As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of cinematography and fandom, it’s fascinating to see the results of this study that highlights the most popular characters written about in fan fiction. Having grown up with Harry Potter and the MCU, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia seeing these characters dominating the list.
It’s quite common for enthusiasts of well-known franchises to create unique tales featuring their favorite characters, which aren’t found anywhere else. Fan fiction serves as an engaging platform for aspiring writers to improve their skills, potentially leading them to greater accomplishments, like E.L. James, whose “Fifty Shades of Grey” series originated from “Twilight” fanfic. Recently, a study focusing on Archive of Our Own (AO3), a site dedicated solely to fan fiction, has uncovered the most popular characters across movies, TV shows, and literature for fans to write about, and these findings could come as a surprise.
According to Collider’s analysis, conducted by QR Code Generator and examining various keywords, the study determined which characters were written about most frequently on AO3. Unsurprisingly, Harry Potter led the pack with an impressive 366,746 works of fiction, but Tony Stark came in second. Known from the Marvel Cinematic Universe by Robert Downey Jr., his character is often paired romantically or otherwise with Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America. When they speak of ‘shipping’ here, it refers to fans imagining their favorite characters in a relationship together. For Harry Potter, he’s most frequently ‘shipped’ with Draco Malfoy, with a total of 298,987 fanfiction pieces dedicated to the pairing.
According to Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, his findings suggest that some franchises remain popular even after they’ve ended, and he believes fan fiction offers an intriguing avenue for fans to delve into unexplored relationships within these universes. It provides a captivating opportunity for people to speculate about what could have transpired. Particularly in the context of LGBTQ+ narratives, as this community has been relatively underserved in mainstream franchises over the past few decades.
The research underscores the lasting appeal of particular franchises and characters that continue to be cherished by fans. Even though the final Harry Potter movie came out in 2011, the series remains spellbinding for fans, as demonstrated by the multitude of fan-written stories available online.
It’s intriguing to note that numerous tales within this genre often showcase LGBTQ+ partnerships, mirroring the enthusiasm of fans to delve into unexplored romantic connections and storylines that were initially missing in the originals. Over time, fanfiction writing has transitioned from a small pastime into a platform where authors can secure publishing deals and jumpstart their careers.
Who Else Tops the List?
In an unexpected turn, Tony Stark came in second place in the rankings. However, other Marvel Cinematic Universe characters like Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes managed to make it to the top 10. Characters from the series ‘Supernatural’, Sam and Dean Winchester, were also included, with Dean having the most fan fiction pairings with everyone’s beloved character from the show, Castiel (portrayed by Misha Collins). Additionally, characters from ‘My Hero Academia’ and another popular character from Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, made the list. Check out the results below to see how many fan fiction pieces each character is paired with and their most frequent partners.
| Rank | Character | Stories | Shipped With | Shipped Stories |
| 1 | Harry Potter | 366,746 | Draco Malfoy | 287,987 |
| 2 | Tony Stark | 249,154 | Steve Rogers | 100,806 |
| 3 | Dean Winchester | 242,531 | Castiel | 166,672 |
| 4 | Steve Rogers | 236,437 | Bucky Barnes | 129,341 |
| 5 | Sam Winchester | 190,396 | Dean Winchester | 74,879 |
| 6 | Midoriya Izuku | 186,995 | Bakugo Katsuki | 102,054 |
| 7 | Bucky Barnes | 182,898 | Steve Rogers | 129,341 |
| 8 | Castiel | 166,900 | Dean Winchester | 166,672 |
| 9 | Hermione Granger | 166,075 | Draco Malfoy | 58,896 |
| 10 | Bakugo Katsuki | 165,764 | Midoriya Izuku | 102,054 |
Beyond legal concerns, it’s evident that fan fiction serves as a beloved platform for fans to express their unique interpretations of their favorite characters. While some stories may veer towards adult themes, many are skillfully written narratives filled with emotion and engaging storytelling, rather than relying on explicit content. The ever-expanding library of fan fiction indicates its enduring presence, and as new characters gain prominence, we eagerly anticipate updates to the top 10 list in the coming years.
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2024-08-08 22:03