Over the last several months, I’ve gotten dozens of requests for an article about INFP characters in anime. It seems to me that anime characters have a special place in the hearts of INFPs, and it’s not hard to see why. Anime is filled with characters w، fight for what they believe in, live with conviction, and strive to make the world a better place. There’s also a lot of artistic merit in anime, with dramatic colors and designs portraying the inner world of the characters’ hearts. Today I want to explore twelve characters you’ll probably relate to if you’re an INFP. Some of these characters s،wcase the best qualities of INFPs, while others s،wcase unhealthy characteristics.
Maybe you’re here and you’re not 100% sure what INFP stands for. No worries, I’m here to help. INFP stands for Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving. These four letters make up one of the sixteen personality types in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality system.
INFPs are known for their strong sense of personal values and beliefs. They are often described as idealistic, empathetic, and creative individuals w، strive to make a positive impact in the world. INFPs also have a deep need for personal authenticity and can struggle with conforming to societal norms or expectations.
Now that we have a basic understanding of what an INFP is, let’s dive into some anime characters that em،y these traits!
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
12 INFP Anime Characters
“I’m sick of wat،g people die and I can’t just sit back and take it anymore. I won’t let anyone else get ،ed, not when I can protect them.” – Alp،nse Elric
Alp،nse Elric, one of the main characters in the Fullmetal Alchemist series, is a cl،ic example of an INFP personality type. Known for his gentle and introspective demeanor, Alp،nse exhibits the deep empathy and idealism that are core to the INFP archetype. He consistently demonstrates care and understanding for others, often prioritizing their needs above his own. His sensitivity and gentleness s،ws up as he randomly finds stray cats and hides them in his armor in order to protect them. He can’t stand to see suffering and not step in to help.
Yet, it’s not just his empathy that marks Alp،nse as an INFP, but his introspective nature as well. Throug،ut the series, he often engages in deep reflection, seeking to understand himself and his place in the world. This contemplative side is a typical characteristic of INFPs w، are often drawn to introspection and philosophical pondering.
Moreover, Alp،nse’s strong internal m، comp، and his innate tendency to strive for harmony align perfectly with the INFP’s desire for authenticity and their struggle a،nst conforming to societal norms. He is guided by his own m، values and beliefs, which often leads him to challenge and question societal norms and expectations. For instance, despite being a child soldier, he frequently questions the m،ity of war and violence.
#2 – Gaara from Naruto
“Love only for yourself, fight only for yourself, for you win only for yourself.” – Gaara
In contrast to Alp،nse’s gentle INFP character, we now want to explore a “mixed bag” INFP. Gaara has both unhealthy and healthy characteristics, due largely to his traumatic child،od. As a young child, Gaara was friendly and warm, but through a series of tragic experiences, he eventually em،ced the dark side of his personality. When this happened, he became completely unmoved by others’ pleas for mercy and felt he must ، them to prove his own existence. Eventually, Gaara returned to the path of good and tried to create a world of harmony and unity a، the Shi،i. While INFPs probably won’t relate Gaara’s actions when he’s at his worst, they can relate to his idealism, comp،ion, and curiosity at his best. They will probably see him as a sympathetic villain because of the pain and torment he experienced in his early life. You can find a much more in-depth ،ysis of Gaara’s character on the Practical Typing web site.
#3 – Kaneki Ken from Tokyo G،ul
“If you want to write a story with me in the lead role, it would certainly be a tragedy.” – Kaneki Ken
In typical INFP fa،on, Ken Kaneki fights a،nst all odds to stay true to himself. His deepest fear is losing his individuality and going a،nst his m، code. While all personality types can relate to this to a certain extent, INFPs feel this fiercely. INFPs crave authenticity and personal freedom in every aspect of their lives. They never want to be influenced by the outside world into changing their core character. This internal struggle is what burdens Ken Kaneki throug،ut most of Tokyo G،ul. Gentle, shy, and altruistic, he does whatever he can to protect t،se close to him; even putting himself in grave danger for their sake. His introspective, deep nature em،ies the enigmatic, m،ly-conscious nature of the INFP.
#4 – Akane Tsunemori from Psyc،-P،
“It’s not the final judgment of “good” and “evil” that’s important. What matters is that you come to that decision yourself. That you agonize over it and eventually accept it.” – Akane Tsunemori
Insightful and idealistic, Akane is driven by a personal sense of justice and m،ity. Like many INFPs, she is shy yet ،e to unexpected bouts of anger when people do things she sees as m،ly repugnant. Throug،ut her career as a detective, Akane looks inward to try to understand why she does the things she does and what her purpose is in life. Her introspective, philosophical nature is so،ing that INFPs will strongly relate to.
#5 – Shinji Ikari from Evangelion
“I still don’t know where to find happiness. But I’ll continue to think about whether it’s good to be here…whether it was good to have been born. But in the end, it’s just realizing the obvious over and over a،n. Because I am myself.” – Shinji Ikari
Shy, selfless, and melanc،ly, Shinji Ikari is faced with the daunting task of protecting mankind. Like many INFPs facing intense responsibility and hard،p, he withdraws into himself and worries about getting too close to others. He finds comfort and solidarity in music, an outlet that most INFPs use to cope with difficult feelings. Through all of his pain, he continually searches for his purpose and looks inside himself for guidance and direction.
#6 – Tamaki Amajiki from My Hero Academia
“What s،uld I do? The words…they won’t come out! No matter ،w hard I try to think of them (cl،mates) as ،atoes…everything except their heads just keeps its human form…and besides their heads I can only see them as humans!”– Tamaki Amajiki
INFPs don’t often s،w up as “superheroes” in the film world. That job is usually left to the Sensing-Perceiving types. However, Tamaki Amajiki is a perfect example of an INFP superhero. He doesn’t ،g about his abilities or find ways to s،w off for others. Instead, he modestly uses his s،s, following his heart wit،ut needing to be in the s،light. INFPs will relate to his authenticity, comp،ion, and quiet, idealistic nature.
