10 Anime Underdogs Better Than MHA: Vigilantes’ Koichi Haimawari

Everyone loves a good underdog, and anime fans are no different. While powerful heroes like Frieren and Saitama are fun to watch, it’s the characters who struggle and have to prove themselves that we really connect with. Most anime viewers can relate to feeling vulnerable and facing long odds, and underdog characters like Koichi Haimawari from My Hero Academia: Vigilantes capture that feeling perfectly.

Koichi is a classic underdog hero – he has a simple but effective ability and wants to help people even without official permission. However, he’s not the most inspiring underdog in the world of My Hero Academia, or even in anime as a whole. Several other characters have more impressive powers, smarter strategies, more interesting backstories, or more striking appearances.

Ochaco Uraraka Fights to Support Her Family

Ochaco is MHA’s Most Selfless Hero of All

I’ve always enjoyed watching the underdogs in My Hero Academia, and the series has a lot of them! You’ve got characters like Izuku Midoriya, Koji Koda, and Eijiro Kirishima, but to me, Ochaco Uraraka really stands out. She’s come so far, especially considering her Quirk is Zero-Gravity – it’s been amazing to see her progress.

I’ve noticed Ochaco doesn’t have the same kind of protection Deku gets with One For All, but she really doesn’t need it. She’s a classic underdog – she pushes forward with sheer determination, willpower, and a really admirable goal. What a lot of fans connect with, besides her strong friendships, is why she’s fighting: she’s working hard to earn money and help her family, and that’s a really relatable and sympathetic motivation.

Tanjiro Kamado Worked Himself to the Bone While Training

Tanjiro’s Losses Never Hardened His Heart

Image via UFOtable.

Tanjiro Kamado is the emotional core of Demon Slayer. Despite facing immense hardship and loss at the hands of demons – even nearly dying fighting Daki and Gyutaro – he consistently showed compassion, recognizing the humanity within even his monstrous enemies. He remained a caring person, even when he was at a clear disadvantage.

Gyutaro taunted Tanjiro by pretending they were brothers who both cared for a younger sister, but Tanjiro felt a real connection to Gyutaro. It’s remarkable that someone as kind and sensitive as Tanjiro, who has suffered so much, could empathize with demons like Gyutaro and Daki. Unlike many heroes, Tanjiro wasn’t naturally gifted or protected by fate; he achieved his strength through hard work, mastering Water Breathing and unlocking the Hinokami Kagura dance.

Yuji Itadori is Surrounded By Enemies as a Strange Sorcerer

Yuji Must Fight Just to Survive

Image via MAPPA.

Beyond the popular character Satoru Gojo, Jujutsu Kaisen really focuses on the difficult journeys of characters who face long odds. Maki Zenin won over audiences with her strong will to overcome her family’s strict traditions as a female sorcerer born without natural abilities. However, Yuji Itadori’s story as an underdog is even more compelling, as he’s battling enemies from both sides of the conflict.

Though Yuji has lost many friends and powerful allies – including Nobara, Kento, and Satoru – he refuses to give up. He continues to fight, relying on his incredible willpower against both curses and enemy sorcerers like Naoya Zenin. Because of everything he’s been through, every win he achieves feels even more meaningful.

Simon Went From Zero to Hero as a Young Mech Pilot

Simon Overcame Grief to Save the World

Image via Gainax.

Despite its epic mecha battles, Gurren Lagann stayed relatable thanks to its main character, Simon. Even as he gained incredible power and piloted massive drills, he remained a vulnerable and sympathetic hero. The series showed Simon quickly adapting to a war against the Beastmen, and then coping with the devastating loss of his close friend and mentor, Kamina.

Losing Kamina was absolutely devastating for Simon and Yoko, and honestly, it felt like everything was falling apart for a while. But then, something amazing happened – Simon dug deep and decided to fight on, not just for himself, but to carry on Kamina’s dream of freedom! It was incredible to watch him step up and become Kamina’s true successor, battling both the Beastmen and the terrifying Anti-Spirals, even when those around him weren’t sure he could. He really embodied Kamina’s spirit, and it was so inspiring!

Guts is the Legendary Struggler Haunted by Trauma

Guts Also Embraced the Power of Friendship

Image via Dark Horse.

When it comes to underdog heroes in seinen manga and anime, Guts from Berserk truly stands out. He’s earned the nickname “Struggler” – given to him by the Skull Knight – because he carries an incredible amount of both physical and emotional trauma. Even before meeting the Skull Knight, Guts was a hardened survivor, fighting for his life with his sword every single day.

