10 Most Iconic Anime Poses, Ranked

Anime is a highly visual medium, even more so than its corresponding source material. Stunning animation creates opportunities to recreate the best manga panels, bringing them to life in an even more memorable fashion. Although a scene is sometimes captured better in the anime than in the manga, the most memorable symbols of franchises across both mediums tend to be iconic poses.

The most iconic anime poses emphasize important actions in their stories and are recognizable even by their silhouettes alone. One widely popular anime posing style includes hand signs, like those used by Naruto shinobi, which are often associated with a specific attack or power-up. Countless other posing tropes have become part of anime culture, but the most iconic poses are easy to recreate, recognizable, and one-of-a-kind.

10 Kon The Fox Devil is Aki’s Calling Card in Chainsaw Man

Chainsaw Man: Streaming on Crunchyroll

In Chainsaw Man, Aki Hayakawa forms a contract with the Fox Devil, a common practice among Public Safety Devil Hunters. With a small piece of his body as a sacrifice, Aki may call on the contract to summon the head of Kon, the Fox Devil, to consume any target he places at the center of his fox-shaped hand sign. In Chainsaw Man‘s first season, Aki’s summoning sign for Kon becomes as iconic to the series as Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil who fuses with Denji.

Aki Hayakawa’s iconic pose is a simple hand sign that resembles Kon very well, making it as easy to recreate as it is to remember. Aki’s fox sign is so popular that it’s even been referenced in the Deadpool comics. Although Makima, Aki’s lead at the Public Safety Commission, and other characters also use hand signs in the series, none are as iconic as the Fox Devil’s summoning symbol.

9 Dio Brando’s Iconic Pose Inspired a Viral Challenge

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Streaming on Netflix

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is an anime partly defined by its iconic poses, furthering the flamboyant and performative atmosphere of the series. One favorite pose for fans to recreate belongs to the infamous character Dio Brando. Dio pulls himself downward with knees bent into an absurdly deep back bend, arms outstretched beside him to form the unique stance.

Although Dio’s iconic back bend is seemingly impossible to some, fans all over the internet proved them wrong with the rise of a viral trend recreating the pose. Dio Brando cosplayers and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure fans who love a challenge popularized the entertaining trend for the world to enjoy. The viral challenge celebrates posing as part of the series culture and the character who debuted the iconic pose.

8 The Real Symbol of Peace is All Might’s Fist Pump

My Hero Academia: Streaming on Crunchyroll

In My Hero Academia, All Might is Japan’s number one ranked hero and is publicly heralded as the Symbol of Peace. He wields the powerful One For All ability before bestowing the Quirk upon the series protagonist, Deku. All Might lives up to his public title and the name of his Quirk as the most influential hero of all time, and his trademark victory pose consolidates his legacy into a widely inspiring silhouette.

After victories great and small, All Might often manifests from the fog of the battle with a single fist triumphantly raised in the air. The pose perfectly represents the heroic resilience that maintains peace in the world. After taking All Might’s place as Japan’s top hero, Endeavor also strikes the iconic pose, and it eventually becomes memorialized as a statue commending the Symbol of Peace for his service.

7 Gojo’s Domain Expansion Makes Him Look Even Cooler

Jujutsu Kaisen: Streaming on Crunchyroll

Fans agree that Satoru Gojo is easily one of Jujutsu Kaisen‘s coolest characters, and his iconic Domain Expansion is just one reason behind his popularity. The power of Infinite Void is nearly incomprehensible, but the best part about Gojo’s Domain Expansion is the simple hand sign that activates it. By crossing his middle finger over his index finger, Gojo readies his powerful Domain.

Although Satoru Gojo’s signature hand sign may lack flair, that’s exactly what makes it a perfect fit for his character. The understated symbol that gives life to Gojo’s Domain mirrors the contrast between his laid-back personality and potentially unmatched strength. Now that the image of Gojo’s crossed fingers has come to symbolize the popular sorcerer, one question still remains: is Gojo iconic because of his Domain sign, or is his Domain sign iconic because he’s Gojo?

6 The Attack on Titan Survey Corps Salute is Unforgettable

Attack on Titan: Streaming on Crunchyroll

Unlike other iconic anime poses, the Survey Corps salute in Attack on Titan isn’t associated with any sort of technique or power-up. It’s a traditional soldier salute influenced by the militaristic environment surrounding their Titan-infested world. Now that the popular series has finally ended, the salute and other motifs have already begun to draw nostalgia from fans.

