10 Fan-Favorite Anime Characters Who Are Only Popular Because They’re Hot

Anime characters become popular for many different reasons. Some fans love characters who are incredibly cool, like Itachi Uchiha, Roronoa Zoro, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Levi Ackerman. Others become fan favorites because viewers feel the need to protect them – think of characters like Izuku Midoriya, Nezuko Kamado, and Miku Nakano. And of course, some characters gain popularity simply because of their attractive design.

An anime character is considered attractive when they’re both visually appealing and have a personality people enjoy, or if they have a great sense of style. When someone has both inner and outer appeal, they become really captivating, and it’s enjoyable to be a fan. It’s worth noting that while these characters often have other good qualities, anime fans usually focus on their attractiveness first. These characters are often referred to as a bishonen or bishojo, or an ikemen or a particularly stunning “bad girl,” just to name a few examples.

General Esdeath Was Clearly Designed to Gratify Tatsumi

If anime fans had to pick one character clearly created to be someone’s ideal romantic partner, it would likely be General Esdeath from Akame Ga Kill!. Considering General Esdeath’s position as one of the Empire’s strongest and most influential leaders, she could have had any appearance or personality. However, the creators specifically designed her as a strikingly beautiful woman with a revealing appearance and a strange attraction to the main character, who many viewers see as a stand-in for themselves.

Esdeath’s appearance didn’t make her a bad character, but it did limit how people saw her, with fans primarily focusing on her as a cool and attractive ‘bad girl’. While Esdeath certainly captivated Akame Ga Kill! viewers with her impressive ice powers and her belief in survival of the fittest, her attractiveness and being presented as an immediate romantic interest overshadowed her other qualities. Essentially, she seemed designed to make viewers envy Tatsumi, as she actively pursued him.

Kento Nanami Stunned Anime Fans as the World’s Most Handsome Sorcerer

Many characters in Jujutsu Kaisen are visually appealing, and when it comes to the adults, fans often focus on the two handsome characters: Satoru Gojo and Kento Nanami. While both of these characters from the shonen anime are considered attractive by fans, Satoru is more widely recognized for being a playful trickster. As a result, his personality and abilities tend to overshadow his physical appearance when people think about his character as a whole.

I’ve noticed that Kento Nanami is another really cool and capable fighter, though he doesn’t quite reach Satoru’s level of power. Because of this, Jujutsu Kaisen fans have really taken a shine to Kento, seeing him as the most attractive male character. He’s got a sort of rough, handsome look and a serious, somewhat gloomy personality that a lot of people find incredibly appealing. It’s interesting because some characters become more attractive by being playful and flirty, but with someone like Kento Nanami, it’s the opposite approach that works – his stoicism is a big part of his appeal.

Midnight Knows She’s Bursting With Sex Appeal

Both in the world of My Hero Academia and in reality, the hero Midnight is defined by her attractiveness. Author Kohei Horikoshi intentionally designed Midnight to be visually appealing, and it was successful. Midnight instantly captures attention, and she seems to enjoy it, even from her students.

My Hero Academia also highlights other admirable qualities in Midnight, like her useful Quirk and her warm, kind nature as a teacher. However, it’s clear that Midnight’s attractiveness is her defining characteristic, and this wasn’t unintentional. She’s known as the R-rated hero for a reason – she’s a professional hero who confidently embraces her appearance.

Erwin Smith Has Powerful Charisma as a True Leader

Few characters in Attack on Titan are traditionally good-looking or particularly focused on their appearance, although some fans are drawn to Levi Ackerman’s rebellious style. Historia Reiss is also considered beautiful by many, but if you’re looking for the most attractive character, Commander Erwin Smith is a popular choice. Some admire him for his leadership qualities, while others appreciate how much of an ikemen he is.

Erwin Smith is naturally attractive and possesses a captivating personality; he doesn’t need to be flirtatious to draw people in. He has a strong presence, both as an individual and as a commander, which explains why his Scouts followed him so devotedly, even when confronting the terrifying Beast Titan. Erwin Smith was a well-known figure – a symbol of hope for the people of Paradis Island, both within the walls and beyond – and this is a key reason why fans are so drawn to his character.

Nico Robin Has Lost the Emotional Depth That Once Defined Her Character

Initially, Nico Robin was a very captivating character in One Piece because of her deeply moving backstory. She had previously been part of Baroque Works and even saved Luffy’s life. Then, her involvement in the dramatic events at Enies Lobby further solidified her place in the story. Even now, One Piece fans value Robin as a loyal and capable member of the crew, but many are especially drawn to her attractive appearance.

