Some anime heroes are so lovable that they've stolen the show from the rest of the cast, regardless of whether or not they're the series' protagonists. These characters won the hearts of fans thanks to their memorable personalities, great senses of humor, and impressive battle scenes that left an impression on the audience's mind.
While many of anime's most lovable heroes are the main characters, many of them are the side characters who fans fell in love with after their introductions. Without them, many anime would just feel dull and seem like something was missing.
10 Bruno Bucciarati Stole The Spotlight From Giorno (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind)
Even though Giorno was the protagonist of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, Bruno Bucciarati stole the show. He leads Giorno and the rest of the gang on their quest to defeat the Boss and take over Passione. He made a horrible first impression on audiences when he licked Giorno's sweat and declared that he tasted like a liar.
However, Bruno proved himself an excellent leader and loyal companion for the rest of his group. He provided the guidance Narancia and Abbachio needed, and he was a compassionate friend who staunchly adhered to his moral compass. His death was meaningful, but it was painful for fans to say goodbye.
9 Shoto Todoroki Has An Endearing Personality (My Hero Academia)
When Shoto was introduced in My Hero Academia, he appeared detached and arrogant. However, fans quickly sympathized with him when they learned about his tragic backstory and understood his behavior more. Shoto has grown significantly throughout the series, and many of his most endearing traits never faded.
His character growth highlighted his most lovable qualities, cementing him as a true fan favorite. Shoto is so deadpan and aloof that, sometimes, those around him don't even realize that he's joking - like when he unironically suggested calling himself the "Hand Crusher" because it seems like people's hands keep getting messed up whenever he's around.
8 Nezuko May Seem Harmless, But She Really Packs A Punch (Demon Slayer)
Nezuko has become the de-facto adorable mascot of Demon Slayer. Even though the bamboo muzzle prevents her from speaking, fans instantly fell in love with her because even though she seems harmless, she's one of the series' most powerful demons and her attacks really pack a punch.
Underneath her unassuming demeanor and wholesome antics, Nezuko is a powerful demon who uses her strengths to go after others who harm humans. Any demon who makes the mistake of threatening her or Tanjiro is in for a rude awakening.
7 Shoyo Hinata Always Has A Positive Attitude (Haikyuu!)
Shoyo Hinata is a hero on the volleyball court. Throughout Haikyuu!, he's always uplifted the rest of his team and never let anyone hold him back. He's been ridiculed for his height and overall lack of experience, but that never stopped Shoyo from pushing himself harder to prove everyone wrong.
Shoyo's excitability is endearing, and fans appreciate that he's consistently positive. Every failure is a learning opportunity for him, and he can find the positive in any situation. Even when he was forced to be the ball boy for sneaking into a training camp, Shoyo saw it as a chance to observe other players and even cheered for some potential opponents.
6 Killua Outshined Everyone Else (Hunter X Hunter)
Gon is a great protagonist, but there's no denying that Killua Zoldyck's spunky attitude and impressive character development outshined the rest of Hunter X Hunter's cast. Killua is a skilled assassin who quickly caught on when learning Nen.
He had a tragic backstory and came from a family of master assassins, but his character arc is one of the best that shonen anime offers. Killua could have easily been a villain, but he proved that he has a stronger moral compass than the rest of the cast, including the protagonist.
5 Kuroko Is The Silent Hero On The Basketball Court (Kuroko's Basketball)
In Kuroko's Basketball, the titular protagonist is recognized as the "Phantom Sixth Man." His uncanny lack of presence is a superpower in and of itself, and he's proven himself a silent hero on the basketball court several times throughout the series.
He has a deadpan attitude and a dry sense of humor that won fans over. It's always hilarious when he uses his lack of presence to sneak up on his teammates and scare the daylights out of them. Plus, his attitude towards the sport is admirable, and he's always the voice of reason for his team.
4 Gintoki Is A Masterful Samurai, But Fans Can Relate To Him (Gintama)
Gintama's sense of humor is unmatched by any other shonen series, and Gintoki does not let the audience down as a protagonist. He's a masterful samurai, but fans find it easy to relate to him since his end goal isn't a grandiose vision of saving the world. Gintoki wants to make ends meet, and he'll pick up any odd job he can to do so.
When he's not working, he'll get caught lazing around and skimming through recent volumes of Shonen Jump. He may be a commendable samurai, but that's not the only reason why fans fell in love with Gintoki.
3 Levi Ackerman Might Be Rough Around The Edges, But He's One Of The Best (Attack On Titan)
Attack on Titan is full of well-written characters. However, Levi Ackerman has consistently stolen the spotlight from the rest of the cast with his crude sense of humor, badass attitude, and nerves of steel. Many fans would even argue that he's the series' best character.
Levi grew up in the Underground, a poverty-stricken place beneath the walls where criminals call the shots, so it paid to be bad. Levi used what he learned from Kenny to claw his way out of that hellish environment and became the captain of the Survey Corps' scouts.
2 Power Is One Of The Series' Most Lovable Characters (Chainsaw Man)
She might be eccentric and rude with a compulsive lying problem, but Power is still one of Chainsaw Man's most beloved characters. She won fans over as soon as she debuted in the series. She's a fiend, but she can suppress her homicidal urges and even coexist with Devil Hunters.
Power strongly believes in her own abilities and even feels superior to her human counterparts. She always praises herself and even stated that her IQ could range from 500 to 1,000. She also has an interesting philosophy on food, stating that human flesh isn't any different from pork or beef. Plus, she absolutely hates vegetables.
1 Even Fans Who Haven't Seen The Show Know About Satoru Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Satoru Gojo broke the internet after Jujutsu Kaisen premiered back in 2020. Even if someone hasn't watched the series, they definitely know about him. Fans were absolutely enamored by this mysteriously happy-go-lucky sorcerer with striking white hair and a blindfold.
Satoru has a great sense of humor and never takes things too seriously. He's cocky, but rightfully so since he's the strongest sorcerer on the planet. Between his flashy jujutsu techniques, great sense of humor, and unwillingness to conform to anyone's rules, it's no question why Satoru is one of the most beloved characters in the series.