They say, “Chubby people are full of potential.” And that holds true even in the anime world! While some characters start out on the plump side, a turning point in the story often leads to a major transformation—and the results are absolutely stunning. Today, we’re taking a look at anime characters who underwent epic glow-ups after shedding some weight. Let’s dive in!
1. Kae Serinuma
*From: *Kiss Him, Not Me!
Kae started off as your typical fujoshi—overweight, shy, and obsessed with BL fanfiction. But after the tragic death of her favorite anime character, she locked herself in her room and stopped eating for days. The result? A jaw-dropping transformation. Her new look made her the school’s goddess overnight, and suddenly, four hot guys were lining up to win her heart. Oh, and spoiler alert—she eventually ends up with someone and even has a child!
2. Yuuri Katsuki
*From: *Yuri on Ice
Once a figure skating prodigy, Yuuri lost his edge—and his physique—after a heartbreaking loss and the death of his beloved dog. But when Russian skating legend Viktor Nikiforov stepped in to coach him, Yuuri got his groove back. With Viktor’s help, he slimmed down, trained hard, and wowed the world again. Talk about a comeback!
3. Masamune Makabe
*From: *Masamune-kun’s Revenge
Once mocked as “Piggy Foot” by his childhood crush, Masamune vowed to get revenge by turning into a heartthrob and making her fall for him—just so he could dump her. Harsh, right? But his glow-up was nothing short of jaw-dropping. The result? He went from bullied to breathtaking.
4. Alvida (Alvida-sama)
*From: *One Piece
Captain of the Alvida Pirates, she started out cruel and—let’s be honest—pretty unpleasant to look at. But after eating the Slip-Slip Fruit, she literally slimmed down overnight and turned into a smooth-skinned bombshell. From zero to pirate queen real quick.
5. Chiyo Mera
*From: *The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
A sweet but delusional girl who just loved to snack, Chiyo let herself go a bit. But with some encouragement (and a bit of help from Saiki), she pushed through with exercise and self-love. Her glow-up turned her into an adorable, energetic cutie.
6. Otohime Ryugu
*From: *Binbougami ga! (Good Luck Girl!)
Teased as a kid for being overweight, Otohime turned it all around to impress her childhood crush. Fueled by determination and a hint of romance, she slimmed down into a total stunner.
7. Tamako Inada
*From: *Silver Spoon
She used to be the chubby girl no one took seriously. But post-transformation, Tamako isn’t just pretty—she’s also one of the top students in her class. Brains and beauty? Now that’s a glow-up.
8. Wataru Chiba
*From: *Detective Conan
Chiba was the kind of character you barely noticed—a kind-hearted police officer with a love for anime and a few too many pounds. But with a little push from childhood friend Miike Naeko, he dropped the weight and shocked everyone with his new look.
9. Reika Saionji
*From: *Shoot! Goal to the Future
She joined the soccer team to lose weight—and boy, did it pay off. Despite facing doubts from teammates and her own mom, Reika didn’t quit. And when she emerged, slimmed-down and radiant, even the audience had to do a double take.