The world of anime is packed with an impressive variety of characters, and most of them undergo exciting and heartfelt character arcs that involve some serious personal change. In any work of fiction, a dynamic character will change over the course of time, usually for the better, and gain new skills, new perspectives, new everything. But not always.
Supporting characters in anime might undergo some changes as well, but others will remain the same from beginning to end, and that's not always a bad thing. Some supporting characters are defined by their combat skills or their relationship to the main characters, and even some villains are like this, too. Which anime characters remained largely the same as when the series started?
10 Orihime Is Always Her Classic Self (Bleach)
In some minor ways, Orihime Inoue does undergo some changes, such as gaining new outfits or making new friends, but aside from that, she remains true to herself throughout the long story of Bleach. Her single biggest change was getting married to Ichigo, but that's an external change.
Orihime is a cheerful and fun-loving girl who greatly prefers peace over war, and her magic barriers and healing abilities reflect her kind and nurturing personality. Not even being captured at the hands of Ulquiorra Schiffer could break her spirits.
9 Makarov Dreyar Is A Reliable Guildmaster (Fairy Tail)
Makarov Dreyar is the boss of the Fairy Tail guild, a benevolent grandfather figure who will risk his very life for his beloved guild and everyone in it. Makarov's relationship with his grandson Laxus changed a few times, but Makarov as a person didn't undergo any major changes in the process.
Makarov was introduced as a kind but tough mentor to all Fairy Tail wizards, and he has been exactly that over the course of 300 episodes without fail. Makarov has pride in the new generation of wizards, and one day, he will pass the baton to a new master. But not just yet.
8 Askeladd Saw No Need To Reinvent Himself (Vinland Saga)
The Viking warrior Askeladd has a curious role in the gritty, historical story of Vinland Saga. He is primarily an antagonist since he coldly killed Thorfinn's beloved father Thors before Thorfinn's very eyes. But he is also a mentor to Thorfinn and has shared all kinds of wisdom with him.
Askeladd is an antihero, father figure, villain, schemer, and antihero all in one, and he's been that way from the very start, and he died that way, too. Askeladd is smart and makes many bold decisions, but he has never changed who or what he is.
7 Soma Yukihiara Is The Same Goofball Chef As Ever (Food Wars!)
Soma Yukihira is a model shonen protagonist, even if he doesn't throw a punch in the entire Food Wars! series. He is bold, loyal, brave, creative, and has a lot of guts, and he is determined to make a name for himself at the Totsuki culinary academy and graduate at the top of his class. He's quite competitive, on top of everything else.
Soma makes all kinds of friends and allies, from Erina Nakiri to Megumi Tadokoro and Takumi Aldini, but he tends to influence these characters, rather than allow them to change him, aside from inspiring new cooking techniques. Soma is largely a static character, but he's so lovable, it's not really an issue. He lets his food do the talking.
6 Touta Matsuda Is Always Classic Matsuda (Death Note)
While the protagonist Light Yagami changes as a person, sinking deeper and deeper into villainy, supporting characters like Touta Matsuda don't have such character arcs. Matsuda is a goofy and fun-loving police officer who tends to get fussed at, and that doesn't change over the course of Death Note.
Matsuda is older in the second story arc, but otherwise, he is the same person as ever. He is also deeply loyal to NPA chief Soichiro Yagami, and he will do anything for Soichiro's sake, including shooting Light to defend the deceased Soichiro's honor. After Light betrayed his own father, Matsuda was outraged.
5 Major Alex Louis Armstrong Remains True To Who He Is (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
State alchemists come in all shapes and sizes, and Major Alex Louis Armstrong is the flashiest and most memorable state alchemist of all. He is a burly and proud fellow who blends physical martial arts with alchemy, and according to him, it's an Armstrong family tradition.
Unlike his stone-cold big sister Olivier, Alex Armstrong is an empathetic and sentimental person who wears his heart on his sleeve, even during battle. He stays like this the entire time, and that's a good thing. The world needs more honorable and kind warriors like him.
4 Dutch Has Already Figured Out His Life (Black Lagoon)
Dutch is one of the core members of the Black Lagoon squad, and he usually drives the boat and forms battle plans against a wide variety of foes. He is also a Vietnam war veteran, though he doesn't often talk about it. Dutch would rather focus on the mission at hand.
Dutch is tough but fair, and he gave Rock a fair chance at a new life before Revy did. Dutch is defined mostly by his elite skills and his ability to handle the rowdy Revy, and not much changes. Rock needs someone reliable like Dutch by his side to survive this crime life.
3 Leone Abbacchio Never Really Warmed Up To Giorno (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
It's true that Leone Abbacchio underwent a personal change during a flashback, but those events took place before the main story of the Golden Wind story arc. At that point, Abbacchio had already established himself as a key member of Bruno Bucciarati's squad, and he didn't like the newcomer, Giorno Giovanna, very much.
Abbacchio had a stern and tough attitude the entire time, and his personality and abilities remained largely the same, right up to his death later in the story arc. He might have formed a slightly higher opinion of Giorno by then, but not by much.
2 Laika Made Herself At Home In Azusa's Cottage (I've Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years And Maxed Out My Level)
This charming isekai series had a handful of characters to keep the protagonist, Azusa Aizawa, company, and the first of them to appear was the dragon girl Laika. She soon became Azusa's loyal friend and volunteer housemaid, and she has since formed a rivalry with the blue dragon girl Flatorte.
Aside from that rivalry, which is an external affair, Laika is the same as ever, and she feels no need to learn anything new or reinvent herself as a person. She is happy to pass the days with Azusa and the twin sisters Falfa and Shalsha, and Azusa feels the same way.
1 Shigure Sohma Revealed New Sides To Himself (Fruits Basket)
Shigure Sohma revealed new sides to himself as the story of Fruits Basket went on, but he didn't actually change a person. Rather, it was the viewer's perception of him that changed. Shigure began the story seeming like an ordinary fellow who laughed at all the antics around him, but he was actually a crafty schemer.
Shigure knows everything about the mysterious Sohma family, including Akito Sohma's deepest secrets, and he has had a hand in most major events in the family estate. In the end, he was almost a menacing figure, but he ultimately meant well.