Within the often strange-looking or even unattractive character designs common in shonen anime and manga, Nico Robin stands out as a conventionally beautiful character. While she doesn’t often talk about it, her stylish clothes and confident poses hint that she’s aware of her looks, and One Piece fans absolutely love it. Given that Robin’s story has been developing gradually over a long period, it’s understandable that her striking appearance often becomes the most captivating aspect of her character.

Tsunade’s Beauty Grows With Age

I’ve always been a big fan of Tsunade from Naruto! What really grabbed me initially was her introduction – she was such a compelling character. Seeing her work through her grief and finally stop avoiding her problems to confront Orochimaru and become the Fifth Hokage? That was seriously inspiring, and I think that’s why so many of us loved her so much back then.

Naruto fans continue to admire Tsunade both for her legendary status as a Sannin and her time as Hokage. However, many shonen anime fans are even more drawn to her stunning appearance. Thanks to her mastery of medical ninjutsu, Tsunade maintains a youthful look, making it almost comical when Naruto Uzumaki refers to her as “granny.” Tsunade perfectly combines graceful femininity with immense strength, a quality she shares with another Kage, Mei Terumi. Plus, Tsunade’s character isn’t shy about embracing her mature attractiveness, which makes her even more popular with fans.

Mem-Cho Is a Typical and Lovable Internet Hot Girl

Many characters in Oshi no Ko are popular due to their appealing appearances and enjoyable personalities, including the handsome and thoughtful Aqua Hoshino, his twin sister Ruby, and definitely Kana Arima and Mem-Cho. Of these, Mem-Cho particularly leverages her beauty, as charisma is a key part of who she is. As an internet celebrity, being an attractive young woman is a definite advantage for her.

Mem-Cho is well-known for being skilled with social media and technology, and she’s assisted Aqua/Dr. Amamiya in these areas previously. Most importantly, Oshi no Ko fans love Mem-Cho because she’s a humorous, endearing, and attractive woman in her twenties who has made a career out of carefully crafting her public image. She’s genuinely appealing both personally and professionally, serving as Oshi no Ko’s vital source of comedy.

Mitsuri Kanroji Turns Heads as a Pleasant and Gorgeous Demon Slayer

While appearances won’t help win fights against enemies and their followers, Demon Slayer’s Mitsuri Kanroji confidently embraces her beauty. Fans admire Mitsuri for overcoming her self-doubt, and she served as a supportive older sister figure to Nezuko. Though she’s a skilled combatant, many Demon Slayer fans are most drawn to Mitsuri’s striking looks.

It’s clear that Mitsuri, the Love Hashira, was created to be the visually attractive character in Demon Slayer, intended to appeal to male viewers. While this doesn’t entirely define her character, many fans primarily remember her as the attractive Hashira, even more so than Shinobu Kocho. Mitsuri also readily embraces her appeal, often shown with her uniform jacket and skirt partially open.

Erza Scarlet Became More of a Spectacle Than a Warrior

I’m a huge fan of anime, and honestly, some of the female villains are *designed* to be incredibly captivating – take General Esdeath, for example! But there’s also a massive demand for lovable heroines-what fans call ‘waifus.’ Fairy Tail really nails this, giving us amazing characters like Mirajane Strauss and Cana Alberona, but if I had to pick the hottest girl in Fairy Tail, it’s definitely Erza Scarlet.

Eventually, Fairy Tail viewers became familiar with Erza’s battle skills and character, and her attractiveness became a primary focus. To emphasize this, the Fairy Tail anime frequently showcased the female characters in revealing outfits. Erza was often shown in bikinis and similar clothing, and importantly, she always seemed confident and comfortable with her appearance. This created a contrast with Lucy, who frequently felt self-conscious when she was shown in revealing attire.

Zero Two Was a Delightful Mecha Waifu

If anime fans enjoy characters like Esdeath-a strong, rebellious female-and admire Erza as an ideal partner, then Zero Two from Darling in the Franxx strikes a balance as the series’ most popular waifu. The anime, which gained popularity in the 2010s, captivated audiences with Zero Two’s mysterious personality and history, but ultimately, fans are drawn to her as a desirable and appealing waifu.

As anticipated, Darling in the Franxx provided opportunities for Zero Two and the other female characters to showcase their appearance, including scenes of them in swimsuits and provocative poses during mech piloting. While these moments felt unnecessary, there’s clearly still a demand for this kind of content, and many anime fans continue to appreciate Zero Two’s attractiveness, regardless of what she’s wearing-or isn’t.

2025-10-04 04:58