My Top 9 Anime Crushes

Many of us have had a crush on a fictional character at some point in our lives. Whether they’re from a movie, a TV show, or a book, well-written characters have the power to capture our hearts in ways that real-life people seldom can.

I’m certainly no exception—I’ve been catching feelings for two-dimensional men practically since I discovered anime in the second grade. Over the years, many character crushes have come and gone as my tastes evolved, but a handful of them have stuck with me. And since it’s my birthday, it’s the perfect time to be self-indulgent and talk about the anime men that have made me swoon the hardest.

This is another very personal list, so what I consider attractive might be very different from what you might consider attractive. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say. But more than that, this is simply for fun, and I have no intention of analyzing these fellas too deeply.

9. Lord Dracul (The Vampire Dies in No Time!)

Madhouse

Vampires’ reputation as dark, mysterious seducers stretches back even before Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Well, with Lord Dracul, all that mystique gets thrown out the window and we’re left with a painfully fragile wimp, but one who is still charming in his own unique way. While not as suave or seductive as many of his vampiric predecessors, Dracul isn’t a bad-looking guy. He’s also polite and eloquent when his head is cool, but even when he’s bugging out in a dire situation or turning to dust at the faintest feathery touch, he’s still a treat to watch.

The Vampire Dies in No Time! is an inoffensive subversion of the classic vampire trope, and one that I welcome into my heart. I only ask that Dracul doesn’t get any dust in there.

8. Claude Faustus (Black Butler)

A-1 Pictures

When the subject of attractive characters in Black Butler comes up (as it often does), most people tend to think of Sebastian Michaelis, and for good reason. However, my vote for the most attractive butler has to go to Sebastian’s main rival and Alois Trancy’s right-hand man, Claude Faustus. Admittedly, this is more of a nostalgic crush—it has been a rather long time since I last watched Black Butler—but I do have a thing for stoic anime men in glasses and snappy suits. Plus, he’s not just a pretty face; that scene of his tap-dancing on the second-floor ledge above the dining room is as breathtaking as it is tense.

I might be tempted to pay a visit to Trancy Manor if I weren’t so concerned about getting wrapped up in the master’s schemes.

7. Fat Gum (My Hero Academia)

Bones

I’ve noticed that many of the fictional characters I find attractive are large men. Whether that means they’re chubby, musclebound, or tall, there’s just something comforting about being in the presence of a big guy.

And wouldn’t you know it, Taishiro Toyomitsu, a.k.a. Fat Gum, is all three! Fat Gum’s quirk, Fat Absorption, turns him into an utter behemoth of a man at 8 feet, 2 inches tall. He accomplishes this by eating more twice his weight in food, and as a lover of food myself, I can certainly admire that. Already, he’s a strong candidate for this list, but when he burns off all that fat to turn his defense into offensive, my jaw hits the floor!

And Fat Gum is more than just a cuddly-looking guy; he has one of the strongest moral compasses of any of the pro heroes of My Hero Academia, prioritizing rescuing the innocent over going after the villain. He’s also kind and earnest in general, especially toward the students he works with. He’s a classic example of what being a hero is all about and deserves to be respected as well as loved.

6. Rock (Nanbaka)

Satelight

Shifting gears to a man I would never take home to my father, Inmate #1369 is the big bruiser of Cell 13. Despite his outwardly happy-go-lucky demeanor, Rock is not one to be taken lightly, as only a handful of Nanba Prison’s guards can match his strength. At the same time, he only locks horns with those who threaten his fellow cellmates or hinder their various escape attempts.

More importantly than that, though, is he’s a foodie just like me! The fact that he broke out of his original prison because the food sucked is not only hilarious but very relatable. I’ll have visitor day marked on my calendar for this man.

5. Inuyasha (Inuyasha)

Sunrise

Another nostalgic crush. Inuyasha became the first “mature” anime I ever watched when I was 10 years old and decided to stay up past my bedtime. At that point, I didn’t know that adult-oriented animation was even a thing, so when I saw the dog demon’s handsome face pop up on screen, it was like a door to a new world had opened up for me!

I remember sneaking downstairs when I was supposed to be in bed and turning on the TV in hopes that Inuyasha may be on. I didn’t even care about the story back then; I was just in it for Inuyasha himself. And yes, I did feel a burning jealousy toward Kagome and Kikyo for being involved with the main man. It comes with a territory of being a young anime fan who thinks she’s in love, I suppose, but he did help shape my tastes for many years to come.

