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The rise in popularity of anime as a genre has led anime characters to become media figures in their own right. While anime watchers may have their personal favorites, there are undeniable trendsetters from anime old and new that have left a lasting impression on the world.
These anime characters inspire viewers to gain personality traits from them, further resonating with them and encouraging them to be their most authentic selves; change how fashion trends take shape; become prominent in intersectional culture; stand out as social media stars; and break ground for anime. Their impact refuses to be subtle. The world has embraced anime, and anime has embraced the world right back. These trend-setting anime characters’ influences have gone beyond the screen.
10 Usagi Tsukino May Be Sailor Moon, But She's A Star, Too
Sailor Moon's Influence Has Changed Magical Girl Anime Forever
One of the most popular magical girls in all of media, Usagi Tsukino, Sailor Moon herself, has left an incredible impact on the anime industry. She’s a cultural trendsetter who has left a lasting impact on fashion, anime, and feminist representation across the globe. Following her debut in 1991, Sailor Moon quickly became a phenomenon as she embraced high-femme aesthetics and the empowerment of women. Most prominently, Usagi’s influence resonated with the fashion community on a greater level. Her blend of youthful brightness and traditional kawaii appeal has inspired streetwear and online fashion trends to this day.
Usagi also broke the mold of what it was like to be a feminine hero in anime. Prior to Sailor Moon, it was rare that anime put powerful women in the spotlight and allowed them to truly embrace every aspect of who they were. Usagi is still revolutionary because she was both powerful and deeply emotional, not afraid to cry or give way to her love of romance. Thus, she’s inspired ongoing generations to feel their emotions and take hold of their femininity. Her debut paved the way for other leading women in anime to do the same.
9 Momo Ayase Brought Back Gyaru Culture
Dadadan's Toughest Girl Doesn't Apologize For Her Attitude
Momo Ayase is quickly becoming a trendsetter in modern anime. While Dandadan may not have the longevity of some iconic series that have come before it, the promising battle shōnen sets its toughest girl front and center. Momo, as a character, already stands out as a symbol of the evolving female representation in anime. She refuses to concede to any shōnen anime stereotypes that may threaten her authenticity, though she may possess quieter traits that contribute to who she is overall. Momo defies traditional conventions of being a teenage girl in anime. She is assertive and boldly outspoken, often unapolgetically speaking her mind. Her blend of confidence, attitude, and vulnerability feels fresh and genuine. Momo isn’t perfect by any means and still faces her struggles, but she inspires resilience in others and encourages gender norms to be challenged.
Between streetwear style and eye-catching accessories, Momo is a true gyaru inside and out. The slang term is a Japanese phrase borrowed from the word «gal» and pertains to a subculture of women defying expectations thrust upon them. To an extent, Momo’s modern trendiness through her fashion can inspire others to take after her aesthetic while making it their own. Outside of her stylishness, Momo refuses to be seen as weak due to her feminity, nor does Dandadan treat her with fragility. She sets the standard for anime characters who want to be powerful without sacrificing their individuality.
8 Goku Is An Icon, In And Out Of Dragon Ball
Goku Is More Than Just An Anime Hero
Legendary protagonist Goku has become one of the most famed, popular anime characters on a universal level. Central to Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series, which launched in 1984, Goku redefined what a hero could be and set the standard for countless characters across pop culture entertainment. Goku is responsible for setting the stage for the modern shonen anime archetype that has hung around as a genre staple for ages. Cheerful and pure-hearted, his obsession with becoming physically stronger stood as a blueprint for those like Naruto Uzumaki or Monkey D. Luffy. Goku launched the trend of power-scaling in anime, and the Super Saiyan transformation changed anime forever.
Aside from being an on-screen icon, Goku is partially responsible for the anime industry’s approach to reaching a global audience. Once Dragon Ball was aired around the world, Goku served as a gateway character that inspired newfound anime fans to invest in the form of entertainment on a more personal level. Goku’s prominence in Dragon Ball was pivotal in normalizing anime as a mainstream form of media, successfully assisting in pushing anime as a greater element of pop culture. He also serves as a trendsetter in the fitness community, as his rigorous training has inspired admirers of Goku to hit the gym for themselves.
