This is a list of my top 11 anime Deuteragonists. These are characters that drive the story the most aside from the main character. This list is purely based off of my opinion and my knowledge of the anime that I have seen. Also since it isn’t spelled out who is and isn’t a deuteragonist, so these characters all represent qualities of a deuteragonist even if they may not be one.
11.) Rin Tohsaka– Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
Rin Tohsaka is a very popular character from the hit Fate series. She is a star student at her school, a mage from a famous family, and a love interest to the main protagonist Shirō Emiya. While Emiya isn’t the worst protagonist in his own right, Tohsaka seems to severely outshine him. Growing up, she had lost both of her parents at a young age and was separated from her only sister. Both Tohsaka and Emiya were thrown into the great Holy Grail War where they were both meant to kill each other and others. However neither ever had intent to kill the other and Tohsaka consistently grew closer to Emiya. They teamed up together to end the war and came out on top. She saved Emiya’s life multiple times throughout the story, even bringing him back from the dead. Tohsaka is my personal favorite character from the Fate series.
10.) Hestia– Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka
Hestia is a goddess who has come down to earth to start a “familia” or rather a clan of sorts. The first person to join her familia is the main protagonist Bell Cranel. While she is a goddess, she is small in stature, rather unsuccessful, short tempered and often looked down upon. The two main things that make her such a likable character in my eyes are her endless energy and her endless devotion to help Cranel in any way she can. While she may not be much of the sidekick type since she doesn’t accompany Cranel as much as some other characters, she is the perfect support for Cranel.
9.) Karma Akabane– Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
Karma Akabane is friends with the main protagonist Nagisa Shiota. He is a troublesome kid who causes several problems for everyone. He is one of the smartest kids in his school and also an impeccable fighter. Even though he is good friends with Shiota, they get into several fights. Karma is an interesting character because he shows signs that a character in his position usually doesn’t have. He is good at everything and shows jealousy towards Shiota when Shiota does something better than him.
8.) Fino Bloodstone– Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku wo Ketsui Shimashita
Fino Bloodstone is possibly the only character that I can confidently say completely makes an anime all by herself. Nobody else in this anime feels as alive as Bloodstone. She is the daughter of the deceased demon lord and decided to live a normal life after his death. Being raised by the demon lord, she lacks normal common sense and is rather rude even when trying to be nice. Raul Chaser is the main protagonist of this anime, and while he and Bloodstone play off of each other with great chemistry, she is certainly the one that stands out with her quirky attitude and rambunctious behavior.
7.) Emi Yusa– Hataraku Maou-sama!
For two complete opposites, I can’t think of two main characters who have better chemistry than Emi Yusa and the main protagonist Sadao Maou. These two live in a different world called Ente Isla where Yusa is a hero and Maou is the Demon King. The two of them and some others end up going through a portal to modern day Japan. As the story unravels Yusa starts to see a change in Maou and they end up in some sort of friendship.
6.) Gohan Son– Dragon Ball Z
Gohan Son is perhaps the most well-known character on this list. He is the son of the main protagonist Goku Son. Both Goku and Gohan are some of the strongest beings in the universe. During the Cell Games arc, Goku trained Gohan so that he would be strong enough to take his place as Earth’s protector. The reason Gohan is one of my personal favorites is because Dragon Ball Z actually follows Gohan’s journey just as much if not more than Goku himself. Gohan is four years old when the series starts off, and by time the story finishes he is shown in adulthood with a child. He also had one of the most epic scenes in all of Dragon Ball when he transformed into a Super Saiyan 2 for the first time. It is also worth noting that the creator of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, actually planned to have Gohan become the main character at one point but went back on the idea.
5.) Roronoa Zoro– One Piece
The right hand man of the future pirate king in One Piece, Roronoa Zoro is another extremely well known name in the anime community. Also known as “Pirate Hunter” Zoro, he used to be a very successful bounty hunter before being saved by the main protagonist Monkey D. Luffy. Zoro and Luffy formed a fierce alliance that started the Straw Hat Pirates. Zoro is likable because aside from Luffy he has the largest ambition of any of the main characters. He aims to be the best swordsman in the world. My favorite thing about Zoro though, is his loyalty to his captain and understanding of what’s right to do. While Zoro would do anything for his captain, even almost losing his life for him, he has also been there to toughen Luffy up on more than one occasion if Luffy is too soft on the crew.
4.) Shana– Shakugan no Shana
Like Fino Bloodstone, Shana is certainly the driving force of her respective anime. In fact as the story progresses, it can be argued that Shana becomes the main protagonist by the third season. However the first two seasons follow the life of Yuuji Sakai. Shana is a Flame Haze who fights off monsters called Crimson Denizens. The most compelling aspects of Shana are her fighting abilities, the aesthetics that make up her appearance, and the way she sticks to her ideals. Shana starts off as a very tough yet still enjoyable character to follow. As the story progresses, it is always easy to understand what’s going on in her head even though her character is constantly changing. She also tries to stick by Sakai’s side as much as she can throughout the story. Even when Sakai has different beliefs in what’s right than she does.
3.) Kanade Tachibana– Angel Beats!
Starting off as the presumed antagonist of Angel Beats!, Kanade Tachibana is in my opinion, the most interesting character on this list. Tachibana’s character is somewhat of a mystery for the first half of the show. The story is set in the afterlife and starts with the main protagonist, Yuzuru Otonashi, just arriving and being put in a feud between Tachibana and a group called the SSS. Otonashi joins the SSS but is the first to realize that Tachibana is not an enemy and forms an alliance with her. She is very powerful and knows more about the afterlife than anyone else in the show. A very reserved person at heart, she doesn’t show much emotion for most of the show. It isn’t until the end that she shows her emotions outwardly. She has never had friends, so Tachibana relishes her feelings when she finally makes friends.
2.) Killua Zoldyck– Hunter x Hunter
The character who would be number one on almost everyone’s list. Killua Zoldyck is the most easily likable character I have ever seen in an anime. Most similar to that of Zoro, Killua is an excellent fighter who has a lot of heart and great loyalty. Being born into a family of assassins, Killua made no friends growing up. When taking the Hunter Exam, he becomes best friends with the main protagonist Gon Freecss. He almost never leaves Gon’s side for the entirety of the story. The main difference that makes me like Killua more than Zoro is his constant outward showing of emotion. You can easily tell when he’s angry, sad, happy, jealous, and even though you don’t see it often, frightened. He is always taking a leap to try and get to his next goal. Killua could easily be in my number one spot along with all the other people who have him there. The one thing that held him back is because he is from such a great anime that his character can almost get overlooked by all of the other great things in Hunter x Hunter.
1.) Natsume Tsuchimikado– Tokyo Ravens
Possibly the least popular character on this list, Natsume Tsuchimikado is not only my favorite deuterogonist, but my favorite anime character overall. She is an excellent onmyouji and can even summon a defensive shikigami. Natsume is always protecting the main protagonist Harutora Tsuchimikado. Harutora was born into a position that could put a target on his head, so as to protect him, he and Natsume switched places. Natsume grew up with the persona that she was a boy, to be more specific, that she was the heir to the Tsuchimikado main family. While she is very hot headed, she also cares deeply about her close family and friends. My favorite aspect about her is that her character is always in the right frame of mind. When a serious situation comes up, she gets serious, but she can also be funny at the right times. Natsume is kind, cool, caring, funny, a fighter, and the spotlight shines on her in this anime.
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