Kara Dennison
December 4, 2024 
Do you like your anime boys sweet or strong? Why not both? The stars of this season’s big titles are not only willing to tough it out for what the believe in, they’re also absolute darlings. Whether they’re possessed by a will to win or a ghostly grandma, they’re ready for action. And ready to lend a helping hand to the people they care about. Which are your favorite from the bunch?
Chirinu Nio
The anime adaptation of historical drama Blue Miburo is packed wall-to-wall with anime boys, but Nio is the pick of the litter. This friendly orphan is helpful and kind at his adoptive family’s restaurant, but deep down he wants to do more. That’s how he ends up with the Mibu Roshigumi (or “Miburo“)—the group that would eventually become the legendary Shinsengumi.
Aided by legendary real-life historical figures like Hijikata Toshizo and Okita Souji, Nio starts a new life with the Miburo. He’s rough around the edges and needs a lot of training. And he’s not always good at doing what he’s told. But even if he doesn’t follow the letter of the law, he follows the spirit. While it may take him time to learn to swing a sword, he’ll always defend the people who need it most.
Taiki Inomata
Lots of our favorite strong and sweet anime boys come from sports anime. And Taiki Inomata is no exception. The star of this season’s Blue Box is, deep down, an awkward but well-meaning teen with a crush on classmate/housemate Chinatsu. While his growing closeness with his basketball star crush does lead to some big emotions, it also leads to mutual inspiration. While she pursues basketball greatness, he makes a promise to up his badminton game.
Watching Taiki give it his all on the court while awkwardly navigating his crush is delightful to watch week after week. Even when he’s not sure what he should say or do on a personal level, he’ll train until he gets it right in the gym.
Okarun
Don’t call him by his real name or Momo will freak out. Possibly the most put-upon of this season’s anime boys, the DAN DA DAN star is really going through it. When an anime’s whole story kicks off because you lost your family jewels, you know it’s going to be a rough season. But this awkward fellow really cares about Momo, and he definitely grows as a character during their paranormal adventures.
In his Turbo Granny Form, Okarun is a force to be reckoned with. His super speed, with help from Momo’s psychokinesis, allows him to go All Out and tear up the field. He may look terrifying (or cool, depending on your tastes) in this form, but deep down he’s the socially awkward nerd he’s always been. And we love that for him.
