Sorted to be as spoiler-free as possible.
Chosen Card Battlers
Toppa Bashin
The protagonist. A huge Battle Spirits enthusiast with a straightforward personality. He’s always cheerful and friendly. His father left him at a young age, which left him rather shy, but after being introduced to Battle Spirits, he was able to open up. He prefers the red attribute.
- Ascended Fanboy: To J. He ends up getting to hang with J, when he becomes a chosen card battler as well.
- Big Eater: Eating doesn't come up constantly with him, but he'll shovel down food if put in front of him.
- The Determinator: What were you expecting? He's a shounen protagonist.
- Disappeared Dad: His father left when he was very young.
- Hero Protagonist: He is the main character, leader of Team Shomen Toppa, and the one to ultimately save the world.
- Hot-Blooded: Along with everyone else in the show, but especially him.
- Idiot Hero: The idiot part is taken to painful levels, but it usually results in a funny moment.
- Keet: He is a never-ending fountain of energy and loudness. Not particularly feminine in the anime version, but in the manga, he crossdresses as a nurse.
- Last-Name Basis: It's rare for anyone but his mother to use his first name, and even she calls him Bashin at times.
- Magnetic Hero: Everyone is drawn to him.
- Oblivious to Love: Poor Meganeko. There's no indication he's ever figured out why she likes to hang out with him all the time.
- Playing with Fire: He uses red, which has a fire theme to it.
- Shonen Hair: It's spiked up like crazy. Apparently he does nothing to it and just wears it the way he wakes up.
- Stock Shōnen Hero: A Hot-Blooded Magnetic Idiot Hero with bright red Shonen Hair, it's like his creator used a checklist for the trope.
- Strong Family Resemblance: To his father. Touha has a darker shade of hair, but the basic style is the same,
Juli “J” Sawaragi/ Jack Knight/Number Eleven
Bashin’s rival. Somewhat cold and distant, and takes Battle Spirits from an almost studious perspective. He was the world champion for two years in a row, despite only being an elementary schooler, and thus became very famous. In order to be accepted by his father, he later joins Thousand Spirits Group, hoping to at least be able to serve as a knight to him. He prefers the white attribute.
- All-Encompassing Mantle: His cape.
- Aloof Big Brother: He obviously does care about Kyouka, as well as Bashin. But his personal agenda forces him to distance himself.
- Big Brother Instinct: To Kyouka. He's protective of her enough to flip out when he thought Bashin sent a romantic card to her.
- But Not Too Foreign: He's half Finnish.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Male example. Bashin has a very good influence on him, and he noticibly becomes much friendlier as the show goes on.
- Even the Guys Want Him: Aside from his large amount of female fangirls, Smile basically stalks him and acts possessive of him, and Commentator-san's fixation on him is kinda creepy.
- Evil Costume Switch: He wears a black cape as Jack Knight
- Face–Heel Turn: He betrays Bashin and the others by joining Numbers Elite as Jack Knight. This is only temporary, and partly a means to gather information. He later makes a Heel–Face Turn
- Lonely Rich Kid: He wasn't on good terms with either parent at the start of the series and didn't seem to have any friends before meeting Bashin either.
- The Rival: Of Bashin. Though J is rather annoyed with Bashin at first, he comes to genuinely enjoy having Bashin as a strong opponent.
- Rival Turned Evil: Temporarily becomes a part of Numbers Elite.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: If his father would've just spent more time with the family, it probably would've saved him a lot of angst and his Face–Heel Turn.
- White Hair, Black Heart: He becomes an enemy for a while.
Kakeru “Striker” Nohara
A soccer player with a very distinctive haircut, who attends the same school as Bashin. He has four younger brothers, and ultimately learns Battle Spirits in order to be a hero to them. His strength is his loyalty to his friends. He prefers the green attribute.
- Improbable Hair Style: Aside from his father, has quite possibly the weirdest in the series.
- Meaningful Name: Actually his nickname, but everyone calls him that to the point that his real name is hardly mentioned.
