ISTP anime characters (A Comprehensive List)

In this brief guide, we will discuss 13 fitting ISTP anime characters and also delve into some of the core traits of the ISTP personality type.

List of ISTP anime characters

Here is a list of 13 ISTP anime characters:

  • Toph Beifong
  • Asuma Sarutobi
  • Android 18
  • Guts
  • Shinya Kogami
  • Saitama 
  • Kyoka Jirou “Earphone Jack”
  • Levi Ackerman
  • Shoto Aizawa
  • Piccolo
  • Motoko “The Major” Kusanagi
  • Akito Tenkawa
  • Fumikage Tokoyami

What is ISTP personality?

ISTP stands for Introvert, Sensing, Thinking, and Prospecting (Perceiving), and this is a personality type in the Myers Briggs system of personality.

ISTPs are also known as the Virtuoso, in the MBTI system, and these people might often display an individualistic mindset, and they may be intent on pursuing goals without needing much external connection, which is a tendency that comes through as a result of their introverted nature.

ISTPs also engage in life with inquisitiveness and a need to find more and more information that may then be used to guide their decisions and behavior, and they also tend to use a great deal of personal skill and are capable of varying their approach as needed.

ISTPs can be quite helpful as well, lending a hand and sharing their experiences with strangers and people they care about alike.

Women with ISTP personalities may also reject socially prescribed gender roles from a rather early age, and they may often be called tomboys and stand out from the crowd a fair bit.

ISTPs usually like to explore with their hands and their eyes, with a penchant for touching and examining the world around them and assessing it with cool and rational thought.

They have innate curiosity owing to their sense of dominant personality and this way they enrich their inner world in a constant manner.

They also love to make or create things and may go from project to project, building useful things as well as things meant for fun or simply as art or to exhibit beauty or meaning.

ISTPs love to get their hands dirty and create something out of the bare minimum and they may see it as one of the ways to engage with their environment.

ISTPs may show a great deal of optimism and energy, and may usually be involved in something or another.

They may also be cheerful and good-natured people who rarely get too stressed and generally go with the flow.

Since they are so hands-on and positive most of the time, these people can also be quite great in a crisis or tough situation of any kind.

On the other hand, in their tendency to experience new things and explore the world around them, they may often get into risky behaviors or engage in conflict or difficult situations for the sake of it, and maybe extremely private, insensitive, and stubborn on occasion.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

ISTP anime characters

Toph Beifong

Toph Beifong is an ISTP anime character on the show Avatar, and she shows many typical traits.

The major ISTP trait about Toph is that she tends to be calm and level headed and very introverted. 

Through her introverted thinking function which leads to an observant nature, she notices logical details and can pinpoint inconsistencies with her feeling function.

Also, she tends to be present at the moment and responds to details she notices today too, and she is very grounded in reality and the physical environment around her.

Toph is also fiercely independent, sarcastic, direct, and stubborn, which are all seen often in ISTP characters and she also seems to have a carefree and adventurous personality that may be associated with individuals with an extroverted sensing function.

Like many ISTP women, she also rejects normative gender roles that have no basis in fact and dresses casually, and in any manner she pleases and behaves the way she wants to.

Asuma Sarutobi

Asuma is an ISTP anime character on the show Naruto.

He shows many instances of an introverted thinking capability that is characteristic of ISTP individuals, and this may be seen in his analytical and logical processes of assessing his external environment.

He is also seen as a typically laid-back individual and does not really get too invested unless it is absolutely required.

He engages in risky behavior as well, which is something seen in ISTP individuals fairly often and tends to be a rather heavy smoker. 

He also has a very blunt personality, calling students what they deserve to be called without much attention to how it may feel to them.

He is also quite open to new experiences and sensation heavy, enjoying the material pleasures to the fullest.

Android 18

Android 18 is an ISTP anime character from Dragon Ball Z.

She is a typical ISTP, calm, introverted and quiet,

She is strong and doesn’t stick to gender roles that would otherwise dominate a girl in her position, believing in only herself and listening to only her own inner voice in guiding her decision.

