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Blind Anime Characters That Will Leave You in Awe

Author: Kenny.b Updated: January 11, 2026
6.1K

I love anime powerhouses. I love the characters with bulging muscles, the genius strategists, the perfect-comeback machines.

But here’s the thing… the characters who stay with me the longest are often the ones the story can’t “solve” with perfection.

That’s why I keep coming back to blind and visually impaired characters. Not because they’re “underdogs.” Not because I need a feel-good montage. I come back because, when the writing is good, blindness forces the story to get honest—about vulnerability, adaptation, power, and how people treat each other when the world gets inconvenient.

My ground rules for this list:

  • ✅ I’m writing as an anime fan, not a medical professional.
  • 💡 I’m separating “blind character” from “blindness as a convenient superpower.” (Anime loves that move.)
  • 🚀 I’m keeping it spoiler-light where possible—especially for Charlotte.

How anime portrays blindness respectfully (and when it doesn’t)

I’ve noticed two patterns in anime. One is thoughtful. One is… lazy.

The thoughtful version treats blindness as a real constraint with real adaptations—mobility, trust, relationships, safety, autonomy. The character still gets to be complex: funny, cruel, kind, stubborn, brilliant, exhausted. Like an actual person.

The lazy version goes, “No worries, they’re blind, but they can hear atoms,” and calls it a day. I get why writers do it (action scenes), but it can flatten the character into a gimmick.

When I want a baseline reminder that “blindness” and “vision impairment” aren’t one identical experience, I use a factual overview like the WHO’s explanation here: Blindness and vision impairment (WHO).

What I personally consider “respectful portrayal” in anime:

  • ✅ The story doesn’t treat blindness as punishment or a punchline.
  • 💡 The character gets agency (choices, boundaries, competence, flaws).
  • 🚀 Adaptations feel specific (not automatically “super senses”).
  • ✅ Other characters don’t only exist to pity or “inspire” them.

Best blind anime characters ranked (the ones I still think about)

This is my personal take on best blind anime characters ranked. I’m not measuring “who wins a fight.” I’m ranking who made blindness feel meaningful on-screen—emotionally, morally, or narratively.

My ranking criteria:

  • ✅ Impact: did the character change how I read a scene?
  • 💡 Depth: did the story let them be more than “the blind one”?
  • 🚀 Execution: did the portrayal feel intentional (even if stylized)?

15
Ryo Shimazaki – Mob Psycho 100

Ryo Shimazaki - Mob Psycho 100

Shimazaki is one of those characters where I immediately went, “Oh, they’re not playing.” His blindness isn’t framed as weakness—it’s framed as a tactical reality, and his extrasensory perception becomes the way the show communicates his threat level.

Do I think anime leans too hard on “Mind’s Eye = flawless radar”? Sometimes. But in Mob Psycho 100, it’s at least tied to focus, concentration, and limitations, which makes it feel less like a free cheat code.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: blindness + ESP compensation
  • 💡 Why he sticks with me: the show uses perception as tension, not pity
  • 🚀 My note: stylized “mind’s eye” done with actual stakes

14
Sword Maiden – Goblin Slayer

Sword Maiden – Goblin Slayer

Sword Maiden is memorable to me because she’s powerful and haunted. Her blindness is tied to trauma, and the story lets her be complicated—admiring, fearful, capable, and still affected by what happened.

I’m also going to be responsible here: Goblin Slayer includes sexual violence. I don’t gloss over that when I recommend it. If I’m not in the mood for that kind of content, I skip it.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: blindness after trauma
  • 💡 Content note: sexual violence and heavy themes
  • 🚀 Why she matters: strength without pretending trauma disappears

13
Uzu Sanageyama – Kill La Kill

Uzu Sanageyama - Kill La Kill

Sanageyama is pure anime intensity. He’s surrounded by exaggerated characters with quirky personalities, and he still manages to stand out—because he makes a choice most characters wouldn’t even consider.

