What Is the Most Popular Anime Character

As hard as it is to admit, judging an anime is not always about the quality of the writing or blitheness. More often than not, it brings fans of any age dorsum to the wild tribalism of their middle school lunch room as authority is decided, not past wit or strength, but by a popularity contest. Which child had the coolest shoes? Who had a cookie in their Lunchables? Whose dad "works at Nintendo"?

Equally is constant with the early days of humankind, those who stand at the top are those who are nearly popular, and this is no unlike for anime and its characters, where the next casual fan may have their next anime of choice dictated by what they run into the most, either in the recommendations of YouTube or on the backpacks and t-shirts of their fellow weebs.

Whether it be the best looking, more intriguing, or near badass character, anime as a medium is one that is frequently defined past its most popular characters. Whether they perfectly condense all that 1 loves nearly a series into a personified form or just absolutely steal the prove, anime characters are a performance worth paying for on their own. Bringing things dorsum to the glory days of that middle school lunchroom, this list volition exist deciding who really is the coolest of the cool, equally it runs down the Acme 10 most popular characters in anime history (according to the community votes of My Anime List as of this writing).

Updated May 20th, 2022: Much like any other industry, the anime world has a competitive atmosphere whose landscape is constantly shifting. And while the studios may compete for a share of their audience, anime characters themselves also indirectly compete for attending, with the faces of the industry constantly changing within the fans' eyes. As such, this list volition be adding a few more faces that take risen among the anime ranks, likewise as adjusting for new rankings and votes within MyAnimeList.

xv Kazuto Kirigaya (40,164 Votes)

Sword Art Online has go a behemoth within the anime world for both influencing the isekai boom that fans know today as well every bit ascension as i of the well-nigh successful franchises in anime history. And while each member of its eclectic cast has played a office in defining the series, its main man volition always be the pro gamer himself, Kirito.

Whether fans are relating to his quiet attitude or just love his various adventures within video games and romance, Kirito is filling upwards heart containers everywhere with his charisma.

14 Kurisu Makise (42,666 Votes)

Steins;Gate was a pivotal and influential anime in more ways than one, but the area that really counts is in crafting ane of the near famous tsunderes in anime. Kurisu "Christina" Makise is the reluctant partner in crime and science to the serial' lead (more than on him later). Her biting tongue fabricated for some swell rapport, and her sugariness side helped compliment the famous endearing quality of the series main bandage.

While practiced on their own, these qualities gave some weight to the twist in the beginning that she may very well die in the series. Grabbing the viewers tighter equally the series gone on, fans began to beloved and worry more and more for their beloved Christina.

13 Hachiman Hikigaya (42,723 Votes)

The anime industry has taken a hit with the current crisis, with one of the nearly infamous delays being for the long-awaited return of My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU. Perhaps the biggest call for fans' concern is the fact that they'll have to wait just a lilliputian longer for anime's king of self-deprecation, Hachiman Hikigaya.

A realist who yet selflessly serves the edification of his fellow students, Hachiman is a strong take on the loftier school protagonist that fans just tin can't aid but be intrigued by and the people who actually accept the fourth dimension to know him just can't assist but fall in beloved with him.

12 Itachi Uchiha (43,223 Votes)

Sasuke Uchiha is one of the most famous border lords in all of anime, simply he wouldn't be what he is today without the older brother that he probably stole mixtapes and t-shirts from.

Itachi Uchiha is the anti-hero that fans didn't think for a second was bad, equally they stared into his dreamy, Sharingan filled eyes. Whether it's his iconic design, mysterious history, or cool moves, Itachi made millions of fans everywhere question why he isn't the Uchiha the series focused on.

xi Killua Zoldyck (48,832 Votes)

Hunter ten Hunter is far from existence a 1-character show. Even now, the series has pivoted beyond an entirely dissimilar perspective, giving fans awe to how versatile and complex this spectacular Shonen can be. If at that place was ever a grapheme to ascertain how cool and varied this series can be, it would be none other than Killua Zoldyck.

Though the series tries to relegate him as Gon Freecss' sidekick, Killua managed to grab a lot of attending for his mysterious family history, lethal talent, and abiding contemplation of purpose and morality.

