In anime, it is common to find characters with eyes of different colors from each other. This is called Heterochromia, which in Japanese is called ishokushou [異色症]. In this article, we will see characters and anime with such characteristics.
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What is Heterochromia?
Heterochromia is a genetic anomaly in which the individual has a different shade in their eyes, specifically in the iris, making one eye a different color from the other. This can often be seen in dogs and cats, and it is believed that only 6 out of every thousand people have such an anomaly.
Different colored eyes can also be caused by a disease; for this reason, the person needs to undergo tests and medical procedures. Another way to achieve a different color in a single eye is by using contact lenses.
Despite the name syndrome or diseases, not all have real problems in the person’s life, but some need to be cared for. Here is a list of possible causes of Heterochromia:
- Bloch-Sulzberger Syndrome
- Horner’s Syndrome
- Parry-Romberg Syndrome
- Sturge-Weber Syndrome
- Waardenburg Syndrome
- Iris Ectropion Syndrome
- Pigment Dispersion Syndrome
- Posner-Schlossman Syndrome
- Von Recklinghausen Disease
- Bourneville Disease
- Hirschsprung’s Disease
- Diabetes
- Eye Surgery
- Glaucoma
- Eye Injury
- Eye Swelling
- Iris Tumors
Research suggests that most cases of heterochromia in humans are benign and occur without any underlying abnormality.
Types of Heterochromia
There are three types of Heterochromia: Sectorial, Central, and Complete. Understand a little below:
Sectorial Heterochromia
Sectorial Heterochromia is the most common of the three types. It is considered sectorial when the same iris has more than one color; it can be just reflections or one entire side of the iris differs from the other; one of the colors is always dominant.
It can also be called heterocromia iridum and can appear in both or just one eye. In Japanese, it is called kousaiishokushou [虹彩異色症]. It is believed that Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia, had some type of heterochromia.
Central Heterochromia
Central heterochromia consists of the presence of two or more circles in the iris, each of a different color; this type of anomaly is known as “Cat’s Eye.”
When heterochromia is caused by a genetic anomaly, the eyes of the carrier are more likely to be blue and brown, and when it is caused by a syndrome, the carrier is more likely to have green and brown eyes.
Complete Heterochromia
As the name suggests, it is a complete heterochromia that changes the color of the entire eye or when one eye has a completely different or opposite color from the other. It is the rarest type of heterochromia that exists.
Heterochromia in Japan
The breed of cats called Mi-Ke, a type of lucky cat, often has eyes of different colors, nicknamed gold and silver eyes. These cats usually have one yellow and one blue eye, but some may have hearing diseases on the side of the blue eye.
There are 2 famous Japanese people with Heterochromia; first, we will mention Akira Hashimoto, a journalist and Japanese critic who passed away in 2017, a former student of Emperor Akihito. He acquired these colors in his eyes due to some injuries.
We also have the actress and singer Megumi Okuna, who participated in many Doramas; her case is congenital (since baby), but it is not very noticeable from afar. There are probably other unknown Japanese people with different colored eyes.
In creative works of subcultures such as anime, manga, and games, characters sometimes receive the physical characteristics of iridescent heterochromia, or a similar physical appearance where the iris color is different in the left and right eyes.
Although rare in real humans, such character settings tend to be frequently favored and have appeared in many works in recent years. In 2001, it was estimated that in one out of every five works, there was some character with different eye colors.
Anime Characters with Heterochromia
Below we will share some anime characters that have heterochromia, whether from birth or just using some type of lens. It is worth mentioning that in anime, it is common for characters with different colors to have some kind of secret or mystical power.
- Spike Spiegel [Cowboy Bebop];
- Shoto Todoroki [Boku no Hero];
- Tokisaki Kurumi [Data a Live];
- Mukuro Rokudo [Reborn!];
- Seijuurou Akashi [Kuroko no Basuke];
- Elizabeth Liones [Nanatsu no Taizai];
- Tet [No Game no Life];
- Lucoa [Kobayashi Maid Dragon];
- Aura Bella Fiora [Overlord];
- Suiseiseki [Rozen Maiden];
- Urumi Kanzaki [GTO];
- Roswaal L. Mathers [Re:Zero];
- Misaki Mei [Another];
- Kaneki Ken [Tokyo Ghoul];
- Kakashi Hatake [Naruto];
- Takanashi Rikka [Chuunibyou];
- Hasegawa Kobato [Boku wa Tomodachi];
- Lelouch vi Britânia [Code Geass];
Now that you have seen a bit about anime characters with heterochromia, we recommend reading our article about big eyes in anime. If you liked the article, don’t forget to share and leave comments.
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