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14 Best Anime Mentors and Teachers Who Shaped Legends

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Anime heroes aren’t born as legends. Most start off just like normal people. Maybe they’re a bit lazy, loud, confused, and have no idea what’s going on most of the time. 

They grow into their potential when they have a reliable mentor step in. Some of the best anime mentors and teachers are patient, some are eccentric, and some will literally throw their students to the sharks just to teach them how to swim.

The point is: anime mentors come in all shapes and forms. So, here’s a fun list that covers some of the iconic mentors along with some underrated gems that deserve way more love.

14 Best Anime Mentors and Teachers Who Shaped Our Favorite Heroes

1. Jiraiya

A close-up shot of the anime character Jiraiya from the series Naruto, featuring his signature spiky white hair, a forehead protector with the "Oil" (油) kanji, red markings under his eyes, and a red and grey outfit.

Anime: Naruto

When it comes to anime mentors, Jiraiya deserves his cookies. Personality-wise, he’s a big win with his hilarious and caring attitude. Let’s not forget he’s powerful as well!

Jiraiya teaches Naruto something more than just jutsu. He teaches him to believe in himself. Their bond is equal parts messy and heartfelt.

2. All Might

All Might, the character from the anime My Hero Academia, smiling brightly and making a peace sign over his eye.

Anime: My Hero Academia

You’re going to love All Might’s journey as a mentor because he’s not perfect. Before Izuku, he had never mentored anyone. So he isn’t the perfect teacher.

But he does a great job even with his limitations. All Might is loud, dramatic, and inspirational, but it is his vulnerable moments that make him unforgettable.

3. Satoru Gojo

A close-up of Satoru Gojo from the anime Jujutsu Kaisen, with white hair and bright blue eyes, pulling down his black blindfold.

Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen

Gojo takes the trope of “cool overpowered teacher” to a whole new level. He might crack jokes and bully his coworkers regularly, but when it comes to defeating enemies, he’s never one to slack.

Under the blindfold and memes, he truly is a wonderful mentor who wants his students to break the toxic system they are in. Gojo is the kind of teacher you’d want in university to guide you.

4. Rayleigh

The image is a close-up depiction of the character Silvers Rayleigh from the One Piece series.

Anime: One Piece

If you’ve seen your fair share of anime, then you probably know the character trope of the weird old man who knows all the secrets of the universe. Well, Rayleigh is just that.

He plays a crucial role in training Luffy. No ego clashes or arguments involved. Fans love his zen attitude.

5. Reigen Arataka

The image features Arataka Reigen, a prominent character known as a self-proclaimed psychic and conman. He has spiky, light orange/blond hair and dark, serious eyes. He is wearing a light gray collared shirt and a dark gray suit jacket.

Anime: Mob Psycho 100

Reigen is a con artist, a genius, and a complete disaster. Yet, he is the perfect mentor for our young protagonist. 

While Reigen might not have psychic powers, he makes up for it with his emotional intelligence. He is the glue that holds Mob together from going berserk as he fights his enemies.

6. Genkai

An anime character, the older Genkai from Yu Yu Hakusho, with long pink hair and a stern, unimpressed expression, wearing a red, purple, and white outfit outdoors.

Anime: Yu Yu Hakusho

Genkai believes in tough love. She has no tolerance for excuses and pours her heart out to train Yusuke with complete honesty. 

She might seem sassy and rude at first, but behind that firm exterior is a person who genuinely cares. In fact, Genkai has more faith in Yusuke than he does in himself.

7. Kumatetsu

An animated, large, red, bear-like character named Kumatetsu from the film The Boy and the Beast is shown in profile, looking sternly to the left in a crowded marketplace scene.

Anime: The Boy and the Beast

You won’t catch Kumatetsu ever admitting that he loves his students. After all, he loves presenting his grumpy mentor personality more.

His relationship with Ren is messy and full of emotional growth. The best part? The growth goes two ways as their bond deepens more into a father-son dynamic.

