The explosive popularity of anime in recent years has led to the most popular anime characters, like Dragon Ball's Goku, becoming household names even outside of Japan. Interesting and lovable characters help to make a series both memorable and profitable, so it's in studios' best interests to create the most appealing characters possible. Not every anime character reaches that bar, but the best of the best aren't just heroes fans can relate to, they're fully fleshed-out characters with fears, hopes, and dreams.

While it's impossible to have a totally objective list of the most popular characters, one of the first criteria must be that the most popular characters are well-known outside their own fandoms. Even those not into anime might be able to recognize these characters at a glance, and no anime convention is complete without a cosplay or two of them.

20 Sakura Kinomoto is a Beloved Heroine With a Compelling Arc

Cardcaptor Sakura

One of the most iconic magical girls of all time, Cardcaptor Sakura's Sakura Kinomoto is a sweet young girl who accidentally released the Clow Cards, unleashing ancient magic on the world. The task of recapturing them and sealing their magic falls to her, even though she'd rather just get on with her ordinary life. Sakura has a relatable sibling relationship with her brother, with the two often teasing each other in a way not regularly seen in anime.

Unlike many other iconic anime characters, Sakura isn't fearless, but it's her willingness to courageously push on that makes her worthy of being one of the most popular anime characters.

19 Himmel's Heroism Has Made Him An Icon Of Modern Anime

Character From Madhouse's Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

One of the major characters in Madhouse's Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is Himmel, the hero who saved the world from the tyranny of the Demon King. Decades later, Himmel died peacefully in his sleep, and his death motivated Frieren, the elf mage of his party and the main character, to go on another journey to learn how to better understand people.

Thanks to flashbacks and other forms of exposition, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End always sells Himmel as exactly the kind of courageous and charismatic hero who would save the world, and that posthumous character work has made him one of the most popular characters in one of the most popular anime of modern time. It's become a meme in Japan to refer to a good deed as "what Himmel the Hero would do", and that's perfectly indicative of how big a mark Himmel has left on the community.

18 Spike Spiegel is the Epitome of Cool Despite His Many Flaws

Cowboy Bebop

Though Cowboy Bebop might be more popular in America than Japan, there's little denying that Spike Spiegel is one of the coolest anime characters ever. A bounty hunter with a dark past and trust issues, Spike is the prototypical noir hero.

Far from coming across like a cliche though, Bebop uses audience expectations for a character like Spike to add depth to the character. Funny, strong, and always the coolest person in the room even when he's losing, Spike struck a chord with American anime fans for a good reason.

17 Haruhi Suzumiya Was The Most Popular Anime Character Of The 2000s

Character From Kyoto Animation's The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya

Kyoto Animation's The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya stars, naturally, Haruhi Suzumiya, an eccentric and charismatic girl who leads the SOS Brigade, a school club dedicated to uncovering supernatural beings hiding in the world. Unbeknownst to Haruhi, though, most of her club are the exact sort of supernatural beings Haruhi is looking for, all of whom have gathered together to observe Haruhi and her godlike powers, something Haruhi is kept blissfully unaware of.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was easily the most popular anime of the 2000s, and thanks to Haruhi Suzumiya's infectious charisma and wit and the memetic nature of the "Hare Hare Yukai" dance, it's easy to see how that happened. The anime has somewhat fallen into obscurity over the past decade, but Haruhi remains an icon to a degree that few other characters have ever matched since she first appeared.

16 Eren Yeager Represents a Much Darker Take on Classic Shonen Heroes

Attack On Titan

Eren Yeager quickly became one of the most popular anime characters due to his distinctive personality and morals. Even though he does not start as a strong character in Attack on Titan, he soon develops into a powerful anti-hero after discovering his Titan-shifting powers. Many of the best quotes from Attack on Titan are attributed to him, as he's known for his fearlessness in battle.

Fans wanting a more light-hearted version of Eren should watch the gag series Attack on Titan: Junior High, which is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

Eren never backs away from a fight and is always the first to jump into action and lead his group. What defines Erin early in the series though is his loyalty to his best friends Mikasa and Armin, and their friendship is one of the best relationships in anime. Eren's character does suffer a major change towards the end of the series, but that doesn't seem to have harmed his popularity all that much. By the end of Attack on Titan, Eren might well be anime's greatest anti-hero, and that's more than enough to make him iconic.

15 Ichigo Kurosaki Adds a Rebellious Spirit to Shonen Jump

Bleach

Ichigo Kurosaki ranks among the sweetest shonen protagonists and is certainly among the most popular anime characters. Even though Bleach has been around for over 22 years, Ichigo is still a popular character among anime viewers, with that popularity only bolstered by the recent debut of Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War.

Ichigo has the powers of a Quincy, a Hollow, and a Soul Reaper, giving him a wide array of abilities that make his fights incredibly flashy One of the main reasons for his popularity, though, is his unique appearance and caring personality. While most shonen protagonists rely on major character shifts towards the end of the series, Ichigo's personality remains a consistent part of Bleach from beginning to end, even as he grows.

14 Saitama is So Much More Than Just a Gimmick

One-Punch Man

Saitama is an ordinary, relatable guy who just happens to have incredible strength, a combination that easily makes him one of the most popular anime characters ever. With his detached and carefree demeanor, Saitama is the titular "one-punch man" (though he's never called that in the series) who has the power to defeat any villain with a single strike. The only problem is that this leaves Saitama without any challenges in life, leading to a familiar sort of boredom with everything around him.

Despite his ennui though, Saitama is the kind of guy who's a hero for fun, and that automatically makes him stand out. He's the moral core of his series, winning characters over to his way of thinking by living up to his ideals. With a unique hook and unrivaled powerset, Saitama isn't just one of the strongest anime characters ever, he's also one of the most iconic.

13 Satoru Gojo is the Rare Mentor More Popular Than His Students

Jujutsu Kaisen

A common theme in shonen anime is the next generation of heroes suring the old, and though that's a prominent part of Jujutsu Kaisen, Gojo's popularity has proven greater than that of his students by a wide margin. With Gojo's powers like Limitless and Six Eyes, it's easy to assume that the character's iconic status is tied into his ridiculously strong abilities. Despite this, it's Gojo's fun personality and deep backstory that keep fans of Jujutsu Kaisen coming back to the character.

12 Izuku 'Deku' Midoriya is Defined By His Kindness

My Hero Academia

Though how cool a character is can definitely be part of their appeal, that's definitely not the case for Deku. Deku's honesty, sincerity, and kindness make him My Hero Academia's beating heart. That isn't to say that Deku can't be cool when the situation calls for it, of course.

Possessing One For All gives the young hero access to a wide range of powers that make him a serious threat to face in any battle he's involved in. That power is only increased when Deku is involved in a battle meant to protect people. It's no understatement to say that Deku truly ushered in a new generation of anime heroes.

11 Tanjiro Kamado is Always a Ray of Positivity Even in the Darkest Times

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Demon Slayer is one of the most popular modern anime franchises, and it's obvious that Tanjiro is a big part of that. It's difficult to undersell just how popular the character is, as a poll showed Japanese children rate Tanjiro as more trustworthy than their own mothers. Watching any Demon Slayer episode makes it easy to see why. Tanjiro is unflinchingly polite, isn't afraid to stand up to evil, but still has an incredibly kind and comionate heart. It's telling that one of Tanjiro's defining traits is that he mourns for the demons he slays.