20 Most Popular Anime Characters of All Time

The explosive popularity of anime in recent years has led to the Most popular anime characterslike Dragon BallGoku’s pretty household name even outside of Japan. Interesting and lovable characters help make a series memorable and profitable, so it’s in studios’ best interests to create the most appealing characters Possible. Not every anime character reaches the bar, but the best of the best aren’t just heroes that fans can relate to, they’re fully fleshed out characters with fears, Hopes and dreams.

Although it is impossible to have a totally objective list of the most popular characters, one of the first criteria must be that the most Popular characters are well-known outside their own fandoms. Even those not into anime may be able to recognize the characters at a glance, and no anime convention is complete without a cosplay or two of them.

20

Sakura Kinomoto is a beloved heroine with a compelling arc

Cardcaptor Sakura

One of the most iconic magical girls of all time, Cardcaptor SakuraSakura Kinomoto is a sweet young girl who accidentally released the Claw Cards, unleashing ancient magic on the world. The task of retrieving them and sealing their magic falls to her, although she would prefer to continue with her ordinary life. Sakura has a relatable sibling relationship with her brother, with the two often teasing each other in a way not regularly seen in anime.

Unlike many other iconic anime characters, Sakura is not fearless, but it is her willingness to encourage to push on Which makes her worthy to be one of the most popular anime characters.

19

Himel’s heroism has made him an icon of modern anime

Character from Madhouse’s Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

One of the main characters in Madhouse Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Is Himel, the hero who saved the world from the tyranny of the demon king. Decades later, Himmel died peacefully in his sleep, and his death motivated Prior, the elf mage of his party and the main character, to go on another journey to learn how to understand people better.

Thanks to flashbacks and other forms of exposition, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Always sells Himel as just the kind of heroic and charismatic hero who would save the worldAnd that posthumous character work has made him one of the most popular characters in one of the most popular anime of modern times. It has become a meme in Japan to refer to a good deed as “What heaven the hero would do“, and this is quite indicative of how big a mark Heaven has left on the community.

18

Spike Spiegel is the epitome of cool, despite his many flaws

Cowboy Bebop

Although Cowboy Bebop may be more popular in America than Japan, There’s little denying that Spike Spiegel is one of the coolest anime characters ever. A bounty hunter with a dark past and trust issues, Spike is the prototypical noir hero.

Far from coming across as a cliché, though, Bebop Uses audience expectations for a character like Spike to add depth to the character. Funny, strong and always the coolest person in the room even when he’s losing, Spike struck a chord with American anime fans for good reason.

17

Haruhi Suzumiya was the most popular anime character of the 2000s

Character from Kyoto Animation The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Kyoto animation The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Starring, naturally, Haruhi Suzumiya, an eccentric and charismatic girl who leads the SOS Brigade, a school club dedicated to uncovering supernatural beings hiding in the world. However, unbeknownst to Haruhi, most of her club members are the exact kind of supernatural beings that Haruhi is looking for, all of whom have gathered to observe Haruhi and her godlike powers, something that Haruhi is blissfully unaware of.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was easily the most popular anime of the 2000s, and thanks to Haruhi Suzumiya’s infectious charisma and wit and the memetic nature of the “Hare Hare Yukai” danceIt is easy to see how this happened. The anime has somewhat fallen into obscurity over the past decade, but Haruhi remains an icon to a degree that few other characters have ever matched since she first appeared.

16

Eren Yeager represents a much darker take on classic Shaun heroes

Attack on Titan

Eren Yeager quickly became one of the most popular anime characters due to his Distinctive personality and morals. Even though he doesn’t start out as a strong character in Attack on Titan, he soon develops into a powerful anti-hero after discovering his Titan-shifting powers. Many of the best quotes from Attack on Titan are attributed to him, as he is known for being fearless in battle.

Eren never backs down from a fight and is always the first to jump into action and lead his group. What defines Erin early in the series is his loyalty to his best friends Mikasa and Armin, and their friendship is one of the best relationships in anime. Eren’s character undergoes a big change at the end of the series, but this may not have hurt his popularity that much. At the end of Attack on TitanEren may be anime’s greatest anti-hero, and that’s more than enough to make him iconic.

15

Ichigo Kurosaki adds a rebellious spirit to Sean Jump

bleach

Ichigo Kurosaki ranks among the sweetest protagonists and is certainly among the most popular anime characters. Even though bleach Ichigo, who has been around for 22 years, is still a popular character among anime viewers, with popularity only boosted by the recent debut of Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War.

