Skip to main content

Who Is the Best Side Character in Anime?

Main characters used to get all the glory, but these days, some of the best moments in anime come from the side characters. These are the unsung heroes, the scene-stealers, the ones who sometimes outshine the protagonists without even trying. So, the real question is: Who is the best side character in anime?

What Makes a Great Side Character?

Before we start throwing names around, let’s break down what makes a side character truly stand out. A great side character should:

  • Have a strong presence without overshadowing the main cast right (well, not too much).
  • Bring depth, humor, or emotional weight to the story.
  • Make you wish the anime had a spin-off just about them.

With that in mind, let’s look at some top contenders.

1. Killua Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)

Killua is that rare side character who feels just as important as the protagonist. He starts off as a deadly assassin, but his friendship with Gon brings out his humanity. His character arc? Phenomenal. His fights? Insanely cool. And let’s not forget that he’s probably the best example of “ride or die” in anime history.

2. Levi Ackerman (Attack on Titan)

If anime had a Hall of Fame for badasses, Levi would definitely be in it hands down. He’s got the skills, he’s got the style, and he’s got zero patience for nonsense. And I mean come on who doesn’t like a guy who is introverted, serious, a power house with amazing scenes and let’s not forget he values his comrades.

3. Rengoku Kyojuro (Demon Slayer)

Rengoku showed up, smiled, gave us one of the best fight scenes in anime, and left us emotionally devastated. His short time on screen was enough to make him unforgettable. He embodies pure heroism, and let’s be real, who didn’t cry during Mugen Train?

4. Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z)

Vegeta may have started as a villain, but he evolved into one of the most compelling characters in Dragon Ball. His endless rivalry with Goku, his pride, and his journey from ruthless warrior to dedicated father make him one of the greatest side characters in anime. I mean who doesn’t love an iconic speech about saiyan pride.

5. Gojo Satoru (Jujutsu Kaisen)

He’s the strongest sorcerer in the world, but he also acts like an overgrown teenager. Gojo is the perfect mix of unbeatable power and meme-worthy charisma. He makes every scene he’s in at least ten times better, and let’s be honest, half the time, the reason people watch Jujutsu Kaisen is just to see what he’ll do next.

6. Kamina (Gurren Lagann)

Kamina is pure energy. He’s loud, reckless, and a little crazy, but he inspires everyone around him. His influence on Simon, even after his death, drives the entire story. "Believe in the me that believes in you!" is still one of the most hype quotes in anime.

7. Roy Mustang (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

A military officer who causes explosions just by snapping his fingers? Yes, please. But beyond that, Roy Mustang has some of the most emotionally intense moments in FMA: Brotherhood. His quest for justice against the people responsible for Maes Hughes’ death is one of the most satisfying revenge arcs in anime.

8. Megumin (Konosuba)

She’s got one spell, and she will use it. Every. Single. Time. Megumin is an explosion-loving, over-the-top chaos gremlin who somehow manages to be one of the best comic relief characters in anime. And honestly? She deserves it.

So, Who’s the Best?

That’s the real debate, isn’t it? Some side characters are the heart of their series, while others steal the show entirely. Whether it’s Killua’s character growth, Levi’s sheer dominance, or Gojo’s meme-worthy antics, anime wouldn’t be the same without them.

But let’s hear it, who do you think is the best side character in anime?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tragic Beauty of Your Lie in April: A Look at Love, Grief, and Healing

Let’s talk about Your Lie in April , the anime that single-handedly made thousands of people question whether they really needed to be emotionally stable. If you watched this show without shedding a tear, I have questions because honestly, I couldn’t keep my tears at bay. But beyond the story that emotionally wrecked us all, Your Lie in April is a unique portrayal of love, grief, and healing. It’s one of those anime that doesn’t just tell a story, it grabs you by the heart, drags you through an emotional rollercoaster and leaves you staring at the ceiling, contemplating life itself. So, let's dive into what makes this anime a masterpiece in showing the beauty of pain, loss, and moving forward. Kousei’s Struggle: The Weight of Grief and Trauma From the start, Kousei Arima is the definition of a broken prodigy. Once a child piano genius, he loses the ability to hear his own playing after the death of his strict (read: terrifying) mother. His grief isn’t loud or dramatic, i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking the Cycle of Hatred: The Deep Themes in Attack on Titan

Let’s be honest, Attack on Titan is not just an anime. It’s a philosophical war epic disguised as a show about giant, man-eating humanoids. Sure, the Titan fights are cool , and yes, Levi flipping through the air is peak animation, but if that’s all you took away from AoT, you might have missed its most haunting message: Hatred is an endless cycle. And breaking it? That might be the hardest battle of all. Throughout the series, Hajime Isayama drags us through a brutal world where revenge fuels revenge, oppression breeds more oppression, and nobody, not even our so-called heroes , are truly innocent. AoT isn’t about good vs. evil. It’s about perspective, generational trauma, and the cost of freedom. So, let’s dive into the show’s deeper themes and why its take on war and hatred hits way too close to home. The Eldians and Marleyans: A Never-Ending War At first, Attack on Titan sets up a simple story: Titans = bad, humans = good right. Wrong, by Season 3, all that went out th...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Philosophy of Steins;Gate: What It Says About Free Will and Destiny

  Anime has a way of tackling deep philosophical questions and Steins;Gate is no exception. It’s not just a time travel thriller, it’s a story that forces us to question whether we control our own fate or if everything is already set in stone. Well at the very heart of all this is Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed mad scientist who stumbles upon time travel and quickly realizes just how terrifying and unforgiving the concept of destiny can be, you know just like every time travel movie out there. Free Will vs. Determinism: Are We Truly in Control? One of the biggest debates in philosophy, “Do humans have free will?” the ability to make choices independent of any pre-existing conditions or if determinism rules all.Well this means that everything that happens is already decided by past events. Steins;Gate leans into this heavily, especially when Okabe learns the hard way that no matter how many times he changes the past, some events are inevitable. The idea of “World Lines” i...
Post a Comment
Read more