Gap Moe Anime Character Ranking TOP 20 [2025 Latest] Gintoki Sakata Takes First Place!
In the world of anime, there is a charm called "Gap Moe." It refers to characters displaying traits completely different from their usual image at certain moments, such as a usually lazy character suddenly becoming cool and reliable, or a cold-looking character actually being a crybaby. This unexpected contrast often instantly captures the audience's hearts!
The renowned Japanese anime voting website Spacomic announced the latest "Most Gap Moe Anime Characters" ranking in 2025. This list covers classic popular masterpieces and also includes popular characters from recent breakout new media projects like Hundred Note and We Are the Leads of the Demon World!.
Who will be the King of Gap Moe in 2025? Let's unveil the complete TOP 20 list together!
Hall of Fame Gap Moe Characters
Before entering the official ranking, Spacomic specially listed three "Hall of Fame" characters. Their charm of contrast has deeply rooted in people's hearts, becoming synonymous with this attribute.
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Zenitsu Agatsuma - Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Usually timid and cowardly, only crying for help, but when unconscious (in a sleep state), he can unleash a thunderous sword-drawing technique. This extreme contrast between strength and weakness makes him an unshakable classic.
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Germany - 《Hetalia: Axis Powers》
- Outwardly a stern, muscular, and meticulous man, he privately has an unexpectedly domestic side, loving baking and even having a soft spot for cute things.
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Epel Felmier
- 《Disney Twisted Wonderland》
- He possesses the delicate, doll-like beauty of a pretty boy, but inside he's a wild, strongly accented, and passionate young man eager to become stronger.
TOP 3: Kings of Gap Moe
No. 1: Sakata Gintoki
Work: 《Gintama》
The undisputed champion! Normally, he's a dead-fish-eyed, pachinko-and-sweets-obsessed slacker uncle, but in critical moments, his soul as the "White Demon" awakens, displaying unparalleled swordsmanship and samurai spirit to protect what he cherishes. This switch between "usually slacking off, but incredibly cool in battle" is the secret to Gintoki's enduring popularity.
No. 2: Edogawa Ranpo
Work: 《Bungo Stray Dogs》
The core brain of the Armed Detective Agency, possessing the "Super Deduction" ability to see through any truth (though he insists it's a supernatural ability, it's actually his genius intellect). Despite his extremely high IQ, his life skills are almost zero—he can't ride trains, and his personality is like a spoiled child who loves snacks. This strong contrast between a "genius detective" and a "life idiot" has ignited countless fans' protective instincts.
No. 3: Shoppi
Work: 《We Are the Main Characters of the Demon World!》
As a character from the official spin-off of 《Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun》, Shoppi is known for his unique gamer vibe and world-weary aura. He usually seems uninterested in everything, even somewhat aloof, but shows exceptional persistence and passion for seniors he respects or things that interest him (like PVP gaming).
TOP 4 - TOP 10: Clash of the Old and New Forces
This section features a large number of characters from the multimedia projects 《Hundred Note》 and 《We Are the Main Characters of the Demon World!》, showcasing the strong appeal of new-generation IPs.
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No. 4: Karasuma Ranmaru - 《A Terrified Teacher at Ghoul School!》
- Despite his handsome appearance as a member of the Tengu clan, his personality has a hilarious contrast, and his popularity skyrocketed after the anime adaptation.
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No. 5: Dazai Osamu - 《Bungo Stray Dogs》
- A bandaged weirdo and suicide enthusiast. He usually seems frivolous and enjoys teasing Kunikida, but behind that smile lies an unfathomably dark past (former Port Mafia executive) and extremely high intelligence and cunning.
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6th Place: Katsura Kotaro - 《Gintama》
- "It's not a wig, it's Katsura!" Usually a serious, fanatical noble samurai of the Joui faction, but his thought process is bizarre, often leading to various nonsensical actions (like his interactions with Elizabeth), making him a classic "handsome idiot."
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7th Place: Shiba Jin - 《Hundred Note》
- A character from Kodansha's new-generation mystery project. He appears to be a calm and rational detective on the surface, but hides an unexpected side.
