Most Iconic Anime Characters Born in February

Summary

• Anime characters like Jotaro Kujo, Edward Elric, and Rin Tohsaka were born in February.
• February births in anime include iconic characters like Haruhi Fujioka and Nico Robin.
• Characters like Light Yagami and Esdeath, also born in February as well.

February is the shortest month of the year, with just 28 days for most years, and 29 on leap years for odd, astronomical reasons. Nonetheless, it’s when lovers get together for Valentine’s Day, when a groundhog decides how long winter lasts, and when Abraham Lincoln, Michael Jordan, and George Harrison were born.

It’s also when some famous fictional characters were born in their lore. Street Fighter’s Ken, DC Comics’ Batman, and The Terminator’s John Connor are all February babies. In addition to these, the world of anime has a few famous characters who celebrate their birthdays in the shortest month. But who are the most iconic anime characters born in February? Read on and find out.

Updated on February 1, 2025 by David Heath: It’s February again, which means it’s time for more iconic anime characters born in February. It might be the shortest month of the year, but there’s no shortage of classic characters born within its 28 days (or 29 when leap year comes). Its top dogs are joined by cult classics, rising stars, and relatively modern characters who have caught on with viewers pretty strongly in the past few years. Some of whom may be happier still to know if they share a birthday with their favorite fictional characters.

18

Jotaro Kujo

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

Starting off with a big one, Jotaro Kujo is the most famous protagonist in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, and he was born on February 1, 1970, to Holly Joestar and Sadao Kujo. Jotaro’s dad was never shown in the manga or anime, but his American Japanophile mother was the impetus for his strange journey in Part 3: Stardust Crusaders. When Dio took over the body of his late stepbrother, Jonathan Joestar, and got Stand powers, Jonathan’s descendants gained ones too via their bloodline.

While Jotaro and his grandfather Joseph could control their Stands, Holly couldn’t, and it began to slowly kill her. The only way to save her was to find Dio and kill him to stop his influence. Even after his adventure was done, Jotaro would return to support the other protagonists, like Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable’s Josuke, and his own daughter Jolyne in Part 6: Stone Ocean.

17

Edward Elric

Fullmetal Alchemist

Edward Elric, the lead character in Fullmetal Alchemist, was born on February 3, 1899, in Resembool, Amestris. After trying to revive his late mother with a transmutation experiment, he made a mistake that would cost him an arm and a leg, and his brother Alphonse his whole body. His soul ends up trapped in a suit of armor, leaving a guilt-stricken Edward to seek out the Philosopher’s Stone in order to restore him back into his old body.

While JJBA’s Jotaro is a tall guy, Elric is only 4’11”, which he’s acutely aware of. His foes and friends alike taunt him for being a pipsqueak, shorty, and a little red runt, among other insults. However, he isn’t to be trifled with. In addition to being smart enough to become a State Alchemist at 12 years old, he’s strong enough to take on bigger foes with his martial arts training and his automail prosthetics’ hidden weapons.

16

Rin Tohsaka

Fate/Stay Night

Also born on February 3rd, Rin Tohsaka is one of the main heroines of the Fate/Stay Night series, from the original visual novels to its different animated series and adaptations. Fate/Zero showed her as a little girl, while Fate/ Strange Fake had an elder Rin at 22. But the original series saw her at 17 trying to fulfill her duties as the new master of the Tohsaka Clan’s brand of Magecraft.

As such, she comes off rather stern, and is quite a perfectionist as she does her best to prove she has what it takes to be a Magus. Like the series’ lead, Shirou, Rin wants to win the Holy Grail Wars and obtain the grail’s power. But while he wants to undo a catastrophe from the past, Rin just wants to live up to the family name. Or so she says. Her feelings about her family and Shirou are more complicated than they appear.

15

Haruhi Fujioka

Ouran High School Host Club

Ouran High School Host Club’s Haruhi Fujioka was born on February 4, and had an ordinary childhood for a Japanese girl. It was only when she entered high school that things took a strange turn. Despite being a commoner, she got a placement at the prestigious Ouran Academy. However, the school is so expensive that she could only afford a baggy boy’s uniform instead of the girl’s uniform. Then she got some gum in her hair and had to get it cut short to get it out.

