Top 50 Most Popular Anime Characters Of All Time

Most Popular Anime Characters

The world of anime is full of unique and interesting characters. Anime fans love their favorite characters, as well as the series they come from. There are hundreds of popular anime shows out there to choose from, but which ones have the most popular characters? This list will count down 50 of the most popular anime characters ever created!

The world of anime is a vast one that contains many unique and interesting stories and characters. Anime fans love their favorite show and character just as much as any other fan in this fandom does, so it can be difficult for them to choose which show or character they like best when there are literally thousands of options to choose from. In order to help these anime fans, this list has been created as a ranking of 50 of the most popular characters ever! This list will count down 50 of the best and most well known anime characters ever seen. Who knows? Maybe your favorite character is on here too.

50: Chika Fujiwara

When the anime opened with Kaguya Sama, there was one character who quickly rose in popularity. And that’s Chika Fujiwara–sweet, cute and cunning all at once! 

She may not have been among top 4 main characters for screen time but she still managed to steal our hearts as viewers by being so much fun throughout this series. Her personality makes up most of what you’ll enjoy about it without any valid reason whatsoever 🙂

49: Seishiro Tsugumi

Tsugumi has quite a few things going for her. For one, she’s the only female DOGS member in existence! She also gets paired up with pretty much every other male character at some point or another. Plus she’s got that cute pouty face that makes people want to give her anything she wants 🙂

48: Kaname Chidori

There are several characters out there who can be considered “Tomoyo” clones, but the original is still the best! When Kaname first appeared on screen, many an anime fan melted at how beautiful and innocent she was–something which slowly began to fade as the series went by… though. Maybe you thought it was a good thing it did, or maybe not.

47: Chii

Chobits is one of the most well-known series in this fandom and for good reason! The characters are all well developed and enjoyable to watch. One such character is Chii, who’s design can range from cute to sexy depending on who you ask 🙂 She may have been an android but she was far from being just a robot–which makes her that much more fascinating 😉

46: Sailor Uranus

Sailor Moon and its related shows (Sailor Moon Crystal included) remain popular with anime fans not only because the story told there is interesting but because pretty much every major character has their own charm about. Sailor Uranus proves to be no different. One of the most popular characters in all of Sailor Moon. She’s shown great leadership skills and is skilled at using both her Super form and her Saturnian finishing move, which is cool 🙂

Also read: Top 50 Best Josei Anime Of All Time

45: Space Dandy

Dandy’s name alone should be enough to spark your interest! He’s just that badass when it comes to traveling through space (and having fun while doing so). His laidback personality makes him easy to like for anime fans everywhere–but not nearly as much as his rose also does!! If you’ve seen this show, you know how much he enjoys it although I’m sure many would find this behavior weird 😉 

44: Hanyuu Furude (Higurashi)

A god among men! Hanyuu Furude of Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni is a beautiful character who has been loved by many fans for her pure and kind nature. Being the symbol of hope from all that hell that goes on, she’s pretty much just as amazing of a leader as you would’ve imagined her to be 🙂

43: Sailor Venus: Most Popular Female Anime Characters

Yes, more Sailor Moon. But if anything was going to make this list, it had to be these ladies first! Despite not being one of the five main characters in Sailor Moon (Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are), Sailor Venus still ranks extremely high with the anime fandom because of how brave and ready she is to at any time! She’s also got a pretty nice design too, which doesn’t hurt.

42: Revy

Black Lagoon is one of those series you can’t help but love for its badass characters, who are all extremely popular with anime fans everywhere! Raoh being the main star is good and all but Revy is the one who gets most of the attention 😉 And why wouldn’t she? She’s just cool as hell 🙂 Plus that black eye patch makes her look more amazing than ever 😀 41: Sailor Saturn

Another character from Sailor Moon by far making this list for many of us to enjoy! Sailor Saturn might not have been on screen for very long but even so, people fell in love with her because she was mysterious. Not only that but pretty much every Sailor Moon fan thought she was the coolest and most powerful Sailor Scout there ever was. This is because she had a very unique look, which many fans liked for its badassness 🙂

Check out: Top 50 Best Isekai Manga Anime Series Of All Time

40: Komugi Nakahara (Nyarko-san)

Because who can resist such an adorable kawaii character right? That’s what you’ll probably think when you first come across Nyarko-san, whose personality alone can make you like her even if she wasn’t designed well enough to do so! She has a pretty simple design yet people still couldn’t help but fall in love with it 😀 Plus that voice of hers just makes her all the more better!