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8th Place: Teufel Shaoron - 《We Are the Main Characters of the Demon World!》
- An extremely popular troublemaker with a distinct personality, enjoying immense support within the fanbase.
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9th Place: Sumeragi Senoto - 《Hundred Note》
- The "Night Owl" group's great detective. Although he possesses genius-level mind-reading and reasoning abilities, he is essentially an extremely timid, crybaby, germaphobic, and clingy person. This ultimate "genius vs. good-for-nothing" contrast propelled him into the top ten.
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10th Place: Bombe Zomu - 《We Are the Main Characters of the Demon World!》
- Also from the "We Are the Main Characters of the Demon World!" series, he gained high popularity with his unique chaotic attribute and explosive power.
TOP 11 - TOP 20: Complete Popularity Ranking List
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11th Place: Todoroki Shoto - 《My Hero Academia》: Beneath his cool, half-cold half-hot handsome exterior, he's actually a somewhat airheaded soba noodle enthusiast.
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12th Place: Aoi Akane
- 《Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun》
- Bound Hanako
- He is usually the perfect student council vice president, but turns into a severe "Aoi" fanatic when he meets his childhood friend.
and possesses powerful clock guardian abilities.
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13th Place: Suzuki Iruma
- 《Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun!》
- kun)": The epitome of a nice guy personality
But his domineering, dark transformation during his "Evil Cycle" makes fans scream.
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14th Haruaki Abe - "A Terrified Teacher at Ghoul School!": Although his name is that of the great onmyoji, he himself is an extremely timid human teacher who is even scared of monsters, yet he is deeply loved by his monster students.
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15th Yuito Kugase - "Hundred Note": Another highly popular character from the mysterious detective project.
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16th Levi Ackerman - "Attack on Titan": Humanity's strongest soldier, with a cleanliness obsession. Although he speaks harshly and has a deadpan expression, he cares for his subordinates more than anyone else.
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17th Kotetsu Oobudo - "Werewolf Survival": From the bestselling children's novel series "Werewolf Survival", the contrast between his intelligence and physical prowess is a key highlight.
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18th Satoru Gojo - "Jujutsu Kaisen": The strongest modern jujutsu sorcerer. Usually a frivolous big boy with his eyes covered by a blindfold, but once he removes it and gets serious, the overwhelming sense of supremacy and his peerless beauty max out the gap moe value.
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19th Soshiro Hoshina - "Kaiju No. 8": Usually the laid-back vice-captain speaking in Kansai dialect, but when unleashing his combat power, the cold, murderous aura of his dual-wielding style makes him one of the most popular characters in the series.
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20th Izumi Miyamura - "Horimiya": At school, he's a gloomy, bespectacled otaku, but outside school, he's a handsome, trendy guy with piercings and tattoos. This work itself is a classic romance anime centered around gap moe.
Two Major Formulas for Gap Moe Characters
Looking at the 2025 list, we can identify two main popular formulas for gap moe:
- Usually unreliable, cool in critical moments
- Strong exterior, soft or airheaded interior
Whether it's the classic Gintoki Sakata or the newcomer Sento Oki, these characters are captivating precisely because they showcase the multifaceted and three-dimensional aspects of human nature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is Gap Moe? Gap Moe refers to when an anime character displays traits that are completely different from their usual image at certain moments. This unexpected contrast can create a strong, charming effect.
Q2: Who ranked first in the 2025 Gap Moe ranking? The number one spot in the 2025 gap moe anime character ranking is Gintoki Sakata from "Gintama", winning with the classic gap of "slacker in daily life, strongest in battle".
Q3: What is the source of this ranking data? This ranking comes from the voting results announced in 2025 by Spacomic, a well-known Japanese anime and manga voting website.
Q4: Which new works have characters on the list? The list includes popular characters from recent new media projects such as "Hundred Note" and "We Are the Main Characters of the Demon World!".
Has your favorite character made the list? Feel free to share your top pick for the most gap moe character in your heart!