Can I just say how happy I am that the optimists seem to be making a comeback?

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good anti-heroine/hero. Over the past decade or so, it seems like there’s been a resurgence of protagonists with—gasp—flaws. But with all the gritty reboots and bleak dystopias, there are still characters out there who never lose hope, no matter what the world throws at them. They soldier on, confident that things can get better and good still exist in the world. I love these characters. I love reading about them, I love writing about them. Evil only wins in the absence of hope. (My glass is always half-full, in case you can’t tell.)

So I thought I’d share my top ten favorite optimistic characters, from movies, TV and literature, ones who never fail to lift my spirits and inspire me to keep going, keep fighting.

Willa Tobin, Twin Piques

Brand new to the list, I absolutely adore this character. Her unwavering optimism was her sword and shield. Whether it was her love life, her career, or her relationship with her sister, Willa always believed the best in everyone, even romantic rivals.

Betty Suarez, Ugly Betty

Seriously, how can you not love a woman who strolls into the high-end fashion magazine, Mode, wearing that poncho and still manages to take it by storm? She was smart, capable and never lost faith that there was a place for her there because she made one, dammit. And those braces were adorable!

Bay Waverly, Garden Spells and First Frost

Okay, so this character had a little help, so to speak. Bay’s “Waverly gift” was that she always knew where things belonged. I loved her confidence in her abilities, and her frustration with others when they couldn’t see that she was right. It made it all the more satisfying when she finally got her perfect moment.

Becky Bloomwood, Shopoholic series

Oh, Becky. You made me want to bang my head against the wall sometimes. I bailed on this series eventually (there’s only so many times you can scream, “You don’t need another pair of shoes! You need to pay off your credit cards before Visa sends Bubba and Hacksaw after you!” before you finally put the book down and move on with your life), but I always loved her positive attitude, even when it was veering into delusional thinking.

Maryann Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility

Maybe she was a little naïve when it came to Willoughby (you send a gazillion notes at all hours of the night and still no response? Sweetie, he’s just not that into you), but I love how she flaunted social norms in the name of love.

Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

When I was little, Anne Shirley was my ideal. It didn’t matter if people thought she was strange or gangly or too much of a dreamer. Despite everything she had endured, Anne never lost sight of the beauty in the world.

Officer Judy Hops, Zootopia

Sorry, but I have to include this character in my list. First of all, Ginnifer Goodwin’s casting in this movie was inspired and her delivery impeccable. The first bunny cop ever (and apparently the only female in her squad, but that’s a post for another day), they didn’t make it easy for her. But even saddled with a 48-hour deadline and little more than a go-cart to solve the crime, she rose to the occasion.

Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter series

Do I really need to explain why she’s on the list? Fine, if you insist. Luna didn’t let school bullies get the best of her because she believed everything has a way of finding its back. She was the only one who could comfort Harry after Sirius died. And during the Battle of Hogwarts when Harry was swarmed by dementors, Luna was the one who gave him the strength to keep fighting. ‘Nuff said.

Dirk Gently, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (TV series)

Let me start by saying I’ve never read any of the books, and I know the television series differs greatly from the source material. If you prefer the original, more power to you. You do you. But I absolutely love this character. I find his wide-eyed innocence and enthusiastic willingness to just go with whatever insane situation he finds himself in to be extremely refreshing. If I ever end up on the wrong end of kitten/shark, I hope I stay as positive as him.

Kimmy Schmidt, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

I can’t even count how many times I’ve re-watched this series. I watch it when I’m home sick. I watch it after a hard day at work. I watch it while I’m bumming around the house doing chores. The theme song is part of my workout mix. It’s my pick-up when I feel like I can’t keep going. Please just give Tina Fey all the awards for creating this amazingly strong (literally! She can lift a manhole cover!) female protagonist.