Anime fandom is filled with characters that everyone claims to love, but behind closed doors, many fans roll their eyes at the mention of certain names. These overhyped characters often dominate merchandise, conversations, and social media despite their flaws or one-dimensional personalities. From protagonists who never face real consequences to side characters elevated beyond their importance, here’s a look at the anime world’s most secretly disliked fan favorites.
1. Kirito from Sword Art Online
Perfect at everything he touches, Kirito represents the ultimate power fantasy gone wrong. His ability to master any game mechanic instantly and attract every female character has become the poster child for poorly written protagonists.
Many viewers find his lack of personality jarring compared to his overwhelming skills. The character rarely faces meaningful challenges or growth opportunities.
While officially popular in polls, private conversations among anime fans often reveal eye-rolling when discussing his convenient plot armor and unearned harem of admirers.
2. Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto
Once the underdog everyone rooted for, Naruto eventually became what many fans secretly dislike – an unstoppable force with godlike powers. His constant speeches about friendship and never giving up grew repetitive over hundreds of episodes.
The character’s development sadly plateaued midway through the series. What started as a compelling journey of a misunderstood orphan became predictable power escalation with little nuance.
Long-time viewers particularly dislike how his hard-earned skills became overshadowed by convenient prophecies and inherited powers, contradicting the series’ initial message about hard work.
3. Goku from Dragon Ball
Legendary status aside, Goku’s character flaws become more apparent as you grow older. His neglectful parenting, one-track mind focused solely on fighting, and refusal to permanently defeat villains have frustrated mature fans for decades.
The Saiyan warrior’s personality never evolves beyond his childlike enthusiasm for battle. While this worked in the original Dragon Ball, his lack of growth becomes problematic as the stakes increase and he becomes a father.
Many fans secretly wish supporting characters like Vegeta, who show actual character development, would receive more spotlight instead of the endlessly powered-up but emotionally stagnant protagonist.
4. Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto
Brooding and revenge-obsessed, Sasuke’s popularity among casual fans baffles many serious Naruto viewers. His repetitive cycle of betrayal followed by forgiveness strained credibility, especially after attempting to kill his friends multiple times.
The character’s redemption arc felt forced and unearned. Despite committing terrorist acts and attempting murder, he faced minimal consequences and was welcomed back with open arms.
His attitude problem and one-note personality (angry, angrier, angriest) made his screentime tedious for many viewers who couldn’t understand why Naruto remained so devoted to such a toxic friendship.
5. Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan
Whiny and impulsive in early seasons, many viewers tolerated Eren only because other characters were more interesting. His constant screaming and one-dimensional revenge motivation made him a weak protagonist carried by a strong supporting cast.
Later seasons attempted to add complexity but swung too far in the opposite direction. The dramatic personality shift felt jarring rather than natural character development to many longtime fans.
His final character decisions left both casual and dedicated viewers confused and disappointed, making many question if the years invested in his journey were worthwhile or if the character was ever truly well-written.
6. Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach
Orange-haired and perpetually scowling, Ichigo suffers from generic shonen protagonist syndrome. His personality boils down to being protective and angry, with little depth beyond these basic traits throughout hundreds of episodes.
Fans grew tired of his power progression, which followed a predictable pattern: lose fight, train briefly, gain massive power boost, repeat. This formula became transparent and tedious as the series progressed.
Most frustrating was his lack of curiosity about the supernatural world he entered. Despite being thrust into a complex spirit realm with centuries of history, he rarely asked questions or showed interest in anything beyond the immediate fight.
7. Mineta from My Hero Academia
Purple-headed and perverted, Mineta represents everything wrong with anime’s tolerance for sexual harassment played as comedy. His constant groping attempts and lewd comments toward female classmates make viewers uncomfortable rather than amused.
The character lacks redeeming qualities to balance his problematic behavior. Unlike other comic relief characters who grow or show hidden depths, Mineta remains one-dimensionally focused on inappropriate advances.
Many fans question why he received a spot in the prestigious hero course over more deserving candidates. His inclusion feels like an outdated anime trope that modern viewers have outgrown but creators continue to include.
8. Light Yagami from Death Note
Celebrated as a genius anti-hero, Light’s actual character leaves much to be desired upon closer inspection. His god complex and lack of genuine emotional depth make him a fascinating villain but a protagonist many secretly find one-dimensional and difficult to root for.