He blinds himself to “overcome weakness,” and the show turns that into a dramatic reinvention. I don’t read this as realistic representation. I read it as character psychology dialed to 11, and it’s weirdly compelling.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: self-inflicted blindness (stylized)
  • 💡 Why he sticks with me: obsession + discipline turned into narrative fuel
  • 🚀 My note: not “realistic,” but absolutely memorable

12
Okada Nizou – Gintama

Okada Nizou - Gintama

Nizou is the kind of blind antagonist I don’t forget because the show makes him terrifying through sensory detail. He navigates the world through smell and heightened awareness, and his violence has a “cold inevitability” to it.

I don’t like him. I respect how the arc uses him to push Gintoki to the edge.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: blindness + sharpened senses (villain)
  • 💡 Why he lands: the writing uses tension, not “inspiration”
  • 🚀 My note: brutal arc energy—very much not cozy

11
Yomi – Yu Yu Hakusho

Yomi - Yu Yu Hakusho

Yomi is fascinating to me because his blindness becomes a strategic evolution. He doesn’t just “cope.” He recalibrates his entire approach to power, information, and control.

It’s absolutely heightened anime logic. But as a character arc, it’s clean: loss → adaptation → dominance.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: blindness + enhanced hearing (demon king)
  • 💡 Why he stands out: sensory adaptation becomes political power
  • 🚀 My note: classic “anime escalation,” done intelligently

10
N’doul – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders

N'doul - JoJo's Bizarre Adventure - Stardust Crusaders

N’Doul is one of my favorite “first real threat” moments in Stardust Crusaders. He’s blind, he’s precise, and the stand battle is built around distance, sound, and misdirection.

JoJo fights are basically puzzles with style, and N’Doul’s fight is a clean example of that.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: blindness + extreme auditory perception
  • 💡 Why it works: the fight choreography is built for his sensory strengths
  • 🚀 My note: stylish tension and smart pacing

9
Usui Uonuma – Rurouni Kenshin

Uonuma Usui - Usui, the Blind Sword

Usui is one of the defining blind swordsman anime characters for me because the series treats him as a genuine threat—fast, technical, and vicious. His blindness isn’t “sweet.” It’s part of a revenge-driven identity.

Also, the Kyoto Arc doesn’t hold back. If I’m recommending this, I’m recommending it to someone who wants intense action and moral ugliness, not gentle life lessons.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: blind swordsman (assassin)
  • 💡 Why he sticks with me: menace + mastery without romanticizing it
  • 🚀 My note: this is a “dangerous character,” not a comfort pick

8
Gyomei Himejima – Demon Slayer

Gyomei Himejima - Demon Slayer

Gyomei is the rare case where I watch a character move through space so confidently that I almost forget he’s blind—until the story reminds me through detail and context.

He’s powerful, yes. But what I remember more is his presence: disciplined, spiritual, and heavy with grief. He feels like a person who decided to keep living anyway.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: blind warrior (Hashira)
  • 💡 Why he hits: strength + emotional weight, not just spectacle
  • 🚀 My note: one of the best “calm power” presences in the series

7
Nunnally Vi Britannia – Code Geass

Nunnally Vi Britannia - Code Geass

Nunnally is one of the most important examples on this list because she isn’t written as a fighter first. She’s written as a moral center—someone whose compassion matters precisely because the world around her is so manipulative and cruel.

Her blindness (and vulnerability) are repeatedly exploited by others, and that’s uncomfortable to watch… but it’s also honest about how power structures treat disabled people. That honesty is part of why she sticks with me.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: blind character at the emotional core of the story
  • 💡 Why she matters: kindness portrayed as strength, not fragility
  • 🚀 My note: one of the strongest “human stakes” anchors in the series

6
Shunsuke Otosaka – Charlotte

Shunsuke Otosaka - Charlotte

I know Charlotte is divisive. I’ve still got a soft spot for it. And Shunsuke is a big reason why.

