Judging an anime series isn’t always about the quality of its writing or animation. Often, fans engage in popularity contests to decide which anime characters are the best. Intriguing, well-designed characters can define the story, turning a mediocre anime series into a truly unforgettable one with their sheer star power. Some of the most loved anime characters—from My Hero Academia to Naruto to One Piece—perfectly personify the best parts of their series, while others are masters of stealing the spotlight.

The very best anime characters tend to have that “it” factor that makes them the most popular, such as a combination of cool dialogue, memorable scenes, or even an interesting philosophy and worldview. Every anime fan will have their favorites, but a large handful of characters have still risen to the top among the community.

Updated on January 20th, 2025 by Louis Kemner: This list of the most popular anime characters of all time has been updated to include five more cool anime characters and has been streamlined for an easier and more informative reading experience.

30

Deku Must Become the Next Symbol of Peace

Only Deku Can Defeat Tomura With One For All

My Hero Academia protagonist Izuku Midoriya, usually going by Deku, has become one of the most popular anime characters thanks to his refreshingly straightforward and heartwarming attitude about heroism. Deku has always dreamed of being a great hero who can protect a world where everyone can smile, and thanks to the power of One For All, that idealistic dream may become a reality.

Deku is popular thanks to not just his flashy powers with One For All, but also his cheerful and innocent personality, which clashes amusingly with his powers. He’s also smart and quite a charmer, attracting the attention of people like Ochaco Uraraka, who sought to push herself and be more like him. It speaks volumes about his good nature that even one of his classmates would fight so hard to be not like the pro heroes, but like Deku.

29

Alucard Is the Best, Scariest Vampire Antihero

Alucard Has a Disdain for Modern Vampires

Alucard is the infamous vampire powerhouse from the Seinen Hellsing manga/anime series. He’s the very model of a compelling antihero, a sinister and merciless warrior who fights his own kind on behalf of the Hellsing Organization while having no sentimentality whatsoever. He might make an exception for his protégé Seras Victoria, however, since he feels somewhat protective of her.

Alucard is one of the most popular anime characters of all time because he is overpowered in such an engaging way. Even if his fights are predictably easy, it’s still fun to watch Alucard taunt his enemies and toy with them, then crush them without even releasing his full power. There are few anime vampires on the same level as this one. That said, Alucard prefers his orders directly from the Hellsing clan, essentially making him a living weapon.

28

Nezuko Kamado Fights Bravely by Her Brother’s Side

Nezuko is Japan’s Kindest and Cutest Demon

The Demon Slayer anime introduced anime fans to the charming little Nezuko Kamado, the girl who tragically became a demon but stubbornly refused to sacrifice her humanity in the process. Nezuko defied the odds and remained a hero at heart, and more than once, Nezuko fought alongside her brother Tanjiro to fight her fellow demons, such as Daki and Hantengu.

Nezuko may be a ferocious fighter, but fans adore Nezuko because of her sheer charm, including her small form when she shrinks. Her visual comedy is unmatched in Demon Slayer, with Nezuko being the demon girl in pink who goofs off anytime there aren’t any demons to fight. It was also heartwarming to see Nezuko bond with Mitsuri Kanroji, who was like an older sister to her.

27

Kaguya Shinomiya Is One of Anime’s Smartest Waifus Ever

Kaguya Was Cold But Now Has a Warm Heart

Kaguya-Sama: Love is War is an ultra-popular battle of wits anime between the student council president Miyuki Shirogane and the wealthy heiress Kaguya Shinomiya, who are deeply smitten with one another. They’re too stubbornly proud to confess their feelings, so they’re trying to trick each other into making that confession first. Miyuki has his fans, but anime fans love Kaguya Shinomiya as the series “Best Girl.”

She cherishes her meaningful friendships and loves spending quality time with her classmates, making her more than just another ojou-sama. Kaguya is also delightfully flawed at times, from her sympathetic insecurities to her unexpected goofy side. She may be set to inherit trillions of yen, but at school, Kaguya only cares about Miyuki and their love game. Anime fans can’t get enough of this beloved anime character.

