The best side characters often have the makings of a protagonist themselves, like Fern from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

Not all heroes wear capes — sometimes they wear aprons, dresses, a side plait hairstyle, a smile, and are often called "mom"!

The director of one of the most beloved magical-girl anime series of the 2010s explains how Tenchi Muyo Ryo-Ohki set him on ...