The best shonen anime mentors are typically steadfast figures of security and strength, but they don’t have to be, as the shining quality of a good mentor is the ability to positively influence and motivate. In shonen anime, action-packed battles are always right around the corner, and it’s the job of the main characters’ mentors to prepare them for the coming conflicts, whether that be physically, mentally, or emotionally.
A mentor can be any age, and even their relevance in the greater narrative of a series can vary as well. For example, an elderly master from a past generation could have close to no screen time, but as long as their words and actions have a meaningful impact on the hero, they will be a better mentor than a younger, big brother figure who always appears by the main character’s side. The reverse can also be true, however.
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10 Yami Is a Laid Back Guild Master Who Can Always Be Relied On
Black Clover (2017), produced by Studio Pierrot
Black Clover is a modern shonen rendition of the classic wizard fantasy archetype, as it plays to similar ideas as those seen in anime like Fairy Tail, but executes it with much more precision and grace. The story follows a young boy named Asta, who aspires to become the Wizard King in a world of magic. Unfortunately, his physique prevents him from using any sort of magic, and his foster brother, Yuno, who has the same goal, is lauded as a genius wizard.
Asta doesn’t let these setbacks get him down due to his naturally cheerful personality, and through rigorous physical training, he is able to muster enough strength to join the Black Bulls, the alleged weakest squad of the kingdom’s Magic Knights. The captain of this squad is Yami, the embodiment of grit and overcoming challenges, making him not only a strong backer of Asta, but a mentor who can casually guide him through adversity.
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9 All Might Passes Down the Torch
My Hero Academia (2016), produced by Studio Bones
In My Hero Academia, school and sound tutelage is a central idea, considering its role as a shonen anime about nurturing young heroes. The entire series and its premise is based on overcoming adversity, and main character Midoriya Izuku would have nothing without the guidance of former number one hero, All Might.
As a child born without a quirk, a type of unique superpower in My Hero Academia, Midoriya had next to no chance at becoming a hero. Luckily for him, he meets All Might, who recognizes his passion, transferring his power to him. Thus, a wonderful story of self growth and discovery unfolds, as All Might protects and gives guidance to Midoriya on all fronts, from battles with evil villains, to coping with his tumultuous relationship with Bakugo.
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8 Rayleigh Taught Luffy Haki
One Piece (1999), produced by Toei Animation
One Piece is one of the greatest shonen anime of all time, and with that title comes trials and tribulations for its main characters like no other. One of the driving forces to the success of the protagonists, Luffy and friends, is the surplus of able mentors to guide them when it is most needed.
For Luffy, such a character is Silvers Rayleigh, the former first mate of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger. After the tragic death of Luffy’s brother, Ace, he is left not only injured physically, but torn emotionally. Rayleigh is one of the key figures who helps Luffy cope with this loss during the series’ time skip, and even teaches Luffy one of the most powerful abilities in the pirate world, Haki.
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7 Gojo Is One of the Most Down-To-Earth Anime Mentors
Jujutsu Kaisen (2020), produced by MAPPA
Cementing itseld as on of this decade’s most popular shonen anime, Jujutsu Kaisen comes back swinging with its second season in the summer of 2023, and does so in style, especially with characters like Gojo. Although the series follows Itadori Yuji, Gojo has time and again stolen the spotlight and hearts of many fans.
One reason for Gojo’s explosive popularity is his role as a mentor, and the personal variations he injects into his teaching style. While he heavily resembles Kakashi from Naruto, Gojo takes the role much less seriously, allowing for hilarious situations such as participating in his three students’ antics. However, when push comes to shove, Gojo can be relied on as the strongest sorcerer, making him one of anime’s best mentors.
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6 Genkai Taught Yusuke the Spirit Gun and So Much More
Yu Yu Hakusho (1992), produced by Studio Pierrot
Yu Yu Hakusho is arguably one of the best shonen anime of all time, incorporating all styles of conflict, battle, romance, and comedy into a compact narrative. The series follows Yusuke, a kind-hearted delinquent who sacrifices his life to save that of a small child. Consequently, he is thrown into a world of spirits, demons, and riveting battles of morality.
Near the beginning of his journey, Yusuke meets his mentor, Genkai, an elderly master who lives in the forest. She teaches him the iconic spirit gun that carries Yusuke throughout the series, but more importantly, she teaches him not to make the same mistakes she did when she was younger, or at least be strong enough to deal with the consequences.
