Anime Character Types

A character type is a basic idea or mode of thought in the psychology of a person, that is derived from experience and is present in an individuals behavior.

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The Hero: The protagonist of the story. Usually courageous, a leader, righteous, and determined. Usualy a young adult that must overcome a series of challenges to solve a problem.
Notable Heros: Goku from Dragon Ball Z

The Whiny Main Character:
A Whiny Main Character is just that, a pathetic person who whines about everything through every adventure. They only do something if other characters are in mortal danger and have been yelling their name. Almost every anime has a WMC and are mostly male, but can be female, such as in the case of Gunbuster.
Notable Whiny Main Characters: Baulma from Dragon Ball, Shinji from Evangelion, Negi from Mahou Sensei Negima.

Strong Independent Chick:
This chick's main purpose in life is to bust guys over the head if they suggest a date or mention anything sexual for any reason. Otakus (Anime Fanatics) will laugh till they can't breath from seeing this this happen, while the average person will think "That wasn't funny." This character will most likely fall in love with the main character. She will always express her love with extra regular beatings.
Notable Strong Independent Chicks: Misty from Pokemon, Winry from Full Metal Alchemist, Kagome from Inuyasha, Naru from Love Hina.

The Pervert:
This guy will usually steal the panties and/or try to look at girls panties. Trying to grope breasts is also typical of this guy. They often get kicked in the nuts by the Strong Independent Chick, usually after copping a feel from them.
Notable Perverts: Miroku from Inuyasha, Brock from Pokemon, Hideki from Chobits, Keitaro from Love Hina, Roshi from Dragon Ball Z

• Accidental Pervert
  He isn't a pervert. No, really! His hands just happened to slip and find themselves on her breasts. He just happened to trip on that rug over there and land headfirst into her ample chest. And he just happened to be there when the only wind of the day blew up her skirt and his only sin was instinctive goggling. He can't help it if his honest-to-goodness accidental moves make him come off as as a lech that can't even muster the... "slickness"... of Leisure Suit Larry.
  
  
• Covert Pervert
  Uncharacteristically suggestive comments and thoughts from a character usually considered pure and innocent. Sometimes this is played straight and shows that a character is mature or smart enough to notice subtle themes their friends don't. Most of the time it's a trait given to a shy character to show they're not quite as mousy and meek as we think. Usually cued by fantasy segues becoming more and more lewd.
  This will always be fiercely denied by the character, especially if they're cantankerous and dismissive. The more comedic princess-like types often get this too, until it turns into a more overt Running Gag.
  
  
• Chivalrous Pervert
  Oh come on, you know this guy. He's the comedy relief dude who can't stop ogling the ladies. But unlike many who ogle the ladies, he actually cares about them as people. Woe betide anyone who wrongs women, for he's watching you like a hawk - when he's not watching them, that is. Always a good guy, and just to reaffirm that he's a good guy, they'll occasionally give him a rival in the form of an actually dangerous pervert. 
   
  

Small Annoying Things:
No series of Anime can get the full Thumbs-Up without having one of these around. These sometimes indescript characters are added for easy marketability (every one has some kind of likeness sold in stores). Most can't talk, have some oddity like obsessing over food, or being able to explode.
Notable Annoying Things: Cerebrus/Kero from Cardcaptor Sakura, Pikachu from Pokemon, Shippo from Inuyasha,

The Pissed Off Guy:
This Guy is basicaly there to look angry, he is always angry, and doesn't care about anything besides fighting or his hair. He  most often ends up getting his ass kicked until The Whiny Main Character comes in and saves him with some kind of special ability.
Notable Pissed Off Guys: Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z, Sanzo from Saiyuki

The Airhead:
Most often a female, they serve no other purpose than to stand there and look stupid while wind blows up her skirt, so we can all see her panties. Airheads hobbies include bending over countertops, hanging around practically naked, screaming at pitches high enough to shatter glass, eating frosting, and watching her clothes fall off with a blank expression.
Notable Airheads: Chii from Chobits, Nyuu from Elfen lied, Mitsune from Love Hina, Goku from Dragon Ball Z

