Mushoku Tensei’s Rudeus Breaks Into Top 10 Anime Male MCs Despite ‘Predator’ Criticism

Not all heroes in anime become popular because they are loved by everybody. Some heroes start a lot of discussions, but continue attracting millions of fans thanks to the emotional story, interesting scenes, and gradual character development. This is what makes the protagonist of Mushoku Tensei unique at the moment.

Surprisingly, Rudeus is now ranked as one of the top 10 most popular male anime characters among Summer 2026’s anime shows on Anime Trending. What makes this even more interesting is that his rise continues despite ongoing criticism, especially the long-running “predator” debate surrounding his character.

The “Predator” Debate Hasn’t Slowed Down Rudeus’ Popularity

Rudeus Greyrat from Mushoku Tensei Season 3. | Credit: Studio Bind

Rudeus Greyrat has never been a usual anime hero. From the very start of Mushoku Tensei, he has sparked a lot of debate online. The reason why there have been lots of discussions about him online lies in the significant discrepancy between his physical and mental states. While physically, he looks like a young boy, in reality, he is 34 years old, and he remembers all his previous experiences.

This is why there are some who see his actions and the way he interacts with people in a much more negative light. Instead of seeing them as simple youthful emotions, they view certain interactions as influenced by an adult mindset in a child’s body, which creates discomfort for a section of the audience.

It gets worse during the early part of the series, where Rudeus manages to escape consequences due to his young appearance. The inner monologue of the character makes it clear that he is fully aware of what he does, which makes it even worse and difficult to overlook.

However, one must take into consideration the fact that Rudeus in Mushoku Tensei is a deeply flawed character whose journey lies in growth and self-reflection. He does not start out as someone who is instantly likeable, unlike most protagonists.

This time, Anime Trending has announced the character rankings for Week 4 of Summer 2026 anime shows. Among those who made it to the list was Rudeus Greyrat, who took the fourth spot as the most popular male anime character of the week. His ranking comes at a great time for the franchise. Just recently, Mushoku Tensei Season 3 also reached No. 1 in Anime Trending’s weekly anime rankings, beating several highly anticipated sequels and new series.

In these latest character rankings, the first spot goes to Rentaro Aijo from The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 3. The second and third spots were taken by Yuusuke Tani and Shuuji Taira from You and I Are Polar Opposites, while the fourth spot was secured by Rudeus Greyrat. Also, the veteran hero Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity returned to the rankings.

Here is a quick overview of Anime Trending’s poll for the top 10 male characters (via @AniTrendz on Twitter/X) –

Rudeus’ appearance in the Top 10 is another sign that Mushoku Tensei is having an excellent season. The anime has been performing well in weekly fan polls, and its latest episodes continue to generate discussions across the anime community.

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 Keeps Winning Despite Rudeus Controversy

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 premiered on July 5, 2026, after an advance screening of its first two episodes in Japan. The opening episodes focused on Eris Boreas Greyrat and her intense training as she worked to become stronger after leaving Rudeus.

From Episode 3 onwards, the story moved back to Rudeus to adapt one of the most beloved arcs from the original light novel written by Rifujin na Magonote. Now having moved in with Sylphiette and Roxy, he has to juggle between his family responsibilities and dangerous quests while discovering new things about the world of Hitogami.

Again, Studio Bind has managed to show how quality animation and an accurate adaptation are vital in ensuring an anime becomes popular. Those strengths have helped Mushoku Tensei Season 3 become one of the highest-rated anime.

One of the main reasons why Rudeus remains relevant is how the show Mushoku Tensei uses reincarnation differently from other isekai anime. In popular anime isekai like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, the main character is reborn as a different species or travels to another world where they become a hero in an extremely short time. The past life of the main character does not cause any serious moral conflict, and their personality is adjusted to fit in better.

In comparison, Mushoku Tensei completely rejects that approach and preserves the faults of Rudeus from his past life, making the character work on them. This is what makes his story not only about becoming strong, but about becoming a better person.

The latest Anime Trending ratings have shown that the ongoing discussion of Rudeus has not affected his popularity among fans. With Mushoku Tensei Season 3 sitting at the top of the weekly anime rankings and Rudeus now among the Top 10 male anime characters, the franchise continues to prove why it remains one of the biggest names in modern isekai anime.

Now the big question: Is Rudeus worth being a Top 10 male anime protagonist, or is there any other main character that could have made the list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Mushoku Tensei Season 3 is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.