On Japanese social media and forums, an interesting debate has emerged about those secondary characters in anime series that have come to eclipse the protagonists in popularityThis conversation has revealed how certain characters, despite not being the main ones, have captured the hearts of fans, gaining even greater recognition than the protagonists themselves.
Among the characters mentioned by fans are:
- Satoru Gojo – Jujutsu Kaisen.
- Levi Ackerman – Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan).
- Katsuki Bakugo – My Hero Academia.
- Masaru Gojo – Inazuma Eleven.
- Killua Zoldyck – HUNTER x HUNTER.
- Nanachi – Made in Abyss.
- Kana Arima – Oshi no Ko.
- Zenitsu Agatsuma – Kimetsu no Yaiba.
- Aura – Sousou no Frieren.
The popularity of these supporting characters, in many cases, surpasses that of the main characters, which has generated curiosity about the reasons behind this phenomenon. Fans mention that often these supporting characters possess characteristics that resonate more strongly with audiences.whether because of their charisma, emotional depth or because they have a more interesting and complex development throughout the story.
One of the comments in the community noted: «Before watching Made in Abyss, I thought Nanachi was the protagonist» This type of confusion is common when a supporting character is so prominent that he or she seems to overshadow the protagonist.
Another user commented: «In these types of cases, it is more about the ability to generate conversation than popularity. Although in the original Jujutsu Kaisen manga, Itadori and Fushiguro are still popular» This suggests that while supporting characters may dominate online discussions, protagonists maintain a core of loyal followers.
The idea that a supporting character can overshadow the protagonist may also be related to the fact that Protagonists are often designed to be more balanced and universal, while supporting characters can afford to be more extreme.eccentric or special in some way, which makes them more memorable and appealing to certain segments of the audience.
A fan mentioned: «Captain Levi isn't the protagonist?». This comment reflects the magnitude of Levi's popularity, who is often seen as the true protagonist by many, due to his strong presence and abilities in Shingeki no Kyojin.
On the other hand, some comments questioned the popularity of certain supporting characters. One user was surprised to see the difference in popularity between Bakugou and the protagonist of Boku no Hero Academia: «I like Bakugo too, but when I see the official voting results, I'm surprised by the huge difference with the second place. Why is he so popular?! I still don't understand it.».
Finally, one comment captured the essence of the conversation: «Is there any work in which the protagonist is indisputably the most popular character?» This questioning reflects the perception that protagonists, despite their importance in the narrative, are not always the characters that resonate most with the audience.
Fountain: Otakomu
