21+ Hard Working Anime Characters You Can Learn From!

Some Anime girls are smart, witty and intelligent. Other anime girls are pretty, cute, talented, and so on.

Anime guys can be similar in their own ways.

The characters of both genders we’re talking about in this post are hardworking more than anything else.

These hardworking Anime characters are driven to reach their goals. And have a strong sense of purpose and meaning.

Sometimes it’s a tragic event, wanting to change the world or a tough life. Or just pure drive and ambition.

Here’s a list that may inspire, or just inform you of characters you weren’t aware of!

1. Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail)

Erza Scarlet is a top fighter from Fairy Tail. But her strength has nothing to do with why she’s on this list.

Throughout Fairy Tail it’s clear to see Erza Scarlet isn’t afraid to put in the work.

In fact, her hard work is the reason she rose up the ranks and became an S-class Fairy Tail wizard.

She grew up a child slave. Since escaping, everything she’s earned has been a result of her effort and dedication.

Erza strives to get stronger, not for the sake of strength, but to protect those she loves. And to protect those who need a helping hand.

It’s hard not to be inspired by Erza’s work ethic, and her intense determination to succeed.

2. Kotomi Ichinose (Clannad)

Kotomi Ichinose is first seen with her head in the books, literally. In the Anime – Clannad.

As you continue to watch the show, you can see Kotomi is committed to her education.

She’s always sat in the library, learning about a range of different topics. Doing whatever it takes, for as long as it takes to gain valuable knowledge and information.

And veraciously learning and developing herself, nonstop.

That’s why Kotomi’s one of the smartest, if not the smartest girl from the Anime – Clannad. Her grades are high, which she earned through her hard work and effort.

Here’s a famous quote that reflects Kotomi’s strong work ethic….

“I must study lots of things, or I won’t become a great person.” – Kotomi Ichinose

3. Hotaru Shidare (Dagashi Kashi)

Hotaru Shidare is a main character in Dagashi Kashi. An Anime about Dagashi sweets, and the whole culture surrounding it.

What the anime gives you is sweet-tasting scenes, silly challenges and nonsensical moments.

Besides that, Hotaru is the owner of the biggest Dagashi sweets company. And as you learn by watching the show, there isn’t a thing she doesn’t know about Dagashi.

From how it tastes, to how it looks, how it feels, and even the history behind how a sweet was made and manufactured.

Hotaru Shidare knows it all, and that alone proves how hard-working she is as a person.

4. Misaki Ayuzawa (Maid Sama)

Misaki Ayuzawa’s work ethic can’t be denied.

Her father ran away and abandoned Misaki and the rest of the family when Misaki was young.

Her mother ends up with debt that Misaki’s father avoided paying. And so, Misaki works her ass off to clear that debt and create a better life for her family.

Her main job is being a maid in a maid cafe. While at school she’s the student council president.

Misaki works equally hard doing both jobs.

You can’t help but respect Misaki’s desire and determination. Even if she overdoes it at times.

5. Oda Nobuna (The Ambition Of Oda Nobuna)

Oda Nobuna has massive ambitions. And she works extremely hard to achieve her ambitious goals.

The main goal she strives for is to conquer Japan so she can unite. the people. And have people working together to make it a better country.

Keep in mind: Oda Nobuna is only 16 years old. And doesn’t shy away from actually putting in the work to realize her big goals and dreams.

If anyone should be on this list, it’s Oda Nobuna.

6. Asuza Nakano (K-On)

Asuza is the youngest girl from the light music club in Anime – K-On!

Despite that, she’s the most hard-working and focused of them all. Besides Mio Akiyama.

When the group starts slacking off, it’s Asuza (and Mio Akiyama) who gets the group on track.

Like Yui Hirasawa, Asuza is a guitarist. And a talented one despite being younger. Because Asuza practices a lot and rarely slacks off when it comes to working on her skills.

And as far as her studies go, Asuza excels and never misses deadlines that need to be completed.

7. Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia)

Izuku Midoriya is the lucky protagonist in MHA to have his dreams come true. It all happens indirectly.

Even before his chance meeting with All Might, Midoriya was always a hard-working person. Always writing down notes in his notebook on strategy, tactics, and more.

He always observes not just his opponents, but his allies and other heroes’ techniques and the ways they go about doing things.

This is “research” to help him improve his own skills and abilities as a hero. It’s how his mind is wired.

8. Rally Vincent (Gunsmith Cats)

Rally Vincent is a gun shop owner. She sells all types of weapons in her store in Chicago, USA, where this anime is based.

That’s not all she does to make money. She also works as a bounty hunter to make more money as well, and is rgularly involved with police and law enforcement as a result.

She’s not the type to be able to sit around and not do much with herself. She likes being active, and that’s shown by her physique and level of fitness overall.

Rally is one of the main hotties of this old school anime series.

9. Toshiro Hitsugaya (Bleach)

Toshiro Hitsugaya is a short anime character and soul reaper. This is something people notice about him before anything else, and it gets on his nerves.

As a prodigy soul reaper captain, he has a lot of potential that even older captains like Shunsui are able to see.

In his work Toshiro is on point, hard-working, never slacks off and is a bit of a workaholic. He’s always focused on something.

This makes him the opposite of Rangiku, one of his lieutenants, who enjoys leisure time a lot and is caught slacking off at times.

10. Kuroko Shirai (A Certain Scientific Railgun)

Kuroko Shirai might appear to be a GAG character at times, and she might obsess over Mikoto Misaka, but her character is more than just these elements.

She’s a judgment officer, a subset of a police force in the world of Railgun. They help protect the peace, and even clean and sweep up around the city.

They monitor curfews, catch criminals and much more.

Kuroko does all this on top of the fact she’s part of a prestigious school: Tokiwadai, and she does it all because she wants to do it.

That speaks to her character and how hardworking she is as a person.

11. Soma Yukihira (Food Wars)

Soma Yukihira learned from the best. That person is his father. Soma doesn’t have his mother from a young age.

Growing up in the food business with his father, Soma learns how to cook, make recipes, and he adds his own innovative touch to bring out new flavours in traditional meals.

Once he enters a more legit school and starts to compete, he starts to evolve as he’s forced to adapt and learn a lot faster.

Soma is naturally hard-working and enjoys trying to improve himself even in his off time. Personal development is a big part of his inclinations (what he’s drawn to doing).

12. Mei Hatsume (My Hero Academia)

Mei Hatsume is another hard worker from My Hero Academia, of which there are many. She’s more of an inventor, an engineer, a creator.

She’s not the one on the frontlines fighting villains, but the one making the gear and weaponry to fight those villains.

Hatsume clearly likes and is interested in DEKU, but this doesn’t take priority and the anime focuses on her character and her passion for creating, inventing, and business.

She’s a bit of a workaholic just like Toshiro from Bleach.

13. Mikasa Ackerman (Attack On Titan)

Mikasa Ackerman started out weak just like Eren, Armin, or other characters in the series before the main story.

With a bit of a messed up upbringing, she had to deal with hardships early. But as she grows, she becomes a hustler in the amount of effort and hard work she puts in.

In season 1 she was the only one able to challenge Annie Leonhart, and that comes down to not just skill, but effort and her inner drive to get better and improve.

She quickly shot through the ranks and became one of the most important survey corps members in AOT.

14. Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z)

Vegeta’s journey has been one of the best in DB history. In the beginning, he was a hard worker, but his arrogance slows this down.

It’s not until his big fight with Goku that Vegeta starts taking the idea of “training” more seriously, and his work ethic spikes.

It stays this way throughout the entire series, even after having kids and another one in DB Super.

Vegeta is a workaholic and loves to improve, which is a natural part of being a Saiyan. But unlike Goku, he’s able to find his own way and walk his own path to getting stronger without relying too much on others.

