Some of the best side characters in anime might have been too good, making people wonder if they should have been the main characters of their respective series the whole time. The stories that they are part of obviously gravitate around the protagonist, but some side characters are so cool or interesting that the series might have been better if it was about them the entire time.
There are a lot of different ways a side character can shine. Their personality can be inherently intriguing, they can be one of the strongest characters in their respective series, or they can just be downright hilarious. No wonder what qualities they bring to the table, they at least deserve a spin-off, showing what the series looks like from their perspective and giving them the screen time they deserved.
9 Isaac Netero
Hunter x Hunter
Isaac Netero is the Chairman of the Hunters Association and one of the strongest characters in Hunter x Hunter. Before he was the Chairman of the organization, he was a martial artist who sured everyone around him by some margin. He became so strong that there was nowhere left for him but the top, and he led the Association with grace and poise.
Throughout Hunter x Hunter, Netero didn't seem to be more than a wise old man. While he was a great addition to the series, he didn't seem interesting enough to the star of the show. That all changed during his fight against Meruem where he displayed a much darker side to himself. Netero took on the most powerful villain in the series knowing that he would lose, laughed at the King of the Ants, and killed himself and the King in an unbelievable moment.
8 Yū Nishinoya
Haikyu!!
Haikyu!! is one of the greatest sports anime series ever made for a number of reasons. The two main characters are an amazing duo, the series doesn't have any filler whatsoever, and it also has some of the best side characters around. While there are a few excellent side characters in Haikyu!!, none can steal the scene quite like Nichinoya.
The "Guardian Deity" of Karasuno High is one of the best defensive players in Japan. He's able to contend with the toughest opponents with grace and power. Nishinoya is also an interesting character off the court, with a heart of gold and an almost incomparable level of determination.
7 Go Gunhee
Solo Leveling
Go Gunhee isn't just the Chairman of the Korean Hunters Association: he's one of Solo Leveling. Before he was Chairman, he was one of the first S-Rank Hunters in the country, fighting on the front lines. He's since taken more of an istrative role due to his age, but that doesn't mean that he's not a powerhouse.
Solo Leveling: Each Country's Strongest S-Rank Hunters From Weakest To Strongest
Solo Leveling has plenty of strong characters around the world, and some countries are proud to host the strongest Hunters in the series.
Chairman Go is the calmest character in Solo Leveling, and that's saying something. The world of Solo Leveling is dangerous, and with more and more Gates popping up, it looks like it will only get worse. Chairman Go is a reassuring presence to have in the series, helping Jinwoo any way he can. He's also not one to hide his excitement, like when he destroyed his desk chair after seeing Jinwoo arrive on Jeju Island.
6 Tengen Uzui or Kyojuro Rengoku
Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer is cementing itself as one of the greatest shōnen series of all time. Its movies are box office hits, and Demon Slayer: Mugen Train is the highest-grossing anime film of all time. The Hashira are the strongest Demon Slayers in the series, and while they all bring something interesting to the table, two stand out above the rest: the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku and the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui.
Kyojuro Rengoku took on one of the best Demons in Demon Slayer when he fought an Upper Moon. He knew he was most likely going to lose, but he didn't care. He fought for what he believed in, inspiring Tanjiro to do the same. Tengen Uzui is one of the flashiest characters created. Even with one eye slashed closed and an arm missing, he flew into battle against an Upper Moon Demon as well, beheading it alongside Tanjiro with flair and style.
5 Levi Ackermann
Attack on Titan
Levi Ackermann is one of the coolest characters in anime. He's never one to let his emotions get the best of him, which allows him to be an excellent leader and the strongest soldier that humanity has in Attack on Titan. While Attack on Titan is unmistakably Eren Yeager's series, another series starring Levi isn't unthinkable. He's such an enigmatic character that he makes the series better every time he's on-screen.
Levi is ionate, loyal, and intelligent, three excellent qualities for a side character and three qualities that could make him a main character. There is still a lot that Attack on Titan doesn't show about Levi, but if they decided to change that in the future, fans would be more than willing to learn more about the mysterious Scout.
4 Vegeta
Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball is all about Goku. It shows Goku's path from a wild little kid, to a dedicated young man, to one of the strongest beings in the universe. He's been an excellent protagonist of Dragon Ball, but any fan of the series could it that Vegeta would do a great job as the star of the series.
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The best rivals in anime make their series even better, and there's nothing better than rivals who are at least a little friendly with each other too.
Vegeta's character arc is one of the best in anime. He started the series as one of the most powerful villains in it before changing his heart and becoming a powerful ally to the Z Fighters. He's confident, determined, and one of the most protective characters around. Vegeta would be an excellent star of the show, and with his new amazingly powerful forms, who knows whats in store for the Prince of all Saiyans.
3 Benimaru Shinmon
Fire Force
Fire Force that make him stand out from even the strongest Fire Soldiers in the series. He's a character that doesn't like too much attention, but due to his overwhelming strength, people can't help but watch "Asakusa's King of Destruction" in action.
Benimaru is known as the single strongest officer in the Special Fire Force. He's also a great teacher, as he's helped both Arthur and Shinra achieve new feats on their paths to becoming the strongest. He's been in a league of his own throughout most of the series, and another anime dedicated to him and his rise would be amazing.
2 Toji Fushiguro
Jujutsu Kaisen
Toji Fushiguro is a beast, full stop. He doesn't have an ounce of Cursed Energy in Jujutsu Kaisen because of his Heavenly Restriction, making his physical abilities better than anyone else in the entire series. He's one of Jujutsu Kaisen because of both his Heavenly Restriction and his brutal mentality, as he's willing to do whatever it takes to get a job done.
Toji doesn't have a lot of screen time in Jujutsu Kaisen, but when he's on-screen, he has more aura than Gojo. There's something so intriguing about Toji that it can hardly be put into words. He's closer to a force of nature than a human being, and a spin-off story about Toji might be better than anything centered on Itadori Yuji.
1 Itachi Uchiha
Naruto: Shippuden
Itachi Uchiha undoubtedly deserves his own spin-off series at the very least. He's one of the best villains in anime because he's not actually a villain. Everything he does, he does for the sake of his village and for his younger brother, Sasuke. While Sasuke is an interesting character who might benefit from more screen time, even he's got nothing on his older brother.
10 Greatest Anime Anti-Heroes of All Time, Ranked
Sometimes, the best heroes in anime don't exactly have heroic qualities. They still fight for good, but they do it their own way.
Itachi always seems like he's at least five steps ahead of everyone around him. Since he was a little kid, he's been one of the strongest ninja in his village and someone wise enough to know the truth behind any given moment. He's fought for his village, against his village, allied himself with dangerous criminals, and more, all for his own brand of justice.
