10 Most Popular Anime Characters of All Time

When it comes to anime, quality and entertaining storylines are good. But most times, these are not the yardstick used to determine whether an anime is unique or not. If you pay rapt attention, you will notice that the anime creators and manga put a lot of effort into character development. The truth is characters are used often to rate anime.

That is why we will walk you through the ten most popular anime characters of all time. Let’s get down to it. Shall we?  

1. Naruto Uzumaki

Naruto is the first on the list of popular anime characters of all time. His first appearance was in the Shueisha’s magazine, Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1999. R Uzumaki doubles as the main protagonist in the series and manga known as Naruto.

Naruto was born in the village known as Konoha. His village was attacked by a nine-tailed fox demon that was sealed in him when he was just an infant to protect the people. For that reason, Naruto was disliked and distrusted by those around him. Consequently, he was alone most time and would try to get attention by playing pranks on the villagers.

The anime character is considered cheerful, hyperactive, strong-willed, and simple-minded once in a while. From the start, Naruto was unskilled in all jutsu skills and that prompted him to master the Shadow Clone Jutsu (also regarded as Jonin level technique). Naruto was synonymous with the martial arts move throughout the series. Later on, he learned a technique invented by his father known as Raesengam.

As mentioned earlier, a nine-tailed fox demon resides in him, and that allows him to use Fox’s chakra. But there was a time when Naruto and the Fox demon hated each other. Then the demon barely grants him his power except they are in a life-threatening situation. 

2. Goku

Goku first appeared in the first episode of Dragon Ball: Bulma and Son Goku in 1984. Since then, the anime character has become one of the most popular characters in anime history. As you’ve known, Goku is the main protagonist in the Dragon Ball franchise. He is also regarded as one of the most powerful fighters in the universe.

Initially, he was named Kakarot at birth. In the manga, Son Goku was born on Planet Vegeta 34 months before its annihilation by Frieza. But in the anime, he was born shortly before the destruction of the planet. He was sent to earth after he survived the attack on an infiltration mission to destroy all life on the planet. The end game is to sell the planet. Goku was found in the woods by Gohan, his adopted grandfather and he named him Son Goku.

The anime character is regarded as pure in heart, caring, and kind-hearted. Most of his childhood was spent in isolation in Mount Paozu. Some of Goku’s strongest techniques include:

• Autonomous ultra instinct
• Evil containment wave
• Kamehameha blaster
• Kalo-ken
• Spirit bomb
• Regeneration
• Ultra instinct sign
• Fusion dance

3. Itachi Uchiha

Itachi is yet another character from Naruto. The anime character is one of those villains we adore. After he murdered his entire clan, he joined an international criminal organization known as Akatsuki. Itachi only spared his brother, Sasuke. He is mostly calm, carries an aura of mystery, is soft-spoken, keeps his thoughts, and emotions to himself.

4. L (L Lawliet)

L Lawliet first appeared in “Death Note”, a manga series in 2006. He provided the opposition the character Light Yagami requires. Ordinarily, he doesn’t seem like the ideal picture of a master detective but he understood the assignment. Most of his approaches to solving crime are unethical and out of the box.

L is known for his unkempt hair, crouching chains, eating junks, and his dislike of shoes. He is amoral, blunt, self-conscious, and intelligent.

5. Motoko

Motoko Kusanagi first appeared in Ghost in the shell in 1995. She was one hell of a detective and fond of going solo to under the truth behind the case she’s working on. It is paramount to note that she is a cyborg. Although she had a boyfriend, she participated in a lesbian sex splash panel which is illegal. 

She is sexy, wise, vivacious, and slapstick. The anime character utilizes the platform to speak on the nature of humanity in the technological age. A human mind trapped in an artificial body since childhood.

6. Light Yagami

Also known as Kira, the next anime character is a perfect example of absolute power corrupts absolutely. At first, he had a strong sense of justice. But that became history when he was tainted by Death Note. Light justified his incessant killings as an ultimate sacrifice to help the world. He is best described as hardworking, ambitious, talented, genius, perceptive, and has a knack for solving problems.

7. Levi Ackerman

Here’s a tritagonist in the anime/manga Attack on Titans. Levi made his first appearance in episode 4 of the anime. He is admired by many and regarded as a hero for being the strongest soldier of humanity.

Levi Ackerman is brutal and merciless when confronting his enemy. His judgment is clouded by rage when his beloved is in harm’s way. Consequently, that brings forth a monster with the sole aim of seeking revenge and destruction.

8. Hanzawa (Detective Conan)

He is the main protagonist of the Detective Conan series and first appeared in 2017. Hanzawa is a mysterious man whose motive for becoming a criminal is unclear. The anime character is delusional and idiotic. He claimed he is pure evil while in the actual sense he is just a normal civilian. 

9. Vegeta

Vegeta is another character from Dragon Ball. The anime character is evil, egoistic, aggressive, and values his Saiyan pride. He is the main antagonist to Son Goku in the anime series.

10. Asuka Asuka Langley Soryu

The last anime character on the list first appeared in the anime series Evangelion Unit-2 in 1995. She is considered proud, strong, stubborn, and has a hard time expressing her true feelings. She has a high opinion of her skills and appearance.   

Conclusion

I believe you have a favorite from our list of 10 most popular anime characters of all time. True Otakus are expected to know important details about their favorite characters. If you believe you’re a true Otakus, take anime character quizzes online. They’re funny that includes their anime character’s quirks, abilities, weakness, traits, like, dislike, date of birth, and many more interesting facts that you may want to know.