To make matters worse, she broke an expensive vase belonging to Ouran’s Host Club. Their leader, Tamaki, mistakes her for a boy thanks to her new appearance, and makes her work off her debt by doing host work for them. The club soon discovers the truth, but vow to keep it a secret, so she can keep working. Still, she has to learn to charm other women, and Tamaki has to figure out his mixed-up feelings. Maybe gender is more about perception than they realize.

14

Nico Robin

One Piece

Born on February 6, One Piece’s Nico Robin is the sole survivor from Ohara Island after it was destroyed by the World Government’s Marines. They didn’t want Ohara’s archeologists to discover the Poneglyphs and their elusive author, the Ponegriff. With nowhere left to turn, and ostracized by the world at large, Nico Robin initially fought against the Straw Hats as a member of Sir Crocodile’s Baroque Works.

Once that fell apart, she warmed up to the Straw Hats enough to become a true crew member. As well as being the only person left in the world who can read the Poneglyphs, she can also grow extra limbs and body parts because she ate the Flower-Flower Fruit as a child. It’s proven to be a handy ability for her adventures. But when series’ creator Eiichiro Oda’s home prefecture of Kumamoto-ken made statues of the Strawhats to promote tourism in the region following the 2016 earthquake, the sculptors stuck to her regular amount of limbs.

13

Mikasa Ackerman

Attack on Titan

February is a good month for anime heroines. Nico Robin is joined by Attack on Titan’s Mikasa Ackerman. Born on February 10, she’s almost as iconic to the series as the titular Titans themselves. Her dark bob hairstyle, red scarf, and military wear made her one of the standout human characters before she even showed off her strength and intellect.

After her parents were killed when she was a child, Mikasa was raised by the Yeager family. While her childhood trauma left her a stoic, quiet figure, she’s much warmer around the Yeagers and their son Eren. She’d repay their kindness by joining Eren in the Survey Corps to look after him. Still, her devotion to him would be tested throughout the series.

12

Suì-Feng

Bleach

Perhaps better known by her Japanese name ‘Soifon’, Suì-Feng is another fan favorite. She was born on February 11 as the youngest of six children in a noble family. As part of the family tradition, she became a member of the Soul Society’s Special Forces, and quickly rose through the ranks. She became their Commander in Chief and Captain of the 2nd Division of Gotei 13.

But what really made her popular was her relationship with fellow Bleach favorite Yoruichi. She always admired Yoruichi’s strength and skill, and often tried to romance her to little success. She even gained a love for black cat accessories just because Yoruichi could turn into one. These lovesick feelings gave Suì-Feng that softer edge that makes the otherwise firm commander that touch more endearing.

11

Tsuyu ‘Froppy’ Asui

My Hero Academia

After a host of more conventionally cool or fanservice-friendly women, My Hero Academia’s Tsuyu Asui makes for a nice change of pace. She’s more of a quirky character (pun unintended) with her big eyes, big hands, and lolling tongue. It’s all part of her Frog Quirk: she can leap far, crawl up walls and ceilings, swim really well, and grab things with said tongue.

Born on February 12, Tsuyu became one of MHA’s most popular characters. She’s a serious character, taking charge of missions, looking out for her classmates, and telling them what they need to hear (albeit rather bluntly). It just contrasts with her funny frog-like looks and habits. One minute, she could be someone’s emotional support. The next, she’s croaking after each sentence and making a funny face.

10

Suzune Horikita

Classroom of the Elite

She may be in D-Class, but Classroom of the Elite‘s Suzune Horikita is a rising star in her story. She even got her own spin-off manga, which detailed what would’ve happened if she and lead character Ayanokoji spent more time with each other. Either way, she’d still be born on February 15th, and she’d still be in D-Class, where the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School drops off all their underachievers.

Suzune is one of the school’s smartest classmates, and aims to reach A-Class no matter what the cost. However, it was this cold-blooded attitude that got her put in D-Class to begin with, as she doesn’t work well with others. Yet she still managed to befriend Ayanokoji and Kikyo. With their help, she begins to open up as a person and trust others, while still being tough enough to stare down the upper-class bullies.

