A good deal of anime focuses on the theme of overcoming adversity by making use of hard work and determination. These tropes formed the foundation of character development for many iconic anime characters, driving their story forward in a meaningful way. In essence, the most hardworking anime characters are those that not only remained determined when faced with a challenge but also overcame it by training as hard as they could, both mentally and physically.
These characters have shown time and time again that no matter how hard the obstacle in front may seem to be, nothing can stand in the way of hard work and dedication toward one's goal. These characters have continued to serve as role models for many generations now, fueling their audiences with the passion to never give up. Whether it is a goal to become a hero, a warrior, or even a ninja, all can be achieved by working hard.
5 Asta
Black Clover is a show set in a fantasy world where magic is everything. It is interesting then to see the show star a young orphan boy named Asta, who was born without any magical abilities. Despite his natural adversities and being labeled as an outcast, Asta refused to give up and dreamed of one day becoming the Wizard King.
To achieve his goal, he turned his focus to developing his physical strength and honing his swordsmanship. No matter how powerful the enemy he faced was, Asta's unwavering attitude always found a way to overcome them. Asta is a prime example of a hero who built himself up from scratch. His journey witnessed many setbacks, but he always found a way to return stronger than before.
4 Tanjiro Kamado
Tanjiro Kamado is the protagonist of the widely popular Demon Slayer anime; he is the embodiment of hard work and dedication. After losing most of his family members to a demon's killing spree, Tanjiro was on the brink of breaking down, but he found out that one of his sisters, Nezuko, had survived the horrific attack. Unfortunately, she had also turned into a demon in the process. To protect his sister from the world and find her a cure, Tanjiro then decided to become a Demon Slayer, relentlessly training to become strong enough to go up against the most powerful demon to walk the earth.
In his quest, he fought many powerful foes, almost dying in the process many times, but with his will and sheer strength, he rose back up. Despite the tragedies in his life, Tanjiro always looked towards to the future, hoping for a world where demons will no longer be a threat.
3 Izuku Midoriya
Izuku Midoriya is the quirk-less protagonist of the superhero-centered show, My Hero Academia. In a world that has evolved to harbor people with strange and mysterious superpowers, Izuku was born without any super ability. Despite this, Izuku believed that he would eventually develop a quirk. Although that never happened, his patience and heroic nature were rewarded when the most powerful hero in the country, All Might, bestowed him with his own quirk.
After receiving his new powers, Izuku worked tirelessly to develop his body's physical strength to be able to properly wield his new abilities. He constantly worked to improve his skills by training, practicing, and learning everything that he could. His unwavering spirit had an impact on those around him as well, pushing them to go beyond their limits.
2 Rock Lee
Rock Lee is one of the most iconic characters from the hit shonen series Naruto, who blew away fans with his physical abilities. Being born into the shinobi world, without the ability to use ninjutsu, or genjutsu, two important skills for any shinobi, Lee dedicated his life to honing his physical abilities and mastering taijutsu under the mentorship of the quirky Guy Sensei.
Lee's character was given no special abilities, but despite this he was able to go up against the most powerful of foes in the Naruto verse, making viewers respect him all the more. He proved that nothing can act as a substitute for handwork and training and that with enough dedication and determination, one can overcome any obstacle.
1 Goku
Goku, the protagonist of the ever-so-popular Dragon Ball franchise, has remained the most iconic character when it comes to the topic of hard work and determination. A low-class Saiyan warrior sent to Earth to conquer it eventually became one of its strongest protectors, all thanks to his dedication and training to be the strongest fighter in the universe. From an early age Goku set out to learn martial arts, and all through his adulthood he continued to push his limits by constantly going up against powerful friends and enemies.
Even when all hope seemed lost, Goku's unwavering spirit helped him overcome the challenge by constantly allowing him to go beyond his physical limits. This is why Goku's story has remained so iconic even decades after its original run and continues to inspire fans all over the world.