Anime is filled with many incredible characters, but some stand out among the rest for fans. These favorites are often referred to as “waifus” or “husbandos,” and they hold a special place in fans’ hearts as some of the best characters around. Every anime out there has at least one character that fans consider “waifu material,” and they often become the face of their series.
However, many waifu characters have gotten way overhyped throughout the years. They’re adored by fans and placed on a pedestal, making them seem far greater than they actually are. While they’re all popular for good reason, many anime waifus get more spotlight than they deserve and are overrated by their fans.
10 Raphtalia Has A Lot Of Wasted Potential (The Rising Of The Shield Hero)
Raphtalia is the cute and lovable companion of Naofumi in The Rising of the Shield Hero, and she's one of the most beloved characters in the entire series. Her kindness, resilience, and sassy personality easily make her a fan favorite.
However, a lot of Raphtalia's character has become wasted potential, especially considering her tragic beginnings. She could have become a very compelling part of the story, but instead, she's been reduced to the cute love interest, and her story completely revolves around the protagonist.
9 Fans Consider Miku The Best Out Of The Nakano Sisters (The Quintessential Quintuplets)
Fans of The Quintessential Quintuplets all love to debate which of the adorable Nakano sisters is Best Girl. Everyone has their own personal favorite, but it goes without saying that Miku is the most beloved of the quintuplets. Many fell in love with her shy demeanor and soft expressions, and though she's got a much more subdued personality, she often outshines her sisters due to these cute traits.
However, many also argue that she's one of the most overrated of the Nakano girls. She's got little to her personality, apart from her shyness and feelings for Futaro, making her less interesting than the other quintuplets. Not to mention, her attempts to change herself for the protagonist are questionable and a bit problematic.
8 Chika Fujiwara Is The Typical Moe Character (Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War)
When the Kaguya-sama: Love is War anime dropped, fans immediately fell in love with Chika. Her cute appearance and quirky personality had just about everyone wrapped around her little finger. While she's a lovable character and a great addition to the cast, Chika has definitely been overhyped from the start.
She's no different than any other basic moe character, relying completely on her looks and humor to rope fans in. Since the first season, her popularity has waned a bit, and other girls have been given time in the spotlight. Nevertheless, Chika remains one of the most overrated characters from the series.
7 Yuno Gasai's Yandere Personality Gets Old After A While (Future Diary)
By this point, Future Diary has become one of the most infamous modern anime of all time. Just about everything in this series is full of controversy, and that includes the lead female, adorable villain Yuno Gasai. She's the pioneer of the yandere trend, and while many fans love her, others can't stand her.
Despite this, Yuno remains one of the most popular anime waifus around. Many fans can't really understand why, as there's little to like about her character. All there is to Yuno is her obsessive love for Yukiteru, and that's about it. Her yandere tendencies are her biggest selling point and her worst flaw.
6 Lucy Heartfilia Has Little Growth Or Development, Making Her Hard To Like (Fairy Tail)
Like many shonen anime out there, Fairy Tail tends to do a disservice to its lead female. Lucy Heartfilia is the main female character of the series and probably one of the worst members of the cast. She's definitely one of the weakest members of the guild, and she barely grows throughout the series.
Nevertheless, she still remains one of the most popular waifus of the series, even though many other girls in the series are far better. Overall, she mostly serves as fanservice and comic relief, making her very hard for fans to like or relate to.
5 Aqua Is More Annoying Than She Is Cute (Konosuba)
Though fans love the entire Konosuba cast, Aqua is undoubtedly the favorite. She's cute, funny, and a goddess. What more could fans want? She's easily one of the most popular Konosuba waifus for these reasons and more. However, some feel she's far more annoying than she is cute.
Despite her status as a goddess, Aqua is almost completely useless in battle. Fans argue that's part of her charm, but it honestly just makes her deadweight among the group. She's also got a pretty irritating personality, often coming off as selfish and a crybaby. Overall, aside from her cute appearance, Aqua doesn't make for a very good waifu when it comes down to it.
4 Hinata Hyuga's Lack Of Confidence Is Frustrating (Naruto)
Naruto has many beloved female characters, making it hard for many fans to choose a favorite waifu. However, it's pretty clear that Hinata is the most popular choice for most, and it's easy to see why. She's pretty and kind, and her shy personality makes her very cute. Unfortunately, Naruto is notorious for its poorly written females, and Hinata is no exception.
She goes through little to no development throughout much of the series, maintaining her soft-spokenness and lack of confidence. While these qualities make her an endearing character at first, the fact that she never toughens up or overcomes her struggles is a source of frustration for many long-time fans.
3 Asuna Is A Fan-Favorite, Even Though She's Pretty Forgettable (Sword Art Online)
Anime fans all have a lot to say when it comes to Sword Art Online, and that includes its characters. Asuna and Kirito are the two main protagonists, but despite that, they seem to have the blandest personalities out of the entire cast. Asuna at least starts out as a fairly strong and capable character, but she quickly falls into the usual tropes laid out for the female love interest.
She's got amazing strength and skills, and she's one of the few players who can rival Kirito in power, but even with all that going for her, she remains a forgettable part of the series. Fans adore her nonetheless, and she's become one of the most iconic modern anime waifus.
2 Zero Two's Cute Design Is The Best Thing About Her (Darling In The Franxx)
Anime fans all agree that Zero Two is probably the best part of Darling in the Franxx, but that isn't saying much. Apart from her looks and feelings for Hiro, there's not really anything notable about her. She's a fairly boring character overall, yet she's the most popular in the entire series.
Much of this is thanks to her very cute and unique appearance. With her bright eyes, pink hair, and small horns, she stands out among every other character, making her the immediate star of the show. If not for her adorable design, Zero Two would likely be as forgettable as the rest of the series.
1 Rem Is Likely The Most Overrated Waifu In Anime History (Re:Zero)
There are many great characters in Re:Zero, each deserving of love and praise. They all are pretty popular in their own right, but none even come close to Rem. Fans have all fallen completely in love with her, and she's easily the most popular girl in the entire series. It's no surprise, given her cute maid aesthetic, loyalty, and surprising strength.
However, aside from her role early on in the series, Rem has very little impact on the story and undergoes almost no development. Fans remain fixated on her early days, smitten by her devotion to Subaru even after he rejected her. To many, she's the perfect waifu, but in reality, her fans hype her up far too much.
