10 Best Anime Deuteragonists in History

Dec. 17, 2024, 5:30 p.m.

Movies

10 Best Anime Deuteragonists in History

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Anime is populated with dynamic characters that create memorable experiences, but it's often the deuteragonists—the crucial second leads—who add depth and richness to the story. These characters frequently contrast with or complement the protagonist, influencing the narrative in unique and compelling ways.

By definition, a deuteragonist is someone who holds the second most important role in a narrative, after the protagonist and before the tritagonist. They can either work with the main character or against them. Furthermore, a deuteragonist can also fill the role of a female and main antagonist, and this is actually common in many anime and manga.

10 Aki Hayakawa

Chainsaw Man

Anime has no shortage of dark-haired introverted, but while Aki Hayakawa fits this bill, he hides way more complexity underneath. He is introduced as someone who detests Denji, but after he is assigned to take care of him and Power, he slowly manages to find family within them and be one of the first to make Denji happy. Fans get to see his gentle side, and this is heightened by the tragedy of his past and his quest for revenge against the Gun Devil.

Aki's character is marked by tragedy and his willingness to do anything to kill devils and is contrasted by his kindness to people he dislikes. Aki’s depiction in the series highlights the conflict between his unyielding facade and his sensitive humanity, making his story as heartbreaking as it is captivating. His changing connections with Denji and Power, along with his moments of quiet reflection, act as a touching examination of the delicate beauty of found family in the midst of turmoil.

9 Reigen

Mob Psycho 100

The diversity and variety of Reigen is simply astonishing, and the way he switches up so elegantly is the crux of his character. The self-proclaimed Greatest Psychic of the 21st Century serves as both the boss and mentor of the lovely Mob. At first, he starts out as someone who takes advantage of his junior's powers to make money, and as the show goes on, he warms up to him and teaches the young boy about life, at a time when Mob was looking to improve himself.

While his main dynamic is with Mob and is a big reason why he is so great, Reigen is still his own character with his own struggles and motivations. This is highlighted in the Separate Ways arc, where Mob leaves Reigen for his friends. Reigen realizes how pathetic and lonely he is, and this kickstarts his change. There are endless reasons to love Reigen. From his flawed character, funny antics, and fatherly role to Mob to his redemption, Mob Psycho 100 wouldn't be the masterpiece it is without Reigen Arataka.

8 Asirpa

Golden Kamuy

The lovable and strong young Asirpa is one of the many reasons Golden Kamuy is such an underrated gem. Besides being a look into the culture of the Ainu and the intricacies of Hokkaido, she is a fascinating character who has her own conflicts and motivations. Despite being very young and a woman, she manages to stay alive and hold her own in a deadly feud between criminals, soldiers, and wild animals.

Asirpa, as she puts it, represents a new generation of the Ainu woman, and she carves out her own path and ignores the tradition of staying at home. She instead goes out into the wild not just to be her own self but also as a coping mechanism for her father's death. A cornerstone of her character is seeking revenge for the murder of her father, and while she is angry at whoever killed him, she doesn't let her hate define her and stays the kind girl she has always been. Her relationship with Sugimoto and other characters makes her an incredibly rich character, and she is the perfect deuteragonist.

7 Yukinoshita Yukino

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

Yukino embodies competence and self-reliance, distinguished by her academic excellence, beauty, and composed demeanor. While these qualities set her apart as an ideal figure, they also lead to her isolation. That is when she meets Hikigaya and Yuigahama, and she slowly starts to rely on others, although it does take a lot of effort. She isn't the only one going through changes, though, as she also helps Hachiman stop his tendencies to take the fall for others.

Her interactions are comedy gold and her subtle, demeaning jokes towards Hikigaya make her incredibly funny, even if it is unintentional. Furthermore, the romantic dynamic between the two makes their relationship even greater, and seeing them overcome their hurdles before getting together makes the payoff that much greater.

6 Griffith

Berserk

While many fans do see Griffith as the main antagonist of the series, he is also a deuteragonist by definition and these two terms aren't mutually exclusive. His dynamic with Guts is one of the most legendary and brilliantly written in manga and is the driving force in the force. His gorgeous design, grandiose goals, and incredible wit make him almost impossible not to like, and readers are drawn to him the same way the people around him are. The themes of dreams and their costs are elegantly carried by him.

Griffith is an extremely nuanced and morally gray character. On one hand, he treats his loved ones very well and seems to have a good heart on the surface, but his actions of manipulating others, killing those who oppose him mercilessly, and overall doing anything for his goals make it hard to put him in one category. The Eclipse is everything his character was built up to. His betrayal of his loved ones, his depiction of the fallen angel, and the emergence of his God complex truly make this climax one of the best. Furthermore, Griffith's brilliance doesn't just stop here, as it is everything after the Golden Age arc that makes him a masterclass of a character.

