Set in ancient Britannia, The Seven Deadly Sins follows Meliodas, a mysterious man known as the Dragon Sin of Wrath, on a mission to break a tragic curse. Along the way, he teams up with six other outsiders, also branded as "Sins," and the group works to protect the kingdom from the demonic forces that threaten it.
The diverse personalities of The Seven Deadly Sins characters are, in large part, what makes it so enjoyable. Due to its varied main cast, there are plenty of relatable, emotional backstories for fans to gravitate towards. The Sins, their friends, and even their foes each bring their own unique flavors to the show, from funny and heartwarming to devastatingly sad.
Hawk
Hawk is a talking pig and Meliodas's good friend. The two run "The Boar Hat" together, a mobile tavern that Hawk's Mom, a giant green pig, carries on her back. He is somewhat of an enigma for most of the show, and the fact that nobody knows why he can talk is frequently acknowledged.
Hawk is often used as comic relief but has his own unique importance as the story goes on. Known affectionately as "Captain Of The Order of Scraps Disposal," he brings the laughs by eating the leftovers of Meliodas's terrible cooking with gusto, repeating his cute, signature phrase "piggy trot!" whenever he runs, and frequently acting as Meliodas's conscience. Beyond the humor, Hawk is full of heart, proving time and time again that he is more than just a sidekick to his friends.
Gowther
Gowther, the Goat Sin of Lust, is a living doll created by a demon of the same name. Gowther spends much of the show trying to understand the meaning of emotions, often coming off as monotone and unfeeling.
At times, Gowther is difficult to sympathize with. He can manipulate memories with his "Invasion" power, an ability that inadvertently causes as much harm to his friends as it does to his enemies. This is particularly true when he uses "Rewrite Light" to erase Diane's memories of her feelings for King, just to prove he can. Yet, when his love for Nadja is revealed and his heart and memories are restored, he becomes a steadfast friend, determined to protect those he cares about.
Diane
Diane is a giantess and the Serpent Sin of Envy. She joined The Seven Deadly Sins after being framed for the murder of her mentor, Matrona. She's a tough warrior, using her sacred treasure "Gideon" in conjunction with her power "Creation" to manipulate the earth.
Extroverted and energetic, Diane has a big personality. She struggles with relatable insecurities about how large she is, frequently shrinking down to human size with the help of Merlin's magic. Despite having her memories of King locked away twice, the affection she has for him remains, even when she can't recall it. This love, along with her awesome fighting abilities and fierce loyalty to her friends, makes her an engaging character.
Merlin
Merlin is one of the most mysterious Sins. Due to her insatiable hunger for knowledge, she bears the Boar Sin of Gluttony. As a powerful mage, she's able to stop herself from aging and continue her personal mission to unleash the god-like being Chaos from imprisonment.
Merlin's secrecy is part of her charm. For quite a while, not much is known about her, other than that she and Meliodas go way back and that she has a particular interest in Arthur Pendragon. Even when it's revealed that she's been using the Sins and Arthur in her quest to bring back Chaos, her loveless childhood and unrequited love for Meliodas make it easy to empathize with her plight.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth is the third princess of Liones. She courageously goes out in search of The Seven Deadly Sins to fight back against the tyranny of the Holy Knights. Along the way, she becomes good friends with the Sins, helping the audience to learn about her own storied past and her history with Meliodas.
Elizabeth's power lies in her empathy. When facing a demon-possessed Hendrickson, her desire to keep anyone else from dying awakens the goddess within her, and she heals the wounds of all the injured in Liones. This selflessness literally makes flowers grow and pushes back Hendrickson's dark powers in the fantasy anime. She exemplifies how perceived "weakness" can actually be strength and how even the most unassuming person can turn out to be vitally important.
Zeldris
Zeldris is Meliodas's estranged younger brother. He once looked up to Meliodas and was deeply hurt by his betrayal of the Demon Clan. For most of the show, Zeldris is a member of the 10 Commandments and an enemy of the Sins.
Zeldris is initially portrayed as Meliodas's opposite – a cold-hearted "executioner." But when his love story with the vampire Gelda is revealed and he learns that Meliodas saved her instead of killing her like he previously thought, that pretense is abandoned. Personality-wise, Zeldris takes everything so seriously that it comes off as comically endearing. His love for Gelda and desire to make the Demon Realm a peaceful place are beautiful to see, creating a satisfying villain redemption story.
Meliodas
Meliodas is the Dragon Sin of Wrath and captain of The Seven Deadly Sins, cursed by the Demon King and the Supreme Deity as punishment for falling in love with a goddess. For 3,000 years, he was forced to watch Elizabeth live and die over and over again while he never aged.
Meliodas's laid-back personality covers up his ancient sadness. He gives people the benefit of the doubt, a good example being when he first meets Diane and treats her like a normal girl and not a barbaric giant. His awesome power, "Full Counter," deflects the attacks of his enemies back onto them, making him valuable in a fight. Meliodas's complete devotion to Elizabeth, loyalty to his friends, and impressive battle skills make him an all-around enjoyable protagonist in the anime.
Ban
Ban is the Fox Sin of Greed, framed for destroying the Fairy King's Forest and killing its protector, Elaine. He is immortal for most of the anime, with Elaine herself giving him water from the Fountain of Youth to save his life after they were both mauled by a Red Demon.
Ban's determination to bring Elaine back from the dead is his greatest strength, exemplified by him giving up his immortality in exchange for her life, as an existence without her would mean nothing to him. Gallant is an apt descriptor for Ban – he frequently throws himself in harm's way to protect others, like when he dives headfirst into purgatory to retrieve Meliodas's lost emotions. Funny and suave, Ban is difficult to dislike.
King
Fairy King Harlequin, or King, as he's known among friends, is the ruler of the Fairy King's Forest. He bears the Grizzly Sin of Sloth for abandoning the forest to save his friend Helbram, a failed mission that ended with him losing his memory and spending centuries with Diane.
King is endearing because he's imperfect. He's adorably awkward when expressing his feelings for Diane, and his love for her is heartwarming. He often underestimates his own abilities and expresses undeserved self-hatred, making his eventual transformation into his true fairy king form that much more triumphant. In times of peril, King is always able to draw on the strength he never knew he had and change for the better.
Escanor
Escanor is known as the Lion Sin Of Pride. At night, he's a weak, soft-spoken human, but when the sun is out, he transforms and gains immense physical strength with his power, "Sunshine." A multifaceted man, Escanor would just as easily write a love poem for Merlin as he would fight all kinds of monsters without breaking a sweat.
Escanor is a fascinating character due to the juxtaposition of his nature. What makes him most likable is how much he loves Merlin and cares for his friends. In the end, he fights the Demon King and lays down his own life to save them in a selfless act of love. Even while dying, he takes the time to wish his friends happiness and reiterate that he has no regrets. Escanor is the true MVP of The Seven Deadly Sins.