His diminishing eyesight matters to the plot, but what I appreciate is that the show doesn’t immediately “reward” him with superhuman compensation. It lets the loss be loss. It lets him be human.

I’m staying spoiler-light on purpose. This one is better experienced with fresh eyes (no pun intended, I promise).

  • ✅ Portrayal type: progressive vision loss
  • 💡 Why he stands out: grounded consequence instead of “power-up”
  • 🚀 My note: meaningful without needing spectacle

5
Kaname Tousen – Bleach

Kaname Tousen – Bleach

Tousen is one of the most interesting “blind but principled” characters—until the story twists that principle into something darker. I’m always intrigued when a series lets a blind character be morally complicated instead of saintly.

And I genuinely like the irony baked into his arc: gaining sight doesn’t automatically make him better, wiser, or stronger in the way he expects.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: blind captain with heightened perception
  • 💡 Why he sticks: ideology, hypocrisy, and consequence collide
  • 🚀 My note: one of the more layered portrayals in shonen

4
Admiral Fujitora – One Piece

Admiral Fujitora - One Piece

Fujitora is the character I bring up whenever someone asks me about anime characters who blinded themselves. His choice is moral. He couldn’t stomach what he kept seeing, so he removed his ability to see it.

That’s extreme. It’s also one of the most thematically sharp decisions in One Piece, because it turns “justice” into something personal and costly.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: self-inflicted blindness + haki perception
  • 💡 Why he hits: his blindness is a statement, not a gimmick
  • 🚀 My note: one of the best “ethical weight” characters in the series

3
Nico – Dr. Ramune

Nico - Dr. Ramune

Dr. Ramune leans into supernatural metaphor, and Nico’s blindness becomes part of the show’s theme about “blind spots” people don’t want to admit they have.

I like this kind of portrayal when it’s gentle instead of preachy. Nico doesn’t exist to be pitied. He exists to make the world feel stranger—and to make the human characters reflect.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: fully blind character in a yokai/supernatural story
  • 💡 Why he works: blindness tied to theme, not “tragic decoration”
  • 🚀 My note: reflective, odd, and quietly memorable

2
Sara – Samurai Champloo

Sara - Samurai Champloo

Sara is one of the most striking blind swordsman anime characters—even though she’s not swinging a sword the “standard” way. Her combat is clean, predictive, and terrifyingly graceful.

But what makes her unforgettable to me isn’t just her skill. It’s the sadness under it. The way the world treated her. The way she hated being pitied. The way her story doesn’t pretend violence is glamorous.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: blind musician + assassin
  • 💡 Why she sticks: elegance paired with tragedy and anger
  • 🚀 My note: one of the most emotionally brutal arcs in the show

1
Komugi – Hunter x Hunter

Komugi - Hunter x Hunter

Komugi is the character I point to when someone asks me for a portrayal that doesn’t rely on combat competence. She’s blind. She’s timid. She has no heightened senses and no supernatural abilities to “balance it out.”

And still—she becomes the first real challenge to Meruem in the way that matters most: psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I love her because the story lets her be small and still be world-changing. That’s rare. That’s powerful. And it’s why I remember her long after the arc ends.

  • ✅ Portrayal type: blind prodigy without compensatory powers
  • 💡 Why she’s iconic: she defeats “invincibility” with humanity
  • 🚀 My note: one of the strongest examples of respectful narrative weight

Anime with a blind main character (or the closest thing to it)

I’m going to be blunt: when I go hunting for anime with a blind main character, I don’t find as many true “blind protagonist” stories as I want.

What I do find—over and over—are blind characters who are central: emotionally pivotal, plot-defining, or thematically essential. That’s still valuable. I just like being honest about what the role actually is.