He’s a solid tactician and is the epitome of hard work.

15. Setsuna (Yashahime Princess Half Demon)

Setsuna is a demon slayer in Yashahime Princess Half Demon. She’s raised by demon slayers after surviving a forest fire, and that’s how she becomes one of their youngest members.

Being the daughter of Sesshomaru, she has white fur similar to Sesshomaru and the serious look in her eyes is also similar.

Setsuna is a hard worker ad probably the hardest-working character out of all 3 Half or quarter-demons in the series.

Being a demon slayer means your life is about protecting others, and you’re constantly on the move to do just that. And that’s why Setsuna is an obvious choice on this list.

16. Tanjiro Kamado (Demon Slayer)

Tanjiro Kamado from Demon Slayer, or Kimetsu No Yaiba was a hard worker before the tragedy. It was necessary giving their living conditions.

After the tragedy and losing all his family except his sister who’s turned into a demon, Tanjiro’s work ethic unsurprisingly takes a massive jump.

His life’s purpose is to now protect Nezuko and help her become a human if possible. That’s all he cares about, and that’s what makes this anime stand out a little.

His sibling relationship is unique in the way it’s portrayed. And he aggressively becomes stronger as a result of this drive and ambition.

17. Suzu Hagimura (Seitokai Yakuindomo)

Suzu Hagimura is an anime character with smarts, intelligence, and a gift for formal education. She’s also a genius when it comes to maths.

The fact she’s SMOL gives people the wrong impression all the time, with many thinking she’s younger than she is.

She’s a little insecure about her height but confident about her studies and her skills in general. And is always hard at work.

Being the more sensible member of the student council president, she brings balance and normalcy to the often sarcastic, extreme nature of some of the other members.

18. Hairo Kineshi (The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K)

Hairo Kineshi is an obvious GAG character from Saiki K. He’s written as a cliche motivational speaker-type character. But one who actually puts in the work to the point of overkill.

Like deciding to bunny hop while carrying books to the next classroom over, seeing it as an opportunity to get in some exercise and train.

Or randomly doing press-ups in the middle of a school hallway.

Aside from his hilarious characteristics and GAG style of writing, Hairo is a leader, and one others trust.

He can be considered a likeable character in general.

19. Kyoko Mogami (Skip Beat)

Kyoko Mogami is the main character of Skip Beat, and the one who suffers before the main story takes place.

She’s always kissed ass and pandered to others in her life growing up. Always pleasing others at the expense of her own happiness.

The type of person who’s easily taken advantage of for their kindness.

She was even kind enough to help her ex-boyfriend pay NO bills while she works hard and supports him, only for him to throw it in her face and dump her.

This is where Kyoko Mogami changes as a person, evolves, grows, and becomes more hard-working than she herself thought possible.

This is demonstrated once she enters showbiz and makes something of herself.

20. Kenichi Shirahama (Kenichi The Mightiest Disciple)

Kenichi Shirahama is the kind of guy who’s bullied in school, looks down at the floor, is afraid to look people in the eye, and is unhappy at school.

This changes when he meets a girl who lives in a dojo with skilled martial artists. Her name is Miu Furinji.

Once Kenichi learns martial arts, he’s able to fight back against his bullies and defend himself, and get some respect. Making him feel like a “man” again.

Kenichi’s journey of self-improvement plays into his hard-working nature, and one of the most underrated anime’s in Shounen.

21. Soryuin Akemi (How Heavy Are The Dumbbells You Lift?)

Soryuin Akemi is one-half of the main characters in this health and fitness style anime. Which also happens to be educational, not just entertaining and funny.

Akemi wants to go to the gym to literally work out and live a healthy lifestyle. That’s her motivation. Plain and straightforward.

With that in mind, she works out a lot, keeps fit, and doesn’t slack off. She’s driven, motivated, and isn’t afraid of making the effort.

This is in contrast to her friend Hibiki who works out for material gain or because she’s a little insecure.