Anime is full of heroes, villains, and scene-stealing side characters, but sometimes the most important ones barely appear at all. Maybe they show up for only a few scenes, or just exist in flashbacks and memories, but their presence or influence shapes entire stories. These are the hidden powerhouses, ghosts behind the narrative, the characters whose presence is felt far more than it’s seen. Here’s a countdown of 10 anime characters whose very minimal amount of screen time doesn’t stop them from being essential.
10. Hero X (To Be Hero X)
Legendary despite near invisibility, Hero X dominates the world of To Be Hero X without ever taking the spotlight. His mysterious powers and enigmatic personality make him the goal that everyone chases, even though he barely speaks or appears. Most fans know him through trailers and promotional material rather than actual episodes, yet he’s the driving force of the story and proves that impact doesn’t need screen time.
9. Akira Sohma (Fruits Basket)
Akira Sohma barely appears on screen, mostly in flashbacks, but his influence looms over the entire series. Being the father of Akito and the former head of the Sohma family, his decisions set the stage for generations of pain and conflict. He may be gone before the story starts, but his legacy shapes the emotional and dramatic arcs of everyone in the series.
8. Mina Ashiro (Kaiju No. 8)
Captain of the Third Division and childhood friend of Kafka Hibino, Mina is the benchmark toward which Kafka strives. She rarely takes center stage but has a way of making her presence motivate Kafka to give emotional stakes to his journey. Her brief appearances are always meaningful, reminding viewers what’s at stake and why the protagonist fights.
7. Dr. Skinner (Lazarus)
Of course, the mind behind the dangerous Hapna drug is Dr. Skinner, who is probably Lazarus’s ultimate unseen architect of chaos. He’s the target everyone wants, but he’s largely absent until the final episode, making his presence feel almost mythical, turning him into a key force that drives the narrative without needing to dominate screen time.
6. Marianne vi Britannia (Code Geass)
The assassination of Lelouch’s mother, Marianne, is the spark that ignites the rebellion at the heart of Code Geass. She appears only in brief flashbacks before her death, yet her influence persists throughout the series. Every decision Lelouch makes is shaped by her absence, proving that a character’s power often comes from what they leave behind.
5. InuYasha’s Father (InuYasha)
Inuyasha and Sesshomaru’s father, the demon general, is a legendary figure who barely appears in the series, yet his legacy drives nearly every plotline. From the swords Tessaiga and Tenseiga to the sibling rivalry he ignites, his presence can be felt everywhere in the story, although he is almost absent from it.
4. Rize Kamishiro (Tokyo Ghoul)
Rize is the spark that ignites the entire Tokyo Ghoul story. Her encounter with Kaneki makes him a half-ghoul and triggers everything else that follows. Since then, she exists mainly as some sort of haunting presence that shapes Kaneki’s identity and the chaos of the series without actively appearing on screen.
3. Minato Namikaze (Naruto)
Known as the Fourth Hokage and the hero who sealed the Nine-Tailed Fox inside Naruto, Minato is more legend than living character for much of the series. When he finally appears, it’s brief-but his sacrifice defines Naruto’s journey and sets the foundation for the series’ themes of family, responsibility, and heroism.
2. Himmel (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End)
Himmel is the unforgettable hero of Frieren, even though viewers see him alive only within the first episode. It is his death and the grief this causes that propels Frieren’s journey, framing her growth and interaction throughout the series. He may be mostly absent, but his presence drives the emotional core of the story.
1. Gol D. Roger (One Piece)
By the time One Piece actually starts, the King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger, is already dead, but his legacy is what sets the entire saga off. He inspires Luffy, motivates scores of pirates, and puts the world in motion. Roger himself appears only in a few flashbacks and iconic scenes, but his presence is felt in almost every episode. He is the ultimate example of a character whose power comes through legend rather than screen time.
These characters prove that a limited presence doesn’t mean a limited impact. From shaping the protagonist’s journey to driving the plot behind the scenes, their legacies echo through every episode. Sometimes, the people whom you barely see leave the deepest marks, and anime is full of those unforgettable, shadowy figures.