What’s the one thing that makes the anime characters strongest? Obviously, intense training, development of new techniques and several years of hardship. But, is that enough? Precisely not as without proper guidance it’s quite difficult to attain it all and for that, these characters need powerful assistance from some great anime mentors.

Almost all the up-and-coming protagonists require mentors to help them grow emotionally and unlock new powers. After all, to become the best, you’ve to learn from the best. And, these anime mentors impart all kinds of knowledge and abilities, ranging from cooking skills to fighting styles.

They make their pupils work hard to learn the skills they need to achieve their goals. The ideal mentors make sure that their students who look up to them are well-equipped to handle whatever difficulties come at them. And, in this article, we’ll take a look at some of the greatest & powerful anime mentors. So, without any further ado let’s get started.

10. Yami from ‘Black Clover’

The franchise of Black Clover indeed is filled with a lot of potential fighters but not everyone has the ability to mentor someone. However, Yami Sukehiro looks like a good selection for this job. He’s an absolute beast on the battlefield, after all, he is the squad captain of Black Bulls and also, one of its strongest members.

He acts as a mentor figure to Asta, coming to his rescue after he is attacked by Patolli and teaching him how to use Ki. Yami has a lot of faith in Asta’s strength, and he has acknowledged Asta as the one responsible for the squad’s improved strength and reputation.

9. All Might from ‘My Hero Academia’

Izuku Midoriya was a quirkless kid who always admired the No.1 hero, All Might and wished to be just like him. But, he would have never thought that his dream would come true, and one day he will be mentored by his superhero himself. The boy who always wanted to meet his hero ended up being his pupil and also became the successor to his incredible power, One For All.

In terms of strength, All Might has all the abilities to tackle any kind of opponent, but that doesn’t make him a great anime mentor. What makes him an ideal mentor is to believe in a kid like Midoriya who didn’t acquire any kind of abilities. He trained him to be able to handle the magnificent strength of One For All. He was always there for Midoriya when no one else was and that’s the biggest quality of a mentor.

8. Kakashi Hatake from ‘Naruto’

Kakashi Hatake served as the mentor for Team 7 which includes Naruto, Sasuke & Sakura. By the time he was ready to be anyone’s mentor, he’d been a jounin for over a decade. Well, he doesn’t like bothersome kids but that doesn’t mean he also does not care about them. His students hold a very deep place in his heart and he truly cares about them.

His teaching skills are incredible and his way of explaining the basics is just mind-blowing. His influence on his students is very intriguing to watch as he taught Chidori to Sasuke and also, tutored Naruto about controlling his Chakra. As a novice, it’s very fun and exciting to learn from a mentor like Kakashi although, having a teacher like him in real life is hardly possible.

7. Kisuke Urahara from ‘Bleach’

Kisuke Urahara came as a rescuer for Ichigo Kurosaki when he was going through his initial phase of being a substitute Soul Reaper. After Ichigo’s encounter with the unmatchable strength of Byakuya, it was Urahara who trained him for continuous ten days so that he can confront the higher-ups of the Soul Society.

He gave him valuable lessons about mastering his Zanpakuto and utilising its true potential. Urahara also developed a passage for Ichigo & his friends so that they can enter the Soul Society and rescue Rukia. As a mentor, Urahara is a very reliable guy and a person who can easily put all his trust in his teaching methods.

6. Izumi Curtis from ‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’

Would it be possible for Edward & Alphonse to retain their bodies back without any help? Surely not, as they didn’t even know how to use alchemy properly. Thanks to Izumi Curtis who mentored both of them in mastering the spells & skills. The only person who was able to understand the pain of the brothers was Izumi alone, as once she also went through the same.

But, that doesn’t mean she goes easy on her pupils. Izumi’s training regimen is brutal as her strict guidance comes from real-life experiments and knowledge. Although, she claims to be a mere housewife but Ed & Alphonse both know how strong she is. Without her help, Edward wouldn’t have gotten anywhere.

5. Master Roshi from ‘Dragon Ball’

There are tons of mentors or tutors in the world of Dragon Ball, but no one is as entertaining and as cool as Master Roshi. He’s a huge pervert, lives in the middle of the ocean, and wears a turtle shell on his back; all this makes him quite an interesting person. Although, he seems a questionable teacher on all accounts but he’s a great guy.

He is an old and eccentric person, but don’t get deceived by his looks as he’s responsible for training some of the strongest fighters in the universe. Goku, Krillin, Ox-King and many more have been mentored by Master Roshi and he truly cares about his students. His methods are a bit different but he gives his full effort to help his students grow so that they keep striving to become stronger.

4. Silvers Rayleigh from ‘One Piece’

After the incident at Sabaody Arc, every crew member of Straw Hats got separated leaving Luffy alone on the island. There was no one for him at the time, and then came as a light of hope, Rayleigh. He taught him such valuable lessons so that he can reunite with his friends again and never accept defeat in any circumstances.

During the two-year time skip, Rayleigh helped Luffy in mastering all the three forms of Haki. He taught him different types of moves and made him stronger. Getting training from the former Pirate King’s right-hand man is a privilege for anybody and Luffy was one such lucky person. Luffy admires him a lot, and despite their opposite personalities, they deeply respect and care for one another.

3. Koro-sensei from ‘Assassination Classroom’

Have you ever imagined a teacher with a giant yellow head and tentacles? Well, Koro-sensei is something similar as by his outer appearance he looks like an octopus. Initially, he was focused on destroying human civilization but in the end, he moved us to tears. And, that pretty much describes the type of mentor he is.

Anyone who tries to mess with Koro-sensei’s students should also be prepared to face his wrath. He cares deeply for his students, often helping them with daily life problems. He always worked towards making his students better people. Even though he claimed he would blow up the Earth, the students of his class grew to respect & admire him. Having a teacher like him in real life is a blessing for us.

2. Jiraiya from ‘Naruto’

One of the greatest ninjas of the Konoha Village, Master Jiraiya has trained some of the most powerful shinobi including Minato and Naruto. Although, he doesn’t look like a perfect candidate for a mentor position, because of his pervy and lustful acts, but he is an amazing teacher in terms of influencing his students very well.

Throughout the series, his relationship with Naruto was heart-warming and hilarious at the same time. At first, he wasn’t interested in teaching Naruto, but later on, he truly believed in him and acted like a second father to him. The legacy of a pervy sage & greatest anime mentor he left behind him can never be forgotten and he will always be in the hearts of anime fans.

1. Eikichi Onizuka from ‘Great Teacher Onizuka’

Eikichi Onizuka deserves to be on top of the list of greatest anime mentors in history and there are several reasons behind this statement. Apart from all the great mentors on the list, Onizuka is far from a standard teacher. Although, he was considered unintelligent and, initially his sexual urges get the best of him but you can’t disregard his value as a teacher.

His teaching stint at a public school proved he may be the key to controlling the most violent and problematic class in the school. At first, everyone disregarded him, but he became the mentor to teenagers who badly needed a supportive adult. Onizuka dealt with their personal problems and solved them in the most ridiculous and often hilarious ways.

Any ordinary person would’ve given up on doing what he does, but for Onizuka, it’s his day-to-day routine and his physical prowess is just out of this world. He is the type of man who chose not to give up on the students that others before him have already deemed hopeless.

Which one of the following anime mentors is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend us some other characters like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.

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