Guts’ story is a deeply complex journey, fundamentally about the strength of the human spirit to endure constant hardship. Despite facing incredibly difficult and unjust circumstances, he never gives up. After hitting rock bottom, Guts began to rediscover the importance of connection and friendship.

Ruby Hoshino is an Amateur Idol Who’s Following Her Mother’s Example

Ruby Will Either Shine Bright or Go Down in Flames

Image via Doga Kobo.

Oshi no Ko is a captivating anime that challenges typical storytelling. Characters like Akane Kurokawa and Ruby Hoshino face incredibly difficult circumstances, making them relatable and flawed heroines. However, Ruby stands out because the show brilliantly builds suspense around her future – will she succeed like her mother, or will she meet a tragic end?

It’s currently uncertain if Ruby will succeed in achieving her dreams and justify her story, or if she’ll face a tragic fate to emphasize the harsh realities of the entertainment industry in Oshi no Ko. This also leaves us wondering how much Aqua will do to protect her from these dangers.

Edward Elric Won’t Let His Disabilities or Past Mistakes Own Him

Ed and His Brother Learned a Hard Lesson in Humility

Image via studio Bones.

I absolutely love Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood! It’s such a fantastic shonen anime because, at its heart, it’s all about how strong people can be, even when things are incredibly tough. But what really sets it apart is that it doesn’t shy away from showing the darker sides of humanity, too. You really see this in Edward Elric, the main character – he’s got the best intentions, but he’s constantly battling the consequences of past mistakes and trying to overcome impossible challenges.

Ed and his brother Al faced incredible challenges, having lost limbs and even entire bodies. Despite being skilled alchemists and fighters, they suffered devastating losses. It’s truly amazing how Ed managed to overcome powerful enemies like the homunculi, Scar, and chimeras to save their country, Amestris, from destruction.

Kafka Hibino Never Asked to Be a Half-Kaiju Warrior

Kafka Proves it’s Never Too Late to Pursue One’s Dreams

Image via production IG

Most heroes in popular action comics aimed at young audiences (like Deku and Ochaco) are teenagers. Even characters in their early twenties aren’t much older. That’s what makes the hero of Kaiju No. 8 so different – he’s 32 years old! In those stories, he’s well past the typical age for a protagonist, and Kafka, the main character, worries that age might actually be a problem as he tries to join the Defense Force.

Early in Kaiju No. 8, Kafka’s growing worry about getting older and his lack of confidence were major motivators for his actions. It’s inspiring to watch him desperately try to make his dream come true before time runs out. This struggle might also connect with anime viewers who feel they’ve aged out of chasing their own youthful ambitions.

Iruma Suzuki Changed Everyone’s Hearts With His Lovable Personality

Iruma Created a New Kind of Strength in Babyls

Image via Bandai Namco Pictures.

Many popular anime feature incredibly powerful heroes, but Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-Kun focuses on the power of kindness and emotional strength. The story follows Iruma Suzuki, a human student at a school for demons, and his journey to positively impact everyone around him.

I watched as Iruma, clearly outmatched by his classmates in terms of strength, had to constantly think on his feet just to avoid becoming someone’s meal. He quickly learned to blend in, but he didn’t stop there. He started subtly changing how people saw things, and it was fascinating. Young demons like Azazel and Asmodeus seemed so sure of themselves, but Iruma’s kindness actually brought out sides of them they didn’t even know existed – it was like he was helping them become better versions of themselves.

Anya Forger’s Mission at School Will Protect the Peace in Ostania

Anya is Devoted to Her Foster Father’s Mission

Image via studio Wit.

Loid and Yor Forger are both highly skilled – Loid as a spy and Yor as an assassin – in Spy x Family. While they each have weaknesses, it’s their adopted daughter, Anya, who truly stands out. Anya initially relied on Loid and Yor simply for a normal life, but she soon faced new difficulties: making friends with Damian and succeeding in school.

Anya is a somewhat clumsy telepath who struggles with both school and making friends, but she has a big secret: the fate of the world rests on her shoulders. Driven by her father’s expectations, she’s determined to succeed, even though she’s not a strong student. While it’s been a challenge, Anya has shown promise with her ‘Stella Stars’ and bravely handled a dangerous busjacking.

2026-01-12 02:36