by The Fall 2025 anime season features several titles featuring heroes, including “My Stats as an Assassin Are Clearly Stronger than the Hero’s” and “Marriage Ring Story II.”
Heroes in fantasy worlds are diverse. They may face off against evil demon kings, embark on adventures with companions, or be summoned to another world to start a new life. Anime! Anime! Conducted a reader survey titled “Who is your favorite ‘hero’ character?” We received 167 responses from October 26 to November 2.
The gender ratio was approximately 35% male and 65% female, with the majority being female. Approximately 50% were under 19 years old, and approximately 15% were in their 30s and 40s.
Himmel from “Funeral Parlor Freiren” topped the list by a large margin! The top new release for January 2014 was Himmel from “Funeral of Freiren,” with a 52% approval rating. Himmel was the hero of the hero party that defeated the Demon King. Readers commented, “Though he leaves the story immediately after the main story begins, he had a significant impact on Freiren’s life afterward.
Every time she says, ‘Himmel the Hero would have done that,’ I can imagine how wonderful a person he must have been, and it warms my heart.” Others commented, “He’s worthy of the title of hero, and has a kind personality that helps anyone in need. I love him, even his slightly narcissistic side.” Sadly, the 10-year journey he walked with Freiren and the others has now become a legend, fading from people’s memories. But it’s heartwarming to know that Himmel will always live on in Freiren’s heart!” Readers also commented on the episode in which Himmel was unable to pull out the hero’s sword. “It’s okay.
I’m a fake hero. I’ll defeat the Demon King and restore peace to the world. “If you do that, it doesn’t matter if it’s fake or real,” is a famous line that conveys his pride as a hero, and his personality is often discussed in flashbacks. Coming in second place is Dai from “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai.” He received a support rate of approximately 5%. Dai is a boy who grew up on an isolated island inhabited by monsters. With the resurrection of the Demon King Hadlar, he sets out on an adventure to save the world. “In ‘The Adventure of Dai,’ it’s said that a hero’s weapon is ‘courage,’ and that a true hero is someone who ‘inspires courage in everyone.’ Dai is the perfect embodiment of this. His words, ‘It’s fine to have 100 heroes,’ convey his purity and deep trust in his companions,” said the beloved protagonist, who made the list. Dai’s master, Avan, also ranked 9th.
One commenter said, “I believe the line, ‘I believe the power gained through training should be used for the benefit of others,’ encapsulates the question of what it means to be a hero,” and the work is packed with memorable lines. Coming in third place is Link from The Legend of Zelda, with a support rate of approximately 4%. Link is the protagonist of the The Legend of Zelda video game series. While portrayed differently in each work, he is a character with a strong image of a hero.
In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, released in 2017, he is depicted as defeating Calamity Ganon and saving the world. The sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, was released in 2023, and The Legend of Zelda: The Secret of Wisdom, starring Princess Zelda, was released in 2024. New titles are scheduled for release this year, including Zelda Musou: Chronicles of Fortune. A live-action film is also scheduled for release on May 7, 2027, and the excitement surrounding the series as a whole likely contributed to the votes.
Here are some other comments! “Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle” – the hero Akatsuki – is described as “a hero who sets out to rescue Princess Suyaris, who the Demon King has captured…or so it seems. However, the princess herself is enjoying her sleep in the Demon Castle and has no intention of being rescued, and doesn’t even remember her name.
The princess describes him as ‘a person like the sun, in a bad way.'” “Crevates: The King of Demon Beasts, the Baby, and the Corpse Hero” – Alicia – “The protagonist is defeated by the demon king Crevates and loses his life, only to be resurrected as his servant. In addition to his skills as a hero, he displays the undead-like toughness of a corpse, and his bravery in facing off against powerful foes is incredible.” “Beast Tamer Expelled from the Hero’s Party Meets the Strongest Cat-Eared Girl” – Rain Shroud – “Unlike normal beast tamers, he can control multiple animals, and he made a contract with Kanade, the strongest, and saved the city from a crisis. He’s a much more heroic character than the hero’s party that dismissed him.” Votes were also cast for Iwatani Naofumi from “The Rising of the Shield Hero,” who said, “When you think of a hero, you often think of someone who fights with a sword, but the main character of this work is the Shield Hero. It starts with a dramatic turn of events in which his comrades suddenly betray him and lose all his money, and I was immediately hooked.” The 2025 edition features a diverse range of heroes, from fantasy and action to comedy. There is a wide variety of heroes, from orthodox to eccentric and unorthodox.
Top 5 Rankings [What comes to mind when you think of a “hero” character? 2025 Edition] 1st place Himmel “Funeral of Freiren” 2nd place Dai “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” 3rd place Link “The Legend of Zelda” 4th place Nike “Magical Circle Guru Guru” 5th place Iwatani Naofumi “The Rising of the Shield Hero” 5th place Akatsuki the Brave “Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle” 5th place Lagnus “Puyo Puyo” 5th place Roto “Dragon Quest” (Response period: October 26 – November 2, 2025)
Top 10 Rankings [When you think of a “hero” character? [2025 Edition] 1st place Himmel “Funeral of Freiren” 2nd place Dai “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” 3rd place Link “The Legend of Zelda” 4th place Nike “Magical Circle Guru Guru” 5th place Naofumi Iwatani “The Rising of the Shield Hero” 5th place Akatsuki the Hero “Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle” 5th place Lagnus “Puyo Puyo” 5th place Roto “Dragon Quest” 9th place Avan “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” 9th place Eleven “Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age” 9th place Kagome Higurashi “Inuyasha” 9th place Freiren “Funeral of Freiren” 9th place Makoto Fukasumi “The Moonlit Journey” 9th place Yuuki Yuna “Yuuki Yuna is a Hero” (Response period: October 26 to November 2, 2025)
This survey is part of a survey of readers’ opinions on “interest and attention in current anime works and characters.” The results are not intended to determine the superiority or inferiority of any character or work. This article will allow readers to learn about new works and characters, deepening their understanding and interest.