26

Yuno Gasai Became a Twisted Yandere Waifu In Fans’ Eyes

Yuno is an Example of a Popular Anime Bad Girl

Yuno Gasai is the quintessential yandere anime character or an obsessive lover who resorts to stalking and even violence to keep other people away from the object of her affection. Yuno has it all, from her falsely sweet exterior and monstrous interior to her habit of carrying around weapons. Plus, her jealous streak can cause some serious damage.

Yuno’s love interest is Yukitaru, and she will say or do anything to make him love her and keep everyone else away. Ironically, Yuno was named after Juno, the Roman goddess of femininity and motherhood, but there’s nothing gentle and motherly about this yandere anime character. Still, despite her extreme behavior, Yuno Gasai is one of the anime community’s favorite characters, a reminder that there will always be an audience for bad girls like her.

25

Ichigo Kurosaki Is a High Schooler Turned Soul Reaper

Bleach’s Ichigo Saved the Universe from Aizen and Yhwach

Bleach‘s powerful protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki didn’t become one of the most popular anime characters of all time because he came from a “Big 3” Shonen anime, although the series certainly helped. Ichigo’s design also makes him stand out from comically extreme heroes like Luffy, Naruto, and Goku. In other words, Ichigo is a tsundere punk with a good heart, much like Yu Yu Hakusho‘s Yusuke Urameshi before him.

Ichigo became a Shonen icon with his cool blend of isekai/Shonen adventures, his tough-guy persona, his stylish Soul Reaper powers, and his stubborn determination to protect all his friends at any cost. Ichigo also has unexpected emotional depth, since he’s still wrangling with the grief of his beloved mother’s passing, which hardened his heart’s outer layer. Bleach‘s Thousand-Year Blood War arc is currently airing, with not much left before Ichigo unleashes his full potential.

24

Kirito Soon Became Aincrad’s #1 Swordsman

Kirito is Famous for Dual-Wielding Swords

Sword Art Online has steadily become an anime behemoth. This series influenced the isekai boom that fans know today, as well as rose as one of the most successful franchises in the medium. Even now, new anime seasons attempt to acquire SAO‘s lightning-in-a-bottle success and there seems to be a new isekai series announced every year.

While each member of SAO’s eclectic cast has played a part in defining the series, its main man will always be the pro gamer himself, Kirito. Whether anime fans relate to Kirito’s quiet attitude or love his various adventures within video games and romance, Kirito is filling up heart containers everywhere with his charisma. Sword Art Online is still one of the most popular modern anime, with Kirito becoming an extremely popular anime character thanks to the franchise’s continued success.

23

Saitama is the Caped Baldy With an Incredible Punch

Saitama Action-Packed Story of Finding Meaning in Life is Beloved by Fans

On the face of it, the bald superhero Saitama isn’t quite like typical seinen leads in One-Punch Man, but there is more to him than his comedy. On one level, he’s entertaining as the casual homemade superhero who can defeat absolutely anyone or anything with just a single punch. However, the real substance of Saitama’s character is his internal struggle.

When a popular anime character like Saitama is overpowered and can’t be physically threatened by anyone, such characters must grapple with an issue that no overpowered move can ever defeat. In this case, Saitama is struggling to find meaning and happiness in his routine life, because neither his superhero life nor his private life amount to much. But with new friends like Genos and King, that just might change for the better.

22

Joseph Proudly Furthers the Legacy of the Joestar Name

JoJo’s Stylish Joseph Joestar Used Hamon and Gained the Hermit Purple Stand

Joseph Joestar is the goofy, carefree second protagonist of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and he feels very different from his Kenshiro-inspired grandfather, Jonathan. In the Battle Tendency story arc, Joseph became one of the best anime characters ever with a combination of clever tactics, wacky antics, and a heartfelt desire to avenge Caesar Zeppeli.

Then, in Stardust Crusaders, Joseph returned as an elderly man with more wit and charm than ever while hunting the powerful vampire DIO alongside his grandson Jotaro. Joseph would also play a small albeit notable role as a wizened 79-year-old man in Diamond is Unbreakable. While Jotaro Kujo remains the most iconic JoJo’s hero, Joseph Joestar was voted as one of the most popular anime characters out there. Furthermore, nearly every JoJo owes something to the only Joestar capable of using Hamon.

