The main character of an anime is, naturally, the center of the series. The entire plot revolves around them. Yes, they start out as subpar at best, but at the end of the series, they become unrivaled in their professions. They experience the most growth in the story both character-wise and strength-wise (in the case of an action anime). They are loved by most of the characters in their respective series, loved by the fans, and loved by the plot armor, they're always the coolest- but that's not always the case.
In some unique shows, the main character isn’t always the fans’ first choice. Some supporting characters outdo the main character in certain or multiple categories and win the fans' favor. Their character arc might be more complex or they are just more likable. Sometimes a supporting character even eclipses the main character of a show completely, earning widespread recognition not afforded to the protagonist.
Updated on June 8th, 2022 by Sarah Martin: Anime protagonists always seem to have the biggest personalities, but some of their side characters have a lot more charisma and appeal to the audience much more for whatever reason. Whether it's because of their intriguing character designs or lovable personalities, some of the side characters have stolen the show from their protagonists on several occasions. Since this list was published in 2020, we've updated it with five more side characters who consistently steal the audience's attention.
15 Osamu Dazai Is An Enigma (Bungo Stray Dogs)
Though he comes off as a fun-loving guy with a cocky attitude and the ability to end all other abilities, Osamu from Bungo Stray Dogs is actually quite the enigma. He stole the show from Atsushi with his hilarious quips and magnetic personality.
Often dreaming of suicide, getting under Kunikida Doppo's skin, and trying to seduce women, fans were drawn to Osamu because they realized there had to be much more beneath the surface. Osamu never reveals his true intentions and his enemies are doomed to a lifetime of misfortune.
14 Mikey Is Just More Likable Than Takemichi (Tokyo Revengers)
Takemichi receives a lot of criticism for being overemotional and weak, and many fans prefer Mikey over Tokyo Revengers' infamous Crybaby Hero. Mikey is the strongest fighter in the series and is the president of the Tokyo Manji Gang. He's respected by his allies and feared by his opponents. Anyone who dares to challenge him will get beaten into next week.
Beneath this apparent invincibility and unwaveringly cocky attitude, Mikey is a pretty complex character. His dark side comes out a bit when he commands his gang to fight, but he's nonetheless Toman's greatest pillar of strength.
13 Koro-Sensei Outshined Nagisa & The Rest Of Class 3-E (Assassination Classroom)
It's hard to ignore a giant orange octopus in scholarly attire who always dons a smile, and that's precisely why Koro-sensei outshined the rest of the Assassination Classroom cast. While Nagisa Shiota and Karma Akabane are recognizable to fans of the anime, even people who aren't fans can instantly recognize Koro-sensei.
There's something equally endearing and eerie about Koro-sensei's dots for eyes and permanent smile. Koro-sensei is unpredictable, but he has a few distinct personality traits. He has a great sense of humor that borders on inappropriate at times, but he's a supportive teacher to his students.
12 Makima Is Well-Known Outside The Fandom (Chainsaw Man)
Makima is already one of the most recognizable animanga characters, and Chainsaw Man's anime adaptation hasn't even been released yet. It's become a meme in online anime communities to see people replying with barking in the comments whenever Makima is mentioned in reference to her behavior throughout the series since she tried persuading Denji to become her "dog."
She's not a likable character, but she's certainly one of animanga's most well-written female characters. She's managed to outshine the likes of Power and even Denji, the protagonist.
11 Satoru Gojo Always Steals The Spotlight (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Satoru Gojo quickly became one of the most beloved anime characters of all time after Jujutsu Kaisen's anime adaptation was released in late 2020. He's instantly recognizable and he deserves all the praise he receives. Even though his character is often dismissed as a series of running gags, there's so much more to Satoru's character than many realize.
Since he's the strongest sorcerer in the series, Satoru has tons of leverage in jujutsu society. Satoru was the first one born with both the Six Eyes and Limitless techniques in hundreds of years, and some say that his birth altered the world's balance. He stole the spotlight several times from the other characters, including the lovable Yuji Itadori.
10 Saber Has A Perfect Record (The Fate Series)
As the representing figure of the Fate franchise and one of its famous characters, Saber has risen to prominence in a major way. Saber appeared in several Fate shows including Fate stay and Fate stay/night. She also served multiple masters during her journey including Rin Tohsaka and the father/son duo of Kiritsugu Emiya and Shirou Emiya.
Saber also participated in several wars, such as the fourth and the fifth Holy Grail Wars. In short, her record is a perfect one, fully deserving of the fans' love she receives.
9 Yuno Gasai Is The Most Famous Character In The Future Diary
The Future Diary is a massive hit anime that aired in Japan between October 2011 and April 2012. It's a mystery/psychological thriller that features the adventures of Yukiteru Amano as he gets thrown into a complex murder mystery game.
