Anime characters come in a dazzling variety of forms, and there is a protagonist for just about any type of story conceivable, of any genre. Anime protagonists can be measured by their intelligence or wits in battle, for example, or by their sheer power or the size of their social circle. They can also be measured according to maturity.
Everyone grows older, but not everyone grows up, and plenty of fictional characters prove it. Some anime heroes and protagonists are mature and well-adjusted for their age, and set a great example for young viewers. Others refuse to grow up and tend to throw tantrums, act childish, or refuse to take on responsibilities.
10 ANIME CHARACTER ACTING THEIR AGE: Senku Ishigami Is Enthusiastic But Keeps His Cool (Dr. Stone)
Senku Ishigami doesn't use swords, guns or his fists to get what he wants. He's a dedicated scientist and a genius who can invent his way out of any problem, and he has always been the bookish sort. Even as a kid, he didn't have many friends, instead diving deep into research at home.
Senku is an optimistic and enthusiastic inventor and scientist with bold visions for restoring humanity, but remarkably, he is also mature and well-behaved the entire time. He'll make jokes sometimes, but otherwise, acts like a model young man.
9 BRATTY ANIME CHARACTER: Monkey D. Luffy Is A Real Handful (One Piece)
It's easy to criticize Monkey D. Luffy for his bratty and obnoxious behavior, and not without reason. However, this rubbery pirate hero does have a brave and noble heart, which helps balance him out as a character. He's bratty, but by no means is he a jerk or bully.
Still, it's safe to say that Luffy rarely acts his age, and on the inside, he's the same wild child he was back home in the East Blue. He's reckless, impatient, loud, boastful, confrontational and juvenile most of the time, prompting Nami to act as his responsible (and stern) big sister at times.
8 ANIME CHARACTER ACTING THEIR AGE: Tohru Honda Is A Polite Young Lady (Fruits Basket)
Tohru Honda is a beloved shojo protagonist, and it's easy to see why everyone likes her so much. Despite the heartbreaking hardships she's been through, Tohru's spirit is unbroken, and she is notably generous and compassionate toward others. In her eyes, everyone deserves a second chance.
Tohru is sometimes teased for being airheaded, but otherwise, she is a polite, friendly and mature girl for her age, and losing both parents forced her to grow up quickly. She is self-sufficient and reliable, and no doubt she'll go far once she graduates high school.
7 BRATTY ANIME CHARACTER: Chitoge Kirisaki Keeps Losing Her Temper (Nisekoi)
Chitoge Kirisaki is half-American and the heiress of a powerful crime family, and she is also noted for her hot temper and her outgoing personality. Chitoge is loyal to her friends and isn't afraid to stand up to bullies, but half the time, she's the bully herself, and fails to realize it.
Chitoge is too quick to snap at people or throw a tantrum, and she rarely listens to anyone before throwing a punch. As a crime gang heiress, she needs to practice her diplomacy skills and learn to listen to others to see all points of view before making a hasty or rash decision. She needs to cool off that temper, too.
6 ANIME CHARACTER ACTING THEIR AGE: Hirotaka Nifuji Is Responsible & Confident With Who He Is (Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku)
Hirotaka Nifuji is a working professional in his late 20s, and he acts his age for all the right reasons. At the office, he's quiet, responsible and cooperative, a model employee everyone can look up to. When he's off the clock, Hirotaka is cool-headed and mature, and he isn't easily bothered by anything.
Hirotaka may be an aloof kuudere, but he's polite and helpful to the people around him, and he's also comfortable with his hardcore gamer status. He feels a twinge of insecurity every now and then, but it's nothing too serious. Overall, he is completely in control of his life.
5 BRATTY ANIME CHARACTER: Katsuki Bakugo Has Some Issues To Work Out (My Hero Academia)
The explosive trainee hero Katsuki Bakugo is notorious for his fierce and problematic personality, but at least he takes school seriously and gets good grades. In that regard, he's a model student, but the cons outweigh the pros.
Bakugo was somehow more mature as a young boy, and he has since regressed into a confrontational, self-absorbed, bullying maniac who will alienate everyone around him in his quest to become #1. He'll even spite All Might to his face in the process, and no respectable adolescent hero would do such a thing.
4 ANIME CHARACTER ACTING THEIR AGE: Izumi Miyamura Is A Friendly Young Man (Horimiya)
The quiet but friendly Izumi Miyamura isn't the best student on paper, but he is a polite and kind boy who can easily win the trust of others and form strong bonds with them. Izumi has a punkish streak with his tattoos and piercings, but he keeps that to himself; he doesn't act like a delinquent, even if he looks like one.
Izumi became friends with everyone in the Hori family through his classmate Kyoko, and Kyoko's kid brother Souta looks up to him as a kind big brother figure. Izumi rarely acts up or behaves rashly; instead, he's easy to get along with and goes with the flow. He still has a lively sense of humor, though.
3 BRATTY ANIME CHARACTER: Chika Fujiwara Is Eccentric & Whimsical (Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War)
Chika Fujiwara is around 16 years of age, and while she acts like a total brat and goofball, her childish personality is actually the most endearing part of her character; it's why fans love her. Chika is a lively girl who loves to stir the pot, and she can instigate just about anything with her whimsical imagination.
Chika is famed for her many amusing dance moves and tantrums, and the strangest part is that for all her wild behavior, Chika is a role model in the eyes of the law-abiding Miko Iino. It's an odd but charming example of opposites attracting.
2 ANIME CHARACTER ACTING THEIR AGE: Akira Tachibana Is Responsible & Works Hard (After The Rain)
Akira Tachibana is the heroine of After the Rain, a quiet but heartfelt drama/romance series. In this story, Akira is a track runner who suffered a nasty leg injury, and she is slowly recovering in both body and spirit. She also nurses a tasteful crush on her middle-aged restaurant manager, Mr. Kondo.
Akira is a model teenager, being a decent student while also being a reliable and hardworking restaurant employee and a loyal friend. She has a gentle but firm disposition, and she'll stand up to anyone who antagonizes her or her friends, even her co-workers. Akira is tough, but not reckless or wild.
1 BRATTY ANIME CHARACTER: Alice Nakiri Keeps Pouting & Complaining (Food Wars!)
Alice Nakiri is Erina's cousin, and she is also a brilliant and crafty chef who bases her recipes on gastronomy and carefully wrought formulas. She can be polite and serious when necessary, but as a whole, Alice Nakiri is best known for her bratty behavior.
Alice is competitive and quick to throw a tantrum if things don't go her way, and she also loses her cool easily and complains over just about anything around her. Her partner, Ryo Kurokiba, is often the one who must tell her to calm down or leave people alone. Alice isn't a bully, though; she just gets carried away at times.