With so many characters in an anime, it's only natural that some gain more love and attention from fans than others. Of course, the protagonist is usually a fan favorite, and sometimes, side characters end up stealing the show themselves. But no matter what, there's almost always a character who gets shunned, forgotten, or even hated by fans.

RELATED: The 10 Most Disliked Anime Characters From The Most Beloved Anime Series

This happens for many different reasons. Sometimes a character simply lacks presence within the story. Other times, they've developed a poor reputation within the fandom, making it almost impossible for them to gain any sort of popularity. No matter the reason, these anime characters fail to gain fans' acknowledgment and never get the respect they deserve.

10 Youhei Sunohara Gets No Respect From Other Characters & Fans Alike

Clannad

Sunohara In The Trash Shoot Clannad

From the start, the messy Youhei Sunohara is the punching bag of Clannad. Most fans see him as a nuisance, and even the characters in the story treat him like he's a joke. While the rest of the cast is treated with respect and dignity, Youhei is constantly reduced to the slapstick comic relief guy of the group.

While it's true he's mostly just a goofball, Youhei's proven many times that he can be serious when it counts. As Tomoya's best friend, he's been nothing but supportive, and he's often right by his side when times get tough. He should be viewed as more of an equal, but unfortunately, he never gets to evolve beyond his comical role — not even in the eyes of the audience.

9 Zenitsu Is More Than Just A Cowardly Crybaby

Demon Slayer

Zenitsu Agatsuma from Demon Slayer looking determined

Demon Slayer fans are often divided when it comes to their opinion on Zenitsu Agatsuma. While many adore his hilarious quirks and antics, plenty of others feel he's one of the most annoying characters in the cast.

Many fans chalk him up to nothing more than a coward and a crybaby, often becoming frustrated with his overwhelming fear of demons. Though it's true this comic relief character can be a pain, he's proven his worth throughout the series. As the story progresses, he's become much more likable and even improved as a Demon Slayer.

8 Lucy Heartfilia Isn't Just A Typical Shonen Damsel

Fairy Tail

Lucy Heartfilia winks (Fairy Tail)

Like many other female leads in shonen anime, Fairy Tail's Lucy Heartfilia gets a lot of hate from the fanbase. Many see her as just another weak and useless shonen damsel in distress. Compared to her male counterparts, Lucy's role is admittedly often diminished within the story.

However, she's far from just another bland female lead. She may not be the strongest physically, but her intelligence, compassion, and loyalty more than make up for what she lacks. Lucy plays a vital supporting role in the series, and she deserves far more credit as a worthy member of the guild.

7 Asuna Gets Just As Much Hate As Kirito

Sword Art Online

Asuna arriving in the Underworld in Sword Art Online.

Sword Art Online is one of those anime series that everyone has a strong opinion on. Some love it while many others hate it, but either way, fans feel very passionate about its story, setting, and characters. Over the years, the series' two protagonists, Kirito and Asuna, have become some of the most loved and hated characters of all time.

RELATED: 10 Worst Isekai Protagonists, Ranked

Given his self-insert, blank slate role, it's not hard to see why many don't care for Kirito. But as for Asuna, she actually has a lot more going for her. She's got a defined personality that many have fallen in love with, and while her powers are incredible, she never feels quite as needlessly overpowered as Kirito.

6 Subaru Endures More Pain Than Anyone

Re:Zero

Natsuki Subaru from Re Zero, lying on the ground with tears streaming down his face

It isn't unheard of for isekai protagonists to be blindly hated by anime fans, with many seeing them as bland self-inserts with no likability. For these reasons and more, Re:Zero's Subaru Natsuki has become one of the most hated isekai heroes around. He's often mistaken for a plain, boring protagonist placed in a wish-fulfillment role, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

He may not look like much, but Subaru has an incredible amount of inner strength. Thanks to his Return by Death ability, he endures some of the most horrific sufferings of any isekai protagonist. Considering everything he goes through, his will to press on for the sake of his friends is nothing short of admirable and proves that he deserves far more credit from fans.

5 Kagome Steadily Improves Throughout The Series

Inuyasha

Kagome readying her bow and arrow in Inuyasha

Inuyasha is a beloved shonen classic, and though the titular hero has many adoring fans, the same can't be said for the series' main protagonist, Kagome Higurashi. Since the beginning, many have considered Kagome one of the least likable characters in the main cast. After all, at the start of the series, she's more like dead weight than anything.

Kagome can't really fight at first, so she ends up needing to be rescued by Inuyasha most of the time. Though she makes for a frustrating heroine at first, Kagome vastly improves throughout the series. By the end, she's a strong and capable part of the team who's deserving of just as much respect as the rest of the series' heroes.

4 Kaneki Ken Is Seen As A Weakling At First

Tokyo Ghoul

Kaneki Ken from Tokyo Ghoul

Kaneki Ken is probably one of the most popular anime protagonists of all time, but this wasn't always the case. The Tokyo Ghoul hero started out just a regular human, and most fans weren't a fan of him. To this day, many still see pre-ghoul Kaneki as a weak, sniveling crybaby. Just about everyone prefers his awesome wannabe-villain ghoul form.

While there's no denying that Kaneki only gets cooler as the series progresses, his early series character is just as worthy of attention and love. Considering his situation, it honestly makes sense Kaneki was so distraught and weak at first, so fans can't really blame him. No matter what form he takes, though, he's still the same Kaneki deep down, and fans should appreciate him either way.

3 Mikasa Gets Reduced To A Love Interest

Attack On Titan

Mikasa Ackerman confesses to Eren in Attack on Titan.

Out of all the characters in Attack on Titan, Mikasa Ackerman is one of the few who get the most hate from fans. This is mostly due to her unwavering love and loyalty to series protagonist Eren Yeager. No matter what atrocities Eren commits, Mikasa refuses to turn against him, and this blind love of hers leaves many fans frustrated.

RELATED: The 10 Coolest Attack On Titan Characters, Ranked

Mikasa often feels like nothing more than a love interest, but that couldn't be further from the case. Mikasa has a lot to offer on her own. She's a capable warrior and a vital member of the Survey Corps. Without her, the team is incomplete.

2 Sakura Haruno Isn't As Useless As She Seems

Naruto

Sakura Haruno releases Creation Rebirth Seal in Naruto Shippuden.

Everyone has heard it said time and again that Sakura Haruno of the hit shonen series Naruto is one of the worst, most useless characters of all time. She's likely one of the most hated characters in the entire series, even more so than the villains. Though it's easy to write off her accomplishments compared to her teammates, saying she's completely useless isn't exactly true.

Sakura may not be at god levels of strength, but she still displays an impressive amount of power. On top of that, she gets a lot more character development than most are willing to give her credit for, and by the end of the series, she's a much stronger and more mature kunoichi than ever before.

1 Shinji Ikari Is A Better Protagonist Than Fans Think

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Shinji Pilots Eva Unit 13

Out of all the protagonists of anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion's Shinji Ikari is likely one of the most controversial. Since the very first series, Shinji has been hated by fans of the franchise, with many believing he's one of the worst protagonists of all time.

It's true that Shinji's far from the usual anime hero. He's weak, scared, and often unwilling to join in on the fight. However, that just shows that Shinji is human. His reactions to the chaotic world around him are very realistic, making him feel more relatable and real. Despite his faults, Shinji is a far better protagonist than most give him credit for.

NEXT: 15 Best Anime With The Worst Protagonists