But when one mentions The Future Diary, the average fan immediately thinks not of Yukiteru Amano, but of the female protagonist, Yuno Gasai. Yuno Gasai was elected to be the series' most famous character by the show's loyal fanbase. At some point, even people who have never heard of The Future Diary knew of the yandere Yuno meme.
8 Zero Two Is Much Cooler Than The Protagonist (The Darling And Franxx)
Airing in the winter of 2018, The Darling And Franxx is a romantic action/mecha series that rose to prominence in an atmosphere where the mecha genre was most unpopular. The show follows the story of the lead character, Hiro, and the first female protagonist, Zero Two, on a journey to fend off invading aliens known as klaxosaurs and ultimately save humanity.
Even though the main character is cool and all, he isn't the actual fan favorite. The majority of the series' fanbase prefers the richer character development of Zero Two.
7 Mikasa Ackerman Is One Of Anime's Most Badass Female Characters (Attack On Titan)
There's no denying that Mikasa Ackerman is vital to Attack On Titan's cast. With the manga finished and the anime catching up, fans continue to fall even harder for Mikasa. She's one of anime's most badass women, overcoming all of the hardships thrown at her and coming out stronger because of it.
Mikasa destroys all previous stereotypes of anime female characters, cementing her as one of the most well-written of all time. While other anime love interests tend to fall to the sidelines or are just there for the protagonists to save, Mikasa's relationship with Eren destroys that notion since she's the one looking out for him.
6 Rem Is The Fandom's Number One Waifu (Re:Zero)
Rem from Re:Zero is the fandom's number one waifu. She's far more recognizable than the protagonist, Subaru Natsuki. She's one of the most loyal characters in the anime and fans appreciate that she's always there for Subaru and her sister, Ram.
Rem will do whatever it takes to defend them, and although she's not the strongest fighter, her willpower is unmatched by anyone else in the series. She's not just the most popular character in her series, either. Rem is also one of the most popular anime characters of all time thanks to her lovable personality, excellent writing, and stylish design.
5 Kakashi Hatake Is A Living Legend (Naruto)
Kakashi Hatake is a living legend to the citizens of the village hidden in the leaves. His genius was unrivaled. Even Sasuke Uchiha and his older brother Itachi Uchiha fell short compared to Kakashi when it came to being a child genius.
At only the tender age of six, Kakashi got his first promotion to a chunin, and at the age of 10, he became a Jonin, which took the average Ninja decades. He even joined the elite unit of the hidden leaf, the Anbu Black Ops, at 13. This was an achievement that only Itachi Uchiha has achieved.
4 Shoto Todoroki Had Lots Of Character Development (My Hero Academia)
My Hero Academia achieved massive success during recent periods, becoming one of shounen's top A-list anime and almost reaching the prestige of the big three. In recent manga chapters, he's made strides in forgiving his family and even wants to make amends with Toya, or Dabi, his long-lost brother who became a villain.
Shoto Todoroki has achieved major developments both character-wise and strength-wise since the start of the series. Arc after arc and season after season, he never disappointed the loyal fanbase. He is arguably the strongest amongst his class 1-A counterparts, with only Midoriya and Bakugo being able to put up a match against him.
3 Killua Zoldyck Stole The Show From Gon (Hunter X Hunter)
Hunter X Hunter may have taken a long hiatus, but fans never gave up on the series and it always maintained a loyal following. Gon Freecs may be the protagonist, but a certain white-haired side character managed to outshine him.
Killua Zoldyck is a young assassin/Hunter and Gon Freecs's best friend. Although the two share the same age, Killua is better than Gon at virtually everything. That can majorly be attributed to each of the boys' experiences. While Gon lived a fairly "normal" childhood, Killua's childhood can only be described as abnormal. To be a professional assassin at 11, one would require more than just hard training.
2 Levi Ackerman Is Humanity's Strongest Fighter (Attack On Titan)
If Mikasa was the best girl of Attack on Titan, then Levi is the show's best boy. Levi is undoubtedly humanity's strongest soldier. He makes cutting down those fearsome-looking titans look as easy as cutting vegetables.
Levi is a captain of the Survey Corps. His personality is very military-like, he is strict and disciplined, and he expects everyone else under him to follow his example. Levi's name brings terror to both men and titans alike. But when he is not busy utterly destroying giants, he is seen being a hygiene freak.
1 Fans Are Head Over Heels For L (Death Note)
L Lawliet, or just 'L,' is the second protagonist of the hit anime Death Note. He is an enigmatic youth and world-renowned private detective that every dedicated Death Note fan is head over heels over. The show-off between L and Kira, namely Light Yagami, was a masterpiece. The intellectual warfare between these two young masterminds left fans dazzled and wanting more.
Despite being the second protagonist, his fame isn't less than that of the main protagonist, Light Yagami. In fact, it's likely that L had already exceeded Light Yagami in the fans' hearts.