Dragon Ball
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7 Nobara Kugisaki Is Femme And Fierce
Jujutsu Kaisen's Coolest Tokyo High Student is Fashionable And Fearsome
Nobara Kugisaki is a modern trendsetter due to her bold personality, unapologetic femininity, and subversive take on traditional female roles in shōnen anime. She outright refuses to be locked away in an archetypical prison, and instead, breaks the mold for how important it is for women to be included in action-driven anime. Nobara once said that «I love myself when I’m pretty and all dressed up! And I love myself when I’m being strong!» This alone attests to the prior belief that women must choose to be powerful or be feminine — they can be both, slaying literally and figuratively. Nobara’s rejection of compromising who she is stands as a stark reminder that female characters are absolutely multifaceted. She can still love fashion and shopping as much as she does conquering Cursed Spirits.
What also sets Nobara apart is her resilience, and the way she carries herself has broken ground for others who admire her to gain their own courage. Whether it’s biting back against sexism or challenging anyone who attempts to dismiss her, she’s quick to stand her ground. Nobara redefines what it’s like to be a strong woman, and her influence has leaped from the screen into the real world. Women have embraced their right to speak up and out — characters such as Nobara can remind a younger generation of girls who enjoy anime to do the same.
6 Mikasa Ackerman Defies Expectations Of Outdated Tropes
Attack on Titan's More Quiet Characters Stand Out, Too
Mikasa Ackerman challenges outdated tropes and remains to be a new kind of role model for strong, capable, and emotionally complex people. While being one of the most powerful characters in Attack on Titan, Mikasa also reminds female anime fans that women don’t always have to be caretakers or overly sexualized, and that they should stay true to who they are. The loudest in every room aren’t always the most correct, and they speak to be heard. Mikasa’s more reserved nature has de-stigmatized those who are naturally quiet, and demonstrates a practice of softness without weakness.
Stoicism aside, Mikasa’s red scarf has become an iconic symbol. Its representation of love and memory has resonated deeply with Attack on Titan fans, many of whom have been influenced by Mikasa to pick up one of their own. Mikasa also represents a shift toward more diverse means of how women are understood both in fiction and in reality. Not every single person needs to be a love interest, and she’s set a trend of being independent. She was one of the first anime women who was praised for her athletic build, inspiring female fitness influencers to embrace their muscular physiques. Mikasa also called for awareness of mixed-race representation, prompting discussions of Asian representation in fiction.
5 Naruto Uzumaki Changed Anime's Relationship With The World
The Naruto Run Was A Trend — For Better Or For Worse
Naruto Uzukami is one of the world’s most beloved shōnen anime protagonists for a reason. A fan-favorite underdog, Naruto’s story follows him from outcasted Host of the Nine-Tails Fox to unstoppable warrior. Thus, his resilience has inspired those around the world to overcome their own personal struggles, even if they may not be shunned by their clan. Outside of shaping today’s approach to male shōnen anime protagonists, Naruto is responsible for the Naruto Run, which experienced peak popularity in the Area 51 Raid that swept the internet in 2019.
Naruto’s influence has spanned into music, where rap and hip-hop artists such as Lil Uzi Vert, Megan Thee Stallion, and Juice WRLD have directly referenced the character or the anime. Naruto has also been subject to fashion collabs like Hypebeast and UNIQLO among countless others that have used the ninja as part of their design. Famous athletes have used or incorporated Naruto’s run or hand jutsu signs into their gameplay, and Japanese phrases commonly used by him have made their way into mainstream slang.
4 Spike Spiegel's Effortless Coolness Transcended Cowboy Bebop
The Space Cowboy Is An Enigmatic Fashion Icon
Cowboy Bebop may not have been the most thrilling anime, though its omnipresence in the anime community attests to its greater impact. Spike Spiegel was never really the loudest, but his influence has reached beyond the bounds of anime and has touched popular culture as a whole. He was able to introduce the idea that anime had every opportunity to be cool and cinematic with a mature edge, debunking the idea that anime was originally intended for children. This helped pave the way for anime to be taken seriously as art. Spike’s association with blues and jazz shed light on music genres that had existed far longer than him, and Spike can be noted as an inspiration for the «lofi anime vibe» aesthetic.
