Most Common "Hear Me Out" Characters, According to Our Readers

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Plus, what your hear me out characters reveal about you…
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The results are IN! 🥳 You've completed our "hear me out" character analyzer (and if you haven't, what are you waiting for?), and now we've got some interesting data to share with you! We polled more than 30,000 wikiHow users on their most unconventional and unhinged "hear me out" crushes, and y'all certainly delivered. Sure, there are some expected answers here, like Flynn Rider or Prince Zuko—but then we've got Lightning McQueen? Venom?? Shrek?? Y'all are freaky. (But no shade.) To hear the rest of our list, keep reading: we've broken down each of your favorite "hear me out" characters crush by crush, as well as what thirsting after them might say about you…

Your Top 10 "Hear Me Out" Characters

  1. Nick Wilde
  2. Flynn Rider
  3. Shrek
  4. Venom
  5. Draco Malfoy
  6. Percy Jackson
  7. Arven
  8. Cat Noir
  9. Satoru Gojo
  10. Lola Bunny
Section 1 of 3:

Your Most-Loved "Hear Me Out" Characters

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  1. 1
    Nick Wilde ( Zootopia ) Between Nick Wilde and Robin Hood, animated foxes seem to show up in a lot of "hear me out" lists—but while RH didn't make the cut here, Nick dominated our list! And we get it: he's clever and charming, with juuuust the right amount of arrogance. Basically, he's a total fox.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: Did you vote for Nick Wilde? If so, it sounds to us like you're drawn to fun characters who are witty in a deadpan sort of way—characters who might be selfish or even narcissistic on the surface, but who, deep down, just want what's best for everyone.
  2. 2
    Flynn Rider ( Tangled ) Literally the only reason Flynn is a "hear me out" character is because he's animated. In the inevitable live-action version of Tangled Disney makes, y'all are gonna be shamelessly swooning for whichever blessèdly charming actor is cast in the role of Rapunzel's plus-one. And we will be too.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: Flynn has the charm and wit of Nick Wilde combined with the looks and chaotic good leanings of reluctant hero Han Solo. If you voted for him, you might be drawn to charismatic characters who combine a devil-may-care exterior with a willingness to do anything for the person he loves—and who could blame you?
    • Ever wonder what Disney princess you'd be? Maybe you'd even be the lucky Rapunzel herself! Take our personality test to find out!
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  3. 3
    Shrek You know, from Shrek . Shrek might not be a conventional choice, but isn't that the whole point of a "hear me out" character? Besides, we get it: he's got a tough, monstrous exterior with a heart of gold underneath (dare we say, like an onion?).
    • What voting for this character might say about you: Voting for Shrek either means you've got a heart of gold yourself and are capable of looking past a person's exterior—or that you're just into the whole "angry green monster" thing. Respect.
    • Either way, Shrek shares traits with a lot of other popular "hear me out"s: he's sarcastic and rude on the surface, but underneath, he's a secret sweetie, just trying to find some happiness in the world.
    • We know you love Shrek, in a very k-i-s-s-i-n-g kind of way. But if you were a character in the Shrekverse, who would you be? Take our quiz to find out!
  4. 4
    Venom (Marvel Cinematic Universe) This one's interesting because while we kinda get it, there are a LOT of hotties in the MCU, but somehow Venom is the only one who made the top 18. We're assuming he ranked due to the combination of sass, danger, and eventual heroism he brings to the table—three traits that seem to characterize a lot of your fave "hear me out"s, curiously enough.
    • To further complicate things…are we talking about Venom the symbiote? Eddie Brock, his host (which we'd get, because…Tom Hardy?? Hello)? The two combined? Unclear. But in each case, the crush is understandable.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: You're into the baddies-turned-goodies, the secret sweethearts, the complex antiheroes. (Did you perchance also vote for Prince Zuko?)
    • Have you taken our quiz to find out which character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe you'd be? Maybe you'd even be Venom himself!
  5. 5
    Draco Malfoy ( Harry Potter ) We love a literary HMO! But even if you were mainly thinking of Tom Felton's portrayal of this Slytherin baddie, we understand, and we approve. Draco's such a brat, but in a way that's utterly electric—and a little tragic.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: Another complex villain. Voting for Draco suggests you've got a thing for the "bad boy," but it also suggests you've got a sympathetic heart: even though Draco never fully comes around to the "good" side, seeing him unravel as the series goes on and he's forced to (sort of) confront the belief system he was raised in is enough to make any reader want to give him a hug.
    • Draco may be a Slytherin, but do you know what Hogwarts house you'd be in? Take the quiz to find out.
  6. 6
    Percy Jackson ( Percy Jackson and the Olympians ) Another literary babe—but maybe y'all are just thinking of the TV show, which, again: that checks out. While you'd probably crush on Draco against your own best interest, being #thirsty4Percy makes sense: he's heroic, loyal, and witty, with a strong sense of justice. We stan.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: You love a hero with a twist. Percy is a richly drawn character with plenty of flaws of his own—maybe you even appreciate how relatable he is. We know we do.
    • Curious what character in the Percy Jackson universe you'd be? Take our quiz to find out!
