Japanese Fans Vote for the Most English-Fluent Anime Characters!
In celebration of “TOEIC Day” in Japan, anime media portal Anime! Anime! surveyed Japanese fans to rank the anime characters who master the English language with ease. From world-class scientists to former navy sonar operators, here are the top fan-favorite bilingual characters!
#1 Ai Haibara (Detective Conan)
Dominating the poll with nearly 29% of the total votes, Ai Haibara takes the undisputed #1 spot! As a former genius scientist for the Black Organization who studied abroad in the United States at a young age, her English proficiency is practically native. Fans noted that her ability to fluently digest scientific papers in English and speak multiple languages makes her the ultimate brainiac of the series.
#2 Ukyo Saionji (Dr. STONE)
Climbing to 2nd place is Ukyo Saionji from Dr. STONE. Formerly a sonar operator for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Ukyo impressed fans during his intense psychological negotiations in Season 2. Japanese fans especially praised voice actor Kensho Ono for delivering Ukyo’s sharp English dialogue with incredible finesse.
#3 Conan Edogawa (Detective Conan)
Taking 3rd place is the titular hero himself, Conan Edogawa (Shinichi Kudo). Having grown up reading classic international detective novels from his father’s collection, Conan’s razor-sharp intellect allows him to easily communicate in fluent English whenever international cases arise.
Top Ranking Summary
The Detective Conan franchise clearly dominated the survey, showcasing several characters known for their global language skills. Here is a look at the top contenders:
- 1st Place: Ai Haibara (Detective Conan)
- 2nd Place: Ukyo Saionji (Dr. STONE)
- 3rd Place: Conan Edogawa (Detective Conan)
- 4th Place: Heiji Hattori (Detective Conan)
- 5th Place (Tied): Rin Itoshi (BLUELOCK), Ran Mouri (Detective Conan)
- 7th Place (Tied): Chisato Nishikigi (Lycoris Recoil), Ryoma Echizen (The Prince of Tennis), Karen Kujo (Kin-iro Mosaic), Ichika Nakano (The Quintessential Quintuplets), Rin Matsuoka (Free!), and more.
Did your favorite English-speaking anime character make the list? Let us know who you think speaks the best English in anime!
Source: Yahoo News Japan