Kara Dennison
February 29, 2024 
What makes a strong anime character? Is it physical fortitude? Loyalty to their friends? That moment when they drop their leg weights and go absolutely wild? What counts for “strength” changes from show to show, as every fictional universe rates things a bit differently. And in the case of these three anime characters, they’re working against the norm to show their power.
Whether it’s doing things “the wrong way” or just in a surprisingly gentle way, these heroes are strong in their own ways.
Shiemi Moriyama
The world of Blue Exorcist is full of strong anime characters, from trained paladins to the literal son of Satan. But there are a lot of ways to be strong in this world, as evidenced by the many different roles that exorcists can train into. And one source of unexpected strength is Shiemi: a gentle herbalist whose powers save the day more than even she’s likely willing to admit.
Shiemi’s abilities are plant-based and may not seem as hardcore as a flaming sword. However, she’s got a lot of power at her fingertips. She can create strong armor and barriers, summon powerful creatures and plants, and even protect her classmates from mind-controlling food with her special sandwiches.
Usato
The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic features two strong anime characters transported to a magical world… and Usato. He was never meant to be here. But that’s not going to stop Rose from helping him realize his full potential. Because his full potential is healing. And it’s for more than just patching up your buddy on the battleground now.
While Usato does end up pretty buff (as Suzune notes), that’s down to Rose’s bizarre training regimen. You work ’til you drop, heal yourself, then keep going. Eventually, even exhaustion and muscle strain are meaningless. And that’s a good thing, because when it comes time to do battle, Usato will be unstoppable on the front lines.
Mash Burnedead
Okay. Hear us out.
Yes, Mash is way up there on the list of conventionally strong anime characters. But MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES doesn’t take place in our world. It takes place in a world where humans are meant to have magic, and not being able to sling a spell effectively marks you for death. So it’s not just that Mash is absolutely ripped: he’s absolutely ripped to a Clarke’s Third Law degree, where his endurance is downright magical.
And credit where credit is due: it’s not just physical fortitude Mash is flexing. Behind that deadpan stare and creampuff obsession is a fierce dedication to his loved ones. If it means protecting the people he cares about, he’ll rip through pretty much anything. And no magic school can teach that.
You know who else is strong and brave? Good doggos like these.
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