The Introvert:
This character is always a girl. She starts off meek and introverted but learns to "be herself", completely changing her personality and traits. Her hair is always dark with long bangs.
Notable Intoverts: Hinata from Naruto, Shinobu from Love Hina, Nodoka from Negima

The Mentor: As the name suggests, Mentors take on the role of teacher and/or guide the hero to become more than what he was to alow him to fulfill his quest.
Notable Mentors: Luna from Sailor Moon, Master Roshi from Dragon Ball

The Shapeshifter: The one who is not what he seems on the outside. Typical shapeshifters are double agents, and those with private motives.
Notable Shapeshifters: Haku from Spirited Away, Oolong from Dragon Ball, Amiboshi (First Chiriko) from Fushigi Yuugi

The Trickster: Mischievous and often humourous characters whom the hero cannot rely on as the trickster tends to act unpredictably such as switching sides.
Notable Tricksters: Xellos from Slayers, Myoga from Inuyasha, Oolong from Dragon Ball

The Fallen Angel: A benevolent character that has fallen from grace and must overcome many challenges to regain honor. Usualy a heroic figure who has fallen from grace and despite being scorned for his fall, still remains honorable. This character is usually male and tends to bear a sword and is also fond of wearing long capes and coats.
Notable Fallen Angels:Vampire Hunter D from Vampire Hunter D, Allen Schezar from Tenku no Escaflowne

The Wise Old Woman: An elderly woman with great wisdom, who displays deep kindness and love towards the Hero. Sometimes she has mystical or spiritual powers.
Notable Wise Old Woman: Kaede from Inuyasha, Taiitsukun from Fushigi Yuugi

The Cool Old Guy with Scars: An elderly and wise man from whom the Hero has learned valuable lessons. He usually dies at the beginning of the plot, thus shoving the total responsibility on the not-quite-ready Hero.
Notable Cool Old Guys with Scars: Balgus from Tenku no Escaflowne, Jet Black from Cowboy Bebop,

The Guy with One Metal Arm: A tall, dark, mysterious man with a robotic arm. He, has great honor, but there is something eating him up inside. Most Guys with Metal Arms have had their heart cruelly broken, or something similarly traumatic. They are fond of wearing long capes or coats anything that billows dramatically in the wind.
NotableGuys with Metal Arms: Folken de Fanel from Tenku no Escaflowne, Vampire Hunter D from Vampire Hunter D

The Magical Teen: - An oblivious young person that gains special powers for no particular reason. Later it is discovered that the Magical Teen's powers stem from their lineage, or reincarnation. Magical Teens are usually females attending junior high or high school. They often have side kicks and a whole mess of nifty little magic devices to help them out.
Notable Magical Teens: Sailor Moon from Sailor Moon, Kagome Higurashi from InuYasha

The Bad-@$$ Butch Broad: This character is known for being mysterious, aloof, and armed to the teeth. She likes to wear her hair short, and favors pants to skirts. She's usually a villian, but can sometimes be found playing the good-girl role.
Notable Bad-@$$ Butch Broad: Natasha Radinov from Gunsmith Cats, Sawaguchi Koume from Blue Seed

The Smart-alec American: This character is known for constantly ticking people off, making reckless mistakes, has a big ego and still somehow manages to be popular. He's usualy not actually American, but he displays that go-getter, nothing-can-stop-me attitude that is stereotypically tagged onto american characters. There is hidden side of this character, his iron-clad honor, this is the one thing that he doesn't flaunt.
Notable Smart-alec Americans: Bill Collins from Gunsmith Cats, Kaji from Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ryuuzouji Junpei from Those Who Hunt Elves

The Gender-Bending Villain: Okay, you all know what I'm talking about. They can be male or female, but whatever their gender, they have tendancies toward the opposite one. They also have the ability to get grazed by projectile weapons and hold grudges for a ridiculous amount of time.
Notable Gender-Bending Villain: Dilandau Albatou from Escaflowne,

Little Miss Violence: A troubled young woman, hurt, angry, and confused about her place in life. She also has a talent for kicking ass. In order to forget her problems, she fights. This only distracts her from her other problems, making her push them farther down.
Notable examples of Little Miss Violence: Alita from Battle Angel Alita, Rally Vincent from Gunsmith Cats, Asuka Souryu from Evangelion