10 Greatest Anime Dragons Of All Time

In fantasy and mythological worlds, dragons are legendary creatures, symbols of power and majesty. So naturally, they couldn't be absent from the realm of anime. Often depicted as powerful reptiles or, more recently, as half-human hybrids, the abilities and roles of dragons vary depending on the anime genre and demographic. What most anime dragons have in common is that they are always fearsome beings. However, there are circumstances in which even dragons' appearance proves deceptive. There's something enthralling about seeing dragons fly through the sky, but even more so about watching them take part in exciting anime battles. There are anime dragons to suit every taste, ranging from terrifying antagonists capable of wreaking absolute havoc to some of the most powerful allies a hero could imagine. What makes these dragons so iconic is not merely their abilities, designs, and narrative roles, but the way they become unforgettable to viewers, with some even ranking among the most recognizable characters in anime history. Tohru Character From Kyoto Animation's Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Dragons capable of taking human form are quite common in modern anime, but few are as iconic as Tohru, who is as adorable as she is powerful. Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid sees an overworked office worker named Kobayashi who one day finds herself employing a dragon named Tohru. Transforming herself into a human woman (albeit one with horns and a tail), Tohru offers her services as a maid to Kobayashi. Unfortunately for Kobayashi though, Tohru is often more trouble than she's worth, as her mischievous personality often leads the duo into misadventures. Kobayashi might be one of anime's most unconventional dragons by most appearances, but she also ranks among the best for how much fun she is to watch. The mighty dragon is rarely a servant in anime, making Tohru quite a rare specimen. Red Dragon Character From Studio Trigger's Delicious In Dungeon The Red Dragon is the creature that kicks off the entire quest of Studio Trigger's Delicious in Dungeon. It was a foe Laios and his party failed to defeat, forcing them to track it down again to save Falin after she was devoured. This goal defined their journey through the anime's first half, but their troubles didn't end there. Even after the confrontation with the Red Dragon, the creature didn't go away completely, as Falin fused with the red dragon's remains to create a vicious chimera that nearly slaughtered the parties of Laios, Shuro, and Kabru, single-handedly. Chimera Falin's debut masterfully established her as both a menacing and tragic figure, all tied to the Red Dragon. Thus, the Red Dragon wasn't merely Delicious in Dungeon's initial antagonist but also the catalyst that steered the story in a completely new direction. Bahamut Character From MAPPA's Rage Of Bahamut Adapted from a popular mobile game of the same name, Rage of Bahamut follows three heroes on a quest to prevent the resurrection of the all-powerful Bahamut. Bahamut is a common figure in fantasy, due in large part to the massive dragon's inclusion in fantasy staples like Dungeons & Dragons and Final Fantasy, where it is sometimes a force for good. Unfortunately for the world of Mistarcia, Rage of Bahamut's big dragon is a world-ending threat. In terms of raw power, few anime dragons can match Rage of Bahamut's titular menace. Having an anime be named after a dragon always sets expectations high for the titular monster, and Rage of Bahamut certainly doesn't disappoint in that regard. War Greymon Character From Toei Animation's Digimon Adventure Though some might associate War Greymon more with dinosaurs due to its evolutionary line, Digimon Adventure's War Greymon is a dragon through and through. The most iconic version of this digital dragon is easily his partnership with Tai in the original Digimon Adventure series. What makes that iteration of War Greymon so compelling is his growth into a dragon, as fans get to see Agumon grow in power as his bond with Tai grows stronger. War Greymon might lose rank for not being immediately recognizable as a dragon, but he's still one of anime's best dragons for his character growth. Dragonite Character From OLM, Inc.'s Pokémon Dragonite has a long history in the Pokémon franchise, even though it only joined Ash Ketchum's team toward the end of the original series. Thanks to its warm personality and considerable power, the orange goofball quickly became one of Ash's strongest Pokémon and a memorable character who steals every scene. While Dragonite might not be the wisest anime dragon, it is one of the smartest Pokémon