A Landmark Year Behind the Mic
Natsuki Hanae (花江夏樹) has been voicing anime protagonists since his 2011 debut. He's won four Seiyu Awards (Japan's annual voice acting honors): Best New Actor (9th ceremony), Personality Award (11th), Best Lead Actor (14th), and Influencer Award (17th). In 2026, he became the first voice actor to receive the Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists in Media Arts, awarded by Japan's Minister of Education.
Between 2025 and 2026, Hanae has taken on roles in SAKAMOTO DAYS (as Nagumo), I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!, Witch Hat Atelier (as Qifrey), and All You Need Is Kill. He also voices Rocky in the Japanese dub of the Project Hail Mary film.
To mark his June 26 birthday, Japanese anime news site Anime!Anime! ran a reader poll asking fans to name their single favorite Hanae performance. The survey drew 713 responses between June 5 and 12, with the voter base skewing about 85% female and roughly half aged 19 or younger.
Tanjiro Takes the Crown Again
Tanjiro Kamado from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba won first place with around 28% of the vote, retaining the top spot from last year's poll. Readers praised the match between Hanae's vocal warmth and Tanjiro's stubborn optimism. One voter pointed to Zenitsu's in-show line about Tanjiro making "a sound so kind it could make you cry," calling Hanae the only actor who could bring that quality to life. Others credited Tanjiro's compassion toward enemies, not just allies, as a key part of the character's appeal.
Riddle Rosehearts from Disney Twisted Wonderland took second at approximately 12%. Fans highlighted the gap between Riddle's iron rule as the "Crimson Tyrant" of Heartslabyul Dormitory and the childlike frustration that breaks through when he loses composure. His signature "Off with your head!" came up repeatedly, along with his high-pitched outbursts that voters described as both terrifying and endearing. One respondent recalled crying during Riddle's backstory reveal and said the character was their introduction to the Twisted Wonderland franchise. The anime adaptation currently streams on Disney+.
Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul held third at about 6%, making the top three identical to last year's poll. Multiple voters singled out the torture scene as a career-defining moment, noting that Hanae was still in his early twenties when he recorded it. His later shift to Haise Sasaki in Tokyo Ghoul:re drew praise too, with fans saying it sounded like a completely different actor.
The Rest of the Rankings
Nagumo from SAKAMOTO DAYS placed fourth. Fans noted the whiplash between his playful side and his cold-blooded side, with his line "How do you want to go out?" earning special mention. Hiyori Tomoe from Ensemble Stars! came in fifth, and Okarun from Dandadan landed at sixth. For Okarun, voters praised Hanae's contrast between the character's timid everyday voice and his deeper, more confident transformed state.
Beam from Chainsaw Man and Qifrey from Witch Hat Atelier also drew enthusiastic comments lower in the rankings. For Beam, fans highlighted the high-energy loyalty Hanae brought to the Shark Fiend. For Qifrey, voters praised a calmer, more mysterious register that lets Hanae's natural voice come through. Witch Hat Atelier is currently airing as part of the Spring 2026 season.
Looking Ahead
Most of Hanae's top-ranked roles are widely available internationally. Demon Slayer streams on Crunchyroll and Netflix, Tokyo Ghoul on Crunchyroll, Dandadan on Crunchyroll and Netflix, and SAKAMOTO DAYS on Netflix. Disney Twisted Wonderland: The Animation is on Disney+.
A full rebroadcast of the Demon Slayer TV series began April 5, 2026, in Japan. For the complete top-20 rankings and additional fan comments, check the full results on Anime!Anime!.