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There are a lot of inspirational anime characters like Goku from Dragon Ball. Here are eight of them that are like him.
When people think of powerful anime characters, Goku from Dragon Ball is one of the many that will pop into their heads first. He is popular for a lot of reasons, like his strength and elaborate transformations. But one other thing about him that stands out is his determination and constant effort to improve. A lot of viewers, to an extent, can respect the work that Goku has put in to become stronger. Also, he shows that no obstacle is too big to overcome if we just try hard enough.
Goku is not the only anime character that motivates people like this. Many other characters also have that same fighting spirit and determination to never give up. Just like Goku, these characters demonstrate that with hard work and determination, we can do things we never thought we could. Here are eight characters that are as inspiring as Goku from Dragon Ball.
1. Rock Lee (Naruto)
Born without the ability to mold chakra, the source of power in Naruto, Rock Lee could be said to be disadvantaged from birth. Without being able to manipulate chakra, his dream of being a ninja was fading into oblivion. But rather than giving up, he decided to improve what he could—his body—and master taijutsu (hand-to-hand combat). If you ever looked for anyone who trained as hard as Goku from Dragon Ball, Rock Lee is your guy.
Under his teacher, Might Guy, Lee pushes himself through incredibly tough training every single day. One of the best examples of his determination is during his fight with Gaara in the Chunin Exams. Even after getting seriously injured in the fight, Lee kept giving it his all because of his nature of not giving up. And very similar to Goku, Lee can be seen training a lot. The hunger to get better and surpass his limits fuels him to keep trying harder than anyone else.
2. Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia)
Next on the list is Izuku Midoriya. He is generally referred to as Deku in My Hero Academia. Similar to Lee, he was born without a quirk (abilities) and had huge dreams of being the top hero. But while he did not have a quirk, he had something very important that every hero needed—the willingness to put himself in harm’s way to protect others. On one occasion, he tried saving Bakugo, and the number one hero at the time, All Might, saw him and acknowledged him. All Might ultimately gives him his quirk, called One For All.
Getting the quirk was the easy part. Due to his body not being strong enough for the quirk, Deku had to train day after day to get his body to a point where it could handle the quirk. He can be seen juggling his schoolwork and training. He was constantly thinking of ways to accelerate his growth and become strong enough to help others as a hero. Just like Goku from Dragon Ball, Deku serves as an inspiration to viewers that if we are given a chance, all we need to do is put in the necessary effort, and a lot can be achieved.
3. Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
When it comes to inspirational anime characters like Goku from Dragon Ball, Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece has to be mentioned. As the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Luffy aspires to be the Pirate King. Like Goku, he enjoys fighting tough opponents since it allows him to improve, and he never questions himself or his crew.
Luffy keeps learning new ways to fight, developing techniques like Gear Second and Gear Fourth to become stronger. He’s usually happy and carefree, but when his friends are in danger, he gets serious really fast. Just like Goku, he recovers from defeats and always emerges stronger. He is one of the most inspirational anime characters because of the way he protects his comrades and refuses to give up.
4. Gon Freecss (Hunter x Hunter)
Gon is a young boy from Hunter x Hunter who sets out to become a Hunter and find his dad. He’s always happy and excited, especially when facing new challenges. This positive attitude makes him a lot like Goku. Gon approaches each obstacle with a smile instead of fear, which helps him make friends and overcome tough situations.
Whether he’s learning to use his life energy, called Nen, or fighting scary opponents like Hisoka, Gon never backs down. He’s willing to train hard and push through pain to get stronger, just like Goku does. Gon’s friendship with Killua and others shows us how important having good friends is on our journey. His story is all about growing up, making strong bonds with others, finding his dad, and showing that a positive attitude and hard work can take you further than you ever imagined.
5. Asta (Black Clover)
Asta was born in a world where everyone can use magic—everyone except him. Initially, he just thought he was a late bloomer and that his magic would manifest later on. He then decided that instead of doing nothing for the time being, he would train his body. That way, he will be ready when his magic arrives. Unfortunately, that was not the case for him. That was until he was chosen by the five-leaf clover and gained anti-magic abilities. After this, he worked out every day to learn to use his new abilities that cancel out magic.
Like Goku, Asta is full of energy and always stays positive. He has been training non-stop since he did not have a grimoire and keeps training even though he has one because of his dreams. As a result of his dream, nothing makes him give up, and he believes in himself no matter what others say.
6. Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Edward Elric is not as strong as Goku, but he’s just as inspiring. After the death of their mother, Edward and his brother, Alphonse, try to bring her back using alchemy, but it ends badly. Edward lost his arm, and Alphonse lost his whole body. As a result, Edward spends his life searching for the Philosopher’s Stone to fix what happened.
Even though Edward has seen a lot of the bad side of the world, he never gives up hope. He keeps researching and learning more about alchemy and getting better at using it. Despite all the challenges he faces, Edward never stops learning and growing. Every time he hits a roadblock, he finds a way around it. This is partly because he is clever, but mostly because he’s stubborn enough to keep trying.
7. Yuji Itadori (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen is another great example of inspirational anime characters like Goku from Dragon Ball. He is naturally strong but also has a really kind heart. After he accidentally eats something cursed and gets a super dangerous being called Sukuna stuck inside him, his normal life completely changes. He gets pulled into a world full of curses and supernatural battles.
Instead of being scared of his new life, Yuji faces it head-on. He works hard to control his new powers and get stronger so he can protect innocent people. Like Goku, he’s always pushing himself to do better and learn new techniques. What makes Yuji special is that he stays kind and caring even though he has so much power.
8. Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho)
At first, Yusuke from Yu Yu Hakusho seems like a troublemaker who doesn’t care about anything. But after he dies saving a little kid from getting hit by a car, he is given a second chance at life by the spirit realm as long as he works for them. He agrees, becomes a Spirit Detective, and starts training hard to learn new abilities to battle enemies on a spiritual plane.
Similar to Goku, Yusuke has a natural talent for fighting and never stays down in the face of strong opponents. We get to watch him change from a selfish and carefree boy to a hero who cares for the safety of others. His story proves that anyone can become a better person if they truly want to.
Conclusion
Goku has shown millions of fans what it means to never quit, train like your life depends on it, and stand up for friends. But he’s not alone. Many other anime heroes share his never-say-never spirit. Heroes like Rock Lee, Deku, and Asta prove that with sweat and a little bit of faith in oneself, you can tackle any obstacle that comes your way.
They remind us that when life gets tough, we’ve got what it takes to push through. Just like our favorite anime heroes, we can face our own challenges, believe in ourselves, and maybe even change the world. The coolest thing? Since Goku came before these characters, he might have inspired them too, as he does for the viewers. Now, that’s something to think about.
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