The character’s intelligence often gets overblown by fans. Many of his “brilliant” plans rely on unrealistic assumptions and convenient plot developments rather than actual strategic thinking.
His treatment of women throughout the series is particularly troubling, using and discarding them as tools without remorse. This aspect of his character becomes increasingly uncomfortable on rewatches.
9. Sakura Haruno from Naruto
Often defended by saying “she gets better later,” Sakura never fully escapes her poorly written beginnings. Her character revolves around her crush on Sasuke, despite his repeated attempts to kill her and his complete disinterest in her feelings.
As a rare female main character in a popular shonen series, her potential was squandered. While she gained healing abilities, her combat development paled compared to her teammates, reinforcing frustrating gender stereotypes.
Her emotional growth stagnated after the time skip. Many fans felt disappointed that her adult relationship with Sasuke seemed to validate her unhealthy childhood obsession rather than showing mature character development.
10. Zenitsu from Demon Slayer
Constantly screaming and crying, Zenitsu’s cowardly behavior quickly transforms from funny to grating. His high-pitched wailing dominates almost every scene he appears in, disrupting the show’s otherwise serious tone.
His creepy behavior toward Nezuko crosses comfort boundaries for many viewers. The character’s repeated unwanted romantic advances are played for laughs but come across as harassment rather than endearing.
While he has moments of brilliance during unconscious fighting, this split personality trick feels like a convenient way to avoid actual character growth. Many fans admit they watch Demon Slayer despite Zenitsu, not because of him.
11. Asuna from Sword Art Online
Starting strong as a capable fighter and independent character, Asuna gradually devolved into a damsel in distress. Her early promise as a co-protagonist quickly faded as the series relegated her to being Kirito’s supportive girlfriend and occasional hostage.
The cooking and housekeeping scenes in later arcs felt particularly regressive. After establishing her as a skilled warrior, the show seemed more interested in her domestic abilities than her fighting prowess.
Many female viewers especially resent how her character was handled, seeing her as a missed opportunity for genuine female representation in a popular isekai anime that instead reinforced tired gender roles.
12. Bakugo from My Hero Academia
Explosive in both quirk and personality, Bakugo’s bullying behavior gets a pass from fans that other characters wouldn’t receive. His years of tormenting Deku, including telling him to commit suicide, are brushed aside as his tsundere charm takes center stage.
The character’s redemption arc moves at a glacial pace. While he shows small moments of growth, his fundamental attitude problem remains largely unchanged through hundreds of chapters and episodes.
Female fans particularly call out the double standard in his reception. Many note that if a female character behaved with his level of aggression and disrespect, she would be universally hated rather than having a massive fan following.
13. Taiga from Toradora
Physically abusive and emotionally unstable, Taiga’s behavior would be considered toxic if genders were reversed. Her constant violence toward the male protagonist gets excused as cute tsundere antics despite crossing into genuine assault territory.
The character’s popularity reveals uncomfortable double standards in anime. Male characters exhibiting similar behavior toward female characters would be universally condemned rather than celebrated as endearing.
While she receives some development, her growth feels incomplete given her extreme starting point. Many viewers privately admit they found her difficult to root for throughout much of the series despite her official status as a beloved character.
14. Natsu from Fairy Tail
Seemingly designed by checking boxes on a generic shonen protagonist form, Natsu lacks originality or depth. His personality never evolves beyond eating, fighting, and protecting his friends across hundreds of episodes.
The character’s battles follow a frustratingly predictable pattern. No matter how outmatched he appears, a convenient power-up or “because friendship” moment ensures his victory without genuine strategy or growth.
Long-time anime fans particularly dislike how he represents the worst of shonen tropes – a loud, one-dimensional protagonist who wins through plot convenience rather than earned development. His popularity despite these flaws remains puzzling to many.
15. Haruhi Suzumiya from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Selfish and emotionally abusive, Haruhi’s treatment of those around her borders on cruel. Her behavior would be universally condemned if she weren’t the title character with godlike powers controlling the universe.
The character’s popularity peaked during the series’ heyday but hasn’t aged well. Modern viewers often find her entitled attitude and disregard for consent troubling rather than endearing or quirky.
