Anime(/manga) that where you can view a side character as the main in the shown narrative?

[Warmmedown]

Hope this makes sense. Goku is DBZ's main, but it's quite easy to watch it and treat Vegeta or even Gohan as the main. They both get a bunch of focus on their struggles, carry the story at times (half of Namek, Androids, early Cell, Saiyaman) and go through changes to their character that are as interesting as many MCs.

Can you think of similar side characters in other series? You can say Naruto and even Luffy might not be the most compelling characters in their series, but it still feels impossible to view any other character as being the main in the narrative that's shown.

Maybe Killua in HxH?

 

[Fantastische Hure]

You say Naruto, but there's Sasuke lol.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

But this brings-up a point of what is considered a main-character & a side-character? For example I'd consider Gohan & Sasuke main-characters of their respective series. Definitely not just side-characters for their respective series.

 

[Warmmedown]

You say Naruto, but there's Sasuke lol.

He's not even shown for huge parts of the show. I'm thinking Naruto is always shown.

Yeh I thought that'd come up and even considered editing my post to call them side main characters. I'd consider Vegeta/Gohan side/secondary main characters. Goku is the main-main.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

Was he always shown? Even during the Team Hebi/Taka section?

Does Nina (& Johan, but it's a mystery so to an extent I guess you can't) from Monster count then? This is even harder.

 

[Warmmedown]

I abandoned Naruto Shipuuden around ep 40, Orichamaru vs Naruto, so I dunno about after that. Up to there and in Part 1 Naruto was always shown. Maybe it's all shown from Naruto perspective too and not Sasuke's (excluding his backstory, but other characters like Rock and Gaara got that too)? I can't remember though.

Not finished Monster, but they might count. Do you think they can be viewed as the main? Can you watch Monster and say "this is a story about Nina/bro (forgot his name)"?
Light from Death Note is the main, but is L? He felt like it, but then he died.

 

[Warmmedown]

I watched a decent bit of Monster and Nina/Jerbert didn't even show up, so at least until then I can't say it's their story.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

Yeah, with-out the twins there is no story, so I'd say so.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

Who is Jerbert?

 

[Warmmedown]

Yeah, with-out the twins there is no story, so I'd say so.

That doesn't make them the main characters though. It's not a story from their perspective. They also don't carry the show - the Dr always carries it.

Jerbert is what I'm calling Johan.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

But they are main-characters!!!

 

[Warmmedown]

How? Is Cell a main character of DBZ's Cell Saga? Cell Saga wouldn't exist without him.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

Can’t he be considered that? I mean at-least he’s a key-character.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

That doesn't make them the main characters though. It's not a story from their perspective. They also don't carry the show - the Dr always carries it.

Jerbert is what I'm calling Johan.

No wonder his father’s name is JoDaddy.

 

[Kyo]

I abandoned Naruto Shipuuden around ep 40, Orichamaru vs Naruto, so I dunno about after that.

Always thought you'd seen more Naruto than that. I understand your more positive outlook on the series back in the day a little better now. Do you know anything about the series past this point? There are several decently long stretches of the series that follow Sasuke, which is what SHC was referring to.


@ the OP question. Bruno Bucciarati in Vento Aureo (JoJo part 5) is kind of infamous for this, to the point where most people call him the true main character of the part. There's a similar sentiment towards Polnareff in Stardust Crusaders, though I'd say the main character is quite a bit more involved there (still, Polnareff gets almost the same amount of focus as Jotaro and arguably more development).

 

[Warmmedown]

You loooove Jojo.

Yeh the chakra moves in the Naruto-Orochimaru fight seemed like they didn't follow the previous rules. Basically felt like magic. The Deidara stuff was weird to me too, can't remember why. And Sakura punching the poison stuff (vs Sasori) at literally the final second before the antidote wore off - would be bad enough if she was using a clock, but she was counting the seconds in her head, while fighting.

Nah I don't know much. Just that Itachi is alive, Kakashi has someone's eyeball, Jiraiya's toad is foreshadowing, there's a war and the Pain arc had weird animation.

 

[Future Warrior]

Ei Sei from Kingdom.

 

[Yoshi]

Zoro seems like the second main character of One Piece as well.

Natsu is the main character of Fairy Tail, but I think you can view the story from Lucy’s perspective instead.