October 11 is “Wink Day” in Japan — the numbers “1011” laid on their side resemble a face with one eye closed. To mark the occasion, Anime!Anime! ran its annual reader poll asking: “Which anime character do you most associate with winking?” The survey ran from September 30 to October 6, 2026, collecting 133 responses. Respondents were approximately 65% female and 35% male, with around 55% aged 19 or younger.
1st Place — Cure Wink from Kimi to Idol PreCure♪
Cure Wink topped the chart for the second consecutive year with roughly 17% of the vote. She is the PreCure form of Aokaze Nana, a gentle girl who grows alongside her friends through song and dance.
Readers praised her wink as central to the series in every context — transformation poses, good-luck charms, fan service moments, and even battle scenes. One voter noted: “Her name says it all. No one fits this theme better.” Another highlighted the touching backstory: “The wink that Uta taught Nana to calm her nerves before a piano competition became the very bond that connected the two of them as PreCure.”
Cure Wink also appears in the currently screening film Movie Meitantei PreCure! Fushigi na Niwa to Futari no Himitsu, with fans saying her signature “Win-Win Wink — take that first step!” line resonates as a key theme of the new movie.
2nd Place — Hoshino Ai from Oshi no Ko
Hoshino Ai (星野アイ), the star-eyed center of idol group B-Komachi, claimed second place for the second year running with around 6% of the vote. Fans cited her wink during the Season 1 opening animation and the iconic moment in Episode 1 where she forms a heart with her hands while winking. The key visual — mic in one hand, pointing at the viewer with the other, winking — was also singled out for its sheer impact.
Oshi no Ko has been confirmed for a fourth and final TV anime season.
3rd Place — Oikawa Tooru from Haikyuu!!
Oikawa Tooru (及川徹), captain and setter of Aoba Josai High’s volleyball club, secured third place with roughly 3% of the vote — making the top three identical to last year’s results. Fans particularly love his wink in Episode 23, where he uses it to relay tactics to teammates in a deliberately light-hearted way, easing tension without undermining the gravity of the moment. Others noted that his wink perfectly captures his flashy, slightly irritating charm.
Looking ahead, 2027 will bring both the theatrical film Gekijouban Haikyuu!! VS Chiisana Kyojin and the special anime Haikyuu!! Bakemono-tachi no Yukutokoro.
Other Notable Mentions
- Ram (ラム) from Re:Zero — beloved for winking after stuffing a piping-hot steamed potato into Subaru’s mouth and deadpanning “Fresh off the steamer.”
- Aoyama Yuuga (青山優雅) from My Hero Academia — his wink-and-pose combo perfectly matches his flamboyant hero persona.
- Manaka Laala (真中らぁら) from PriPara — fans adore her “Kashikoma!” wink-and-peace-sign catchphrase.
- Chiikawa (ちいかわ) — a rare wink in the currently screening film Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu sent fans into a frenzy.
Full Top 5 Rankings — “Wink Characters” 2026
- 🥇 1st — Cure Wink · Kimi to Idol PreCure♪
- 🥈 2nd — Hoshino Ai · Oshi no Ko
- 🥉 3rd — Oikawa Tooru · Haikyuu!!
- 4th — Hoshimiya Ichigo · Aikatsu!
- 5th (tied) — Aoyama Yuuga (My Hero Academia), Albina Zimrock (Atelier Resleriana), Kohigata Ayaha (Tomodachi no Imouto ga Ore ni dake Uzai), Gojo Satoru (Jujutsu Kaisen), Chiyoda Momo (Machikado Mazoku), Tomoe Mami (Puella Magi Madoka Magica), Nikolai G (Bungo Stray Dogs), Hagiwara Kenji (Detective Conan), Manaka Laala (PriPara), Mizuhara Chizuru (Rent-a-Girlfriend)
The results show that a well-timed wink can mean many things in anime — an idol’s dazzling stage presence, a captain’s subtle leadership, or a heartfelt gesture of encouragement — and that fans across all demographics are paying close attention to every one of them.
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