Like a true ISTP, she sees things logically with her dominant introverted thinking function and is, therefore, able to notice inconsistencies with things, and isn’t afraid to point them out.

She is always present in a given moment and does not fret about the past or future unnecessarily.

The negative traits of insensitivity that may often be seen in ISTP individuals, may be seen in Android 18 in the form of her sarcastic humor.

However, she also has great mothering instincts despite her insensitivity in other situations and her hard-headed tendencies that may be noticeable sometimes.

Guts

Guts is an ISTP anime character from the show Berserk.

This quote from Guts may show some of his typical ISTP traits:

“I’m used to fighting to survive. But what grows worse daily is the pressure not to die. Have I ever before wielded a sword so heavy?”

This quote encompasses the tendency of ISTPs to think things very seriously, and the confusion and stress that may be caused by their own inner world, which is something many introverts do actually go through.

He is better known for an air of austerity and he tends to be a cynical man holding an overall bleak outlook on life. 

This is less a personality trait and more a consequence of enduring waves of suffering and numerous betrayals since his youth.

He shows an easygoing and compassionate manner despite his guarded, private, and reserved tendencies, however, which is seen in many ISTP individuals.

He is also extremely persistent and resilient, and he never yields to anything without trying his absolute hardest and believes in his own power above all else.

Shinya Kogami

Shinya Kogami appears on the show Psycho-Pass and shows characteristics fitting for an ISTP anime character.

True to the observant tendencies of an ISTP individual, Shinya is a great detective and his ability to solve cases quickly makes him a valuable asset to Division 1 where he works.

He respects people he disagrees with as well, which may be seen in his relationship with his best friend who is also his superior.

Kogami conducts an investigation in a cool-headed and detached manner and uses incredibly sharp instincts to get an insight into the criminal mind. 

He also engages in risky methods and behavior in order to complete his work at times, which is also something that may often be seen in ISTP personalities due to their sensation-seeking trait.

Saitama 

Saitama appears on the show One Punch man, which is a story of a superhero that can defeat any opponent with a single punch and is bored with the lack of challenge.

Saitama tends to be an indifferent person, and because of the lack of challenge from opponents, which may be seen in many iSTPs who have a tendency for sensation seeking and tend to get somewhat wilted in the absence of this. 

He also suffers from something resembling a self-imposed existential crisis, due to the lack of challenge in his life.

He also shows rather limited patience for long explanations and tedious situations that demand too much of his energy and time.

However, despite all appearances and powers, he is also extremely humble, insightful, and tactful. 

Kyoka Jirou “Earphone Jack”

Kyoka Jirou, or as he is known otherwise, “Earphone Jack”, is a character on the popular show My Hero Academia.

She is pragmatic, unenthusiastic and can be somewhat teasing towards those she finds irritating, even though she is okay with socializing with other people, and is usually seen to be nice and friendly.

These traits may be seen often in ISTP individuals, and they tend to be rather good with people even though they are introverted, and despite their private nature, they can get along with people quite well.

She also has creative interests like music, which is another thing that may be seen in many ISTP anime characters as well as personalities in real life.

Levi Ackerman

Levi Ackerman appears on the show Attack on Titan and makes for a great ISTP anime character study.

He can be tormented and confused about his self-identity sometimes, and he shows eventual decisiveness and makes things better for himself and others, this tendency may be seen in this quote below: 

“I want to put an end to that recurring nightmare, right now. There are those who would get in my way. But I’m fine playing the role of the lunatic who kills people like that. I have to be ready to rearrange some faces. Because I choose the disdain of humans killing each other over the disdain of being eaten.”

He also has an obsession with cleaning but this is not casual enough to be a simple personality trait, and the intensity with which he engages in this behavior tends to be similar to the kind seen in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

People with introverted thinking may sometimes be prone to overthinking and ruminating, which is a core feature of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and it may therefore be hypothesized that someone with this kind of thinking pattern might be more prone to this disorder.

