October 15 is “Doll’s Day”.

It is a memorial day established by the Japanese Dol Association and other organizations. Doll memorial services and doll appreciation festivals are held all over Japan on this day.

Characters related to dolls are often seen in anime and games. They are portrayed in various ways, such as becoming self-conscious and speaking, having adorable looks like a fool, or having powers to control dolls at will.

We at Anime!Anime! conducted a readers’ survey asking “Which Character Reminds You of a ‘Doll’?” There were 152 votes during the survey period from September 30 to October 7.
The voters were mainly female with a gender ratio of 70% female to 30% male, and the age range was on the younger side with 55% under 20 and 25% in their 20s.

■Doll-like characters also made the list!

1st Place

Violet Evergarden from “Violet Evergarden” topped the list with roughly 6% of the votes.

Violet is an ex-military girl who works as a ghostwriter called Auto Memory Doll. Readers said her gradual change was fascinating with comments like, “At first, she was like a doll, but as she interacted with many clients, she gradually became more and more human which was impressive,” and “Violet almost never shows her emotions, but she cares about the Major who raised her. I was moved to tears by her noble devotion.”

By the way, on October 29, 2021, “Kinyou Roadshow”, the specially edited version that rearranged the TV series, and on November 5, the 2019 film “Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll” will be broadcast. The series is gaining more attention.

2nd Place

Coming in 2nd was Emilico from “Shadow House” and Oononogi Yotsugi from the “Monogatari Series”.

“Shadow House” is a gothic mystery that depicts the Shadows who don’t have a face and the Living Dolls that take care of them. Emilico is a Living Doll that serves Kate. Her charm is that she always keeps her chin up, “She makes mistakes but is cute, straightforward, and positive. Her cheerfulness fascinated me.”

Ononoki Yotsugi from the “Monogatari Series” is a tsukumogami (inanimate objects possessed by a spirit). She received comments such as, “She was the first character that came to mind since the monologue says, ‘Onononoki Yotsugi is a doll’,” and “I like how she’s a gagster and says, ‘I said with a posed face.'” Two different types of characters shared the spot.

■Here are some comments for other characters!

For Ichimatsu Kohina from “Gugure! Kokkuri-san”, “Kohina is a girl who calls a herself a doll. Kokkuri-san gets worried about her and says, ‘I’ll make you a decent human’ in this comedy anime. How Kohina awkwardly smiles is adorable!”
For Itsuki Shuu from “Ensemble Stars!”, “She takes very good care of his doll, Mademoiselle, just like a family member. It’s cute how he made matching clothes and sunglasses for her!”

For Belkia from “Servamp”, “He usually is a troublesome character, stabbing people with the sword he pulls out of his hat and being very showy, but it’s funny how he becomes a doll when he’s hurt.”

There were also votes for a character that uses dolls to fight. For Yumeno Kyuusaku form “Bungou Stray Dogs”, “The doll he uses for his ability was scarry and left a strong impression on me,” and “He’s also known as Q, and though he’s a cute character, his ability is terrifying.”

In this survey, not only doll characters but human characters that don’t express themselves, just like dolls, also made the list.

■Top 10

Which Character Reminds You of a “Doll”?
1. Violet Evergarden “Violet Evergarden”
2. Emilico “Shadow House”
2. Ononoki Yotsugi “Monogatari Series”
4. Ichimatsu Kohina “Gugure! Kokkuri-san”
5. Shinku “Rozen Maiden”
5. Tama “Gintama”
5. Yumeno Kyuusaku “Bungou Stray Dogs”
9. Woddy “Toy Story”
10. Alpha “Lapis Re:Lights”
10. Ichimatsu Kohina “Ensemble Stars!”
10. Gousetsu “The Seven Deadly Sins”
10. Nito Nazuna “Ensemble Stars”
10. Falulu “PriPara”

(Survey Period: September 30 – October 7, 2021)

*This survey was held to investigate the readers’ “interests and attention towards current anime titles and characters”. The results should not be used to determine the supremacy of characters and titles. We hope this article will help you find new anime/characters and deepen your understanding of them.

■Top 20

Which Character Reminds You of a “Doll”?
1. Violet Evergarden “Violet Evergarden”
2. Emilico “Shadow House”
2. Ononoki Yotsugi “Monogatari Series”
4. Ichimatsu Kohina “Gugure! Kokkuri-san”
5. Shinku “Rozen Maiden”
5. Tama “Gintama”
5. Yumeno Kyuusaku “Bungou Stray Dogs”
9. Woddy “Toy Story”
10. Alpha “Lapis Re:Lights”
10. Ichimatsu Kohina “Ensemble Stars!”
10. Gousetsu “The Seven Deadly Sins”
10. Nito Nazuna “Ensemble Stars”
10. Falulu “PriPara”
15. Suigintou “Rozen Maiden”
16. Amiba “Fist of the North Star”
16. Ayatsuji Yukito “Bungou Stray Dogs”
16. Ukon “Karakurizoushi Ayatsuri Sakon”
16. Kagehira Mika “Ensemble Stars!”
16. Sasori “Naruto”
16. Daisy “Working!!”

(Survey Period: September 30 – October 7, 2021)

*This survey was held to investigate the readers’ “interests and attention towards current anime titles and characters”. The results should not be used to determine the supremacy of characters and titles. We hope this article will help you find new anime/characters and deepen your understanding of them.