Anime with white hair guy and mask

In many anime, including the upcoming Free! The Final Stroke Part 2, hair color is often a telltale sign of a character's personality. Red hair is for fiery heroes, blue or black for quiet and intelligent types, yellow for energy and cheerfulness, and so on. But then there are the more enigmatic white-haired characters.

White or silver hair in anime often indicates power, whether it's from a prestigious bloodline, rare combat abilities, or strange magic. It can also indicate closeness to death, such as a character that has suffered trauma in the past or is harboring a dark secret. Because of these qualities, they are also often fan favorites.

Zen Wisteria (Snow White With The Red Hair)

Zen with a sword in Snow White with the Red Hair

The second prince of the kingdom Clarines, Zen's white hair comes from his royal blood if his light-haired older brother, Izana, is any indication. Though he's young and less experienced, Zen is serious about fulfilling his duties as a prince and serving his kingdom.

Zen's nobility isn't limited to his royal responsibilities, though. Ever since first meeting and rescuing Shirayuki in the episode "Encounter Changing the Color of Fate," he strives to become stronger for her sake, making him one of the most likable characters in Snow White With the Red Hair.

Allen Walker (D.Gray Man)

D.Gray-man

A gentle and kind young man, Allen Walker devotes his life to protecting people. His red left arm, for which he was abandoned by his parents as a child, transforms into a weapon called Innocence that he can use to destroy the Akuma plaguing humanity. He is also the only Exorcist able to see the souls of Akuma, meaning they can't fool him with human disguises.

Allen does not fight Akuma out of hatred, like other Exorcists, such as Yu Kanda. He does what he does out of a sincere desire to protect and save everyone he meets, human or Akuma. Though his white hair comes from the same curse that allows him to see Akumas' tortured souls, it fits with both his close proximity to death and his angelic nature.

Ryo Bakura (Yu-Gi-Oh!)

Bakura with sad eyes in Yu-Gi-Oh!

Who even knows what's going on with Yugi's three-toned head of hair? Ryo Bakura's story is much easier to guess from his hair color. Bakura is shy and soft-spoken but also holds great power in the form of the Millennium Ring, which will point its owner in the direction of anything they are looking for.

Even the evil spirit within the Ring, Dark Bakura, fits the bill. While he isn't at all quiet or restrained, he is intensely powerful and his origins and ultimate goals are shrouded in mystery for most of the show. His ancient Egyptian incarnation, Thief King Bakura, had silver hair, as well.

Killua Zoldyck (Hunter X Hunter)

Killua smiling in Hunter x Hunter

Though Killua's kind nature becomes more apparent as he spends time with his newfound friends, he was still trained to be a cold and ruthless assassin and has no trouble revealing that side of himself when he has to. When he develops his Godspeed technique, his hair glows blindingly bright and crackles with electricity.

Killua inherited his white hair from his father Silva and grandfather Zeno, the only one of his siblings to do so. In a way, it marks him as both the heir apparent of the Zoldyck family and as very different from them, as well. Killua wants to live his life the way he chooses, free of his family's expectations.

Soul Eater Evans (Soul Eater)

Soul grins down at someone offscreen in Soul Eater

Soul's white hair is just one part of his striking appearance, which includes bright red eyes, sharp teeth, and, of course, the ability to transform into a giant scythe. He is among the strongest Demon Weapons in one of the scariest body horror anime.

Very concerned with appearing "cool" at all times, Soul's flippant attitude hides deep insecurities and fears. He worries about not being strong enough to protect his partner Maka and is notably close-lipped about his life before attending Death Weapon Meister Academy.

Ginko (Mushishi)

Ginko grimaces in the Mushishi anime series.

Ginko's rare ability to see and attract mushi makes him an ideal mushishi. Always alone and always on the move, he solves problems caused by mushi, which range from harmless, even amusing bothers to some of the scariest moments in any non-horror anime.

Though Ginko is typically calm and reserved, he carries a great deal of trauma on his shoulders. He lost his memories of much of his life, one of his childhood mentors ordered him away after he accidentally harmed a mushi, and the other one died from the same mushi's curse that took Ginko's eye and will eventually kill him, as well.

