RELATED: Most Twisted Dark Anime Series
There are very few deaf characters in the anime world and even fewer who have had a large impact. But these characters show that just because they can’t hear doesn’t mean they’re not strong. They don’t let their hard-of-hearing stop them from showing how strong they are or showing kindness to others who haven’t been kind to them.
6 Bojji (Ranking Of Kings)
A tiny, but mighty hero that proves an anime can have a deaf protagonist and be successful. Because of his tiny size and being deaf, many people believe he isn’t fit to rule the kingdom and that his half-brother should take the throne. Bojji doesn’t let this affect him and still dreams of being a great king like his father. He is known to be kind and can read lips so he knows what people are saying.
Even though he was heartbroken that his brother became king, Bojji didn’t let this stop from going on a journey to prove his worth. He showed everyone who ever doubted him that he is more than fit to be king and that he’s a lot stronger than he looks.
5 Shoko Nishimiya (A Silent Voice)
When it comes to deaf characters in anime, Shoko is probably the first one to come to mind. She was often the victim of the other main character Shoya back when they were in elementary school. They meet each other again when they’re both in high school after Shoya wanted to give her back a notebook she’d left behind. Even though he bullied her to the point that she had to transfer, Shoko was more than happy to be his friend.
She does fall in love with him as the series goes on and sees that he truly wants to repent for the bullying he put her through. Shoko shows that she forgives him and helps Shoya in his journey to forgive himself.
4 Nicolas Brown (Gangsta)
This is one man that definitely doesn’t let his hearing disability stop him from being a “handyman” for the mob. While most characters would see their disability as a nuisance and apologize to other people, Nicolas makes it clear that he finds the people he’s talking to a nuisance for not knowing sign language. He hates having to accommodate others who can’t sign to him even though he can read lips.
Though he’s easily irritated and keeps to himself, Nicolas isn’t a terrible guy. He does small acts of kindness like playing Nina, helping Alex, and will occasionally pick on others with a dark yet good sense of humor.
3 Princess Hinoto (X)
Princess Hinoto is a dreamseer who is not only deaf, but also blind, mute, and crippled. The only way she can communicate with anyone is through her telepathic powers. With her seer powers, she sees the future in her dreams and the events have always come true. She does have a dark side that takes over for a good chunk of the series, but the dark side has a good reason for this possession.
RELATED: Most Iconic Anime Watches
After seeing her own death at the hands of Kamui, the dark side wanted to destroy him and the Dragons of Heaven. However, Hinoto herself stopped her dark side in the dreamscape, but it meant killing herself. This was the only way to end the dark side’s possession of her, showing she was willing to sacrifice herself to save everyone around her.
2 Hyakkimaru (Dororo)
Hyakkimaru had the misfortune of being born to a lord who made a deal with demons. In return for their land to be safe, Hyakkimaru’s body parts were given to them. As a result, he had no skin, eyes, nose, arms, legs, and ears. Luckily he was saved by Jukai, who became his father-figure and made new body parts for Hyakkimaru. Though he couldn’t hear, Hyakkimaru’s Soul Sight and Telepathy abilities were more than enough for him to be able to see and hear others.
He does get his ears and hearing back, but it is overwhelming for him at first. Having not heard anything since, the sounds can be a bit too much for him and cause him to lose control.
1 Nao Saito (Psychic Detective Yakumo)
The young cousin of Yakumo. Nao has been deaf since birth and lives with her adoptive father Isshin at a Buddhist temple. Though unable to hear, Nao does have the special ability to sense the feelings of everyone around her. She’s also one of the very few people that Yakumo feels comfortable around since many have made fun of him because of his eye.
After Isshin passes away, Nao is taken in by Kazutoshi (one of the main characters) and his wife. Since he and his wife Atsuko couldn’t have kids, they had drifted apart, but Nao helped mend their relationship and the three of them became a good family.
MORE: Anime Characters With The Most Epic Eyebrows
