There is nothing that quite compares to a mask when it comes to creating an aura of mystery surrounding a character, and as a consequence, anime has a massive array of characters that wear masks.
Here is a list of 24 masked anime characters, ranging from covering their whole faces to partially hiding their features, from intricate masterpieces to simple disguises.
1.Kurei (Flame of Recca)
Ranking number one on our list of masked anime characters is Recca’s half-brother Kurei. Kurei is the owner of a few masks that are seen in the anime series. These masks belong to Recca.
The mask that leaves his eyes and mouth open and covers most of his face gives him a more menacing and badass appearance than the other, with just one eyehole and three printed eyes.
2. Haku (Naruto)
Haku, another variant among masked anime characters, is a dangerous mercenary ninja who conceals his face behind a white mask with a hint of crimson.
The only holes on the mask are slits for his eyes. The Hidden Mist Village sign is at the top of the mask, with a wave pattern that winds its way up from the bottom right to the center.
Behind the mask was a stunning face that led most of us to believe he was a female. However, the mask did more than fool us; it also masked his tremendous power in the form of destructive ice-based powers.
3. Hatake Kakashi (Naruto)
Let’s begin with the masked character that seems to have the most secrets to hide: Hatake Kakashi, who appears in both Naruto and Naruto Shippuden.
He protects his Sharingan eyes when they are not being used by wearing a forehead protector that doubles as a half-face mask covering his nose and neck.
It remained a mystery from when Naruto was a child until he became Hokage, despite the fact that the design of the cloak was relatively straightforward and consisted of nothing more than a single piece of tightly-fitting black cloth.
4. Killer (One Piece)
The Killer is said to be a member of the Supernovas, along with Luffy, Zoro, Law, and Eustass Kid, who serves as Killer’s captain.
He has a full-face mask on, but it is hollow inside, and there are rows of holes cut out for his eyes, nose, and mouth.
During the Wano Arc, his trademark mask was absent and replaced with bandages wrapped over his face and head. Still, he is also one of the most powerful masked anime characters in One Piece.
5. Tuxedo Mask (Sailor Moon)
One of the masked anime characters, Tuxedo Mask, from the anime series Sailor Moon, is a well-known example of a character that wears a mask.
His mask is a straightforward piece that takes its cue from opera masks and covers the upper portion of his face.
Considering his well-groomed look, he cuts a commanding image. The protagonist, Usagi, cannot resist falling for him due to the allure and mystery surrounding him.
Mamoru Chiba, the guy who wears the enigmatic Tuxedo Mask, has no idea who he is in the first place and doesn’t even know of his alter ego.
This is an interesting fact about the Tuxedo Mask. Whenever Sailor Moon is in peril, he subconsciously undergoes a transformation.
6. The Visored (Bleach)
Instead of focusing on Ichigo Kurosaki, we have decided to recognize one of the most prominent masked anime characters, Visored from the anime and manga series Bleach, with an honorable mention.
Shinigami with the ability to utilize hollow powers are known as the Visored, and they do this by materializing a mask on their face.
The plague doctor mask worn by Rjru Toribashi, the insect-themed mask worn by Mashiro Kuna, and the frightening Balinese demon-inspired mask worn by Hachigen Ushida is the three most stunning masks used by the Visored.
Of course, we can’t ignore the fact that the protagonist, Ichigo, wears a mask throughout the series! Because of his striped, demonic mask with its crazy look, he gives off the impression of being a dangerous adversary, which is accurate.
7. Noro (Tokyo Ghoul)
Although Noro Noro is not the only character from Tokyo Ghoul to appear on our list of masked anime characters, it would be appropriate to highlight their mask since we consider it one of the most exciting designs to appear in the series.
Noro wears a white mask with no eyes, little reptile holes for nostrils, and a wide open mouth design with thin black lips and enormous, disturbing white fangs. The mask also has a sizeable open-mouth design.
In addition to their might, unpredictability, and inclination to remain silent, their mask will cause you to pause and take a closer look.
8. Ririka Momobami (Kakegurui)
Another addition to the list of masked anime characters that wears a mask is Ririka, who plays the role of the calm vice president of the school council in Kakegurui.
Her identity is further concealed with a white comedy mask that not only hides her face but also distorts her voice and acts as a screen for her performance.
Ririka’s mask enables her to conceal her feelings and grants the council and its president the ability to play a trump card whenever they see fit. However, we won’t go into too much detail here to avoid giving away any spoilers.
