Anime series often revolve around the lives and struggles of high school students. Other series include child protagonists, and it doesn't make the show any less entertaining to watch. Lifetime anime fans appreciated watching these children embark on adventures and watch them ascend into adulthood.
Pre-teen children still have problems, though it differs from adults. Whether it's being the avatar, a jinchuriki for a tailed beast, or master trainer of Pokémon, viewers observe the everyday struggles and successes of these child protagonists.
10 Aang Has A Childish Side In ATLA (12 Years Old)
Aang, the protagonist of Avatar: The Last Airbender, is actually 112 years old at the start of the series. Biologically speaking, he's only 12 years old after he trapped himself inside an iceberg during a violent war. Katara and Sokka rescue Aang from the iceberg, and they accompany him throughout his journey of mastering the four elements.
Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender see the childish side of Aang, especially when he's training with Zuko. Their difference in maturity levels is supported by the fact that Zuko is four years older than Aang. Aang eventually becomes more serious as The Last Airbender continues.
9 Made In Abyss Features A Child Cast (12 Years Old) Riko
Made In Abyss is a 2017 anime adapted from the manga of the same title by Akihito Tsukushi. The second season of Made In Abyss and an action role-playing game is set to release in 2022. Riko is the main 12-year-old protagonist of Made In Abyss. She lives in an orphanage in Orth, where a massive hole called the abyss is in the middle of town.
Riko's goal is to become a legendary Cavr Raider like her late mother, Lyza the Annihilator. On her journey, Riko befriends other children - like Reg, a human-like robot with amnesia. Despite the child cast, Made In Abyss is a short and enjoyable binge-watch for children and adults.
8 Gon Ages Three Years In Hunter X Hunter (12 Years Old)
Gon Freecss is the main protagonist of the anime/manga series Hunter X Hunter. This favorite anime of many has been stuck on hiatus since 2019, disappointing Hunter fans. At the beginning of Hunter X Hunter, Gon is only 12 years old and is attempting to get his Hunter's License.
Towards the Hunter X Hunter, Gon has earned his Hunter's License and is around 14 years old. His immaturity is recognized in his angry responses and desire for revenger. Not quite to the Sasuke Uchiha level, however.
7 Naruto's Immaturity Is Because Of His Age (12 Years Old)
At the beginning of the original Naruto series, Naruto Uzumaki is only 12 years old. This makes a lot of sense considering how immature this hot-headed ninja is. However, despite his endless pranks, Naruto is forced to grow up early due to the death of his parents and being the jinchuriki of the Nine Tails.
Naruto puts his jutsu antics behind, and viewers see a huge difference in the shinobi after training with Jiraiya for three years. Fans of the franchise notice how grown up Naruto is in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
6 Emma Is Forced To Grow Up In The Promised Neverland (11 Years Old)
Emma is another pre-teen forced to grow up early because of her tragic circumstances. Emma is the main protagonist of the dark anime/manga series The Promised Neverland. The Promised Neverland goes down in history as one of the best-selling mangas of all time.
Emma is sent to the Grace Field House 'orphanage' when she is only a baby. She realizes the sinister acts committed by the children's mother, Isabella. Emma and her siblings, Norman and Ray, organize an escape plan to leave the orphanage to ensure the safety of the younger children. If anime fans like a wicked twist, The Promised Neverland is the anime to watch.
5 Viewers First Meet A Young Goku In Dragon Ball (11 Years Old)
When viewers first meet one of the most recognizable anime characters of all time, he is only 11 years old. Goku is the main protagonist of the well-appreciated Dragon Ball franchise. Like every 11-year-old, Goku can be childish.
Fans of Dragon Ball observe how much Goku physically and mentally matures in the many feature films and anime series after the 1984 original. Goku is approximately 43 years old, which is a vast difference from being 11 years old, in the Universal Survival Saga of the sequel Dragon Ball Super.
4 Ash Is Forever A Child In Pokémon (10 Years Old)
Ash has been continuously catching Pokémon since the anime series began in 1997. Unlike the lifelong fans of the Pokémon show and video games, Ash defies mortality and stays the same age. Somehow, his forever companion, Pikachu, is still alive too.
There are several theories as to why Ash is stuck in a 10-year-old's body, some more ridiculous than others. The most believable is that the Pokémon series has a floating timeline, which is common for animated shows. This means little to no time passes as Pokémon continues over the years.
3 Aladdin Is A Young Mage In Magi: The Labyrinth Of Magic (10 Years Old)
Aladdin is one of the two main protagonists, along with Alibaba, in the 2012 anime Magi: The Labyrinth Of Magic. The anime is heavily based on Middle Eastern folk stories from One Thousand And One Nights, like Aladdin and Ali Baba.
While Aladdin can be silly at times, since he is only 10 years old at the start of Magi: The Labryinth Of Magic, he isn't as childish as other child protagonists. Aladdin is an exceedingly talented magician and one of the four magi of the show. He actually offers excellent advice to people he meets, and is surprisingly wise for his age.
2 Sakura Has A Lot On Her Plate For Her Age (10 Years Old)
Sakura Kinomoto is the 10-year-old main protagonist of the 1998 anime/manga series Cardcaptor Sakura. This elementary school student accidentally stumbles across magical Clow Cards in her basement, and the cuddly guardian of the cards, Kero, emerges.
Sakura must search for the magical cards she released to prevent utter disaster. Cardcaptor Sakura is largely directed to a younger audience, which may make the show a little trying for adults to enjoy. Sakura grows up to be 12 years old by the end of series.
1 Meiko Honma Is Also Stuck As A Child (10 Years Old)
Meiko Honma is also stuck being 10 years old, and there is a very sad backstory. Meiko, also known by her nickname, Menma, is the female protagonist of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. Anohana hints that Menma drowned while chasing her friend Jinta near a river when she was only 10 years old.
Despite the fact that she died years prior, she seems to age a little bit when she appears to Jinta as a ghost. Jinta is the only one who can see her, and their friend group must reunite to fulfill Menma's wish. The anime sure hits the feels.