Ichigo has the powers of a Quincy, a Hollow and a Soul Reaper, which gives him a wide range of abilities that make his fights incredibly dazzling, however, one of the main reasons for his popularity is His unique appearance and caring personality. While most Shounen protagonists undergo major character shifts at the end of the series, Ichigo’s personality remains a consistent part of bleach From beginning to end, even as he grows.

14

Saitama is so much more than just a gimmick

One-punch man

Saitama is a down-to-earth, relatable guy who just happens to have incredible strength, a combination that makes him easily one of the most popular anime characters ever. with His detached and concerned behaviorSaitama is the titular “one-punch man” (although he is never called that in the series) who has the power to defeat any villain with a single hit. The only problem is that this leaves Saitama without any challenges in life, leading to a familiar sort of boredom with everything around him.

Despite being boring though, Saitama is the kind of guy who is a hero for fun, and that automatically makes him stand out. He is the moral core of his series, winning characters over to his way of thinking by living up to his ideals. With a unique hook and unrivaled powerset, Saitama is not only one of the strongest anime characters ever, he’s also one of the most iconic.

13

Satoru Gojo is the rare mentor more popular than his students

Jujutsu Kaisen

A common theme in shōnen anime is the next generation of heroes surpassing the old, and although this is a prominent part of Jujutsu KaisenGojo’s popularity has proven greater than that of his students by a wide margin. With Gojo’s powers like Limitless and Six Eyes, it’s easy to assume that the character’s iconic status is tied to his ridiculously powerful abilities. despite this, It’s Gojo’s fun personality and deep backstory that keep fans going Jujutsu Kaisen Coming back to the character.

12

Izuku ‘Doku’ Madoriya at his mercy

My hero academia

While how cool a character is can definitely be part of their appeal, that’s definitely not the case for Deku. Dku’s justice, honesty, and grace makes him My hero academia Heart pounding. That’s not to say that Deku can’t be cool when the situation calls for it, of course.

Possessing one for all gives the young hero access to a wide range of powers that make him a serious threat to face in any battle he is involved in. The power is only increased when Deku is involved in a battle meant to protect people. It’s no understatement to say that Deku truly ushered in a new generation of anime heroes.

11

Tanjiro Kamado is always a ray of positivity even in the darkest of times

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Demon Slayer is one of the most popular modern anime franchises, and it’s obvious that Tanjiro is a big part of that. It’s hard to undersell how popular the character is, as a poll showed Japanese children rate Tanjiro as more trustworthy than their own mothers. Watching any Demon Slayer Episode makes it easy to see why. Tanjiro is unflinchingly polite, not afraid to stand up to evil, but still has an incredibly kind and compassionate heart.. It is telling that one of Tanjiro’s defining traits is that he grieves for the demons he sides.

10

Anya Forger is hilarious and adorable in equal measure

Spy X Family

There’s no shortage of cute and funny anime characters, but few have exploded in popularity quite like Anya Forger from Spy X Family. Anya’s memorable faces, psychic powers and positive attitude are all traits that make her such a favorite among anime fans. Child characters are notoriously difficult to get right in fiction. Going too healthy or too uncomfortable can often make the character more annoying than cute. Spy X Family Strikes the right balance though, leading to some truly hilarious moments involving Anya.

9

Kinnikuman is another staple of Shonen Anime Heroes

Character from the anime series Kinnikuman

The Kincumon Franchise largely revolves around Kinnikuman, a clumsy oafish superhero who always fails to protect Japan from trouble, or at least without maintaining his dignity. As the series progresses, however, Kinnikuman grows into a more mature and competent hero, and he gains more and more respect from his peers with each tournament victory and, more importantly, each battle to save the world.

While Kincumon May not be known in America, it is one of the most popular and iconic anime in Japan, and thanks to this, Kincumons titular hero has spent decades as a staple of Shawn anime thanks to its balance of stellar action and goofy comedy antics. The latest sequel series, Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Archas brought everything great about the character into the modern day, and with any luck, it will help his character reach a much wider audience around the world.

8

Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star helped redefine action anime

Character from Toei Animation’s Fist of the North Star

Toy animation Fist of the North Star Star Kenshiro, the stoic and surprisingly emotional master of Hokuto Shinken, the world’s most powerful martial art that can make people explode with a single touch. Kenshiro uses his abilities to keep peace in a post-apocalyptic world wherever he can find trouble, even when it ties into his mysterious and tragic backstory.

Kenshiro is one of the most memetic characters in all of anime thanks to his signature fighting style and iconic “you’re already dead” catchphraseWith both referred to countless times in not only anime, but Western media, as well. The surprising maturity of Fist of the North StarKenshiro’s writing is also very likable, and in general, it’s hard to imagine modern anime without Kenshiro’s influence on the dozens of anime to follow his legacy.

