The world ofanimeis full of iconic heroes who are widely recognized and loved around the world. However, sometimes supporting characters can be far more relatable, complex, or interesting than the protagonist. Often, they are a good complement to the main character. Plenty of these supporting characters have become famous for being fan favorites.
There are a few times when the supporting character proves popular enough to eventually rise to the position of protagonist. This often happens with spin-offs revolving around the character. In an anime or manga series is ongoing, then there are times when a supporting character even begins to outshine the original hero. Even after the original work, a supporting character can prove influential enough to inspire similar characters in other works.
10Kotaro Tatsumi - Zombie Land Saga
Kotaro Tatsumi is the mysterious manager of the zombie idol group, Franchouchou, inZombie Land Saga. Kotaro is a figure shrouded in mystery, as the story doesn’t offer an immediate explanation as to how he was able to reanimate long-dead corpses in the first place. Kotaro is also quite skilled at his job, somehow using his makeup skills to disguise the idols as humans. At times, Kotaro’s habits, like keeping squid in his pocket and his habit of screaming, often come off as more unusual than the zombies he works with.
Kotaro can be loud, obnoxious, and demanding with Franchouchou. It helps that he can get away with overworking clients who don’t need to eat, considering they’re already dead. Ultimately, Kotaro’s heart is in the right place, as he hopes the zombies will help strengthen interest in Saga Prefecture. It later comes to light that the place is literally predestined for disaster.
9Rei Ayanami - Neon Genesis Evangelion
InNeon Genesis Evangelion, Rei Ayanami is the chosen pilot of Evangelion Unit 00. Rei serves the Nerv agency under Gendo Ikari, who also serves as her legal guardian. Initially coming off as reserved and seemingly emotionless, getting close to Shinji Ikari helps Rei mellow out and become aware of who she really is. At the start of the series, Rei’s true identity and backstory are a mystery.
Interestingly, Rei was partially developed to come off as creepy, but viewers ended up sympathizing with the character so much she became a fan-favorite. In popular culture, Rei has been an influence on a lot of later anime characters, both in personality and appearance. Such examples include Sakaki fromAzumanga Daiohand Yuki Nagato fromHaruhi Suzumiya.
8Sailor Jupiter - Sailor Moon
Sailor Jupiter is the fourth Sailor Senshi introduced in theSailor Moonseries, before Sailor V joins the team proper as Sailor Venus. In her civilian identity, Sailor Jupiter is known as Makoto Kino, or Lita in the early English dubs, a transfer student to Usagi’s school. Unfairly assumed to be a delinquent because of her height, Mako soon proves herself to be a sweet, friendly person, functioning as something of a “big sister” to the other Senshi. Mako has suffered a tragedy, as she lost her parents at a young age in the original manga. Despite this, Mako always finds time to take care of others, from making food for her friends to taking care of her plants.
As Sailor Jupiter, Mako has control over various forces of nature. As a reference to the Roman god Jupiter, Mako can commandthunder, lightning, winds, and powerful storms. As Jupiter is known as the “Wood Star” in Japanese, Mako also has a great connection and power over plants. Outside of her power, Mako is a skilled fighter and can put up a fight even without transforming. Villains like Zoisite and the occasional local bully have learned this the hard way. In the original manga, Jupiter is also the princess of her planet, as are the other Senshi.
Related:20 Anime Villains with Deeply Depressing Backstories
7Sucy Manbavaran - Little Witch Academia
Sucy Manbavaran ofLittle Witch Academiais a witch from Southeast Asia. Sucy is very blunt and deadpan, always speaking in a monotone voice. Sucy has a fascination for what is dark and morose, which arguably makes it all the more fitting that she’s ata school for witches, and loves to subject people to her experiments. In fact, Sucy tests an experiment on Akko in her first appearance.
Despite all this, Sucy does care for Akko and her friends deep down. When entering Sucy’s mind, Akko even learns this first meeting is one of Sucy’s most cherished memories. Likewise, for all that Sucy put her friends through, she can be vengeful if she learns anyone else is antagonizing them. Sucy is also quite impressive with her talent for potions. In one story, when Sucy dealt with a Minotaur who had overpowered a few of her classmates, she managed to melt it from the inside out with the help of her potions.