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5 Takamura Is the Perfect Role Model
Hajime no Ippo (2000), produced by Madhouse
Hajime no Ippo also known as Fighting Spirit is one of the greatest sports anime of all time, as it focuses on the perilous journey of a timid but fierce Makunouchi Ippo who dreams of becoming a boxing world champion. The way that Ippo embarked on his journey was all due to his mentor, Takamura Mamoru, a top-tier pro boxer who saves him from bullies and introduces him to the boxing world.
Takamura not only serves as a role model and target for Ippo, but taught him the gravity of what it means to be a pro boxer, from having unwavering conviction in training, to understanding the difficulties that come with the smallest of things like cutting weight. In addition to being a mentor, Takamura is also a friend, two types of relationships most needed in Ippo’s life.
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4 Jiraiya Dies Trying To Rectify His Mistakes
Naruto: Shippuden (2007), produced by Studio Pierrot
One of the Big Three in shonen anime, Naruto, brings the ninja world to the modern eye, especially through the second half of the series, Naruto: Shippuden. This anime follows the orphaned Naruto who aspires to become Hokage, or, the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village. However, such a dream sprouted from his loneliness, as he says he wants to be Hokage because that is the person the village most respects and admires.
On Naruto’s journey towards this goal, his mentor, Jiraiya, one of the three legendary Sannin, along with Fifth Hokage Tsunade and Orochimaru, enter his life and provides indispensable tutelage. Jiraiya not only teaches Naruto the skills of the Toad Sage, but he leaves Naruto with a lasting set of ideals that survive even after his tragic death.
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3 Onizuka Lives Up To His Title
Great Teacher Onizuka (1999), produced by Studio Pierrot
Great Teacher Onizuka is a shonen anime that deviates completely from the battle shonen model, and instead focuses on school life, and what it means to be a teacher. The main character, a 22-year-old former biker delinquent, Onizuka Eikichi, set off to become what he believes to be the greatest teacher of all time, starting with a high school class of problem children.
Without traditional training, Onizuka is able to put his whole personality into his teaching style without restraint. This involves completely contradicting the perceived optimal instruction strategies, as he doesn’t let his students intimidate him, and he connects with them on a level much deeper and much more caring than any teacher had done before. With his unusual methods, Onizuka proves to live up to the name of a great teacher, and an unprecedented mentor.
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2 Koro-sensei Is an Alien In Body But Not In Mind
Assassination Classroom (2015), produced by Studio Lerche
The hit shonen series Assassination Classroom is a unique twist on the typical high school anime trope, as the story follows a classroom of students labeled as problem children who are utilized by the government to assassinate a world-threatening alien. Although this premise seems so absolutely absurd, the anime makes it work, and goes as far as to make sense of it.
Despite the class’s alien teacher, Koro-sensei, being the main point of conflict in the series, he is far from being dislikable. Koro-sensei even encourages his students to strive towards more creative ways of assassination, all the while making sure they learn their core subjects. Koro-sensei’s entire existence is a metaphor for how important it is to mitigate the animosity between students and teachers despite the underlying power dynamic. All things considered, everything Koro-sensei does for his students culminates into the ultimate mentor figure.
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1 Reigen Exposes What It Means To Be an Adult
Mob Psycho 100 (2016), produced by Studio Bones
Mob Psycho 100 is a shonen anime following the overpowered Kageyama “Mob” Shigeo through his life as a psychic and his coming of age. Emotionally, Mob deals with issues tangent with depression and adolescent curiosity, and physically, he quite frankly doesn’t know what to do with his powers. Luckily for Mob, and the entire Mob Psycho universe, he meets Reigen, a self-proclaimed psychic who is characterized as a scam artist.
Despite this, due to his innocence, Mob signs on as Reigen’s assistant. Even with Reigen’s questionable career decisions, he teaches Mob the most important lessons in life. He stresses that Mob should only use his powers to help the weak, and he exposes the instability of adult life, suggesting that all adults are just faking it till they make it. This culminates in the ultimate scene of the first season when Reigen unknowingly borrows Mob’s powers to defeat his strongest enemies. This level of depth and realism is what makes Reigan the greatest shonen anime mentor of all time.
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