Most concerning is her sexual harassment of Mikuru played for comedy. These scenes make newer anime fans particularly uncomfortable, as they normalize unwanted touching and coercion in a way that feels outdated by current standards.
16. Meliodas from Seven Deadly Sins
Looking like a child while acting like a pervert, Meliodas embodies uncomfortable anime tropes about age and consent. His constant groping of Elizabeth played for laughs feels increasingly tone-deaf to modern viewers.
The revelation of his actual age makes his behavior even more problematic. Learning he’s thousands of years old while appearing as a child and sexually harassing a teenage girl creates layers of discomfort many fans don’t publicly acknowledge.
His popularity demonstrates anime’s struggle to move beyond outdated comedy. Many viewers admit they enjoy the series despite Meliodas’s behavior rather than because of it, skipping through his “comedy” moments to get to the actual plot.
17. Yuno Gasai from Future Diary
Celebrated as the queen of yandere characters, Yuno’s actual behavior is disturbing rather than romantic. Her murderous obsession with the protagonist crosses from fictional entertainment into genuinely uncomfortable territory for many viewers.
The character’s popularity reveals concerning attitudes about romance. Her willingness to kill anyone who gets close to her love interest gets reframed as dedication rather than the dangerous obsession it represents.
Female viewers especially find the glorification of her character troubling. The implication that extreme jealousy and possessiveness are desirable traits in women sends problematic messages about relationships that many fans privately acknowledge but rarely discuss.
18. Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion
Whiny and indecisive, Shinji’s realistic portrayal of depression and anxiety frustrates viewers seeking traditional heroism. While his character makes psychological sense, his constant complaining and refusal to take action tests viewer patience across episodes.
The character’s more disturbing moments, particularly in End of Evangelion, alienated even dedicated fans. These scenes crossed from relatable teenage struggles into territory many viewers found difficult to defend or explain.
His popularity stems more from the series’ impact than genuine affection for the character. Many Eva fans privately admit they find Shinji himself difficult to like despite understanding the artistic reasons behind his characterization.
19. Lucy from Fairy Tail
Introduced as the viewpoint character, Lucy quickly became overshadowed by more powerful guild members. Her role devolved into fanservice opportunities and damsel-in-distress scenarios rather than meaningful character development.
The constant jokes about her rent and supposed weight issues grew stale after hundreds of episodes. These repetitive gags replaced actual personality traits or growth opportunities for her character.
Most frustrating was her stagnant magical development compared to her teammates. Despite being set up as the audience surrogate discovering the magical world, she remained relatively weak and dependent on others for rescue throughout most of the series.
20. Boruto Uzumaki from Boruto
Living in his father’s shadow both in-universe and in the fandom, Boruto struggles to escape comparisons to Naruto. His initial bratty attitude and privileged complaints felt tone-deaf compared to his father’s genuinely difficult childhood.
The character suffers from sequel syndrome – neither different enough to be interesting nor similar enough to capture the original’s appeal. His development feels calculated rather than organic, designed to hit marketing points rather than tell a compelling story.
Long-time Naruto fans particularly resent how his existence changed their perception of the original series’ ending. Many secretly view the character as an unnecessary continuation created for profit rather than storytelling.
21. Misa Amane from Death Note
Reduced to a love-obsessed accessory to Light’s plans, Misa’s character wastes her potential as the second Kira. Her intelligence and agency get sacrificed to make her a blindly devoted follower willing to halve her lifespan twice for a boy who barely tolerates her.
The character’s childish personality and outfit clash with the series’ otherwise mature tone. Her cutesy behavior in a psychological thriller feels jarring and out of place to many viewers.
Female fans particularly dislike how she represents one of the few major women in the series. Her willingness to die for Light’s approval sends troubling messages about romance that many viewers find difficult to overlook.
22. Nina Einstein from Code Geass
Forever associated with one disturbing scene involving a table, Nina’s character became irredeemable to many viewers. Her obsessive racism toward Japanese people made her difficult to sympathize with even before her more notorious moments.
The character’s scientific genius gets overshadowed by her uncomfortable behaviors. Her unhealthy fixation on Princess Euphemia crosses boundaries that make viewers cringe rather than empathize with her struggles.
Most frustrating was her lack of meaningful redemption despite continued screentime. While the series attempted to give her a redemptive arc, many viewers had already written her off as one of anime’s most disliked characters regardless of her later actions.
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