He also rarely shows emotion and gives a cold impression to others. 

He also tends to be very blunt when speaking, and his insensitivity may border on even insulting, and the language he uses may often be coarse or inappropriate. 

He also engages in risky and conflict causing behavior like provoking or belittling those who oppose or irritate him.

Shoto Aizawa

Shoto Aizawa is an ISTP anime character on the show My Hero Academia.

Shota is shown as being a very stern and mostly reserved man who displays lofty expectations of his students.

He functions primarily according to logic and does not believe in maintaining any sort of clean-cut appearance or filtering his words and thoughts for the benefit of others.

He may at times come across as somewhat cold and crude as well, marking the presence of insensitive traits that may be present in ISTPs.

Piccolo

Piccolo is another ISTP anime character on the show Dragon Ball Z.

Piccolo shows many introverted traits, and at the same time, he also shows the typical introverted thinking function that is characteristic of the ISTP personality type.

Piccolo is also very loyal and cares deeply for his friends and loved ones.

Motoko “The Major” Kusanagi

Major Motoko Kusanagi is the protagonist in the anime and manga series Ghost in the Shell. 

She is a cyborg at a rank of major and while her traits tend to differ a bit across different adaptations, some things about her suggest that she is a great ISTP anime character.

She is a different person with her girlfriend but in general, she can be quite rude and insulting without much care for the consequences.

She also shows no care for normative gender roles much like many ISTP women, and even men, for that matter, who don’t like to follow rules that don’t make sense to them.

She also engages in all kinds of risky behavior that are considered illegal or immoral in her universe, and this is also something that may be found in many ISTP personalities due to their sensation-seeking tendencies.

Akito Tenkawa

Akito Tenkawa is an ISTP anime character who appears on the Martian Successor Nadesico.

He is also called the Prince of Darkness and plays one of the protagonists of the Martian Successor Nadesico television series.

He has been described as an introverted person, who has difficulty making connections.

He also does not enjoy being around people or is hyper-energetic and prefers quiet and solitude while still being curious about the natural environment.

Fumikage Tokoyami

Fumikage Tokoyami is yet another ISTP anime character on the show My Hero Academia.

Fumikage is seen to be reserved, serious, and focused, albeit noble and valiant as well, which are all traits that may be seen in many ISTP individuals.

Fumikage is also known to be fierce and dependable, and his capability and strength are rarely to be questioned.

As a true introvert, Fumikage is fond of darkness and considers himself a “creature of the dark”.

He is also very humble and cares a great deal about his friends and family, and shows many sentimental traits.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we discussed 13 fitting ISTP anime characters and also delved into some of the core traits of the ISTP personality type. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ISTP anime characters

What anime characters are Istp?

What characters are Istp?
Some ISTP characters are: 

Gwendolen Harleth (Daniel Deronda).
Bard and Kili from The Hobbit
Peter Pettigrew from harry Potter
Jace Wayland from Mortal Instruments
Tris Prior from Divergent
Jacob Black from Twilight
Merry Brandybuck and Aragorn from The Lord of The Rings
Catwoman from Batman

Are Istp rare?

ISTPs are rare, and they make up only about 5% of the total population.

In addition, ISTP women are even more rare.

Can Istp commit?

An ISTP can commit if they realize that their freedome will not be limited as a result of commitment.

An ISTP cares more about their freedome than anything else, and if they feel it is in jeopardy in any way, it might be hard for such an ISTP to commit.

Are ISTPs smart?

ISTPs are smart mostly owing to their highly logical and analytical thinking and their sensing tendencies that are oriented to the outside world.

While this does nto mean that all ISTPs are smart, they do have a tendency to be more open and receptive to knowledge and information and they tend to be more analytical in its processing.

Citations

https://www.psychologyjunkie.com/2020/07/06/heres-the-anime-character-youd-be-based-on-your-myers-briggs-personality-type/

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