“Psychic” Characters: Anya Forger from SPY×FAMILY in 3rd, Momo from Dandadan in 2nd, and 1st Place is…
Anime! Anime! conducted a reader poll titled “Who is Your Favorite Psychic Character?” and now we’re revealing the results.
August is the season when paranormal phenomena, such as ghost stories, urban legends, and psychic programs, garner significant attention. In the world of anime, countless characters appear who possess powers that can only be described as “psychic abilities” or “superpowers,” defying scientific explanation. These abilities vary widely, including psychokinesis, which allows moving objects without physical touch; telepathy, for communicating thoughts to others; and teleportation, enabling instant travel to distant locations.
Anime! Anime! thus conducted a reader poll titled “Who is Your Favorite Psychic Character?” We received 932 responses during the survey period from August 5th to August 11th. The gender ratio was approximately 40% male and 60% female, indicating a slightly higher participation from women. The age demographic was primarily younger individuals, with about 60% being 19 years old or younger, and 15% in their 20s.
Table of Contents
Rediscover the Charm of Psychic Powers in Anime!
1st Place
1st place goes to Saiki Kusuo from Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan. He garnered approximately 40% of the votes.
Saiki Kusuo is a high school student who can manipulate all kinds of psychic abilities. Readers praised him as “the strongest protagonist who can freely use every psychic ability imaginable, including telepathy, psychokinesis, teleportation, clairvoyance, precognition, and remote viewing. The contrast between his immense power and his simple wish for a peaceful life is truly amusing.” Another comment highlighted his “shocking visual design with pink hair and antennae. What’s even more surprising is how he uses his hypnotic abilities to alter common sense itself, making everyone perceive his hair color as normal.”
Many also found him endearing, with comments like: “‘My name is Saiki Kusuo. I’m a psychic’ – his self-introduction, delivered by Kamiya Hiroshi-san’s calm voice, fits him perfectly.” Others noted, “You might expect him to be aloof due to his omnipotence, but he’s actually quite human, loving coffee jelly and using his powers to help his classmates.” These remarks emphasize his unique and unparalleled presence among psychic characters.
2nd Place
2nd place goes to Ayase Momo (Momo) from Dandadan. She received approximately 10% of the votes.
Momo is a high school student born into a family of spirit mediums. She confronts supernatural phenomena alongside her classmate, Okarun. Reasons for her popularity include her in-story activities and teamwork, with comments such as: “Her awakening to psychic abilities after being captured by a Serupo-seijin, and her fighting style with green power hands, truly evoke the image of a psychic girl.” Another reader commented, “Although she initially struggled to control her powers after suddenly awakening them, she gradually mastered them to save everyone from peril. Her teamwork with Okarun is incredibly reassuring.”
“Her adaptable use of psychic powers was also praised as interesting. The anime adaptation further amplified the excitement of the battle scenes.” The timeliness of the series also contributed to its high ranking, with one person remarking, “It’s currently airing, making it a very timely work, so it immediately came to mind.”
3rd Place
3rd place goes to Anya Forger from SPY×FAMILY. She received approximately 6% of the votes.
Anya is a telepathic girl who can read people’s minds. She forms a family with Loid, a spy, and Yor, an assassin. Together, while keeping their true identities hidden from each other, they embark on missions for world peace.
Readers found her charmingly brave, commenting, “Her earnestness in secretly using her powers for ‘Chichi’ (Papa) and ‘Haha’ (Mama) is adorable. While she can be a bit silly, she always plays her part as a member of the Forger family.” Another fan mentioned, “Because she’s pretending to be older, she struggles with schoolwork. It was cute how she tried to cheat on a test with her psychic powers, only to remember that new moons render her abilities unusable, leading to her panic.” Her comical side is definitely a major appeal.
Her partnership with Bond, the dog who can see the future, is also a fan favorite: “I love her combination with Bond, the dog with precognitive abilities. Anya’s mind-reading allows Bond’s foresight to be fully utilized, making them an excellent team!” Together, these psychic characters really drive the story’s excitement. The broadcast of TV anime Season 3 is scheduled to begin in October.
Other Noteworthy Mentions!
Kageyama Shigeo (Mob) from Mob Psycho 100 was praised for his “amazing inner strength, as he’s the strongest psychic in middle school yet never misuses his powers, upholding his master’s teaching of ‘never using psychic abilities against people.’ He truly taught us what real strength is.”
Babel Nisei from Babel Nisei was recognized with comments like: “While there are many characters with special abilities, when you think of psychics, Babel Nisei instantly comes to mind. His unique style of fighting in a Gakuran uniform, commanding his three servants, is unparalleled. The battle scenes against combatants in the ending animation also have great dynamism, showcasing brilliant direction.”
Natsume from Pocket Monsters, who holds the title of an Esper girl, had a memorable episode where “she never smiled in the anime, but then Ghost made her smile and laugh, which was very touching.”
Misaka Mikoto from Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, who is ranked 3rd among the only seven Level 5 psychics, received votes for her incredible combat prowess: “Not only does she unleash her ‘Railgun’ by firing coins at supersonic speeds, but her attacks also involve using iron sand and propelling objects with electricity – her battle performances are simply astonishing.” Votes were also cast for this title, for which the production of a 4th season has been decided.
This survey saw a wide range of characters rank, appealing to both male and female fans. It’s also notable that many of the featured works emphasize battles and action, reaffirming that psychic abilities are a visually striking element that truly shines in anime. Don’t miss the Top 20 on the next page!
Top 10 Ranking
[Who is Your Favorite Psychic Character?]
- Saiki Kusuo from Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan
- Ayase Momo (Momo) from Dandadan
- Anya Forger from SPY×FAMILY
- Kageyama Shigeo (Mob) from Mob Psycho 100
- Misaka Mikoto from Toaru Kagaku no Railgun
- Senritsu no Tatsumaki from One Punch Man
- Accelerator from Toaru Majutsu no Index
- Mewtwo from Pocket Monsters
- Asakura Shin from SAKAMOTO DAYS
- Usami Sumireko from Touhou Project
(Polling period: August 5 – August 11, 2025)
Next Page: Full Top 20 Ranking Revealed!
Check out other ongoing poll themes here! We’d love to hear your thoughts. https://animeanime.jp/special/1898/recent/
This survey is part of a broader study on our readers’ current interest and attention towards anime works and characters. The results are not intended to determine superiority or inferiority among any characters or works. We hope this article serves as an opportunity to discover new works or characters, and to deepen your understanding and interest.
By Takahashi Katsunori
