7 Examples of ESTJ Anime Characters

ESTJs, whether in anime or otherwise, are often associated with drill sergeants or hyper-strict parents. Unfortunately, this reputation does not make the ESTJ personality type very desirable. However, there is far more depth to ESTJs than most people are aware. The point of this series is to showcase a variety of ESTJ anime characters, to give you an idea of the different ways that this personality type can manifest. Of course, we’ll share why each character that we chose stood out to us. Let us know what you think in the comments!

7 ESTJ Anime Characters

Miko Iino from Kaguya-same: Love Is War

“I refuse to back down on my ideals! With time, people will come to understand them the same way I do.”

Miko Iino is an orderly and structured individual. She is part of the school’s rule enforcement team and has a passion for improving the moral state of the school (by instituting a stricter code of conduct). She struggles with those that are flippant toward authority, although her friend and classmate, Fujiwara, often seems to get a pass. Miko has a detail-oriented mind, which spans from how specific she gets when presenting new rules or information to how detailed her expectations are. The most notable example is how Miko imagines the student council would be. She imagines, in great detail, how each member would conduct themselves and how she would fit into their group. However, when she finally gets the opportunity to join, her preconceived notions are shattered to pieces. Shorty after joining, Miko wants to quit because the reality falls short of what she had imagined.

Generally speaking, Miko has an active imagination and frequently catches her mind wandering. Due to her repressed nature, Miko gets easily embarrassed by some of the thoughts that cross her mind. She indulges in thoughts about forbidden behavior in spite of being staunchly opposed to indecency or rule-breaking outwardly. While she is easily embarrassed and sensitive about being vulnerable, Miko also has high standards and ideals that she remains faithful to above all else.

Read More about this ESTJ Anime Character: Myers-Briggs Types in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – Miko Iino (ESTJ)

Vinsmoke Sanji from One Piece

“Messing with a cook of the sea is a good way to get yourself killed. Remember that well.”

Sanji is often identified as an ENFJ, because of his romanticism and his dream about the All Blue. However, he is first and foremost an assertive, control-oriented character who demands respect from those around him. This is clear from his very first entrance in the show. Sanji acts dismissive towards some people, and starts fights with those who either disrespect him or act in ways that he disapproves of. He makes little effort to avoid conflict, but rather prioritizes retaining control over his environment. This is also a very prominent theme after he joins Luffy’s crew. He keeps his kitchen locked down as much as possible, gets frustrated when people break his rules, and constantly gets into fights with Zoro.

However, Sanji has a deeply caring nature, although it’s often hidden behind the abrasive personality. He feels indebted to Zeff for saving his life, making it incredibly hard for him to strike out on his own to pursue his dream. In addition, because of his past experience, Sanji refuses to let anyone go hungry. Of course, as mentioned, he’s a romantic at heart, whether that means dreaming of the All Blue or chasing beautiful women. The moment the Sanji gets around a beautiful lady, he waxes poetic and loses all sense of reason or rationale.

Read More about this ESTJ Anime Character: Myers-Briggs Types in One Piece: Vinsmoke Sanji (ESTJ)

Nobara Kugisaki from Jujutsu Kaisen

“I don’t want to hear it from someone who last week was a clueless normie. Now get moving.”

Nobara Kugisaki is self-confident and assertive. From the moment she enters the show, it’s clear that she knows who she is, and what she wants. In fact, Kugisaki is unapologetically herself. She expresses her identity rather forcefully, at times looking for people to validate her high opinion of herself. When first being introduced to the group, she tells them that they should be honored to have her as their group’s girl.

Kugisaki chooses to be a Jujutsu sorcerer for practical reasons, rather than out of desire or for some personal sense of meaning. She has a realistic goal, and she seeks financial security in the process. As the new girl, though, she jumps right in and makes herself at home, so to speak. Kugisaki quickly takes command of her other two classmates, issuing orders and enforcing systematic approaches to their missions. She hates it when her authority is questioned, but she is willing to give credit where credit is due. However, Kugisaki tends to diminish such pleasantries, making them purely transactional. Overall, while she can come across as mean or unsympathetic at times, she’s deeply loyal and committed to those who matter. She’s just very cautious about who she lets in on an emotional level, because she doesn’t want just anyone to be able to sway her.

Read More about this ESTJ Anime Character: Myers-Briggs Types in Jujutsu Kaisen: Nobara Kugisaki (ESTJ)

Suzune Horikita from Classroom of the Elite

“I may have been relegated to the lowest class in school but not for long. I will claw my way up to Class A.”

Horikita comes off as a blunt and calculated individual. She sees most situations in a binary manner, stripping out much of the human element. She only likes to take people into account as much as it concerns either the success or failure of her plans. Likewise, Horikita is quite straight forward and can be overly blunt when speaking with others. This does not do very much in the way of currying favor with her classmates. Needless to say, she isn’t very popular with others when it comes to sociability. Unlike Ayanokoji, Horikita is horrible at subtley manipulating people or taking advantage of their natural inclinations or behaviors. She prefers the straight forward approach of offering mutually beneficial deals, or putting them into situations where they can only choose something that would advantage her.

