“Wild” Characters in Anime and Games: Top 3 Include Kamui from “Gintama,” Ta-chan from “Jungle no Ouja Ta-chan,” and #1 Raised by a Boar…

Anime and games are filled with countless “wild” characters that instantly grab your attention.

Whether it’s a rough-talking brawler, a dangerous outlaw with a threatening aura, or someone who survives any environment with animal-like instincts, the image that comes to mind with the word “wild” varies greatly. These characters, brimming with a sense of the untamed, often accelerate the momentum of a story.

With that in mind, Anime! Anime! conducted a reader survey titled “Who comes to mind when you think of a ‘Wild’ character?”. During the survey period from January 29th to February 2nd, we received responses from 156 people.
The gender ratio was nearly equal. The age distribution was roughly 30% under 19, 30% in their 30s, and 20% in their 20s.

■ Rough, Hot, and Wild! Their Lively Ways are Captivating

1st Place

Taking 1st place is Hashibira Inosuke from ‘Kimetsu no Yaiba‘ (also known as Demon Slayer). The support rate was approximately 13%.

Hashibira Inosuke is a Demon Slayer Corps member from the same cohort as Kamado Tanjirou. A wild child raised in the mountains, he wears a boar’s head mask. Readers commented, “He wears the head of the boar that raised him and is always shirtless. His catchphrase is ‘Wild Rush’—he’s the epitome of a wild child, yet when he takes off the mask, he’s handsome! That gap surprised me,” and “Claiming to be the King of the Mountain and immediately challenging others to fights is quintessential Inosuke. His ‘Beast Breathing, Fifth Fang: Crazy Cutting’ is a special move that perfectly represents his personality,” leading this feral boy to rank in.
Comments also gathered from those charmed by his development: “It’s great to see Inosuke, who lived in solitude, develop a sense of camaraderie after being blessed with friends like Tanjirou and Zenitsu. His efforts to make Nezuko remember his name were also adorable.”

2nd Place

2nd place is Ta-chan from ‘Jungle no Ouja Ta-chan‘ (The King of the Jungle Ta-chan). The support rate was approximately 4%.

Ta-chan, who lives in the jungle, spends his days protecting animals from poachers. “He was abandoned in the jungle and raised by the chimpanzee Etekichi, becoming the King of the Jungle. Even after meeting his girlfriend, Jane, and learning about human culture, he continues to live naturally, wearing only a loincloth—that’s utterly wild. Goro Kishitani’s performance also fit the kind-hearted Ta-chan perfectly,” and “His muscular, macho physique is wild. While his techniques are a bit outrageous, like flying through the air like a giant flying squirrel in an incredible way or powering up when he wets himself, that’s all part of his charm,” leading this peace-loving hero to a high rank.

3rd Place

3rd place was a tie between Kabaragi T. Kotetsu / Wild Tiger from ‘TIGER & BUNNY‘, Kamui from ‘Gintama‘, Nishinoya Yuu from ‘Haikyuu!!‘, and Leona Kingscholar from ‘Disney: Twisted Wonderland‘.

Kabaragi T. Kotetsu / Wild Tiger (TIGER & BUNNY)

Kabaragi T. Kotetsu, who works as the veteran hero Wild Tiger in TIGER & BUNNY. “His signature line is ‘I’ll roar wildly!!’ His personality is less ‘wild’ and more of a playful, kind old man, to be honest (laughs). When the series aired, I was a high school student, but before I knew it, I’ve gotten close to Kotetsu-san’s age.”

Kamui (Gintama)

Kamui from Gintama is a young man from the Yato clan, the universe’s strongest fighting race. “His pursuit of strength and enjoyment of battle itself was wild and cool. Just like his sister, Kagura-chan, he’s also very gluttonous.”

Nishinoya Yuu (Haikyuu!!)

Nishinoya Yuu is a second-year on the Karasuno High volleyball team, supporting the team as its libero. “When Azumane, who yearns to be wild, was concerned, he declared, ‘Who cares what others think! If you think you’re cool, then that’s all that matters!!’ and those around him said, ‘This is what you call wild.’ It really showed Noya-senpai’s inner strength.”

Leona Kingscholar (Disney: Twisted Wonderland)

Leona Kingscholar from Twisted Wonderland is the housewarden of Savanaclaw dorm. “He’s a lion beastman with a languid aura but exceptional athletic ability. The gold accessories he wears also accentuate his wildness.” Thus, characters representing various images of “wild” tied for the same rank.

■ Let’s Take a Look at Other Comments!

For Kanki from ‘Kingdom‘: “Because he gives off such a dangerous aura that the protagonist, Shin, instinctively drew his sword upon their first meeting. As the former leader of an outlaw bandit group and his fearless way of battling across enemy lines is wild in itself.”

For Nakano Nino from ‘Go-toubun no Hanayome‘ (The Quintessential Quintuplets): “Her preferred type is the wild kind. While initially high-handed and strong-willed, she has the unexpected side of yearning for a prince on a white horse in romance. Her aggressive, charge-ahead style when she falls for someone is key.”

For Sugimoto Saichi from ‘Golden Kamuy‘: “The way he challenges enemies without flinching, no matter what injuries he sustains, is worthy of his nickname ‘Immortal Sugimoto’. Sugimoto’s wild strength comes from his desire to protect Asirpa and his important beliefs.”

For Iseri Nina from ‘Girls Band Cry‘: “She’s so wild she’ll swing a ceiling light to attack a passerby. She often clashes with her band members, but she’s actually pure and cares deeply for her friends. She’s easy to read because her face immediately shows when she lies.” Votes also came in for titles whose manga adaptations have just begun.

In this survey, a diverse array of wild characters gathered, from mountain-raised feral children to battle-loving martial artists and sportsmen who demonstrate their strength in matches. We received comments evaluating not just their rough exteriors, but their ways of life and spirit.
Don’t miss the Top 20 list on the next page!

■ Top 10 Ranking

(Survey Period: January 29 – February 2, 2026)

Next Page: Rankings 11th to 20th Place Revealed

—Takahashi Katsunori

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