The Surprising Truth About Which Characters Are Actually Popular (And Why It Matters for Your Next Cosplay)

You know that moment when you’re planning your next cosplay and you think, “Should I go with something popular or something unique?” Well, Korean data just gave us some fascinating insights into what characters people actually love, and honestly, the results might surprise you.

The 2024 Character Industry White Paper surveyed thousands of people about their favorite characters, and the winners tell us a lot about what makes a character truly stick in people’s hearts. Spoiler alert: it’s not always who you’d expect.

The Top Character That Beat Everyone

Crayon Shin-chan won. At 8.2%, this mischievous kindergartener beat out literally everyone else. Not the latest anime sensation. Not the trending game character. Not the K-pop idol mascot. A character that’s been around since 1990.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Shin-chan, that inappropriate little kid who pulls down his pants and makes butt jokes, is the most loved character in this Korean survey. And if you’ve been in the Malaysian cosplay scene for any length of time, you’ve probably seen why. There’s something timeless about characters that make us laugh, even if they’re not the flashiest or newest.

Pororo the Little Penguin Takes Second Place

Coming in at 7.4%, Pororo proves that childhood nostalgia is a powerful force. This adorable penguin from the educational kids’ show has been around since 2003, and clearly, people who grew up with him still love him.

For Malaysian cosplayers, this is interesting because Pororo isn’t heavily cosplayed, but he dominates merchandise sales. Sometimes the most popular characters aren’t the ones filling up convention halls in costume form. They’re the ones people want on their phone cases, bags, and coffee mugs.

The Rising Stars: Zanmang Loopy, Kakao Friends, and Choonsik

Third place went to Zanmang Loopy at 6.3%, followed by Kakao Friends at 5.6% and Choonsik at 4.1%. Notice a pattern here? These are all relatively simple, cute characters with strong emotional appeal and excellent merchandise presence.

Zanmang Loopy, with those adorable pink cheeks and simple design, is incredibly easy to put on literally anything. Kakao Friends characters like Ryan and Apeach have taken over messaging apps and physical stores alike. And Choonsik, that rotund orange cat, has become the unofficial mascot of every Korean drama fan’s merch collection.

What This Tells Us About Character Popularity

Here’s where it gets interesting for us as Malaysian cosplayers and character enthusiasts. The top characters aren’t necessarily from the latest trending anime or the newest game. They’re characters with staying power, emotional resonance, and most importantly, good design.

Let’s break down what made these characters win:

Crayon Shin-chan: Comedy that transcends generations, relatable family dynamics, memorable personality

Pororo: Childhood nostalgia, educational value, timeless appeal to parents and kids

Zanmang Loopy: Cute aesthetic, emotional expression, perfect for merchandise

Kakao Friends: Daily digital presence, diverse character lineup, strong brand integration

Choonsik: Simple design, relatable personality (lazy, loves food), meme-worthy

None of these won because of complex storylines or cutting-edge animation. They won because people genuinely like them. And that’s a lesson for anyone thinking about what to cosplay or what merchandise to invest in.

The Age and Gender Split Is Wild

Here’s where the Korean data gets really specific and super helpful. The survey broke down favorite characters by age group, and the results are fascinating:

People in their 30s and younger: Crayon Shin-chan dominated

People in their 40s and 60s: Pororo took the top spot

People in their 50s: Kakao Friends was number one

This makes total sense when you think about it. People in their 30s grew up with Shin-chan. People with kids (40s-60s) know Pororo from their children. And the 50s age group, who are heavy smartphone users but maybe not as into anime, love the messaging app characters they use daily.

For Malaysian cosplayers, this data is gold. If you’re planning to cosplay at a family-friendly event, Pororo might get you more positive reactions than the latest anime character. If you’re at an event with a younger crowd, Shin-chan will always be recognized. If you’re doing corporate gigs or brand collaborations, Kakao Friends-style characters are where the money is.

Why Malaysian Cosplayers Should Care.
The Surprising Truth About Which Characters Are Actually Popular.

“But wait,” you’re thinking, “this is Korean data. Does it apply to Malaysia?”

Actually, yes. More than you’d think.

Malaysia and Korea share a lot of the same character influences. We both grew up with Japanese anime and manga. We both have strong digital culture with messaging apps. We both love cute, marketable characters. The main difference is that Korea has a massive domestic character industry, while we’re mostly importing.

Think about what you see at Malaysian conventions and pop culture events. You’ll see plenty of Shin-chan cosplays. You’ll see tons of Kakao Friends merchandise. You’ll see parents bringing kids who love Pororo. The patterns are similar, even if the exact percentages might differ.

What Makes a Character Last?

The Korean survey asked people WHY they liked their favorite characters, and 66.4% said “because I like the character’s design.” That’s two-thirds of people saying that visual appeal is the primary factor.

This is huge for understanding why some characters become timeless while others fade away after their show ends. Good design transcends the source material. You don’t need to have watched every Shin-chan episode to recognize him and find him charming. You don’t need to know Pororo’s backstory to think he’s cute.

The second most common reason, at 43.1%, was “because I like the character’s story/behavior.” This is where personality comes in. Shin-chan is memorable because he’s hilariously inappropriate. Choonsik is relatable because he’s lazy and food-obsessed. These personality traits stick with people.

The Cosplay Implications

So what does all this mean when you’re choosing your next cosplay?

If you want recognition and positive reactions from a broad audience, characters with simple, iconic designs and established popularity are your best bet. That Shin-chan cosplay will get you stopped for photos all day. That cute mascot character will have kids and parents both wanting pictures.

But here’s the twist: the Korean data also shows that people respect unique choices. When asked about “familiar characters they see often,” that was only the third most common reason for liking a character at 34.7%. People appreciate something different, as long as it’s well-designed and has personality.