9. Obito Uchiha (Naruto)
To protect his identity, Obito Uchiha has assumed many guises throughout the years. There was also a black flame mask among these items.
The most noteworthy of them is an orange spiraling mask that has just enough space for one eyehole and is modeled by the look of the character Tobi.
In later episodes of the show, he will don a white mask with a purple tinge covering his head above the ears, making him one of the masked anime characters in the Naruto franchise.
The design of the mask is a hybrid of the Sharingan and the Rinnegan. It has a ripple pattern in the center and three tomoe encircling it; two of the tomoe act as eyeholes in the mask.
10. Overhaul (My Hero Academia)
Not only does Overhaul’s mask have a nifty appearance, but it also serves a function that goes beyond just concealing the wearer’s identity.
Over his lips, the figure, one of the masked anime characters, wears a mask reminiscent of a magenta plague doctor with gold accents.
The reason he chooses to hide his face in public? An overhaul is afraid of germs despite the fact that he leads a criminal organization.
His mask filters the air he breathes, protecting him from the filth and nastiness that other individuals may carry in.
11. The Gun of Death (Sword Art Online)
Despite the fact that they don’t debut until the anime’s second season, we think Death Gun from Sword Art Online has one of the most exciting masks. He is also one of the numerous masked anime characters.
The menacing hooded figure, blazing red eyes, and metallic skull mask worn by Death Gun gave them the appearance of the virtual world’s version of the grim reaper.
12. “Chaser” John Doe (Dream Eater Merry)
One of the masked anime characters, Dream Eater Merry’s John Doe wears a mask that manages to be both adorable and unsettling at the same time.
His white mask has a macabre grin, black eyes, and cat ears that protrude from the hood of his crimson cloak.
Not only does John sport a spectacular-looking mask, but his very name is a pun on the concept of a person without an identity. “John Doe” refers to individuals who cannot be positively identified for legal or other purposes.
13. Tomura Shigaraki (My Hero Academia)
There are many different sorts of materials that may be used to make masks, but one of the characters decides to cover their face with something that is rather gruesome.
The character Tomura Shigaraki from My Hero Academia hides their face with severed hands preserved in formaldehyde. Yet, even members of his own family own some of his most prized possessions.
14. Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)
Another addition to the masked anime characters list from the Tokyo Ghoul series is Ken Kaneki: Ken Kaneki wears a mask that is among the most recognizable and distinctive in the anime world.
His black leather mask has a gaping maw devoid of lips and adorned with gigantic teeth. Images of Frankenstein come to mind when I look at the bolts sticking out of his neck.
Alongside this is Ken’s trademark eye patch, which he wears to hide the eye that isn’t part of his ghoul form and further contributes to his intimidating appearance.
15. Hei (Darker than Black)
Masks in the manner of a Pierrot are often seen in anime; one character named Hei from the series Darker than Black wears one of these masks.
He wears it with a black trench coat, contrasting with the blue lightning bolt that runs down the left eye of the mask.
Because Hei is both a Contractor for the Syndicate and a top-tier assassin, she must adopt a wide variety of personas and disguises to complete her missions. This ensemble lends him the necessary assistance to accomplish so.
16. Zero (Code Geass)
In Code Geass, Zero, one of the masked anime characters, is a masquerade employed by those who wear it to free Japan from oppression. The Zero mask is the most distinguishing feature of the Zero garb.
The mask has a jagged appearance and is a dark blue and indigo tint. It also has a lengthy version of the Geass Sigil that extends over the bottom of the mask and completely hides the wearer’s face.
As a result, the mask appears opaque from the outside, yet when seen from the inside, it is clear.
The addition of a panel that can be slid over one of Zero’s eyes is another practical feature of the mask, which may be used in conjunction with the previous function.
This is a one-of-a-kind item since it confers the ability to wield one’s Geass power without revealing one’s true identity to the person wearing it.
17. Aki Izayoi (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
Aki Izayoi, a duelist in the Yu-Gi-Oh! The card game series wears a white mask to cover her face because she feels guilty for not being able to keep her psychic skills under control.
As she adopts the persona of the ‘Black Rose,’ she wears a mask with crimson streaks that seem to terminate in tears over the eyes.
This gives the impression that the theater inspired the mask. The burgundy, Victorian-style clothes she wears look fantastic with the mask she’s wearing.
She even acknowledges at one point in the series that the mask and her hidden identity assist her in surviving, saying something to the effect of, “When I’m in the mask, I’m not myself.”
