The anime art style already lends itself to adorable characters. With saucer eyes, pink cheeks, and exaggerated expressions, it's not hard for these characters to be cute. They get even cuter when instead of battle-scarred, planet-saving warriors they're tiny babies.

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Anime babies can take all forms. Some are full-fledged characters for the entire series, others are the heroes' younger selves, seen in flashbacks. Others have other forms altogether, waiting for the evolution or exorcism that will transform them into the creature they really are. Whatever the case, these babies are often some of the most memorable characters in their series. Here are the most iconic anime babies.

8 Kashima Kotaro

Kashima Kotaro

Gakuen Babysitters features a number of cute and memorable kids, yet Kashima Kotaro stands out with his sleepy expression and love of being read to. Many of the children in daycare are rowdy or loud, but Kotaro is the opposite, making things easy for the babysitters.

His attachment to his older brother is evident, and he's well-liked by the other kids due to his consideration and avoidance of conflict. Seeing how many other anime babies turn out to be demons, alien incubators, or secret killing machines, it's nice to see one that's genuinely a sweet kid for once.

7 Baby Hotaru

Sailor Moon - Baby Hotaru

Hotaru Tomoe is the civilian identity of the powerful magical girl Sailor Saturn. Like all the Sailor Guardians, Hotaru is as committed to her friends as she is to justice and saving the world. Following the defeat of Pharaoh 90, Hotaru was reborn as a baby and raised by her fellow Outer Sailor Guardians.

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Her character arc doesn't get any less wild from there. Sailor Moon: Sailor Stars is no stranger to sudden, dynamic shifts amongst its characters, but the reversion of Sailor Saturn to childhood is one of the most off-the-wall events in the series. Thankfully, Hotaru is a fantastic character whether in diapers or in her battle-ready sailor uniform, giving fans a reason to stick around and see what happens next.

6 Kaiser de Emperana Beelzebub IV

Beelzebub - Baby Beel Sucking A Pacifier

It's hard to be intimidated by a surly-looking, green-haired baby sucking a pacifier, but Kaiser de Emperana Beelzebub IV is the demonic son of Beelzebub III and Iris, on a mission to wipe humanity from the earth. Wildly powerful even for his age, Baby Beel is a genuine menace.

The good news is, this demon-spawn isn't really committed to the whole "erase all life" thing, giving those around him a good bit of leeway. It's always fun watching anime characters try to grapple with powerful children, and the gap between Baby Beel's age and abilities makes him one to watch.

5 Baby Trunks

DBZ - Baby Trunks

The Dragon Ball timeline gets weird at times, which is part of the reason that fans could only be so surprised when a purple-haired, sword-wielding warrior from the future showed up and declared himself to be Vegeta's son.

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Future Trunks is an incredible warrior, even by the standards of Dragon Ball, and he quickly became a fan favorite. It's baby Trunks who truly stole fans' hearts, however. From the hat to the purple eyebrows to his father's murderous scowl, Trunks is one of the most adorable infants in anime, and knowing he grows up to be a fighter fierce enough to make even the Saiyan Prince proud is something special.

4 Baby Nel

Bleach - Baby Nel Crying

One thing that Bleach does well is introducing new and fascinating characters, and the introduction of the Espada was no different. Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck is the number three Espada. Nelliel lives in Hueco Mundo with her adoptive brothers and their pet Bawabawa but quickly becomes enmeshed in Ichigo's life during Aizen's war against the Gotei 13.

Once a high-ranked and powerful Arrancar, Baby Nel no longer much resembles her adult self, either in power or appearance, but she isn't trapped as a baby forever, thanks to Urahara. With her cartoonish mask and giant eyes, Baby Nel is one of the most adorable anime babies as well as one of the most dangerous characters in Bleach.

3 Boh

Spirited Away - Boh

The infant son of Yubaba in Spirited Away, Boh ranks as one of the biggest anime babies, standing at twice the height of his mother. Voiced by legendary voice actress Tara Strong in the English version, Boh is would be unforgettable based on appearance alone.

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Boh is spoiled and used to getting all the food and attention that he wants. He's also terrified of germs. Boh changes a great deal over the course of his adventures, gaining new independence in many ways, chief among them the ability (or perhaps willingness) to walk and stand up on his own. With Studio Ghibli's renowned art style and storytelling ability, there was no way a giant baby could fail as a character, and the proof is Boh.

2 The Infant

Inuyasha - The Infant

This innocent-looking baby goes by several names, including the infant and Akago. In truth, it's far more than a mere baby: it's one form of the demon Naraku, a temporary vessel for its demonic power. The infant's expression is typically blank unless happy or angry, a fact that--combined with his soft features--makes him look deceptively harmless.

Naraku serves as the main antagonist in Inuyasha, being responsible for a litany of terrible things that have befallen Inuyasha and his friends, so even though the infant may look sweet, he's anything but.

1 Baby Goku

Dragon Ball - Baby Goku

Landing on earth and raised in the martial arts, baby Goku defied his Saiyan ancestry by becoming more than just a battle-obsessed warrior: he became a good friend and an even better person. Before the Tournament of Power, before Freeza, before the golden hair and the Spirit Bombs, there was a monkey-tailed baby who just wanted to be held.

One of the joys of Dragon Ball and its spin-offs is getting to watch Goku grow from a curious child into the greatest warrior in any universe. He might be taller and more muscular now, but so much of what's great about Goku existed in him from his earliest years, making Goku an iconic baby.

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