  7. 7
    Arven ( Pokémon Scarlet and Violet ) While this character initially comes off as standoffish and irritable, Arven slowly shows himself to be sweet, sensitive, and loyal. We ultimately learn his sharp attitude likely stems from a devastating backstory—adding even more tragic allure to this character.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: You're drawn to characters who are slow to open up—maybe that reflects your own personality, or maybe you're just a big sweetie whose heartstrings are easily tugged by sensitive, slow-to-trust jerks. Either way, we approve.
    • Ever wonder what Pokémon you'd be? Take our quiz to find out!
  8. 8
    Cat Noir ( Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir ) Like many other characters on our list, Cat Noir is a playful, wisecracking goofball—traits which are even more meaningful when contrasted with his behavior in everyday society as Adrien Agreste: a mild-mannered and polite supermodel.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: Cat Noir's presence on this list suggests you're drawn to energetic, funny, sarcastic characters. It also may indicate you're intrigued by characters who live a double life—characters who feel they can only reveal certain aspects of their personalities if they can do it anonymously. Maybe you know something about that, gentle reader?
  9. 9
    Satoru Gojo ( Jujutsu Kaisen ) Satoru Gojo is characterized by his confidence, playfulness, and easygoing attitude, especially around his students, who he'd do just about anything for—how can someone like that not make our list?
    • What voting for this character might say about you: You're drawn to a hero who's confident and self-assured—but also noble and loyal, with a strong sense of justice. We can't fault you for that!
    • What Jujutsu Kaisen character would you be? Take our quiz to find out!
  10. 10
    Lola Bunny ( Looney Tunes ) Lola's been giving us cartoon heart eyes since Space Jam, and there's no reason to think she'll ever stop. Whether you voted for Space Jam -era Lola or New Legacy -era Lola, this femme fatale is sassy, confident, and a total dreamboat.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: You appreciate a heroine who can hold her own: she's brainy and athletic, and though she's rather sultry (for an animated rabbit, we mean), she's no damsel in distress.
  11. 11
    Jack Frost ( Rise of the Guardians ) Can you be called a silver fox if you're a teenager (or a youthful-looking immortal being)? If so, that's Jack Frost. He embodies the coldest, severest season of the year, but this mischievous winter spirit is anything but. Instead, he's a fun and incurable prankster—with an alluring and sympathetic loneliness that's enough to attract any tenderhearted viewer.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: You appreciate a fun-loving and charismatic hero, especially one as richly drawn as Jack. As he begins to understand the weight of the responsibility he carries and grows into the noble Guardian he was always meant to be, he becomes an even more attractive character.
  12. 12
    Prince Zuko ( Avatar: The Last Airbender ) One of our faves! On the surface, Zuko is cold, angry, and sinister, but underneath his scarred exterior is a shy, tenderhearted sweetie who is Trying His Best™ and just needs someone to believe in him.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: You love a dark and mysterious character with a secretly huuuuuuuge heart underneath. Your ideal mate is probably a Scorpio , tbh.
    • Wondering what ATLA character YOU'D be? Take our quiz to find out if you'd be Zuko himself—or someone else!
  13. 13
    Dabi ( My Hero Academia ) The adage "Hurt people hurt people" could easily be Dabi's motto. Dabi is a richly drawn villain with a compelling and tragic backstory. He's cruel, calculating, and chaotic—but, like, in a sympathetic way.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: We suspect anyone who voted for Dabi has a big heart. If you chose Dabi as your HMO, you likely understand that nobody just "becomes" a villain. It's also possible you've got a touch of I-can-fix-him-itis, and you might want to get that checked out.
    • What character in the MHA universe would you be? Take our quiz to find out!
  14. 14
    Leo Valdez ( Percy Jackson and the Olympians ) Another Percy Jackson fan fave! There's not a lot we need to "hear you out" about here: Leo's funny, flirty, and friendly, all ideal traits in a crush, real or fictitious. And, as with many of us, his sarcastic personality can sometimes mask deep-seated insecurities. We stan a relatable demigod.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: Maybe you, like Leo, struggle with your own inner demons and use humor to mask what's happening under the surface—or maybe you just dig his particular combo of charm, charisma, and leadership skills! A perfectly alluring cocktail of personality traits.
  15. 15
    Lightning McQueen ( Cars ) We're beginning to think "hear me out" is just another way of saying sometimes you get a crush on a nonhuman entity. No shame. I mean, some shame, but we get it. Besides, he may be a car, but he's got a wonderful personality.
    • What voting for this character might say about you: You dig a funny, sarcastic, and sort of delulu guy who can go real real fast.
  16. 16
    Scar ( The Lion King ) Speaking of "wonderful personalities," there's Scar (that was sarcasm, in case you couldn't tell!). He makes a lot of "hear me out" lists on the 'net, so we were prepared (get it?) to see him here—and we also fully approve. Sure, he may be evil, murderous, manipulative, and, y'know, a lion, but he's also a total diva…and kind of a zaddy .
    • What voting for this character might say about you: You love a drama queen with an evil streak—especially if he can sing like Jeremy Irons. Who among us!
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Section 2 of 3:

