The thing that takes the anime towards perfection is not the protagonist, neither the villains nor the best-in-class animations. Indeed these are important for the production but the thing that most matters are the collective contribution of each and every character that is appearing on the screen at that particular moment. Every character can’t become a protagonist or neither the antagonist, so we termed them the side characters as they have their own role to play in the story and leave an impact that mostly favors the protagonist or antagonist towards his/her ultimate goal.
Sometimes, These side characters leave such a heavy impact on fans and stories that shadow out the protagonist and steal the attention of the majority of the audience. There are some who sacrificed their everything than anyone would ever imagine but being side characters, their screen time remains limited, so we couldn’t explore their story in a broader sense, but in this article, we are going to rank some of the famous side characters that stole the show and leave their impact on the audience and on story perfectly. Make sure to read this article till the end.
Disclaimer!
This Ranking Is Solely Based On Author’s Perspective. Your Opinions May Differ With The Following Ranking
10. Buggy The Clown ( One Piece )
Well, If we are talking about the side characters, then Buggy definitely deserves to be on the list. Even he may not be the most powerful pirate, he played his role perfectly in the anime and entertained us at several points in time. His role in the Marineford arc is my personal favorite and how he managed to get the title of Warlord is something not to miss. He shared a very close bond with one of the most mysterious characters of the series, Shanks, and was a former crewmate at Roger’s Ship, which definitely makes him the worthy pirate to challenge heavy foe.
9. Bishamon( Noragami)
Bishamon is quite an interesting character in Noragami. She is extremely powerful and also known as the Goddess of War. She is one of the seven Gods of Fortune and was the antagonist in Season 1, but in Season 2, after fighting with Yato, the major protagonist, she became one of the protagonists of the series. She remembered how she used to live peacefully with Yato and how she changed after a certain incident.
8. Giyu Tomiyoka( Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no yaiba )
Demon Slayer is one of the hottest anime on the planet, and Giyu is the fire that maintains that hotness. He is the reason for the motivation behind Tanjiro’s Water Breathing. He is the one who saved him and his sister Nezuko from the deadly demon in the first episode itself and spared Nezuko even though she became half-demon. Giyu accepted Nezuko and entrusted Tanjiro to cure her, and even encouraged him to become Demon Slayer.
7. L ( Death Note )
Well, there are very less chances that you are not aware of L, but if you don’t, then, believe me, you should Watch Death Note as soon as possible. He is one of the smartest characters in all of the anime genre and indeed the perfect rival of the self-proclaimed god Kira aka Light Yagami. He twisted the Light’s intelligence into a loop and leave the most epic impact on the story. Even after his death, His aura can definitely be felt in the story.
6. Kenpachi Zaraki( Bleach )
Kenpachi Zaraki is one of the most loved captains in Bleach. His confidence and the urge to fight with the strongest are something that fans admired the most. Even after not owning a Zanpakto, His confidence and his motivation helped him to defeat powerful foes and scare opponents to their death. His motives are always clear without any evil intentions.
5. Portgas D. Ace ( One Piece )
Portgas D. Ace, aka Ace, left the strongest influence on the ongoing manga-based series One Piece. He was the main reason behind the paramount war that started the new age of Pirates and confirms the existence of One Piece treasure. Even though the war didn’t end in our favor, but the outcome mirrored Luffy his own weakness and become a reason to grow stronger to protect his Nakama. After the death of Ace, Luffy trained hard under the guidance of Rayleigh and emerge much stronger as before. Currently, he is even capable of taking down Kaido, One of the emperors of the Sea.
4. Mikasa Ackerman ( Attack On Titan )
The one who carried Ackerman’s blood in herself is someone we can’t miss to add to the list. She is the real nightmare for the deadly titans and a wall of protection for Eren Yaeger. She can even give her life for Eren as she is bound by the Ackerman blood who is supposed to protect Eldian King. She even developed feelings for Eren but never express this in front of him. On the other hand, she is extremely skillful and someone with whom you don’t want to mess.
3. Levi Ackerman ( Attack On Titan )
The other Ackerman is on the list but totally opposite to Mikasa. This guy is capable enough to wipe out the entire floor filled with deadly titans. He is the true nightmare, and never ever in your wildest dream, poke him. His kicks are enough to daydream any human, and Eren is the perfect example of this. Zeke Yaeger or Beast Titan already experienced his rage, and his single glance is enough to make any AOT fan go berserk with excitement.
2. Madara Uchiha ( Naruto Shippuden )
The second major antagonist of the series Naruto Shippuden ranks at second position in our list. He is indeed the most powerful and experienced shinobi in all of the Naruto anime. He is the one who cornered all the five kages as well as the Tailed Beasts in a fair fight. His motives and intentions are backed by strong will and goals. You might encounter some of his quotes in your surroundings.
1. Itachi Uchiha ( Naruto Shippuden )
A character who deserved to get his own anime, A character whose novels are currently being sold worldwide. What else do you expect from a side character? Itachi Uchiha is indeed the best side character in all of the anime genre as he completely shadowed the protagonist and grabbed the attention of millions of people. He is the guy who always lived for Konoha, and even after his death, He protect Konoha from a very terrible situation. He sacrificed his everything just for the sake of his brother Sasuke and his village Konoha. He entered as a villain in our lives but becomes one of the greatest heroes eventually.
Also, read: Top 10 Strongest Characters in Bungou Stray Dogs – Ranked