If I’m recommending “closest to main character energy” from this list:

  • ✅ Komugi (Hunter x Hunter) — not the MC, but the arc pivots around her bond
  • 💡 Nunnally (Code Geass) — emotional core and political stakes revolve around her
  • 🚀 Fujitora (One Piece) — not central early, but narratively huge when he arrives
  • ✅ Shunsuke (Charlotte) — story-critical with grounded consequence

Blind swordsman anime characters: the ones I’d rewatch fights for

When I think about blind swordsman anime characters, I’m not only thinking about “cool choreography.” I’m thinking about how the show communicates spatial awareness, timing, and threat without relying on eye contact cues.

My top “rewatch the fight” picks from this post:

  • ✅ Sara (Samurai Champloo) — graceful, brutal, heartbreaking
  • 💡 Usui (Rurouni Kenshin) — menace and technique
  • 🚀 N’Doul (JoJo) — sensory battle puzzle done right

Anime characters who blinded themselves: why this trope fascinates me

This trope is dramatic. Obviously. Anime loves drama.

But what keeps me interested is why the character chooses it. Is it obsession? Is it guilt? Is it disillusionment? Is it a symbolic “I refuse to participate” statement?

The two self-blinded characters I can’t stop talking about:

  • ✅ Fujitora — moral disgust turned into irreversible choice
  • 💡 Sanageyama — obsession with strength turned into reinvention

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best blind anime characters ranked?

My ranking is based on impact and portrayal, not “who wins the most fights.” If I’m picking the ones that hit me hardest, I put Komugi, Fujitora, Nunnally, Sara, and Gyomei at the top because the story lets their blindness carry real narrative and emotional weight.

Is there anime with a blind main character?

When I look specifically for anime with a blind main character, I find fewer true “blind protagonist” examples than I expect. What I do find are blind characters who become central to an arc or the emotional spine of the series—Komugi (Hunter x Hunter) and Nunnally (Code Geass) are my best recommendations from this list for that kind of “main character gravity.”

Who are the most memorable blind swordsman anime characters?

For blind swordsman anime characters, my personal standouts are Sara (Samurai Champloo) and Usui (Rurouni Kenshin). They’re memorable because the shows build tension through movement, timing, and stakes—not just “look how cool this is.”

Which anime characters blinded themselves?

From this list, Fujitora (One Piece) and Uzu Sanageyama (Kill la Kill) are the big “self-inflicted blindness” examples. I find Fujitora’s reason more thematically heavy, while Sanageyama’s is more stylized and obsession-driven.

How anime portrays blindness respectfully—what should I look for?

When I’m judging how anime portrays blindness respectfully, I look for agency, specificity, and honesty. I want the character to exist beyond the disability, I want adaptations to feel real (not automatically “super hearing”), and I want the story to avoid turning blindness into a cheap inspirational speech or a punishment.

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Kenny.b

Kenny B is the founder of Cartoon Vibe and a lifelong animation enthusiast. From 90s Saturday morning classics to modern anime hits, he covers the characters and stories that define pop culture.

1 comment

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Kenny.b January 11, 2026 - 10:15 pm

THE BLIND SWORDSMEN & WARRIORS (SENSES SHARPENED) ⚔️👂
1. Fujitora / Issho (One Piece)
– Type: The Admiral. Blinded himself to avoid seeing the world’s corruption. Uses gravity powers and immense Haki to “see” auras.
2. Kaname Tosen (Bleach)
– Type: The Justice Seeker. “My eyes reflect the path of least bloodshed.” He views his blindness as a way to avoid deception… until he gains sight and loses his way.
3. Gyomei Himejima (Demon Slayer)
– Type: The Stone Hashira. The strongest demon slayer. Blind, crying, and physically overpowering. He senses the “Transparent World.”
4. N’Doul (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders)
– Type: The Sound Master. Uses his Stand “Geb” (water) to attack based on the slightest vibrations in the ground.
5. Uonuma Usui (Rurouni Kenshin)
– Type: The “Mind’s Eye.” A member of the Juppongatana who was blinded by Shishio but gained hearing so acute he can hear heartbeats and muscle movements (shingan).
6. Hyakkimaru (Dororo)
– Type: The Cursed Warrior. Born without skin, eyes, or senses. He sees the “colors” of souls (white for good, red for dangerous) to fight demons.
7. Shizuo Heiwajima? No.
– **Shura** (Yu Yu Hakusho) – Yomi’s son.
– **Yomi** (Yu Yu Hakusho) – One of the Three Kings. Blinded himself as penance and to sharpen his power.

