Fruits Baskets has so many heart-stealing characters that it’s hard to pick just one! From gruff but gooey Kyo to sweet summer child Kisa, to slow-thawing Yuki, any one of these characters would warm the cockles of your heart. For our list, we picked an underrated but nevertheless winsome individual: Hatsuharu Sohma, the Ox of the Zodiac. Haru is by far one of the gentlest characters from the show. In spite of his own insecurities and hang-ups, he’s able to empathise and sacrifice for those he holds dear. From begging Shigure to save Yuki, to confronting Akito for Rin, 9 times out of 10 he’s thinking of others as a certified good guy.

Though, the other 1 time is his ‘black’ persona. The Zodiac Ox is typically an even-tempered and amiable individual, his flirtation with Yuki aside, however, there are moments where he switches to a darker persona and channels the quintessential bad boy vibe. From an aggressive need to pick fights, to a shorter fuse, to a significantly bolder version (though he’s pretty bold either way) of himself, Haru’s basically a nice guy and a bad boy wrapped in one, so he can charm you regardless of your preferences.

Lazy, selfish, and downright shady, Gintama’s Sakata Gintoki is a questionable choice for any list with positive qualities at a first glance. Gin-chan splits most of his time between pursuing free food and avoiding his landlady due to him being perpetually broke in spite of all the odd jobs he takes on with the Yoroyuza. However, amidst the many, many, many questionable moments with regard to his character, we do get to see that quality that makes his character shine. An incredibly skilled swordsman, a man who stays faithful to his convictions with an unshakeable sense of justice (for the big things), who is undeniably loyal and affectionate with those he considers his people, Gin-chan has a way of surprising you when you’ve resigned yourself to believing he’s a good-for-nothing.

Always willing to help someone out, more often than not at personal cost and usually with a non-existent amount of recognition, Gin-chan is the hero nobody wants but everyone ends up needing. These little facets of his persona when juxtaposed with the roughness of his less than desirable qualities just make him all the more charming and believe us, before you know it, Gin-chan in all his questionable glory, will have already won you over too!

That, and he’s hilarious to boot.

Re:Zero’s Rem takes the screen with quite a bang. A badass in her own right, Rem is powerful and strong right from the get-go, she’s the one protecting Subaru! This strength goes way beyond just her physical and combat abilities. At her core, Rem is a strong young lady. She has an unshakeable sense of loyalty and once you win her over, she’ll go over and beyond for you. Her unwavering dedication to Subaru in spite of his blatant desire to be with Emilia has neither an effect on her affections for him nor her friendship with Emilia.

She’s incredibly devoted to her sister Ram as well, and more often than not Rem is usually ready to risk her own life for her sister and those she loves without even a moment’s hesitation. This pureness of her devotion is what seals Rem’s place in all of our hearts. She’s just so good that we can’t help but declare her our Best Girl!

Arguably the GOAT, how can any list about charming anime characters ever be complete without the very epitome of the Shoujo male lead archetype? Yes, number two on our list is Takumi Usui from Maid Sama! While the show is long gone, Usui still holds a special place in all our hearts. A ridiculously capable individual, Usui is intelligent, athletic, and attractive. His personality is pretty great too.

An all-around nice guy, Usui helps Misaki keep her secret (and pride) for absolutely no ulterior motive of his own. He’s attentive, loyal, and playful, and he wins over his beloved with his sheer human goodness. That, coupled with his teasing lines, has us all but surrendering to his charms.

Demons are fearsome, vicious creatures with never-ending appetites for flesh. In what universe could that possibly hold any appeal? Well, believe it or not, Nezuko is a demon that any Demon Slayer viewer will hold close to their heart within five minutes of meeting her (literally). From her adorable pout to her big pink eyes, Nezuko is the ‘village beauty,’ so it’s no surprise that her appearance alone is enough to knock your socks off. However, couple that with her newfound demon ability to turn into a baby version of herself? She just took cuteness to new heights and our hearts can’t take it!

And if you aren’t simping over her adorable demeanour already, watching Nezuko be the world’s best sister defending her brother AND the world’s best humanitarian by rejecting her demonic desire for flesh and starving herself to preserve her humanity despite the odds, well, just proves that she’s precious both inside and out!