The Fall 2025 anime season features several titles starring “heroes” or “yusha,” such as *Ansatsusha de Aru Ore no Sutetasu ga Yuusha yori mo Akiraka ni Tsuyoi noda ga* (The Assassin’s Status is Clearly Higher than the Hero’s) and *Kekkon Yubiwa Monogatari II* (Tales of Wedding Rings II).
In the fantastical realms of these stories, the image of a yusha is incredibly diverse. From standing against an evil Demon Lord, embarking on an adventurous journey with their companions, or being summoned to another world to forge a new life, their paths to glory vary greatly.
To celebrate these iconic characters, Anime! Anime! conducted a reader survey titled “Who comes to mind when you think of a ‘yusha’ character?” We received 167 responses during the survey period from October 26th to November 2nd.
Regarding the demographics, approximately 35% of respondents were male and about 65% were female, showing a higher participation from women. By age group, about 50% were under 19, with both the 30s and 40s age groups each accounting for around 15%.
Table of Contents
■ *Sousou no Frieren*’s Himmel Dominates the Top Spot! Upcoming Anime in January ’26 Also Draws Attention
First Place
First place goes to Himmel from *Sousou no Frieren*, garnering a significant 52% of the votes.
Himmel was the yusha of the legendary party that once defeated the Demon Lord. Readers praised him, saying, “Even though he leaves the story shortly after it begins, he leaves a profound impact on Frieren’s life. Every time she says, ‘Yusha Himmel would have done this,’ it warms my heart to imagine what a wonderful person he must have been.” Another comment highlighted his character: “True to his title as a yusha, he has a kind nature, always helping anyone in need. I love everything about him, even his slight narcissism.” One fan shared a heartfelt sentiment: “The 10-year journey he shared with Frieren and the others is now a legend, slowly fading from people’s memories, which is bittersweet. But it’s so muneatsu (chest-pounding) to know that Himmel lives on forever in Frieren’s heart!”
Readers also recalled the poignant episode where Himmel couldn’t draw the hero’s sword. “His famous line, ‘It’s fine. Even if I’m a fake yusha. I will defeat the Demon Lord and restore peace to the world. Then it won’t matter if I’m fake or real,’ truly shows his pride as a yusha,” a fan commented. Himmel is a character whose personality and impact are frequently explored through these powerful flashback scenes.
Second Place
Second place was taken by Dai from *Doragon Kuesuto Dai no Daibouken*, with approximately 5% support.
Additionally, from the same series, Dai’s master, Avan, also ranked tied for ninth place. A comment about Avan noted, “‘I believe that the power gained through training should be used for others.’ This line perfectly encapsulates the essence of what it means to be a yusha,” highlighting the many memorable lines throughout the series.
Third Place
Link from *Zelda no Densetsu* claimed third place, with approximately 4% of the votes.
Link is the main protagonist of the *Zelda no Densetsu* game series. While his portrayal varies across different titles, he consistently embodies the image of a yusha. In *Zelda no Densetsu: Buresu obu za Warudo* (*The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*), released in 2017, he was depicted saving the world by defeating Calamity Ganon.
The series continues to thrive, with the sequel *Tears of the Kingdom* released in 2023, and *Zelda no Densetsu: Chie no Karimono* (*The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom*), starring Princess Zelda, in 2024. This year also saw the release of *Zelda Musou: Fuuin Senki* (*Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity*), and a live-action film is set to open on May 7th, 2027. The immense excitement surrounding the entire series undoubtedly contributed to Link’s strong showing in this poll.
■Other Notable Mentions!
For Yuusha Akatsuki from *Maoujou de Oyasumi* (Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle), a fan commented, “He’s supposed to be the yusha heading to rescue Princess Suyaris, who is held captive by the Demon Lord. However, the princess herself is happily enjoying her sleep in the Demon Castle and has no intention of being rescued; she doesn’t even remember his name! The princess describes him as ‘like the sun, but in a bad way.'”
For Alicia from *Kurebatesu – Majuu no Ou to Akago to Shikai no Yuusha -* (Clevatess – King of Monster Beasts, Baby, and Corpse Hero), a reader wrote, “The protagonist dies after being defeated by the Monster Beast King Kurebatesu and is revived as his servant. Her bravery in facing powerful enemies was incredible, combining her heroic abilities with the undead-like toughness unique to a corpse.”
Iwatani Naofumi from *Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari* (The Rising of the Shield Hero) also received votes, with a fan stating, “When you think of a yusha, you usually imagine them fighting with a sword, but the protagonist of this series is the Shield Yusha. It starts with an intense twist where he’s immediately betrayed by his companions and loses all his possessions, which instantly hooked me.” The production of its fifth season has also been announced, keeping fans excited!
The 2025 edition saw a diverse range of yusha among the ranks, spanning fantasy, action, and comedy. From orthodox and unique to unconventional, a rich variety of heroes gathered in this poll.
Don’t miss the Top 10 on the next page!
■Ranking Top 5
[“Who comes to mind when you think of a ‘yusha’ character?” 2025 Edition]
1st: Himmel (*Sousou no Frieren*)
2nd: Dai (*Doragon Kuesuto Dai no Daibouken*)
3rd: Link (*Zelda no Densetsu*)
4th: Nike (*Mahoujin Guru Guru*)
5th: Iwatani Naofumi (*Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari*)
5th: Yuusha Akatsuki (*Maoujou de Oyasumi*)
5th: Ragnus (*Puyo Puyo*)
5th: Roto (*Doragon Kuesuto*)
(Response period: October 26th, 2025 – November 2nd, 2025)
Next page: Top 10 rankings revealed
- Click here for other ongoing survey themes! Tell us your thoughts. ＞＞https://animeanime.jp/special/1898/recent/
Katsunori Takahashi