- Ship Tease: Mainly with Suiren, whom he is given Belligerent Sexual Tension with. He also loves her alter ego and is torn by the contrast. He gets a little with Kyouka too, whom he’s shown to have a crush on.
- Strong Family Resemblance: To his father
Suiren/My Sunshine
A popular idol who disguises herself as a masked card battler in order to play Battle Spirits. As Suiren, she has somewhat of a domineering personality, whereas My Sunshine is girly and sweet. She prefers the purple attribute.
- Action Girl: Though she has the misfortune of losing in her debut match, she proves to be one early on when she defeats both Striker and Bashin to win a tournament, becoming the main rival to the former. She is consistently shown to be just as good as her male teammates. She should really be an example for other female characters in this type of male-oriented action anime.
- Apologizes a Lot: Subverted, as it’s done in a mocking way
- Cool Mask: As Suiren, she wears a mask to hide her true identity.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Her attribute is purple, which is themed around demons and the occult.
- Expressive Mask: It tends to change shape depending on her mood.
- Genki Girl: Her My Sunshine persona. This is an act.
- Head-Turning Beauty: As My Sunshine. Everyone loves her in-universe. Usually only a problem for her if she's being stalked by the press, like the time they wanted to get pictures of her in her school uniform.
- Idol Singer: She's popular with roughly everyone of every demographic.
- Irisless Eye Mask Of Mystery: See Cool Mask and Expressive Mask above.
- In the Hood: When disguised in the 4th episode.
- Lonely Rich Kid: Similarly to J, she didn't have any friends at the start of the series.
- Secret Identity: She has to hide the fact that Suiren and My Sunsine are the same person.
- Ship Tease: With Striker and Bashin. She seems to have a crush on both of them, who like her as My Sunshine, but not-so-much as Suiren.
- Shorttank: Her outfit fits the bill, and she can be a bit of a tomboy.
- Tsundere: Of the aloof and pessimistic variety. She's much more partial to pounding someone in Battle Spirits, than admitting she's worried about them.
Thousand Spirits Group
King Uchuuchouten/Touha Bashin
The mysterious leader of Thousand Spirits Group. He is actually Bashin’s father, Touha.
- Battle Couple: He used to be this with His wife, Hayami.
- The Faceless: For most of the series
Michael Elliott/Number Two
The game designer of Battle Spirits (both in the anime and real life). He came from America, where he also is opening a Battle Spirits school. He later quits Thousand Spirits Group, after losing a battle with Striker and coming to a realization.
- Affably Evil: Aside from the fact that he's a member of Numbers Elite, he's quite a fun guy.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Perhaps the fact that his job is game designer has something to do with his weird, childish behavior. But even after becoming a school principal as well, he's seen building card houses in his office with Battle Spirits cards.
- Informed Ability: Not only did he make the game, but he's on a team composed of the best players in the world. He's the only player (excluding some who battled only once) who never wins a single match.
- Two First Names: Note that he goes by a Last-Name Basis, so Elliott could easily be mistaken as his first name.
- Gratuitous English: He speaks quite a lot of it for a show that's in Japanese.
S. Kiano Sawaragi/Number Three
J’s father. He is a rich, Finnish businessman, who designed the Battle Spirits battle system. He appears to be very distant toward J. In truth, he cares about J, but becomes very upset towards him when he joins Thousand Spirits Group.
- Affably Evil: He's actually a pretty nice guy, despite what he's doing with Numbers Elite.
- Knight in Sour Armor: Starts off this way, but he does get better.
- The Rival: He used to be this with Bashin's father.
Smile/Number Four
A card battler who defeated J during the Gunslinger round of a championship. He has a rather creepy appearance and mannerisms. Smile was originally a pupil of Card Sensei. It was through this intense physical training that he grew into a harsher person. Smile came to resent Sensei for being too gentle. After meeting J, Smile takes an interest in him, later inviting him to join Thousand Spirits Group. He prefers the yellow attribute.
- Coat Cape: He wears his jacket like this, probably as a sign of delinquency.
- The Dragon: He's the strongest and most threatening in battle of the regular Numbers.