Although the salute is a mandated act, it becomes increasingly charged with emotion as the series goes on. The salute is used during important ceremonies and interactions throughout the plot, becoming more steeped in meaning each time we see it in classic Attack on Titan fashion. The Survey Corps are at the core of the story from the beginning, and their salute becomes the iconic symbol of their shared past.

5 Naruto’s Shadow Clone Jutsu is a Classic Hand Sign

Naruto: Streaming on Crunchyroll

For many anime fans, their love for hand signs began with the Naruto series. Signing is a critical jutsu because only shinobi as skilled as Itachi Uchiha can summon their techniques without using their hands. Although numerous characters throughout the series use hand symbols, Naruto Uzumaki’s Shadow Clone Jutsu pose remains the most iconic of the series.

The simple design of Naruto’s Shadow Clone summoning sign makes it easy for fans to recognize and recreate. The symbol is also hard to mistake for anything else in Naruto’s story or beyond because of its simple yet distinct design. Shadow Clones are by far Naruto’s most commonly used technique, making the technique a great way to symbolize the franchise hero.

4 The Ginyu Force is Peak Dragon Ball Posing Culture

Dragon Ball Z: Streaming on Crunchyroll

Some of the most iconic character poses throughout the Dragon Ball franchise come from Frieza’s Ginyu Force. Whether the poses undercut or enhance the fearsome presentation of the villains, the Ginyu Force’s poses are as essential to them as fusion transformations are to the Saiyan characters.

From Ginyu Force’s debut, the poses they perform to introduce themselves are instant classics. Unlike poses associated with specific techniques, the Ginyu poses are a leading coefficient of their characters present throughout the story. Each character’s poses are memorable on their own and contribute to Dragon Ball culture as a whole.

3 Sailor Moon’s Make Up Pose Was an Instant Classic

Sailor Moon Crystal: Streaming on Netflix

Sailor Moon remains one of the most successful and irreplaceable shojo franchises in anime since its 1992 debut. The 2015 abridged series reboot, Sailor Moon Crystal, points to the franchise’s vitality despite fans who may prefer the nostalgic experience of watching the original. However, Sailor Moon’s signature power-up pose remains a staple of her character in both versions.

Moon Prism Power Make Up is the technique Usagi Tsukino uses to transform into her Sailor Moon form. From its debut onward, the heroic pose Sailor Moon strikes after transforming is instantly recognizable. Lengthy posing sequences are becoming less common in anime, giving Sailor Moon’s iconic Make Up transformation a fun touch of classic anime nostalgia.

2 The Fusion Dance is Dragon Ball’s Most Famous Pose

Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z launches its franchise into exciting new territory in many ways, including the debut of the legendary Saiyan Fusions. Although Fusion can be achieved by using the Potara Earrings worn by the powerful Kai, the Fusion Dance is the iconic pose celebrated by Dragon Ball fans everywhere. After Goten and Trunks use the Fusion Dance to power up against Majin Buu, the door is opened for numerous opportunities for more entertaining Fusions.

The popularity of the Fusion Dance is evident in the way it has inspired other popular anime. A similar technique appears in Avatar: The Last Airbender when Aang and Zuko learn the Dragon Dance, and even Pokemon‘s Blastoise and Venusaur perform the iconic pose. With Saiyan heritage at the heart of the story, the Fusion Dance is a fantastic way to symbolize the classic franchise.

1 The Iconic Akira Slide is Referenced Far Beyond Anime

Akira: Streaming on Netflix

Some anime scenes are so popular that they inspire works beyond their medium. Perhaps no better example of this exists than in Akira, which saw its noteworthy debut in 1988, when the iconic motorcycle slide took on a life of its own after becoming one of the most widely referenced anime scenes ever. From children’s programs to top-rated films, the iconic Akira slide has consistently appeared across various types of media since the movie’s release.

The comics-sourced Batman: The Animated Series and modern cartoon Adventure Time are vastly different shows that still feature the same classic bike slide. Acclaimed horror film Nope and the action-packed X-Men Origins: Wolverine are films that also include nods to the iconic bike slide in their respective motorcycle scenes, further illustrating the reach of its influence. The Akira slide has proven to be an irreplaceable concept, easily making it the most iconic anime pose of all time.