But sometimes I just want to look at a character that acts like a ball of sunshine. And in anime, there’s quite a few of these characters to go around. So for this piece we’ll be looking into all those characters that are always optimistic, always in a good mood, and always ready to have some fun.
30. Asta
Anime: Black Clover Slight spoilers ahead: After a major fight, Asta’s arms get severely damaged. And it becomes possible that he might never fight again. For someone who has spent his whole life training, this would be soul crushing. And yet Asta just screams at the sky how even this wouldn’t stop him from climbing to the top. The dude just never trips up, and always maintains a positive and happy attitude. Especially if training is involved, the man really likes his daily dose of sit-ups and push-ups. It’s like he’s permanently stuck in the January gym phenomenon.
29. Bulat
Anime: Akame ga Kill! Bulat is such a positive person that he almost makes me forget about the rampant death that’s occurring in the background of nearly every episode. He acts like everyone on Earth is his bro for life (given they’re not the bad guys that is), and he’s the first to completely accept Tatsumi. In fact, the dude was so kind-hearted and upbeat that I quickly started shipping him and Tatsumi over all the other female characters. And I don’t even like yaoi! I guess that’s just the power of a positive mindset and luscious hair.
28. Shinji and Ryuujirou
Anime: Grand Blue I want to clump these two bros together as it’s hard to imagine them ever being apart. The two of them basically represent an idealistic view of college, where every day is a party day and life itself is just one fun rollercoaster. They never seem pent up or grumpy, even when they wake up half naked in front of the university. These two bros just run around, cause general havoc, and have a blast doing it. Every bro meme you have ever seen, secretly relates to these two.
27. Mako Mankanshoku
Anime: Kill la Kill I don’t even know whether I can describe Mako as a human, as she’s more similar to a ball of positive energy. She’s always bouncing off the walls, giving entire theatrical performances when explaining even the simplest concepts, and will be a one-person cheer squad whenever her friends are down. This girl doesn’t seem like she has the capacity for hatred. And her friendly demeanor can soften even the stoniest of hearts. She was honestly one of the key factors that made Kill la Kill so enjoyable to me.
26. Aladdin
Anime: Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic Aladdin is such a precious little thing. It feels like he holds no malice in his heart, and genuinely just wants to learn about the world and have some fun with his friends. I mean, just look at his relationship with Ugo. It’s extremely wholesome. However, he can get serious if you mess with his friends. But even then, he’ll try to handle everything without there being any bloodshed. Considering that he’s a Magi and holds enormous power, it’s his upbeat attitude alone that prevents the show from getting too dark.
25. Hawk
Anime: The Seven Deadly Sins I don’t usually include mascot characters, but it’s hard to overlook this little piggy. With all the immortal beef cakes, demon kings, and corrupted angels going around willy nilly killing each other, it really is a breath of fresh air to see what Hawk is up to. He always tries to fight the bad guys to protect his friends, but it’s only when Mama Hawk steps up to the plate that things get serious. He isn’t really prone to any bad feelings, and just generally buzzes around the main cast, lifting up the attitude wherever he goes.
24. Naruto
Anime: Naruto It’s rarely a surprise when you find an upbeat shounen protagonist. In fact, you can’t throw a stick without hitting one in the face. However, Naruto does stand out a bit. As we all know how difficult it must have been to gain and maintain such a positive outlook. Queue the scene with the swing… But nevertheless, he keeps on pressing forward, forever being fateful to his friends and his ramen guy, refusing to give up on anyone, even when that person nearly kills him.
23. Yato
Anime: Noragami I’m not a religious person. But I would totally be into the idea if Yato was a legitimate god. This dude is like that one friend who can somehow make even the most mundane tasks seem incredibly fun through their antics alone. He’s a little troll at heart, and has enough energy to power a small city. No matter how bad things got, he always managed to bounce back and have fun with his friends. And don’t get me started on his work ethic and advertisement skills, those speak for themselves.
22. Kamina
Anime: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Kamina is the type of dude that wouldn’t get sad at his own funeral. He’s so charismatic and full of energy that speaking to him for a few minutes feels like an entire motivational TedTalk. He truly believes in all of his friends, and even makes them believe in themselves. Because of these qualities, the man managed to bring up an entire army, even though he might have been lacking in other departments. Because in the dark and depressing world of Gurren Lagann, everyone needed a person to shine bright and lead the way. And no one could do the job better than Kamina.
21. Ritsu Tainaka
Anime: K-On! Honestly, almost anyone from the main cast would have fit in this list. But I guess a drummer has to be called the most upbeat. Get it? Like a beat in a song? Worth a shot. Well the combination of Ritsu and Yui never fails to make me laugh, especially if an English exam is rearing its ugly head around the corner. But even on her lonesome, Ritsu is a ton of fun. She makes me remember a simpler time when pranks were wholesome and cheerful, and her constant dedication to living life with the people around her is nothing short of awe inspiring.
