As the Sanrio Character Ranking marks its 40th anniversary, excitement is at an all-time high. The early results and midterm announcements have already generated buzz on social media, with headlines such as “Pompompurin leads again!”, “Who is Hanamaru Obake, ranked 8th in the early results?”, and “Ahiru no Pekkle breaks into the Top 10!”. With voting surging each year, what surprises could the final results bring? We spoke directly with the Sanrio organizers to learn more about the trends, changes, and possibility of an upset.

A Beloved Event That Goes Beyond Typical Fan Voting

The Sanrio Character Ranking began in 1975 as a small-scale popularity contest in Ichigo Shimbun, Sanrio’s official monthly magazine. It evolved into its current form in 1985 and has since grown to feature 90 characters and a global online voting platform.

“It’s deeply emotional for us,” said a Sanrio representative. “The event embodies our mission to spread joy and smiles worldwide. We’re thrilled that it has become something fans across the globe can enjoy.”

Last year’s total votes reached 57,074,053, breaking previous records. The organizers attribute this rise to increasing recognition and accessibility:

“Now that even elementary school students have smartphones, and older generations are voting as well, the recognition of the event keeps growing—which directly impacts the vote count.”

Despite similarities with the current “oshi-katsu” (fan support) culture, the Sanrio Character Ranking has a different philosophy:

“While there’s some overlap, our goal isn’t just to have fans support characters, but to create an experience where characters and fans share the excitement together. It’s about mutual joy.”

Source : ORICON NEWS