Even though we’re more than proud to be anime fans, it’s true that our type can be difficult to deal with for people on the outside of the fandom. That’s the uphill battle that Honda-san, mild-mannered bookstore clerk with a skull for a face, fights every day.

He’s constantly flustered by bizarre customers and his eccentric coworkers, but Honda-san is actually very sweet and passionate about his work. We could watch him scramble to explain yaoi books in broken English all day, since we know that he secretly enjoys it.

He’s a little older than your average male anime lead, but Kondou is definitely husbando material. He’s caught up in his own struggles that he needs to work through, but he still makes room in his heart for Tachibana in the most touching way possible.

He knows that admitting his feelings for her would cause undue stress on them both because of their age difference, so he supports her in every way he can without crossing that line. But in his internal monologue, he admits that he loves Tachibana and wants to share her burdens so that she can be happy. It’s just plain adorable, and we can’t get enough of it.

Who knew that the perfect husbando was within us all along? White Blood Cell from Cells at Work is a stoic warrior who diligently protects Red Blood Cell from any harm that may come to her or the rest of the body.

Even when he was young, he selflessly saved Red Blood Cell from a germ that was attacking her. He was willing to sacrifice his life to fulfill his duty, even though he was horribly outmatched. And now that he’s an adult, White Blood Cell hasn’t lost that honorable spirit. Our bodies truly are amazing!

If your ideal man is the rough-and-tumble outdoorsy type, Tanigaki is here to make all of your dreams come true. He’s a dedicated soldier, a tribesman with excellent survival skills, and a good heart within his muscular chest.

Golden Kamuy fans adore Tanigaki for his manly body, which the series itself eagerly shows off at any opportunity it gets. But even without that, he gets massive points for his loyalty, honesty, and ability to thrive in the frozen forests of Hokkaido. We’d love to get lost in the woods with him!

Gangsters are undeniably cool, especially when they have supernatural powers that could kill you in an instant and strut around in couture outfits that even Lady Gaga would struggle to pull off. Pretty much every main character in Golden Wind fits this description, but none of them are quite as stylish as Bruno Bucciarati.

He’s the leader of a small team of mafiosi who would lay down their lives for him—not just out of duty, but because he cares for each member individually and pulled them out of horrible situations to give them something to live for. This man doesn’t rule through fear, but through a genuine sense of companionship that he reciprocates with each and every one of his men.

Your average light novel harem protagonist is so milquetoast and forgettable that it’s a wonder how they get girls to give them the time of day, much less fall in love with them. So when Sakuta came along with his complex personality and realistic struggles, it was a huge breath of fresh air for the genre.

Bunny Girl Senpai is better known for its collection of A+ waifus, but they wouldn’t stand out as much if Sakuta wasn’t there to bounce off of them. He’s snarky without being obnoxious (not an easy feat to accomplish) and has his own personal struggles that he tears himself apart trying to solve, all while helping others with their own issues. He’s nowhere near perfect, but that’s what we like about him!

Originally a sweet but somewhat scrawny boy, Akira took a legendary leap in looks when he was possessed by the demon Amon. Now he has a much more mature body and voice, but suffers from the insatiable hunger, bloodlust, and regular lust that the devil inside of him demands.

We adore Akira because, even with his new form, he still retains his caring cinnamon roll nature and struggles against himself to use his cursed powers for good. His unshakable friendship with Ryo and cute rapport with Miki are so endearing that we wish he could just be happy with them forever, but it wouldn’t be Devilman if things didn’t go to hell in a hurry...

Also known as “Junk Dog”, this no-name boxer finds a new purpose in life when he vows to defeat a talented opponent named Yuuri who kicked his ass in the ring. He enters the Megalonia tournament to build himself up into a new man who can face Yuuri on equal ground.

Joe has the same effortlessly suave energy as someone like Spike Spiegel, but with a fire in his eyes that suits this intense sports anime. We want to cheer him on from the sidelines and see him box his way to the top, where he truly belongs!

Ash is the most dangerous and unpredictable gang leader in all of New York City, so much so that the mafia and even the US government know not to underestimate this teenage gunslinger. Along with his incomparable skills in battle, he’s also an expert in using his cunning and sexuality to gain the upper hand when he’s cornered.

Deep down, though, Ash hates what he’s become. All he wants is to be with Eiji, the one person who loves and respects him for who he is. It’s fascinating to watch him drop his unflappable façade and open up to Eiji every once in a while. We only wish that he could leave his criminal ties behind and live his life on his own terms.

The seven zombie idol girls from Zombieland Saga are amazing characters, there’s no doubt about that. But somehow, their manager Kotaro outshines all of them with his infectious energy and undying dream to create an idol group that will bring Saga back from the brink of obscurity.

Every second that Kotaro is onscreen is a treasure, courtesy of his seiyuu Mamoru Miyano (who he closely resembles) having entirely too much fun. But even when he isn’t shouting about legendary idols or mud races, Kotaro is still an engaging character. He cares about the girls with all of his heart, encouraging them to use the new chance they’ve been given to make up for what they couldn’t do when they were alive. He’s our pick for the best husbando of 2018 because he’ll have you laughing hysterically one minute and wiping up your tears the next.