Jiraiya, a character from the series Naruto, was adored by many. His wisdom and strength were shared by various anime characters. He was a member of the Legendary Sannin, along with Tsunade and Orochimaru, and his role as Naruto’s mentor was crucial to the storyline. Additionally, he was a formidable ninja with immense power.
Jiraiya was a character known for possessing a multitude of qualities that made him truly iconic. He was known for his wisdom, strength, compassion, and ability to bring humor and eccentricity to the series. In addition, he acted as a paternal figure for Naruto and consistently believed in him, even when others did not.
Jiraiya’s talents, demeanor, connections, and influence on Naruto have made a lasting impression, serving as inspiration for the development of additional anime characters such as Jiraiya. For those who admire this individual, here are 10 remarkable anime characters who possess comparable qualities.
10 Anime Characters Similar to Jiraiya
Master Roshi – Dragon Ball
Master Roshi is a renowned martial arts instructor in the Dragon Ball series, having mentored prominent characters such as Goku, Krillin, and many others. Similar to Jiraiya, Roshi serves as a mentor and shares his wisdom, often accompanied by his eccentric and lecherous behavior for comedic effect.
Despite his advanced age, Master Roshi remains a powerful and iconic figure with a deep sense of care and belief in his students’ potential. He serves as a source of comedic enjoyment and an anchor for the characters to learn from throughout the story.
Roshi’s impact stretches across multiple generations, starting from the early Dragon Ball eras and continuing through Dragon Ball Super. Similar to how Jiraiya left a lasting impression on Naruto, Roshi had a profound effect on key characters such as Goku. Among anime characters, Roshi stands out for his enduring presence and significant influence, much like Jiraiya.
Silvers Rayleigh from One Piece
During the One Piece timeskip, Rayleigh, known as the former Pirate King Gol D. Roger’s right-hand man, played a significant role as a mentor to Luffy. When compared to other anime characters such as Jiraiya, Rayleigh’s legendary status sets him apart.
After encountering Luffy on Sabaody Archipelago, Rayleigh was quick to recognize his immense potential. He then assisted Luffy in developing his Haki proficiency and combat abilities for two years on Rusukaina Island before embarking into the New World.
Even in his retirement, Rayleigh’s wisdom and mastery of Haki enable him to guide and support the younger generation in facing new dangers later in the narrative. Similar to how Jiraiya taught valuable lessons to Naruto, Rayleigh honed Luffy’s natural abilities to prepare him for the future of piracy.
Izumi Curtis (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Izumi Curtis, a highly skilled alchemy teacher, plays a crucial maternal role for the Elric brothers in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. She shares in their suffering after the loss of their mother and aids in their development of advanced alchemy skills.
Like Jiraiya and other anime characters, Izumi’s approach to teaching is a balance of toughness and kindness. Despite her tough methods, she truly cares for the brothers and works tirelessly to help them restore their bodies during their most challenging trials.
Through her compassion in taking the brothers under her guidance, Izumi leaves a lasting impact by motivating them to continue progressing, even when she is no longer able to assist them in the same manner.
Kite: A Hunter x Hunter Character
Kite played a significant role as a mentor in the anime version of Hunter x Hunter. He first encountered the protagonist, Gon Freecss, as a child and motivated him to pursue his dream of becoming a professional Hunter.
Despite his limited screen time, Kite’s proficiency with Crazy Slots weapons and Nen abilities has left a lasting impact on Gon. He continues to reflect on Kite’s talents and use them as a guide to set his own fighting goals and further develop his powers. In the anime world, characters such as Jiraiya are also influenced by Kite’s skills and abilities.
Despite being tragically separated from each other by Neferpitou, Gon’s recollections of Kite continue to inspire him to become stronger. He holds onto Kite’s teachings as a skilled fighter and one of the first individuals to show him kindness.
Ukai (Haikyuu!!)
Despite his tough demeanor, Coach Ukai in Haikyuu!! is a dependable mentor who pushes the Karasuno boys’ volleyball team to reach their full potential through intense training and strategic guidance.
Despite being hospitalized for health reasons, Ukai is always excited to assist Hinata whenever he can, providing him with chances to improve his natural abilities and turn them into true strengths.
Similarly to how Jiraya provided Naruto with specialized training environments to enhance his skills, Ukai creates specific training regimens to improve Hinata’s weaknesses and refine his strengths, such as precision in spiking. Ukai’s fervent enthusiasm for coaching reflects Jiraya’s commitment to developing his students.
