Animation Fascination

One thing I’ve realized over the years is that I don’t always experience stories as hierarchies.

A lot of character discussions start with questions like:

Who is the protagonist?

Who is the co-lead?

Who is supporting?

Who is the most important character?

Those questions never interested me as much as another question:

How does the cast fit together?

When I watch a show, I usually notice the relationships, group dynamics, and world before I start thinking about narrative rankings.

For example, when I watch SWAT Kats, I don’t think about where T-Bone ranks in the story.

I think about T-Bone and Razor.

I think about Megakat City.

I think about Commander Feral, Callie Briggs, the villains, and the larger world.

T-Bone never felt like a center-of-the-universe character to me.

He felt like one of the guys trying to save the day.

The same thing happens with characters like Leonardo from TMNT 2003, Robin from Teen Titans, and Raven from Teen Titans.

I don’t immediately see a ranking system.

I see a cast.

That’s why I sometimes struggle with discussions that focus heavily on narrative hierarchy.

The hierarchy may be there.

But it isn’t always the first thing I notice.

There are characters where I do see a stronger center.

Aang from Avatar and Will Vandom from W.I.T.C.H. are good examples.

Those stories naturally pull my attention back to them.

The narrative itself encourages me to see them as anchors.

But not every story works that way.

Some stories feel more distributed.

Some stories feel more ensemble-oriented.

Some stories feel more like a network of characters than a ladder of importance.

That’s why I believe structure is not just one thing.

There is narrative structure.

There is cast structure.

There are relationships.

There is focus.

There is the way the world is organized.

Sometimes those things point in the same direction.

Sometimes they don’t.

And that’s okay.

Not every character needs to feel like the center of the universe.

A character can appear a lot without getting much focus.

A character can appear less often but receive a lot of attention when they do show up.

For example:

Sajin Komamura appears throughout Bleach, but I often feel the story could focus on him more.

Wolf O’Donnell doesn’t appear nearly as often, yet he leaves a huge impression on the fandom.

Mai Valentine appears in several major arcs, but many fans feel she deserved more focus than she received.

This is why I don’t judge a character’s importance solely by how often they appear.

I tend to look at two separate questions:

1. How often does the character appear?

2. How much focus does the story actually give them?

Those answers aren’t always the same.

Some casts feel built around a central figure. Others feel like multiple characters share the spotlight.

That’s why shows like Code Lyoko, Totally Spies, and Teen Titans are so interesting to compare. A character can be important, central, and memorable without necessarily feeling like everyone else exists beneath them.

I don’t think one structure is automatically better than the other. They’re just different ways of telling stories.

“Demona and Azula are two characters who turn emotional pain into control, anger, and intimidation.

Both characters are incredibly intelligent and emotionally guarded, but underneath that control there’s a lot of fear, isolation, and instability slowly building over time.

What makes them compelling to me is that they never feel emotionally simple.

They can be destructive and difficult while still feeling deeply human in the way they respond to betrayal, loneliness, pride, and vulnerability.

“T-Bone/Chance Furlong and Yoruichi Shihouin both have this naturally cool energy that never feels forced.

They’re confident, athletic, instinctive, and extremely capable, but they don’t come across overly rigid or emotionally stiff.

What makes both characters appealing to me is how effortless their presence feels.

They can take control of situations easily while still feeling relaxed, playful, and independent.

“Early Darcy and Karai both have this calm, emotionally restrained intensity that makes them really compelling to watch.

They’re intelligent, composed, and dangerous without needing to constantly raise their voice or overpower every scene.

What I like about both characters is that a lot of their emotion comes through subtle reactions, loyalty conflicts, and quiet frustration rather than open vulnerability.

“Sajin Komamura and Piccolo are the kind of characters who look intimidating at first but end up being some of the most grounded and emotionally dependable people in their worlds.

Both characters carry a quiet wisdom to them.

They’re disciplined, protective, emotionally restrained, and often feel more mature than the chaos around them.

I also like how both characters are tied to isolation in different ways, yet still choose loyalty and compassion instead of bitterness.

“Mai Valentine and Sissi Delmas are two characters I’ve always felt were more emotionally layered than people give them credit for.

Both characters hide vulnerability behind confidence and attitude, but underneath that they clearly want connection, reassurance, and to be genuinely understood.

