In most cases, primary characters debut in the initial episode and continue to feature prominently in subsequent episodes. As an anime unfolds, additional characters emerge who can rival or even surpass the original protagonist in significance, often leading viewers to believe they have been part of the series since its inception.
For those revisiting the series, they might find it striking when reminded that some of the most inspiring side characters didn’t make their first appearance in the pilot episode. Either the initial episode is filled with establishing the main character, setting, and plot, or the introduction of these beloved side characters was planned for a later point in the anime. It’s almost as if they were there from the beginning, but that’s not always the case.
Debut Episode: “SECURE A WIFE”
Fans of “Spy x Family” can hardly envision the Thorn Princess, Yor Briar, being solitary, yet at the start of the anime, she truly felt alone. Although she had her younger brother Yuri by her side, her unique lifestyle as the Thorn Princess kept her distant from most people. However, everything shifted for Yor when a charming man claiming to be Loid Forger proposed marriage to her.
Loid Forger first appeared in Episode 1, and he immediately took in Anya as his foster daughter, initiating Operation Strix. Though Yor was eventually introduced in the second episode, making Loid a memorable family member, she wasn’t present initially, leaving Anya without a mother figure for a brief period. In essence, during that time, the Forgers were just a father and daughter duo.
Debut Episode: “The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi”
Fans of Dragon Ball typically view Master Roshi as Goku’s lewd but efficient trainer, with many asserting that Goku wouldn’t have progressed without him. Initially, Goku crossed paths with his first companions like the brilliant inventor Bulma, the shape-shifting Oolong, and a few others. Following some battles, Goku felt the need for further training to improve his skills, which is when Master Roshi entered the picture.
Krillin appeared around the same time as Master Roshi did. In the initial tournament arc, Goku would have faced difficulties if not for Master Roshi’s guidance to boost his fighting abilities. However, as Goku grew stronger and more powerful, particularly during Dragon Ball Z, Master Roshi became less significant in the narrative.
Debut Episode: “Muzan Kibutsuji”
In Episode 1 of “Demon Slayer”, Muzan’s influence affected the Kamado family without him being physically present. During the episode titled “Cruelty”, Muzan orchestrated the massacre of the Kamados as a means to suppress Sun Breathing knowledge. At first, Tanjiro didn’t ponder over who was responsible for this tragedy. Instead, his immediate concern was ensuring Nezuko’s safety.
In the seventh episode, Muzan made his debut on-screen, following a two-year time jump and several battles. By this point, Tanjiro had received demon slayer training but was still ill-equipped for revenge. As Muzan transformed an innocent man into a demon and escaped down an alleyway, Tanjiriro could only look on with distress. He was forced to let Muzan escape, and shortly afterwards found himself battling two other demons. Now, as the final arc of Demon Slayer begins, Tanjiro will finally have a chance to confront Muzan face-to-face once more.
Debut Episode: “For Myself”
Initially in the anime Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro were the only two main characters resembling the typical trio from shonen series. However, it was not until they joined Jujutsu Tech that their teacher, Satoru Gojo, introduced them to a classmate named Nobara Kugisaki. Despite her significant impact on events in both Season 1 and Season 2, she wasn’t officially introduced until the second episode of the anime.
The three-member group experienced numerous hardships in a short span, and the Shibuya Incident arc in Season 2 was incredibly grueling for each of the student sorcerers. Based on what fans have gathered so far, Nobara might have suffered severe injuries or even perished during the Shibuya Incident. Given this, she is unlikely to make an appearance throughout the narrative. However, despite her absence from the anime since its debut, Nobara stands out as one of the most vibrant and impactful characters in JJK, making it easy to overlook her initial absence.
Debut Episode: “Luffy’s Past! The Red-Haired Shanks Appears”
An intriguing aspect of Shanks’ introduction in the narrative of One Piece is that he was already present in the original manga, yet he didn’t show up in the anime until later. Interestingly, the One Piece anime altered some initial events from the manga. The protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, first appeared as a teenager and met Roronoa Zoro at Shells Town. It was only in Episode 4 that Shanks made his debut, which was quite delayed compared to his introduction in the manga.
In the manga, Shanks was among the earliest characters introduced and served as Luffy’s first significant ally. He played a crucial role in helping Luffy survive an intense encounter with Higuma and mountain bandits, thus kick-starting the “One Piece” manga with a powerful start. Conversely, the anime opted to introduce the popular character Zoro instead, choosing to begin with a cool lineup right from the get-go.
