Many classic protagonists in the world of anime have an imposing appearance. Action heroes such as Son Goku, All Might, Jonathan Joestar, and many others are brawny fellows, and their appearances loudly declare "I'm strong!" Many Western comic heroes are like that too, but some heroic anime characters are strong... and short.
A variety of anime heroes and villains alike boast remarkable techniques, speed, strength or intelligence, despite being petite, and these characters are not to be taken lightly due to their small frame. In particular, who are ten anime heroes who pack a serious punch despite being a bit on the short side? Some of them aren't even fully grown adults yet, but they could show Goku or All Might how it's done.
10 Tatsumaki, AKA Tornado Of Terror (One-Punch Man)
Saitama is the invincible caped baldy of One-Punch Man fame, but he's not the only powerhouse hero around here. There's also the matter of Tatsumaki, the #2 ranked hero, and her sister Blizzard. Both sisters stand out from all the brawny fellows around them, such as Puri-Puri Prisoner or Tank Top Master.
Tatsumaki is older than she looks, and she's got her bratty side. But more importantly, Tatsumaki takes her duty seriously, and her telekinetic powers are absolutely devastating. Not even a barrage of shells from an alien battleship could make her sweat.
9 Edward Elric, The Shorty Alchemist (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
The hero of this series, Edward Elric, is known for several things, from his short temper to his automail right arm and left leg. And, of course, is known for being a rather short guy, something he can't stand.
But Edward's height isn't just a visual gag. Edward can use his petite frame to his advantage, disorienting enemies who are used to fighting taller, bigger enemies. Edward can back this up with impressive alchemy and sharp martial arts, too.
8 Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo's Supernatural Friend (Bleach)
Rukia Kuchiki is a Soul Reaper, a long-lived spirit who fights Hollows, or monstrous evil spirits. She was soon eclipsed by Ichigo Kurosaki himself, but Rukia is still a beloved (and powerful) character all the same.
Rukia can use a sword in battle, and her talent for kido spells is remarkable. What is more, Rukia's icy shikai (Sode no Shirayuki) and bankai (Hakka no Togame) can freeze any foe solid, even the mighty Sternritter As Nodt. And Rukia doesn't even crack 5'0".
7 Koichi Hirose, Morioh's Newest Hero (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Josuke Higashikata is the hero of the Diamond is Unbreakable story arc, and his two Stand-using allies are Koichi Hirose and Okuyasu Nijimura. Koichi wasn't even a Stand user at first, but he soon became one, thanks to that Stand arrow.
Technically, Koichi is taller than he looks, but it's still easy to categorize him as a short anime hero, and he can make clever use of his sound-based and gravity-based Stand, Echoes. No one ever sees it coming.
6 Makarov Dreyar, Master Of The Fairy Tail Guild (Fairy Tail)
Makarov Dreyar is a powerful wizard, just like his grandson, Laxus, but he is far shorter than the imposing Laxus is. Makarov may be a tiny old man, but he has absolutely earned his rank as the Fairy Tail guild's master.
For one thing, Makarov can perform Fairy Law and crush anyone whom he views as an enemy. He can also use magic to expand his arms to great size (and strength), or become a colossus by expanding his entire body. That's sure to take his enemies by surprise.
5 Megumin, The Explosion Witch (Komosuba)
Megumin is a bit on the short side, being a 13-ish-year-old girl who grew up without much food on the table. She may be petite and slender, but her magical talents are robust, and Megumin is determined to become a legend one day.
Megumin was a top student back home in the Crimson Demon hometown, and in battle, she can use her sole spell, Explosion, to blast apart her enemies and the terrain alike. Despite the shortcomings, this spell packs a serious punch, and Megiumin only gets better at it over time. Impressive.
4 Filo, Naofumi's Unofficial Daughter (The Rising Of The Shield Hero)
The rogue shield hero, Naofumi Iwatani, needs a full adventuring party to survive, and he started by recruiting Raphtalia, a demi-human. Next, Naofumi hatched a filolial, and simply named her Filo.
Filo is young, and she has a long way to go. Still, this young adventurer is a smart and tenacious fighter, and Naofumi made sure to obtain some metal claws to attach to Filo's talons and enhance her melee attacks (Filo can morph into a bird).
3 Hinata Hyuga, In Part I (Naruto)
Hinata Hyuga was born into the main branch of the prestigious Hyuga family, complete with the Byakugan eye. Hinata was a petite girl who didn't fully use her talents at first, holding her back.
However, Hinata soon learned to stand up for herself when Naruto gave her a pep talk, and she fully used her talents and taijutsu to give her prodigy cousin Neji a proper fight. Later, Hinata became even stronger, and Naruto relied on her more than once later on.
2 Nobara Kugisaki, The Hammer Sorcerer (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Nobara Kugisaki is a member of Yuji Itadori's team, along with Megumi, and Nobara certainly knows what she's doing. Her fighting style largely revolves around her magical hammer and nails, and with that hammer, Nobara can strike those nails and hit her enemies from afar.
Nobara is much tougher than she looks, being merely 5'3" and not particularly brawny, either. Still, sheer muscle doesn't mean everything in the world of sorcerers, and Nobara's enemies quickly learn to take her very seriously. But it's usually too late.
1 Nezuko Kamado, The Kind Demon Sister (Demon Slayer)
Nezuko Kamado was turned into a demon overnight, but she won't let that define who she is. Nezuko, through sheer strength of will, is hanging onto her human heart and identity, and she refuses to feed on people, even when tempted.
In battle, it's mainly her brother Tanjiro who does the fighting, but sometimes, Nezuko will crack her knuckles and deliver fierce melee attacks to her foes (usually kicks). She can even use demon blood arts, and she and Tanjiro teamed up on the mighty Rui in a spectacular fight. Nezuko is short and can make herself even shorter to fit into that wooden backpack, but she is not weak or helpless by any measure.