20. Minori Kushieda
Anime: Toradora! Slight spoiler warning: If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m a sucker for tsunderes and that Taiga’s a precious little ball of mixed emotions, I would have been so angry that Minori wasn’t the best girl. The show is a drama, so we do see Minori being down from time to time. But more often than not she’s like an unstoppable flow of positive energy. She’s athletic, kind, funny, oddly deep, and a person who you just can’t hate.
19. Luck Voltia
Anime: Black Clover Luck is kind of an oddball on this list, as he technically meets all the criteria, but not for the same reasons as most other characters. The dude is literally always smiling. And being that he uses lightning magic, you could imagine that he doesn’t stay in one place for all too long. However, his upbeat nature comes from a slightly twisted place, as he just really likes fighting. He shows all of his emotions through his fists, so I guess it’s kind of wholesome in the grand scheme of things. Plus, the bromance between him and Magna is top tier.
18. Kafuka Fuura
Anime: Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Kafuka and the titular “Zetsubou sensei” are like yin and yang. While Zetsubou is constantly trying to off himself and wallowing in his own despair, Kafuka sees a positive twist to everything. I know I use hyperbole a lot, but this time I’m being serious. Kafuka is pure optimism and cheer. Even when faced with a man hanging himself, she will twist the story around and determine that the man just wants to be taller. She will then give him a funny nickname and be on her way, still as happy as a clam.
17. Koro-Sensei
Anime: Assassination Classroom Despite what my last pick might have you believe, not all teacher characters are depressed. Koro sensei, for example, has such a wide grin that you almost forget about the fact that he’s a threat to the world. And even though he’s teaching a class of assassins, the man is the best father figure one could ask for. He always preaches positivity, acceptance, and self-love. So even though he made me depressed by the end of the series, as a character, he’s as upbeat as they get.
16. Ms. Joke
Anime: My Hero Academia She might not be the symbol of peace. But with a title like “The Smile Hero”, she’s more than qualified to be on here. We haven’t seen a lot of her. But even her short appearance in the hero licence arc was enough for me to fall in love with her. She’s the perfect contrast to Eraser Head, as she’s always laughing and having a grand old time. Even her Quirk reflects her happy-go-lucky attitude, as it makes people around her bust a gut from her mere presence.
15. Naru Kotoishi
Anime: Barakamon Naru is the type of character that just makes you want to have a kid, because of how joyful and wholesome she is. She has shown to have the power to turn even the biggest cynic into a laid-back and happy fellow. And Naru went from being thrown out of the house like a bowling ball, to being an inspiration to us all. And I can understand it, honestly. There’s just something about her energetic & optimistic outlook on life that’s so infectious that you can never completely shut her out.
14. Isaac and Miria
Anime: Baccano! We have another dynamic duo on our hands, and boy how dynamic they truly are. Even though they’re technically criminals, Isaac and Miria seem like the friendliest and most zany characters a person could ever meet. They’re constantly bouncing off of each other, and never seem to be in a bad mood, regardless of how dire their situation might seem. I guess since they have each other, the world can never seem all that dull or depressing. And that’s kind of beautiful.
13. Tooru Honda
Anime: Fruits Basket Toru just has that goofy wholesome energy that we all know and love. Being that she has found herself in quite the unusual situation, with the transforming dudes and all that, she constantly seems a bit confused, but also excited. And since she’s usually with Souma, the hot-headed cat himself, Toru comes off as peaceful as a Buddhist monk most of the time. Even though her history is far from ideal, she still manages to keep going and help others. What a rice ball.
12. Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV
Anime: Cowboy Bebop
Ed is such a free spirit that I often forget that she’s even in the show.
Not to say that I don’t notice her, but rather that she’s so out there, so energetic, so fun, and so joy-inducing, that I just see her as having her own little show within Cowboy Bebop.
And even though she’s a certified genius and world-class hacker, she prefers to do things the fun (and usually weird) way.
Honestly, we all need a little bit of Ed in our lives. I mean, just look at the name she gave herself.
11. Akari Mizunashi
Anime: Aria the Origination In the Aria series, the main goal is to become a professional tour guide gondolier. At first glance, Akari should stand no chance. She knows very little of the history of the town where she’s applying, and to top it off she learned how to row a boat backwards. And yet her attitude alone manages to flip the script. She’s simply so friendly and glows with such an intensity that complete strangers quickly find themselves enamored with her. So even though her style may be weird, and her history facts are questionable, the experience is definitely enjoyable.