Debut Episode: “Fight to the Death! Ichigo vs. Ichigo”
In the anime of Bleach, Ichigo first encountered Soul Reaper Rukia and together they defeated a Hollow named Fishbone D without any assistance from others early on. While it might seem like Ichigo had all his friends with him, that wasn’t the case initially. Instead, each main character was gradually introduced in Bleach, but Kisuke Urahara didn’t make an appearance until Episode 6.
In the anime series “Bleach,” Kisuke served as Ichigo’s initial significant tutor, but he didn’t start training him right from the beginning as it wasn’t planned that way. Instead, Kisuke appeared on the scene when a wandering modified soul infiltrated Ichigo’s body, this rogue soul having originated from the backroom of Kisuke’s shop. Although Kisuke might have made an appearance in Episode 6, his true importance didn’t manifest until later episodes had unfolded, when Ichigo was prepared to embark on training before entering the Soul Society.
Debut Episode: “Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes?”
In the popular anime series “Naruto,” the initial appearances of several members from the original Konoha 12 squad were reordered, with Sasuke and Sakura making their debut in Episode 1, despite not appearing in the first manga chapter. Interestingly, these students all attended the ninja academy in the Hidden Leaf Village concurrently, but Kakashi-sensei, who was supposed to lead Team 7, wasn’t present there. Instead, it was Iruka who stepped up as Naruto’s first mentor, without needing assistance from Kakashi.
In the third episode, after Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were promoted to genin and formed Team 7, they encountered Kakashi for the first time. At that moment, Kakashi seemed peculiar as their initial jonin instructor. Despite his unusual introduction, Kakashi grew to be a beloved character in Naruto, providing a sturdy foundation and contributing significantly to the story’s cohesion.
Debut Episode: “The Band of the Hawk”
In no form of the Berserk series does Griffith make an appearance, despite being a crucial figure in Guts’ tumultuous life as a swordsman. Timewise, Guts didn’t encounter Griffith until he was approximately 15 years old and had already gained some tough battle experience. Consequently, in the 1997 Berserk anime, Griffith wasn’t introduced until Episode 2, allowing time for Guts’ pre-Band of the Hawk history to be developed first.
Encountering Griffith significantly transformed Guts’ life trajectory. They initially bonded as companions, then friends, but later became each other’s most implacable foes. The 1997 anime primarily delved into their friendship during the narrative, yet everyone familiar with Berserk was aware that it couldn’t endure. Over the years, Berserk fans have grown accustomed to the romantic entanglement of Guts, Griffith, and Casca; however, there was once a period when Guts felt profound loneliness.
Debut Episode: “Night of the Battle to Retake the Wall”
In the first episode of Attack on Titan, the original trio’s members, who were kids at the time, witnessed the destruction caused by the Colossal and Armored Titans as they breached Shiganshina’s walls. Eren Yeager didn’t cross paths with his most significant and beloved companions until a few years had passed, when the main characters had grown into teenagers and were prepared for battle. This is when Levi Ackerman first appeared in Episode 4 of the anime, though his introduction was somewhat brief.
In Episode 9, it was revealed that Levi had firmly established himself as a formidable and unyielding commander, showing no mercy and always completing his tasks effectively. It wasn’t until Eren discovered his role as the Attack Titan that Levi showed any interest in him. Given that there was little incentive for Levi to appear in Episode 1 when he had no reason to engage with Eren or his companions, it seems logical that he was introduced later on.
Debut Episode: “Confrontation”
In one way, the character L, the super-detective, briefly appeared in the opening chapter of the Death Note manga, yet he didn’t join the scene until episode 2 in the anime. Delaying L’s formal introduction could have been advantageous as it kept the spotlight on Light Yagami and prevented viewers from being distracted by the curiosity surrounding the identity of that unkempt man with long hair.
Timely indeed, character L entered the Death Note anime series, ready to confront the enigmatic Kira, also known as the heart attack killer. This marked one of the most intellectually stimulating battles in anime history. In this fashion, the first episode primarily centered around Light, while the second almost exclusively revolved around L, providing a well-balanced narrative for both characters. Similar to the Death Note manga, the anime left fans guessing about L’s identity, only revealing his face later on during his meeting with Soichiro Yagami at that hotel.
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2025-04-20 06:01