Watching Asian cartoons and anime as a kid always made me wonder, what if those cartoon characters actually existed? And I’ve come up with an answer: they would have made life a new adventure every day! Oh how I wish I had a cute, little non-human friend to be like a sidekick always by my side. Just like how Disney’s Lilo has Stitch! They would make life quite interesting, that’s for sure. Here are my five favorite Japanese characters I would befriend for a lifetime.

1. Doraemon - Ahh, Doraemon, the gadget cat from the future, the 22nd century to be exact! This ear-less robotic cat travels back in time to help improve a schoolboy, Nobita Nobi’s future. Nobita gets bad grades and bullied from time to time so Doraemon is there to help his life get better. My favorite part about Doraemon is that he has a magical pocket that can produce many cool gadgets, medicines, and tools from the future! Boy, wouldn’t it be amazing to have a friend who can take you time-traveling? I think I’d be stunned at all the gadgets he pulls out. I truly enjoyed watching Doraemon episodes and movies when I was little. He’s absolutely hilarious and very educational. He’s like a magic genie and a cuddly hero all at the same time!

2. Keroro - Okay, so I admit, he’s a tad bit annoying and weird, but I’m pretty sure many people have at least one annoying best friend that makes life interesting. He’d be the perfect friend to watch anime, read manga, and build Gundam models with. Although at times he’s greedy, careless, unlucky, a scaredy cat, and sometimes is a total jerk, Keroro is a happy-go-lucky type of person who occasionally is brave and displays unselfishness when needed. He’ll also stick around for you and help do your household chores! So basically, this friend wouldn’t be perfect and has tons of flaws, but he’ll make life fun and full of adventures, that’s a guarantee. After all, nobody is perfect!

3. Hello Kitty - Almost everyone knows Hello Kitty! She is a cheerful cat that can warm your heart and bring you smiles. If Hello Kitty was real, then I’d bet she would have been every girl’s best friend. I can imagine the tea parties, the sleepovers, the fun talks, and the shopping trips we would have! Plus, she also has the whole Sanrio gang for you to socialize with. She’d probably be one of your nicest friends who bakes you cookies and trusts you with her secrets.

4. Totoro - This big fella may be huge, but he’s fluffy and has a big heart. If he did exist, I’d probably be intimidated by him at first since he’s so huge and all. I’d still love him though because Totoro is just oh so magical! He’d take you on a midnight flight across the city or wait with you at a bus stop and he’d turn any rainy, gloomy day into a fun one. He can make you laugh with his tree-growing dance and take you on a fun ride on the Cat Bus! He has little spirit friends to play with and he’ll cheer you up whenever you’re down. Doesn’t Totoro sound like a perfect companion?

5. Finally, for my ultimate pick, I choose you, Pikachu ! - Pikachu is very friendly and always tries his best. He breaks up fights among other Pokemon and is always happy to battle for Ash with no complaints even after losses. He has accompanied Ash Ketchum in Pokemon since forever and stuck with Ash no matter what, even when he was given a chance to stay with other Pikachus. In one episode, Pikachu even made funny faces to cheer up Togepi. It was the cutest and funniest thing ever. As you can tell, he is a loyal friend who will attempt to cheer you up whenever you are feeling blue. He can protect you and fight for you in battles, and would never give up while doing so. He’s a bestie to keep for life and I bet Ash agrees!

Which animated characters do you wish existed to be your best friend?