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Anime · by Mango River · 2026-10-30

Which side character quietly had the best arc of the year?

Main characters get the episode titles and the merch, but every season there's a side character whose growth sneaks up on you over a few episodes. I keep thinking about the ones who change without a big speech about it. Who was yours this year? Please spoiler-tag anything past the midpoint of a show.

20 sparks · 3 comments

Comments

Amelia Hughes · 12 likes

any mentor who gets a whole episode about their own past and suddenly you realize they were never just the mentor. gets me every time

Bianca Santos · 2 likes

hot take: the rival who loses and is genuinely fine with it is peak writing. no redemption arc needed

Avery Johnson · 10 likes

growth that doesn't need a tournament arc, we love to see it