8 Anime Side Characters That Are Better Than The Protagonist

More often than not, anime heroes make or break a series, as it's their journey that fans must follow. Anime heroes need to have compelling stories and more importantly, strong convictions. Sometimes, a writer simply fails to write exciting heroes but does very well with side characters. Over the course of animation, there have been various instances where side characters completely steal the show in an anime series, overshadowing the main character in the process.

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8

Gozo Satoru

Satoru Gojo anime sensei rival Naruto Kakashi Hatke
Satoru Gojo speaks looking down with his eyes.
Image via MAPPA.

of Jujutsu Kaisen The main character is none other than Yuji Itadori, but he's never really been the most popular character in the series. The most popular character in Gege Akutami's masterpiece is none other than Gozo Satoru, who is also the world's strongest. Gozo's personality, appearance, and complex abilities have made him a fan favorite in the series, and he stands head and shoulders above the rest. He was popular from the get-go, with his only real competition being Megumi Fushiguro. This does not come as a surprise, especially considering the fact that the author himself claimed that he was not particularly impressed by Yuji Itadori's character.

Regardless, Gozo makes for a fantastic character that gets fans out of their seats time and time again, and his presence alone has skyrocketed Jujutsu Kaisen in popularity.

7

Levi Ackerman

levi ackerman attack on titan anime side characters good hero

Levi Ackerman is one of the side characters Attack on Titan series, and like Gozo, he belongs to the overpowered side character archetype. Levi is said to be the strongest human in the series, especially among the non-shifters. In a world where titans dominate with their size and strength, Levi shows that even humans can compete at a high level with skills that hardly anyone else can compete with.

He has delivered some of the most incredible beatdowns over the years, and his cool and calm demeanor makes him incredibly exciting to watch. Of course, Levi is one of the best side characters who has overshadowed Eren over and over again.

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.




Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

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6

Askner

Escanor The Seven Deadly Sins Anime Side Characters Good Hero

Escanor is once-popular The Seven Deadly Sins series, and to this day, he continues to be its most popular character. While Meliodas certainly has his own charm, Eskaner often steals the show, especially due to his incredibly strong nature.

It's no surprise to know that characters with superpowers have more fans than others, especially when they stand out as invincible. As such, Eskener has amassed many fans over the years, and even today, he is remembered as one of the most iconic side characters who overshadowed the protagonist on various occasions.

5

Rengoku

Kyojuro Rengoku monster slaying anime side characters good hero
Kyojuro Rengoku looks intense on fire.
Image via Studio UFOtable.

in the world of Demon SlayerSome of the characters outshine Tanjiro, who is by no means particularly impressive. Although Tanjiro's soul Demon SlayerThere are many characters who have completely overshadowed him in terms of display of power, confidence and popularity.

Rengoku is a character who stole the show in the Mugen Train movie and its production. Considering the popularity of Mugen Train and the fact that it is one of the best performing movies of all time, it makes sense that he is loved. Even after Rengoku's death, he remains one of Demon Slayer's most iconic characters, providing moments fans will never forget.

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4

Killua Zoldyck

killua hxh anime side characters good hero
Killua Zoldyck looks at the viewer.
Image via Pierrot.

Killua Zoldyck is one of the main characters Hunter x Hunter series and he stands as the sidekick of the main character Gone Freaks. Gon is not particularly exciting as a character and, in many ways, despite being well written, is simply awkward.

Killua is the complete opposite in this respect. He has a charm that Gon doesn't, and his chaotic personality makes him incredibly fun to follow. Killua is also an iconic anime character that went on to inspire many other characters from the New Gen series. All things considered, he is absolutely brilliant as a character and, for many, the best of the Hunter x Hunter series.

3

Katsuki Bakugo

Katsuki Bakugo My Hero Academia Anime Side Characters Nice Hero
Katsuki Bakugo smirks as he fights the yellow energy around him.
Image via Studio Bones.

From Katsuki Bakugou My Hero Academia Very easily the most popular character in the entire series. In fact, Bakugo won the vast majority of My Hero Academia popularity polls, beating Izuku Midoriya every time. While Deku is exciting as a character in his own way and very well written by Kohei Horikoshi, Bakugo surpasses him due to his strong personality and often generous nature.

These are traits that fans have come to love over the years, and because of them he has managed to pull off the hero on various occasions. The fact that he was constantly given important roles in the story definitely added to it. Even in the Final War arc of My Hero Academia, Bakugou was given the main battle against One for All, where he did very well. His redemption arc increased his popularity and made him an even more compelling character.

2

Tobio Kageyama

Haikyuu Tobio Kageyama Anime Side Characters Good Hero

Tobio is Kageyama's deuteragonist haiku Series who is standing next to Hinata. While Hinata is the main character, Kageyama often gets more attention from fans, and it's because of how well-written he really is. It's not that Hinata isn't well written; It's just that their personalities are different, and fans tend to gravitate more towards the Kageyama archetype.

Kageyama is a talented setter born with immense potential and great ambition to reach the top. His friendly rivalry with Hinata makes him even more endearing in the eyes of fans, and his personal growth, which many fans see himself as, makes him even more popular. Kageyama's character development makes for an extraordinary story that fans will absolutely love. Considering the fact that he's neck and neck with Hinata in terms of author attention, it's no surprise to learn that he's managed to outdo the hero on numerous occasions and is well-liked by the vast majority.

1

mountains

frieren Himmel anime side characters good hero

Himal the hero is the most important character Fraren. Although Freren is the main character, Himmel is the most important person not only to him, but to the overarching plot of the series. Through his exciting journey with Freren, Himmel gives him and his fans countless life lessons that help them better themselves and teach them how to enjoy the mundane things in life.

Himmel is a kind man with a knight-like personality, and all of these things make him incredibly likable. The fact that he often teaches fans many things and lives only in the moment makes him even more likable, despite being dead for the vast majority of the story. Himmel flashbacks are incredibly popular in Freren, but they are loved by all fans because of what they represent.

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