T5W#369-Top 5 Dragons in Anime

It’s been a couple of weeks but I can say wholeheartedly, it is damn good to be back in the world of Westeros.  Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon is off to an excellent start and is recapturing all of the magic of the early seasons of Game of Thrones.  Set almost 200 years before the original series, House of the Dragon follows the chaotic reign of House Targaryan long before it heads into ruin.  As the title implies, we’re getting a lot more with Dragons this time around and that’s never a bad thing.  Dragons have always been a staple of fantasy epics, creatures we all wish we could see with our own eyes.  Anime sure has featured its fair share, of all shapes, sizes and terrifying features.  Kind of wild I haven’t used this for a Top 5 topic before but hey, happy almost 400 of these lists in and I can still come up with fresh ideas (pretty sure we’ll hit that big benchmark in 2023).  I know I’ll be omitting some popular choices here because I don’t watch some Shonen Anime but I think that will help make this list a bit more unique.  Anyway, come fly with me on Top 5 Wednesday as I count down my Top 5 Dragons in Anime
 
#5-Blue Eyes Shining Dragon (Yu Gi Oh)

Kuriboh, Dark Magician, Dark Magician Girl, Exodia.  Yugi Motoh has his fair share of favorites to play with Duel Monsters.  With Seta Kaiba, however, the Blue Eyes has basically become his signature monster to play.  The Blue Eyes is a pretty scary beast of a Dragon, boasting skin that looks purely made of the best armor and features that make it look almost like a mecha.  If Kaiba even plays the right cards, he can summon a three headed Blue Eyes, the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, which looks even crazier, like something you’d see Cloud and Tifa fighting in a Final Fantasy game.  One could say it’s become Kaiba’s mascot since he models all of his tech after this bad ass Dragon illustrated on a Childrens Trading Card.
 

#4-Charizard (Pokemon)

As we saw in Ash’s earlier days, Charizard isn’t the kind of Pokemon you can tame so easily.  No matter its size, Charizard are crazy strong and can stay in a fight for a good chunk of time when used correctly.  With its wing span and powerful flame attacks, Charizard is a one Pokemon wrecking machine.  But there’s that pesky matter of taming.  Sure it has all of that firepower but if it doesn’t want to listen to its trainer, its not gonna matter much.  Still, when Charizard does get his act together, be careful because it could be an instant game over.

 
#3-Haku (Spirited Away)

This could be a debatable choice but I’m including it because Haku is awesome.  While he can take the form of a young boy to help guide Chihiro in her trials at Yubaba’s Bathhouse, Haku can also take on the form of a bad ass and gorgeously animated Chinese style Dragon.  The whiskers, the scales, the way he can slither around like a roller coaster and still offer a pretty relaxing ride, Haku in Dragon form could be as close to Atreyu and Bastian riding Falkor in The Never Ending Story as Anime has ever gotten. 
 

#2-Shooting Star (Record of Lodoss War)

Now THIS is what I’m talking about.  When I think of Dragons, my mind instantly goes to Smaug from The Hobbit with his intimidating size and scare factor.  Shooting Star is as close to Smaug as Anime gets and this thing is the definition of a beast.  It’s sheer size dwarfs most Dragons on the island of Lodoss (his entire body takes up most of the mountain he lives in) and it can lay waste to Kingdoms almost singlehandedly.  There is no negotiating or taming opportunities with this guy.  Shooting Star is a force of nature that few can stand against.  If you try though…be sure to max out your parties stats because you’re in for a long and brutal battle.

#1-Shenron (Dragon Ball Franchise)

I’m probably not alone in saying that when you hear “Dragon” and “Anime” in the same sentence, chances are you’re gonna go right to Shenron.  He’s one of the most iconic images in all of Anime and even if you haven’t seen a Dragon Ball series, one sight and you know what show he’s from anyway.  Shenron is epic in his presentation: Indeterminate length, his arrival blots the sky in total darkness, lightning, displays of ferocious power.  He doesn’t even breathe fire and you still get intimidated just seeing an enormous Dragon take up the entire sky.  Honestly, just seeing Shenron in person makes the journey to collect all seven Dragon Balls worth it.  You’ll be hard pressed to think of a single wish to be granted…because what can you come up with when you’re already looking at a freaking Dragon?