An anime lives and dies off of the strength of its protagonist. The same can be said for any brand of visual across movies and television, but it is practically a trope in itself within the realms of manga and anime. Main heroes in a publication—like Shonen Jump—are always positioned front and center as poster children of their series. It's rare to see a series succeed without a likable protagonist.
While not every main character in manga or anime is 100% likable—especially those who border into anti-hero territory—the best anime are those which showcase protagonists who are hard not to love.
10 Son Goku — (Almost) Every Anime Fan's First Protagonist
While his current depictions in Dragon Ball Super have birthed much criticism from fans, those same fans will always continue to have a soft spot for Goku.
For a lot of anime fans who either grew up on Toonami or had the Dragon Ball franchise as their first introduction to anime and manga, Goku was the first anime protagonist they became attached to. Years after the fact, a Goku that is written at his worst is still more beloved than most anime characters because so many fans grew up with him.
9 Monkey D. Luffy — A Humble Misfit Who Is Also A Glutton
Everyone loves a good misfit story about characters who don't quite fit where they are. One Piece, at its core, is a story about a band of misfits with a common goal all led by the humblest misfit of them all—Monkey D. Luffy.
Coming from humble beginnings as a kid who just wanted to be something bigger than who he truly was, audiences locked in to see Luffy achieve his dreams of being the best pirate in all the land. It also helps that he has such a fun-going personality.
8 Yusuke Urameshi — His First Act Was Out Of Kindness
It's the "save the cat" philosophy all over again that was originally coined by Blake Snyder and one that made Christopher Reeve's Superman instantly likable in his movie debut. It refers to the moment—preferably, the first moment they're seen on screen—that a hero becomes instantly worth rooting for.
For Yusuke, he's introduced to Yu Yu Hakusho by sacrificing his life to save a child from getting hit by a car. That sets the stage for the complicated bully with a heart of gold to consistently win the viewers' hearts throughout the show.
7 Dr. Tenma — A Good Man Pushed To His Limits
Naoki Urasawa's Monster boasts one of anime's and manga's protagonists who are the easiest to cheer for. Throughout the course of the series, the unquestionably good-hearted doctor has his morals tested as he's framed for murder and chases a killer he unknowingly unleashed upon the world.
More often than not, when faced with tough decisions he makes the right choice. But the more often his patience is tested, the more fans are desperately hoping he doesn't make a decision that taints his naturally good heart for good.
6 Naruto Uzumaki — A Character Full Of Bravery And Honor
At first glance, a character like Naruto should be totally unlikable. He is introduced in the franchise as a kid who is overly cocky, brash, occasionally arrogant, and to an extent, a jokester who doesn't take anything seriously.
However, Naruto isn't dumb. He knows when it's time to get serious and show respect, just as he knows when it's time to shed the humor and embrace a brave exterior. And when he works hard, he can reveal himself to be the most powerful ninja in the series.
5 Spike Spiegel — A Protagonist Who Is Cooler Than Cool
Despite having a brief run of only 26 episodes, Cowboy Bebop has endured a legacy as one of anime's most popular shows with its lead character, Spike Spiegel, being among one of the most popular protagonists.
The reason why both the show and the character have maintained relevancy for so long despite offering so little is simple—Spike is cool. Embodying the best aspects of a 1940s film noir detective and a baddie like Bruce Lee, Spike is cooler than the other side of the pillow, and it's impossible not to love a guy like that.
4 Ichigo Kurosaki — He Doesn't Run From A Fight
More often than not, animes showcase the main character who is gifted with some kind of special ability or gift from the start of the series, even if they haven't unlocked it to its full potential yet (i.e. Goku being born a Saiyan). Alternatively, Ichigo Kurosaki first stepped in Bleach as a regular guy who kind of lucked into his position.
However, even as a regular guy, he refused to back down from a fight, willing to leap into action at the first sight of a monster, even before he had the tools to combat such a thing.
3 Ash Ketchum — A Character Filled With Child-Like Wonder
Everyone watches Pokémon so they can see the actual Pokémon. No one is going to deny that, but there is a reason why Ash Ketchum has remained the primary protagonist of just about every spinoff entry into the franchise. The role of lead human hero can be filled by just about anyone when the Pokémon creatures are the selling point, but people love to see Ash.
It's because the boy's child-like wonder and determination to "catch 'em all" endeared him to a generation of children who all grew up to still appreciate that childhood imagination.
2 Edward Elric — He Changes People For The Better
Edward Elric is similar to the aforementioned Dr. Kenzo Tenma in that both protagonists leave a positive impression on the people they come across. Everyone who has come into contact with Edward can attest to his strong spirit and attest to learning a valuable lesson from meeting him that changed them for the better.
People like Edward are hard to come by recognizing how rare people like him are, his fans latch onto him as something of a unicorn who is worthy of being loved.
1 Saitama — From Common Man To One Punch Man
Saitama may be subject to a bit of controversy for his inclusion as he has already been subjected to much debate and controversy regarding whether or not he is far too OP for his own good, but that doesn't stop him from being likable. Saitama has maintained his likability because viewers watched Saitama display heroic qualities long before he became a superhero.
Even as the Average Joe, he displayed incredible courage fitting of a hero. Since actually becoming a hero, those qualities became amped up to 11.