5 L

Death Note

L is an intriguing character because, in this scenario, he is the hero while the main protagonist is the villain. As the world’s most brilliant detective, L impresses with his strategic thinking and genius intellect. His complex yet approachable step-by-step plans make him a perfect foil to the equally intelligent Light. Like all great deuteragonists, L's dynamic with the main character is exceptional, and it’s fair to say that this relationship is the foundation of the series.

Besides his entertaining cat-and-mouse relationship with Light, L's personality and morality are very interesting to analyze. His relentless pursuit of justice, love of overcoming the odds, desire for truth, underhanded methods and manipulation and many more aspects of his character helped him steal the show many a time. If that wasn't enough, he is easily the funniest in Death Note, with his traits of sitting in weird positions, love for sweet foods and sheer unpredictability all working together to make him the most likable character in the series.

4 Ei Sei

Kingdom

The heir to the throne of Qin and the man who kickstarted Shin's goal to become a Great General, Ei Sei showed his prowess from the get-go by managing to quell a rebellion in the worst possible situation and get back his throne using diplomacy, tactics, and extreme charisma. This had already solidified as an interesting character and he only got better. While the series focuses mostly on the war on the battleground, it also shows the politics of the Warring States and how Ei Sei maneuvers its bloody politics.

From his tragic backstory as someone loathed by everyone and returning to his home, his ambitions of uniting China through warfare, and his optimistic belief in the nature of humanity, Ei Sei is a force to be reckoned with and stands out as one of the best characters in a series filled to the brim with brilliantly written characters. He showed his leadership by going to the frontlines and leading an army of peasants against one of the greatest generals, Riboku, and saved his nation.

3 Kageyama Tobio

Haikyuu!!

The King of the Court is the beating heart of Karasuno as their genius setter and is a perfect contrast to his protagonist. He is introduced as an arrogant player who holds people to an outrageously high standard, and his main development is about learning to work with others and accommodate every type of player. He is mentored by many people, friends, and foe alike, on how to become the best team member he can be, and his journey to trusting others and leaving their part to them is one of the most prominent character arcs in Haikyuu!!.

Related How Haikyuu's Greatest Rivalry Turned the Anime Into a Phenomenon Hinata and Kageyama started as rivals in Haikyuu! before turning into each other's most valuable assets on the court.

Kageyama's feelings of inadequacy and insecurity in the face of better players like Oikawa and Atsumu are a major part of his character, and by confronting them, he not only becomes a better player, but a better person. His journey from an isolated, perfectionist setter to a collaborative and inspiring teammate encapsulates Haikyuu!!'s central themes of teamwork, perseverance, and personal growth.

2 Killua Zoldyck

Hunter X Hunter

It might be unbelievable to many, but Killua actually had more screen time than Gon and appeared in more chapters than him, showing how important he is to the story. The heir of the world's best assassin family left it all behind to be a normal kid and discover the world, and Gon allowed him to do so. Throughout the entire series, the effect his manipulative family has on him is shown, and Killua freeing himself from it is the highlight of his character arc. His hatred of killing and wanting a new life and a goal makes him likable from the get-go, and it is very easy to empathize with him.

Killua has the cool factor down, and his many awesome moments, such as the thrashing he gave Youpi, outrunning the butlers, and his solo mission in East Gorteau make him one of the most exciting characters to watch. Furthermore, his emotional moments, such as his hug with Nanika, protecting Gon when he was in Zetsu, his admiration for Gon, and many more make him an emotionally intelligent kid who blessed Hunter X Hunter with the best moments on multiple occasions.

1 Sasuke Uchiha

Naruto

This legendary character needs no introduction, and he is that popular because of how good he is. The Avenger of the Uchiha was a perfect contrast to Naruto and without him, the themes of the series wouldn't exist. Even Kishimoto himself stated that whenever Naruto does something, he always thinks about Sasuke as well and how it'll affect him in the story. The beauty in Sasuke's character is immense tragedy and how he weaves through life responding to everything thrown at him.

His inner conflicts, ideology, relationships, fights, and more make Sasuke the character one thinks about when one hears the word deuteragonist. Furthermore, he had possibly just as much screentime as Naruto, spicing up the series with his journeys all over the world. His change of goals after adjusting them based on new information always led to some interesting developments in the series that made it much more lively. And finally, the conclusion of his character, where he journeys the world alone to seek atonement and also expand his views, wraps up one of the greatest character arcs in shonen history.