Top 10 Male Anime MCs Dominating 2026 Charts: Why One Piece Isn’t on the List

The anime community frequently runs weekly online polls to determine the top 10 most popular male main characters. What these charts, especially on anitrendz, do is that they reflect current viewer preferences. However, One Piece, a highly successful global franchise, failed to secure a single spot for any of its male characters this week.

Let’s dive into who these top 10 characters of this week are, and explore the reasons why One Piece couldn’t get a single male character in.

Who Are the Characters in the Top Ten?

First is Kinosaki Meri from Marriagetoxin. He appears to be a woman, but he is actually a cross-dressing marriage swindler who is currently helping the protagonist find a suitable partner for marriage. The reason he ranks on top is simple: there is no better wingman this season. What makes him stand out is the lengths he goes to help his friend, Hikaru.

Second is Will Serfort from Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2. He had his amazing moment just two episodes ago when he finally unlocked a power unique to him. Furthermore, all of his efforts from Season 1 are finally bearing fruit, as he has managed to enter the tower and is another step closer to his goal of being with Elfie.

Third is Natsuki Subaru from Re:ZERO. He is currently experiencing severe trauma after losing his memories. It is almost like the entire anime has gone back to season one. The reason he ranks this high is simple: no amount of trauma is stopping him, which makes him a well-loved character among the isekai fans.

The following are the rest of the characters who got a position in the top 10:

One Piece Is Losing to the Hype of Modern Male Characters

Luffy from One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation

Modern seasonal characters are designed to deliver rapid emotional development, along with rapid payoffs as well. For example, Will Serfort unlocking his powers or Subaru losing his memories are massive events. These moments are compressed into a tight 12-to-24 episode window, which forces the plot to move aggressively.

When an episode drops a tragic backstory, like the family issues recently revealed for Yota Hino, or shows a major relationship progression, like Minato Amamiya slowly gaining feelings for the main female lead, the fans get to react instantly – and then, more and more people get to find out.

One Piece is entirely different. While the world-building is expansive, the individual character arcs are stretched across hundreds of episodes. In fact, there are too many characters to even keep track of in the recent arcs. For One Piece, the main point of attraction is not the characters.

The current generation of viewers prioritizes high-impact moments over long-term investment. They track tight character dynamics, such as the friendship between the teacher Qifrey and Olruggio, or the overwhelming power of Rimuru Tempest. These interactions offer immediate gratification. earning these characters a higher rank in polls.

Which One Piece male character would you vote as your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

One Piece is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.