8. Aizawa

hota Aizawa with his hair and capturing weapon floating, indicating his Erasure Quirk is active.

Anime: My Hero Academia

Aizawa looks like any exhausted 9-to-5 employee with barely any sleep and an intense addiction to caffeine. But when it comes to protecting his students, he does not mess about.

Fans love Aizawa’s no-nonsense attitude. He dishes it like it is without sugarcoating things.

9. Kishibe

The image displays the character Kishibe from the anime and manga series Chainsaw Man. Kishibe is a tall, grizzled man with scraggly facial hair and a distinctive stitched scar running across his left cheek. He has light brown or blonde hair and is wearing a black suit jacket, a white shirt, and a dark tie. He is holding a metal flask in his left hand. The character is standing outdoors in a vast cemetery filled with numerous white crosses under a cloudy sky.

Anime: Chainsaw Man

You know how really tough mentors threaten to kill you if you can’t perform? Well, when it comes to Kishibe, that threat is very real.

Kishibe trains Denji and Power by killing them again and again, hoping that they’d learn something from all this practical experience. Seems violent, but you can excuse him because he might be brutal, but he is also very fair.

10. Kamaji

A scene from the animated film Spirited Away showing the character Kamaji, a multi-limbed, long-bearded man, working in a boiler room with the young girl Chihiro standing nearby. Kamaji is using a large paddle to mix something in a pot while Chihiro looks on. The room is filled with machinery and various items, including a large mirror-like object and bowls.

Anime: Spirited Away

Kamaji is one of those quiet mentors whose presence is felt in all the little things. He doesn’t teach Chihiro combat or magic.

Instead, he teaches her responsibility, kindness, and how to survive in a world that is beyond human comprehension. He is the only stability Chihiro has in the spirit world.

11. Hiko Seijuro XIII

Hiko Seijuro from the anime series Rurouni Kenshin, with long dark hair, a stern expression, wearing a red and white outfit, pointing forward towards the viewer.

Anime: Rurouni Kenshin

Hiko’s brutally honest personality is just shy of being considered rude. But that honesty is exactly what Kenshin needs to finally face the things that he has been avoiding. 

Hiko, in a nutshell, is a combination of sarcastic and overpowered. You can even consider him an emotional anchor.

12. Izumi Curtis

The image features Izumi Curtis, a master alchemist and martial artist from the Fullmetal Alchemist series. She is depicted with her signature dark hair in twists or dreadlocks and a stern expression.

Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Izumi combines tough love and mother hen to become a mentor who can break your arm in half while also giving you solid advice on how to survive. She is strict but also very loving.

Edward and Alphonse learn discipline, humility, and moral responsibility from her. Without Izumi, they would have been set back for a long time in their journey.

13. Biscuit Krueger

Biscuit Krueger in her child form, striking a confident pose in a desert or canyon area.

Anime: Hunter x Hunter

Don’t be fooled by Bisky looking like a magical girl mascot. She can train you like a drill sergeant on a power trip.

Under her strict mentorship, Gon and Killua are pushed both physically and mentally. However, her caring nature makes her one of the most rounded mentor figures in anime.

14. Koro-sensei

Koro-sensei, a yellow, octopus-like character, wearing a black graduation gown and cap, holds a brown book in one tentacle and stacks of books in two others, smiling with a wide grin.

Anime: Assassination Classroom

Koro-sensei might be the result of an illegal experiment, and he might have stumbled into his role as a teacher, but he really does an outstanding job. He boosts his students’ confidence, takes on personalized approaches to teach them, and even goes out of his way to impart essential life skills.

What Makes These Best Anime Mentors and Teachers Stick With Us More Than Heroes?

You might choose to watch an anime because of flashy fights, insane power-ups, or over-the-top villain smackdowns. No one really chooses their anime based on the mentor.

However, these characters are just as important as the heroes. 

They can drop one line of wisdom that might stay with you for the rest of your life. Their way of life might even shape the way you deal with life. 

Some of the best anime mentors and teachers might not be the protagonist, but they are often the reasons these heroes shine so bright.

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