Summary
A deuteragonist is a position just behind the protagonist. So, they are the second most important character in a drama. This is different from simply being aside characterof some importance in a story. The media is full of them and anime in particular has some really epic ones.
A deuteragonist usually helps to prop up the protagonist and works in tandem with them to bring out the beauty of any story. There are a slew of great examples in anime, and any discussion about the best ones will always be somewhat subjective. Regardless, there are some great examples that need some attention.
Reigen was a brilliant character over an equally brilliant three seasons ofMob Psycho. Playing therole of the unscrupulousso-called ‘greatest psychic of the 21st century,’ Reigen is one of the pillars in Mob’s life, and was instrumental in the overpowered psychic becoming a better person.
What makes Reigen stand out as a deuteragonist is how much he grew over the course of the series. First shown as a swindler who was more than happy to take advantage of Mob, he grew to become a lot more secure, and decent. By the time the story wrapped up in season 3, he felt like a whole new character.
Yuno is the foil to Asta’s ‘loudness’ in Black Clover. The two were raised in the same orphanage, but are seemingly at odds with Yuno’s cool nature contrasted with Asta’s more fiery one. Also, Yuno is an incredibly powerful mage who almost seems to be loved by magic making everything seem easy for him.
Yuno’s strength lies in the fact that a lot of the same values that Asta had including camaraderie, effort, honesty, and lending a helping hand are all espoused by Yuno. Yuno works really hard and gives Asta something ton work towards. Thetwo are perfect rivalswho really care for one another.
The first season of Psycho Pass was well received and this had a lot to do with the characters including the incredible Shogo Makishima who is still one of fiction’s most fascinating villains. But equally impressive was Shinya Kogami, the enforcer handed to Akane (the actual protagonist) at the start of the series.
Kogami’s fall from a first-rate inspector to becoming a latent criminal was compelling to watch. Also, his growth under the supervision of Akane was remarkable, as Akane’s quiet confidence in justice was enough to change Kogami’s views. It was no surprise that when season 2 of Psycho Pass was released with Kogami removed from the main cast, there was a drop in the popularity of the series.
Dragon Ball Zwas a groundbreaking series for a lot of reasons, but one was how well Vegeta was written as a character and it was his dynamic with Goku that also inspired many other deuteragonists and their arcs. The prince of a fallen Saiyan race, Vegeta was once an enemy of Goku, but the two are now close friends.
Vegeta development from his ruthless, cold-blooded persona to the person he is now is a highlight of the series. He would be instrumental to a lot ofUniverse 7’s battlesand who can forget his contribution to meme culture with his infamous “It’s over 9000!” line?
Gray Fullbuster is an ice mage who trained under the famed mage, Ur. He witnessed her death at the hands of Deliora andjoined Fairy Tailas he looks to be the best wizard he can be. He is usually on Natsu’s team along with Lucy and Erza.
Gray is an excellent companion for Natsu as he pushes the fire mage to become even stronger. Gray joined the guild before Natsu, but not by much and the two being the same age with the same level of drive to grow stronger (Gray became an devil slayer), the two are natural rivals. It is nice to see them work in tandem for the love they share with the guild and their desire to see their friends be safe.
The rivalry between Kageyama and Hinata inHaikyu!is almost a perfect representation of what a rivalry should be. Once on opposing sides with one way more talented than the other, they find themselves on the same team. Kageyama is clearly the true talent and he is able to use that to elevate Hinata towards his true potential.
Haikyu!does a good job showing Hinata trying to fight on his own and developing his skills to be able to fight his own way, but seeing the two of them combine is delicious and exciting. Tobio’s development from being ‘the King’ to become someone more accommodating of his teammates, and improving as a player for it, makes for a compelling watch.
Bakugo is such a fascinating character inMy Hero Academia. Few could have seen his antics in the first season of the show and nothated his guts. But, as the episodes passed and his hate for Midoriya, his motivations, and who he is as a person starts to unfold, many started to do an about-face regarding the character.
He truly was a character that could push Midoriya to the brink and bring out the absolute best in him as a hero. It became clear that Bakugo wanted to become more than just a bully and while his redemption arc does not excuse his earlier behavior, it does give the audience a fresh perspective on him. He came to respect Deku and the two are great friends.
Zoro is the epitome of loyalty and his unwavering stance with the Strawhats makes him one of the most beloved characters on the show. A strong swordsman who is no slouch as a fighter (he has conqueror’s haki now), Zoro is an excellent foil for Luffy’s impulsiveness and his occasional poor leadership skills.
Zoro is a steady hand that keeps the crew on an even keel. He has his idiosyncrasies, but he is ultimately a great character. Few acts epitomise his character than his sacrifice when Kuma wanted to capture Luffy and offered Zoro the chance to take all of his captain’s pain and fatigue. At the end, standing bloodied and bruised, he simply said ‘nothing happened.’ Nothing beats that in terms of coolness.
The psychological thriller,Death Note, is one of the most important anime series of the 2000s and, in L, it has one of the most important deuteragonists in the medium. L was the inspector that was playing a cat and mouse game to capture Light Yagami. L is essentially the protagonist of the show as he is on the side of good.
Hisimmense intellectwas the only thing to match Light’s, and watching the two battle each other with wits, will, and strategy is a major reason whyDeath Notewas so good. L’s importance to the series was no more evident than when he died and the show’s appeal plummeted all the way to a somewhat divisive ending.
Characters like Gon from Hunter X Hunter follow a sort of formula. Extremely strong-willed, carefree, and a bit naive, these characters are all over the shonen landscape. What makes Gon standout is that he has Killua Zoldyck by his side.
Killua is from a family of assassins with a hellish upbringing and his friendship with Gon is one of the high points of the series. Strong, loyal, street-smart, and caring, Killua is a pivotal character and brings some of the shows most hype and compelling moments. He’s a model deuteragonist as he doesn’t completely overshadow Gon, but is a true equal to his friend. Audiences will always remember Killua’s ‘debut’ as he stealthily removed the heart of a would-be killer during the hunter exams.
