Typically, anime heroes are shorter than their antagonistic counterparts in order to better establish them as underdogs. This makes them more sympathetic to audiences, especially since they have physical similarities with the viewers. After all, few can relate with being a lumbering giant.
However, some anime heroes are so tall and imposing that they cast a shadow over evil. Such characters use their prodigious height in order to daunt adversaries, sometimes even preventing fights from happening in the first place. Visually and physically, these heroes’ looming stature grants them an advantage.
10 Jonathan Joestar (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
6’5″
Jonathan Joestar was the most first and most physically imposing protagonist of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Despite lacking a Stand, his proficient usage of Hamon more than supplemented his abilities when fighting Dio.
Among Jonathan’s greatest advantages was his robust physical stature. At six feet and five inches of sheer muscle, he overpowered most of the undead hordes sent to face him. In the end, the only way to defeat Jonathan was by treachery. Unfortunately, Dio claimed his body after death, thereby becoming even more formidable.
9 Gamagori (Kill La Kill)
Unknown, varies with animation
Gamagori was Kill La Kill’s towering disciplinarian. Easily twice Ryuko‘s height, his formidable stature helped when enduring the attacks of Satsuki Kiryuin’s enemies. Unlike most other characters, Gamagori’s impressive stature plays directly into his life fiber uniform.
Gamagori’s fighting style revolves around absorbing and reflecting abuse, with whips that can punish adversaries who don’t strike first. His stature is such a central aspect of his character that it’s exaggerated in moments of great emotion such as joy or anger. Unfortunately, there is no indication that this is for anything other than artistic flair.
8 Maine (Cyberpunk: Edgerunners)
7’4″
Maine is the largest hero in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners by a significant margin. Standing at a towering 7’4″, it’s unlikely that his height was naturally achieved. Cybernetic implants are a feasible explanation, especially given how much taller and broader they made David seem after Maine’s death.
In every fight, Maine made use of his great physique. He relied on gorilla arms more than any other member of the crew, employing them to such an extent that he even intimidated an entire Trauma Team.
7 Thorkell The Tall (Vinland Saga)
7’5″
As his title suggests, Thorkell the Tall was Vinland Saga’s most massive character. At a titanic seven feet and five inches, many allies and enemies alike referred to him as a giant. Thorkell used his incredible height and musculature to his advantage.
Whether throwing a spear across a battlefield that impaled several people at once or simply cutting them in half with a single slice, few are capable of rivaling Thorkell’s unmatched physical prowess. Thorkell’s desire to die in battle makes him completely fearless and infinitely more frightening.
6 Choji (Naruto)
Conditionally 5’8″
Choji may not seem like a particularly tall Naruto character. At only five feet and eight inches, he fails to stand out from the rest of Konoha 11 and many of the allied heroes in neighboring villages. However, Choji is one of the few shinobi who have mastered super expansion jutsu.
The super expansion jutsu allows him to increase his height astronomically to that of a giant. When used against Jirobo, Choji’s body even covered a significant swathe of an entire forest. The ability to make use of his unique stature is a credit to Shikamaru’s team.
5 Diane (Seven Deadly Sins)
30′
Diane was a giant and one of Seven Deadly Sins’ main heroes. Standing at 30 feet tall in her natural form, she wielded a two-handed hammer that could obliterate her opponents. While Diane generally relied on natural might when combating the forces of the Demon Clan, she also had other tools to supplement her efforts.
For example, Diane’s dancing techniques and hardened steel body allowed her to endure what most women of her size could not. Diane proved so skilled that Drole acknowledged her and appointed her the successor to the Giant clan.
4 Mt. Lady (My Hero Academia)
67’8″ (Using Quirk)
On her own, My Hero Academia‘s Mt. Lady was not particularly tall. However, her Gigantification Quirk allows her to become exponentially larger and stronger with a maximum height of sixty-seven feet and eight inches tall.
This makes Mt. Lady a superb support hero capable of wrangling physically daunting opponents. Unfortunately, Mt. Lady’s height still has limits, as seen through her battle against Gigantomachia. While faring against him significantly better than most pros, she was ultimately only capable of slowing him down amidst his march to reunite with Shigaraki and the Paranormal Liberation Front.
3 Dorry (One Piece)
74′
Dorry was the first giant the Straw Hats encountered in One Piece. His honorable battle with Broggy inspired Usopp and eventually kinship between them and the fledgling heroes. After Luffy saved Dorry from Galdino, he expressed utmost gratitude and pledged himself as an ally for future endeavors.
While Dorry’s stature and might are tremendous assets, his greatest gift is unrivaled endurance. He and Broggy fought at Little Garden for decades before finally agreeing to return to Elbaf where the rest of their people awaited them.
2 Armin (Attack On Titan)
60 Meters, Or 197′ (In Colossal Form)
At first, Armin Arlert was considered the runt of Attack On Titan. His human form was nothing to be inspired by, often even deterring Scouts until realizing his gifted academic mind. After the fateful battle for Shiganshina, Armin consumed the Colossal State in order to stay alive.
This greatly increased his combat ability and granted him the powers of a one-man super weapon. As the Colossal, Armin’s maximum height was a hulking sixty meters. In other words, he could become one hundred and ninety-seven feet tall in the blink of an eye.
1 Zunesha (One Piece)
21 Miles
Zunesha was an ancient being so large that an entire colony of Minks lived on his back. Considered a living island, he wanders the oceans aimlessly and is considered a legend by most. Unfortunately, age has weakened Zunesha well past his prime. This was a fact that Jack attempted to exploit when having the Beast Pirates concentrate their cannons on his leg.
Nonetheless, Zunesha still wielded enough strength to protect his comrades and scatter the enemy fleet with a single blow from his tusks. He only needed Momonosuke’s consent to do so.