It's not always necessary to be strong to be cool. Anime fans spend so much time watching action series that it's hard to perceive anyone who isn't the biggest and baddest character as the coolest. But just like there are strong characters who aren't cool at all, there are also weak characters who are pretty cool.
Though these characters might not be the most powerful in their universe, that hasn't stopped them from garnering huge fanbases. Some of them are remembered for their design aesthetic, while others are fan favorites for their personalities. Nevertheless, they all have established themselves as greats in their respective anime series.
10 Krillin Is A Great Husband & Father
Dragon Ball Z
Krillin is the only Dragon Ball Z crew member to grow up. While the rest of them continue training for endless martial arts battles in space, Krillin has moved on. He still makes time for training when necessary, but mostly he realizes that life isn't for him anymore.
Krillin got a job, operates as probably the strongest cop on Earth, and supports his wife, Android 18, and his child, Marron. Sure, he's not strong enough to handle the latest world-destroying threat, but even with his strength, he can embarrass anyone who operates in his city.
9 Gobta Might Be Weak In His Village, But Not To Others
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime
When people look at Gobta, he doesn't look the part of someone strong. And compared to most of the heavy hitters in the That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime universe, he isn't close in terms of strength or skill in combat. But the Jura Tempest Federation is a land of incredibly powerful beings.
Gobta's had the opportunity to be trained by one of the best swordsmen in the world, and receiving a name gave him a huge power-up even if his appearance didn't change. Though he's well aware that he's not as strong as some of the city's best, that's never stopped him from protecting those weaker than him.
8 Leorio Gains The Trust Of The Hunter Organization
Hunter x Hunter
Leorio is the weakest of the main protagonists of Hunter x Hunter, but that doesn't make the fans respect him any less. For one thing, he's easily the best-dressed group member and even participates in fights without messing up his suit. For him, things aren't always about strength.
Instead, Leorio is often focused on his goal of becoming a doctor, and everything he's done is about reaching that goal. Even though he isn't combat-focused, he not only became a Hunter, but he learned how to use Nen as well. And his intelligence made him respected enough in the Hunter community that he nearly became the next Hunter Chairman.
7 Kuwabara Is The Heart Of Team Urameshi
Yu Yu Hakusho
Kuwabara is the long-time rival of Yusuke Urameshi with not a single victory to his name. There's not a single Yu Yu Hakusho fan who doesn't love Kuwabara. That doesn't stop him from being the weakest member of the team, though. They even leave him behind in the last arc, as the three characters with demon heritage far surpass what Kuwabara is capable of.
But during Kuwabara's time with the team, he did as much work as any other member. He might be comic relief, but he's also the heart and soul of the team. His desire to impress Yukina even kept them in the Dark Tournament, giving him the strength to fight back against Risho.
6 Carla's Magic & Sarcasm Make Her The Best Exceed
Fairy Tail
Carla is one of the few Exceed in Fairy Tail who isn't there just to be comic relief. From birth, she spent her time looking after the Dragon Slayer Wendy Marvell, which meant she had to grow up quickly. That time caused her to become cynical and smart enough to look after her best friend.
Carla doesn't tolerate all the shenanigans the rest of the team puts up with. At the same time, she's used her magic to become a competent mage in her own right. Her desire to be seen as useful, offset by her adorable look as a cat, makes Carla one of the most likable members of the cast.
5 Hughes Was Devoted To His Friends & Family
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Major Hughes from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood wasn't the strongest person in the Amestris military by any means. He had no alchemy abilities and wasn't quite the crack shot that Lieutenant Hawkeye was. But Hughes was the most loyal soldier, and the best friend Roy Mustang had by far. That, combined with how much Hughes clearly cared for his wife and child, made him one of the show's most likable and admirable characters.
Hughes was also smart enough to figure out there were traitors in the military before anyone else. Hughes knew exactly when to turn the goofball on to keep people from realizing just how capable he was, which was quite a valuable trait.
4 Yahiko Developed Quickly As A Swordsman
Rurouni Kenshin
When Rurouni Kenshin started, Yahiko was a homeless kid who lost his father during the revolution. He still carried the proud spirit of a samurai, but he no longer had anyone to teach him martial arts. However, meeting Kaoru and Kenshin showed Yahiko a better path than being a thief. Though most kid characters rarely ever become useful, Rurouni Kenshin showed the opposite.
Over time, Yahiko learned everything he could from Kaoru's swordsmanship style. But he also witnessed enough of Kenshin's style to approximate parts of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style and incorporate that into his own skills. His refusal to give up and his talent for being a swordsman turned him into a valuable team member.
3 Joey Wheeler Learned How To Master His Deck Quickly
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Joey never got a single victory off Seto Kaiba. But the Yu-Gi-Oh! fanbase fell in love with this plucky deuteragonist for many reasons, including his charming (though illogical) Brooklyn accent. But he's also been defensive of Yugi and his friends from the Duelist Kingdom arc.
Joey figured out how to duel quickly even though he was up against some of the best in the world, and was good enough to eventually become the second-place winner of Duelist Kingdom. He's never quite good enough to win against anyone important, whether Kaiba or Yugi or any of Yu-Gi-Oh!'s antagonists. But he continues to try, and he keeps being there for his friends.
2 Senku Ishigami Might Not Have Strength, But His Intelligence Helps Him Save Humanity
Dr. Stone
Several major plot points in the early parts of Dr. Stone are about how Senku Ishigami is not the strongest character. He's run from characters who are stronger than him just to stay alive. But unlike most shonen protagonists, Senku's goal isn't to become more powerful. His goal is to simply discover why humanity turned to stone and to restore humanity to its prior state.
Fortunately, Senku has knowledge of all human science trapped in his head, and with that intelligence, he becomes humanity's best hope. His cockiness about that knowledge lends to his coolness, making it impossible not to want to see what he does next.
1 Leonard Watch Is The Everyman People Want To Believe In
Blood Blockade Battlefront
Leonard Watch from Blood Blockade Battlefront is the youngest member of the Libra organization, a group responsible for protecting humanity against vampires and other major threats. Unlike most of the group, Leo doesn't really have the same level of strength to fight back against the most dangerous threats. Just surviving in the city is often a challenge for him.
But Leo's desire to help people and willingness to use his powers to help out the best way he can make him a key member of the group. The Libra organization sees him as a valuable team member, so the viewers come to see him as valuable as well.