- Dragon with an Agenda: All he really wants by the end is to prove he and J make a better team than Bashin and J.
- Four Is Death: Especially in the manga, where he's the Big Bad.
- Jerkass: And he can be just as obnoxious to the other Numbers as he is to Bashin and his friends.
- Light Is Not Good: His attribute is yellow.
- No Name Given: Smile probably isn't his real name
- Only One Name: Even if it is, he still doesn't have a last name.
- Verbal Tic: Kekeke
Nanao “Seven-sempai” Watanabe/Galaxy Seven
Bashin’s sempai in middle school, and president of the Battle Spirits club. Normally, very quiet and easily frightened, until becoming his alternate persona, Galaxy Seven, who is narcissistic and egotistical. He prefers the blue attribute.
He is modeled after Galaxy Watanabe, the card game’s mascot, though may or may not actually be the same character.
- Affably Evil: Possibly can be completely excused from the evil part because it's unclear if he even has anything to do with the other Numbers' plan.
- Club President: Of the Battle Spirits club.
- Cool Shades: As Galaxy
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: He may as well be a completely different person when he becomes Galaxy.
- Demoted to Extra: Brutally, in the manga. He appears in about 4 panels, some of which as just a shadow.
- Inconsistent Spelling: The proper spelling is Galaxy, as written on official cards, but in-show, it's written as Garaxy.
- Mascot: He was the first of many mascots of the TCG, before ending up animated as a character.
- Secret Identity: Galaxy Seven. Though, even Bashin was easily able to figure it out.
- Seven Is Nana: His name is Nanao.
Masako Inogashira/Number Eight
The sole female member of Numbers Elite. Somewhat proud, as well as careless, and constantly gets lost. She used to date Card Sensei, and they were very close. She took his betrayal of the organization personally, and remains very loyal to Thousand Spirits Group in order to not become like him. She later becomes Bashin’s music teacher, when he starts middle school.
- Affably Evil: She tends to act friendly with Bashin and the others even before becoming a teacher.
- Becoming the Mask: Though it was just an act, she legitimately likes being Bashin's teacher, and stays that way in the end.
- Cool Big Sis: Bashin seems to see her like this.
- Cool Shades: Two different pairs, one reminiscent to Kamina’s.
- Demoted to Extra: In the manga. She appears in only a few panels, and her entire subplot in the anime is cut as it’s implied she and Card Sensei never broke up in this continuity, and with Bashin never going to middle school, she doesn’t need to become his new teacher.
- Dreadful Musician: She's tone deaf.
- Ms. Fanservice: Clearly what they were going for, considering she wears a skin-tight Absolute Cleavage outfit.
- No Sense of Direction: Basically a Running Gag
- Official Couple: With Card Sensei after eventually reconciling with him.
- Pink Girl, Blue Boy: With Card Sensei. She has a pink version of his outfit, and her eyes are pink, while his are gray-ish blue.
- Love Makes You Evil: The main reason Number Eight is loyal to Thousand Spirits Group, seeing how she doesn’t even agree with Nine’s plan, is pretty much out of spite for her ex-boyfriend for leaving the organization. She doesn't want to become like him.
- Navel-Deep Neckline: Not all the time, but the outfit she wears to tournaments has a v-neckline that goes down to her stomach.
- The Smurfette Principle: She’s the only female Number
- Sunglasses at Night: In episode 26
- Tsundere: Both with Card Sensei, whom she will vehemently deny any affection towards and in a non-romantic example her own students when she tries very hard to resist Becoming the Mask
Kyuusaku Kujou/Number Nine
The first member of Numbers Elite to challenge Bashin, who gave Siegfried to him as a reward for winning. Always well dressed, he seems very gentlemanly. Separate from King Uchuuchouten, he has his own ambitions concerning the stones. He stages a coup d’état before the final tournament to carry out his plan. He prefers the red attribute.
- Alliterative Name: This combined with the fact that it's also a pun. (Kyuu = 9)
- Badass in a Nice Suit: He's a top card battler who is never seen without a suit and of course he's plotting to rule the world on the side
- Big Bad: By the end of the series, it's not Numbers Elite as a whole who is the true enemy, but Number Nine himself.