of its type, with many Pokédex entries describing its "human-like intelligence." What makes Dragonite so iconic is that it was the original Dragon-type Pokémon, debuting in the first generation. It never lost its relevance, remaining a powerful, emblematic figure throughout the anime and teaming up with characters like Lance and Iris. Furthermore, Dragonite's status is also demonstrated by the fact that it even had its own animated short film. Kaido Character From Toei Animation's One Piece When Kaido, renowned as One Piece's strongest creature, ate the Fish-Fish Fruit, he transformed into an Azure Dragon. As a human-dragon hybrid, he becomes massive, with thick and durable blue scales covering his entire body. In this new form, he breathes fire, creates clouds that allow him to move through the air, releases sharp blades by blowing, and calls lightning with his roar. Over time, he achieves control over his draconic abilities, until he can access them without needing to transform. Kaido's dragon form is so powerful that he's beaten Luffy within an inch of his life more than once. Kaido not only became one of the greatest threats in all of One Piece, seemingly impossible to defeat, but also served as the catalyst for the anime's most important revelation, further heightening his significance. Acnologia Character From J.C.Staff's Fairy Tail Described as a catastrophically powerful Dragon Slayer, Acnologia is the ruthless antagonist of Fairy Tail. He bathed in the blood of the dragons he killed, allowing him to transform into a dragon at will. Although he begins by having a close relationship with dragons, he grows to resent them after one murders his family. Bloodthirsty and violent in either form, Acnologia is a terrifying being, but this is precisely what makes him stand out in Fairy Tail, a series that revolves around dragons and hybrids slayers. He holds nothing but contempt for humans and dragons alike and won't stop until he kills every last dragon. As far as anime dragons go, Acnologia might be the evilest and vilest of all. Blue-Eyes Character From Gallop's Yu-Gi-Oh! The powerful Blue-Eyes White Dragon is indisputably one of Yu-Gi-Oh's most iconic monsters, and that's for good reason. Not only is Blue-Eyes closely tied to fan-favorite character Seto Kaiba, it also plays a pivotal role in more than a few battles throughout the series. More than just a one-trick pony though, Blue-Eyes' ability to iterate and evolve makes it an interesting dragon. From the almighty Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon to the visually impressive Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon, few anime dragons have as many incredible variants and upgraded forms, which place it on a level where it can face off against the most powerful Egyptian gods. Blue-Eyes is Kaiba's signature card from the first battle between him and Yugi all the way to the final Yu-Gi-Oh! movie, instantly marking it as one of anime's very best dragons. Haku Character From Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away Widely considered one of the best movies of all time, Spirited Away centers on Chihiro, a ten-year-old girl who enters the world of Kami. When Yubaba magically turns her parents into pigs, Chihiro must find a way to free her parents and return home. One of the most memorable characters in the movie is Haku. First appearing as a young boy, Haku is actually a lost river spirit in the form of a white dragon. He is one of Studio Ghibli's most famous characters, not only because he is a crucial figure throughout Chihiro's journey, but also because of his unique design, reminiscent of a traditional East Asian dragon. Haku's majestic flight is a sight to behold, forever etched in the memories of anime fans. Shenron Character From Toei Animation's Dragon Ball The most iconic anime dragon, Shenron is the mythical being summoned by the Dragon Balls. Shenron is a magnificent, serpentine green dragon capable of granting three wishes to those who gather all seven Dragon Balls. Shenron might be one of the most intelligent characters in Dragon Ball, but he's also a truly neutral being, granting any wish within his power without caring if it's "good" or "bad." Although he maintains his stoic personality during most appearances, he does show some degree of desperation, particularly with frivolous wishes and when he's terrified of Beerus. Shenron is not the only wish-granting dragon to appear in the series, as Porunga and Toronbo also exist. However, as the first to fulfill the purpose of the Dragon Balls, a key element of Akira Toriyama's story, Shenron became a globally recognized figure, cementing itself as the best anime dragon of all time.