Shonen Jump did an impressive job introducing a set of unforgettable characters at the start of the 21st century and continued to do so into the next decade. So many new series were introduced in the 2010s and adapted to anime hits.
From Nisekoi to The Promised Neverland to We Never Learn, Shonen Jump managed to keep churning amazing works filled with incredible characters. Which made it extremely hard to narrow down which characters stood out and defined their series without filling the list with multiple characters from the same show. With that said, here the ten most iconic Shonen Jump characters of the 2010s.
10 Soma Yukihira
Starting off the list is the red-headed chef himself, Soma Yukihira from Food Wars. An aspiring chef trying to rise the ranks as the new student of an exclusive culinary academy, Soma has to go all out with his cooking to show his skills. Which usually involves making euphoric dishes so good that the consumer is left in ecstasy.
Even people who haven't watched the show know about the absurdly over the top reactions characters have to food with many losing their clothes from the sheer taste. With Soma as the poster child of the franchise, he stands out among chefs.
9 Shoyo Hinata
Sports anime aren't as popular as other anime genres but Haikyuu managed to grab the attention of viewers with its lead character Shoyo Hinata. Ever since he was a kid Shoyo wanted to play as a professional volleyball player but his short stature kept him at a disadvantage. Yet that didn't stop him from joining his school's team and making up for it on the court.
Even though it's just an anime about volleyball, Shoyo's adoration of the game is infectious and gave viewers a better understanding of the sport. His passion makes every match intense and left audiences rooting for Shoyo to overcome his disadvantages to make it to the top. Remarkable because this is still a show about teens playing volleyball.
8 Tanjiro Kamado
Is there anything more powerful than a brother's love? Probably, but it's what drives Tanjiro Kamada from Demon Slayer. When Tanjiro returned home to find his family slaughtered by demons and his sister turning into one, he resolved to become a demon slayer to avenge his family and turn his sister back into a human.
Compared to most anime protagonists, Tanjiro isn't as headstrong or reckless when he fights. He understands the severity of battle and concentrates on his sword-fighting techniques rather than letting his emotions get the better of him. It's a shame the same can't be said for other Shonen Jump characters.
7 Asta
Black Clover didn't have the best start to an anime and at first, Asta came off as a whiny brat with an ear-grating voice. Over time though the series grew into its own and fans were willing to give it a shot as Asta vowed to become king of the pirates. No, the next Hokage. No, the next Wizard King!
In a world where magic is key and Asta cannot use magic, the series subverts expectation by giving Asta the power to cancel out magic. Despite his shortcomings, Asta is a likable character that fans want to succeed so he can prove the elitists looking down on him wrong.
6 Dio Brando
You expected a Joestar to be on this list but it was Dio Brando from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. A rare occurrence where the villain of a show has surpassed the hero in terms of recognition. Dio has been a pain in the Joestar family ever since he met Jonathan in the late 1800s. Hungry for power, Dio turned himself into a vampire and survived into the modern age by taking over Jonathan's body and resting in a coffin at the bottom of the ocean.
When he awoke, he was ready to take over the world and face the latest generation of Joestar. He's an over the top villain that fans love to hate for his vicious nature, resourcefulness, and bombastic personality. Dio is the ideal villain who revels in villainy and gained notoriety through his memes. Vampires can die but memes cannot.
5 All-Might
There were so many My Hero Academia characters with such unique designs and personalities that it was hard not to add characters like Bakugo or Ochaco. In the end, the list of iconic characters needed the hero who is the Symbol of Peace, All Might. A legendary hero who faces danger with a smile, All Might wants to reassure the world it's safe and inspire the next generation of heroes.
Even though years of fighting have taken tolls on his body and reduced the usage of his powers, he still goes out of his way to help the common folk, train a worthy successor in his name, and work as a teacher. He's a mentor anime fans won't forget anytime soon.
4 Senku Ishigami
There are anime protagonists with unique, colorful hairstyles but Senku Ishigami from Dr. Stone takes the cake. Along with some hair gel, presumably. When humanity was turned to stone for thousands of years, Senku broke free to find the world in ruins and society devolved back to a tribal system. With a calm, smug disposition, this boy genius plans to educate the survivors, save the petrified humans, and restore civilization through science.
Unlike most anime protagonists, Senku relies on his mind instead of brute strength or supernatural powers and uses logic to outwit his foes. Sure he's pretty full of himself but it's fascinating watching him perform experiments and survive in this untamed world. It also helps that he's got hair crazier than Jimmy Neutron's.
3 Koro-Sensei
The Silhouette Test refers to the concept that good character design should be recognizable even in silhouette. Not every character needs to pass this test, but for Koro-Sensei from Assassination Classroom, he passes with flying colors. Koro-Sensei is a yellow, blobby tentacle monster threatening to destroy the world in one year who also teaches a class of misfits tasked with killing him.
Don't be fooled by the goofy grin, this octopus can travel at Mach-speeds and withstand traditional weapons. What's more surprising is his compassion for his students and his dedication to helping every single one of them improve their grades and killing tactics. It's a shame he's not regarded as one of the better teachers in anime.
2 Saitama
Of course, Saitama from One-Punch Man would on this list. When his anime came out, people wouldn't shut up about it and they still won't. The title says it all, Saitama is a hero capable of defeating any enemy with just one punch. The problem is everything is too easy and he lacks a challenge.
He's a fun twist on action characters who dream of being the best and shows how boring it can be at the top. Even though he lacks a signature anime protagonist haircut, his chrome dome is memorable and his blank expression legendary. He almost made it to number one but there's just one hero slightly more iconic.
1 Izuku Midoriya
As tempting as it was to be Saitama at the top of this list, My Hero Academia was without a doubt Shonen Jump's break-out franchise of the decade. Its popularity rivals the likes of One Piece and Dragon Ball, and its main character Izuku Midoriya is as recognizable as Luffy or Goku.
Born without powers in a world where everyone has one, Izuku spent years dreaming of becoming a hero just like All Might. After proving his heroism to his idol, he was chosen to receive the power One For All and dedicated himself to mastering his mighty power. It's a classic underdog story with a lovable protagonist that's impossible to hate.