Mary Sue… when you first think of one, you might think of Bella Swan or some other book/movie character. Here we made a shortlist of some of the top anime Mary Sue characters that are out there. For the guys, because yes, they can be Mary Sues as well, we know them as Gary Stu.
A Mary Sue is a character who is so perfect that he or she wraps the world around them to display their perfection. It appears nothing in this universe except Mary Sue is even real and is instead a plot device to make Mary Sue seem flawless and loved. It’s also important to know that to make a character seem less Sue-ish, authors will often give their Mary Sue a “flaw” that is actually just a stale trait in disguise. Mostly, even if the anime is good, someone can write the character badly BECAUSE they’re a Mary Sue.
A character being a Mary Sue or Gary Stu isn’t necessarily a bad thing—there’s a reason the archetype exists, and that is wish fulfillment. Sometimes you just want to watch your favorite anime guy or gal kick butt and you don’t want to worry about the details. But sometimes, Gary Stu and Mary Sue’s anime characters can fall flat because they don’t always face the kinds of challenges that a character struggling with personal flaws and weaknesses might face.
10. Medaka Kurokami (Medaka Box)
One of the most famous anime Mary Sues, Medaka is ridiculously good at everything—super smart, athletic, and just always knows how to handle any situation. It’s like, she doesn’t even break a sweat when she does things. She’s the top of her class, president of the student council, and pretty much always right, which gets a little hard to believe after a while.
To make matters worse, everyone loves her (even if she’s a bit cold sometimes), and it feels like the whole show revolves around her. Honestly, while she’s fun to watch, her perfectness makes her kinda boring since there’s no real struggle or growth for her.
9. Naofumi Iwatani (The Rising of the Shield Hero)
Naofumi might not seem like a typical Mary Sue at first, but there are elements of his character that fit the trope. He starts off as the “underdog” hero, but despite facing extreme betrayal and hardships, he quickly becomes a powerhouse.
His rapid growth, along with his ability to turn almost every situation around in his favor, makes him seem somewhat invincible at times. He has a natural ability to gain allies and solve complex problems without much help, making him a “perfect” protagonist in many ways.
8. Asuna Yuuki (Sword Art Online)
Kirito is often called the Mary Sue character, but people tend to forget that Asuna is just as much of one, being the perfect girl in the series. As one of the most skilled players in the game, she is known for being a powerful fighter and a leader. Asuna is also kind, caring, and brave, making her a well-rounded character—but her near-perfect nature can sometimes come off as too idealized.
Throughout the series, she rarely faces major setbacks that slow her down, and her role as Kirito’s love interest further pushes her into the “Mary Sue” territory, making everything revolve around her relationship with him.
7. Rimuru (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)
Rimuru definitely falls into the Mary Sue (or “Gary Stu”) category. He seems to have an answer for everything, and no problem ever feels too big for him to handle. Whenever he’s in a pinch, a solution or power boost conveniently appears, and he never seems to make mistakes or struggle for long. It often feels like everything just falls into his lap, and even his “enemies” end up warming up to him way too easily.
Honestly, his character gives off a vibe of pure wish-fulfillment from the author, where the character just keeps getting more powerful and perfect without real consequences. It’s not necessarily a bad thing—it’s just that Rimuru’s near-perfect nature sometimes feels a bit too good to be true, like a fantasy ideal made real.
6. Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon)
While Usagi is loved by many, she’s another character who’s often pointed to as a Mary Sue. She starts out as a clumsy, whiny character with very little in terms of skills or confidence, but as Sailor Moon, she grows to be a savior of the world. She’s extremely powerful by the end of the series, and her emotional growth feels a bit rushed at times.
Despite being a lovable character, some people see her as the epitome of a Mary Sue because she becomes almost unbeatable with the power of love, friendship, and an ultimate power-up.
5. Kirigaya Kazuto (Sword Art Online)
Of course, Kirito would be first. He is on EVERY list and poll/forum I have seen regarding Mary Sue characters in anime. Even though the show is kind of special to me because it was one of the first anime shows I’ve ever watched, I have to agree—he is too perfect and invincible, basically another that falls into the “too good to be true” category.
Too many girls fall for him, which is annoying, but the reason he seems overpowered is that he’s just the kind of person who’s good at video games.
4. Usui Takumi (Maid Sama)
If you look at top tens lists for husbandos or top anime guys, Usui Takumi will probably be on the list. Fans love how he’s kind of a “bad boy with a heart of gold,” and his personality makes him one of those idealized, yet lovable characters.
Generally, Usui is canonically good at everything he tries, a gentleman where it counts, and sarcastic where it’s funny. Basically, he’s the perfect man, which is exactly why he’s another Gary Stu character.
3. Umaru Doma (Himouto Umaru-Chan)
Now, this anime is a cute slice of life. It is perfect for background noise or if you need something sweet. But Umaru is such a Mary Sue! On the outside, Umaru Doma is the perfect girl, she’s an outstanding student, she’s beautiful, and she’s beloved by her classmates and teachers alike.
Now, while they gave her actual flaws like being a total brat, lazy, AND selfish, the show spins them into something adorable and relatable. She never experiences real consequences for her behavior and remains beloved no matter what she does.
2. Shirayuki (Snow White with the Red Hair)
Okay, I love this anime for being a cute and sweet romance anime. But if we’re talking about Mary Sues, Shirayuki is DEFINITELY one. She’s considered special because she is apparently the only one with bright red hair. SO SPECIAL!
Also, she has guys trying to court her left and right without her even having to lift a finger. She’s kind to everyone she meets, is a hard worker, and seems to have no inherent faults.
1. Sora & Shiro (No Game No Life)
In most creative works of anime, movies, books, etc., the best part of the plot is figuring out or wondering if they’ll make it out of whatever they’re going through. Sora and Shiro are so good at gaming that they’re totally unbeatable. While it’s exciting to see how they’re going to pull off their next win, there’s little tension regarding whether they will win. Because we know they will.
Supposedly, they both suffer from social anxiety and agoraphobia so severe that it kept them from leaving their home at all, but they portrayed this as more of a fun quirk than a debilitating problem, and it never comes up when it would hurt the plot. As someone with both, I like the show but wish they had delved more into character development instead of making them the Sue family.
So, to sum up, these characters are all Mary Sues, but it doesn’t make the anime shows not worth watching. In fact, I recommend ALL of them. So, in conclusion, Mary Sue is NOT a loser.
What do you think? Are they or are they not? Any characters you think should be on the list? Let us know in the comments below!
As always,
Keep Smiling!
