by Setsubun in 2024 is February 3rd. It is said to be a day to throw beans to ward off evil spirits and wish for happiness for the coming year. Many people have probably experienced throwing beans while chanting, “Oni is outside, good fortune is inside.” Setsubun falls on the day before the first day of spring and will fall on February 2nd next year.
In his anime, many characters with demon motifs have been drawn. They have distinctive horns growing out of their heads, immense strength that far exceeds that of humans, and are so strict that they are called nicknames related to demons. Anime there! Anime! We conducted our annual reader survey, “What do you think of the ‘one’ characters?” We received responses from 780 people from January 19th to January 26th during the survey period.
The male-to-female ratio was approximately 30% male, 65% female, and 5% did not respond, making the majority female. Most respondents were young, approximately 50% under 19 years old and 15% in their 20s. It’s not just scary! There is a wide variety of demon characters, and 1st place goes to Muzan Kibutsuji from “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.” The approval rating was approximately 18%, the top spot for the third consecutive year.
“The pinnacle and origin of the man-eating demons. It is the root of the great evil that has continued to hurt people for thousands of years with its overwhelming power. It is terrifying that it disposes of even its subordinates without hesitation.” I think the one with the worst personality is a demon among demons.” and “He has the same face and voice. Still, if I met him in real life, I’d want to run away immediately.”
These brutal and cruel villains ranked at the top again this year. Nezuko, who came in 4th place, said, “Even though she became a demon, she still has a kind personality. It’s wonderful. She’s a girl who cares deeply about her older brother.” In contrast, Akiza, who came in 9th place, said, “She feels joy fighting against strong people. “I like the purity,” and other demons were included in the ranking. 2nd place and 2nd place goes to Hozuki from “Hozuki no Reitetsu.”
The approval rating was approximately 15%, the same as last year. “Even though he is an aide to King Enma, he is susceptible to his boss, King Enma, and he keeps acting mischievously with a straight face.” “Hozuki-sama continues to do his work unfazed by everything. However, he is fluffy… He is a surprising person, as he likes spicy animals and can’t eat spicy food.” Although he has a sadistic personality, he is also a severe and respectable boss. I want to meet him in the afterlife.”!” the main character ranked high again this year. 3rd place, 3rd place goes to Ram from Urusei Yatsura.
The approval rating was around 7%, an increase from last year’s 5th place. Ram is a demon-type alien who came to Earth. Readers have commented, “I think she is the most well-known of the demon characters. With the new anime, she has become a heroine familiar to the younger generation,” and “Even after 45 years since her birth, Ram-chan’s charm remains.” She has received support from long-time fans, with comments like “She’s timeless. She could be in the Hall of Fame!” and “She’s angry and uses electricity to punish her, but she’s very single-minded, and I love her.” New titles currently being broadcast also made it into the top three.
He was introducing other comments! In “Re: ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-” Rem says, “She cares about his older sister’s child, and her feelings for Subaru are endearing. However, she is strong in battle and has a demon-like side.” Benimaru from “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” said, “It was the first time I fell in love with a demon character. In the movie version of “Crimson Bonds,” the battle with Heero, the older brother, was incredible!” “Gintama” Sakata Gintoki says, “There are stories related to demons, such as when he was a child he was called a “demon that eats corpses,” and during the Joi War he was feared under the nickname White Yasha.”
Regarding Kiss Shot from “Bakemonogatari,” she said, “Despite her scary title of being an iron-blooded, hot-blooded, and cold-blooded vampire, she is beautiful when she is Kiss Shot, and cute when she is a Shinobi. I love this difference.” There were also votes for the main characters that appear in “Kizumogatari -Koyomi Vamp-.” Muzan Kibutsuji from “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” is also at the top of the list in the 2024 edition. Screenings of “The Miracle of Bonds and the Pillar Training” also started and showed momentum.
