However, shanks isn't an antagonist. He's not actively involved in shaping the plot. bB since his intro and Akainu during MF and as current FA, hold more narrative importance (atleast as of now) as they are not only the antagonists Luffy needs to overcome but also the driving force behind the plot.
People not understand how big and important Shanks,Teach and Akainu are for Oda.
The only one who is currently alive who could live up the hype is Dragon and Garling(as strongest Gorosei).
These 3 are Odas favs, if people think anyone else getting more hype that these 3 above, are dead wrong.
He made Shanks one shot fucking Kid with his 3B and flexing with Future sight and adv CoC..
He flexed with Shanks against fucking Greenbull... He flexed with Shanks against Kaido(backed back and run away).
He didn´t even made it clear that Joyboy haki was far above Shanks, but on similar stage.
And Teach is his fav too, the men who will beat the golden boy Shanks.
Akainu neg diffed Dragons strongest commander(back than Sabo shouldn´t be stronger) easily after getting hit twice by enraged Whitebeard.
If I could bet my money, these trio are 100% these who will get the most hype:
Shanks,Akainu and Teach(and maybe Dragon)
After that characters who I also see getting hype but not the same as these 3 above:
Mihawk,Kuzan,Garling,Sabo,Coby,Loki
These above are characters who also receive lot of hype, but not close to these which the three(four) above will receive.
I didn´t include Imu because he is a god tier, but if people could bet, the four above are getting the most hype.