Anime is popular for its wide range of genres and styles. But one thing that these shows have in common is anime masks. Masks are often used to conceal a character's identity or to signify their role in the story.
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For example, a vigilante might wear a mask because he or she doesn't want others to recognize him or her. Perhaps, these masked individuals are government official who wants to appear mysterious. Whatever the reason, masks are a commonplace element in anime.
So, here are 20 anime masked characters who wear masks throughout a series.
1. Gin (Hotarubi no Mori e)
Gin is wearing a traditional Japanese mask that could ward off evil spirits. It is made of wood and has a white face with red eyes.
The Hotarubi no Mori e is a popular Japanese folktale about a young girl who gets lost in the forest of Firefly Lights. In the story, she meets a spirit named Gin in a mysterious white mask who helps her find her way home.
From there, you will witness a story of love and friendship.
2. Mr. Compress (My Hero academia)
Mr. Compress is the pseudonym of Atsuhiro Sako. He’s a 32-year-old man of average height with pale skin, curly brown hair, hazel eyes, and a notably pointed nose. This guy is a professional villain and a member of the League of Villains
In his villain appearance, Mr. Compress wears a white mask and orange overcoat. He completes his customer with a black hat and a white cane.
This villain is an accomplished manipulator, often using his powers of persuasion to get what he wants or to toy with his enemies.
3. Mystogan (Fairy Tail)
Mystogan is an enigmatic individual who doesn't reveal much about himself to others. However, he is a loyal friend and an invaluable ally to have in combat. He is a powerful wizard, an S-class mage.
During his stay in the Fairy Tail guild, this powerful mage wears a dark green mask and a forehead protector. His real name is also Jellal, except that he is the Edolas counterpart of the evil one.
Mystogan keeps a mask to avoid conflict. At the same time, he doesn’t want to hurt Erza.
4. Zora Ideale (Black Clover)
When you first see Zora, you might think he's creepy. He's got the black leather mask and sharp teeth. But there's something about him that's just intriguing.
Maybe it's the way he moves, or the way he interacts with people. Zora seems like he's always up for a good time, and he's always up for a challenge.
Even though he may seem creepy at first, once you get to know him, you'll see that there's more to him than meets the eye.
5. Mamoru Chiba (Sailor Moon)
Mamoru Chiba is a student at Crossroads High School and the love interest of Usagi Tsukino. He initially appears to be a rich and aloof boy with blue eyes. But gradually, this aloof boy reveals himself to be kind-hearted and heroic.
His alter ego is Tuxedo Mask. He is an important supporting character in the Sailor Moon series.
As Tuxedo Mask, Mamoru wears a formal black tuxedo suit with a red interior. He also wields a black cane and the red rose that he throws on his enemies.
6. Obito Uchiha (Naruto shippuden)
Obito Uchiha, also known as Tobi, is a major character from the Naruto Shippuden anime series. He was born into the brilliant Uchiha clan and quickly proved himself to be a great ninja
Throughout the series, Obito always wears a variety of different masks over his face to hide his identity. His most popular mask was his Orange colored Mask with a spiral pattern.
The pattern focuses around his right eye. This mask became Obito's trademark and was often associated with his Tobi persona.
8. Zero (Code Geass)
Zero is a mysterious figure, shrouded in darkness and mystery. This masked character is a symbol of hope, rebellion, and change. He represents the potential for something better in a world mired in darkness and despair.
During the first half of the series, Zero is Lelouch, the main protagonist, behind the mask. But, he passes the identity to Suzaku Kururugi for the Zero Requiem to be successful. Lelouch’s death restores Zero’s reputation as a hero.
This mysterious man is dangerous but is also a necessary one.
9. Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)
Ken Kaneki's mask is one of the most defining features of his character. It covers the mouth area, which is significant because it symbolizes his inability to speak or eat like a normal human.
The mask eliminates any emotional cues that Kaneki might give off. This makes him appear more terrifying and inhuman, which is fitting given his new identity as a ghoul.
Overall, Kaneki's mask is a key element of his appearance and plays an important role in his story.
10. Inosuke Hashibira (Demon Slayer)
Inosuke Hashibira is a demon slayer who is famous for his unique fashion sense - or lack thereof. He wears a mask that covers his whole face.
This mask is often a wild boar head and comes with the animal’s skins. While Inosuke's fashion choices may not be to everyone's taste, there is no denying that they are practical.
The mask helps to protect Inosuke's face from the corrosive blood of demons, and the animal skins provide additional protection from their sharp claws.
11. Kagetane Hiruko (Black Bullet)
Kagetane Hiruko is a man of mystery. Not much is known about him, other than that he's a cold-blooded killer.
Throughout the series, he’s wearing a white mask. Some say that the mask is merely a fashion statement.
But others believe that it's hiding something much more sinister. Perhaps it's Kagetane's true face.
Or maybe the mask is simply a way to hide his emotions. Whatever the case may be, one thing is certain: Kagetane Hiruko is one scary dude.
12. San (Princess Mononoke)
In the movie, San wears a red mask with white wavy lines. This is the symbol of the wolf goddess Moro.