39: Luffy

One Piece is one of those shows that is just so popular in this fandom, you can’t help but wonder why… But when you see how many people love Luffy, it’s not hard to understand why the show became so successful! The main character of One Piece has got an extremely simple design yet his personality makes for one for the books 🙂 He’s all about friendship and doing what’s right–which makes him a really cool dude 😀

38: Ryuuko Matoi (Kill La Kill)

Another anime that comes from 2013. Like One Piece, Kill La Kill is another highly praised show among anime fans everywhere! And there are several characters from the series who’ve been given high praise too–the most notable being Ryuuko Matoi because she’s badass. What’s not to like? She wears a school uniform that she made into some weird transformation outfit and she fights with her Scissor blade! How cool is that? It’s got an 80s feel, which makes it even better than what you’d expect 😀

37: Goku: Most Popular Anime Characters Male

There aren’t many people who haven’t heard of and seen–or at least, know of Dragon Ball Z. This show has been pretty successful in Japan and around the world over the past few decades and Goku is the main reason why! He’s a Saiyan (space warrior) with a really nice design and some amazing abilities which make him one of the most badass characters out there 😀

Not only that but he’s got a kind heart too, which is one of the reasons why people love him 🙂

36: Yato (Noragami)

Even though I did include Hiyori and Yukine in this list, I also added Noragami characters to it as well. Mainly because everyone loves Yato! He’s the main protagonist of the series and he has some pretty cool abilities which make him an awesome dude who does good things for others. Plus his design makes him look so much cooler than what you’d probably imagine 😀 Love his red scarf by the way!

Recommended read: Top 50 Best Short Anime Of All Time

35: Gon Freecss

Hunter X Hunter is another show that anime fans have enjoyed for quite some time now–mainly because of how badass the characters are! And Gon doesn’t disappoint because he’s really cool. He has a very unique look which makes him pretty much one of a kind and his personality is something to be reckoned with too–especially when you see him fight against other characters in the series. He’s just got that thing about him that makes people go crazy over him 😀

34: Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)

Bleach may not be as popular as it was back in its hayday but even so, Ichigo Kurosaki still gets lots of praise from anime fans everywhere 🙂 This is mainly because he’s got pretty cool abilities which make for good action scenes during battles. Plus his zanpakuto sword looks so bad-ass! Not to mention his design which is all kinds of awesome too 😀

33: Edward Elric (Full Metal Alchemist)

One of my personal favorites in this anime is Ed! Even though he’s got a pretty simple design, there’s just something about him that makes people love him–and by looking at his face, I can’t help but agree with them. It’s mostly due to his personality because it’s really cool yet kind-hearted which makes for one hell of an awesome dude 🙂

Not only that but he also has some amazing abilities with alchemy which make for good action scenes when fighting against other characters in the series. Plus who doesn’t like alchemy? It sounds so cool… 🙂

32: Hiei (Yu Yu Hakusho)

Another badass anime character who’s got some amazing abilities is Hiei. He’s pretty much one of the most popular characters in the series along with Yusuke, Kuwabara and Kurama–mainly because he can be ruthless at times but also has a kind heart. Not only that but his design makes him look so cool! He’s definitely looks like someone you don’t want to mess around with 🙂

Hiei may not be as badass as other characters on this list though there are still plenty of things about him that make for an interesting character 🙂

31: Natsu Dragneel (Fairy Tail)

One of my personal favorite anime shows is Fairy Tail and I’ve mentioned my love for this show in a previous blog post as well as mentioned some of my favorite characters. Mainly because the series has so many awesome characters and they’re all interesting in their own way 🙂