Streetwear and high fashion trends can thank Spike for popularizing the «disheveled cool» look. Retro-futuristic and jazz-inspired themes have become motifs in the clothing of today, depending on personal style. Fans of the space Western, grittier neo-noir gerne can look to Spike Spiegel and Cowboy Bebop for the detached, philosophical anti-hero character that appears so frequently in everything from Blade Runner 2049 to The Mandalorian. It’s the Space Cowboy himself that encouraged greater crossover between anime-inspired and Western storytelling.
3 Nana Osaki Is A Fashion-Foward, Punk Trendsetter
The Other Nana Has Influenced Fashion, Too
Fiery, fierce, and punk, Nana Osaki gave Nana a biting edge that impacted how deeply the anime cut as a whole. Through her edgy sense of style, divisive personality, and emotionally complex being, Nana has helped shape fashion trends, inspire a refreshed interest in grunge, and influence the discussion of feminism in today’s media landscape. Nana’s wardrobe is teeming with leather jackets, plaid skirts, fishnet tights, and platform boots, which are nods to British punk fashion and Vivienne Westwood’s impact. The return of Y2K fashion and heightened popularity of alternative streetwear borrow from Nana’s striking design. From Western culture to K-pop idols, Nana has encouraged the popularity of grunge and alternative aesthetics today.
Radio station WKNC 88.1 calls Nana an anime that «redefined rock music,» and it can be said that Nana’s prominence as a punk rock vocalist empowered other female musicians to embrace their talents when subverting from mainstream music trends. Some call Nana a feminist icon because of her unwavering independence, and her brash departure from the «typical» portrayal of women in anime. She became a symbol of emotional resilience and self-expression.
2 Jotaro Kujo's Legacy Goes Far Beyond Bizarre Adventures
"Yare Yare Daze"
Jotaro Kujo’s influence spans outside the JoJo fandom, as his cool demeanor and embodiment of hypermasculinity have impacted internet culture, as well as how masculinity is interpreted today. Jotaro represents a unique take on «cool» masculinity through his mostly-silent being and near-emotionless state of being. Traditional displays of masculinity are subject to scrutiny due to glorifying outdated or harmful behavior, though Jotaro turns the tides and sets an example for young men and masculine people. Physical power aside, Jotaro’s actions are driven by integrity and self-control, introducing a more nuanced approach to the depiction of outward masculinity in anime. His on-screen characterization can set the trend of creating relationships with healthy masculinity, especially when it comes to gender expression and understanding emotions.
JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure‘s memes and online presence have become a mainstay in anime communities across social media, thanks to Jotaro’s iconic poses and intense launches into battle against enemy Stand users. Jotaro has appeared in fashion trends, video games, fan edits, and far more. With little exaggeration, he’s become the face of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, an anime that’s created a bold reputation for itself.
1 Gojo Is Anime's "It Boy"
Glorious, Blue-Eyed G.O.A.T
Saturo Gojo is a global cultural icon, plain and simple. His persona has become a symbol of effortless, cool confidence and power, especially among Generation Z. Gojo’s cocky-yet-charming demeanor, sarcastic wit, and deeply complex relationship with himself have made him as complicated as he is admirable. That duality of Gojo’s unwavering high self-esteem and the longing to be understood add to the intrigue of who he is as a whole, and he has served as a main draw to Jujutsu Kaisen due to his sensational popularity online. The phenomenon around how beloved Gojo has become has helped push anime into mainstream pop culture, where it’s no longer niche, but instead, destigmatized and embraced.
Celebrities, musicians, and other public figures have referred to Gojo. Megan Thee Stallion directly names Gojo in «Otaku Hot Girl,» and has cosplayed the strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer himself. Usher has also cosplayed as Gojo after his hit single, «Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),» was used as a musical backdrop for Gojo edits across social media. Even Cillian Murphy has been seen replicating Gojo’s signature Domain Expansion pose. Gojo is more than just the strongest — he’s a cultural ambassador and modern media icon.
