With the third season of Kaguya-sama: Love is War proving that the world still has plenty of appetites for seeing ingenious characters test their wits against each other, whether in romance or something darker, the subject of who is the smartest anime character is also one that continues to draw anime fans in.
Whether it's the intelligent battle strategists that dominate Naruto or the iconic masters of immoral scheming in shows like Death Note and Code Geass, anime fans on Ranker had a ton of valid choices to vote on for the title. With thousands of votes cast, these are the characters that won over the public with their intelligence.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Shikaku Nara (Naruto)
Although often overshadowed by his son, the head of the Nara clan is not a man to be underestimated. His scarred face and rough manner might suggest a brawny fighter, but it becomes apparent over time where Shikamaru gets his smarts from, as the older man regularly beats his son at Shogi, a game of strategy.
Not only that, Shikaku's reputation means he is put in charge of strategy for the Allied Shinobi Forces in the Fourth Shinobi World War where he is able to even further prove what his mind is capable of. For fans of Naruto, one of the best parts is seeing intense battle strategy at play, and Shikaku is one of its most impressive proponents.
Korosensei (Assassination Classroom)
Some teachers prefer to lecture students and some prefer to teach by example, but for Korosensei, the bright yellow monster that teaches assassination skills, the pressure of the earth being destroyed is the powerful incentive that he likes to use to get the most out of his students. It might seem like a risky strategy, but Korosensei has certainly thought it through.
Anyone who hasn't watched the show might doubt the effectiveness of this approach to teaching but, combined with his classes that manage to get even the most disengaged students to pay attention, Korosensei proves its effectiveness. A fan-favorite character in Assassination Classroom, it's no surprise that a lot of fans rate Korosensei's intelligence highly.
Norman (The Promised Neverland)
Though Emma from The Promised Neverland is one of the smartest shonen anime protagonists, she's overshadowed in the show by her own fellow students at Grace Field House. One of these is Norman, a math prodigy whose intellect intimidates not just the other children, but even adults in the show.
Though many intelligent characters in anime are portrayed as selfish, Norman combines his incredible intelligence with kindness and selflessness, which makes his fate all the more heartbreaking. Though the show came to its conclusion last year, its characters are still remembered fondly, and few more so than Norman.
Shikamaru Nara (Naruto)
Proving that, even in the intensely combative world of Naruto, it's possible for a person to get by without dedicating their life to combat training, Shikamaru Nara actually thrives due to the power of his intellect. Even as he receives consistently poor grades thanks to his lazy nature, Shikamaru is hiding an astounding level of intelligence.
He consistently applies this brilliance to battle, paying attention to the position of all individuals present and even the smallest details that others might overlook. He can then take advantage of this to ensure a favorable fight even against apparently insurmountable enemies. For fans of Naruto, there's no match for Shikamaru.
Ray (The Promised Neverland)
The only student at Grace Field House who could make even make Emma and Norman seem average academically, Ray is the perfect student when it comes to grades, consistently getting the highest possible score on tests. His intellectual achievements make him a favored student at Grace Field, but when it comes to more serious matters, he is a lot less sure of himself.
Nevertheless, his brightness and complete commitment when he thinks up a scheme make him a powerful presence in the show as well as instrumental to the children's escape plans. Although not every The Promised Neverland fan loved Ray, his air of calm genius put him above the others in this case.
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji (Classroom Of The Elite)
Quiet, unassuming, and achieving the most perfectly average grades that it's possible to get, it would be easy to write Kiyotaka off if a person only looked at him from a distance. However, when it becomes apparent that he achieved average grades intentionally and actually possesses keen intelligence, it becomes a completely different story.
Even though he successfully flies under the radar by disguising himself as an underachiever, it still takes cunning and creativity to survive and help others in the ruthless environment of Koudo Ikusei Senior High School, and Kiyotaka displays both as the show continues. As much as he tried to hide it, Kiyotaka's intelligence impressed viewers and made him stand out.
Senku Ishigami (Dr. Stone)
As a maverick absolutely obsessed with science, Senku Ishigami gets a unique opportunity in Dr. Stone after he finds himself in the Stone World, a primitive civilization just ripe to be transformed by the knowledge he possesses. While most people thrown into a less developed form of society would struggle to apply their technological knowledge, Senku immediately gets to work.
Senku's love of science is infectious and he has a charisma that also helps when it comes to ensuring his ideas get off the ground. Brilliant and resourceful, which is necessary to make anything work in the Stone World, there aren't many more associated with ingenuity than Dr. Stone's smartest character.
Light Yagami (Death Note)
Though his plan to bring about a new world in his own vision using the Death Note as a tool is one with more than a few ethical issues, there's no doubting the intelligence and unbridled ambition of the person behind it. Death Note is the story of a battle of minds between two of the world's most brilliant, and Light Yagami does everything he can to ensure victory.
Whilst a unique kind of mind is needed to come up with Light's plan in the first place, the true extent of his intelligence is demonstrated in his attention to detail, which makes him incredibly hard to catch even for the world's greatest detective. Somehow thinking of a new plan no matter what obstacle falls in his path, it's no surprise to see one of anime's most iconic diabolical protagonists rated one of its top minds as well.
L Lawliet (Death Note)
Even attempting to foil an enemy who has a book capable of killing whoever's name is written inside it might seem like an impossible task, but if anyone stands a chance it's the world's greatest detective in the form of L Lawliet. Eccentric and disconcerting in manner, even to his colleagues in law enforcement, L succeeds by thinking in unconventional ways.
Death Note is one of the best and most accessible anime around, so there's no shortage of fans of both L and Light. Their attempts to outwit each other in the show leave them almost perfectly matched but, since L is dealing with something no law enforcement has seen before, his ability to adapt quickly makes him the more compelling option for many.
Lelouch Lamparouge (Code Geass)
Code Geass might not have the overwhelming popularity of a show like Death Note but, for those who have seen the show, its protagonist Lelouch Lamparouge makes for one of the most fascinating in anime. Given the power to compel others with a command that can't be disobeyed, Lelouch's tactical mind comes to the fore as he orchestrates a revolution against the tyrannical Britannian Empire that rules over Japan.
This brings Lelouch into conflict with the most powerful military in the world, some of its greatest military minds, and even others who possess powers like his own. While others might start to see the situation as hopeless, for Lelouch, there is always another option, no matter how extreme. It's this approach that makes his intelligence stand out even among some of the greatest anime characters.