After years of living in the shadow of his cloud-like rival, Pompompurin is back on top. The floppy-eared golden retriever claimed first place in Sanrio’s 2025 Character Ranking, breaking a five-year winning streak held by Cinnamoroll.
It wasn’t even close. Pompompurin captured hearts—and votes—worldwide, scooping up 5,613,659 out of over 63 million votes cast. It marks a long-awaited return to the throne for a character who last won back in 2016.
A Comeback Nearly a Decade in the Making
Pompompurin’s 2025 victory has been called a “feel-good upset” by longtime Sanrio fans. His first-ever win came in 1997, but the golden retriever had since taken a back seat to newer fan favorites. That changed this year.
In a result that’s as surprising as it is nostalgic, he put an end to Cinnamoroll’s reign—one that began in 2020 and looked unstoppable until now.
Pompompurin wasn’t just the top dog globally. He ranked number one in region-specific polls in the US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, and Mainland China. Basically, he swept the board.
A Shift in Fan Sentiment? Maybe, Maybe Not
So, what gives? Why now? What suddenly pushed Pompompurin ahead of Cinnamoroll after half a decade?
Honestly, it’s hard to say. Sanrio hasn’t revealed specifics about vote origins or age demographics, but some theories are floating around.
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Nostalgia wave: Many fans who grew up with Pompompurin are now adults—and still voting.
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Regional love: He dominated Western countries, which may have boosted his final count.
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Fan campaigns: Several big fan-run campaigns popped up on social media ahead of the April poll launch.
Still, this shift in rankings wasn’t exactly random. With 63,160,696 total votes cast, Sanrio fans showed up in force. And Pompompurin supporters? Louder than ever.
The Full 2025 Ranking: Who’s In, Who’s Out?
Let’s take a look at the top 30 placements in the 2025 Sanrio Character Ranking.
| Rank | Character |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pompompurin |
| 2 | Cinnamoroll |
| 3 | Pochacco |
| 4 | Kuromi |
| 5 | Hello Kitty |
| 6 | My Melody |
| 7 | Little Twin Stars |
| 8 | Hangyodon |
| 9 | Tuxedosam |
| 10 | Pekkle |
| 11 | Badtz Maru |
| 12 | Hanamaruobake |
| 13 | Cogimyun |
| 14 | Keroppi |
| 15 | Wish Me Mell |
| 16 | Gudetama |
| 17 | Usahana |
| 18 | My Sweet Piano |
| 19 | Gaopowerroo |
| 20 | Corocorokuririn |
| 21 | Kirimichan |
| 22 | Marumofubiyori |
| 23 | Marroncream |
| 24 | Chococat |
| 25 | Show by Rock |
| 26 | Charmmy Kitty |
| 27 | Kabukinyantaro |
| 28 | Yoshi |
| 29 | Hello Mimmy |
| 30 | Sugarbunnies |
Adorozatorumary Makes A Surprise Entry
The Ado-themed character, Adorozatorumary, wasn’t expected to place. But she did. Coming in at 35th, this stylized persona clearly has a fanbase of her own—likely boosted by the pop star’s massive online presence and Gen Z pull.
It’s a reminder that newer characters aren’t just filler. They’re real contenders.
Just one sentence here: It also says something about Sanrio’s ability to evolve without forgetting its roots.
What’s Next for Pompompurin?
Now that he’s back on top, it raises the question: will Pompompurin’s win be a one-off, or is this the start of another era?
Sanrio hasn’t said what kind of merchandise, media, or collaborations could follow. But history tells us this: the winner usually gets a spotlight year. That might mean plushes, pop-ups, animated shorts, or even themed cafes focused on Pompompurin.
And for fans? It’s a win they didn’t know they needed.
