Top 5 Favorite Anime/Manga Characters of all time

[Huasjo]

Obviously this is going to be very hard to compile and think about! But, I was just interested to hear everyone's opinion! My top five are: (In no particular order)
Kiritsugu Emiya (Fate/Zero)
Joseph Joestar (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Killua Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)
Hachiman Hikigaya (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU)
Keima Katsuragi (The World God Only Knows)  

[haine22]

Yes it took tremendous effort on my part: I racked my brain, scavenged the endless expanse of space, shed tears, made a sacrifice, and battled some demons in order to find the answers to such a difficult riddle.
Alas here goes:

Kaworu Nagisa (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Aru Akise (Mirai Nikki)
Nai (Karneval)
Undertaker (Black Butler)
Shion (No. 6)

I was totally kidding about the demons btw, though it took time for me to choose 5... so I went with my five favourite albino white-haired anime characters! heart  

[Winniwyn]

Five is a little too hard so I'm gonna go for top 10 instead.

Lina Inverse (Slayers)
Koenma (Yu Yu Hakushou)
Kotetsu T. Kaburagi (Tiger & Bunny)
Sousuke Sagara (Full Metal Panic!)
Olivier Mira Armstrong (Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood)
Kiyoshi Teppei (Kuroko no Basket)
Ayase Chihaya (Chihayafuru)
Ahiru/Duck (Princess Tutu)
Minami Maho (Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad)
Killua Zoldyk (Hunter x Hunter)  

[Strawberry Sarang]

My Top 5 (also in no particular order):

1) Kudo Shinchi (Detective Conan)

2) Ayuzawa Misaki (Kaichou wa Maid-sama)

3) Fujioka Haruhi (Ouran High School Host Club)

4) Not sure if this counts but Ogino Chihiro (Spirited Away)

5) Hanazono Hikari (Special A)

These are just 5 of the LONG list of favorite anime characters! heart xp  

[General Slaughter]

Coming straight from MyAnimeList:
Cross Marian - D.Gray-man
Akastsuki Ousawa - Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica
Meliodas - Nanatsu no Taizai
Hajime Ichinose - Gatchaman Crowds
Souma Yukihira - Shokugeki no Souma  

[perfectmistake123]

not including the obvious ones like clannad, cannon, or ouran host club...these are animes that no one usually notices but are so GOOD.
in no specific order:
1)itazura na kiss
2)kobato
3)my little monster
4)kotoura san
5)dog days
6)school rumble
7)Skip a beat
cool Nyankoi
9)princess jellyfish heart heart
10) senyu
sorry i went over 5 sweatdrop  

[cardgames13]

for me (in no particular order) I picked some unusual ones XP
Gintoki Sakata (gintama)
Naofumi Iwatani (tate no yuusha no nariagari)
Alba Fruhling (senyuu)
Heiji Hattori (detective conan)
Kotetsu (tiger and bunny)  

[momucchi]

Omg, why only 5?

I'll do guys and girls separately.

Guys.
Shinichi Kudo - Detective conan
Kenshin Himura - Ruruoni kenshin
Souske Sagara - Full Metal Panic
Tsunayoshi Sawada - Katekyo Hitman Reborn
Levi - Shingeki no kyojin (would count armin too but, 5 is the limit)

Girls.
Sailor Jupiter - Sailor moon (tie between her and pluto, but I'm putting one char per series)
Ryuuko Matoi- Kill La Kill
Annie Leonhardt - Shingeki No Kyojin (Her and mikasa are tied IMO, both awesome)
Kati Mannequin - Gundam 00
Akira Takano - School Rumble.


THIS WAS SO HARD.  

[xxSweetBambinixx]

Top 5 .....that is a tough discussion but I would have to say in no particular order

1.Akane (Ranma1/2)
2, Hiei (yu yu hakusho)
3. Yugi (Yugioh)
4.Ciel ( Black Butler)
5.Lupin (Lupin the third)  

[Shigane]

As you said, it is pretty hard to give them an order, but I guess:
1. Rood Chrishi (The Black Magician) - Black Haze
2. Kirigaya Kazuto - Sword Art Online
3. Accelerator heart - To Aru Majutsu no Index
4. Lelouch Lamperouge - Code Geass
5. Shiba Tatsuya - Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
(Special) 5. Otosaka Yuu - Charlotte  

[Twenty One Homestucks]

Well, here's my top five, in no particular order.

5. Hiei from YuYu Hakusho
4. Guts from Berserk
3. Grell Sutcliffe from Black Butler
2. Belldandy from Oh My Goddess
1. Stocking Anarchy from Panty and Stocking with Garter belt