10 Sakata Gintoki-Gintama (51,200 Votes)

Starting off this list is the grade clown of anime who can make anyone laugh or fifty-fifty cry at the drop of a hat. Gintama alone is a serial known as the male monarch of anime one-act, infamous for its surreal humour, loveable characters, and insurmountable corporeality of popular culture references that fifty-fifty put Family unit Guy to shame.

Leading the series' motley crew of clowns is the "White Demon" himself, Sakata Gintoki. One time a revolutionary during the alien invasion version of Nihon's Edo flow, Gin now finds himself doing "odd jobs" beyond town merely to make ends meat, whether it'due south assisting in a sushi shop, solving local detective cases, or fighting off aliens. What helps elevate Gin to this list is his ability to pull off direct faced jokes, ecstatic direct human being routines, and endearing, stoic lines, playing cool as both the humble fool and difficult boiled badass with such mastery that Gin actually sees no equal within his industry.

9 Naruto Uzamaki-Naruto (58,366 Votes)

Sitting at #nine is one the principal characters of the infamous "Big Three," the Hidden Leaf Village's "Nine-Tailed Fob," Naruto Uzamaki. Naruto defines the very essence of "started at the bottom," every bit he began his journeying every bit the incompetent outcast of his ninja school, only for the fans to cheer and cry equally they watched him work and scrape to the top, training with the perviest of sages, fighting off the well-nigh powerful ninjas, and nevertheless finding fourth dimension to look after his friends.

The #1 Knucklehead became #one in several anime fan's hearts, as he gave some of anime's best fights, character dramas, and underdog stories. And, just a couple of years ago, Naruto reached that rare breed of shounen protagonist that actually gets to accomplish their dreams, every bit he finally became the 7th Hokage of the Hidden Foliage Village, making readers and viewers who followed along the mode feel similar proud parents.

eight Roronoa Zoro-One Slice (62,906 Votes)

Proving that supporting characters and second-in-commands tin can be beloved within their own correct, the "Pirate Hunter" and kickoff mate of the Harbinger Hat pirates, Roronoa Zoro, makes this list. In the offset, Zoro was just a loudmouthed kid who idea that merely having more than swords meant he was stronger. Notwithstanding with diligent grooming and the pains of a lost rivalry, he'd proceed to master the illustrious iii-sword manner and mature into the stoic badass that fans love to this twenty-four hour period.

On his journey to become the world's all-time swordsmen, Zoro has paved (in more than cases, cut) a path of destruction that has left behind buildings, robots, and some of Ane Piece's best antagonists. He is the coolheaded bedrock that has supported and guided Luffy as the Captain of the Straw Hats and a trusted companion that has proven to fans in more than 1 occasion what loyalty really means.

vii Rintarou Okabe-Steings;Gate (64,901 Votes)

Moving away from the more combat heavy series, this list enters sci-fi/suspense/visual novel territory, equally it looks into anime'southward favorite mad scientist and the leader of the Time to come Gadget Research Establishment, Rintarou Okabe. Rin encapsulates everything that any struggling college/STEM pupil should aspire to be.

He is a kickoff-twelvemonth at Tokyo Denki Academy who'due south decided to motion his operations to Akihabara and open up his ain time travel research lab, leading a group of engineers who are more otaku than scientist. Rin draws fans in with his eccentric and over the meridian beliefs but absolutely traps the viewer'south attention with his hidden levels of sincerity and intrigue, every bit the series dives deeper into its ain mysteries, putting Rin into a variety of high concept, moral dilemmas that requite an already interesting character plenty to work with.

half dozen Calorie-free Yagami-Death Note (68,258 Votes)

On a similar note of high concept, moral questions and suspense is the teenage savior of humanity and punisher of all that is evil, "Kira" Light Yagami. Light was once the proficient looking prodigy of his loftier school whose societal and family unit pressures only made him more and more distant from the mundane elements of every day life, until the opportunity of a lifetime literally brutal at his feet, and he would brainstorm a journey of world conservancy and mass murder.

Having institute the Expiry Annotation and entering a companionship with the decease god Ryuk, Calorie-free at present has the power to kill anyone, anywhere by dictating their name and even crusade of death within the Death Note. Taking upon the identity of "Kira," Light uses his newfound opportunity to kill all of the worst criminals of the globe, showing closure to some while launching a worldwide conspiracy/mystery to others. With his genius level intellect and eccentric passion, Calorie-free has lead fans in one of anime'southward greatest cat-and-mouse chases.

