Why the 'Second Strongest' Archetype in Animation Is So Cool

summation

• The ‘second strongest’ character in shonen anime enhances the main character’s strength.
• The second strongest characters are often complex and flawed individuals, which often makes them the most relatable characters in the story.
• Examples like Vegeta from Dragon Ball or Sasuke from Naruto show the importance of character growth and breaking limits to become stronger.

Shonen anime series all have amazing storytelling formulas, as seen in how this subgenre has become one of the most popular and loved in the entire industry. Although every story is unique in what it expresses and shows, there are certain storytelling elements that almost all stories share. An example of this is the protagonist's unparalleled power and potential.

Each time, the protagonist is seen as a key representation of the story, becoming synonymous with the most iconic character of the series itself. However, the archetype present in almost all shonen series is the 'second strongest' archetype. A person who is often in the position of chasing the protagonist or appears to be following him at a similar level. Although it may seem like an afterthought at first, many people consider this character to be the best written and most relatable in the series, so let's take a look at why this is.

second strongest role

How do they present the story?

A series of any kind, in any medium, doesn't work without good characters. This is because a diverse cast of characters is important for a good story. Shonen anime is no exception to this. Because despite the enormous focus on one main character, there is also a huge emphasis on the other people who support them. This is especially true for those who occupy a much higher level of power than everyone except the protagonist. The protagonist himself.

They're incredibly powerful, but the second strongest usually doesn't come out victorious against the big bad of the arc. However, they serve as a means of enhancing not only the strength of the protagonist, but also that of the enemies they face, and while they receive little attention against their strongest opponents, they are often indispensable in the overall effort to defeat them. them.

Why are these characters attractive?

Layered and complex characters

Perhaps the best thing about this character is that he is much more layered than the protagonist of the story. They tend to hide a kind of darkness as a defining characteristic of their personality. This makes them complex characters who are often struggling with internal conflicts, adding a nuanced personality that makes them much more compelling than most of the main characters. , they tend to be bastions of good, trying to protect and save everyone they can.

While this doesn't take away from the protagonist at all, it still shows the 'second strongest' as flawed, making them more human and relatable. Although they are good people, they are often driven by negative factors such as revenge, and believe that the pursuit of power is the best way to make amends for the past. This also fosters a mirror-like relationship with the protagonist, who breaks through his own limitations and finds the strength to protect his loved ones. Because of this dichotomy, they push each other to greater heights.

Only failure makes him throw away his principles and pride! Do you really think I'll let you stop me?!

Vegeta's dragon ball This is probably the best example of this analogy. Starting off as a ruthless villain, he eventually became a member of the Z-Fighters, eventually becoming one of the Z-Fighters' greatest assets alongside Goku, allowing him to reach greater levels of power. Over time, Vegeta went through one of the greatest character arcs in fiction, becoming one of the most important protectors of the universe. Many people now believe that Vegeta is as much of a protagonist as Goku.

Another beloved example is <조로>no see. one pieceHe embodies the role very well, but is nothing like Vegeta. Although he is undoubtedly the second strongest pirate in the Straw Hat Pirates, he never competes with Luffy, and is only motivated by his dream of becoming the strongest swordsman in the world to keep his childhood promise to his best friend. Zoro has defeated incredibly powerful enemies, but he has never defeated his major enemies.

sasuke naruto Always motivated by revenge for the destruction of his entire clan, he perfectly personifies the 'dark' side that is often synonymous with this character trope. The series followed him on his own revenge plot and eventually brought him face to face with Naruto again, bringing his and Naruto's arcs full circle.

Continuing, Do a jujutsu This is a perfect example of a different way to approach this analogy. In the Hidden Inventory arc, the true value of the strongest was made known, and when Gojo finally reached this point, the series showed how the rest of the world reacted to it, especially Geto. Unlike other boy series Do a jujutsu Among other things, it made Geto evil and the biggest threat to the Jujutsu world at the time.