6Shoto Todoroki - My Hero Academia
InMy Hero Academia, where characters are born with or can inherit special powers called “Quirks,” Shoto Todoroki is a student at U.A. High School, a school for superheroes. Shoto is the son of Enji Todoroki, better known as the famous hero, Endeavor, who is ranked right behind top hero All Might. Shoto’s Quirk is that of “Half-Cold, Half-Hot,” which grants him the dual power offire and ice.
Endeavor raised his son to one day surpass All Might through brutal training, causing Shoto to rebel and initially abandon his fire powers. Despite coming off as distant and rough, Shoto wants to be a hero deep down and help people. Shoto also learns from his failures and makes amends, meaning viewers see him go grow and develop as a character.
5Hinata Hyuga - Naruto
Naruto’s Hinata is one of the few times a supporting character can be a heroine-in-the-making. Hinata was born as an heiress to the prominent Hyuga clan. Unfortunately, her family often misread her kind, empathetic nature as weakness and grew to resent and disinherit her. At the start of the series, Hinata is one of the few characters who shows kindness to fellow outcast Naruto, seeing him as a kindred spirit and has something of an unrequited crush on him.
Hinata grows more confident as the series goes on, and she proves herself as a skilled fighter. Likewise, Hinata’s role in the story grows until she becomes something of a deuteragonist. Hinata’s relationship with Naruto also eventually blossoms into love, as the two get married and start a family. In fact, their son, Boruto, is the star of his own eponymous series.
4Future Trunks - Dragon Ball
In theDragon Ballfranchise, Future Trunks is an alternate version of Trunks, Vegeta and Bulma’s son, from an apocalyptic timeline. In his world, most of the Z-Fights are dead, including his father Vegeta. Future Trunks had been trained by his reality’s version of Gohan and ventures to the main timeline to save the world from predestined threats. Notably, Future Trunks' actions have no impact on his own timeline, but he still strives for some happier version of his reality.
Future Trunks comes off as more polite and modest than the main timeline’s Trunks, thanks to his background. Interestingly, Future Trunks is the first version of the character that audiences meet.
Related:9 Reasons That Kids Should be Introduced to Studio Ghibli Movies
3Satoru Gojo - Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Satoru Gojois a sorcerer working as a teacher in Tokyo and a mentor figure to Yuji Itadori and the other first-year students. Satoru often brings up how great he is, but he’s the rare character who can back it up. Satoru is wildly respected for his powers by other sorcerers and is feared as one of the most dangerous people on Earth.
Satoru uses the “Limitless” Cursed Technique, which gives him the power to manipulate matter and space. This comes in many forms: attracting, repelling, and destroying matter. Satoru also possesses the Six Eye technique, which enhances his vision and mental prowess.
2Levi Ackerman - Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan’s Levi Ackerman is a Survery Corps captain and is believed to be one ofthe strongest soldiers around, eventually getting charged with protecting Eren. Levi also can be pretty ruthless when the situation calls for it, often resorting to violence even when other options are available, though he draws the line at unneeded casualties. Levi cares about his subordinates, though he expects him to follow his example. Befitting his position, Levi can be strict and Stoic, though he’s often more well-meaning than he comes off. In fact, Levi can be antisocial to the point of needing an interpreter. Deep down, Levi means well and has a strong sense of morality. One of the most famous examples of this is when he viciously beats up Eren in order to prove that he is in full control of his Titan Shifter powers, saving Eren from dissection.
Levi has proven to be one of the more popular characters in the franchise, gaining a gradually prominent role in the anime. Levi also transitioned into the protagonist role in his own prequel visual novel:Attack on Titan: A Choice With No Regrets.
1L - Death Note
The character known as “L,” also known as L Lawliet or Ryūzaki, is technically the antagonist ofDeath Note, facing off against the villainous main character, Light Yagami. L is a prominent detective, considered the greatest in the world, and is tasked with taking down the mass murderer Kira, Light’s alter-ego. Both have the advantage of not knowing who the other really is. L goes through many names. In fact, a plan to hire a detective to track him down backfired when it turned out the investigator turned out to be one of L’s alter-egos.
L is something of an anti-hero, as his main motive of taking down Kira is because he likes a challenge. He also draws out the case longer just to play mind games with Light. Throughout the series, L can uncover things by sheer logic, such as quickly deducing a lot about Kira from a simple broadcast. L has also become memetic for his quirky habits, from constantly going around barefoot to his sweet-based diet.