Natsu Dragneel isn’t exactly one of my favorites but he’s definitely up there: mainly because I like his personality and how he doesn’t take crap from anybody (hehehe) plus he fights with fire! How badass is that? Not to mention, his character design is pretty cool too…all those scars on his face make him look pretty hard-core 😀

Check out: Top 50 Best War And Military Anime Of All Time

30. Yukine (Noragami)

Noragami is another anime series that I’ve recently enjoyed and Yukine is one of the main reasons why: mainly because he’s an awesome character and has some pretty cool abilities with his sword. Plus his design makes him look so badass too 🙂

He wasn’t my favorite Noragami character nor was he even on my list of favorites but I had to include him in this post because there were so many people who told me how much they loved him. And it’s mainly due to his personality since he’s a kind-hearted dude–plus it doesn’t hurt that he looks so cool as well! 🙂

29: Yusuke Urameshi ( Yu Hakusho)

Here’s another badass anime character that a lot of people seem to love which is Yusuke. Like Yukine, he may not be my favorite nor was he on my list of favorites–mainly because I find other characters in the series more interesting than him. But there’s no denying how popular he is and why so many people love him 🙂

Although Yusuke doesn’t get as much screen time as some other characters in the series, there are still plenty of things about him that make for an interesting character. His design makes him look pretty cool plus his attitude can sometimes get on your nerves but at least it gives you something to talk about! 😀

28: Reiner (Attack on Titan)

Attack on Titan is currently one of the most popular anime series around and as such, there are plenty of characters (male and female) that people love. One of them is Reiner which I can see why–mainly because he’s a pretty interesting character despite his personality. It doesn’t hurt that he looks pretty badass either…you don’t wanna mess with him 😀

Even though there are other characters who get more screen time than him, you still end up learning things about his background which makes it all the more interesting to watch!

27: Mu (Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu)

Here’s another interesting anime series that’s been around for a while now and is still pretty popular as well as beloved by many people. Iriya No Sora, UFO No Natsu definitely has some great characters in it from my point of view–mainly because the storyline is so complex and makes you wonder what will happen next.

One of those characters who’s amazing both design-wise and personality-wise would be Mu which is why she makes it on my list of anime characters who are popular despite being so underappreciated. It doesn’t hurt that her character design looks incredibly badass either…with those eyes 🙂

26: Carl (Black Cat)

If you haven’t seen Black Cat then I highly suggest checking it out if you haven’t already. It’s an anime series with a great storyline and has some pretty amazing characters, one of which is Carl–mainly because he’s both cool and funny at the same time! 😀

His design also makes him look totally bad-ass as well…definitely one character that you don’t wanna mess with 🙂

Also read: Top 50 Best Manga Of All Time

25: Kira Yamato (Gundam Seed/Destiny)

Kira is another Gundam character that people seem to love for his personality although I find other Gundam characters more interesting than him. But there’s no denying how popular he is and why so many people love him mainly because of his personality.

He was another character who wasn’t on my list of favorites mainly because he didn’t get as much screen time as I would’ve liked but it still makes for an interesting anime character to say the least.

24: Near (Death Note)

If you don’t know who Near is then I suggest watching Death Note because he’s one character that stands out despite not having much screen time. He might not be #1 on this list but I can see why so many people love him–mainly because of his personality though 😉

Even if the anime series didn’t last very long, Near still managed to capture people’s attention with his personality and it doesn’t hurt that he looks pretty cool too! 😀 Hence why there are so many people who love him 🙂

23: Kirito (Sword Art Online): Most Popular Anime Characters

Sword Art Online is another popular anime series around these days which makes it obvious why Kirito would make this list considering how awesome he is! 🙂

He’s one of those characters that you just can’t help but love and I know a lot of people who do mainly because he doesn’t look like your average anime character. He’s got this unique design which makes him look pretty bad-ass and his personality is great as well–he’s good in both fights with his sword and when it comes to character development 😉

22: Lelouch (Code Geass)

I’m sure there are plenty of anime fans out there who don’t need an explanation as to why Lelouch would make this list considering how popular the series itself was. It didn’t hurt that the story line was extremely interesting either plus the fact that we got to learn more about his background which made it all the more interesting to watch.

