However, even lightning dragon ninjas are bound to get boring one day. So for this list we’re changing our tune. That’s right, today we’re going to look at the polar opposite of edgelords and count down some of the most pure-hearted anime characters that might just appeal to our inner child. So here’s some of the most innocent anime characters that my heart could not go on without.
25. Nezuko Kamado
Anime: Demon Slayer I’m going to start this list off with a few characters that have a mix of both wholesomeness and badassery. And here we have Nezuko, the little demon sister we all wish we had. Nezuko basically has two modes: Her battle mode, when she looks a bit older, has a more serious facial expression and wields the power to blow her enemies up. And her innocent mode, when she’s the most adorable chibi character you’ve ever seen. The clip of her running around while the other characters all try to catch her has been my antidepressant for a solid year, so it only makes sense to include her on this list.
24. Charmy Pappitson
Anime: Black Clover Charmy is the exact same as Nezuko, in that she has two distinct forms. However she does get a lot more screen time, and her innocent mode is a lot more extreme. She literally looks like a plush doll, and her mind is overfilled with one simple goal: getting food. A literal war can be raging outside and Charmy would still find a way to just hide in a corner and munch on some sweets, completely content with life. Her badass mode does make an appearance here and there. But it’s her wholesome mode that carries her character throughout the show.
23. Izuku Midoriya
Anime: My Hero Academia This one sounds very counter-productive, but My Hero Academia makes it work. On the battlefield, Izuku tries his best to be the ideal hero. Powerful, calm, helpful, and wearing a smile. But it’s outside of combat where we can see his true innocence. He’s as romantically dense as they come, and can pop a blood vessel after being touched on the elbow by the opposite sex, giving him that shy-boy likability that is so present in anime. I would say that he’s also pretty naïve, as he has yet to truly grasp how cruel and unfair the world can be. The same cannot be said about the manga, though.
22. Shichika Yasuri
Anime: Katanagatari Shichika just doesn’t know much about anything. He spent his entire life on an island with his sister and father. So his naivety is more than justified. I’m not sure whether I would tag him as innocent, considering what happened to his father… but his vast knowledge gaps make him more than viable for this list. He also has quite the rare character when it comes to his relationships with women. Instead of the usual blushing and bumbling dandere, Shichika just doesn’t seem to get what all the fuss is about. He can be butt-naked around a woman and be bewildered that they’re uncomfortable. Truly a breath of fresh air in that regard.
21. Fushi
Anime: To Your Eternity The only way to be less experienced than someone who lived on an island their entire life, is to be a full-blown alien. Fushi came into this world knowing nothing, and had to slowly piece together what life was all about from those around him. And let’s just say that it’s a long and difficult process. He initially didn’t even understand death, and more complex feelings such as romance are far beyond his comprehension. So whenever he does make a small step and mature, it’s like the most wholesome experience ever. Especially in regards to Gugu. Those two were just too tragically wholesome together.
20. Wiz
Anime: KonoSuba Wiz just goes against any stereotype you can have about a lich character. She’s beyond kind, constantly trying to help people out, and apologizing for things she hasn’t even done. She holds her own shop and let’s just say that her naivety is on full display in her bank records. Half of the items she sells can just flat-out kill you, and the other half is so high-level that it makes absolutely no sense to have them in a newbie town. She has not managed to make a profit even once in the show. But her childlike stubbornness won’t allow her to pack up and leave.
19. Maria Takayama
Anime: Haganai: I don’t have many friends Maria is a weird one, as she’s so innocent and naïve, and yet oddly aggressive and competitive. Also, she’s a ten-year-old nun and the supervisor of a high school club. Anime truly does know how to push the limits of logic. Although she’s quick to anger and call you a rotten mandarin (which just sounds like the weirdest slur) Maria is also incredibly naïve and easy to manipulate. Yozora basically has her dancing like a puppet, and it’s Kodaka who constantly has to interfere and make sure that Maria is alright.
18. Hinata Hyuuga
Anime: Naruto Hinata is one of the most dandere characters anime has ever seen. It literally takes her hundreds of episodes just to approach and talk to Naruto, and a couple hundred more to actually get a W. And this is because Hinata is the most innocent ninja the leaf village has ever had. She doesn’t want to fight, even though she’s from a powerful clan. And her confidence can be swayed by a slightly intelligent parrot. However, when the chips are down, she’s prepared to lay it all on the line and protect those she loves. So we can’t get mad at her.