6) Genkai – Yu Yu Hakusho
The psychic martial arts master Genkai plays a crucial role in guiding protagonist Yusuke Urameshi in Yu Yu Hakusho, recognizing his innate spiritual abilities that are worthy of being passed down. She pushes Yusuke to his physical and mental limits in order to unlock his true fighting capabilities, using tough but essential training techniques.
Despite her seemingly cold demeanor, Genkai is a prime example of an anime character, like Jiraiya, who is able to push their students to their full potential. She is genuinely invested in mentoring worthy successors and has chosen to focus her efforts on someone as raw yet gifted as Yusuke.
Similar to how Jiraiya patiently helped Naruto unlock his shadow clones and Rasengan, Genkai pushes Yusuke to master his signature Spirit Gun technique.
Makarov Dreyar: Master of Fairy Tail
Despite his small stature, Makarov serves as the heart and leader of the wizard community as the Guild Master of Fairy Tail. He possesses great magical abilities and wisdom, using them to guide and protect the members of Fairy Tail from dangerous enemies for many years.
Despite his occasional comedic anger, Makarov truly cares for and understands his guild children, providing them with sincere familial care and acceptance. Similar to characters like Jiraiya in anime, Makarov’s influence extends beyond just his guild and allows outcasts like Juvia to have a second chance and better themselves.
Similarly, Makarov’s nurturing attitude towards mentoring sets him apart among anime characters like Jiraiya, who also shared the desire to see young talents like Naruto reach their full potential despite their sometimes troublesome behavior.
Shiro Fujimoto – Blue Exorcist Character
In the supernatural action series Blue Exorcist, the Paladin Shiro Fujimoto takes in demon twins Rin and Yukio Okumura. Despite facing numerous challenges in raising them as humans and eventually exposing their true nature, Shiro continues to stand by Rin as he carries the soul of Satan inside him.
Shiro sacrificed his life to protect Rin, trusting that she would use her inherited powers for the greater good and safeguard others.
Shiro, being a skilled fighter himself, shares Jiraiya’s unwavering dedication to grooming the next generation. He made the ultimate sacrifice in order for his son-like figure Rin to have the opportunity to fulfill his destiny of protecting humanity from demonic enemies.
9) Character Profile: Kisuke Urahara from Bleach
Despite his eccentric and laid-back nature, Kisuke Urahara, the enigmatic shopkeeper in Bleach, acts as a mentor to Ichigo Kurosaki and other important individuals. Urahara’s intelligence and strength are evident, as he was previously a captain in the Gotei 13.
Urahara’s eccentricity and wisdom, much like Jiraiya among anime characters, are highly reminiscent. He frequently offers support from behind the scenes, supplying valuable knowledge, specialized tools, and training areas to aid Ichigo and his companions in perfecting their abilities.
Similarly, Jiraiya took a discreet interest in helping Naruto, Urahara also takes a keen interest in guiding Ichigo. He recognizes Ichigo’s potential and is always a few steps ahead in anticipating potential dangers. Urahara understands that Ichigo’s powers are often misunderstood by others, and he makes it his mission to help Ichigo learn to control them properly.
Character Profile: All Might from My Hero Academia
In My Hero Academia, All Might is renowned as the world’s greatest hero and serves as a mentor to the series’ protagonist, Izuku Midoriya. When Midoriya inherits the One For All power from All Might, he must learn to harness it correctly in order to prove himself as a capable successor.
Despite his intimidatingly massive hero form, All Might’s role as a mentor has solidified him as one of the quintessential anime characters, comparable to Jiraiya. He displays sincere empathy and unwavering belief in Midoriya’s determination and potential to eventually master One For All.
All Might leads Midoriya on the journey to mastering the profound power that he now possesses. As the person who has motivated Midoriya to pursue heroism since he was young, All Might’s impact is profound.
Conclusion
Despite his departure, Jiraiya’s role as Naruto’s mentor and one of the most cherished personalities in anime left a lasting impression. His strengths, humor, and compassionate nature towards the underprivileged deeply resonated with audiences. The ongoing popularity of characters like Jiraiya is a testament to the powerful impact of skillfully crafted mentor figures in storytelling.
Although each character is unique, these 10 anime characters, such as Jiraiya, embody similar qualities as they use their talents to protect those in need. They share their knowledge and guide their successors in discovering their own abilities.
Additionally, the majority of these characters have deeply moving backstories, which drive their protective morals and contribute to their strong connection with fans. The influence of beloved anime figures such as Jiraiya continues to inspire newer generations of heroes, as their empathy and actions leave a lasting impact.
- 10 best anime characters like Shanks from One Piece
- 10 coolest anime characters of all time
- 10 anime characters whose kill counts are still unknown
Leave a Reply