Geeks, nerds, techies - we’re all familiar with them, no matter what you want to call them. From Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory to Napoleon Dynamite or Brian Johnson from The Breakfast Club, geeks have been fairly well-represented in media thus far.

 In Japan, however, the culture revolving around popular media and culture has spawned an obsessive fandom of geeks gone next-level. These geeks are collectively known as “otaku”, and devote themselves to hobbies such as video gaming, manga, and anime. 

What happens when an otaku stars in one of these forms of media? Today we’ll be taking a look at some of the most popular otaku characters in some of your most favorite culture series! Some of these characters may surprise you - read through and find out more about your on-screen besties’ culture picks!

Otacon - Metal Gear Solid

Otacon is no stranger to geek culture as it’s likely his involvement in the development of the Metal Gear robots seen in-universe are representations of the sci-fi and mecha anime and manga he grew up watching and reading. 

In fact, his chosen nickname derives from a shorthand abbreviation of the phrase “otaku convention” - something he also embodies in his personality as well, seeing that otaku are typically portrayed as shy and not very well-spoken.

Additionally, his anti-war status and reluctance to have his inventions be used as weapons of war are reflective of classical tropes of themes seen in anime such as Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gundam.

Hachiman Hikigaya - Oregairu

One of my personal favorite characters in anime, Hachiman’s development from his childhood days of cosplay and self-described “chuunibyou” syndrome into an overtly sarcastic and misanthropic high-schooler is constantly referenced in the show. It’s made very clear that the person who Hachiman is today is due to his embarrassment over his previous die-hard fanships.

In the light novel, the author mentions a long list of anime that Hachiman’s into, including but not limited to:

• JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

• Dragon Ball Z

• Death Note

• Steins;Gate

• Naruto

• One Piece

To keep it short, the manga includes way too many references from other anime and manga to recount - if you’re a huge culture fan, we highly recommend picking up the manga in order to see how many references you can spot.

Kazuma Satou - Konosuba!

A character who’s portrayed as an antithesis to most RPG heroes and isekai protagonists, Kazuma Satou embodies the typical otaku stereotype - almost branching into what is known as “hikikomori” status - one who is typically unemployed as to play video games and read manga all day. This stems from a romantic rejection that Kazuma received in middle school which led to a downward spiral, though not before making one last attempt in the real world to make an impact (we won’t spoil this, even though it’s been a while since the anime came out).

Despite his death in the real world as…well…we’ll call it “selfless” for now, his selfish nature after being reincarnated in the world of Konosuba reflects his NEET (not in employment, education or training) days spent lounging and lazing around playing video games.

Honorable Mention: Michelangelo Loves One Piece (TMNT - 4Kids Era)

While it’s likely that this promotional video was thrown together to promote One Piece on the 4Kids channel, the premise of this video existing in general is pretty much enough to say that it’s definitively canon that Mikey from TMNT is a huge otaku. 

Take a look for yourself:

"One Piece" Is Canonically One Of 2003 Michaelangelo's Favorite 4Kids Shows
byu/ExoticShock inTMNT

 

Conclusion

From anime heroes like Kazuma Satou and Hachiman Hikigaya, to unexpected icons like Otacon and even Michelangelo from TMNT, it’s clear that otaku aren’t just side characters—they’re driving the stories we love. 

As anime culture and geek fandom continue to expand worldwide, otaku characters help bridge the gap between fantasy and reality, reminding us that loving what you love—no matter how niche—is something to be proud of.

Whether you're a longtime anime watcher, a casual manga reader, or a diehard gamer, there's an otaku character out there who speaks to your inner geek. Keep exploring, keep enjoying, and who knows—you might just see yourself in one of these otaku icons.

Let us know how many we missed or if we represented your favorite in this article!