Sung Jinwoo, the protagonist of the anime Solo Leveling, didn't manage to clinch the top spot in Crunchyroll's official 2025 hottest character ranking. The annual survey, which reveals the characters that most captivated fans last year, was released this Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and placed the E-rank hunter in a lower-than-expected position, despite his triumphant return during the Winter 2025 season. The result surprised many fans, who avidly followed Jinwoo's transformation from a weak recruit into the most powerful hunter.
The victory went to Julius, the charming prince from the anime May I Ask for One Final Thing?, while second place was secured by Jinshi from The Apothecary Diaries. The survey, which analyzes the preferences of the global streaming audience, showed that in 2025, viewers demonstrated a clear preference for characters with noble traits and refined beauty, over the archetype of the rising warrior. Thus, Sung Jinwoo's meteoric popularity wasn't enough to overcome the consolidated appeal of these other contenders.
Who are the Winners and Why They Succeeded
Julius, the grand champion, won over fans thanks to his captivating personality and striking good looks, factors frequently highlighted by the Crunchyroll team in their analysis. His long-standing relationship with the protagonist Scarlet, filled with banter and flirtation, appears to have been the key to his first-place finish. Jinshi, who holds the second position, built his fame on the duality between his humble role in the imperial palace and the mysterious aura of his potential royal lineage, not to mention his androgynous beauty, a point constantly praised by the protagonist Maomao.
The third-place finisher brought a surprise: Caesar Gatturo from the donghua (Chinese animation) Dragon Raja. His presence on the podium reinforces the growing popularity and quality of Chinese productions on the global animation scene. Like Jinshi, the character's extraordinary beauty within his own series was a decisive factor in his high ranking. Meanwhile, fans of Dragon Raja are awaiting news about the third season, announced in August 2025, but still without a confirmed release date.
Therefore, despite Sung Jinwoo's strength and the tremendous success of Solo Leveling, the public's taste in 2025 leaned towards a different character profile. The three winning productions – May I Ask for One Final Thing?, The Apothecary Diaries, and Dragon Raja – are available for streaming in the Crunchyroll catalog, allowing fans to discover or revisit the crushes that dominated last year.