Most Beloved Anime Characters of All Time

There are a lot of things that go into making a good anime, and nothing is more important than having some great characters that fans can relate to or simply think are fun to watch. There are certain characters that are legendary and can be identified even by those that have never seen a full episode of an anime in their life or read a manga. Some are funny, some are cool, but all of them are fan favorites.

Out of the thousands of animes over the years, though, which characters are the most beloved by fans around the world? Here are our picks for the five most beloved anime characters of all time, though we excluded all of the characters from Pokemon as that seems like it might be cheating.

Goku

Goku is a timeless classic when it comes to the world of beloved anime characters. Generations of anime fangirls and fanboys have a soft spot for the Super Saiyan God who made his debut back in the 1980s. Dragon Ball Z, of course featuring Goku, has been up and running for years and the franchise continues to release series, movies, and video games showcasing the anime sensation and endless enemies who wish to eliminate the hero. Even those who don’t watch anime will more than likely know who Goku is, which says a lot about his massive popularity worldwide. 

Naruto Uzumaki

Naruto Uzumaki first made his debut in 1999 as the main character in the Naruto manga written by Masashi Kishimoto. It’s a widely popular series still to this day. Also known for being pretty popular amongst the meme community, due to the interesting style of running the beloved anime character possesses. In 2019 there was even an instance where a group of people half-jokingly decided it would be a good idea to Naruto run into Area 51 for answers at the height of the “are aliens real?” debate within the nation. Though Naruto has much more to offer anime fanatics with films, long-running series, and video games for Naruto lovers to enjoy

Saitama

Saitama is the beloved superhero main character of the astounding One Punch Man series. The manga made its debut as a webcomic in 2009 and from there has turned into an insanely popular fan-favorite anime series, with Saitama being the center of adoration. Saitama trained for years to perfect his fighting style, using only one punch to defeat enemies. The ease of destroying his enemies leads Saitama to boredom and performs heroic duties to pass time. 

Eren Yeager

The main character featured in the Attack on Titans series, Eren Yeager seeks revenge on the man-eating humanoid beasts called Titans that ravaged his home and killed his family. Earning the ability throughout his formative years to obtain the power of several Titans, Yeager is a perfect counterpart to the frightening Titans that attack the city. The series is widely successful and loved by fans. Its massive popularity is likely why the series is still ongoing and among the most expensive series to make per episode. 

Monkey D. Luffy

Monkey D. Luffy is a loveable boy who is featured in the One Piece anime series. After consuming a Gum-Gum fruit, Luffy’s body changes and takes on the properties of rubber. The newfound elasticity of his body gives him an advantage as he travels around, getting into scuffles as captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. His happy demeanor, big heart, and passion for his role among his pirate crew make him a fan favorite for sure. Monkey made his debut in 1997 with the first chapter of One Piece and the character was seven-years-old, growing up with the readers.