They can come across dramatic, defensive, or difficult at times, but a lot of that feels tied to insecurity, loneliness, and wanting validation in environments where they often feel emotionally isolated.

What makes them interesting to me is that they’re not purely antagonistic or purely sympathetic.

“Characters like Sajin Komamura and Goliath always stand out to me because they carry such a grounded protector energy.

They’re physically intimidating but emotionally calm.

Wise without feeling emotionally detached.

Strong without constantly needing to prove it.

Both characters feel deeply tied to loyalty, honor, isolation, and responsibility in ways that make them oddly comforting.

I don’t always connect with stories where one protagonist becomes the emotional center of absolutely everything.

Sometimes ensemble casts stop feeling balanced because:

every character starts revolving around one person

emotionally important characters get reduced

independent dynamics disappear

other perspectives stop mattering as much

the world starts feeling smaller

One Thing I Appreciate In Ensemble Shows

I usually connect more with stories where multiple characters feel important instead of everything revolving around one protagonist.

That’s part of why casts like:

Gargoyles

W.I.T.C.H.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Code Lyoko

often feel more alive to me.

Even when there is a central protagonist, the other characters still feel emotionally real, independent, and important to the identity of the story.

I think that’s why I tend to gravitate toward:

strong ensemble dynamics

emotionally grounded side characters

mentor figures with presence

rival characters with their own identity

stories where multiple characters carry emotional weight

A lot of the most memorable characters aren’t always “the main character but feel emotionally important

Leader Energy Without Being The Main Character

Some characters naturally carry authority, emotional presence, or leadership energy even when the story doesn’t officially frame them as “the protagonist.”

They feel independent from the main character structure instead of revolving around it.

Leonardo:

Especially in the 2003 series, Leonardo has disciplined, noble leader energy that feels larger than just “the responsible one.” He carries pressure and emotional intensity without losing his sense of honor.

Splinter:

Splinter doesn’t need constant screen time to feel important. His calm authority and emotional wisdom shape the entire family dynamic of TMNT.

Wolf O’Donnell:

Wolf has a different kind of leadership energy more independent and lone-wolf oriented. He feels less like a traditional team leader and more like someone others naturally follow because of confidence and skill.

Chance Furlong:

Chance has strong grounded leader energy even in chaotic situations. He feels dependable without needing to be framed as a perfect protagonist figure.

Tsunade:

Tsunade carries authority in a very human way. She feels emotionally exhausted, powerful, protective, and commanding at the same time, which makes her leadership feel believable.

Sajin Komamura:

Komamura’s leadership comes from integrity and loyalty rather than attention-seeking. He has quiet authority that makes him feel emotionally larger than his screen time.

Goliath:

Goliath feels less like a standard protagonist and more like the emotional and philosophical center of Gargoyles. His presence alone changes the atmosphere of scenes.

Sam:

Sam often gets framed as “the smart one,” but she also carries natural field-leader energy. She balances intelligence, composure, and responsibility without overpowering the team dynamic.

Not all leadership energy comes from being “the main character.”

Characters Treated Like Supporting Characters Even When They Aren’t

Some characters get labeled as “supporting characters” by fandoms even when the emotional weight of the story depends on them.

Not every important character is the central protagonist, but that doesn’t make them minor.

Zuko: People sometimes reduce Zuko to “the redeemed villain,” but he carries one of the strongest emotional arcs in the series. His storyline changes the tone of the entire show and affects almost every major character.

Katara: gets treated like “the girl of the group” way too often when she’s actually one of the emotional foundations of Team Avatar. She balances empathy, leadership, grief, hope, and emotional discipline throughout the series.

Cornelia hale : Cornelia often feels emotionally central to W.I.T.C.H., especially in the early seasons. She grounds the group dynamic while still feeling independent from the “main protagonist” structure.

Yumi Ishiyama:Yumi is frequently treated like secondary support despite being one of the most emotionally mature and grounded characters in the series. A lot of Code Lyoko’s emotional realism comes through her perspective.

Goliath: Even though Gargoyles has a large ensemble cast, Goliath carries enormous emotional and thematic weight. He feels less like a simple protagonist and more like the soul of the series.

