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Unfortunately, characters that break away from the cliché are few and far between. One of the archetypes that are constantly refreshing to see is the bookworm. The bookworms of the anime genre are always there with a helpful tidbit of information or the essential piece of data needed to save the day. These characters aren’t whacky, hyper individuals but more reserved, sometimes clumsy people who would rather bury their face in a book than in a fight against a demonic force or intergalactic wear. With poise and indifference, the bookworms of anime stand proud while hiding in a library under a mountain of novels. Here are some of the most iconic bookworms in anime.
7 Ray - The Promised Neverland
Not many anime series tugs at the heartstrings of viewers quite like The Promised Neverland. The story follows a small cottage filled with orphans of all ages that live happily together until the elders of the group become aware of the tragic and horrific things that happen to them when they become old enough to adopt.
Ray is one of the most brilliant children in the Grace Field House and was the first to discover the dark secret awaiting the other children in the house.m Ray is a very quiet and reserved child, which puts other members of his family off as he comes off as very arrogant. Ray always had his nose in a book, absorbing useful knowledge to aid in family and distancing himself from the rest of his family to spare himself from getting attached.
6 Ken Kaneki - Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul is one of the most prominent anime series in the world and has had a successful go having a full-length series and a spin-off series in Tokyo Ghoul: Re. Ken Kaneki serves as the main protagonist of the original series and is a unique Ghoul that is widely known throughout Japan by many names such as eye-patch, the black reaper, and the one-eyed dragon.
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Kaneki is a fierce ghoul due to his mental instability and immense strength. However, before his transformation, Kaneki was a simple college student studying Japanese Literature. Nevertheless, Kaneki has a love for stories and books that he has retained even after his transformation.
5 Jibril - No Game No Life
No Game no Life was an exciting anime filled with unique characters with various personality types. Jibril was an arrogant yet wise and polite girl who came into being Sora’s servant after being defeated in a game and forced to share her knowledge with the Kingdom.
Jibril cherishes knowledge and obtaining as much knowledge as she can above all else. Jibril covets every item she gets her hand on out of a sense of superiority that only she deserves to reign supreme when it comes to such things. This leads her to have a very volatile personality that few can stand for long.
4 Sheska - Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood
Sheska’s first appearance in Full Metal Alchemist was as an unemployed young girl nearly living in the Central Library. Upon meeting Edward and Alphonse Elric, her life was upended, and she was eventually made the manager of the Records Department of the Amestrian Military.
Sheska is a clumsy and socially awkward young girl who wears her emotions on her sleeves. She is easily affected by the words of others, so she prefers the words of her favorite books. Sheska adores books and has a near photographic memory of everything she reads, making her a valuable asset to both the Elric brothers and the military. However, it is Sheska’s personality that makes her such a wonderful character.
3 Levy McGarden - Fairy Tail
Levy was the former leader of Shadow Gear in Fairy Tail but rejoined the Fairy guild as a mage after Avatar’s defeat. Levy is a very energetic person who is often too trusting of others because of her kind nature. She abhors violence and is very opposed to engaging in fights unless absolutely necessary.
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When it comes to books, Levy is head over heels for reading anything she can get her hands on. Able to spend hours upon hours turning page after page, Levy could spend the rest of her life in a library, which is how she became best friends with Lucy.
2 Yumiko Readman - Read Or Die
Yumiko Readman is the first person that anime fans should think of when talking about dedicated bookworms. While Read or Die is filled with characters for a love of literature, Yumiko takes it a bit further, much-preferring books to actual people.
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Yumiko’s love for books transcends the stories within them. Her infatuation with them branches over to their construction, their page count, and the materials they are made, which borders on the perverse. As a member of the British Library, she is charged with protecting rare books, which fits her lifestyle perfectly as she gets to be around some of the rarest books in the world.
1 Light Yagami
Light Yagami was once a simple high school student studying for his college entry exams until one day, he found a black notebook that gave him the power to become the god of the world. Light found a Death Note outside his school and, with it, gained the ability to kill anyone on earth by simply writing their name.
In addition, Light was joined by a shinigami named Ryuk. Light was a brilliant student and was always on top of his studies. After finding the Death Note, Light became an expert in criminal studies and read waves of case files to make sure he always punished those that were deserving.
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