Ask John: Who Are John’s Favorite Anime Henchmen?

Question:
While we know who some of your favorite heroes and villains are, I was wondering who are your favorite teammates in the hero’s case or underlings in the villain’s case.

Answer:
By nature of their role, sidekick and henchmen characters frequently aren’t especially memorable. If they’re too interesting or prominent, they overshadow the hero. So with the exception of particularly high profile henchmen like Dragon Ball’s Ginyu team and Fresh Precure’s Eas, most second-teir sub-characters may have distinctive appearances but often don’t have especially distinctive or memorable personalities or roles. With some brief consideration, I can recall a few such characters that have remained implanted in my memory, however; characters whom, I think, might deserve a bit more recognition than they receive.

Captain Harlock’s best friend Tochiro is often overlooked because of his diminuitive stature and introverted personality. However, in numerous depictions, Tochiro is actually a supremely capable and reliable partner.

Myao in Kazemakase Tsukikage Ran is a wonderfully fun, capricious character. I also have a personal fondness for the aggressive, sexy but psychologically wounded lesbian mercenary Solude Schfoltzer in Maze Bakunetsu Jiku.

Finally, I doubt he’d be pleased to be referred to as a “sidekick,” but if mascot characters are viable for consideration, Natsume Yujincho’s Nyanko-sensei has more personality than many anime series’ protagonists.

In terms of teammates, I’ve long been disappointed that the adorable catgirl Ryuquir has such a small role in the 1992 Koryu Densetsu Villgust OVA series.

Regarding henchmen, I immediately recall the very similar Luo-Lang in the 2007 samurai film Stranger -Muko Hadan- and Hekushon in the fifth Crayon Shin-chan movie, “Ankoku Tamatama Daitsuiseki.” Both mercenaries are imposing blond warriors who largely allow their precisely effective martial skills speak for themselves. More broadly, perhaps no anime franchise ever has consistently featured more unique and memorable, and frankly odd, henchmen characters than the Crayon Shin-chan movie franchise.