10. Naotsugu
Anime: Log Horizon Naotsugu is a man of culture. He only cares about two things in life: lewdness and food. And as long as these two are present in his life, he’s happy. Even if he gets punched in the face every time he tries to explain his love for the lewd, that won’t stop him from doing it again. Out of all the characters in the show, he took the whole isekai thing the best. And quickly accepted his new life. Because of that, this buff frontline tank raises the moral of all those he comes in contact with.
9. Might Guy
Anime: Naruto: Shippuden I said this before and I will say it again: Guy/Lee make for way better protagonists than Naruto. This is because they were dealt a bad hand in life, but managed to climb to the top through sheer effort. No prophecies or demon powers, just some elbow grease and a mentality so positive it should be counted as a kekkei genkai. They’re always bouncing off the walls with their 2-tone leg weights doing little to slow them down, as they chase down their unwilling rivals and enjoy the power of youth.
8. Sasha Blouse
Anime: Attack on Titan At first glance, Sasha might seem a bit odd for this list, being that she isn’t as consistently over-the-top as other characters mentioned here. But her attitude is still extremely impressive. Even though humanity is hanging on by a thread, and it seems like the entire world is against our protagonists, Sasha manages to still keep a smile on her face. Granted, it’s mostly because someone has offered her food. But among all the heart-broken, cold, and possibly insane characters that Attack on Titan has, I think we need to appreciate the ray of sunshine that is Sasha.
7. Souma Yukihira
Anime: Food Wars! It’s another shounen protagonist, so you already know the drill! Souma is the type of dude that values his friends and his craft above anything else. He loves preparing food for those he cares for, which is incidentally everyone he has seen more than once. And he uses his recipes to both convey his feelings, and to cheer up whoever he’s serving. Even though it’s cliché as hell, it seems like his secret ingredient truly is love. Or some type of aphrodisiac, based on people’s reactions.
6. Happy
Anime: Fairy Tail It’s literally his name. I can’t pass off an opportunity like this! Just like Hawk, Happy is the mascot of the show. And as such, he usually brings along all the giggles and all the awws. He’s always there to be Natsu’s hype man. And never misses the opportunity to “ay sir” when an adventure opens its doors to the protagonists. He even gets a female counterpart later on, creating yet another duo of positivity and brand marketing.
5. Rimuru Tempest
Anime: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime It’s no secret that Rimuru is pretty busted power-wise. With them being buddies with a dragon and all… But I think their attitude is even more crucial to the rise of their empire. Rimuru is simply a good person who wants other people to be happy. They don’t abuse their power or seek out glory and fame, but rather lift others up to create a peaceful place for all those who were struggling. And when business is not at hand, Rimuru is usually just goofing around, having some fun with the town folk, and occasionally sneaking away for that lewd-y goodness.
4. Goku
Anime: Dragon Ball Z Goku is so optimistic and happy that it actually gets annoying sometimes. Yes Vegeta, I am partially on your side. I mean, Goku just refuses to ever abuse his power. And even treats the biggest villains as people. He will never take the opportunity to kill off a wounded bad guy, regardless of how much evil that person has done. In fact, he would probably help you heal so that your battle can be fair and square. For every time that Vegeta screams and threatens to blow up a planet, Goku has a casual conversation with a villain and rescues a cat out of a tree.
3. Popura Taneshima
Anime: Working!! Even the most toxic work environment would be a treat if you had Popura as a co-worker. She might be extremely short, but don’t let that fool you! She’s almost an adult! But don’t let that last remark fool you either; she still kind of acts like a child. And it’s absolutely adorable. Her little freak-outs whenever someone teases her about her height, or her determination to be a valuable employee, or her extremely pat-able head… You literally can’t feel negativity with her around.
2. Tsukasa Hiiragi
Anime: Lucky Star We yet again come to a yin yang situation with the Hiiragi sisters. Considering that Tsukasa’s twin sister is a full-on tsundere, you can already get an idea of what Tsukasa is like. There’s something so meditative about watching this character. She’s never angry, and just seems to be vibing in any given moment. She might not be the smartest, and her sleep schedule really isn’t helping when it comes to her grades at school, but she seems happy. And that makes me happy.
1. Mirio Togata
Anime: My Hero Academia Overall, Mirio is one of my favorite anime characters. He’s such a weird mix of wholesome goofiness and badassery that you can’t help but love him. One episode he’ll be taking out countless enemies by himself to save a single person, and in the next he’ll be poking his butt out of a bush in order to play the weirdest game of peekaboo. Even when all the chips are down and life itself hands him an L, Mirio keeps smiling. Because as Nighteye said “a society without cheer and humor won’t have a bright future”.