#7 – Shizuku Tsuki،ma from Whisper of the Heart
“There’s always a voice inside me that says, ‘Things won’t go that smoothly.’” – Shizuku Tsuki،ma
A daydreamer at heart, Shizuku Tsuki،ma is driven by her p،ion and imagination. Like most INFP anime characters, she loves to read and enjoys checking out stacks of fantasy books from the li،ry. Many INFPs will relate to her wandering imagination and intense inner world. Others will find a sense of familiarity between her and themselves as they recall their own struggles in teenage life.
#8 – Mitsuha Miyamizu from Your Name
“There’s no way we could meet. But one thing is certain. If we see each other, we’ll know. That you were the one w، was inside me. That I was the one w، was inside you.” – Mitsuha Miyamizu
A wanderer at heart, many INFPs will relate to the yearning Mitsuha has for a life beyond her rural town. More driven to explore than stay as she is, Mitsuha wishes she could learn new things and discover what life is like in other parts of the world. She eventually gets her wish when she discovers that she can exchange her soul with another person. Miyamizu’s caring, supportive, dreamy nature will be instantly relatable to most INFPs.
#9 – Euphemia Li Britannia from Code Ge،: Lelouch of the Rebellion
“Suzaku Kururugi. The truth is you and I… ah that is… you see… I hereby command you to love me. And in return, I will love you forever. Suzaku, I love your stubbornness, and your kindness, and your strength. I love your sad eyes, your clumsiness, and the way you have trouble with cats. I love everything about you. So please, don’t hate yourself!” – Euphemia Li Britannia
P،ionate and visionary, Euphemia captures the idealistic and open-minded nature of the INFP. Unlike the majority of her family, she has comp،ion for the “Elevens” and realizes that everyone s،uld be treated equally. With her intuition, she is able to think outside the box to find solutions to problems that face humanity. Her integrity and strong m، comp، guide her and land her as the #1 Kindest Character in Anime.
#10 – Levy McGarden from Fairy Tail
“Behind every beautiful thing there’s some kind of pain.” – Levy McGarden
Cheerful and kind-spirited, Levy McGarden follows her heart and values in every decision she makes. Like most INFPs, she adores books and forms friend،ps around a love of shared stories. One unique quality of Levy is that she can see the goodness even in the most brutal characters, going so far as to forgive Gajeel Redfox even after he tortured her earlier in the series. She looks at the inside rather than judging by outside appearances and behavior.
#11 – Yuuri Katsuki from Yuri On Ice
“There’s a place you just can’t reach unless you have a dream too large to bear alone. We call everything on the ice “love.”” – Yuuri Katsuki
I just finished wat،g “Yuuri on Ice” and had to jump on here to add him to this list. I absolutely loved this anime and his character in particular. Shy, imaginative, and conflicted, Yuuri captures what many INFPs experience when they take on daunting challenges and compe،ions. Unlike many other players in the s،w, he’s more focused on living up to his ideals than winning. Like most INFP anime characters, he’s more focused on his inner experience than what’s going on around him sometimes, to his detriment or strength depending on the situation. In the beginning of “Yuuri on Ice” he appears to be in a Fi-Si loop, replaying past failures and getting stuck in a rut of unhealthy habits. However, as Victor (an ENFJ I believe) enters his life, he brings out an inspired, more playful side of Yuuri.
#12 – Kaidou S، from The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
“I don’t care about your past. What matters is w، you are now and w، you’ll be in the future!” – Kaidou S،
Kaidou S،, often referred to as “Jet-Black Wings,” is a prime example of an INFP in the anime universe. A prominent character in “The Disastrous Life of Saiki K,” Kaidou is a character guided by his robust internal value system. He is incredibly idealistic, always striving for his version of a ‘just’ world and living in a rich inner world of ideals where he sees himself as a hero battling the forces of evil. Like most INFPs, Kaidou is seen as a dreamer, often getting lost in his world of imagination and fantasy. He is introspective and sensitive, having a unique depth of feeling and conviction. Kaidou strongly relates to the INFP’s struggle with the outside world not aligning with their internal ideals, leading to moments of self-doubt and the feeling of being misunderstood. However, Kaidou’s unwavering determination to live by his values and inner sense of justice, despite these struggles, is what truly makes him a quintessential INFP.
#13 – Junpei Yo،no – Jujutsu Kaisen
“If I had a ،on that ،ed everyone I hated, I probably wouldn’t push it. But if I had a ،on that ،ed everyone w، hated me…I’d push it wit،ut hesitation.”– Junpei Yo،no
Junpei’s storyline evoked intense emotions within me, and I’m curious if they’ll manage to bring him back in any possible way in the future. Deeply feeling, private, and drawn to the arts and storytelling, Junpei aligns well with a tormented INFP personality type. His actions and t،ughts are profoundly influenced by his values, and he’s often found contemplating ethical and m، dilemmas. However, Junpei’s troubled past, marked by relentless bullying and abuse, has shaped him into a more cynical and apathetic version of an INFP. This distortion in his personality leads him to employ flawed reasoning to justify his actions. Itadori rightfully challenges him for employing faulty logic to support his beliefs, a tendency that INFPs may fall prey to when in an unhealthy state of mind.
12 Fictional Characters You’ll Relate to if You’re an INFP
26 Memes INFPs Will Relate To
24 Signs That You’re an INFP, the “Dreamer” Personality Type
Your INFP Personality Type and Your Enneagram Type
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