Will There Be a Last-Minute Shake-Up in the 40th Sanrio Character Ranking? Interview with the Organizers Reveals Key Trends

The Top 3 Battle—Pompompurin’s Comeback?

Voting began on April 10, with early results published on April 15 and midterm results on May 13. Pompompurin currently holds the lead in both, marking a dramatic comeback after falling to 4th place in 2024:

“Pompompurin had remained in the Top 3 for nine years, so last year’s 4th place came as a shock—even at the venue during the announcement. This year, the energy from fans to reclaim a Top 3 spot is stronger than ever.”

Surprisingly, Hanamaru Obake, who debuted in 2023, ranked 8th in the early results and 9th in the midterm:

“Even for us, this was unexpected. Last year, Hanamaru debuted at 8th in early results and ended 14th. We’re anxious to see how it plays out this time.”

Ahiru no Pekkle, often on the edge of the Top 10, currently holds 10th:

“Pekkle ranked in the Top 10 during early and midterm results last year but ended at 11th. Will this be the year he finally makes it?”

Characters like My Melody, Little Twin Stars, and Cogimyun, all celebrating anniversaries this year, are also seeing vote surges:

“Fans tend to rally around characters celebrating milestones, boosting their votes overall.”

Can We Expect a Surprise Ending?

The area around 10th place sees the most fluctuation, making it a hotspot of drama:

“Breaking into the Top 10 is clearly a major goal for fans. Every year, it’s a close battle around that threshold.”

But predicting the final outcome? Almost impossible:

“Rankings often change dramatically after the midterm. Many fans hold onto their Smile Points—earned through purchases—for a strategic final push at the end of the voting period.”

This year, one major change could affect the dynamics: full digitization of all store-based voting. Previously, chip de voting and sticker voting were only counted after the midterm, but now, digital votes are reflected immediately:

“Because all votes—including store purchases—are now digital and trackable from the start, the usual last-minute reversals may not occur in the same way. Or maybe they still will? That’s part of the fun to watch!”

Global Votes May Shift the Final Rankings

Another change: international votes are now tracked separately. Before, votes from visiting tourists in Japan were counted as domestic. With the update, overseas votes now directly influence global rankings.

In North America, Hot Topic is distributing exclusive Sanrio novelty items tied to the event:

“We think this campaign could boost certain characters' standings in overseas rankings.”

A Campaign to Guess the 40th Place

To celebrate the 40th anniversary, a new challenge has launched: guess the 40th place character. It’s harder than you might think:

“Unlike the top ranks, characters around 40th can vary greatly by store. We’ll award 40 winners with acrylic stands of all 90 characters entered this year.”

Final Results at the Upgraded SANRIO FES 2025

The final results will be announced during SANRIO FES 2025 on June 29, held over two days at Pacifico Yokohama’s halls B, C, and D—marking the largest scale yet:

“Many fans couldn’t attend in previous years, so we’re excited to welcome even more people.”

This year’s theme is “Dreams”, with an immersive layout that resembles a cityscape rather than individual booths.

Special events include:

Anniversary stages featuring different characters on Day 1 and Day 2

A live performance with =LOVE on Day 1

Voice actor appearances from Fragaria Memories

“And don’t miss the Day 2 live announcement of the final rankings! On-site reactions—from gasps to cheers—create an unforgettable atmosphere. Even off-camera interactions between characters are heartwarming and worth seeing.”

Those watching online can also enjoy lively fan commentary and vote reveals in real time.

Source : ORICON NEWS