Ranking of anime characters more popular than the protagonist; these side characters have off-the-charts popularity
I've compiled the results of a popular Japanese online poll and discovered that in many works, the side characters are more popular than the protagonists. I'd like to share this interesting phenomenon.
Top 20 Popular Side Characters
1. Detective Conan — Toru Amuro
2. Jujutsu Kaisen — Satoru Gojo
3. Bungo Stray Dogs — Osamu Dazai
4. Hunter x Hunter — Killua
5. Attack on Titan — Levi
6. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Zenitsu Agatsuma
7. Neon Genesis Evangelion — Asuka Langley Soryu
8. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure — Bruno Bucciarati
9. Naruto — Kakashi
10. BLEACH — Toshiro Hitsugaya
11. YuYu Hakusho — Hiei
12. Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World — Rem
13. Dragon Ball — Gohan
14. My Hero Academia — Katsuki Bakugo
15. Fullmetal Alchemist — Roy Mustang
16. One Punch Man — Speed-o'-Sound Sonic
17. Yu-Gi-Oh! — Seto Kaiba
18. KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! — Megumin
19. Medaka Box — Misogi Kumagawa
20. Eyeshield 21 — Yoichi Hiruma
Personal Observations
There are usually a few reasons why these side characters are so popular:
- They are powerful but have flawed personalities, making them feel more realistic
- Even with limited screen time, every appearance is a highlight
- Their appearance or character design is particularly striking
- Their backstories have depth, making people want to learn more about them
Do you think this list is reasonable? Which other side characters do you think are underrated in popularity?
Top 20 Popular Side Characters
1. Detective Conan — Toru Amuro
2. Jujutsu Kaisen — Satoru Gojo
3. Bungo Stray Dogs — Osamu Dazai
4. Hunter x Hunter — Killua
5. Attack on Titan — Levi
6. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Zenitsu Agatsuma
7. Neon Genesis Evangelion — Asuka Langley Soryu
8. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure — Bruno Bucciarati
9. Naruto — Kakashi
10. BLEACH — Toshiro Hitsugaya
11. YuYu Hakusho — Hiei
12. Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World — Rem
13. Dragon Ball — Gohan
14. My Hero Academia — Katsuki Bakugo
15. Fullmetal Alchemist — Roy Mustang
16. One Punch Man — Speed-o'-Sound Sonic
17. Yu-Gi-Oh! — Seto Kaiba
18. KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! — Megumin
19. Medaka Box — Misogi Kumagawa
20. Eyeshield 21 — Yoichi Hiruma
Personal Observations
There are usually a few reasons why these side characters are so popular:
- They are powerful but have flawed personalities, making them feel more realistic
- Even with limited screen time, every appearance is a highlight
- Their appearance or character design is particularly striking
- Their backstories have depth, making people want to learn more about them
Do you think this list is reasonable? Which other side characters do you think are underrated in popularity?
