There is no authoritative worldwide poll that proves which ten anime characters are the most loved. The strongest broad survey evidence reviewed here is Japan-specific, while large international votes measure enthusiasm within a single franchise. The list below is an editorial selection informed by those different kinds of evidence—not a universal ranking.
How this top 10 was selected
The ranking weighs broad public recognition and longevity alongside available survey and fan-vote evidence. It does not combine liking percentages and raw vote totals into a numerical score: those figures come from different populations, character lists, and voting methods. Where a poll is relevant, its scope and date are stated. Inclusion in this editorial list does not mean every character was tested in the same survey.
The 10 most loved anime characters
-
Totoro — My Neighbor Totoro
Totoro has the strongest broad survey evidence in the material reviewed. In Nippon Research Center’s April 2026 nationwide survey of 1,200 people in Japan aged 15–79, 33% selected Totoro as a character they knew and liked from a list of 20 manga and anime characters. That is a liking rate within this Japanese survey and its set of eligible characters, not a worldwide fan-vote result. Nippon Research Center’s 2026 report.
-
Doraemon — Doraemon
Doraemon recorded a 26% liking rate in the same 2026 NRC survey, second among its manga and anime group. The result offers broad-population evidence in Japan, rather than a measure of votes cast by fans around the world. Nippon Research Center’s 2026 report.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.#1 Best Overall
Anime Super Hero Action Figures Set, Collectible Warrior Figurines, 7.8Inch Energy Style Character Models for Display, Party Favors & Gift Collection (8PCS)- Anime-Inspired Warrior Figure Set:This action figure set includes 6 or 8 unique warrior-style characters, inspired by classic anime martial arts themes, each featuring dynamic poses and expressive details for collectors and fans.
- Compact Size for Display:Each figure measures approximately 7.8inches tall, made from durable PVC material, suitable for shelves, desks, display cabinets, or small figure collections.
- Dynamic Energy Style Design:Designed with spiky hair, battle-ready stances, and energy-inspired details, these figures capture the spirit of anime combat scenes without referencing any specific franchise.
- Great for Display & Party Use:Ideal as desk decor, cake toppers, party favors, or collectible displays, also suitable for themed events, birthdays, and anime-style decorations.
- Gift-Ready Collectible Set:A fun gift choice for anime fans, figure collectors, teens, and adults, suitable for holidays, birthdays, or as a starter figure set for new collectors.
-
Kiki — Kiki’s Delivery Service
Kiki’s Delivery Service had a 25% liking rate in the same survey, just behind Doraemon. The close figures are useful context for recognition and liking among the Japanese respondents, but they do not establish a fixed global order. Nippon Research Center’s 2026 report.
-
Katsuki Bakugo — My Hero Academia
Bakugo’s appeal is particularly visible in an active-fandom vote. ORICON reported that he won the 2024 My Hero Academia World Best Hero global poll with 1,647,611 votes, out of approximately 6.12 million votes cast; Izuku Midoriya and Shoto Todoroki placed second and third. This is a striking franchise-specific result, not a comparison with characters from other anime. ORICON’s report on the 2024 poll.
-
Minato Namikaze — Naruto
Minato placed first in NARUTOP99, the official Naruto character vote held from December 17, 2022, through January 31, 2023. It demonstrates strong support among participants in that franchise’s worldwide vote; its result should not be read as a current cross-anime ranking. The official NARUTOP99 results.
Rank #2
Sale
ANIME HEROES - One Piece - Roronoa Zoro Three Sword Style Action Figure- Join the Straw Hat Crew in their search for the One Piece with Anime Heroes One Piece 6.5 inch action figures, from Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles
- Relive or recreate epic moments from one of the longest running anime titles with over 1000 episodes and countless adventures to be had
- Anime Heroes brings all the iconic One Piece characters to life with fan favorites that remind you why you love the show, and how the journey of finding the One Piece isn't finished yet
- With over 20 points of articulation, it's primed for dynamic, action-packed poses that will ignite your imagination and keep the adventures going non-stop!
