Anime as a term has become a household word now. In fact, "anime" is used so widely now to refer to serialized cartoons that there's an ongoing debate as to what it actually means. It used to refer specifically to animated movies and TV series that were made in Japan, but today shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Castlevania have challenged that convention.
The definition of an underdog is a much older concept and is also a common literary archetype. The underdog is the consistent loser who has to overcome what seem like insurmountable odds in order to come out as the winner at the end. This is a common and popular trope in movies, where characters start at the bottom and work their way to the top. They often have a special talent, an iron will, an impossible dream, or an endearing personality that makes them distinctive.
10 Usopp (One Piece)
Usopp was one of the oldest characters on the fan-favorite One Piece, and like other underdogs, he starts out at a disadvantage. His birthday even falls on April Fool's Day. He's the only member of the Straw Hats who isn't blessed with a superpower or other unique ability, at least at first, and his personality is more than a bit craven but he dreams of being a hero like his father.
His long nose is meant to recall another literary character, Pinocchio, who had similar dreams of finding his purpose in life and becoming "real."
9 Makunouchi Ippo (Fighting Spirit)
A favorite trope in any kind of sports anime is going to be the story of the underdog, which is one of the reasons the Rocky movies are so beloved. The same is true for the main character of Fighting Spirit, Ippo, who begins the show as the humble son of a fisherman. The quiet, shy kid who keeps to themselves is often the target of bullies, and Ippo is no exception.
Luckily, after one rather harsh beating at the hands of some bullies, he's saved by a man who happens to be a professional boxer enjoying retirement, and the older man sees that Ippo has talent after letting him wail on a sandbag. Ippo's arc is the textbook example of the underdog storyline, from starting at the bottom to completing his trainer's impossible tasks and becoming a champion.
8 Rock Lee (Naruto)
Rock from Naturo stands out for the distinctive way in which he's drawn, smaller and thinner than the bigger, tougher kids. The other students often make fun of him for his lack of supernatural abilities. He also lacks the talent required for ninjutsu and gets special training in taijutsu in order to hone his physical prowess as much as possible.
Fans root for him because of his determination to succeed as a powerful ninja despite his shortcomings. When Rock becomes powerful enough to beat some of the most prominent villains in the series, it's a satisfying accomplishment for the underdog.
7 Midoriya (My Hero Academia)
In a world of superheroes, the underdog is the one person born without any special abilities. Also known as Deku, the protagonist of My Hero Academia was born without a Quirk or a superhero power. It's not so rare that he's alone, but fans still sympathize with Deku because he feels left out. His bravery and heroic nature don't go unnoticed.
A superhero called All Might takes a liking to Deku, sponsoring his enrollment at U.A. High School and eventually transferring his superhero power to him. Deku goes from being just another Quirkless kid to one of the powerful superheroes alive.
6 Schmendrick (The Last Unicorn)
In Yiddish, the term "schmendrick" means foolish or ineffectual, so fans might know where Peter S. Beagle was going when he created this character. The other wizards make fun of the clumsy young mage, who often does more harm than good with his magic but despite his ineptitude, fans can't deny that he has talent.
Schmendrick is often the comic relief as his magic will go awry, but as the story progresses we're rooting for his cleverness and bravery instead of his magic. His transformation into a real wizard is even more satisfying because he stays humble and sincere even though his powers have surpassed any other wizard or witch they've met.
5 Trevor Belmont (Castlevania)
When the viewer is first introduced to Trevor in Castlevania, he's drinking himself stupid in a bar. Minutes later, he's vomiting in a gutter after some ruffians beat him and throw him out because they don't like the family crest on his shirt. A character doesn't get much lower than that, and it's a typical entrance for an underdog.
Even those who have never played the video games from which this series is adapted will get the idea that the Belmonts have fallen on hard times, and there's some sympathy for Trevor from the beginning. The audience seems to take the same view of him as Sypha, recognizing his faults while loving him for all the things he could become.
4 Megumi (Food Wars)
Initially, Megumi isn't the most talented cook on Food Wars. She's clumsy, soft-spoken, and the other students dismiss her as inept, nicknaming her "Dunce."
In a twist that only an underdog could pull off, Megumi uses the traits that others see as weaknesses to become one of the most notable cooks at the Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, and a serious contender in the tournaments and contests that define the series in later seasons. Like many other underdogs, she has a unique talent that few others possess, and that's the ability to flawlessly cut up a goosefish.
3 Yuri (Yuri On Ice)
Sometimes the story of an underdog begins with someone at the top of their game who suffered a devastating setback and has to find a way to come back from it. This is the plot for the sports drama, Yuri On Ice.
The protagonist, Yuri, is a talented figure-skater but he's prone to sinking into depression after a mistake or a defeat, and sometimes other skaters will try and intimidate him because they know how sensitive he is. Luckily, Yuri is one of the top skaters in the world and has a lot of unique moves, along with his mentor Viktor, to help him along the way.
2 Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
"My father says my sister was born lucky. He says I was lucky to be born." Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender himself sums up the sibling rivalry that defined his childhood very nicely with this quote. Zuko always lagged behind the naturally talented Azula and his aggression was partly to compensate for his feelings of inadequacy.
Zuko isn't just isolated from his whole family but from everyone. Not only do fans sympathize with his situation, but it also makes people wonder if he can come back from it. Looming in the background is always the question of whether or not his Firebending powers have surpassed those of Azula, which makes it all the more satisfying when he defeats her.
1 Serena (Sailor Moon)
For those who remember, the identity of the Moon Princess was unknown for most of Season 1 of Sailor Moon. Sailor Venus acted as their leader and when the other soldiers speculated on who the Moon Princess might be it was often someone outside of the group, a yet unknown person, and certainly not the bumbling, crying, and flippant Serena.
Even Luna, who usually catches these kinds of details, missed it completely. Those who recognized Serena's compassion, bravery, and determination from the beginning weren't that surprised and were rooting for her from the beginning.