17. Ayumi Otosaka
Anime: Charlotte Ayumi is just a little angel that never deserved to be part of such a bloody show. I mean, just look at that face! She’s just a kind-hearted little girl who wants to take care of her big brother and make some friends at school. She also has the smuggest little troll face ever, adding kawaii points across the table. Spoiler alerts here: I think that even her power speaks volumes about what she is like. When in danger, she does not know what to do or how to act, but rather remains frozen and just tries to scream the enemy away. God, she is too pure.
16. Nia
Anime: Gurren Lagann Princess characters are always either stuck-up or wholesome as hell. Nia is definitely the latter, as even her introduction showcases her less-than-ideal upbringing. She was cast away by her father without ever learning any life lessons that might prepare her for the real world. Luckily, she did have a heart of gold, making everyone onboard fall in love with her within minutes of her arrival. She was like the moral boost of the entire cast, even though it took her quite a bit to truly understand the weight of the situation.
15. Rundellhous Kode
Anime: Log Horizon This dude just makes me happy whenever he’s on screen. The show even has a running gag where all of the characters see Rundellhous as a Golden Retriever. And I feel like that alone rests my case. What can be more innocent, pure, kind, and lovable than a puppy? And he fits this description really well in my opinion, always bringing up the mood and smoothing out tense situations with his contagious charm. He’s very naïve though. Half of the time I’m convinced that he doesn’t even know what an insult is, and the other half I’m just thinking about how innocently stupid his original plan was. God bless deus ex machina.
14. Michiru Inukai
Anime: Talentless Nana Michiru is so kind and warm that she managed to soften up a mass murderer. The title character, Nana, spends the entire show killing off her fellow classmates. But could never bring herself to killing off the most obvious target, Michiru. And that’s because Michiru is an angel. A very innocent, optimistic angel. No matter how much evidence was laid before her, she never suspected Nana of being the murderer, determined to just believe in the power of friendship or something.
13. Nana Komatsu
Anime: Nana Since we’re already on the Nana train, we might as well talk about the original. Nana as a show is very down to earth and very serious, so Nana Komatsu really showcases some of the drawbacks of being so innocent and naïve. It’s all fine and dandy at the beginning, as even the coldest characters soon begin to love Nana and her simple, loving ways. However, and spoiler alert here: this would soon come back to haunt her, as a certain long-haired devil starts toying with her heart. Nana just takes it all on the chin, leaving little room for doubt, and breaking all of our hearts in the process. She’s also described as a puppy, so that just further confirms her placement.
12. Kurumi Saiki
Anime: The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. There’s one particular episode that just truly showcased how naïve Kurumi really is. The Saiki household starts getting targeted by salesmen planning to take advantage of Kurumi’s sensitive little heart. They convince her to buy all sorts of junk, claiming how it’ll help her family in the long run. It was both adorable and incredibly saddening to see this go on, but luckily she was cued into the situation by the end, and unleashed her anger upon the scumbag salesman trying to take her for all she’s worth.
11. Emilia
Anime: Re: Zero This show would have ended after the first episode if it wasn’t for Emilia’s innocence. Even when she has larger issues at hand, she just can’t help but aid people in need. She gave Subaru the lap pillow treatment five minutes after learning his name. And once we saw her backstory, we learned that this was always the case. She just can’t help but see the best in people and give it her all to help them out. She might not be a maid twin best girl, but she’s one lovable princess.
10. Sylphy
Anime: Amagi Brilliant Park I can’t even begin to describe what I would give to have Sylphy’s brain for like a week. No mortal concern can ever graze this character. And I’m convinced that she has achieved infinite Nirvana. All she wants to do is twirl her pony-tails around and pretend that she’s a helicopter. The rest of the cast could be having the most important conversations, and Sylphy will be on the sidelines re-enacting a pilot mission going overseas. Nothing will ever phase Sylphy’s innocent and oblivious mind. And I envy her for it. The only reason she’s not at number 1 is her limited screen time.