"Hear Me Out" Trends We Noticed

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  1. 1
    A lot of your "hear me out" characters are villains (or reluctant heroes). Draco, Shrek, Dabi, Zuko—you voted for the monster with a heart of gold, the villain who changes direction, and the baddie with a sympathetic backstory. You love a good redemption narrative—but even those bad guys who don't gain enough self-awareness to make a U-turn still garner your sympathy (and maybe rev your engine).
  2. 2
    Many of the rest are ultra-sarcastic. Nick Wilde, Flynn Rider, Lightning McQueen—they say zoomers appreciate irony and sarcasm more than previous generations did, so maybe it makes sense that your HMOs exhibit some of those traits. [1]
    • Irony is in, sincerity is out—at least on the surface. The fact that many of your HMOs are good at heart suggests that while sarcasm, nonchalance, and ironic indifference are attractive qualities, at the end of the day, you value genuineness and a strong sense of justice.
  3. 3
    6 of your "hear me outs" aren't human. There's a clear trend of "hear me outs" being nonhuman characters—one is even an inanimate object:
    • Nick Wilde – fox
    • Shrek – ogre
    • Venom – alien symbiote (maybe it'd be more accurate to say 5.5, since we assume that entry also includes his human counterpart, Eddie Brock)
    • Lola Bunny – bunny
    • Lightning McQueen – car
    • Scar – lion
  4. 4
    4 of your "hear me outs" have facial scars. Zuko and Scar both boast scars over one eye, Leo Valdez has a scar over his lip, and the entire lower half of Dabi's face is heavily scarred. We're not sure what to do with this information…but we thought it was interesting.
    • It's also possible, though never confirmed, that Draco Malfoy bears some facial and body scars after Harry inflicts the Sectumsempra curse on him in The Half-Blood Prince , which would up our total to 5.
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Section 3 of 3:

"Hear Me Out" Trend Explained

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  1. This TikTok trend is all about sharing your weird or unconventional fictional crushes. "Hear me out" as a phrase has long been used as a way to indicate that the idea about to be suggested is, admittedly, controversial or unpopular. But in 2024, it gained traction online as a way to talk about fictional characters (often animated ones) internet users found themselves inexplicably attracted to, even though it was unconventional or even embarrassing.
    • Some popular "hear me out" characters not mentioned on this list include Randall from Monster's Inc. , Daphne from Scooby Doo , and Barry B. Benson from Bee Movie .
    • The trend quickly evolved to include "hear me out" cakes …which are pretty much exactly what they sound like: internet users would bake (or order) cakes decorated with images of their controversial fictional crushes. [2]
      • The first known example of this meme was in a TikTok video by @queridx.lx posted in January 2024 of a cake with dozens of images of their celebrity crushes on top…and one unexpected addition: our fave, Nick Wilde.
    • Didn't see your faves on this list? Want to discuss your most unexpected, nontraditional, and just plain unhinged "hear me outs" with other wikiHow users? Check out our "hear me out" forum .

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nouse.co.uk/articles/2024/06/19/the-irony-of-irony-is-gen-z-scared-of-showing-sincerity-
      2. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/hear-me-out-cake-trend

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