Yes, there are straight men in anime, straight men that I adore and feel should have something said about them. These are the crème de la crème, the most wonderful men in anime...men without boyfriends, that is. There is a special place in my heart for each of them. Where shall we begin?

Ranma Saotome (Ranma½)

When asked the question "Who's the first guy you think of when you think of me?" the immediate response is, "Ranma." Well, of course, I'm the One True Akane. But beyond that, Ranma has been nearest and dearest to my heart for many years. Even though his body changes to that of a girl when he's splashed with cold water, and many lemon writers like to exaggerate his relationship with characters like Ryoga, he is definitely straight. And he loves Akane, only Akane, forever. Maybe I'm biased, but I just can't resist him. Ranma can be a mega-jerk at times, constantly calling Akane kawaiikunee (uncute) and being a regular pain in the butt, but when he's sweet, he's damn irresistible. He has the absolute sexiest boy-type voice actor, even if it is a woman. When he says, "If he makes you happy, I won't stand in your way, Akane. Just tell me one thing: why? Why are you choosing him over me?" oh, I just melt! I just want them to kiss, damn it! Just one kiss! Is that too much to ask?

Ryoga Hibiki (Ranma½)

As mentioned above, liberties are taken with Ranma and Ryoga's friendship in some circles of writers, but take me word for it- he's straight. He's also warm, sweet, caring, loving, and turns into an adorable black pig when splashed with cold water. Ryoga is the Eternal Lost Boy; he can't go to the bathroom without ending up in another city! But wherever he goes, his heart stays in the same place: with his one true love, Akane. "No matter who Akane ends up with, I'll always love her," he once says to Ranma. Hopefully, he'll find someone who will truly love him in return. (How can you not love a guy with fangs?) Until then, he's content to curl up in Akane's arms as her darling pig, P-chan.

Toji (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Have you ever tried looking for Toji stuff on the net? There is nothing! NOTHING! The boy deserves an entire sub-temple all to himself! When he first appeared on the scene, I didn't really like him. He was so mean to my Shinji! But I got over it, especially after watching the subbed version. I adore Toji. He's so very straight (he even has a thing for Misato), but he's still emotionally connected to Shinji and Kensuke. The repartee between him and Kensuke is absolutely precious! You can just tell they've been teasing each other since kindergarten. I think the best thing about him is the way he makes Shinji smile. He's so funny and easy-going, Shinji can't help but feel comfortable around him. His reactions to Misato and Asuka are priceless. I can't express it in words, but Toji is one of my favorite anime characters ever. I love him.

Kensuke (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

You can't talk about Toji without mentioning Kensuke! They're like peanut butter and jelly. The two of them exemplify friendship. They're constantly finishing each other's sentences or just saying the same thing at the exact same time. Kensuke is absolutely obsessed with the military and never goes anywhere without his video camera. Of all the people in the show, he's the only one who would be willing, even happy to pilot an Eva. Whether playing war games in a deserted field, running around an aircraft carrier yelling "Sugoi! Sugoi! Sugoi!" or just making my Shinji-kun happy, Kensuke is adorable. Just look at that picture! Ooh, precious. The show wouldn't be the same without him.

Wufei Chang (Gundam Wing)

The Gundam Wing Universe is full of slashable characters. Besides Fushigi Yuugi and Samurai Troopers (Ronin Warriors), it's the largest collection of bishônen in the same place at the same time. I love the shounen ai nature of the show, except for one thing: WUFEI IS STRAIGHT! I'm sorry, lemon writers everywhere, but Wufei likes chicks. It is completely out of character to have him in one night stands with random characters on the show. Now that I'm done ranting, let me express my affection. Though he can be cold, sexist at times, and a little whacked-out, Wuffie's a good guy. Without him, Gundam Wing wouldn't be complete. I have great respect for him, and the trials he's been through in his life.

Terry Bogard (Fatal Fury)

Terry Bogard! Terry Bogard! Not only is Terry straight, but he falls in love with a whore! Poor Terry believes he is walking death when it comes to women, since everyone he gets close to seems doomed to die. He's such a sweetheart, though. How can you not love that long blonde ponytail, and the hat with the license plate screwed onto it? Yeah, it's a cheesy show, but Terry is the epitome of the noble fighter. He fights only to improve his skill, never for money. He is honest, caring, and respectful. This is a guy who will always treat his woman right. One question, though: can anyone say only his first name? Must he always be "Terry Bogard"?

Joe Higashi (Fatal Fury)

Simply put, Joe is adorable. He's a supporting character who usually ends up getting the crap beat out of him, but he also gets all the cool lines of the show. How can you resist a guy who admits, "The library? If I read too many words in a row, I get sleepy." Kawaii! Other Joe gems: "I find myself looking pretty uncool," and, "What I want to know is, when does Joe Higashi get the girl?" I volunteer! Anyway, he's always looking out for his buddy Terry, especially when it comes to women. "You don't want to be Terry 'Lonely Wolf' Bogard forever!" "Um, that's 'Lone Wolf..." Yeah, Joe's a good guy, and a great friend. Besides, how can you not love a guy with fangs? (Didn't I say that already?)

Ferrio (Magic Knight Rayearth)

Let's see, I could have the bubbly redhead, the gorgeous fencer, or the shy girl with glasses...I'll take the quiet one! Yes, Ferrio is quite a man. Not only does he end up with the unlikely archer, but she's not even the main character! (Rayearth is Hikaru based, you must admit) Ferrio is strong, suave, a bit sneaky, and intelligent. And you just can't beat the green hair! Matches Fuu's outfit well, doesn't it? Although he's not my favorite guy, he's still a great person, and sweet enough to deserve a mention.

Kazuya Hasukawa (Here is Greenwood)

Greenwood is home to many freaks, including one of my favorite "I'll make them yaoi if I want to make them yaoi" couples, Mitsuru and Shinobu. I can't overlook the main character, though. Poor Kazuya has the worst girl trouble in the world. His first love marries his older brother, driving him to live away from home, while his second love is practically engaged to another man and avoids all his calls! Yeah, life sucks for Suka (as Shun calls him), but he does live in the coolest dorm in the world. It's almost as strange as my dorm...almost. Anyway, things work out fine for Kazuya in the end, as all good shoujo anime should. If you haven't already checked out this series, I highly, highly recommend it.

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