9

Shinichi Chiaki

Nodame Cantabile

Nodame Cantabile is one of the most famous shojo/josei strips around, and it’s thanks to its leads who, despite their flaws, managed to be as good as a duet as they are as a duo. The quirky title character, Megumi ‘Nodame’ Noda, is a September baby. But her strict perfectionist partner, Shinichi Chiaki, was born on February 17th, 1981. He’s the top student at Momogaoka College of Music, comes from a musical background via his estranged pianist father, and aims to become a world-class conductor.

The only problem is, despite his globetrotting childhood, he developed a fear of flying and the ocean, trapping him in Japan. His mother’s family tried all sorts of ways to help him overcome his fears. But in the end, his growing relationship with Megumi, whose eccentric approach to music and outgoing personality eventually drive him to get over his arrogance, his strict adherence to musical conventions, and his phobias. In turn, he helps her face her own fears and take risks to advance her career in turn.

8

Utahime Iori

Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen has all sorts of tutors in its arcane arts. Tokyo Jujutsu High has the laconic, overconfident super-sorcerer Satoru Gojo. Kyoto Jujutsu High has Utahime Iori, the cool-headed yet stern supervisor who was born on February 18th, 1987. In combat, she takes a more supportive role, applying buffs to her allies through her Solo Forbidden Area, while keeping her foes out with her Curtain barrier. She’s also quick enough to dodge the swiftest attacks, or step in to defend others from errant blows.

Outside combat, she’s meant to be the textbook example of a top teacher: prim, proper, and able to put any student in their place. That is, until someone pushes her buttons, and Gojo is a premier button pusher. He knows exactly what to say to get her blood boiling, sometimes to the point where she’ll spill hot tea on him deliberately. With faculty members like him, it’s no wonder she likes to vent outside work hours with a few beers, a baseball or soccer game, and karaoke (fitting, given ‘Utahime’ means ‘song princess’).

7

Maya Kitajima

Glass Mask

• Studio: Tokyo Movie Shinsha.
• Creator: Suzue Miuchi.
• 3 Seasons, 51 Episodes.
• DVD Only.

Glass Mask is more famous in printed form than it is in animation, where it was the second best-selling shojo manga of all time (just behind the almighty Hana Yori Dango). Yet it has had a variety of different anime adaptations in its long run, with the strongest being the 2005 series. Its 51 episodes covered most of the manga, which has technically been running since 1976, but has been on hiatus since 2012. It may be a while before one of the longest rivalries in shojo history gets settled.

In one corner is Maya Kitajima, born February 20th, a bright-eyed hopeful who isn’t the smartest or prettiest girl around, but is wholly devoted to acting. In the other is Ayumi Himekawa, a beautiful acting prodigy. Both are vying for the title role in ‘The Crimson Goddess’, a legendary play that could make or break careers. Ayumi seemed like she’d be a shoo-in for the role, but the play’s rights holder, Chigusa Tsukikage, sees something in Maya’s performance that others can’t. It’s a dramatic tale of passion vs skill, with as much drama off-stage as there is on-stage.

6

Sadaharu

Gintama

Birthdays aren’t just for humans, as Gintama‘s dog spirit, Sadaharu, was born on February 25th. He’s a giant canine that likes to chomp on anything smaller than himself, like the heads of passers-by, including the series’ lead, Gintoki. Originally owned by the priestess sisters Ane and Mone, he’s now looked after by the Amanto alien Kagura. She’s the only one strong enough to handle him, and he’s the only pet that’s survived her clutches.

While she successfully tamed him, it took Sadaharu a longer time to warm up to Gintoki. At first, they were quite antagonistic towards each other, but over time they’d help each other out. Sadaharu saved the Earth from being invaded by alien cockroaches in Episode 29, while Gintoki helped Sadaharu save a little abandoned puppy when it was sick in Episode 265. Which is a rather sweet moment in a series where he’s been turned into a human and a female horse on two separate occasions.

