Computers have come a long way sinceand Angelina Jolie "hacked" into U.S. government in 1995. Alien mainframes, gods of the internet, and evil European organizations researching time travel all pose threats to the modern anime hacker. Load up your DOS screens while we countdown seven of the best hackers anime has to offer.

7. Ami Mizuno ( Sailor Moon ) Sailor Mercury is the team's resident genius. Armed with a visor and miniature super computer, she can analyze enemy data or hack their defenses. Good thing alien invaders operate on Windows, right?













6. Akira Renbokoji ( Valvrave the Liberator ) Akira takes the shut-in hacker stereotype to another level. She lives in a cardboard house where she hacks into the WIRED. Akira is extremely anxious and suffers from agoraphobia because of mistreatment when she was younger.















5. Ed ( Cowboy Bebop ) The ever-eccentric orphaned genius Ed is a future hacker with an even stranger reputation. She spends her boredom hacking into USA spy satellites and pretending to lose to master chess players. Otherwise she spends her time with her fellow genius, Ein the Corgi, and adding a sense of light-hearted comedy to the Bebop crew.













4. Hōka Inumuta ( Kill la Kill ) Honnōji Academy's student council's head data collector, Inumata monitors fights between Ryuuko and club presidents, analyzes Goku uniform stats, and keeps the Sewing Club president up-to-date. Inumata was first recruited by Satsuki when he successfully hacked into her family's company in an alleyway. His own Goku uniform is able to analyze his opponent, foresee their future attacks, and become invisible.













3. Laughing Man ( Ghost in the Shell ) The Laughing Man's hacking skills are so advanced he can hack internal brain implants and edit his appearance or even memories of him from individual's minds. With these methods, Laughing Man is able to commit a series of politically-motivated crimes, elude authorities, and promote his agenda.













2. Itaru "Daru" Hashida ( Steins;Gate ) Daru is the world's most accomplished perverted gentleman. A regular on 2ch and at "Mayqueen Nyannyan," Daru has the distinguished accomplishment of hacking into SERN at the age of 19. In the future, he plays a major part in the underground revolution against Japan's dystopian police-state.

















1. Lain ( Serial Experiments Lain ) Initially, Lain appears to be an average, shy 14-year-old girl with few friends. Over the course of the series, it's revealed that she is much, much more. Controlling multiple consciences and essentially having access to all communications, ever, there isn't anything Lain can't find out.













The last poll asked what your favorite anime film was this year. Any surprises? Any films not listed received less than 1% of the total votes.When she isn't compiling lists of tropes, topics, and characters, Lynzee works as Associate Editor for, blogs about women and LBGT topics in anime and manga on her blog Engendered Dilemma , and posts pictures of her son on Twitter @ANN_Lynzee