10 Well-Written Anime Underdogs Who Exceeded Fans’ Expectations

I love stories about people who overcome incredible challenges to achieve success. These “underdog” tales often feature characters who start with nothing and face many obstacles, and no one believes in them at first. Seeing them prove everyone wrong and reach their full potential is what makes these stories so inspiring and relatable.

It’s common for underdog characters to start out appearing weak or insignificant, and audiences often underestimate them too. The heart of an underdog story is watching a character grow and overcome huge obstacles, and fans are often amazed by how far they can go – even though we’re already on their side! This feeling of surprise and delight when an overlooked character triumphs is what makes these stories so captivating.

Baby Steps Stars Eiichirou Maruo on the Path to Mastering Tennis

I’m a huge fan of sports anime, and especially love a good underdog story! But Eiichirou Maruo from Baby Steps is something else, even within that genre. He’s known as “Ei-chan” because he’s a total academic whiz, and honestly, he starts playing tennis just to get in shape. It’s a really interesting twist – he’s not some naturally gifted athlete, just a super dedicated student giving it a shot!

I’ve totally fallen for this anime, and it’s amazing how realistic it is! The main character, Maruo, is up against some seriously skilled athletes, so he really has to use his head and think strategically to compete. What I love about Baby Steps is that everyone, even the naturally gifted players, has to work hard and play smart, exploiting their own strengths and figuring out what their opponents struggle with. That’s especially true for Maruo – he’s not the most naturally talented, but he’s a master of strategy!

Naruto Uzumaki Is a Classic Example of an Underdog Hero

Few anime heroes are as famous for overcoming adversity as Naruto. While he eventually becomes incredibly powerful, it’s easy to argue about the strength of his character development. Naruto isn’t necessarily a weak character at the beginning, but his story is definitely about proving everyone wrong and achieving more than anyone expected, despite starting with almost nothing.

The anime series Naruto focuses on the importance of perseverance and self-belief, which are central to the main character’s story. Naruto’s ambition comes from a difficult childhood where he was ostracized and made fun of, but he doesn’t just overcome this by becoming stronger – he also grows as a person.

Ranking of Kings’ Bojji Has More to Overcome Than Any Underdog Hero

I’ve been watching Ranking of Kings, and it’s heartbreaking to see how Bojji is treated. He’s a prince, but no one expects much from him, let alone thinks he’ll ever be king. He can’t hear or speak, and he’s not physically strong like his father. Because of this, almost everyone in the kingdom sees him as worthless, completely overlooking his good heart and sharp mind.

I’m completely captivated by Bojji’s journey! It’s just so inspiring to watch him take what everyone saw as weaknesses and actually build strength from them. What really gets me is how he learns to believe in himself, proving all the naysayers wrong, but without ever becoming bitter or mean. Even after everything he goes through, he stays true to who he is, and that’s incredibly powerful to see.

Gon Freecss Has to Fight in a Vast World Filled with Overwhelmingly Strong Opponents in Hunter x Hunter

The story of Hunter x Hunter starts similarly to many other action-adventure stories – with a young hero, Gon Freecss, setting out on a quest to become a Hunter and find his father. But Gon quickly discovers that the world of Hunters is both vast and full of peril.

Even though Gon is naturally gifted, dedicated, and quick to learn, he’s not usually the most powerful fighter in each story arc. He faces several painful defeats that help him develop as both a warrior and a person. This makes the world of Hunter x Hunter feel incredibly vast and intricate, and it highlights how much Gon grows when faced with such difficult challenges.

Monkey D. Luffy Grows from an Unknown Pirate to One of the Pillars of the New World in One Piece

Monkey D. Luffy sets out to become the Pirate King, starting with nothing but his determination and a strange, seemingly weak power gained from a Devil Fruit. However, Luffy’s positive spirit, genuine kindness, and incredible determination help him overcome challenges and become a formidable pirate on the Grand Line.

I’ve always noticed Luffy wasn’t weak, though a lot of enemies seem to underestimate him. What really strikes me, though, is how much he’s grown throughout the story. It’s amazing considering he doesn’t really try to get stronger, or even prove anything to anyone. He’s just driven by his love of adventure and his need to be free.

Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor’s Protagonist Isn’t a Character Fans Initially Want to Root for

The main character of Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor is a directionless and somewhat lazy man who gets into serious debt through his own mistakes. This lands him on a ship called the Espoir, where he’s forced to play dangerous games to try and erase it. What makes Kaiji different from many other underdog heroes in anime is that he’s not driven by big dreams or a desire to become something great.

I have to admit, I found myself really rooting for Kaiji. Despite being a bit of a mess and constantly on the edge, his ability to stay calm when everything’s going wrong, combined with how badly he needed to win, made him surprisingly likable. And the show is just masterful at building tension – every game felt incredibly high-stakes. That’s why Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor is so addictive; it really pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It’s hard not to feel for him, even when he’s making questionable choices, given the insane situations he’s thrown into.

Simon Matures Into an Aspirational & Courageous Person in Gurren Lagann

I absolutely love Simon’s story in Gurren Lagann! He starts as this incredibly shy guy, just a digger living underground, but ends up leading the charge to save all of humanity from these unbelievably powerful cosmic threats. But what really gets me is that it’s not just about him becoming a hero; it’s about how he changes inside. His personal growth is just as important, if not more so, than everything he accomplishes out there.

Even though Gurren Lagann is wild and over-the-top, it’s actually a surprisingly thoughtful story about growing up, dealing with sadness, and the incredible strength within people that lets them achieve the impossible. The main character, Simon, embodies these ideas perfectly, learning to cope with loss and proving everyone wrong about what humanity can do.

Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple Celebrates the Resilience of Martial Artists

Kenichi Shirahama, the main character in Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple, perfectly embodies the classic underdog story. He shows how determination and effort can transform someone, as we watch him grow from a bullied, timid student into a skilled martial artist. It’s not surprising that he struggles at first – learning to fight takes him a lot of time and practice.

With dedicated training and increasingly challenging fights, Kenichi steadily improves and becomes a skilled martial artist. His story feels realistic, and while it’s a familiar underdog tale, it delivers that classic appeal remarkably well.

Haikyuu!!’s Shoyo Hinata Doesn’t Let Anything Deter Him from His Goal

Haikyuu!! is celebrated for its compelling characters and how it explores their emotions. The story doesn’t focus on a typical hero; instead, it follows Shoyo Hinata, someone everyone doubts will ever succeed. Despite being naturally less gifted and physically small, Hinata uses these challenges as fuel to work even harder and improve his skills.

Throughout much of Haikyuu!!, Karasuno’s dream of making it to Nationals feels like a long shot. Hinata faces many difficult challenges – improving his skills and learning to play as a team – but he never stops striving to overcome his weaknesses and reach his full potential.

Watching Hajime no Ippo’s Protagonist Improve Is Endlessly Inspiring

Hajime no Ippo is a classic anime boxing series that charts the incredible journey of Ippo Makunouchi. It follows him as he transforms from a shy beginner into a promising professional boxer, facing tough defeats, setbacks, and a constant desire to get better. The show is known for its realistic fight scenes and strong emotional stories, and it gives compelling development to all its characters, not just Ippo.

Ippo’s story is incredibly inspiring, showing us that growth comes from hard work and determination, not just natural talent. He’s a classic underdog character who encourages viewers to overcome their own challenges and push past their limits with perseverance.

2026-02-03 06:40