ISTP anime characters can be hard to find, but we’re here to help you get to know some of the coolest and most memorable Anime personalities you’ll ever meet (and maybe even relate to). If you want to learn more about these unique types, we’ve got a list of twenty characters that will leave you wondering how you ever lived without them.
I know we’re not supposed to do this, but based on what I’ve seen on screen, in the mangas , and done my best with this MBTI thing (which, as we all know, is a big ol’ baloney pseudoscience), I want to give you some quick suggestions on how to fix your characters.
1/25. Itaru Hashida (Steins;Gate)
Daru is the epitome of the ISTP personality type: He’s a talented and skilled hacker who loves to unwind in his downtime by playing video games. Daru is often seen getting frustrated by the antics of his fellow hackers, but is mostly collected and calm under pressure. When he does lose his temper, it’s through smashing and throwing objects around.
Daru translates the complex world of love, relationships and emotions for his peers to understand. Realist and a negotiator, he is both easily embarrassed and prone to lying about his insecurity (to Okabe). In ‘Steins;Gate’ he plays the role of translator for the group who remain supportive of Okabe and his efforts in order to help them understand what is really going on.
2/25. Kiritsugu Emiya (Fate/Zero)
Kiritsugu is a damaged ISTP master, who uses his cold and calculated ISTP personality to get by in life. His quest for the Holy Grail War is fueled by his desire to repair the crisis he lives in. While he puts on a stoic mask in front of other people, even his trusted family and friends, he’s really just trying to get along with people he has no real connection with.
Kiritsugu is a calculating and strategic young man with a penchant for the finer things in life. He prefers the safety of his well-equipped apartment, but isn’t afraid to jump into rapid-paced action if he has to. Corollary: no action seems out of bounds .
3/25. Shōta (Aizawa)
Aizawa is a stickler for the rules and does not tolerate students who put their own whims above those of the collective, but at the same time he has a soft spot for students who put in the effort to improve themselves. One might say that he is overly harsh with his students, but there’s a reason for that — it’s because he actually cares about their futures.
Aizawa is your classic anti-hero. He doesn’t have much of a sense of justice, but he’s no villain either. He’s just a guy who wants to do his job and get paid. He’s generally disinterested in what other people think, but he does care about his students. That’s why he’d rather kill them than let them get hurt.
4/25. Toph Beifong (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
I’m aware that people argue about whether or not Avatar: The Last Airbender is technically anime, and I don’t care. This show has one of the highest ratings on IMDb of all time, and I need to introduce you to its most expressive character: Toph. Toph was created with an eye toward the more ISTP-ish traits that are common among females in anime — she’s stubborn, sarcastic, fiercely independent and prefers fighting over talking.
ISTP often gets a bad rep for not attending to their appearance. But the real question is, does this matter? ISTP individuals like Toph are incredibly practical, with little regard for superfluous matters. They’re also fiercely independent, preferring to take things into their own hands rather than rely on others. Toph’s teaching style is gruff and direct. She attacks her students head on with no time wasted.
Related: Best ISFP Anime Characters
5/25. Akihito Narihisago (ID: Invaded)
Narihisago is an oddball of a man: He’s a former detective who resorted to immorality and killing, but only to stop other men from committing evil acts. Throughout most of the show, he’s captured by the police, snooping around the minds of serial killers to find out what happened to a missing girl.
He’s an analytical and observant detective, who carefully analyzes clues in his mind before making a decision. He often feigns emotions, so it’s difficult to tell when he’s truly feeling something. His logical nature often leads to him not having a set of core values. He tries to suppress his emotions, but when he’s forced to confront them, they come out in all their intensity.
6/25. Saitama (One Punch)
ISTPs make for the best villains, but there is no better ISTP than Saitama from One Punch Man. He effortlessly disposes of enemies with a single punch and exists in a constant state of apathy — which is something we can relate to, as well as the rest of his personality.
