What is a “himbo”? Almost everyone who watches modern media is familiar with the character trope, but not everyone knows it by name. The common definition you’ll see on Google is “an attractive but unintelligent man.” I think the idea of a himbo in anime is slightly different from that, so let me clarify with my own definition.

A himbo is typically a male character who is physically strong, useful, and reliable, but also a complete airhead. He won’t be the smart one in the group. Himbos usually have goofy personalities and are big sweethearts. This separates them from the strong delinquent or arrogant jock types most of the time. For today, all the himbos I chose are male characters with incredible strength, hearts of gold, and very smooth brains.

The following list of seven anime himbos is in alphabetical order and not ranked in any other way. Please keep in mind that these are some of my personal favorites, as well as characters who have been on my mind recently. This list doesn’t necessarily reflect the best examples of himbos or the most popular ones. With that in mind, please enjoy the list.

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1) Black Star (Soul Eater)

Black Star is not the most original character in terms of backstory or fighting style. As a ninja, he’s a lot like a Naruto character. He is also the last member of his particular tribe. Being the survivor of a tribe wiped out by genocide is not uncommon in ninja anime, but let’s put that aside. Black Star is a memorable character in other ways. He’s the biggest idiot in Soul Eater, for one thing. His earnest nature and enthusiasm are uplifting.

Though Black Star is an extremely young example of a himbo, he will surely grow into a more classic, hulking man in a few years.

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2) Kyojuro Rengoku (Demon Slayer)

Rengoku is an amazing character in the Infinite Train arc of Demon Slayer. He helps Tanjiro and the others defeat the demons on board the train. Despite having a lot of reservations about Demon Slayer, I can’t deny how much I love this character in particular. He’s so enthusiastic, strong, altruistic and courageous. Also, there’s not much going on up in that head of his. Rengoku is a great example of an anime himbo.

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3) Rider (Fate/Zero)

Though I’m not the biggest fan of Fate/Zero, I did enjoy several aspects of the anime, including the character of Rider. He’s the servant of Waver in the fourth Holy Grail War. In case you haven’t seen Fate/Zero, I won’t ruin his identity as a legendary hero. But you should know that it’s an interesting reveal which adds some new layers to this warrior.

Rider is a very classic himbo in that he’s incredibly powerful, physically bulky, and helpful in a pinch. I wouldn’t describe him as stupid, but he’s not the most clever or careful character.

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4) Taiju Oki (Dr. Stone)

I didn’t realize how much I loved Taiju until I tried to disinclude him from this list. It was impossible to do, because he’s such a great example of a strong, lovable oaf. Taiju is the best friend of Senku, the protagonist in Dr. Stone. While Senku is insanely intelligent and knowledgeable, he isn’t strong. That’s why Taiju is the perfect companion. He is always helpful with his muscular body, enthusiastic attitude, and eternal honesty.

Taiju is an example of a himbo who is usually very stupid. However, this makes it more enjoyable when he actually has a decent idea of how to handle things, once in a blue moon.

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5) Takeo Gouda (My Love Story!!)

It’s been a while since I watched My Love Story!! But I remember it as a wholesome and entertaining romance anime. Main character Takeo is a young man with amazing height and muscles. But he isn’t popular because his face isn’t traditionally attractive, and he is a socially awkward introvert. Though he’s more perceptive than you might expect, Takeo has little in the way of quick wit or knowledge.

Those who know Takeo can vouch for his heart of gold with its strong loyalty and commitment to helping others. The sweetness of Takeo cannot be understated. He is a precious example of an anime himbo.

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6) Veldora (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime)

Veldora is a shockingly powerful dragon whose rage could upturn an entire nation with ease. In the second season, he begins to use a humanoid form and helps to establish and defend the nation of monsters, Tempest. In his human form especially, Veldora is a great example of a Himbo. He’s loud and stupid, but also strong and loyal.

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7) Yuuji Itadori (Jujutsu Kaisen)

I hesitated to put Yuuji on this list because I wondered if a show’s main protagonist could qualify as a Himbo. But it worked for Takeo in My Love Story!! So this should be fine. Anyway, like most Himbos, Itadori is strikingly strong. He takes his share of the punches, but always comes back with more energy and gumption. Itadori also has a sweet and caring heart, wanting nothing more than to protect others. Finally, our dear Yuuji is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

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Special Mention: Suzaku Kururugi (Code Geass)

I didn’t put Suzaku on the main list because he is often compared to a jock type and less commonly called a Himbo. Personally, I think Suzaku meets the qualifications for this character trope, but in case I’m way off, he’s just the “special mention” for today.

Suzaku is one of my favorite male characters in anime due to his interesting psychology. He’s not stupid, but compared to the main character Lelouch, he isn’t nearly as analytical, strategic, or intuitive. He prefers to use his fast body and lean muscles to solve problems. Suzaku will charge in to save the day without much thought to details. That’s one of his biggest problems as a character.

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~Thank you for reading~

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