, itās clear that she gets the most screen time and is thus the most developed character of the bunch. Sheās also the most introspective and realistic character of the show, making Swindler the character we can relate to the most. Therefore, Swindler is the most humane character of the group, who is our measuring stick for how crazy people around her actually are. Thus, she is pretty great overall.
Swindler is a well-written character, which is pretty surprising considering the inconsistency in the character writing in Akudama Drive. What I mean is that most characters are either deep or shallow, without anything in-between. Therefore, there are not many mediocre characters, but they are either āgoodā or ābadā. In turn, Swindler stands out like a sore thumb. Itās as if she was written for a different anime, and later added into Akudama Drive. Nevertheless, itās obvious, at least in my opinion, that sheās the best overall character of the anime!
I must crown the winner; Swindler is #1 on my list of the best Akudama Drive characters!
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