There is nothing like a good mentor to get a protagonist started off in the direction of success. In anime, mentors come in all shapes, sizes, and genres. In slice-of-life anime, this could be a wise older classmate or a helpful homeroom teacher. In action anime, the mentor may be a seasoned fighter or a learned guide.
One thing remains the same across genres: the mentor is a standard for a character's success. Whether that mentor is a caring teacher, a wise sage, or a goofy hero, they provide a benchmark for the protagonist to meet in their quest for strength, power, or growth.
10 Rock Lee Is The Spitting Image Of His Sensei, Might Guy (Naruto)
Rock Lee idolizes his sensei and mentor, Might Guy, and this is mostly because Might Guy was both the first person to believe in him and the first person to help him start achieving his goal.
All Rock Lee wanted was to be a great shinobi, but he had no ninjutsu. So, Might Guy helped him develop his taijutsu. Because of this, Rock Lee feels very indebted to his mentor. Not only does Rock Lee sport the same hairstyle and outfit as Might Guy, but he also uses the same mannerisms and sayings.
9 Izuku Midoriya Of My Hero Academia Is The Next To Carry All Might's Mantle
Izuku Midoriya's childhood hero was the great All Might. Midoriya loved All Might for his positivity in the face of hardship and his compassion for civilians. Furthermore, All Might was a symbol of hope, especially for the Quirkless Midoriya.
When All Might and Midoriya meet, All Might sees Midoriya's spirit, as it reminds him of his own, and decides to pass on his special Quirk to him. Midoriya spends the rest of the anime working hard to make All Might proud and live up to his greatest hero's legacy.
8 In Naruto: Shippūden, Naruto Becomes A Toad Sage Like Jiraiya
Just like his father, Minato, Naruto learns under Jiraiya and becomes a Toad Sage, just like the legendary sannin, himself. Though there are many ways that Naruto and Jiraiya differ—Naruto is not as obsessed with girls and is not a writer—the two share an outlook on peace and what it means to be a shinobi.
Much of Naruto's own philosophies come from Jiraiya, as well as his jutsu. Jiraiya passed on the Rasengan and the toad-summoning jutsu, both of which help Naruto along the way.
7 Zuko Finally Listens To Uncle Iroh's Advice & Helps Save The Balance (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
At the beginning of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Zuko is obsessed with regaining his honor and taking his place back in his abusive father's household. However, his Uncle Iroh travels along with him, and as they go, Iroh slowly tries to help Zuko see the errors of his ways.
It is not until betraying his uncle and learning what his crimes have bought him that Zuko begins to follow in Iroh's footsteps. This is for the best, as Zuko is finally able to help Team Avatar and teach Aang firebending before it is too late.
6 Tanjiro Learns Waterbreathing Style Like Giyu (Demon Slayer)
Tanjiro loses most of his family to demons. What family he does have left, his sister Nezuko, is turned into a demon, and Tanjiro learns this when she attacks him in the snowy forest. When Giyu, a demon slayer, catches up to them, he goes to kill Nezuko, but Tanjiro and Nezuko (who is able to come to her senses) convince him not to.
It is then that Giyu helps Tanjiro become a demon slayer, too. Though Giyu is not a present mentor figure, he is the inspiration and reason for Tanjiro's mastery of the water breathing techniques and his joining of the Demon Slayer Corps.
5 Jotaro Chases Down Stand Users & Mentors Josuke Just Like Joseph Did For Him In Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
When Dio Brando returns, people mysteriously begin to develop Stands. Included among these powered-up characters are Joseph Joestar and his grandson, Jotaro Kujo. In Stardust Crusaders, the two team up with three other Stand users to hunt down Dio and his minions.
Jotaro is nothing like Joseph, and at times Jotaro seems to look down on his predecessor. However, in Diamond is Unbreakable, Jotaro becomes the mentor, following in Joseph's footsteps by taking over the role of guiding Josuke and keeping a vigilant eye out for enemy Stand users.
4 Tsunade Is Surpassed By Medical Ninja Prodigy, Sakura (Naruto: Shippūden)
Like Naruto and Sasuke, Sakura Haruno also studies under one of the Legendary Sanin, Tsunade. Tsunade is known for her brute strength (they are both able to punch through solid rock) and her exceptional medical ninjutsu. Also, like her teammates, Tsunade passes down her special jutsu, including the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
Furthermore, she helps Sakura become the most formidable medical ninja in existence, a feat that came in use during the Fourth Great Ninja War. When Sakura grows to adulthood, she continues to carry on Tsunade's legacy.
3 Chise Learns Magic & Acceptance With Elias (The Ancient Magus' Bride)
Chise sells herself at an auction because she believes she is a burden with nothing left to live for, but the one who buys her is intent on proving to her that this is far from the truth. Elias Einsworth not only provides Chise a home, but he also teaches her about the wonders of the magical world.
With Elias, Chise begins to learn magic, and together, they learn to accept themselves. It could be said that both follow in each other's footsteps, to varying degrees.
2 Watanuki Learns The Balance Of all Things With Yuko (XxxHolic)
Watanuki finds his abilities to see yōkai a huge inconvenience, and his only desire is to lose this ability and unburden himself with its complications. This leads him to meet the witch, Yuko. In trade for relieving him of his ability, Yuko asks he work for her part-time.
However, as his employment goes on, he learns more about magic and the supernatural realm, his place within it, and the inherent balance between all things. This makes Watanuki rethink his original desire, and his newfound wisdom has understood Yuko's philosophies.
1 Natsu Masters The Power Of Fire Like His Dragon Guardian, Igneel (Fairy Tail)
Natsu Dragneel was not raised by a human. Instead, he was parented by a dragon, Igneel, the Fire Dragon King. When Igneel disappears, Natsu is devastated and vows to become strong and find him. Like Igneel, Natsu learns to master the powers of fire.
Also like Igneel, he has a part in fighting and defeating Acnologia. While Igneel dies in his fight against Acnologia, Natsu is able to work together with the other Dragon Slayers to defeat his foster father's killer, thus completing Igneel's work.