- For Ages 4+
-
Itachi Uchiha — Naruto
Itachi placed second in the same NARUTOP99 vote. His position is evidence of support within the Naruto poll’s eligible character pool, not a general-population liking percentage. The official NARUTOP99 results.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSpecial offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Sakura Haruno — Naruto
Sakura placed third in NARUTOP99, behind Minato and Itachi. As with the other positions from that vote, the ranking reflects the people who participated in a Naruto-specific contest during its stated voting period. The official NARUTOP99 results.
-
Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia
Midoriya placed second in the 2024 My Hero Academia World Best Hero poll, according to ORICON. The result establishes his standing among participants in that global franchise poll; it cannot be directly compared with the Japanese survey’s liking percentages or Naruto’s separately run vote. ORICON’s report on the 2024 poll.
Rank #3
Anime Super Hero Action Figures Set, Collectible Warrior Figurines, 7.8Inch Energy Style Character Models for Display, Party Favors & Gift Collection (6PCS)- Anime-Inspired Warrior Figure Set:This action figure set includes 6 or 8 unique warrior-style characters, inspired by classic anime martial arts themes, each featuring dynamic poses and expressive details for collectors and fans.
- Compact Size for Display:Each figure measures approximately 7.8inches tall, made from durable PVC material, suitable for shelves, desks, display cabinets, or small figure collections.
- Dynamic Energy Style Design:Designed with spiky hair, battle-ready stances, and energy-inspired details, these figures capture the spirit of anime combat scenes without referencing any specific franchise.
- Great for Display & Party Use:Ideal as desk decor, cake toppers, party favors, or collectible displays, also suitable for themed events, birthdays, and anime-style decorations.
- Gift-Ready Collectible Set:A fun gift choice for anime fans, figure collectors, teens, and adults, suitable for holidays, birthdays, or as a starter figure set for new collectors.
-
Shoto Todoroki — My Hero Academia
Todoroki placed third in that same 2024 poll. His inclusion here reflects a documented high placement in a large franchise vote, not an assertion that this poll measured all anime viewers. ORICON’s report on the 2024 poll.
-
Totoro, Doraemon, Kiki—and the wider field
Rather than imply that a single poll establishes a tenth-place character across all anime, this final place recognizes how much the answer depends on who is asked and which characters are eligible. In NRC’s 2025 survey, Totoro was liked by 34% of respondents among 89 characters, while Kumamon led the full character set at 36%. The anime and manga properties in that broader ranking included Doraemon, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Demon Slayer, Pokémon, and Detective Conan. Results also varied by age and gender; Totoro led women across age groups, while other properties led some male age brackets. Those findings show why a definitive cross-franchise tenth place cannot be claimed from the evidence here. Nippon Research Center’s 2025 report.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Why there is no definitive worldwide ranking
The 2026 NRC survey is the broadest general-population evidence in the sources reviewed, but it covers residents of Japan aged 15–79 and asks about a limited set of 20 manga and anime characters. Its respondents could select characters they both knew and liked. By contrast, franchise polls invite participants to choose among characters associated with one series. A general-population liking rate and a fan-vote total answer different questions, so placing them in one league table would create false precision.
Rank #4
- Anime Heroes ONE PIECE Monkey D. Luffy Gear 5 brings Luffy’s Gear 5 look to life in the Anime Heroes 6.5-inch line
- Featuring detailed character sculpting and multiple points of articulation, it’s built for expressive poses, action play, and display
- A must-have figure for ONE PIECE fans and collectors
- For Ages 4+
NRC describes its character survey as a recurring time-series survey conducted annually since 2014. Even within that series, the available character set and survey year matter: the 2025 result for Totoro came from a broader list of 89 characters, whereas the 2026 manga and anime figures came from a 20-character group. The 2026 report and the 2025 report.
Poll announcements should not be mistaken for rankings. ONE PIECE.com’s page announces a second worldwide WT100 character vote; it does not establish final positions, so it cannot support a claim about which One Piece character won. The WT100 announcement.