When San was a baby, wolves raised her and Moro was her adoptive mother. Moro is a powerful goddess who can transform into a giant wolf. She is also the protector of the forest.
When San grows up, she becomes the leader of the Wolf Clan. She wears the mask to show her allegiance to Moro.
13. Hei (Darker Than Black)
Hei is the black reaper clad in a bulletproof coat and white mask. He is the protagonist of the sci-fi anime series Darker Than Black.
In the series, it is eventually revealed that he was once a human named Li Shengshun. He becomes embroiled in a conflict between rival factions.
Throughout the series, Hei begins to lose his humanity as he kills those who get in his way. He is a complex and tragic character whose ambiguous morality makes him both admirable and reprehensible.
14. Shizue Izawa(That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)
Shizue Izawa is a class A adventurer and her spirit resides in Rimuru Tempest. While she is still alive, this blue-haired lady wears an Anti-magic Mask. When she died, she passed it down to Rimuru Tempest.
As a young girl, Shizue was very short for her age and quite frail-looking. However, she was also very kind and gentle.
When she separated herself from Ifrit and became human again, she became a kindly old lady with white hair.
15. Killer (One Piece)
While some people might choose to accessorize with a pair of trendy sunglasses or a stylish scarf, Killer goes above and beyond with his signature mask.
This mask covers his entire face, except for a series of small holes all over it. It is white with blue stripes.
While the meaning of the holes is a bit of a mystery, they certainly add an element of intrigue to Killer's look. In addition to being visually interesting, the mask also serves to protect Killer's identity.
16. Gin Akutagawa (Bungou Stray Dogs)
Gin Akutagawa is a young woman who possesses incredible physical skills. She is naturally gifted in stealth.
This masked character is also a young woman with long black hair and dark gray eyes. She is often seen dressed in her normal outfit comprising of a long black cloak with a hood and frayed trim.
Her mask covers her mouth and looks like a bandage of some sort.
17. Licht Bach (Plunderer)
Licht Bach, also known as the Plunderer, is a character covered by a mask whenever he is on a mission. He is famous for different masks, from traditional Japanese yokai masks to ordinary ones.
This handsome guy sometimes even wears costumes to appear unassuming, such as a pudding cup with his sword re-purposed into the guise of a spoon.
His normal attire consists of a red garb draped over his shoulders with armor underneath and jet-powered boots.
18. Ririka Momobami (Kakegurui)
Ririka Momobami is a character from the anime Kakegurui. Ririka's face is hidden behind an eerie white mask. The mask covers her entire face, except for her mouth.
It's always a little unsettling to see her smiling mouth contrasted with the blankness of the rest of her face. Even creepier is that she only ever removes her mask in private, when she's alone with her true love.
19. Death Gun (Sword Art Online)
Death Gun is a masked player in the virtual reality game Sword Art Online. Everyone knows him for his kill count, as well as his eerie black mask.
While many people find Death Gun to be a scary player, I think he's just misunderstood. After all, he's only playing the game to release his frustration from real life.
And who can blame him? Life can be tough sometimes.
20. Joker (Persona 5)
The Joker is a mysterious figure, and not much is known about him. But he's a skilled fighter and a master of deception.
He loves to play pranks and is always up for a good laugh, even if it means getting others into trouble. This masked man is also fiercely loyal to his friends and will do whatever it takes to protect them.
Despite his mischievous nature, the Joker is a fearsome opponent, and anyone who underestimates him does so at their own peril.
Trivia Questions
Who has the coolest mask in anime?
The Mask of Truth from Princess Mononoke. This mask allows its wearer to see into the hearts of other people, giving them the ability to understand their true feelings. It is a powerful tool that can be used for good or evil, depending on the wearer's intentions.
Why do some characters wear masks?
In the world of anime, wearing a mask is often symbolic of a character's hidden motivations or true nature. Often, this anime mask covers the lower half of the face or the entire face.
By concealing their face and true identity, these characters are able to hide their emotions and intentions from others. In some cases, the mask itself is imbued with power, granting the wearer enhanced strength or abilities.
Whatever the case may be, masks are often used to show that there is more to a character than meets the eye.
What are the masks in anime called?
In Japanese, they're known as kamen, which literally means "mask." Kamen can refer to any type of mask, from a simple cloth covering to an elaborate costume mask. Whatever the form, kamen play an important role in shaping the look and feel of anime.
Who has the scariest mask covering?
It's no secret that masks can be pretty scary. There's one character who really takes the cake in terms of scariness: Kamui from the series Tokyo Ghoul. Kamui's mask is particularly creepy because it's made from the skin of his victims. It's always dripping with blood, and the eye holes have sharp teeth lined up on them.
Who has the cutest mask in anime?
On this list, Gin from Hotarubi no Mori e would be my top choice. He wears a traditional Japanese mask, which he wears all the time. But when he became comfortable with Hotaru, he eventually removed it.
From a traditional Japanese yokai mask to an orange mask with purple marks, you can find them all in anime. Some cover their whole face while others show the character's dark eyes. So, which one of the masked anime characters is your favorite?
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