}}

Lan Hikari, known in Japan as }} is the human protagonist of the MegaMan Battle Network series of video games and the MegaMan NT Warrior anime and manga. He is the operator of the NetNavi, MegaMan.EXE (Rockman EXE). In the anime, he is voiced by Alex Doduk (episodes 1-16) and Brad Swaile (17-present) in the dub, and Kumiko Higa in the original version of the series.

History

---

Lan is the son of Yuichiro Hikari and Haruka Hikari, and the grandson of Tadashi Hikari, the Battle Network version of Dr. Thomas Light. In the video games, but not the anime, Lan had an identical twin brother named Hub (Saito Hikari), who died when the boys were young. Near the end of the first Battle Network game, it is revealed that MegaMan was programmed using Hub's DNA, slightly modified to avoid dangers between operator and Navi. MegaMan is nearly deleted before this cutscene, and Lan is told to apply the "Hub.BAT" (Saito.BAT) file to erase the difference between their DNA and reincarnate MegaMan as Hub. (It bears mentioning that a batch file is designed for the rapid execution of a command or a series of commands already existant on a computer system; this implies that Yuichiro had planned for this event all along).

Lan lives next door to longtime friend Mayl Sakurai (Maylu Sakurai in the English anime, Meiru Sakurai in the Japanese versions), who, as revealed at the end of Megaman Battle Network 6, he marries and has a child (by the name of Patch/Raito) with. He is also friends with Dex Ogreon (Dekao Oyama) and Yai Ayano (Yaito Ayanokouji). In the anime, he also becomes friends with Tory Froid (Tohru Hikawa) early on in the series.

How Lan obtained MegaMan is unknown in the games - they were long acquainted from the beginning. In the anime, however, Lan was the operator for a generic Navi, eagerly awaiting the day that his father - who was often away on business trips - would send him his own custom-made Navi. When MegaMan presented himself to Lan, he was visibly underwhelmed until he saw MegaMan in action, defeating Dex and GutsMan.EXE with ease.

Throughout all of the Battle Network games, Lan enjoys a rivalry with top NetBattler Eugene Chaud (Chaud Blaze in the English anime, Enzan Ijuuin in the Japanese version), just as MegaMan enjoys a rivalry with Chaud's NetNavi, ProtoMan.EXE (Blues).

In the anime, Lan eventually becomes a NetSaver (Net Savior), aiding the Net Police in stopping crimes. This responsibility leads Lan on many missions involving the Darkloids and the Dark Chips in Axess, and his duties are expanded in Stream, as he becomes one of the Cross Fusion members opposing Duo.

Personality

---

Lan is a typical youth in search of adventure and fun. He frequents NetBattles, and places the prospect of completing menial tasks like homework behind him. Despite his seemingly carefree attitude, Lan is always prompt to do the right thing, either for the world, or simply for a friend. He is talented on rollerblades in every version of the franchise, loves curry in the anime, and in episode 8 of Axess, reveals other aspects about himself; his favourite colour is blue, his favourite fruit is ripe mango, favorite toothpaste is strawberry-scented, and he despises cockroaches and the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard.

According to the Secrets of Rockman EXE - Offical Illustrated Guide (ロックマンエグゼのひみつ―オフィシャル設定イラストガイド), Lan's birthday is June 10th (thus his astrological sign is gemini according to the tropical zodiac), his blood type is B, and he is, despite appearances depicting otherwise, shorter than Mayl.

Notes

---

Mega Man Battle Network characters | Computer and video game protagonists

Lan Hikari