Satoru Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Gojo Satoru smiling in Jujutsu Kaisen

Yuuji, Megumi, and Nohara's mentor, Gojo, has a head of bright white hair, a perpetually cheerful personality, and a design that has inspired some of the best Jujutsu Kaisen cosplays. Despite being disliked by the elders of Tokyo Jujutsu High, Gojo is indispensable, as the strongest jujutsu sorcerer in existence.

While his friendliness is genuine, Gojo had to learn some hard lessons in his youth before becoming the responsible teacher and sorcerer he is today. He was once arrogant about his unmatchable strength and saw no reason to use it for others' good, but failing to protect Riko and being betrayed by Geto were huge wake-up calls. Now, he uses his power for a purpose: to protect people and train the next generation of sorcerers to change all of jujutsu society.

Kaworu Nagisa (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Kaworu Nagisa in Neon Genesis Evangelion

Despite only appearing in a single episode, Kaworu nevertheless makes a huge impact on Shinji's life and the show as a whole. Introduced as a new EVA pilot, Kaworu quickly bonds with Shinji, showing him the affection he's unused to with no strings attached. His friendship gives Shinji hope that he really can be happy.

However, Kaworu reveals himself to be the final Angel, Tabris: his hair color was an indication of his inhuman nature. He and Shinji fight fiercely in their EVA units, but when Kaworu realizes that the Angel he's trying to merge with is Lilith, not Adam, he abandons his mission. He insists that Shinji kill him, preferring to die himself rather than let Shinji be destroyed with the rest of humanity. Despite Kaworu's intentions, being forced to kill him causes Shinji to finally snap.

Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)

Natsuki Hanae voices Ken Kaneki in the anime Tokyo Ghoul

Kaneki is unique among white-haired anime boys in that his hair was originally a soft black. After being tortured for 10 days by Yamori in the episode "Ghoul," he broke mentally, his hair turned pure white, and he became the tragic antihero that most fans recognize him as today.

Before this, Kaneki wasn't exactly the picture of mental health, especially after being unwillingly turned into a half-ghoul. But he was gentle and timid, refusing to kill for any reason. This moment was the tipping point of all his trauma, and he became cold and ruthless, willing to slaughter his enemies to keep from being hurt or losing anyone ever again.

Kakashi Hatake (Naruto)

Kakashi showing his Sharingan in Naruto

Kakashi ticks every box on the list of common white-haired anime boy characteristics. A prodigy who rocketed up the ranks of the ninja world at a young age, Kakashi is known for his many powerful abilities, including the Lightning Cutter jutsu, copying any jutsu he sees, and even dimensional warping. As seen in several Naruto Shippuden episodes that reveal his backstory, Kakashi's past is also riddled with death and tragedy.

His disgraced father killed himself when Kakashi was a child, one of his teammates sacrificed himself to protect him, the other one forced him to kill her, and he lost his sensei in the Nine-Tailed Fox's attack on the Leaf Village. Rather than turn to evil as a result of losing so many loved ones, Kakashi pushes past his pain and grief and does everything he can to protect the comrades he has left.

NEXT: The 20 Best Anime For Beginners

What's the anime with the guy with the mask?

Hotarubi no Mori e tells the story of a young girl named Hotaru and her friendship with Gin, a strange young man wearing a mask, who she meets at the age of six in a mountain forest near her grandfather's country home.

What anime is the guy with white hair from?

Jiraiya is an iconic character from the widely popular shonen series Naruto, who just happens to have white hair. As a member of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya made a name for himself in the world of Naruto.

Who is the anime character with white hair and mask?

Kakashi Hatake (Naruto) Kakashi has white hair pointing up, with a mask covering his whole face except his right eye. Kakashi is one of the main characters who has always treated Naruto like his son because he understands the trauma he has been through as he had a pretty tough childhood himself.

What is that white mask anime?

From Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon. Mamoru Chiba's alter ego, Tuxedo Mask, wears a white mask to complement his black tuxedo.