Horikita strives to model herself after her older brother, and in the process, loses her self. She has looked up to her brother ever since she was young, so as she gets older, Suzune tries to change herself to more closely act like him. This is all due to her low Fi trying to take on the identity of someone she admires.

Read More about this ESTJ Anime Character: Myers-Briggs Types in Classroom of the Elite: Suzune Horikita (ESTJ)

Tobirama Senju from Naruto Shippuden

“Forthcoming shinobi really need to suppress their emotions, create suitable rules that they then follow and maintain, and avoid any extraneous conflict.”

Tobirama Senju, while not a major centerpiece in Naruto Shippuden, represents the version of the ESTJ that people typically think of. He’s an individual with a commanding presence, who is not afraid to express his opinions. As a result, he can come off as intimidating and rude. Tobirama believes in clearly established rules and the suppression of emotions to create order and avoid conflict. Tobirama rises to leadership within his village, in addition to advising his predecessor. He’s vigilant about perceiving threats, including coming up with plans to counter them. His methods are often forceful, which can cause conflict amongst those around him.

Tobirama’s struggles to let go of his past experiences, which specifically surfaces in how he deals with the Uchiha clan. Tobirama only ever sees them as an inevitable threat, which he reminds everyone of when his prediction comes to be. Although, he ultimately contributed to this conflict by only ever treating them as a threat. However, while Tobirama strives to lockdown risk, he is not without a risky, exploratory side. Tobirama develops a variety of forbidden Jutsu, something which he becomes known for. He never appears to express any concern for the implications of his inventions.

Read More about this ESTJ Anime Character: Myers-Briggs Types in Naruto: Tobirama Senju (ESTJ)

Erza Scarlet from Fairy Tail

“Take it, that courage you have locked in your heart. Awaken it, wipe your tears, be strong and use that courage.”

Erza is a very strict individual, frequently being the one to break up fights within the guild. She is an incredibly powerful mage, which makes her one of the few people that can keep all the other mages in line. Erza can be very impatient and does not like waiting for others to answer her questions. This impatient streak combined with her lack of social grace causes others to feel that her personality is abrasive and scary. Furthermore, she is very straightforward, not afraid to speak her mind to others. (Erza believes that everyone should be honest with one another.) When Natsu and Gray join the guild, Erza is the one who takes up the responsibility of teaching them. She even institutes a form of schooling with Natsu, taking it upon herself to teach him how to read and write, because she feels that it’s important for him to get a proper education.

Erza has gone through a lot of hardship in her life, having persevered and grown from the experience. She didn’t close off her feelings as a result, but rather became much more empathetic. So, while she can be aggressive at times, Erza also has a soft side, particularly for her group of close friends. She cares deeply for them, allowing these bonds to both motivate her and strengthen her. In addition, while mostly serious, Erza also has a passion and flair for the dramatic. She is infatuated with the idea of acting, although she is horrible at it. (A fact that she seems oblivious to.) Erza is not usually shy, but for some reason gets terrible stage fright.

Jean Kirstein from Attack On Titan

“Show us what you’re worth. Prove it to us. We’re asking you to make us believe that you’re worth dying for.”

Jean Kirstein demonstrates some of the more human aspects of the ESTJ. Born in a time of war, he’s not a bottomless well of courage or ambition. Rather, he wants to survive and live a comfortable life. Initially, his goal is to play the system, and earn himself a spot in the safest part of the city. However, an internal sense of responsibility and duty inevitably compels him to step out of his comfort zone and join the fight. His fear, though, makes him more pragmatic and careful. Jean can be blunt and hot-headed around others, speaking his mind to the point of constantly causing conflict, but he doesn’t recklessly throw himself into dangerous situations.

Jean excels at making judgment calls in the heat of battle. He recognizes his strength and the strengths or other, utilizing people where it makes sense. In addition, he’s good at taking the lead, and compelling people to action when leadership is lacking. However, he’s willing to submit to a hierarchy or follow someone else who is more capable. Interestingly enough, Jean’s fear causes him to do a lot of speculating during the show, because he doesn’t like being in the dark. He’s often shown questioning why certain things are happening, inventing potential scenarios, and positing what-if questions for the sake of planning or to shed more light on a situation.

Read More about this ESTJ Anime Character: Myers-Briggs Types in Attack on Titan: Jean Kirstein (ESTJ)

Other Examples of ENTJ Anime Characters: Tobio Kageyama from Haikyuu, Jiren from Dragon Ball, Dreyfus from Seven Deadly Sins, Zeldris from Seven Deadly Sins