18. Rina Tennoji (Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club)
Many masked anime characters choose to conceal their true sentiments and thoughts by donning disguises. However, one character honestly uses a mask since it helps them express themselves better!
When expressing her feelings, Rina Tennoji has a hard time, which is not ideal for an idol. Even though she will occasionally use a sketching pad to express her feelings and hold them up to her face, it is not entirely feasible for her to do so while performing.
Instead, Rina wears a high-tech mask called the “Auto Emotion Convert Rina-chan Board,” which translates her emotions into endearing renderings in the manner of emoji and displays them on a digital screen on the front of the mask.
19. Gin Akutagawa (Bungou Stray Dogs)
There are instances when a character’s appearance while they are wearing a mask and when they are not may look like night and day. This is the case with Gin Akutagawa from Bungou Stray Dogs, one of anime masked characters.
Gin is known for her stunning good looks and impeccable grooming, but when she is on the job for the mafia, she adopts a more sinister and threatening image.
She pulls her hair back into a spiky bun and wears a white face mask with stripes that make it seem like it is made of bandages.
Gin can shift from being the nice girl next door to a brutal assassin in only a few minutes by putting on a mask and switching her clothes.
20. Inosuke Hashibara (Demon Slayer)
Inosuke Hashibara gives off the impression of being a dangerous adversary based on his appearance alone: his chest is exposed, he is holding a sword, and he is hiding his face behind a boar’s head mask.
When he takes off his mask, however, he has thick black hair and more delicate and feminine features. This is a complete transformation!
Wild boars brought up Inosuke; thus, it only seems natural for him to honor his upbringing by assuming the form of a wild boar when he fights.
Along with his ability to breathe like a beast, we certainly wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of his blade! He is also one of the most deadly masked anime characters.
21. Kagetane Hiruko (Black Bullet)
Kagetane Hiruko, who appears in Black Bullet, is yet another addition to the list of masked anime characters to don a mask resembling a pierrot.
His white mask is only embellished with a simple wicked grin, and two crescent-shaped dots flow downward from his eyes to give him visibility. This creates an unsettling appearance on his face.
The theatricality provided by his mask is also mirrored in the rest of his appearance in a consistent way. He is dressed impeccably in a burgundy suit, white gloves, and a top hat like a magician.
When questioned, Kagetane is not bashful about describing the many murders and brutal actions he has committed, which sends a shiver down your spine. The ever-smiling aspect of his mask is another factor that contributes to this effect.
22. Sogeking (One Piece)
We felt obligated to offer the mask of Sogeking from One Piece, which is more of a humorous tribute than a threatening one, an honorable mention.
Sogeking is an alter persona that belongs to Usopp. As one of anime masked characters, His mask is bright yellow with a striped design along one side of the face. He has a dark blue mustache, red lips, and a white nose that looks like a screw.
It features dark glass eyes taken from Usopp’s goggles, and there are protrusions on the sides and top of the mask that nearly appear like rays of sunlight.
In spite of the fact that it seems ridiculous, Sogeking’s mask is one of the most creative designs in all of anime. It is a look that you won’t be able to forget about anytime soon!
23. Char Aznable (Mobile Suit Gundam)
A notable example of a masked anime characters is Char Aznable, who appears as the main antagonist in the classic anime series Mobile Suit Gundam.
His mask comprises two components: a white kabuto-style helmet, which protrudes a gray half mask to cover his eyes and frames around his nose, and a black leather band that wraps around his mouth and chin.
Additionally, another masked character on our list was influenced by the mask which he wore. The author of Code Geass, Ichiro Kouchi, believed that a mask was necessary for Zero for the show to be considered a genuine Sunrise production.
24. William Vengeance (Black Clover)
In the game Black Clover, William Vengeance, the captain of the Golden Dawn squad, wears a helmet that hides the upper half of his face and functions as a mask.
A smaller piece of blue fabric covers the region around his left eye, and a much larger piece of gold covers the region around his right eye. Together, these two pieces make up the mask.
A patch of white fur and a patch of red fur can be found on the back edge of the helmet, and there are also two white feathers that protrude from the left side.
There is an outline of a red border around the right eye hole, and two lines stick out on both the top and bottom sides. The last detail is that the left eye-opening is white and has much longer lines.
William wears the mask not only to perform his duty without being injured but also to hide the hideous scar that spans the upper portion of his face. This was the result of a curse that had been placed upon the family of his mother.
We sincerely hope that your time spent reading about the anime characters who wear masks was enjoyable. Check out also some of our other entertaining anime guides.