Anime Crushes Galore
As a child, you might have found yourself falling for Prince Charming or Kim Possible, but even as an adult, you might find yourself gravitating to the characters in anime. From powerful princesses to shonen leads, there’s a lot to like. With that in mind, here’s a shameless list of everyone’s favorite husbands and waifus. Brace yourself for the cringe. Either way, we won’t judge.
1. Gojo Satoru
With the popularity of Jujutsu Kaisen came the hordes of people falling in love with Gojo. In this anime, sorcerers are relied upon to handle supernatural threats and exorcise curses. Gojo stands out as the most powerful sorcerer around with godlike powers. His power perfectly contrasts his silly and comedic personality, making him a perfect crush. Plus, the eyes under that blindfold sure are something.
2. Yor Forger
Yor is one of the leads of Spy x Family, a comedic anime where a fake family made up of a spy, an assassin, and a telepath as they try to keep their identities a secret. Known as the Thorn Princess, the dichotomy of Yor pretending to be a loving wife contrasts with her scary assassin abilities. She’s the perfect blend of danger and innocence.
3. Osamu Dazai
Osamu is a popular character in Bungou Stray Dogs, an anime about a group of superpowered detectives fighting against criminal organizations. Osamu’s attractiveness begins with his past, as he started out as a mafia member turned detective. He has a unique ability, but it’s his mischievous personality that sells fans.
4. Nami
If you watch One Piece, you’ve probably found yourself falling for Nami at one point or another. She’s the navigator for the Straw Hat crew but is a pretty decent fighter too. She’s got the iconic orange hair with the short shorts, and a smile as big as your admiration for her.
Gaudencio Garcinuño on Wikimedia
5. Kakashi Hatake
If you grew up binge-watching Naruto, then you were probably impressed with Kakashi the moment he stepped on screen. He starts off as a sensei teaching Naruto and his friends the way of the ninja. But he would go on to become a beloved character, known for his stoic personality and high skills. Plus, his mask adds a perfect layer of mystery.
6. Esdeath
Akame ga Kill! is the kind of anime you want to watch and then maybe never again, unless you have a heart of steel. Either way, this show follows assassins rebelling against a corrupt empire, and it’s full of standout characters to crush on. One of the most popular is the villainess Esdeath, who can manipulate ice and has a cold and manipulative personality.
7. Levi Ackerman
Levi stunned anime watchers with his sheer skill and capability. He doesn’t seem like much, short in stature and unassuming to look at. Despite that, he’s humanity’s strongest soldier against the titan threat in the anime Attack on Titan. Fans adore his cold exterior and sheer strength.
Matias Tukiainen from Espoo, Finland on Wikimedia
8. Makima
Chainsaw Man has a few iconic characters to choose from in terms of a crush. Most people fall into Team Power or Team Makima. For the fans of Makima, she’s a mysterious Public Safety official who just has their eerily calming energy to her. Despite her enigmatic appeal, she’s clearly quite dangerous, and that’s why fans love her.
9. Karma Akabane
Assassination Classroom follows a group of students who must defeat their alien teacher in order to save the Earth. It’s a weird but compelling concept, and Karma is one of the many students enrolled. He’s a bit of a prankster, though, and his bad boy rebellious streak is what makes him irresistible to fans.
10. Asuna
Asuna is another one of the OG waifus, this time from the Sword Art Online days. This anime follows players who find themselves trapped in their MMORPG video game, realizing they’ll have to fight to survive and escape. Asuna immediately strikes fans with her graceful personality and red and white uniform. She’s also a healer, so you can be sure she’ll be there for both physical and emotional support.
11. Ken Kaneki
Ken Kaneki went from an average nobody to one of the broodiest and most beautiful characters around. The anime Tokyo Ghoul follows Ken, who is a shy student, after he goes on a date with a woman who turns out to be a ghoul and turns him. He barely survives the ordeal and goes on a torturous experience to come to terms with his change.
Farhan Ahmad Tajuddin from Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia on Wikimedia
12. Rin Tohsaka
Fate/Stay Night actually started as a dating game before the anime. The concept was just far too good, though, as it follows mages who summon heroic spirits to fight for a prize known as the Holy Grail. Most fans are torn between Rin and Arthur, but if you’re team Rin, you likely fell for her tsundere charm and ambition.
Pikawil from Laval, Canada on Wikimedia
13. Todoroki Shoto
My Hero Academia is another popular anime that follows students as they train to become some of the most powerful superheroes around. With that in mind, everyone loves a sad story with a stoic personality. As such, Todoroki’s family has passed away, leaving him a bit chaotic, with a blend of literal warmth and coldness.
14. Erza Scarlet
For a lot of fans, Erza is the real main character of Fairy Tail. This anime follows wizards as they take on magical quests and combat evil guilds. Erza is one of the toughest wizards around, with the ability to equip powerful armors and weapons. She has that goddess energy that fans adore, and is fiercely loyal.
15. Zuko
Does Avatar: The Last Airbender count as an anime? Well, it does in this list! Zuko starts off as a villain in the series, tasked with capturing the Avatar to reclaim his honor. But as the story progresses, he sees the error in his ways and finds true honor in restoring peace to the world. He’s got everything from that complex soul to an iconic redemption arc to tie it together.
16. Elizabeth Liones
Elizabeth is your essential damsel in distress at the start but goes on to become a strong ally of Meliodas and his team. The Seven Deadly Sins follows this group of knights as they work with Elizabeth to save her kingdom. She’s got that pure heart and princess grace that’s hard not to fall for.
17. L Lawliet
Death Note is so compelling because it pits two brilliant geniuses against one another, leaving fans scouring to see which will outsmart the other. Many fans found themselves falling for L. He was quirky and an oddball, often sitting around like a gremlin. Despite that, he was brilliant and had a mysterious aura that was undeniably intriguing.
18. Hinata Hyuga
A lot of Naruto fans started off the series falling for Sakura, only to switch to Hinata once she was introduced. She’s a shy heiress of the Hyuga clan and has an appealing design with avenger eyes. Her sweetness is what made her so appealing to Naruto and audience members alike.
Farhan Ahmad Tajuddin on Wikimedia
19. Kyo Sohma
Fruits Basket was a popular romance anime that’s plenty nostalgic. It follows a girl as she finds out her classmates turn into zodiac animals when they’re hugged. It’s a bit silly, and the girl has a few options to choose from. But most fans preferred Kyo, as he had that bad boy appeal and a great redemption arc.
20. Rem
Even if you haven’t seen Re:Zero, you’ve probably seen Rem’s face around. She’s an adorable demon maid who is fiercely loyal to the lead and perfectly contrasts a cute exterior with a battle-axe-wielding interior. If you want a maid who could pretty much beat you to a pulp, Rem’s the one for you.
