Welcome to Anime Rants! Recently, I’ve been covering examples of anime characters for each of the 16 personality types in the MBTI. Today we’re looking at INTJs. This type is sometimes called the Mastermind or the Strategist. The cognitive functions for INTJ are Ni, Te, Si, and Fe.

As someone with dominant Ni (extraverted intuition), an INTJ sees the world in terms of concepts and connections. They can be practical and use their physical senses (introverted sensing), but those traits are much weaker than the creative, abstract intuition. The INTJ’s second most used function is extraverted thinking. This means they use an external system of objective logic to make decisions. Despite being introverts, INTJs have a reputation for being able to develop excellent communication skills. They can become powerful leaders due their extreme determination, but won’t be as up to the task as their ENTJ cousins. INTJs often love strategy games since they have naturally strategic minds and think in terms of the big picture.

For other descriptions of this type, check out The Personality Page, 16 Personalities, or Human Metrics. They each have good write-ups describing this personality type.

Unfortunately, INTJs have get a bad rep in fiction media. They are often villains and antiheroes. In fiction and in reality, INTJs are more commonly male than female. However, for this list, I have endeavored to include a fair mix of INTJ characters, including women and people on the good side. Without further ado, here is my list of randomly selected INTJ anime characters.

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Ainz Ooal Gown / Momonga (Overlord)

This is the main character of Overlord, which, as of 2024, I have not seen. I wanted an iconic INTJ character from a more mainstream anime that I haven’t seen. A friend of mine swears that this character is a great example of an INTJ, and based on his explanation, I believe him. Ainz (AKA Momonga) is a strategic thinker and someone who always plans ahead. He is an excellent leader, though this is helped by the striking competetence of his followers. Ainz possesses in equal measure talent, skill, and luck. Despite being so overwhelmingly powerful in his world, he is not arrogant, always considering things rationally and with humility.

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Ciel Phantomhive (Black Butler)

Due to youth, he’s less poised and cool-headed than many on this list, but Ciel is INTJ all the way. He is driven to find out who killed his parents and humiliated him, using whatever strategies and tools he can. Ciel even enlists the power of a demon to serve him and help him meet his goals, offering his soul in exchange.

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Diego “Dio” Brando
(Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Dio is a recurring villain in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure who is known for both his charisma and his sadistic nature. He is an intelligent man and a good strategist who will use any means to accomplish his goals. Many INTJs in fiction are villains, and Dio is a great example.

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Elias Ainsworth
(The Ancient Magus’ Bride)

Elias is an ancient being who became conscious of himself relatively recently. Immediately, he showed interest in humans and in magic, beginning to imitate human behavior while learning to be a mage. By the time of the anime, Elias is an established mage who can even take human form, but is still regarded as eccentric. Unfortunately, Elias is a stranger to human emotions. Even with all his mimicking humans, he is still just now learning to name and process the beginnings of normal feelings.

Though he does fine with occasional socializing, and can even be a good teacher for others, Elias prefers a lot of alone time in his quiet study. He is not practical or traditional, relying on intuition to process the world around him. Since he has little to no ability to feel emotions, and doesn’t really understand morality yet, most of his decisions follow a system of logic. Elias plans ahead with organization and structure. In short, he’s introverted, intuitive, thinking, and judging: INTJ.

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Gendo Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Gendo is one of the most iconic INTJ anime characters. He is the emotionally distant, intimidating father of main character Shinji. He is most often seen in a dark room with his hands folded under his chin and his glasses hiding any sign of human expression. This man couldn’t even be bothered to go to his wife’s funeral. Gendo did love his wife, but he cares nothing for social conventions – besides, his work is ultimately more important. He’s in charge of the Eva units that can save the planet from invaders.

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Heinrich Lunge (Monster)

Lunge is a detective who shows many INTJ traits like having great strategical thinking, logic and reasoning. He also possesses excellent deductive ability and proficiency with thinking outside the box. Any information he learns about a case gets recorded meticulously and is used to help him analyze people and situations. Lunge is a great example of an INTJ man who is flawed but still unequivocally one of the “good-guys.”

On the negative side, Lunge has trouble with understanding the values and feelings of others. He puts his interests (his detective work) before his friends and family, which results in his wife divorcing him and his daughter becoming estranged. His other main flaw is stubbornness stemming from his determined nature.

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Kaguya Shinomiya
(Kaguya-sama: Love is War)

A very popular character from recent anime, Kaguya is a rich young lady set to inherit a multi-million dollar conglomerate. She’s also popular and amazingly intelligent – at least, academically. (Her common sense isn’t always great.)

Kaguya is a good example of a funny and likeable INTJ girl. She thinks ahead, always coming up with clever strategies. She’s imaginative and inventive in her ideas. Though she experiences a lot of emotion, Kaguya tries to make decisions based on logic, often failing to consider the feelings of those around her. Lastly, despite having excellent interpersonal skills, Kaguya is an introvert at heart – private, independent, and reserved.

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Kurapika (Hunter x Hunter)

Thank goodness we have Kurapika, an example of an INTJ well equipped with a sense of values and integrity. Kurapika’s small tribe was wiped out, leaving him as the only survivor. He seeks to bring justice on the ones responsible for this genocide.

