In anime, characters deal with a variety of situations. Ranging from end-of-the-world scenarios to basic day-to-day activities, the characters have to respond to different types of obstacles in one way or another. Characters could react to such situations in many ways.
Some characters pull themselves up by the bootstraps and find a way out of any stressful situation in an instant, while some crumble under pressure and fall apart before they can even find the way out. Regardless of what critics may claim about such characters, they're relatable to the average viewer — even if they don't want to admit it.
10 Shinji Ikari Can't Cope With Social Situations (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Shinji from Neon Genesis Evangelion grew up somewhat disconnected from reality because he didn't have many meaningful connections with others. As a result, he's very uncomfortable during social situations. Socializing can be difficult for many people, and a lot of fans can connect with Shinji's social anxiety.
Additionally, he has a tough time controlling his emotions when he's stressed out, especially around others. He finds it difficult to release his past and would rather shut out the rest of the world than face any type of external stress.
9 Usopp Wants To Be A Strong Warrior Despite His Cowardly Nature (One Piece)
Usopp from One Piece has a reputation for being the weakest member of the Straw Hat Pirates. Often using falsehoods to escape tough situations, Usopp is the comic relief of the series. He was even born on April Fool's Day. Out of all of the Straw Hat Pirates, Usopp is the most emotional.
He's usually seen losing his composure during times of severe mental pressure. He cries frequently and feels especially insecure during precarious situations. Despite this, he still has aspirations of becoming stronger.
8 Yajirobe Has Given Up On Fighting Entirely (Dragon Ball Z)
Despite having a few moments of bravery, Yajirobe is a coward during most of Dragon Ball Z. Often choosing to stick to the sidelines of battle, he wants nothing to do with fighting. Although he's an excellent swordsman, he would rather choose to eat instead of going to the battlefield against an enemy.
Many fans say he had a lot of potential as a Z-Fighter, but he wasted it because of his laziness and cowardly nature. When presented with a stressful situation, Yajirobe chooses to avoid it entirely.
7 Yoki Is Greedy & Easily Tricked (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
In Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Yoki is introduced as a corrupt military man who enacted harsh taxes on the entire town of Youswell. Many citizens had to declare bankruptcy as a result. However, as the series progresses, Yoki becomes the comic relief of the anime because of how his greediness leads him to be easily tricked.
Initially, he was supposed to reveal the pure greed running society as a whole, but Scar forced Yoki to work under him. Despite his current status as a subordinate, he often tries tricking people into believing he's the one calling all the shots — yet he cowers because of threats from Scar. In the case of Yoki, it's not that he can't think under pressure; he's just too ignorant to see the pressure in front of him.
6 Touta Matsuda Admits That He's A Weakling (Death Note)
Though he finally proved himself at the end of Death Note, for most of the series, Matsuda was a self-aware coward. He stated that he was bound by his duties to capture Kira, yet he seemed easily swayed by his ideals.
Especially at the beginning of the series, he was impulsive but didn't know how to get himself out of the difficult situations he found himself in. The other members of the task force view him as a reckless weakling who isn't serious about his job.
5 Yukitero Amano Hides From Battles & Breaks Down In The Face Of Stressful Events (Future Diary)
Yukitero Amano is notorious for his emotional personality that often becomes a major hindrance during the events of Future Diary. He's usually seen breaking down in tears in response to pressure and he lacks confrontational skills. He literally just wanted to be left alone, wanting nothing to do with becoming a god.
Yukiteru is often forced to fight battles he wants nothing to do with and would prefer to run away. Despite his cowardice, it's important to remember that Yukiteru was 14 when the events of Future Diary started unraveling — his resistance and fear are understandable.
4 Shirahoshi Is Fragile & Easily Scared (One Piece)
Shirahoshi from One Piece frequently breaks down crying in the face of stressful situations. She's one of those types who can cry at the drop of a hat. Additionally, she breaks down crying when someone snaps or yells at her, but her behavior could be chalked up to the fact that Shirahoshi spent ten years in solitary confinement and lacks understanding of the outside world.
She often experiences sensory overload when she deals with the events of One Piece. She's also incredibly naive. Overall, Shirahoshi doesn't know how to even process dealing with stressful events.
3 Yuri Katsuki Can't Process His Failures In A Healthy Way (Yuri!!! On Ice)
Yuri received the nickname of "figure skater with a glass heart." During Yuri!!! On Ice, he often experiences stage fright. He also cannot process his shortcomings in a healthy way, usually falling into depressive episodes for months on end after one failure. Despite being competitive, Yuri can't cope with failure and is easily discouraged.
Additionally, before skating competitions, he's seen focusing on himself and drowning in his own anxiety. Although he's usually victorious, the thought of losing and embarrassing himself scares him immensely.
2 Zenitsu Agatsuma Can't Face Stressful Situations Without Being Asleep (Demon Slayer)
Zenitsu from Demon Slayer is well aware of how cowardly he can be. He even says that he hates himself more than anyone else because he always ends up sniveling and running away from battles. He's often seen screaming and running away at the very thought of something scary happening. He even claims that he doesn't have a long lifespan ahead of him because of his job.
Additionally, he seems to live in a constant state of crippling anxiety that prevents him from facing danger head-on. Zenitsu is usually going on longwinded tangents about his anxieties and lashing out at people who see no issue going into dangerous situations. The only time he's able to be a competent warrior is when he's in a deep sleep.
1 Minoru Mineta Is More Perverted Than Heroic (My Hero Academia)
Minoru Mineta is one of the most hated characters in My Hero Academia. He's frequently objectifying any woman he comes into contact with and trying to invade their privacy. On top of these ridiculous personality traits, Mineta is a coward.
Mineta is usually crying and screaming in the face of any stressful situation. He runs away screaming with tears streaming from his eyes when something scares him. Although he's proven that he can be at least a little bit useful, most of the time his temperament is a nuisance for everyone around him.