Summary
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, andThe Terminator’sJohn 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 June 27, 2025 by David Heath:It’s February again, which means it’s time for moreiconic 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.
Starting with a big one,Jotaro Kujois themost famous protagonistinJojo’s Bizarre Adventure, and he was born onFebruary 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 inPart 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, likePart 4: Diamond is Unbreakable’s Josuke, and his own daughter Jolyne inPart 6: Stone Ocean.
Edward Elric, the lead character inFullmetal Alchemist,was born onFebruary 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 to restore him back into his old body.
WhileJJBA’sJotaro 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 tobecome a State Alchemistat 12 years old, he’s strong enough to take on bigger foes with his martial arts training and his automail prosthetics' hidden weapons.
Also born onFebruary 3rd,Rin Tohsakais one of the main heroines of theFate/Stay Nightseries, from the original visual novels to its different animated series and adaptations.Fate/Zeroshowed her as a little girl, whileFate/ Strange Fakehad 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.
Ouran High School Host Club’sHaruhi Fujiokawas born onFebruary 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.
Born onFebruary 6,One Piece’sNico Robinis 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 becomea 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.
February is a good month for anime heroines. Nico Robin is joined byAttack on Titan’sMikasa Ackerman. Born onFebruary 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 himwould be testedthroughout the series.
Perhaps better known by her Japanese name ‘Soifon’,Suì-Fengis another fan favorite. She was born onFebruary 11as 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 fellowBleachfavorite 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.
After a host of more conventionally cool or fanservice-friendly women,My Hero Academia’sTsuyuAsuimakes 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 ofher Frog Quirk: she can leap far, crawl up walls and ceilings, swim really well, and grab things with said tongue.
Born onFebruary 12, Tsuyu became one ofMHA’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.
She may be in D-Class, butClassroom of the Elite’sSuzune Horikitais 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 onFebruary 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.
Nodame Cantabileis 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 onFebruary 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.
