In the colorful and cutthroat industry of anime, each year introduces an entirely new array of iconic heroes and villains. Only some can go on to capture the collective soul of the judges audience and win the fans' hearts and minds making them say, “Must protect at all costs.” In 2025, this sentimental tribute was given to Anya Forger from SPY x FAMILY Season 2—a character whose innocence, courage, and charm captured the hearts of fans around the world.
The Emotional Core of
SPY x FAMILY
SPY x FAMILY went on to depict the hijinks of this misunderstood family—a spy dad, assassin mom and their adopted telepathic daughter, Anya. Even as the series artfully mingles action, espionage, and comedy, it’s Anya who emerges as the story’s emotional center. As striking as her pink hair and bright eyes are, it’s her expressive personality and touching moments that will make her the star of any show.
Anya’s difficulty to adapt to this fictional family, her secret power to read minds, and her childlike wish to be loved make her relatable to audiences of all ages. She embodies the naive spirit of hope in a murky world, which is why she is such a likable character.
The 2025 “Must Protect at All Costs” CategoryThe “Must Protect at All Costs” award is not solely based on cuteness or popularity. It’s about the character who elicits a maternal instinct in audiences — the one whose story touches fans so deeply that they want to protect and preserve them. This year Anya’s victory was doubly exciting, given the fierce competition, and the strength of the field.
The other nominees included:
- Frieren from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, a character known for deep reflections on time and loss.
- Okarun from DAN DA DAN, a spirited and relatable character navigating young love.
- Senshi from Delicious in Dungeon, whose bravery in a fantasy adventure captures hearts.
- Tokiyuki Hojo from The Elusive Samurai, embodying resilience in a historical setting.
- Yuki Itose from A Sign of Affection, a character defined by gentle and sincere emotions.
Why Anya Captures Our HeartsAnya’s appeal comes from her cuteness and her emotional depth. Anya is a very cute baby Yoda. Even though she is still a child, she shows tremendous bravery, frequently having to deal with matters much older than her age. Her need to protect her new makeshift family—even as she learns their hidden secrets—gives her character depth and nuance that rises far past the level of just being cute for cuteness’ sake.
In a genre often preoccupied with sophisticated and at times ominous concepts, Anya explodes onto the scene with joy and exuberance. Perhaps her innocence can remind us all that there is power in vulnerability, and that it is love and acceptance which are the truest sources of strength.
Cultural Impact and Fan Devotion
Whether available to the public on game day or to play online with the utmost flexibility, these features have enhanced cultural impact and profound unconditional fan devotion.Anya’s impact goes way deeper than the screen. The social media frenzy, stunning fan art, excellent cosplay, and incredible merchandise potential—all of these tell the tale of her grassroots popularity. Her “Must Protect at All Costs” title at the 2025 Anime Awards speaks to this cultural impact, cementing her legacy as one of the most iconic anime children of the past few years.
Anya Forger’s victory as the “Must Protect at All Costs” character at the 2025 Anime Awards shows just how strong that emotional connection with fans can be. In a very crowded field of incredibly deserving nominees, she transcends them all to become this year’s beacon of hope, love and innocence that rekindles why we started watching anime in the first place.
In wanting to protect Anya, fans aren’t just rooting for a character. They’re grasping onto the simple, pure joys that remind us why storytelling is special.
