October 11 marks Wink Day in Japan, a playful calendar date inspired by the way the digits "1011" resemble a face giving a playful wink when turned sideways. Capitalizing on this charming tradition, Japanese pop-culture outlet Anime! Anime! has officially opened its annual reader survey dedicated entirely to the art of the wink in 2d media.
A well-timed wink remains one of the most effective character shorthand techniques in animation and manga. Whether deployed as a secret signal between comrades, a sudden romantic gesture designed to catch viewers off guard, or the definitive punctuation mark on a magical girl transformation sequence, a single facial expression can permanently etch a character into fan memory. The publication's open-format questionnaire invites audiences to submit their absolute favorite winking figures across television broadcasts, theatrical films, streaming projects, video games, and published manga.
Submissions for the reader poll close on October 6, with final compilation results scheduled for publication shortly thereafter. Previous iterations of the survey have highlighted a diverse spectrum of charismatic leads and cunning tricksters who excel at closing a single eye to capture audience attention.