5

Kazuma Kuwabara

Yu Yu Hakusho

Born on February 27th, Yu Yu Hakusho‘s Kazuma Kuwabara is a rather influential character. Higurashi: When They Cry and Dragon Ball GT both included lookalikes of the big lug, from his attitude to his floppy pompadour. Jojo: Diamond is Unbreakable‘s Okuyasu is also cut from Kuwabara’s mold as a delinquent who’s as sharp as a spoon but is as devoted to his friends as he is tenacious against his foes.

For example, he often fought (and lost) to Yusuke, but he saw the fights as a kind of friendship, as he barged into his funeral to mourn in his overly aggressive way. Then his natural sensitivity to the spirit world helped Yusuke find his way back to the land of the living. From then on, the two would become co-protagonists, taking on demons and spirits together when they weren’t butting heads against each other.

4

Duke Devlin

Yu-Gi-Oh!

Yu-Gi-Oh became famous for getting kids into trading card games, thanks to hero Yugi Muto overcoming the odds with their deck. But things took a turn when Yugi met Duke Devlin (or Ryuji Otogi if one prefers), the creator of Dungeon Dice Monsters. Born on February 28th, Duke had created the game as a way to impress Pegasus J. Crawford. Though he was also pressured by his father, Mr Clown, to make a game where he could avenge his loss in a shadow game against Yugi’s grandfather, Solomon.

This antipathy became mutual when Yugi beat Pegasus before he could put DDM into mass-production, ruining its chances of success. To get revenge, Duke beat Joey at Duel Monsters and made him into his personal dogsbody, then framed Yugi to get him to play DDM against him, while promising to quit Duel Monsters forever if he lost. But Yugi was able to win and prove he won fair and square, earning Duke’s respect from then on. That, and he got another business offer to turn DDM into a success, so all was right with Duke after that.

3

Light Yagami

Death Note

February has been full of heroes thus far. So, it’s time to drop a big dose of gray into this vibrant mix. Death Note’s Light Yagami was born on February 28, though the year differs with the media. In the manga it was 1986, then 1989 in the anime. The live-action TV drama pushed it even further to 1995. It was all to make sure he remained 17 years old, because that was when he discovered the titular notebook, and its dark power.

If Light knew a person’s face and name, he could write it in the Death Note to kill them. Light decided to use it on the world’s most notorious criminals, becoming their judge, jury, and executioner. He thought he’d create a newer, safer world this way. Instead, the power went to his head. He ended up taking innocent lives just to maintain his role as ‘Kira,’ the ‘god’ of a new world. Even though he’d end up falling way short of being divine.

2

Esdeath

Akame ga Kill!

February’s 29th day saw the birth of Esdeath to the Partas Clan in the Northern Frontier Lands in Akame Ga Kill! She lived a rough life in the wild, hunting with her father, where she developed a skill for fighting and a taste for sadism when her father gutted animals without killing them first. After her father and the rest of her tribe were killed, she vowed to become stronger.

Thus, she joined the Empire, leading its assassination squad. She’d lay waste to several tribes with her Teigu powers, murdering hundreds of thousands, and making examples out of others with torture. Whether they’re innocent or guilty doesn’t matter to her, because “the strong survive and the weak die”. So, she’s not the cheeriest person to have a birthday party with.

1

Anthy Himemiya

Revolutionary Girl Utena

If people want to celebrate a nicer person’s birthday on February 29th, there’s Revolutionary Girl Utena‘s Anthy Himemiya. She’s a more complicated character than just being an outright hero/villain. She’s the ‘Rose Bride’, a woman who holds the power to change the world. Students at Ohtori Academy take part in duels for the right to ‘win her hand’ (I.e. control her). She seems like a damsel in distress, but she’s a more self-aware and dark take on the trope.

As the ‘Rose Bride’, she’ll do anything the victor asks her, since that’s part of the Academy’s rules. But the role has subjected her to her champions’ rage and hatred as well as their love and desires. As a result, she learned to be cruel and manipulative to avoid the former, while the latter let her keep hold of some form of humanity. That changes when Utena aims to break her out of her rigid role and into a brighter future, and through her trials and tribulations, learns to love again.