The best anime characters are also some of the most interesting characters as their identities are often tied to those they know. While some may despise them for not relying on their own strength, calling on allies to fight makes them more versatile and flexible.

Whether they look like their masters or make up for them by possessing the qualities they lack, casual friends are more complex and attractive than regular friends. Most companions are similar to pets, tagging along with the group out of a sense of loyalty, but familiars typically share a much deeper bond with their summoners, one that goes beyond mutual friendship.

10 Kiritsugu Emiya – Saber (Fate/Zero)

Based on the light novel by General Urobuchi

The ever-expanding world of the Destiny series is defined by the Holy Grail Wars, the ever-present brutal survival games, and the hope that their participants will be granted whatever wish they wish. To this end, seven sages and their summoned minions engage in battles to the death, each fighting for a different cause. While each participant is interesting in their own way, the most notable couple has to be Kiritsugu Emiya, the “Magus Assassin” employed by the Einzbern family, and Saber or Artoria Pendragon, also known as the “Once and Future King”. . Together with a common goal, the two make an incredibly powerful team.

9 Jotaro Kujo – Star Platinum (Jojo’s Strange Adventure: Stardust Crusaders)

Based on Hirohiko Araki’s manga

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders is the first title in the franchise to introduce the concept of stand-up, one of the best and most compelling anime power systems ever. The show follows Jotaro Kujo and his crew as they travel to Cairo, Egypt, encountering dangerous stand-in users along the way. However, they rarely pose a serious threat to Jotaro, as his own stand, Star Platinum, is one of the most powerful in the series. Not only is he incredibly strong and fast, but he also activates the ability to freeze time, during which Jotaro can move freely on his own, gaining the upper hand in any battle. While not exactly a “summoner-known” dynamic, Jotaro and Star Platinum are so iconic that they deserve a spot on this list.

8 Yuna – Kumakuyu and Kumayuru (Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear)

Based on the light novel by Kumanano and 029

Kuma Kuma Bear revolves around Yuna, a girl who finds herself transported to a magical in-game world after receiving a bear suit from the administrators of VRMMO, which she has been reluctantly playing. She soon learns that her bear costume is impossibly powerful, allowing her to easily defeat even the toughest enemies. After defeating the Goblin King, she also gains the ability to summon Kumakuyu, or Hugging Bear, and Kumayuru, Swinging Bear, two familiars that help her travel comfortably and scare off bandits. Moreover, they are attractive regardless of their size, but they can change their size as needed.

7 Louise Francois Le Blanc de la Valliere – Saito Hiraga (known as Zero)

Based on the light novel by Noboru Yamaguchi and Eiji Usatsuka

While most are known only for their summoner’s sake, Zero Familiar overlaps with the popular Isakai theme, making Saito Hiragana a special case. Before being summoned by Louise, Saito was a normal student from Tokyo, Japan, who never expected his life to be changed by a secret portal. However, when Louise, the Hollow Mage, summons him, he suddenly finds himself in the Tristan of Magic, which he initially assumes is some sort of cosplay convention. Expecting a completely different familiar spirit like Griffin, even Louise is surprised to see him, but the two grow to accept and bond with each other. This series puts an interesting spin on the concepts of summoning and the isekai trope.

6 Yuu Narukami – Izanagi (Man 4 The Animation)

Based on Shuji Sogabe’s manga

Persona 4 The Animation may not be a perfect adaptation of the Persona games, but it remains a very entertaining show nonetheless. The story follows Yuu Narukami, as he moves to the city of Inaba and encounters more strange things than he bargained for, he is drawn into a mysterious alternate reality with this new group of friends. Iconic to the franchise, everyone in the group has their own unique persona, and Yuu is his own iconic Izanagi, based on the Japanese god of creation of the same name. While he can use others, Izanagi is the first, and it is Yuu who awakens the power within him.

5 Natsume Tsuchimikado – Hokuto (Tokyo Crows)

Based on the light novel by Kouhei Azano and Sumihei

The events of Tokyo Crows take place in a world defined by the magic of Omyududu, which Japan once used during World War II to gain an advantage over its opponents. However, after the “Great Spiritual Catastrophe”, the Onemode was called upon for services such as medicine and technology to prevent similar spiritual catastrophes. Natsume Tsuchimikado is one of the most skilled Onmyuuji at Onmyuu Academy, and has skills that rival even the most famous anime executors. Although she can summon many shikigami, the most interesting one has to be Hokuto, a normal-looking girl she creates to get close to Harutora and learn more about him.

4 Kelvin – Melfina (Black Summons)

Based on the light novel by Dufu Mayoi

The main character of Black Summoner is Kelvin, who is reincarnated in the magical world by Melfina, a powerful goddess. As fate would have it, Melfina gives Kelvin a chance to choose his new abilities, to which she responds by asking him to be given the title of S-Class Summoner and choosing her to be his first mate because of her love for him. Although he initially lacks the power to summon her, due to her divine status, he grows stronger as a summoner, fighting various monsters and forming bonds with various followers. Eventually, he is able to summon Melfina, which marks the beginning of a life full of shenanigans, and is an interesting take on the “god-called” isekai trope.

3 Lucy Heartfilia – Aquarius (Fairy Tail)

Based on the manga by Hiro Mashima

Fairy Tail is a title featuring a colorful cast of mages, each with their own unique powers and advancements throughout the show. As a master user of Celestial Spirit Magic, Lucy Heartfilia could summon Celestial Spirits using their respective buttons, and her battle style revolved around her various summons. Lucy has access to a variety of keys, from the common silver to the rare gold keys, each depicting an astrological sign. The Aquarius Key was the first key Lucy inherited from her late mother, and despite her initially hostile attitude, Aquarius considered Lucy a daughter. Their farewell was one of the most heartbreaking moments of the entire series when Lucy had to sacrifice Aquarius to summon the Celestial Spirit King.

2 You Asakura – Amidamaru (Shaman King)

Based on the manga by Hiroyuki Take

Shaman King revolves around the Shaman Battle, a grand competition where shamans, along with their summoned spirits, compete to be recognized by the Great Spirit and gain the ability to determine the course of the world. One such participant is You Asakura, whose original guardian spirit is Amidamaru, a 600-year-old samurai known for his many kills. Devoted to his master, Amidamaru gives you his strength and allows him to quickly pass through the competition, surprising everyone with his companionship. Although she eventually finds another great spirit, Amidamaru remains his most important and loyal friend.

1 Megumi Fushiguro – Divine Dog (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Based on the manga Bege Akutami

Megumi Fushiguro is one of the most interesting characters in Jujutsu Kaizen, a title in which the titular jujutsu wizards battle a curse created from human evil. Even without considering his abilities, Megumi is an exceptional fighter. Moreover, he can make clever plans by reading the situation. As for his fighting style, Megumi uses the Ten Shadows Technique to summon various shikigami, godlike spirits that he has voluntarily captured after winning a battle. While Mahoraga is the most powerful Shikigami summoned by the Ten Shadows Technique, Megumi has a strong bond with the Divine Dog, a pair of Shikigami dogs. When the white is killed, the black inherits the power, to the strongest divine dog: sum.

Some of these summoners and commoners live in an interesting world as they have to fight and rely on each other every day to ensure their survival. It also allows others to have more time to get to know each other and develop their relationship. In any case, they all share meaningful relationships, sometimes they cannot even exist apart from each other. Knowing that they could betray each other at any moment, like common friends or party members, they were determined to follow the will of their masters. This unique type of bond is what makes the best anime summoners as interesting as they are.