7

Usagi Tsukino is easily the most famous magical girl of all time

Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon is a wildly successful series, in large part due to Usagi, one of the most popular anime characters ever. Usagi is the every girlInterested in boyfriends and fashion and not doing her school work. She is often a reluctant hero, as her magical destiny is forced upon her without her permission. Usagi is the reincarnation of Queen Serenity, ruler of the ancient Moon Kingdom, and is thus given the role of Sailor Moon, tasked with protecting Earth from evil forces. Usagi is also a good friend and works well with the other Sailor Scouts when the chips are down.

6

Conan Edogawa is anime’s most iconic detective

Character from TMS Entertainment’s Detective Conan

TMS Entertainment Detective ConanAlso known as Case closed In English, it stars Shinichi Kudo, a teen detective who is accidentally turned into a child by a mysterious criminal organization known only as the Black Organization. Now by Conan Edogawa, he must work to expose the Black Organization and return his body to normal, all while solving every gruesome murder he and his friends come across.

Detective Conan It has been around for 30 years and is even older than One pieceAnd thanks to the sheer length of its history, Conan Edogawa has long been an anime staple thanks to decades of exposure and his signature intelligent detective work.. Few characters have become as big a staple of anime as Conan, and with no end in sight for the story, that’s unlikely to change.

5

Naruto Uzumaki’s character arc cements him as an all-time classic

Naruto

Rated the best Shawn Jump Anime of All Time by Ranker, Naruto Always comes up when the most popular anime characters are discussed. Fans adore the main character of the series, Naruto Uzumaki, for his relentless drive and charisma. Despite having no family and being rejected by his people as a child, Naruto developed into a respectable and upright adult, defending the very people who bullied him.

An aspiring ninja at first, failing to pass the academy three times, Naruto’s initial failures made him more relatable than many other shin heroes at the time. He eventually advanced to the position of Hokage, the strongest shinobi, through training and sheer willpower. He is Intelligent, entertaining, and a loyal friendAll of which are key to making him a beloved character.

4

Monkey D. Luffy represents freedom and liberation to millions

One piece

One piece It aired for more than 23 years, making it one of the longest-running anime of all time. One pieces hero, Monkey D. Luffy, has consistently been among the most popular anime characters for almost all of time. This stupid, innocent man is known for his Loyalty, goofiness and trademark smile. He will stop at nothing to protect his friends and their ambitions, and dreams of becoming King of the Pirates.

Luffy’s real dream in One piece Is actually to be free, and to explore the world’s hidden corners, a fantasy shared by many. His honesty and courage make him no less fun to be around, and Luffy is one hero who can always be counted on.

Pokemon

Without a doubt one of the most recognized and most popular anime characters in history, Ash Ketchum was the protagonist of Pokemon for a whopping 25 years, so generations of kids grew up alongside Ash during that time. It is impossible to talk about Ash without mentioning his best friend Pikachu, a loyal Pokemon who never leaves his side, and can often be seen perched on his shoulder.

Ash’s determination is unlike any other anime protagonist, as his quest to become the greatest Pokemon master often sees him facing world-ending threats and even the literal God of Pokemon. Besides his determination, so is Ash Courageous and never afraid to stand up for what is rightEven willing to look past his own ambitions to ensure good profits.

2

Totoro is the enduring symbol of an entire anime empire

My friend Totoro

My friend Totoro is one of the most iconic pieces of anime ever, and a big part of that is the titular forest monster itself. With a simple yet incredibly lovable design, Totoro is the perfect symbol for everything that makes Ghibli the powerhouse that it is. Totoro is almost the Platonic ideal of a mascot character. He’s not trying to be goofy and his antics really evoke a sense of childhood wonder. Ghibli truly could not have chosen a better character to represent himself than Totoro, making him one of the most beloved anime icons ever created.

1

Goku is a global icon and the most popular anime hero in the world

Dragon Ball

Goku is undoubtedly the most famous anime character ever. He served as the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball series for 32 years and has kept the show running with his wit, charms, innocence and power. In that time, Goku has grown from a slightly bratty young boy into Earth’s greatest defender, saving the planet time and time again from magical and extraterrestrial threats.

One of Goku’s greatest assets is his ability to turn enemies into friends, most notably his friendship with fellow Saiyan Vegeta, who went from an unrepentant killer to a family man due to Goku’s influence. Goku’s pure heart, selflessness, loyalty and dedication are his best traitsAnd are key to what he is The most popular anime character of all time.