9. Mikuru Asahina
Anime: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Being that Haruhi is the almighty creator and all that, it makes sense that the core cast goes along with what she says. But the others still have some boundaries. Not Mikuru though. She’s like a lost child who was never taught about the importance of stranger danger. She goes along with just about anything Haruhi desires, even though it’s her body that somehow ends up at full display by the end. She’s an adorable little cinnamon-roll that needs to be protected at all costs.
8. Tony Tony Chopper
Anime: One Piece Tony is the youngest of the Straw-hats, and it definitely shows. He’s a very emotional little fellow who wants to stay on the side-lines and avoid any direct conflict. He sees the entire crew as both his family and as idols, crying at the mere proposition that he has to pretend not to be a Straw-hat. It’s honestly way too adorable, even though thinking of everyone as your idol is a troublesome mentality at the very least. He does luckily mature after the time-skip, finally being prepared to state his mind openly and clearly.
7. Mako Mankanshoku
Anime: Kill la Kill Mako will never question anything in this world. I swear she just goes along with everything, never even stopping for a second to think about the dangers she’s putting herself into. Hell, the mere fact that she saw a girl with a giant pair of scissors battling the student body while half-naked and thought “yeah, this seems like a person I want to live with” showcases just how innocent Mako truly is. I say it like it’s a bad thing, even though she’s one of my all-time favorite characters.
6. Miria and Isaac
Anime: Baccano! This legendary duo has no idea what’s going on, but they are making the most of it. They just roll with the flow, trusting each other more than any pesky little concepts such as “common sense” and “general opinion”. Hell, they didn’t even realize they were immortal until 70 years passed. Because whenever Miria has a question, she asks Isaac, and whenever Isaac has a question, he asks Miria. It’s like this infinite loop of naivety, love, and wholesomeness. And I could honestly watch it for the rest of my life.
5. Yui Hirasawa
Anime: K-ON! If I had to choose one person to represent childlike innocence, it would be Yui. She’s in this world to have fun, and fully disregards anything that could stand in her way. You know, things like fear, high ambition, pride, depression, etc. Yui says “nah” to all of that and just jams out to her own tune. You also just have to love her naivety, as she legitimately thought that “light music” meant music that’s really easy. You just don’t seem that kind of optimistic thinking so often in the real world. She also has enough energy and hugs to end all world conflicts five times over.
4. Mayuri Shiina
Anime: Steins;Gate Even if you’ve never watched Steins;Gate, you probably have a better understanding of its plot than Mayuri, even though she’s a main character. This is because Mayuri is about as aloof as a person can physically be, wanting nothing more than to chill out with her friends and see them all smile after she comes in with her signature “tu turu”. Everything from her visual design to her voice acting and character writing just screams comfort. And I can definitely see why Okabe went through so much trouble to save her.
3. Sawako Kuronuma
Anime: Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You Sawako is nothing short of a saint, which is extremely ironic considering everyone thinks that she’s the devil. Being bullied for looking a certain way would make a lot of people pessimistic and cynical, biting back at the world that unrightfully bit them. But Sawako just goes in the polar opposite direction. She’s beyond kind and gives it her all to help those around her. Even though most people just end up running away from her kindness. She’s too wholesome for this world, and we must appreciate her for it.
2. Goku
Anime: Dragon Ball I really worry about Goku sometimes. Even though he has two sons, I’m convinced that he doesn’t know where babies come from. The dude just looks clueless about everything aside from the battlefield. You could convince him that alarm clocks grow on trees and he would probably take that misconception to his grave. The dude can just not be bothered to think about anything aside from punching people. And as the series continued, it only got worse and worse! By the time Dragon Ball Super appeared, I started to question whether someone would just trick him into destroying Earth or something.
1. Kafuka Fuura
Anime: Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Kafuka just has some issues. She’s so naïve that it transcends what the word is even supposed to mean. She literally sees a person hanging themselves and just thinks they want to get taller. And it’s not like she’s five years old or something, she’s just that naïve! She could probably watch a World War II documentary and come out thinking that concentration camps help with your focus. It’s absolutely insane how devoid of any pessimism this character is, and I think it’s no contest to say that she deserves the number 1 spot on this list.