Acting as the protagonist to one of the greatest Shounen anime of all time, the "Fullmetal Alchemist" Edward Elric has brought fans equal parts spunky, underdog passion and morally conflicted human drama that well-nigh, if whatever, other Shounen protagonists don't achieve.

After an alchemy experiment gone wrong that left him without an arm and his blood brother's soul trapped in a suit of armor, Ed has atomic number 82 fans on an absolutely stunning journey of existential and religious drama, political intrigue, heartwarming friendships, and epic, loftier concept alchemy battles. Despite his arrogant, loudmouthed nature, Edward Elric was the face of an adventure that anime fans everywhere ironically prayed for a happy ending.

4 Levi Ackerman-Attack on Titan (71,809 Votes)

Attack on Titan Levi Ackerman on the move

Moving on to a chief of blades of a unlike brood is humanity's strongest soldier as well as the Captain of the Scouting Legion segmentation and the Special Operations Squad, Levi Ackerman. Since his introduction, Levi has earned more than merely the fans' love, as he'south absolutely taken their respect, as his role every bit the common cold, stern faced captain scares to near Fullmetal Jacket levels merely is mitigated by his tactful nature and genuine concern for his mission and squad.

Beyond a leadership that even gets viewers standing to attention, Levi is besides an incredible fighter on the battlefield, every bit he'due south showcased some of Attack on Titan'southward nigh intense moments fighting off titans and other soldiers alike. Anyone who misjudges this man by his short stature may soon find themselves at the incorrect end of a blade.

three Monkey D. Luffy-One Slice (77,532 Votes)

Appropriately entering in at #3 is the leader of Shounen Bound's "Big Three," the Captain of the Harbinger Hat Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy. The son of an infamous revolutionary and the grandson of a love marine, Luffy surprisingly had humble beginnings as just a little child looking upwardly to his pirate hero, "Red Haired" Shanks. Later eating the Mucilage Gum fruit and being raised by bandits, Luff would go on to lead his own journeying to become King of the Pirates, leading a loveable coiffure of misfits and outcasts that accept ingrained the series with tons of personality.

And no other member of that coiffure has more personality than the captain himself, as the fun loving, unproblematic minded rubber man has made fans laugh, cry, and stare in awe, as Luffy'south personal brand of justice and liberty are as provocative equally they are endearing. Luffy's just a guy who's difficult to hate, which falls in line with being a Shounen protagonist, but his ain personal flavor promotes acceptance and dreaming in a way that other Shounen protagonists just haven't done.

two L Lawliet-Death Note (92,662 Votes)

Surpassing his chief grapheme counterpart is Low-cal Yagami's foil and the world's greatest detective, L Lawliet. It'south no wonder that L has received as many votes equally he did, as he's but an aesthetically singled-out graphic symbol. Whether information technology'south his high level intelligence, eccentric personality, off heart posture, or sweet tooth diet, Fifty only leaves an impression on the viewer'southward mind which certainly adds to the intrigue of an already enthralling suspense series.

Beyond just matching Calorie-free in intelligence, Fifty is a perfect foil in aesthetics alone, as his social ineptitude and foreign aura allow him to gun past Light'due south more complex strategic and social reasoning. In the boxing of the kid everybody loves versus the outcast that's merely hard to look away from, L oddly wins out in a major popularity contest.

1 Lelouch Lamperouge-Code Geass (112,860 Votes)

Ranking in at #1 is a complex character leading complex characters in one of anime's most tightly structured and multifaceted serial. Lelouch Lamperouge was at one bespeak a prince 17th in line to the throne who renounced his status after the assassination of his female parent and the crippling of his sister. Having been a political hostage in adjournment inside Japan every bit a student, Lelouch plant his opportunity for revenge and redemption equally he stumbled upon C.C., a mysterious girl who grants him the power of Geass, a foreign power that lets him dictate the actions of any person once.

With his newfound gift, Lelouch continues down a path of redemption and destruction every bit he becomes the leader of the revolutionary group the Order of the Black Knights, lies to and betrays his friends, and kills hundreds and thousands of people in the procedure. Seeing what type of man he becomes as he comes out the other side is only titillating plenty to bring fans across a deep moral analysis and human being drama.

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What Is the Most Popular Anime Character