With the "Masters 8" arc of the Pokémon anime, the adorable Pikachu will likely get another star moment in July of 2022. Cute animal mascots are a popular occurrence in anime, and Pikachu is just one of many.

These adorable animal mascots aren't always on the side of good and some aren't as cute personality-wise as they initially appear. However, good or evil, anime mascots almost always have an adorable exterior that would make for a great plushy. They also almost always play a key role in the story. What are the best, most iconic mascots in the world of anime?

Kyubey

Kyubey from Madoka Magica sleeping on a blue couch

Kyubey is the adorable mascot character at the start of Puella Magi Madoka Magica that helps create the magical girls and guides them on how to defeat witches.

However, despite its adorable design, Kyubey is surprisingly revealed to be the main antagonist of the series. Kyubey is one of the most shocking twist villains in anime, despite not being intrinsically "evil." Instead, Kyubey is merely doing its duty in dealing with a problem it doesn't see a permanent solution to.

Hawk

Hawk Seven Deadly Sins

Hawk the pig is the traveling companion of Meliodas and one of the major characters in Seven Deadly Sins, frequently seen adventuring with the main cast.

Hawk and Meliodas can sometimes get on one another's nerves, but Hawk is a dutiful companion and ultimately a dear friend to Meliodas. As the season 1 finale shows, Hawk is willing to sacrifice anything to save his friends and is one of the most loyal characters in the show.

Monokuma

Danganronpa Monokuma

Monokuma is a robotic bear who serves as the antagonist of the Danganronpa games as well as the anime Danganronpa: The Animation and Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School (Future Arc). 

Monokuma is certainly adorable, but he's a monstrous headmaster who puts his students through killing games. Monokuma is certainly the most iconic evil mascot character in both video games and anime, and the iconic stuffed bear is often piloted by arguably Danganronpas best character in Enoshima Junko.

Agumon

Taichi and Agumon as seen in Digimon Adventure tri

Agumon is a Reptile Digimon who serves as a major character in the majority of Digimon media, including multiple Digimon anime and games.

Agumon has many similarities with Charmander, one of the most beloved Fire starters in Pokémon. While both are adorable, the warm-colored reptile with the most importance in their series is certainly Agumon. Agumon is the unofficial mascot for the entire series and a huge part of Digimon's popularity.

Happy

Happy X Happy fairy tail

Happy is a flying blue Exceed, a race of magical cat-like beings. He serves as a member of the Fairy Tail guild, and is also a member of Team Natsu.

Happy is a fun and interesting mascot with a little bit of a dark side to him. He's a loyal compatriot to his friends and is a fairly intelligent mascot character with a good amount of magical knowledge. He's also strong enough to carry a human while flying, giving him a good amount of utility to help his team.

Luna

Luna smiling and looking up in Sailor Moon

Luna is a black cat that helps advise the Guardian Senshi in the Sailor Moon franchise. Like many mascot animals, she has the ability to speak human languages.

Luna is the partner and counterpart to fellow magical girl cat advisor Artemis, who is another adorable animal mascot in his own right. Luna and Artemis are more or less just talking magic cats with a great deal of knowledge, but they're both incredibly charming and likely served as a major influence for Kyubey.

Chopper

One Piece Chopper Smug Suit

Chopper is one of the major characters in one of anime's most historic franchises: One PieceThe reindeer's full name is actually "Tony Tony Chopper."

Chopper began life as a regular reindeer who stumbled upon a devil fruit, turning him into the intelligent and adorable member of Luffy's "Straw Hat Pirate" crew. He's a surprisingly skilled doctor and functions as one of the few intelligent members of the Luffy's wacky pirate crew, which makes his deceptively cute appearance even more fun.

Kuriboh

Kuriboh multiplying around Yugi

One of Yugi's most iconic monsters in Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel MonstersKuriboh is a brown furball with only 300 ATK and 200 DEF that can protect the user from damage.

The original series has spawned seven other iconic Yu-Gi-Oh! Series, and few monsters have been featured throughout the franchise's many anime as often as Kuriboh. The monster is so beloved that almost every series has one or more new iterations of Kuriboh with new effects. It's not hard to see the appeal of this fluff ball either, Kuriboh is simple but adorable.

Pikachu

Pokémon GO's Flying Pikachu Returns For 5th Anniversary

With over a thousand episodes in the Pokémon anime, the electric mouse and face of the franchise Pikachu has been featured in nearly every single one.

No Pokémon is as iconic as Pikachu, with the electric mouse being the most featured character in marketing, video games, and of course the Pokémon anime. Pikachu and Ash have been through a lot in their time together, and they have a chance to become the most powerful duo ever in the current "Masters 8" arc. Even those who aren't fans of cartoons, anime, or gaming will recognize Pikachu, making him one of the most beloved animated characters in the world.

Next: Pokémon's Pikachu Knockoffs, Ranked