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Some anime characters proudly display their faces the moment they appear. Others are a little more secretive. If a character is hiding their face, the ultimate reveal could be no big deal, or it could be something that completely changes your understanding of who they are.
When Kakashi of Naruto's face is finally revealed, it turns out that he's not hiding much of anything - but it still mattered because fans had been curious for so long. But when the same series revealed Obito's true face, it changed our understanding of the enemies the protagonists were facing. In Demon Slayer, Inosuke's pretty face is hilarious, but Utsuro's face reveal in Gintama has a profound impact on Gintoki's beliefs about his past. Whether they're serious or funny, the best anime face reveals are the most memorable ones.
One word of warning - since this list is all about reveals, there are going to be spoilers, so proceed with caution if you haven't seen some of these shows.
When we first meet Inosuke, he's running around screaming while wearing a boar's head over his own head. While it wouldn't be totally impossible for someone in the Demon Slayer world to have a real boar's head, that's not what's going on with Inosuke.
His reason for wearing a boar's head is similar to the reason that Cubone from Pokemon wears its mother's skull. He was raised by a female boar, so when the boar died he started wearing its head in tribute.
But it also keeps his extremely pretty, feminine face hidden. Nobody expects this rowdy maniac to have such a lovely face, so when the boar's head comes off during battle, everyone is understandably shocked.
Satoru Gojo is lackadaisical but disarmingly powerful Jujutsu instructor who is usually seen with a blindfold over his eyes. This is so that he can keep his eye-based abilities in check and not get overwhelmed by his incredible sensory powers. Most viewers expected him to unleash some sort of awesome power, and he did not disappoint. When he activated Limitless against Jogo, he showed that he was far stronger than his silly personality implied.
But there was another unexpected contrast. His eyes proved to be ridiculously gorgeous. His personality doesn't scream bishounen any louder than it screams powerhouse.
All swordsmiths from the Demon Slayer series have their faces hidden behind a mask, but that doesn't make Haganezuka's reveal any less special. Haganezuka was one of the first side characters introduced early in the anime and despite the humorous mask he dons, he still proves to be an intimidating character both to Tanjiro and the audience.
The anticipated reveal came during the Swordsmith Village Arc due to an attack by Gyokko. When the Upper Moon infiltrates Haganezuka's shed, he's completely ignored by the swordsmith. Enraged, Gyokko slashes him and effectively knocks off his mask in the process. Not only is Haganezuka extremely built, but he's also good-looking - especially as he continues to refine his sword and ignore the demon's attacks.
For a long time, one of the biggest unanswered questions in Naruto was about Kakashi's face. Just what was he hiding underneath the mask/extended turtleneck he always wore? There was even a filler episode where Team 7 comes up with a bunch of hare-brained theories that range from having beaver-like buck teeth to enormous red lips.
In reality, the lower half of Kakashi's face is totally normal. He has a scar that extends down toward his mouth, and a small mole over his lips. What makes his reveal stand out isn't what's actually there, but the hundreds of episodes leading up to it.
When the Akatsuki first appears, Tobi seems like he's mostly there for comic relief. His mask seems less like something with a mystery behind it and more like an amusing aesthetic choice. But during a battle with Naruto, his mask is shattered, revealing his face.
Some people who see Obito's face for the first time will believe him when he claims to be his ancestor Madara. But to Kakashi, who has strong memories of his late friend Obito Uchiha, the truth is obvious. The drama of the scene, combined with the sadness of the subsequent flashback, makes this an excellent face reveal.
Most of the time, Mr. Compress keeps his face hidden under a black and white mask. This not only makes his whole outfit look snazzy, it also adds to the sense of mystery that he's trying to cultivate.
After escaping from his restraints by severely injuring himself, he compresses and uncompresses some of his allies to get them into position to fight. He makes a speech about his grandfather - a famous thief - saying that he's proud to be descended from him and he believes that Shigaraki will carry on his will. In the process, he reveals his face. Even if you're not rooting for the villains, it's still kind of a badass moment.