- Evil Costume Switch: When revealed as final boss, he switches to a blood-red suit.
- Evil Laugh: As he does this very early into the series, it's a good hint of his true colors.
- Playing with Fire: He uses red
- Villainous Breakdown: At the end of the series. He freaks out when he loses.
Pets
Aibou
Bashin’s pet mouse. He can be somewhat strict, and often lectures or scolds Bashin. He usually follows Bashin to school, even though he’s not allowed to. He loves mushrooms.
- Balloon Belly: Gets this after easting sometimes
- Dreadful Musician: To viewers, at least.
- Meaningful Name: It means “partner,” which Bashin used to be called by his father.
- Mentor Mascot: He's the one who teaches Bashin about his role as a chosen card battler. He also tries to help with Bashin's deck from time-to-time, but he doesn't always want to listen.
- Non-Human Sidekick: To Bashin. He's a mouse.
- Parrot Pet Position: He often sits on Bashin's shoulder (or other characters' shoulders at times.)
- Talking Animal: Thanks to a mystical stone.
- Team Pet: The main one
- Through a Face Full of Fur: He blushes.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Mushrooms
Okyou/Queen
J’s cat. Tends to be arrogant, and thinks very highly of J as well. She joins Thousand Spirits Group along with J, calling herself Queen.
- Cats Are Mean: She can be pretty snotty even early on, and later joins Thousand Spirits Group with J, effectively becoming a villain for a short time.
- Non-Human Sidekick: To J.
- Parrot Pet Position: Tends to ride on J's shoulders.
- Talking Animal: Thanks to a mystical stone. Her ability to talk is lost in the finale, but it may have been restored.
- Team Pet: One of several.
Cap
Striker’s parrot. Tends to help him come up with new battle strategies.
- Non-Human Sidekick: To Striker.
- Parrot Pet Position: If he doesn't simply fly, he'll be on Striker's shoulder.
- Polly Wants a Microphone: He was actually learning to talk from the beginning.
- Talking Animal: Thanks to a mystical stone. His ability to talk is lost in the finale, but it may have been restored.
- Team Pet: One of several.
Pink
Suiren’s chameleon. Is often stressed with having to handle the high-maintenance Suiren.
- Head Pet: He tends to ride on Suiren's head, although sometimes uses Parrot Pet Position as well.
- Non-Human Sidekick: To Suiren
- Talking Animal: Thanks to a mystical stone. His ability to talk is lost in the finale, but it may have been restored.
- Team Pet: One of several.
Nanarin
Meganeko’s dog. Has a somewhat haughty personality.
- Non-Human Sidekick: To Meganeko.
- Puppy-Dog Eyes: Naturally, and she uses them to distract guards at one point.
- Talking Animal: Thanks to a mystical stone. spoiler: Her ability to talk is lost in the finale, but it may have been restored.
- Team Pet: One of several.
Guraguri
Card Sensei’s turtle. He’s extremely knowledgeable about Battle Spirits.
- Non-Human Sidekick: To Card Sensei
- Talking Animal: Thanks to a mystical stone. His ability to talk is lost in the finale, but it may have been restored.
- Team Pet: Less often than the others though, because he's usually with Card Sensei
- Wise Old Turtle: A turtle who teaches Battle Spirits to humans (albeit with ridiculous methods).
Others
Fumiko “Meganeko” Otonashi
Bashin’s childhood friend. She often feels neglected, because Bashin spends more times with his Battle Spirits friends than her. She later learns Battle Spirits from Card Sensei, and awakens as a chosen card battler. She prefers the yellow attribute.
- Action Girl: After she learns Battle Spirits. She manages to both win her first game and eliminate Smile in a tournament. She becomes a valuable member of Team Shomen Toppa afterwards.
- Beware the Nice Ones: She actually turns out to be a very powerful card battler
- Childhood Friend Romance: She’s Bashin’s childhood friend and is in love with him, hoping to marry him one day. However, he is Oblivious to Love.
