7 Best Deuteragonist in Shonen Anime

In the world of Shonen anime, it's incredibly important to have a compelling cast of characters. These characters can make or break a series, and while a lot of it rests on the protagonist, in many cases the deuteragonist is just as important. Deuteragonists are like the secondary heroes of a story, and while not every series has them, they can be used in many ways to elevate the story and write compelling character arcs. There have been countless exciting deuteragonists in Shonen anime over the years, but few can claim to be the best.

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Tobio Kageyama

Haikyuu Tobio Kageyama Best Deuteragonist Shonen Anime

Tobio Kageyama is the deuteragonist of Haikyu and one of the most important characters in the story. Kageyama is the opposite of Hinata. While the latter excels in athleticism and physical ability, Tobio Kageyama excels in concentration and natural talent.

Kageyama is a setter and brazenly confident in all circumstances. His character throws him off because of the insanely high standards he demands of his friends that he eventually stoops to their level and forms incredible friendships with them. Tobio Kageyama is just as important to the story as Hinata, and in some arcs even more so. The author does a great job of portraying him as a proper character.

Sasuke Uchiha

sasuke uchiha naruto Best Deuteragonist Shonen Anime
Sasuke Uchiha in purple light.
Image via Studio Pierrot.

Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto series is as important as Naruto himself, as the author has mentioned on many occasions. As Naruto grows in strength and skill, so does Sasuke, and the two often act like Yin and Yang. The full story of Naruto is based on these two characters and they certainly develop in an interesting way.

As the deuteragonist, Sasuke undergoes his own journey of self-discovery, which takes him from being a Konoha Shinobi to connecting with Orochimaru and killing his brother, even joining forces with the Akatsuki for a while, and finally finding out what it really means to be a shinobi before returning to the village after a battle with Naruto. Indeed, Sasuke is an icon when it comes to anime deuteragonists.

Killua Zoldyck

Killua hunterxhunter Best Deuteragonist Shonen Anime

Killua Zoldyk from Hunter x Hunter he is one of the most interesting characters in the story. While Hunter x Hunter's the cast isn't the most diverse and certainly not as tight as other shonen series, the characters themselves are incredibly well written. All four main characters in the story are compelling in their own ways, and Killua is probably the best of them all. In fact, Killua might just be the most important main character in the story, and as a deuteragonist, Gon does incredibly well.

Killua devotes all the time he has to helping Gon, who he believes is his Sun, in many ways at once. He also has his own story to develop, such as his bond with his sister Alluka, among other things. Killua's powers also made him an incredibly dominant personality. Whenever he joins the arc, he makes sure to leave a mark with his incredible abilities and never ceases to amaze fans.

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Yuno

Yuno Black Clover Best Deuteragonist Shonen Anime

Black clover she established her deuteragonist right at the start Yunoand it goes without saying that he stands in stark contrast to Asta, the main character of the series. Yuno and Asta are very similar to Naruto and Sasuke in that they are constantly competing with each other. They both want to be the Wizard King, but at the end of the day, only one should claim that title.

Yuno was a natural genius from the very beginning, while Asta didn't even have the skills to become a proper mage, let alone a wizard, let alone become a wizard king. This dynamic, which sees the two recognize each other's abilities, enriches both of their characters and, for Yun in particular, makes him one of the most compelling characters in the series and a brilliant deuteragonist.

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.




Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

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A weed

Vegeta Dragon Ball Best Deuteragonists Shonen anime

When A weed first appeared in Dragon Ballit was certainly not planned as a deuteragonist. However, his importance grew as the story progressed, and by the end of the series he had become the undisputed deuteragonist of the story.

Vegeta and Goku have an iconic rivalry that sees both doing whatever they can to outdo the other. Even though Vegeta always lags behind Goku, it goes without saying that his character is more interesting to many fans around the world. Vegeta is a compelling deuteragonist and definitely an exciting character to watch.

Katsuki Bakugo

Katsuki Bakugo My Hero Academia Best Shonen Deuteragonist Anime
Katsuki Bakugo smiles and fights the yellow energy around him.
Image via Bones studio.

Katsuki Bakugo is one of the main characters My Hero Academia and one who takes a lot of inspiration from people like Sasuke Uchiha. While Bakugo walks his own path, his relationship with Deku and the competition he puts himself in is reminiscent of Naruto and Sasuke. Horikoshi did brilliantly well by taking inspiration from the best bits of the Naruto series and creating a great deuteragonist in Bakugou.

He's a fairly complex character who goes through his own redemption arc while striving for the same title as Deku – becoming the #1 hero. In the process, Bakugo continues to achieve great things and even fights the final antagonist, impressing everyone. Bakugo is also the most popular character in My Hero Academia, and this shows how successful he is as a deuteragonist.

Alphonse Elric

Alphonse Eric Fullmetal Alchemist Best Shonen Anime Deuteragonists

  • Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist

Alphonse Elric from All Metal Alchemist is the younger brother of Edward, who is the protagonist of the series. The two brothers embark on a grueling journey, and given that Alphonse is given the second most attention in the series, it's clear that he's the deuteragonist here.

Alphonse loses his body at the very beginning of the series due to an attempt to bring back their mother. However, the rest of the series is devoted to him reclaiming his body, and this certainly adds to the intrigue of his personal nature. At the same time, Alphonse doesn't hesitate to put his life on the line for his brother even as he deals with his own problems, and this, combined with the immense strength and compassion he displays throughout the story, makes him a very engaging deuteragonist. Alphonse may be overshadowed by his brother Edward for most of the story, but he's still a beloved character that fans still cherish ten years later.

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