Although he didn’t last very long in the anime series, he definitely captured people’s attention with his personality and that’s why so many people loved him for it–mainly because of how complex his character actually is.

21: Leeron (Gurren Lagann)

If you don’t know who Leeron is then I suggest watching Gurren Lagann because he’s one of those characters that was able to stand out despite not getting much screen time at first. It doesn’t hurt that his appearance looks pretty interesting as well…which makes sense considering who designed him 😉

One thing about Leeron is that although this huge robot nerd, he’s also a pretty funny character and it made him stand out from other characters in the series. And not to mention how awesome his big robot ended up being…definitely one cool character!

You might like to read: Top 100 Best Anime On Netflix [Fan Favorite]

20: Rikku (Final Fantasy X)

Rikku is another Final Fantasy character that sadly doesn’t get as much attention as she actually deserves considering how popular the games are and it definitely makes sense considering her personality which isn’t exactly your usual anime-like personality either. She’s fun, adventurous and extremely cheerful but hides a very troubled past which gives her even more depth than what we see at first glance which makes her all the more interesting to watch.

19: Griffith (Berserk)

Griffith is an anime character who’s definitely a lot more complex than most characters in the anime series he was featured in and it made him stand out from other characters. It helps that his story line is extremely interesting as well but that still wasn’t enough to make him rank higher on this list since he didn’t appear very often throughout the anime series.

He’s one of those characters who may have been good at first but ended up going over to the dark side. If you watch the anime though, you’ll understand why Griffith did what he did–mainly because of how badly he wanted his dream to come true but also because of a girl named Casca…whose personality I find very frustrating so I can see why people wouldn’t like her 🙂

18: Edward (FMA)

Ever watched Full Metal Alchemist? If you haven’t, then I suggest you watch it because Edward is one of the main characters in the series and is also one of those really interesting anime characters. For one thing, he’s got an awesome personality–he’s smart, determined, fun to be around with and willing to do anything for his brother Al 🙂

Not only that but there’s more to him than what you see at first glance which makes it even more interesting since he ends up hiding some secrets about himself throughout the anime series. As for his appearance…well…you’ll understand why when you watch it 😉 Trust me though when I say this guy is great!

17: Saber (Fate/stay night)

Saber is best known for being one of the main characters in Fate/stay night and also as King Arthur from the Fate route. Of course, you’ll only understand why she’s so popular if you watch this anime series since it has a great story line and some pretty interesting characters such as Saber too!

If I had to describe her personality in one sentence then I would say that she’s someone who takes pride in her work–she tries hard to do things right even if they’re extremely difficult which makes it very admirable especially when there are others who don’t do their jobs properly or give up when they should absolutely not. She’s definitely an awesome character 🙂

16: Kazuto Kirigaya (Sword Art Online/Accel World)

Sword Art Online and Accel World are anime series that mainly feature the main protagonist Kazuto who’s also known as Kirito. He’s your typical light-hearted, determined, brave and selfless guy but he does have more depth than what you see at first glance–he has a dark past which doesn’t exactly make him an evil character despite what people think of him after learning about it.

Now I wouldn’t say this is necessarily a bad thing since it gives him even more depth than what you see on the surface and makes him stand out from other characters in the anime series (especially when it comes to certain fights). And like I mentioned before, there is more to him than you initially see so if you haven’t watched the anime series then I suggest that you do!

Our Recommendation: Top 50 Best School Anime [Must Watch High School Anime]

15: Mikasa Ackerman (Shingeki no Kyojin): Most Popular Anime Characters Female

As you may have already guessed, Mikasa is one of the main characters in Shingeki no kyojin written by Hajime Isayama and she’s a very important character in the anime series too since she starts to admire Eren a lot more after learning about his determination–she doesn’t give up even if there are some really difficult times ahead.