Sajin komamura: Komamura gets pushed into “side captain” territory by a lot of fans even though his themes of loyalty, isolation, honor, and identity are some of the most emotionally compelling in Bleach.

Splinter:Splinter is sometimes treated as just “the mentor,” but emotionally he’s one of the most important figures in TMNT. The family dynamic of the turtles doesn’t really work without him.

Fandoms sometimes treat protagonist roles too rigidly.

Demona:

Demona isn’t just angry.

She’s someone who’s been hurt over and over again

The story understands her pain,

but it never lets her escape it.

She’s not misunderstood.

She’s trapped in her own narrative.

2003 Karai:

Karai knows what she’s doing isn’t right.

That’s what makes her interesting.

She’s caught between loyalty and truth—

and never fully allowed to choose herself.

She isn’t blind.

She’s just never given a real way out

Sissi Delmas:

Sissi isn’t a villain.

She’s just left out.

The Lyoko group keeps secrets from her, pushes her away,

and then reacts to her like she’s the problem.

She doesn’t become antagonistic out of nowhere.

She’s treated into that role

Mai valentine:

Mai starts off strong.

Independent. Guarded. In control.

But the moment she opens up,

the story stops supporting her.

She doesn’t fall apart on her own.

She’s left behind

They’re all different—but the pattern is the same.

Demona is understood, but never forgiven.

Karai is conflicted, but never freed.

Sissi is excluded, then blamed.

Mai is opened up… and then abandoned.

Different stories.

Same outcome

The difference between a villain and a victim

is often just how the story chooses to frame them.

One thing I notice in a lot of stories is character simplification.

Sometimes characters get reduced to a single role like the villain or the leader.”

Once that label sticks, people often stop looking at the character as a full person.

Villains may have pride, loneliness, or personal struggles that shape their behavior, but those details can get ignored because they’re expected to be the antagonist.

Leaders can also be simplified. Instead of being seen as individuals with emotions, flaws, and different responsibilities, they can become reduced to the person who is “supposed to be in charge.”

This pattern appears in many stories across animation and anime.

But it also made me think about something in real life.

Sometimes people get simplified in similar ways. A person might be seen as the problem,the villain,or the leader,and once that happens people may stop paying attention to who they actually are.

That’s one reason I find these characters interesting.

Goku:

Goku begins as a wild, kind-hearted kid in the mountains unaware he’s a Saiyan sent to destroy Earth. Instead of becoming a weapon, he becomes its shield.

What defines him isn’t complexity. It’s clarity.

He fights because he loves growth.

He trains because limits bother him.

He spares enemies because he believes strength should uplift, not dominate.

Super Saiyan was grief turned into power.

Ultra Instinct is instinct without ego.

Goku isn’t brooding. He isn’t morally gray.

He’s pure-hearted ambition a warrior who treats battle as a conversation and self-improvement as a lifestyle.

Moses is a character defined by identity, conscience, and transformation. Raised as Egyptian royalty but born Hebrew, his life is shaped by a truth that fractures everything he once believed about himself.

He begins as charismatic and carefree confident in his place within the palace, close with Rameses, unaware of the suffering outside his privilege. That innocence doesn’t last. The discovery of his heritage forces him to confront injustice, guilt, and responsibility all at once.

What makes Moses compelling is not dominance or flawless certainty. He doubts himself. He hesitates. He runs. But when called to act, he returns not out of ego, but conviction.

His leadership is quiet yet unshakable. He doesn’t command through intimidation; he stands through moral clarity. The parting of the Red Sea is visually grand, but the true weight of his story lies in smaller moments the grief in his eyes when facing Rameses, the fear at the burning bush, the burden of knowing freedom comes at a cost.

🌺 Nani Pelekai

From Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Nani feels like one of the most human Disney characters ever written.

She’s not overly polished.

She’s not perfectly patient.

She doesn’t always say the right thing.

She’s 19. She surfs. She blasts music. She loses her temper.

And she loves fiercely.

What makes her stand out isn’t just that she’s a big sister it’s how visibly overwhelmed she is while still trying her best. You can see the stress in her eyes. You can hear it in her voice. But you also see the softness underneath.

She feels real.

Not a fantasy version of strength.

Just a young woman navigating grief, responsibility, and love all at once.