THE STRATEGISTS & MASTERS (POWER IN DARKNESS) ♟️🔮
8. Komugi (Hunter x Hunter)
– Type: The Gungi Master. A frail, blind girl who is the undisputed world champion of a board game. She “opens her eyes” only when playing in the zone.
9. Nunnally Lamperouge (Code Geass)
– Type: The Tragic Sister. Blinded and paralyzed by trauma (and Geass). Her blindness is a symbol of her innocence and Lelouch’s motivation.
10. Toph Beifong (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
– *Note: Western animation, but the definitive example.* “I release a sonic wave from my mouth.” Seismic sense Earthbender.
11. Tiresias (Reign: The Conqueror)
– Type: The Prophet. Classical Greek seer archetype.
12. Danzo Shimura (Naruto)
– *Correction:* Not blind, just hides stolen eyes.
– **Itachi Uchiha** (Naruto) – Becomes nearly blind by the end of his life due to Mangekyo usage.

THE GENTLE & TRAGIC SOULS 🎻🌸
13. Kaori Miyazono (Your Lie in April)
– *Spoiler:* Loses her sight (and motor functions) progressively towards the end of the series due to illness.
14. Yui (Sword Art Online)
– Not blind.
– **Yuuki Konno** (SAO) – Medicuboid user.
– **Alice Zuberg** (SAO: Alicization) – Loses an eye (seal).
– *Correction:* **Sword Maiden** (Goblin Slayer) – Blinded by goblins in her youth, though she sees somewhat through miracles/magic, she wears a blindfold.
15. Hotaru Tomoe / Sailor Saturn (Sailor Moon)
– *Correction:* Not blind.
– **Sailor Uranus?** No.
– **Nehelenia?** No.
– **Mamoru Chiba** becomes temporarily blind in some arcs.
16. Ayase Shinomiya (Guilty Crown)
– Paraplegic, not blind.
– *Replacement:* **Hare Menjou**? No.
– **Shion** (No. 6) – Briefly.

THE “EYES CLOSED” CHARACTERS (OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR BLIND) 😑🦊
*Note: These characters usually CAN see, but keep eyes shut for aesthetic or power reasons.*

17. Gin Ichimaru (Bleach) – The “Snake.” Eyes open only when serious/dying.
18. Brock (Pokémon) – The classic “lines for eyes.”
19. Ling Yao (Fullmetal Alchemist) – The “Prince.”
20. Lau (Black Butler) – The opium den owner.
21. Bunta Fujiwar (Initial D) – Eyes always shut while smoking/drifting.
22. Majin Buu (Dragon Ball Z) – Fat Buu has slits for eyes.

CHARACTERS WHO WEAR BLINDFOLDS (BUT CAN SEE) 🕶️🤞
23. Gojo Satoru (Jujutsu Kaisen)
– Why he wears it: His “Six Eyes” process too much visual information, so the blindfold dampens the input to save his brain from frying. He sees *better* with it on.
24. Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)
– Wears an eyepatch to hide his ghoul eye (Kakugan).
25. Rider / Medusa (Fate/Stay Night)
– Wears a blinder because her “Mystic Eyes of Petrification” turn anyone she looks at to stone.
26. 2B & 9S (Nier: Automata Ver1.1a)
– Wear “Combat Visors” that look like blindfolds. It displays HUD data.

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