I find it admirable how much she believes in him despite their differences, especially since he really has become her inspiration throughout the story line which is why I can understand why people like her so much 🙂

14: Sawako Kuronuma (Kimi ni Todoke)

One of my favorite female anime characters right now is Sawako from Kimi ni Todoke–she’s shy but has a really great personality. And speaking of her personality, I absolutely love it because she’s always so humble and determined to do things properly–she wants to make friends with everyone no matter how difficult it is for her which makes me appreciate what she does all the more.

Makes sense right? I’m guessing most people would agree with me if they give this anime series a try because even though Sawako can be clumsy at times she gets better as time goes by which is why this character will always have a special place in my heart 🙂

13: Shizuo Heiwajima (Durarara!!)

If you’ve watched any of the anime series in this series then you’d understand why Shizuo is so popular and why he deserves to be on this list. First of all, he’s strong–really strong which can be dangerous for his opponents since he tends to get angry easily and when that happens then there’s no telling what this guy will do.

As you can probably tell, he does have a dark past which makes it even more interesting to learn about him even though some parts are pretty sad but despite what happened in the past, Shizuo still manages to move forward with his life which I think is fantastic 🙂

12: Erwin Smith (Shingeki no Kyojin)

Erwin is a man that you could say is very determined and never gives up even if the odds are stacked against him since he’s always striving to do what’s right. It’s also interesting how he tries hard not to rely on other people too much, especially when it comes to important decisions–he thinks about things carefully before giving his opinion which I think is admirable because so many people tend to rush into situations without thinking them through first.

In terms of personality, Erwin is someone who isn’t afraid of anything since he knows what needs to be done in order for humanity to survive and move forward that’s why a lot of people like him as well as the other characters in that anime series.

11: Ichachi Uchicha (Gintama): Most Popular Anime Characters In Naruto

This is another character that you wouldn’t typically expect to see on this list but to be honest, I’m not exactly sure why Ichachi doesn’t get more credit than what he has already received. He’s an interesting man for sure, especially since he can be really serious whenever the situation calls for it–he’s definitely someone you don’t want to mess with!

But at the same time, he does have a humorous side which makes his character all the more fun and enjoyable. And I guess it also helps that he can turn into a dinosaur thanks to one of his alien friends (Ichiro).    

You’ll like:  Top 50 Best Demon Anime [Fan Favourite Devil Anime]

10: Natsu Dragneel (Fairy Tail)

  Natsu is probably one of the most important characters in Fairy Tail–he’s not only the main protagonist but he also trained to become a member of this particular guild. And even though he can be really reckless at times, I like how much determination he has when it comes to saving his friends which is why he does whatever it takes to make sure that they’re safe.

I think what makes him so popular is his strong will and how he isn’t afraid to stand up for other people whenever the situation calls for it which is why so many anime fans have fallen in love with Natsu Dragneel ever since this series first came out 🙂

9: Kirito (Sword Art Online)

I’m pretty sure everyone who watches Sword Art Online can agree with me when I say that Kirito is one of the best anime characters in history and for good reason too. He’s incredibly strong, kind, hardworking but it’s his personality that makes him so loveable–he can be really optimistic even when things get tough which is why everyone wants to be just like him!

Sword Art Online wouldn’t have been half as popular if it wasn’t for Kirito since he’s the main character after all because he represents everything that someone should strive to become. As you can see, this guy has got a huge heart and doesn’t think twice about putting his life on the line for other people especially those who are important to him.

8: Portgas D. Ace (One Piece)

  Luffy might be the main protagonist of One Piece but Portgas D. Ace deserves just as much attention since he’s one of the best characters in this series, especially when it comes to fighting…he kicks all kinds of butt!

But it isn’t only his strength that makes him so awesome–he has a very caring personality which is why he doesn’t hesitate to help other people out whenever they’re in danger. And even though he can be pretty hotheaded at times, I like how determined he is during certain situations because it shows that he’ll do whatever it takes to save his loved ones.

