NoaIzumiSeven of the Cutest Characters in Anime
January 3rd 2009 20:09
Cuteness is as integral to anime as the over-sized eyes and the giant robots. Even in this medium, however, certain characters stand out. This is by no means an all-inclusive list; there are undoubtedly hundreds of as-cute examples that I’m missing. Just consider this a sampling.
Chiyo-chan (Azumanga Daioh)
It just wouldn’t be a Cutest list without the adorable Chiyo Mihama of Azumanga Daioh. Part of her cuteness, ironically, is her maturity. She’s very self-sufficient (the cooking song is one of her cutest moments), and is often the most responsible one of the group. She’s the daughter all couples wish they could have.
Midori (Midori Days)
When a naked girl replaces a teenage boy’s right hand, the dirty jokes normally write themselves, but when that girl is Midori Kasugano, sordid humor is the furthest thing from the mind. She wins the heart of tough guy Seiji Sawamura, and she has no trouble winning ours.
Mika-sensei (Doki Doki School Hours)
Just as it wouldn’t be a Cutest list without Chiyo-chan, it wouldn’t be a Cutest list without the somewhat less well-known Mika Suzuki, high school English teacher. But where Chiyo is the youngest and often most mature of her group, Mika is the oldest and often least mature of her group. In Mika’s case, it’s her haplessness that puts her over the top. When Kitagawa puts her into difficult situations to make her cuter, we sympathize with Mika, but we’re secretly with Kitagawa all the way.
The Mini-Goddesses (Adventures of the Mini-Goddess)
OK, granted, going chibi-style can make anyone look cute, but cuteness is more than how a character looks, it’s also how a character acts, and the madcap antics of Urd and Skuld in this series are always sure to put a smile on your face. Belldandy is her usual helpful, generous self, which makes her cute no matter how she’s drawn.
Kuromi (Animation Runner Kuromi)
Mikiko "Kuromi" Oguro is probably not the first character that comes to mind for this list, but she gets bonus points for maintaining cuteness even when she’s going insane over deadlines. She could be about to kill someone and still look adorable, and she does. Being voiced by the incomparable Lisa Ortiz helps too.
Amelia (Slayers)
The white magic practitioner Amelia is a cutie, no question, but it’s her attitude and her worldview that puts her in such company. Who doesn’t get a lump in their throat when she strikes with the Hammer of Justice? Assuming she doesn’t trip and fall on her face, but if she does, she’ll always get right back up.
Tachkoma (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex)
They’re artificially intelligent armored vehicles with four legs, integrated machine guns and grenade launchers, who often engage in combat, but they’re still cute as the dickens. It’s their childlike personalities that do the trick. No wonder they touch the soft spot of Batou’s cybernetic heart.
It just wouldn’t be a Cutest list without the adorable Chiyo Mihama of Azumanga Daioh. Part of her cuteness, ironically, is her maturity. She’s very self-sufficient (the cooking song is one of her cutest moments), and is often the most responsible one of the group. She’s the daughter all couples wish they could have.
Midori (Midori Days)
When a naked girl replaces a teenage boy’s right hand, the dirty jokes normally write themselves, but when that girl is Midori Kasugano, sordid humor is the furthest thing from the mind. She wins the heart of tough guy Seiji Sawamura, and she has no trouble winning ours.
Just as it wouldn’t be a Cutest list without Chiyo-chan, it wouldn’t be a Cutest list without the somewhat less well-known Mika Suzuki, high school English teacher. But where Chiyo is the youngest and often most mature of her group, Mika is the oldest and often least mature of her group. In Mika’s case, it’s her haplessness that puts her over the top. When Kitagawa puts her into difficult situations to make her cuter, we sympathize with Mika, but we’re secretly with Kitagawa all the way.
The Mini-Goddesses (Adventures of the Mini-Goddess)
OK, granted, going chibi-style can make anyone look cute, but cuteness is more than how a character looks, it’s also how a character acts, and the madcap antics of Urd and Skuld in this series are always sure to put a smile on your face. Belldandy is her usual helpful, generous self, which makes her cute no matter how she’s drawn.
Kuromi (Animation Runner Kuromi)
Mikiko "Kuromi" Oguro is probably not the first character that comes to mind for this list, but she gets bonus points for maintaining cuteness even when she’s going insane over deadlines. She could be about to kill someone and still look adorable, and she does. Being voiced by the incomparable Lisa Ortiz helps too.
Amelia (Slayers)
The white magic practitioner Amelia is a cutie, no question, but it’s her attitude and her worldview that puts her in such company. Who doesn’t get a lump in their throat when she strikes with the Hammer of Justice? Assuming she doesn’t trip and fall on her face, but if she does, she’ll always get right back up.
Tachkoma (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex)
They’re artificially intelligent armored vehicles with four legs, integrated machine guns and grenade launchers, who often engage in combat, but they’re still cute as the dickens. It’s their childlike personalities that do the trick. No wonder they touch the soft spot of Batou’s cybernetic heart.
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I'm glad you guys liked it. While compiling the list, I came up with around a dozen characters before deciding to pare it down to seven, so I've got plenty of examples left for a sequel