Anime fans love to rally behind certain characters that they find likable. However, audiences don’t always pick the expected characters to be their favorites; sometimes, they pick side characters and people who may have had little to no screen time. Either way, a character’s popularity does not always guarantee that they matter to the plot at all.

There are plenty of fan-favorite anime characters that are beloved who are completely useless to the plot. Some of these characters have shining personalities that distract from how little they do for the plot, while others are so beloved that their presence in fan spaces makes people forget their absence from the story. Some are even main characters whom fans see in every single episode. These characters thrive on being memorable, despite barely serving any purpose to the story. They are fascinating because, for those who love them, regardless of how bland they are, their legacies are cemented in time.

Kiba Inuzuka Becomes Forgettable After the Chunin Exams

Kiba’s introduction in Naruto suggested he would be a key rival among the younger ninjas. His teamwork with Akamaru was great, and his confident attitude gave him a strong presence during the Chunin Exams. That promise never translated into long-term relevance. Once Naruto defeated him, Kiba slipped into the background and was rarely involved in anything important.

His appearances became more about filling space than driving the story forward. Even when the stakes grew higher in Naruto: Shippuden, he didn’t matter. His contributions were limited to minor moments that barely affected the outcome of larger conflicts. Kiba had the foundation to be more impactful, but instead, he faded into obscurity while other characters developed into central figures. He is now known more for his dog than for anything he did in the story.

Usopp’s Bravery Rarely Changes the Course of One Piece

One Piece fans love to hail Usopp as the Sniper King and God Usopp. He is praised for his bravery and humor, but the twist is that most of this is ironic. Usopp’s core character trait is that he is a coward. Yet, he keeps finding himself in situations that make him look like a hero.

But the problem with this is that he never contributes anything useful to the big moments. Usopp has had a handful of critical moments in One Piece, but outside of those, he is often just another member of the crew. Fans are hopeful that he will finally have his character moment in the Elbaf Arc. But until then, he is just another comic relief character.

Yamcha Wouldn’t Be Missed If He Was Taken Out of Dragon Ball Z

At the start of Dragon Ball, Yamcha was a fighter with distinct traits. But by Dragon Ball Z, he had completely lost relevance. His early death against a Saibaman marked the beginning of his downfall. His reputation never recovered, especially since he was killed two more times. Other fighters surpassed him in both power and relevance, while Yamcha became more of a gag than a formidable ally.

His presence in the story rarely added anything beyond humor and nostalgia. Even during critical arcs, he lingered on the sidelines without influencing outcomes. He is still loved by fans, but mostly as a meme character. Yamcha’s legacy shifted from being a skilled martial artist to being the face of expendability in shōnen storytelling.

Kon Exists Purely as Bleach’s Comic Relief

Kon entered Bleach with the potential to be an intriguing addition. He is an artificial soul inhabiting a stuffed lion. This means he could have offered clever narrative opportunities and deeper commentary on the nature of souls. Instead, his role dwindled into a series of jokes and filler appearances. He was never central to the battles or mysteries that defined Ichigo’s journey.

Before long, his importance quickly evaporated. Kon became more of a mascot than a meaningful character. Fans appreciate the character for his humor, which never fails to draw a laugh from audiences. But the reality is that the story would remain completely unchanged if he was removed entirely. He is one of the most dispensable characters in the series.

Kuwabara Fades Into the Background After the Dark Tournament

At the start of Yu Yu Hakusho, Kuwabara had a strong personality. He had humor and strength, and his spirit sword made him memorable. He brought warmth to the group, and a new dynamic to the plot. He peaked during the Dark Tournament, where his battles contributed to the story’s momentum. But after that arc, he lost relevance.

Fans still liked him, but he didn’t have much to do for the plot anymore. Yusuke, Hiei and Kurama continued to carry the narrative weight while he was sidelined. In the later arcs of the anime, he barely had any important roles in the story. He was more of an emotional presence than a necessary one. Fans never stopped cherishing him, but the story clearly did.

Lucy Heartfilia Rarely Drives the Plot In Fairy Tail

Lucy is introduced in Fairy Tail as one of the core characters, and her celestial magic gave her a unique flavor early on. She also added warmth and humor that helped define the guild’s dynamic. The problem is that Lucy’s impact rarely extends beyond those qualities. Her spirits handle most of her fights, which takes away from her usefulness.

Lucy spends more time reacting to all the chaos around her than moving the plot forward herself. Even when she featured in major arcs, she didn’t have any major roles. Those always went to Natsu, Erza and Gray, who always overshadowed her. She had a top-tier personality that fans were drawn to, but she was more of a decoration to the plot than a game-changer.

Misa Amane Is Just a Pawn In Death Note’s Mind Games

When she was introduced in Death Note, Misa seemed like a striking character. Her gothic style and the way she idolized Light were both interesting. With her own Death Note and Shinigami, she could have been a real wildcard. When the battle of wits between Light and L was at a deadlock, she seemed like a solution. Instead, she became little more than a pawn.

Her decisions rarely altered the balance of power because she didn’t make any by herself. She was trapped as Light’s tool rather than an independent force. While she provided tension and emotional complexity, she never truly drove the narrative. Misa is remembered more for her aesthetic than for any lasting influence on the deadly chess match at the heart of the story.

Hinata Tachibana Has No Agency In Tokyo Revengers

Hinata is central to Tokyo Revengers only because she is the reason Takemichi keeps fighting. She represents the ideal future Takemichi wants to protect and why he doesn’t give up, but the story gives her very little to do beyond being that motivation. Time after time, she becomes the victim that Takemichi must save, rather than a character who shapes events herself.

Her role is emotional, not narrative, and that keeps her passive throughout the series. Fans care about her fate, but Hinata is written with so little agency that her absence would barely change how the story unfolds. She was more of a symbol than anything. Fans loved her sweet personality and wanted her to survive, but she could have been anyone in the story.

Elizabeth Spends Most of The Seven Deadly Sins Waiting On Meliodas

Elizabeth was positioned as one of the key figures in The Seven Deadly Sins. Both her healing magic and hidden divine heritage gave her potential weight in the story. Her connection to Meliodas was also very important and central to the story. Yet, in practice, her role was often reduced to waiting on Meliodas and worrying about the group.

Her contributions to major conflicts are minimal compared to the overwhelming power of the Sins. When the battles escalate, Elizabeth is frequently sidelined. She always either needs protection or offers emotional support rather than actively changing the course of events. It’s rare to see a main character of an anime be so useless to the actual plot. She is central in name, but not in impact.

Tuxedo Mask Throws Roses While Sailor Moon Does the Work

Tuxedo Mask is the alias of Mamoru Chiba, one of the protagonists of Sailor Moon. He is a guardian of the Earth alongside the Sailor Guardians, and Usagi’s main love interest. While he seems very useful, he actually doesn’t do much. This even became a meme among fans of the anime. He has a very classic hero look, with a cape and mask, but he rarely contributes to fights.

He shows up after the fight to help patch them up, or mid-battle to toss a rose. He’s known more for his fancy costume than any relevant plot moments. Fans cared more about him as a love interest than as a hero. Narratively, Tuxedo Mask didn’t contribute much to Sailor Moon.