- Demoted to Extra: In the manga where she's not a chosen card battler.
- Fangirl: Of My Sunshine
- The Glasses Come Off: She claims they get in the way of reading the cards
- Meaningful Name: Well, nickname. But like Striker's nickname, everyone calls her it, even her grandfather.
- Raised by Grandparents: Because her parents are in Africa.
- Shrinking Violet: At first. She was shown to be bullied at school, and she acts like a doormat a lot. Then Character Development kicks in.
- Took a Level in Badass: After becoming a card battler.
Kyouka Sawaragi
J’s twin sister, and the younger of the two. She cares about her brother very much, but also tends to tease him. When J joins Thousand Spirits Group, she was devastated, so Card Sensei gives her his blue stone so she can fight with Bashin and the others. Still, she’s not very skilled at Battle Spirits.
- Adapted Out: She gets the worst treatment of all in the manga version by not even appearing.
- But Not Too Foreign: She's half Finnish
- Ojou: She's a wealthy and proper lady
- Regal Ringlets: Her hairstyle
- Sixth Ranger: She eventually gets a stone and becomes a member of Team Shomen Toppa.
- The Ugly Guy's Hot Daughter: Not that her father is absolutely freakish, but he's definitely far off from the looks of the rest of his family.
Kyouji “Card Sensei” Kawatou/ Number Five
Bashin’s elementary school teacher. Has a hot-blooded personality, and seems to like pretty women, especially Bashin’s mother. He is later revealed to be Number Five, and secretly spying on Bashin. He permanently resigns from the organization in order to keep Bashin, Meganeko and the others out of danger, and goes to live in the wilderness.
- Alliterative Name
- Badass Teacher: He's definitely protective of his students. Fortunate that he's an ex-Number who's had some pretty amazing feats in the past,
- Becoming the Mask: His mission was to watch the chosen card battlers. He ended up becoming very protective of them for real, enough that he quit Thousand Spirits Group for their sake.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: He's really an impressive card battler, and used to have super-human strength on top of that.
- Demoted to Extra: In the manga
- Hot-Blooded: Along with everyone else in the show, but especially him.
- Official Couple: With Number Eight
- Pink Girl, Blue Boy: With Number Eight. She was shown in one episode to have a pink version of his outfit. His eyes are gray-ish blue and hers are pink
Hayami Bashin
Bashin’s single mother. A taxi driver, who often works to take care of Bashin. She worries about him a lot, wanting him to concentrate more on his studies than Battle Spirits. She was once a masked card battler known as The Speed Star. She battled with her husband, Touha Bashin, against their rivals, J’s father and aunt.
- Badass Driver: Particularly interesting, because the car she drives is a taxi.
- Battle Couple: She used to be one with her husband.
- Demoted to Extra: In the manga
- Education Mama: She's always concerned about Bashin putting things before his schoolwork. Justifiable, because she's afraid of him turning out like his father.
Setsuko Kirishima
The student council president at Tonari Middle School. Very strict and devoted to the rules.
- Student Council President: She is apparently powerful enough to have authority over the principal.
- Tsundere: A lot more tsun than dere, but she does have a soft side.
Manabu Miyagawa
Setsuko’s 2nd in command, but more laid back. He’s a fan of Kyouka.
- Alliterative Name
- Number Two: To Setsuko.
Kitan Otonashi/ Number Ten
Meganeko’s grandfather, who raises her in her parents’ absence. He is actually Number Ten, and though he retired from Numbers Elite, is very trusted by Uchuuchouten.
- Chekhov's Gunman: Though he seems pretty unimportant for most the series, he was actually Number Ten.
Miyako Sawaragi
J and Kyouka's mother. At first she doesn't approve of J's devotion to Battle Spirits, out of worry for him.
Female Announcer and Commentator-san
The two announcers at all tournaments (and sometimes other matches if they're in the right place). They also have a talk show on Battle Spirits TV.
- Combat Commentator: They play this role at all the tournaments, and if they see a battle going on elsewhere, they'll make sure to cover it too.
- No Name Given: It's fair enough, because they aren't that important to the story.