4. Ren Ichimoku (Hell Girl)

Studio Deen

Ai Enma has been tormenting people left and right for centuries, but if any good can be said about her, she has superb taste in subordinates. Ren Ichimoku acts within the Hell Girl’s inner circle, assisting her in serving retribution on behalf of the poor, unfortunate souls who call on her. Besides being easily the best-looking member of the group, what makes Ren stand out is his soft side. He expresses great sympathy for the jilted party, is usually the first to give the targeted human a chance to repent for their crimes, and has even contemplated interfering with his mistress’s plans.

He may not be the one serving justice, but whenever karma comes a-knockin’ for an episode’s villain, Ren is the one I look forward the most to seeing.

3. Kyōjurō Rengoku (Demon Slayer)

Ufotable

Demon Slayer boasts a highly colorful cast of characters, but none are quite as uniquely bombastic as the Flame Hashira. Rengoku is perhaps the most respected supporting character in Demon Slayer, both in and out of universe, and it is not for no reason. His commitment to protecting the innocent and vanquishing all of demonkind is second to none, and damned if he doesn’t look good doing it.

But just as with Fat Gum and Rock, what got me crushing on Rengoku was his very vocal appreciation of food. I can’t help but giggle whenever he shouts out “Umai!” after every bite of food he takes. (If social conventions allowed it, I would probably do the same thing every time I went to Taco Bell.) He’s also an avid fan of the performing arts, with his favorite pastimes being watching sumo, noh plays, and kabuki theater. Can you say “date night”?

No matter how you look at Rengoku, he’s more than worthy of our three heroes’ worship!

2. Karamatsu Matsuno (Mr. Osomatsu)

Pierrot

Sometimes, a poseur can be just as much fun to crush on as a conventionally suave man. The second-born son of the notorious Matsuno sextuplets, Karamatsu has the life goal to become popular with the ladies in his own unique, cringey way. If you see a guy on the street rocking a black leather jacket, strider shades, and scuffed jeans in the middle of summer, you’re definitely looking at Karamatsu. And if you try to start a conversation with him, expect to hear random English words he has cherry-picked to suit his mood. Clearly, he’s doing all of this for the sole purpose of grabbing attention.

With all of that said, though, it’s how he carries himself with such comical confidence that makes him an absolute treat to watch every time he pops on screen. Coupled with the fact that he’s a genuinely great guy who cares deeply about his brothers, you’ve got a recipe for a man that’s unironically irresistible. Karamatsu somehow manages to achieve the impossible by being such a pathetic try-hard that it’s both funny and endearing, to the point of making him one of the most popular characters in the show.

So, yeah, I’m a Karamatsu girl and proud of it!

1. Odion (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters)

4Kids WB, Kazuki Takahashi

Many anime men have come and gone over the years, but none have stuck with me nearly as long or as deeply as Odion has. First off, just look at him. Anytime he’s on screen, the cliché “tall, dark, and handsome” always springs to my mind. Odion is ruggedly good-looking with a determined scowl and sharp green eyes that pierce the soul. And he’s not just easy on the eyes, he’s also easy on the ears; J. David Brimmer’s manly timbre lends itself flawlessly to the trap card specialist. It lets us know that Odion means business but is not about to act shady in order to win.

Despite being classified as a secondary antagonist, Odion is also an honorable, humble, and well-mannered man who treats everyone with respect, regardless of whether they’re a friend or an enemy. But his greatest characteristic is how loving and protective he is of his adoptive family. He played a pivotal role in Marik’s childhood, perhaps even more so than Marik’s own biological father—always willing to look out for him and even take the fall for his adoptive younger brother whenever he was in danger. Even when Odion was being compliant in Marik’s schemes to overthrow the Pharaoh in Battle City, his goal was always to keep his brother safe and sane.

Even if I wasn’t attracted to Odion, I would still hold him very highly in regard as a character. For his civility, loyalty, and devotion to his family, he wears the crown for not just my favorite Yu-Gi-Oh! character, but also my biggest anime crush.

As I grow older, I think it’s fascinating how much my tastes have evolved in regards to what I consider to be attractive. Five years from now, will I look at these characters differently? Will I be filled with nostalgic warmth or cringe at the mere sight of them? That, to me, is what makes crushing on fictional characters so much fun: you can never be sure how your preferences will change!