21

Rem is Subaru’s Best Friend in a Scary Isekai World

Rem Has Been Subaru’s Emotional Rock For a Long Time

Rem from Re:Zero is one of the most loyal anime characters in the series and perhaps all of anime. At the start of the series, Subaru meets Rem and her twin sister, Ram, while they are employed by Roswaal L. Mathers. Overall, Rem is a great sister to Ram, and her loyalty to Subaru is admirable. Though a bit impulsive, Rem is willing to step up and defend either of them, no matter what it takes.

While she isn’t the strongest fighter around, there’s no denying Rem’s mental resilience. Although she didn’t quite trust Subaru Natsuki in the beginning, Rem served as his emotional rock when he needed one the most, lifting Subaru’s spirits and convincing him to fight on despite all the fear and pain he experienced. Subaru owes a lot to Rem, and anime fans love her for transforming from a minor villain into a major hero.

20

Spike Spiegel Is Slick Gunman Drifting Through Space

Cowboy Bebop’s Spike is a Well-Dressed Rogue With a Maverick Personality

Cowboy Bebop‘s Spike Spiegel has a cool sense of fashion and an even cooler profession. As a former gangster turned bounty hunter, Spike’s a skilled fighter who marches to the beat of his own drum — even if it annoys his teammates to no end. Notoriously lazy and seldom seen without a cigarette in his mouth, anime fans generally agree that Spike is one of the medium’s gutsiest characters.

Between Spike’s fashion sense, stoic yet relatable attitude, and badass gunslinging moves, it’s easy to see why anime fans adore Spike so much. With a free spirit like Spike, fans are always kept on the edges of their seats and never know what to expect next. Cowboy Bebop‘s plot also highlights Spike’s spiritual nature, which both clashes and syncs with the society of pure technology that he lives in.

19

Ken Kaneki Learned to Accept His Dark Side

Ken is a Famous Seinen Half-Other

Ken Kaneki is one of the most iconic anime characters of all time — even those who have never seen the Tokyo Ghoul series will at least recognize his ghoul form. The One-Eyed Ghoul’s story is truly a tragedy with very little respite, which is why anime fans admire him deeply. Many consider Kaneki one of the best anime protagonists because of his checkered past as well as his determination to move forward.

Ken Kaneki is a man of many layers and just as many flaws. He plays both heroic and villainous roles throughout the story, forcing both his allies and the audience to recalibrate to his changing personality. Kaneki’s journey in Tokyo Ghoul is one of suffering, pain, and a gruesome, nightmarish reality. The series depicts a constant tug-of-war between Kaneki’s ghoul side fighting against his humanity.

18

Gintoki Sakata Is the Goofiest Swordsman In Shonen Anime

Gintoki May Be Silly, But His Skills Are Serious

Sakata Gintoki is one of the most lovable male anime characters of all time. As the protagonist of Gintama, Gintoki is the ultimate class clown. He’s the king of anime comedy, rightfully earning the crown with his surreal sense of humor and a level of laziness that’s almost incomprehensible. In addition, the juxtaposition between his eccentric attitude and remarkable samurai skills makes him even more impressive.

Formerly known as the “White Yaksha,” Gintoki became a revolutionary during the Edo period. When the audience meets him, however, he takes up any “odd job” he can find to make ends meet. All things considered, Gintoki is equal parts humble, foolish, and awesome. Although he regularly wastes his money gambling, audiences find him particularly relatable and endearing. Gintoki certainly knows how to protect people, the ideal hallmark of a Shonen hero.

17

Kenshiro Is One of the Deadliest Anime Characters

Kenshiro Set the Mold For Heroes Like Goku and Guts

Essentially the lovechild of Bruce Lee and Mad Max, Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star is an iconic anime character known for his brutal justice. That said, this anime series is also considered to be among the most influential of all time. Traversing the barren wasteland of his dystopian future, Kenshiro is the last disciple of the “Hokuto Shinken” martial art. This allows him to make opponents literally explode after rapidly tapping on their bodies.

Though he’s most known for being one of the top anime characters to end their enemies’ lives violently, that’s not all there is to him. Kenshiro also has a softer side and selflessly protects the innocent. Although Fist of the North Star ended in 1988, modern anime fans might recognize Kenshiro from the highly popular meme “Omae wa mou shindeiru,” or “You are already dead.”