Like many INTJs, this young man is individualistic, and if not exactly ambitious, then keenly focused on his plans and their future success. More than many others on this list, Kurapika values friendship and altruism. However, he can also be pretty savage in the name of vengeance.

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Kyouko Kirigiri (Danganronpa)

Though she’s only a teenager in the first Danganronpa series, Kirigiri is already a worthy detective. Her goal in attending the famous Hope’s Peak Academy was to reconnect with her father. But once Monokuma’s sadistic game begins, Kirigiri makes up her mind to solve the mystery of who is the mastermind.

Kirigiri may come across as cold, aloof, and even arrogant. But once you get to know her, you realize she’s just very introverted and highly logical. Now and then, Kirigiri uses dubious means to help reach her goals. Still, she’s someone who believes in the human spirit and wants hope to win over despair. She is a great example of a female INTJ on the good side.

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Kurisu/Kris Makise (Steins;Gate)

Everyone’s favorite science girl, Kurisu is a teenage genius, with articles already published in science journals and magazines. She shares the INTJ traits of having a sharp, strategical mind, and being independent, decisive, and confident. A hard worker who deals with an abusive father at time, Kurisu shows amazing determination.

Of all the INTJs in this list, Kurisu is the closest to being an Feeling type, as she is fairly sensitive, humble and patient. She’s also very perceptive of others’ feelings. When it comes down to making decisions, though, logic always comes before personal feelings.

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Kyouya Ohtori
(Ouran Highschool Host Club)

Kyouya is textbook INTJ. It shows in the way he’s so analytical, calculated, and always one step ahead of the others. He runs the Host Club from the shadows, keeping track of all the finances and logistical details. Like some other INTJs on this list, Kyouya had a brilliant plan long in the making that he pulled off at just the right time. I don’t want to spoil what he did though. Although I admire Kyouya’s intelligence, charm, and his character growth by the end of the series, I think his sense of morality could use some adjustments.

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Lelouch Lamperouge / Lelouch Vi Britannia
(Code Geass)

Like Gendo, Lelouch is one of the most iconic INTJs in classic anime. He is an antihero rather than a villain, but still, the amount of dishonesty, death, and destruction he sets off is enormous. Lelouch seeks to create a better world by overtaking and destroying most of its power structures. He is the ultimate proponent of “the ends justify the means.”

Lelouch exemplifies most INTJ characteristics, including a strategic mind, ambitious nature, and logical decision-making. He is also extremely determined, powering through the very loss of his humanity to accomplish the greater good.

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Mokoto Kusanagi / The Major
(Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex)

Often just called “the Major” by those on her squad, Mokoto is a cyborg woman in the military. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen any Ghost in the Shell media, be it movie or TV series. Consequently, there’s a lot I don’t recall. However, I remember enjoying the Major’s personality and leadership skills when I watched Stand Alone Complex. I’ve never tried to analyze the Major’s MBTI, but over at Personality Cafe, people have been quick to claim her as an INTJ.

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Reiko Tamura / Ryoko Tamiya
(Parasyte: The Maxim)

Reiko is an alien lifeform who ate the brain and head of a human and now controls that human’s body. Creatures like her are referred to as Parasytes, and they eat humans. But Reiko is quite different from the other Parasytes. She questions the reason for her existence. From biology to philosophy, she constantly contemplates life. And perhaps the most interesting thing about her is that she became pregnant with a human baby. I won’t spoil the rest.

Reiko’s pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and meaning is more common to the INTP type, but she is definitely still an INTJ. She is a strategist who plans ahead and considers the big picture. Using cold, hard logic and inventive ideas, Reiko is keenly intelligent. INTJ is a good fit for her.

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Satsuki Kiryuin (Kill la Kill)

Satsuki is the daughter of the chairwoman of Honnouji Academy and is also the student council president. As such, she basically runs the school. And she rules with an iron fist. She is determined, logical, strategical, ambitious, independent, self-confident, and able to think outside the box. INTJ weaknesses include arrogance, impatience with others, and refusing to compromise. Satsuki showcases all these tendencies.

I believe Satsuki is right on the border of INTJ and ENTJ, being extremely charismatic, a persuasive communicator, and great at leading others. Still, she’s slightly more introverted than extraverted. Note: Satsuki is one of my top 10 favorite female anime characters.

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Shoto Todoroki (My Hero Academia)

Although I watched two seasons of MHA, it was a long time ago, and little of it stuck in my memory. It’s not very interesting to me. I don’t remember much about Todoroki, but I wanted to include him as an example of a popular character who is usually interpreted as an INTJ.

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Tsumugu Kihara (A Lull in the Sea)

Tsumugu is one of my favorite male INTJ characters. He’s a good example of an INTJ who isn’t plotting world domination – I mean, he’s not particularly ambitious. He loves science and his goal is to be one of the few active researchers studying and analyzing the underwater people and the Enna skin that lets them breathe while submerged.

Being smart, innovative, and adaptable, Tsumugu succeeded in his dream and is now a graduate student studying what he loves. He exhibits most INTJ characteristics, but compared to the others on this list, he’s much more of an introvert.

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Thank you for reading~

(Original Post Edited On June 26 2023)

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