This means you can absolutely cosplay that obscure character from that manga nobody’s read, as long as your costume execution is good and the character design itself is appealing. You don’t need to follow trends to be popular.

The Merchandise Sweet Spot

One of the most interesting things about this character popularity data is how it relates to merchandise. The top characters aren’t necessarily the most cosplayed, but they absolutely dominate merchandise sales.

This creates an interesting opportunity for Malaysian cosplayers who also sell merchandise or do commissions. You might cosplay niche anime characters for conventions, but if you’re making stickers, keychains, or prints to sell, consider including some of these broadly appealing characters in your lineup.

Shin-chan merchandise will sell to multiple generations. Cute mascot-style characters appeal to people who don’t even consider themselves “anime fans.” Simple, emotionally expressive characters work well across different products.

The Digital Character Phenomenon

Kakao Friends ranking so high tells us something important about modern character popularity: digital presence matters enormously. These characters didn’t come from TV shows or comics originally. They started as stickers for a messaging app.

In Malaysia, we see this with LINE characters as well. Brown and Cony are everywhere, not because they have a deep storyline, but because people use them in daily digital communication. This daily interaction builds attachment in a way that even popular anime can’t match.

For Malaysian artists and cosplayers thinking about creating original characters, this is a valuable lesson. Getting your character into people’s daily digital lives (through stickers, filters, wallpapers) might be more effective for building popularity than creating elaborate backstories or complex designs.

Why Simplicity Wins

Look at the top characters again:  that’s barely changed in 30+ years. Pororo is basically a round penguin. Zanmang Loopy is even simpler. Kakao Friends characters are deliberately minimalist. Choonsik is just a fat orange cat.

None of these characters have intricate costume details or complex color schemes. They’re simple enough that a child can draw them, which is actually part of their appeal. Fans can easily recreate them in fan art, in crafts, in their own doodles. This accessibility builds attachment.

For cosplayers, this might seem counterintuitive. We often think that more complex, detailed cosplays are better. But the data suggests that sometimes, a really good execution of a simple, beloved character beats an elaborate costume of something nobody recognizes.

The Nostalgia Factor

What’s interesting about this Korean data is how many of the top characters have been around for decades. Shin-chan is over 30 years old. Pororo has been around for 20 years. Even the “newer” characters like Kakao Friends have been part of daily life for years.

This suggests that character popularity isn’t just about being new and trendy. It’s about being present in people’s lives long enough to become part of their memories. The characters people love most are often the ones they grew up with or have been seeing consistently for years.

For Malaysian cosplayers, this means those “old school” cosplays you’ve been thinking about? They might actually get better reactions than you expect. That Doraemon cosplay, that Sailor Moon costume, that Pokemon gijinka—these aren’t outdated. They’re classics that people have genuine affection for.

Regional Differences to Consider

While the Korean data is super useful, we should acknowledge that Malaysia has its own character culture. We probably have higher recognition rates for certain Chinese characters due to our demographic mix. Malay and Indian cultural characters also have their own fan bases that might not show up in Korean surveys.

Local Malaysian IPs like the ones you’d see from regional studios are building their own followings. These might not compete with international giants like Shin-chan yet, but they have the advantage of local cultural resonance.

The lesson here isn’t to only cosplay Korean or Japanese characters. It’s to understand what makes characters popular across cultures: good design, strong personality, emotional appeal, and consistent presence in people’s lives.

What This Means for Your Next Cosplay Choice

Based on this Korean character popularity data, here’s some practical advice for Malaysian cosplayers:

For Maximum Recognition: Go with established characters that have been around for years. They’re popular for a reason.

For Merchandise Sales: Simple, cute characters with broad appeal will sell better than niche favorites.

For Standing Out: Choose lesser-known characters with strong visual design, even if they’re not trending.

For Family Events: Characters that appeal across generations (like Shin-chan or Pororo) are perfect.

For Convention Competition: Consider that judges often appreciate good execution of any character over elaborate costumes of unknown characters.

For Personal Enjoyment: Honestly? Cosplay what you love. But if you’re also thinking about reactions and practicality, this data helps.

The Character Design Lesson

The biggest takeaway from this survey isn’t about specific characters. It’s about understanding what makes a character resonate with people. Good design beats complex backstory. Personality beats production values. Consistency over time beats flash-in-the-pan trends.

Whether you’re a cosplayer choosing your next project, an artist developing original characters, or just a fan building your collection, these principles apply. Focus on what makes a character genuinely appealing, not just what’s currently trending.

What This Means for You

Crayon Shin-chan beating everyone might seem random, but it’s actually a perfect example of character staying power. This inappropriate little kid has been making people laugh for over three decades because the fundamental appeal—humor, relatability, good design—never goes out of style.

The next time you’re planning a cosplay or buying character merchandise, think about why you’re drawn to that character. Is it just because it’s currently trending? Or is there something about the design, personality, or emotional connection that will still resonate with you years from now?

The Korean data suggests that the characters we love most aren’t always the newest or flashiest. They’re the ones that make us feel something, look good on everything from stickers to cosplay, and stick around long enough to become part of our lives.

And honestly? That Shin-chan butt dance never gets old.

What’s your favorite character and why? Does it match the patterns in this Korean data, or are you team “obscure character that nobody else knows”? Let me know in the comments!

Maya Sharma

Hello. I’m Maya Sharma, a psychology student with a deep curiosity for how people think, feel, and navigate the world. Writing is my way of making sense of it all—sharing my thoughts, challenging perspectives, and reflecting on the moments that shape us.

“Life isn’t just about having the answers; it’s about asking the right questions, and I’m here to explore them, one article at a time.!”