16

Rintaro Okabe is the Best Anime Scientist

Rintaro is a Conflicted Scientist Tinkering With Time

The original Steins;Gate visual novel game inspired an anime of the same name, starring popular anime characters like the kuudere Kurisu and most of all, the popular yet troubled Rintaro Okabe. He was the one who founded a lab where he and his fellows could send messages back in time, leading to a fascinating story about the flow of time itself.

Personally, Rintaro is compelling not just because of his “mad scientist” persona. The colorful character is also beloved thanks to his chunibyo tendencies, meaning he has a flair for the dramatic and thinks he is special. Such traits are usually associated with middle school students, so having a young man like Rintaro do the same is memorable and quite entertaining.

15

Guts Is a Haunted, Scarred Swordsman Seeking Revenge

Guts Wields One of the Best Swords in Anime, the Dragon Slayer

As the protagonist of Berserk, Guts is the ultimate tragic hero and the poster boy for dark fantasy anime. Famously known as the Black Swordsman for the gigantic weapon he carries, Guts is one of the most well-written protagonists of all time and one of the most unique in the medium. Guts’ early life was defined by a series of traumatic events, but he’s undergone admirable character growth throughout the original Berserk anime.

Following an act of unspeakable treachery in the finale episode, he is forced to deal with a whole new set of emotions to survive. In subsequent Berserk series as well as in the manga, Guts learns how to move past the pain of betrayal and childhood trauma to become a better man. Far from a one-dimensional character, Guts fits many tropes associated with both Shonen and Seinen protagonists by giving them nuance and depth.

14

Edward Elric Is One of the Best Anime Brothers

Edward is a Scientist, Alchemist, and Martial Artist All in One

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is universally regarded as one of the best shonen series of all time. Edward Elric led the anime and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his spunky, passionate attitude about both his life and his career. He’s a true underdog who never gives up, no matter what life throws at him.

After an experiment goes wrong, Edward loses an arm, and his brother Alphonse’s soul gets trapped in a metal suit of armor. After that, Edward takes the audience on a stunning journey, giving anime fans the adventure they’re desperately searching for. The most important feature about Edward, however, is that he’s willing to sacrifice everything to save Alphonse. The Elric Brothers are easily among the greatest anime siblings ever.

13

Sung Jinwoo Is One of the Newest Popular Anime Characters

Jinwoo is a Hero With No Limit to His Potential

Sung Jinwoo is the hero of Solo Leveling — an anime adapted from a webtoon series. Initially the weakest of the Hunters in Solo Leveling, he becomes one of the strongest after making a pact with the mysterious “System.” This allows Jinwoo to build upon his abilities and take on enemies far stronger than himself.

Both Sung Jinwoo and his anime series have already become massively popular. Jinwoo in particular, subverts norms among underdog anime characters, not to mention overpowered ones. Given the success of the Solo Leveling anime, many more will come to recognize him around the world, especially with the upcoming Korean-language TV adaptation. Fans of Sung Jinwoo can also check out the spin-off Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, which features his son Sung Soho.

12

Light Yagami Tried to Become the Embodiment of Justice

Light’s Arrogance Was His Eventual Downfall

Two of the major characters in Death Note rank among the most popular anime characters of all time—one of them being protagonist Light Yagami himself. Light instantly made shonen anime history as a dark antihero scheming to use a murderous notebook to become the embodiment of justice, one slain criminal at a time. Along the way, Light wowed anime fans with his sharp intellect and acting skills.

Light is also fascinating because his character tempts fans to sympathize with his quest to make a world free of violent crime and fear. However, he became the very thing he swore to destroy, making him a more complex shonen lead. Light continued descending further into the darkness, using and exploiting anyone who could serve him and discarding them to tie up loose ends.

11

Killua Zoldyck Gets a Lot More Fan Attention Than Gon

Killua Set the Mold for Sasuke Uchiha

Even though Gon is the protagonist and arguably one of the most endearing anime characters in history, Killua truly stole the show in Hunter x Hunter thanks to his rich character development. Despite coming from a family of assassins, Killua defied expectations by displaying a surprisingly healthy level of emotional development — both as a young boy and a Shonen character.

Killua had to learn the actual value of human life before understanding the true power of human connection. In the Hunter Exam arc, he had no qualms about killing people. By the end of the story, however, Killua understands the weight of taking someone else’s life. Killua has a lovable yet occasionally dark personality, but it is this unexpected combination that makes him a beloved icon in anime.