Saitama is easy-going, amiable, and always sports a relaxed smile. He dwells in the present moment and isn’t one to worry too much about things. When he talks, you know it will be brief and to the point — or at least I hope so, because if it isn’t, then he’s probably going to put me to sleep.
7/25. Zoro (One Piece)
ISTPs use their hands as much as their minds, and Zoro is a classic example of this. A soldier who became a pirate for the thrill of it — but mostly to hone his skills even further. He’s not much for planning things out in advance, or concerning himself with the future, beyond launching himself at a vague goal: to be the world’s greatest swordsman.
Zoro has earned a reputation as a taciturn loner. His stoic nature makes him seem ‘cold’ and ‘harsh’ to others, but his friends know that he isn’t that bad once you get to know him. He is private and his opinions are few — possibly because he’s been so exposed to the death that is common in his line of work.
8/25. Spike (Cowboy Bebop )
Spike is a very friendly and social person, who is interested in helping out his best friends when he sees issues developing. He’s very easygoing and loves to chill with his friends. However, he’s the first person to check out if something doesn’t add up or isn’t logical. He’s motivated by logic and personal interest rather than by emotions.
He’s especially playful when it comes to rules — and he’ll openly antagonize those who make them for his own amusement. If rules prevent him from getting what he wants, he won’t hesitate to break them. One time, I saw him swallow a poker chip simply because he knew that people were desperate to get it — which is confusing, because no one knows why anyone would want that poker chip.
9/25. Kyoka Jiro (My Hero Academia)
Kyoka is a very reserved girl, both in personality and physically. She tends to stay quiet in social situations and other people have said that she’s hard to get to know. However, once you’re friends with her, she’ll open up a little more — and even let you in on the things she enjoys!
Despite her appearance, Kyoka can display some sensitivity to the opinions of others — especially when it comes to how she decorates her room. She’s prone to ranting when provoked, and will also respond to non-verbal cues (like being shunned as a fake girl). Once she’s calmed down a little, though, she is capable of listening to reason, and knows exactly what to do in a crisis.
10/25. Shiki Ryougi (Kara no Kyoukai)
When it comes to fighting, Shiki’s Se is out in full force. She enjoys the rush of a fight as much as any other ISTP, but she takes a more tactical approach. Her secondary Ni and tertiary Te are what allows her to be so strategic in this regard, and to form such varied battle strategies on the fly.
She has a short attention span and struggles to deal with her emotions, which makes her difficult to deal with. She often lashes out physically when she gets upset. While people use this as evidence of her inferior Fe, the ultimate proof can be found by looking at how she struggles to respond to Mikiya’s bad jokes (bad Fe is desperate for a queue but can’t find one) and how she uses him as an emotional compass.
Related: Best INTJ Anime Characters
11/25. Vulcan Joseph (Fire Force)
Vulcan is a breezily calm narrator, with a sense of humour and a hint of sarcasm — and a lot of heart. He doesn’t like to brag about his accomplishments, but he has them in spades. He’s a capable leader who can keep the team on track, but he also understands that people have their own points of view — even if they aren’t quite what he would prefer.
12/25. Roronoa Zoro (One Piece)
Zoro is an ISTP, and we think he’s awesome! ISTPs are known for their down-to-earth nature, dedicated work ethic and ability to fix most problems quickly. ISTPs value time spent with friends, a good challenge and pleasing their own senses above all else. They get along great with like-minded types, but sometimes have trouble getting along with those who seem too emotional.
13/25. Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran Host Club)
As a reserved ISTP, Haruhi appreciates a simple lifestyle that doesn’t involve frivolous things like ‘romance’ or ‘dating’. She prefers to live in the moment, to enjoy each day and focus on what she cares about most. There’s no time for dating when you have schoolwork to deal with… And when there is time, she’d rather spend it in her own special way – not following any ‘dating guide’.
14/25. Dutch (Black Lagoon)
Dutch is one of the co-founders of Lagoon Delivery Company, and is generally the most level-headed and respected individual within the organisation. He was a highly decorated soldier in Vietnam, which has seen him become accustomed to blood and violence, and subsequently helps him in leadership roles when situations with Lagoon Co. start taking an unsavoury turn.