7: Tatsuya Shiba (The Irregular at Magic High School)

  Just like Erwin Smith, The Irregular at Magic High School’s Tatsuya Shiba is someone who isn’t afraid of anything since he knows that the only way to survive in this world is by being strong. And thanks to his various powers, he can easily defeat anyone who tries to challenge him which is why so many people are drawn towards the main protagonist of the anime series.

But on top of everything else, I also love him because he has a very kind heart and doesn’t mind lending a helping hand whenever someone needs it–he’s not only powerful but wise as well which makes him all the more amazing 🙂

6: Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto): Most Popular Anime Characters Of All Time

Naruto Uzumaki is a character that many anime fans can relate to–he’s been through a lot of tragic events throughout his life but he refuses to give up and prove all the people who have laughed at him wrong. He has a pretty comical personality which makes him all the more loveable but again, what makes him so amazing is his determination to become the best ninja he can possibly be.

Naruto might still have a long way to go but I’m sure that with enough hard work, he’ll eventually succeed in all of his goals and prove everyone who laughed at him wrong–he’s just that kind of guy.

Read our article on: Top 50 Best Fantasy Anime Of All Time

5: Saitama (One Punch Man)

Saitama is easily one of the most powerful anime characters out there and it’s not just because of his strength but also his amazing sense of humor. He’s someone who doesn’t take anything seriously which is why he’s always able to crack jokes even during the most intense battles.

But what I like about him the most is that he’s not afraid to fight against anyone no matter how strong they might be and he always does it in order to protect the people that he cares about.

4: Light Yagami (Death Note)

  Death Note’s Light Yagami is considered to be one of the most ruthless anime characters ever created since he would do anything to get what he wants including killing off other people who might try and stop him from becoming all-powerful.

But even though he can be really cold-hearted sometimes, I like how determined Light is as well–he knows that if he wants to become successful in life, there isn’t anyone who can stand in his way which is exactly why it doesn’t matter what happens…he’ll do whatever it takes to achieve his goals no matter how bad others criticize him for it.

3: L (Death Note)

Just like Light, L is one of the most intelligent characters in anime history since he’s good at solving mysteries and knows what to do whenever the situation calls for it.

And even though he doesn’t express his emotions outwardly, you can tell that there are times when something gets to him since his face will turn red during some parts of the series.

But despite this fact, he has a very kind heart which is why I think both girls and guys alike love watching him whenever an episode airs on TV.

2: Eren Yager (Attack on Titan): Most Popular Anime Characters In Japan

In my opinion, Attack on Titan’s Eren is definitely one of the most entertaining anime characters I have ever seen since he has a very unique personality which includes being hot-headed but at the same time, kind and compassionate whenever someone needs his help.

And even though he can be a bit reckless during some parts of the series, if things get really serious, Eren will become extra determined to do whatever it takes in order to save his friends from harm–he’s not afraid of putting his life on the line if it means keeping other people safe as well. But aside from having an interesting personality, another thing I like about this character is how much courage he has–he’s not afraid to stand up for what he believes in no matter who the opponent is, even if they happen to be a titan on the other side.

1: Levi Ackerman  (Attack on Titan): Most Popular Anime Characters

One of Attack on Titan’s most popular characters is definitely Levi Ackerman since he has a very stern and cold personality but at the same time, is kind enough to help others in order to achieve peace within his kingdom.

And while he may seem like an anti-social guy without many friends, I think it’s cute whenever someone tries to get closer to him since he will usually try and avoid this person as much as possible.

But even though Levi can be really mean sometimes, there are still times when he shows signs that he does care about people–his stern look just makes it difficult for him to express his feelings openly without being embarrassed.

But despite some of the flaws this character may have had so far, I still love watching him in action since I think he’s got a personality that a lot of anime characters don’t have.

And there you have it! The top 50 most popular anime characters as chosen by fans from all over the world! Who is your favorite character so far? Let us know what you think in the comments section below and stay tuned for more great lists here at cyest!

Author: ruoip

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *