In most media, butlers are just characters who work for a rich man. In anime, butlers are extraordinary and more than meets the eye.
Some anime butler characters hold great positions of power in a household, only beholden to their masters. Others are powerful beings who respect their powerless masters. Yet others serve a much more powerful master who doesn't even need them.
One thing that makes butler characters stand out is their outfits. Their formal wear makes them look respectable, although we know that it usually masks something—like hidden powers or murderous intent.
From monstrous guardians to demonic servants, here are the best anime butler characters and why they're so great.
11. Kurogiri (My Hero Academia)
Kurogiri is a high-end Nomu, created from the corpse of Oboro Shirakumo. By order of All for One, he acts as Tomura Shigaraki's butler.
He was tasked to serve and protect Shigaraki, with his Warp Gate Quirk as the perfect getaway method for getting Shigaraki out of danger.
Aside from being Tomura's personal butler, Kurogiri is also actually a valuable member of the League of Villains.
10. Hayate Ayasaki (Hayate the Combat Butler)
Hayate is really unlucky. His parents (a jobless father and a gambler mother) piled him with sky-high debt, leaving him with no choice but to run away from creditors.
However, after his failed kidnapping attempt, he became a butler to Nagi Sanzenin when the latter paid off his debts. This opened up a life for Hayate that was way better than what he had before.
Furthermore, Hayate has the superhuman skills and abilities needed to protect his employer, thanks to the training he had undergone 10 years prior to the main timeline.
9. Gotoh (Hunter X Hunter)
The Zoldycks of Hunter X Hunter are elite assassins, but they still have tons of butlers serving them, with Gotoh as the most iconic one.
Early in the series, he showcased his top-tier physical strength with the "coin game" he played with Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio.
Later in the series, we saw him go all-out during his fight with Hisoka, in which he again used his coins, except this time as projectiles with destructive and high-penetrating power.
8. Whis (Dragon Ball Super)
Whis is the angel attendant of Beerus, Universe 7's God of Destruction. Though he appears as a whimsical and happy-go-lucky character, he's actually one of the strongest in their world.
He has the power to match Beerus, as shown when he (along with Vados) stopped the destructive clash between Beerus and Champa.
Despite being a powerful god-like entity, Whis is notable for his composed manners and playful attitude, plus the fact that he's easily swayed by sweets and treats.
7. Walter C. Dornez (Hellsing)
Walter C. Dornez once served Integra as a butler before becoming a traitor in the Hellsing series. Though he may appear as just some old guy, he's a deadly killer, who also goes by the name "Angel of Death."
He's skilled in using his monofilament wires, able to slice his opponents with ease and even cut through materials like steel and concrete (though he states that his skills are getting worse with his age).
6. Sebas Tian (Overlord)
Sebas Tian is one of the NPCs in Overlord and is the head of the battle maid squad, Pleiades. He also serves as a loyal butler to Ainz Ooal Gown and the Nazarick.
Though he isn't one of the Floor Guardians, he's a competent fighter and is said to have power that rivals those of the Guardians.
His calm and composed demeanor adds a level of badassery to his superhuman feats, which he displayed several times across the series, like when he calmly defeated a bunch of warriors in mere seconds.
5. Frankenstein (Noblesse)
Raizel is the Noblesse who's been asleep for almost 800 years. His servant, Frankenstein, remained loyal despite those years of absence.
He's by far the most powerful human in the series, surpassing the Noble Clan leaders, the Werewolves, and the Elders. Despite Raizel sealing away most of Frankenstein's powers, he's still a formidable opponent—and when he's granted permission, Frankenstein can still go full power.
What makes their butler-master relationship awkward is that Raizel enrolls as a student in a school where Frankenstein is now the principal.
4. Neferpitou (Hunter X Hunter)
While Shaiapouf is the one who stays beside the King all the time, Neferpitou is the most loyal servant among the three Royal Guards.
She's willing to sacrifice herself for her king, as seen when she bowed down to her enemies, asking for time in order for her to fulfill her duties and heal the person very important to King Meruem.
Not only the most loyal of the three, she's also the most battle-ready. And yet, sadly, she was the only one who was defeated brutally.
3. Watari (Death Note)
Quillsh Wammy (known as Watari) is the founder of Wammy's House, where the likes of L came from in Death Note. He's also L's handler and assistant, acting as a butler to this super detective.
What makes Watari such a great inclusion on this list is that his Wammy's House produced the best detectives in the world, even surpassing the detectives on various police forces worldwide.
Sure, it was people like L who were the actual geniuses, but it was Watari and Wammy's House who gave them a safe space, nurtured them, and crafted those gifted individuals into who they became.
2. Sebastian Michaelis (Black Butler)
Sebastian Michaelis is the head butler of the Phantomhive House—but he didn't apply for that role. This demon became a servant of Ciel Phantomhive through a Faustian deal.
He's best at protecting his master, Ciel, and he takes his job seriously, even though sometimes it seems like he's playing with the latter's life.
The twist? When their deal is finally completed, he will devour his soul. Until then, he will serve as a loyal demon butler to Ciel.
1. Black (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)
In That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Primordial Demon Black loyally serves Rimuru (even though Black obviously looks more powerful). And upon getting "named" by Rimuru, he became even more powerful.
He was summoned with the Greater Daemon Summoning to aid the forces of Tempest in battle, with the corpses of fallen enemy soldiers used as the sacrifice for the summoning.
Now that Black works for Rimuru, his princely attire changed into that of a butler. He now sports a formal black outfit that fits his real name.