15/25. Sanada Ryu (Kimi ni Todoke)
Ryu is amazing. He’s the only character that has no friends, but yet he doesn’t really care. And you know what? Neither do we! He likes spending time playing basketball in the park by himself. In fact, he prefers it to hanging out with a bunch of other kids and making small talk about video games or girls.
Related: Best INFJ Anime Characters
16/25. Stephen Gevanni (Death Note)
ISTPs are great at what they do. They get things done, and they are excellent at adapting to the tasks and roles that they need to take on. Gevanni, for example, is an ISTP with some talents that would have come in handy in the Death Note universe — such as his ability to forge handwriting, track individuals, and much more.
17/25. Iwaizumi Hajime (Haikyuu!)
Iwaizumi is a tough coach on and off the court. But that has more to do with his personality than anything else — or so I assume, seeing as how personal information rarely makes its way into YA anime. More importantly, like most good coaches, he’s not afraid to take risks and make bold decisions when they pay off.
18/25. Hatsuharu Souma (Fruits Basket)
Hatsuharu is a beautiful representation of ISTPs in general! He’s loyal, collected, and unwavering. Most importantly, he’s calm and composed. Don’t be fooled by the messy hair or deadpan stare — Hatsuharu is genuinely warm-hearted inside. This type is the most diverse among them all; it’s important to remember that at heart, they’re still introverts.
19/25. Emiya Kiritsugu (Fate Series)
After reading the above paragraph, it may seem like Emiya is a less than desirable protagonist. However, he is first and foremost a pragmatist. He has been in a Holy Grail War, after all. In that world, mages do not get to live long; they are fated to die young. This type of environment breeds people who know how to fight on the front lines.
20/25. Lloyd Asplund (Code Geass)
Lloyd cares about the little world of his experiments, but what he really loves is seeing the results. Sure, he could get a job at a research lab, but that would only hold him back from doing what he does best: being creative with technology and making things better for everyone. What he wants to do more than anything else is create, and we’re going to let him.
Related: Best ENFP Anime Characters
21/25. Takeru Gouda (Tsurezure Children)
Takeru was at first quite standoffish, but we soon found out that this was only because he didn’t understand feelings. However, after getting to know Kamine more, he began to understand her feelings and the feelings of the others around him. As the story progresses, he comes to appreciate his own emotions and the emotions of others.
22/25. Ging Freecs (Hunter X Hunter)
Ging is Gon’s dad, a skilled treasure hunter with impressive mad-detecting skills! When he was young, his keen sense of smell led him to uncover many priceless relics with hidden treasures. With his son’s success in finding friends and becoming a great Hunter, maybe it’s time for him to find a new job that better suits his talents and personality.
23/25. Rakshata Chawla (Code Geass)
Rakshata is a self-proclaimed ‘hardcore nerd’. She spends almost all of her time testing and tinkering with her machines. She doesn’t like talking about feelings or past experiences, but will happily discuss the science behind her work. Her logical mind can be quite a challenge to people who don’t share this mindset!
24/25. Tsubaki Amamiya (God Eater)
Tsubaki is a part of the main Squad commanders in God Eater and everybody’s favourite Squad commander. Tsubaki is extremely in-charge when it counting towards the survival of the team members. However, when she’s off-duty, sharing a sweet drink with Rindow or in any other problematic situation, her more free-spirited and logically chaotic side takes over to bring all her friends out of trouble.
Related: Best INTP Anime Characters
25/25. Sukuna (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Sukuna is a hedonistic scientist for the fun of it. As an unhealthy ISTP, Sukuna is full of energy and craves excitement in whatever form it comes in. Now that his lab partner’s dead, Sukuna just sees life as one big party where everything is permitted. However, this approach to life doesn’t work too well on opponents like Franken Stein who want to burn and rip everything repulsive to pieces.