In the world of anime, the characters “a little clueless” or acting with occasional clumsiness tend to easily conquer the public. Whether because of his naive charisma, his involuntary sweetness or for those moments when his internal logic challenges any kind of common sense, these characters generate instant sympathy and become fandom favorites. On the occasion of the “Ponko-tsu Day” (which can be translated as the “Day of the Torpe”), held in Japan on June 3, the specialized portal anime! anime! He carried out a survey to meet the characters that best represent this endearing category.
The survey to carry out the ranking was carried out from May 24 to 28, 2025 and received 215 responses, mostly young women. 60% of the participants were women, while the predominant age group was that of children under 19 years of age, followed by the twenty-year-olds. With these results, a special ranking has been prepared with the most voted characters, where charisma, clumsiness and tenderness impossible to ignore converge.
The podium of the most beloved clumsy characters
1. Shoto Todoroki – My Hero Academia
With a popularity of 6%, the first place went to Shoto Todoroki, the young hero of My Hero Academia. This result represents an increase from the previous year, when it ranked second. Though Todoroki He is known for his powerful combination of fire and ice, and his impressive combat ability, is his way of interacting in everyday life, which makes him stand out in this ranking.
Many fans mentioned his literal way of understanding things, which leads him to make disconcerting but adorable comments. A memorable example is his attempt to comfort Deku offering him “half a ration of soba”, accompanied by condiments such as chives or wasabi. This duality between his seriousness in battle and his naivety in common situations has made him an endearing character, and his popularity will only grow with the arrival of the Final Season of the anime this October.
2. Oda Sakunosuke – Bungou Stray Dogs
Second place went to Oda Sakunosuke, character of Bungou Stray Dogs, who obtained about 5% of the total votes. Unlike other characters in the ranking, Ode He is a calm and thoughtful adult, which makes his moments of “lazy” even more curious.
Fans highlighted his way of ignoring his companions’ pranks as Dazai Osamu and Sakaguchi Ango, and his particular ability to eat spicy curry to the extreme without flinching, which generated laughter and sympathy among the followers of the anime. Despite his calm style, his sense of duty and friendship make him a highly valued character, especially in the flashback sequences where his past is revealed.
3. Ai Hoshino – Oshi no Ko
Ai Hoshino, the charismatic idol of the anime Oshi no ko, is remembered for her overwhelming talent and her magnetic aura that impressed everyone around her. However, his offstage personality revealed disarming naivety, like when he almost revealed that he had children during a talk show. Voters stressed that even their most clumsy moments were perceived as part of their charm.
4. Eisuke Hondou – Detective Conan
His image as “clumsy boy” has been impregnated among fans of Detective Conan. He stumbles frequently and seems clueless, but his acute deductive capacity shows that there is more than he appears. Currently, he is abroad, aspiring to join the cia, but his charisma is still present among voters.
5. Red Blood Cell (AE380) – Cells at Work!
The character known as red blood cell (d)AE380) obtained the fifth place for his unbridled energy and his tendency to lose himself. Even though he makes the most of his work to do his job, his lack of guidance is a constant. His enthusiasm, added to his distracted character, makes him a tender and easy to love figure.
6. Donquixote Rosinante – One Piece
Rosinante, also known as Heart, is a tragic character whose clumsiness becomes part of his charm. His clueless behavior, his constant falls and his clumsy way of interacting with the young Law do not overshadow his bravery or his deep humanity. His duality between clumsiness and compassion has left an indelible mark on fans of one piece.
7. Frieren – Frieren: Beyond Journeys End
Frier of the popular anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (d)sousou do not frieren) appears in seventh place. The great Albino elf, with its long existence and distant vision of the human world, often acts naively in the face of emotions or social customs. His way of seeing the world with cold logic, but accompanied by innocent gestures, generates moments such clumsy like softening.
8. Shusaku Komatsuda – Nintama Rantarou
Komatsuda It is one of the classicsPonkotsu” of children’s anime. His reckless behavior and his inability to follow instructions have made him one of the most comical and endearing characters in Nintama Rantarou. Despite his supporting role, he is recurringly remembered for his clumsiness. well-intentioned.
9. Hayate Ichikura – Cool Doji Danshi
one of the members of the quartet of handsome but clumsy boys of Cool Doji Danshi, Ichikura represents the classic “Cool & Clumsy”. Always trying to maintain a calm appearance, his involuntary mistakes, such as forgetting objects or reacting late, put him firmly inside the Ponkotsu archetype, but with a charm that makes him stand out among the current male characters.
10. Tobio Kageyama – Haikyuu!!
Kageyama closes the top 10, and although he is one of the best placers in the world of school volleyball, his social interactions are usually full of rigidity and misunderstanding. His difficulty in communicating with his teammates in his early years made him look cold, but he’s actually a young man who just doesn’t know how to express himself naturally. This combination of genius and clumsiness makes it a public favorite.
