Every good franchise needs a good representative. Anime is often known for having a wide array of characters for viewers to get attached to, but some become popular to the point where they become the face of the series. These are commonly referred to as "mascot characters."
There are a lot of different mascot characters that come in all shapes and sizes, while a lot of these mascots end up being cute animal sidekicks some are just bizarre, terrifying, and sometimes a combination of all three. There are so many mascots out there in anime, here are some of the very best.
10 Elizabeth (Gintama): Silent & Mysterious Being Disguised As A Bird
Gintama actually has more than one mascot, and while the giant and adorable Sadaharu was a fierce contender, but Elizabeth is actually so hilariously bizarre that'd it be wrong not to mention him. Always at Katsura's side, Elizabeth wears his penguin costume, but underneath he's actually an alien despite his human appearance.
This silent mascot is always appearing when least expected and often dons some funny (yet totally obvious) disguises, to hilarious results. Elizabeth is usually surrounded by mystery, and his quiet personality creates a lot of comedy, it's also implied that he's secretly the director of Gintama.
9 Ryo-Ohki (Tenchi Muyo!): An Adorable Cat-Rabbit Hybrid
Cats and bunnies are adorable, but what would happen if they were combined? There'd be an overload of cuteness that is Tenchi Muyo!'s Ryo-Ohki. Created as Ryoko's companion by the scientist Washu, this little "Cabbit" is as innocent and child-like as can be, and absolutely loves carrots.
Originally just a spaceship, Ryo-Ohki regenerated into her cute cat-rabbit form, after a crash landing but that's not all she can do. On top of her ship form, she can also turn into a human and at one point she could even turn into a mecha.
8 Agumon (Digimon): Tai's Beloved Partner In Crime
While it may not get as much love as a certain "other series about collecting monsters," Digimon still has its fans and is still going strong. Of course, there are plenty of Digimon that could've been the face of this franchise, but maybe none more loved than Agumon.
Fiercely loyal, powerful, and often hungry, Agumon has had more than a few iterations across the franchise, though the first and most commonly remembered is the Agumon that was Tai's partner. Despite the series moving on far past the original, Agumon has remained the face of Digimon even as it experiments with wild and out-there ideas.
7 Kyubey (Puella Magi Madoka Magica): Cute But Secretly The Evil Villain
At first glance, Kyubey seems innocent, adorable, and your typical magical girl mascot character, but underneath that, this cat-like creature is truly something much different. Kyubey's role is to make contracts with girls to make them magical girls that fight witches in exchange for granting their wish. In reality, this is a trap that adds to a never-ending cycle of suffering and magical girls becoming witches.
On top of being nearly unkillable, Kyubey has no emotions, not really caring for itself or the horrific things that befall the magical girls, Kyubey ultimately is just fulfilling the role of creating Soul Gems to generate energy. Kyubey is simultaneously Madoka Magica's cute mascot and its most terrifying villain.
6 Happy (Fairy Tail): Natsu's Flying Cat
The world of Fairy Tail is full of eccentric characters, including a talking blue cat named Happy. Happy is the best friend of Natsu and a true member of Fairy Tail's dysfunctional family to a fault. He and Natsu are as close as brothers, seemingly always on the same crazy wavelength.
Despite his small body and lack of magical powers, Happy also helps out his fellow guildmates in battle however he can, often acting as Natsu's wings so he can fight in the air. While this fish-loving cat is often comic-relief, Happy is no coward and will stand up for himself or his friends if push comes to shove.
5 Luna (Sailor Moon): Usagi's Helpful Talking Cat
They say black cats are bad luck, though it seems like Sailor Moon's Luna is anything but. A friend and mentor to the Sailor Senshi, Luna is the kind of magical girl mascot that's the opposite to Kyubey, often caring and helpful to Sailor Moon and her friends.
It was thanks to Luna that Usagi became Sailor Moon in the first place, and her guidance eventually helped mold Usagi from an overdramatic crybaby, into the brave heroine she was destined to be. A kind and compassionate advisor, who also just happens to be a talking cat from space.
4 Doraemon (Doraemon): Robot Cat From The Future
Tasked with helping the young and hopeless Nobita, Doraemon is a robot cat from the future with access to all sorts of weird and wild future gadgets to help Nobita, and sometimes teach him a valuable lesson. Doraemon's voice of reason is often ignored in the middle of Nobita's antics, but the two are the closest of friends and inseparable.
With a friendly and iconic design as well as decades of content ranging from manga, anime, and plenty of movies, Doraemon's popularity and impact on Japanese pop-culture is something that can't be denied.
3 The Colossal Titan (Attack on Titan): Terrifying Giant Who Causes Destruction
Often an anime's mascot is a cute and cuddly little creature that acts as something of a sidekick or comic relief to the main cast. However, not all anime mascots fall under that umbrella. Sometimes, a mascot can be something that stays with the viewer after seeing it, even an antagonist or a monster.
For many, when they think about Attack on Titan the first thing that comes to mind is the Colossal Titan, peering over the wall as the humans look on in shock and fear. Whether it was intentional or not, the Colossal Titan quickly became the franchise's mascot and an iconic image in the anime medium thanks to its intimidating design and overwhelming power.
2 Tony Tony Chopper (One Piece): Reindeer Doctor Who Can Shapeshift
He may not have been the first crew member Luffy asked to join him, but over the years, Chopper has become just as recognizable as the Straw Hat Pirates' jolly roger. After eating the Human-Human fruit, this blue-nosed reindeer got human-like intelligence as well as the ability to shapeshift into various forms.
Along with his adorable chibi form (Brain Point) and his muscley form (Heavy Point), he can also shapeshift into specialized forms that enhance certain attributes thanks to the "Rumble Ball" he developed. As the Straw Hat crew's doctor, Chopper's more than just a bruiser or a mascot, he's also a true friend and has pulled the crew out of some tight jams.
1 Pikachu (Pokémon): Ash's Electric Mouse
Of course, one can't even think of a list of mascots without thinking of the electrifying mouse Pokémon, Pikachu. As the mascot of one of the largest entertainment franchises in the world, Pikachu has it all from cool electric-based superpowers and boatloads of adorable cuteness.
Pikachu has reached such high popularity around the world that even those who aren't fans of Pokémon know him. Despite the vast amount of Pokémon that exist out there (past, present, and future), Pikachu stands above them all as one of the most popular and recognizable characters of all time.