10 best anime characters like Jiraiya

Jiraiya was one of the most beloved characters in the series Naruto. Many anime characters like Jiraiya share his wisdom and strength. As one of the Legendary Sannin alongside Tsunade and Orochimaru, he was an incredibly powerful ninja and played a key role as Naruto's mentor.

Jiraiya possessed many qualities that made him such an iconic character. He was wise, strong, compassionate, and brought humor and eccentricity to the series. He served as a father figure for Naruto and believed in him when others did not.

His abilities, personality, relationships, and influence on Naruto have left a profound impact, inspiring the creation of other anime characters like Jiraiya. For fans of this character, here are 10 other amazing anime characters like Jiraiya who share similar traits.

10 best anime characters like Jiraiya

**1) Master Roshi (*Dragon Ball***)

Master Roshi is one of the most legendary martial arts teachers in the Dragon Ball series, having trained the likes of Goku, Krillin, and many others. Like Jiraiya, Roshi plays a mentor role and often offers wisdom alongside his quirky perverted antics for comic relief.

He is extremely strong and has many iconic abilities, but also cares deeply about his students and believes in their potential. Despite his advancing age, Master Roshi continues to be a source of comedic enjoyment and an anchor for the characters to learn from throughout the story.

His influence spans across generations from the early Dragon Ball eras to Dragon Ball Super. Just like Jiraiya left a lasting impression on Naruto, Roshi had a similar effect on key characters like Goku. Among anime characters like Jiraiya, Roshi stands out for his longevity and influence.

2) Silvers Rayleigh (One Piece)

Silvers Rayleigh (Image via Toei Animation)

As the right-hand man of Gol D. Roger, the former Pirate King, Rayleigh served as an impactful mentor for Luffy during the One Piece timeskip. Among anime characters like Jiraiya, Rayleigh stands out for his legendary status.

Recognizing Luffy's tremendous potential after meeting him on Sabaody Archipelago, Rayleigh helped Luffy hone his Haki mastery and combat skills on Rusukaina Island over two years before entering the New World.

Despite living a retired life, Rayleigh's wisdom and advanced Haki skills allow him to assist younger generations in standing against emerging threats later in the story. Much like how Jiraiya imparted practical lessons to Naruto, Rayleigh sharpened Luffy's raw talents to properly anchor the next wave of piracy.

3) Izumi Curtis (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

The skilled alchemist teacher Izumi Curtis plays a key maternal role for the Elric brothers in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. She sympathizes with the hardship they faced losing their mother and helps train them in advanced alchemical techniques.

Similar to other anime characters like Jiraiya, Izumi's teaching methods are both tough and caring. Despite her teaching methods, Izumi ultimately cares deeply for the brothers during their hardest trials, pursuing the restoration of their bodies.

Izumi leaves a lasting imprint through her compassion in taking the brothers into her tutelage, motivating them to keep progressing even when she can no longer assist them the same way.

4) Kite (Hunter x Hunter)

In the anime adaptation of Hunter x Hunter, Kite served as an impactful mentor who met protagonist Gon Freecss when Gon was a child and inspired him to become a pro Hunter one day.

Kite's proficiency with Crazy Slots weapons and Nen abilities demonstrated talents that Gon continues to reflect on to set his own fighting goals and develop his powers. Among anime characters like Jiraiya, Kite's influence extends beyond his limited screen time.

Though their time together was tragically cut short against Neferpitou, Gon's memories of Kite motivate him to grow stronger, remembering Kite's example as a master combatant and one of the first people to show him compassion.

5) Ukai (Haikyuu!!)

Coach Ukai in Haikyuu!! serves as a tough yet reliable mentor, driving the Karasuno boys' volleyball team to realize their potential with rigorous training and strategic guidance.

Though initially hospitalized due to health issues, Ukai eagerly returns to help Hinata when possible, creating opportunities to refine the player's raw skills into legitimate strengths.

Much like how Jiraya gifted Naruto specialized training areas to focus on his abilities, Ukai devises concentrated regimes to strengthen Hinata's weaknesses and hone his talents like improving spikers' precision. His fiery passion for instructing the players mirrors Jiraya’s dedication to progress his students.

6) Genkai (Yu Yu Hakusho)

The psychic martial arts master Genkai plays a pivotal teaching role for protagonist Yusuke Urameshi in Yu Yu Hakusho, detecting his latent spiritual talents worthy of inheritance. She drives Yusuke to the exhausting limits necessary to tap deeper into his full combat potential with her harsh but necessary training wisdom.

Genkai exemplifies how anime characters like Jiraiya can push their students to their limits. Though seemingly cold, Genkai genuinely wants to mentor worthy successors. She chooses to focus efforts on someone as unrefined yet talented as Yusuke.

Like Jiraiya's patience in unlocking Naruto's shadow clones and Rasengan, Genkai pushes Yusuke into mastering his signature Spirit Gun technique.

7) Makarov Dreyar (Fairy Tail)

As Fairy Tail's Guild Master, Makarov serves as a giant heart of the wizard community. Despite his short stature, Makarov exhibits immense magical abilities and wisdom guiding Fairy Tail members for decades against sinister threats.

He believes in second chances, allowing outcasts like Juvia to find acceptance and better themselves. Similar to anime characters like Jiraiya, Makarov's influence extends to an entire community. Makarov treats his guild children with sincere familial care and understanding behind his occasional comedic anger.

This mirrors how Jiraiya genuinely wanted to see talents like Naruto embrace their true promise, no matter how frustrated their antics made him. Among anime characters like Jiraiya, Makarov's paternal approach to mentorship stands out.

**8) Shiro Fujimoto (*Blue Exorcist***)

In the paranormal action series Blue Exorcist, the Paladin Shiro Fujimoto adopts demon twins Rin and Yukio Okumura. Despite intense dangers in raising them as humans and eventually revealing their heritage, Shiro supports Rin as the vessel containing Satan's soul.

Shiro gave his life defending Rin, believing that Rin could use his inherited powers for righteous purposes protecting people.

As a skilled combatant himself, Shiro shares Jiraiya's mission-focused determination to nurture the next generation, paying the ultimate sacrifice so that his son-figure Rin could have a chance to fulfill his destiny guarding humanity against demonic foes.

**9) Kisuke Urahara (*Bleach***)

The mysterious shopkeeper Kisuke Urahara in Bleach serves as a mentor for Ichigo Kurosaki and several other key characters. Despite his quirky, carefree personality, Urahara is extremely intelligent and strong enough to have once been a captain in the Gotei 13.

Among anime characters like Jiraiya, Urahara's blend of wisdom and eccentricity is particularly reminiscent. He often assists behind the scenes, providing wisdom, specialized items, and training spaces to help Ichigo and his friends hone their skills.

He believes in Ichigo's potential and is usually several steps ahead in understanding upcoming threats. Much like how Jiraiya took a special interest in aiding Naruto discreetly at times, Urahara looks out for Ichigo to properly control his powers, which are often misunderstood by others initially.

**10) All Might (*My Hero Academia***)

As the world's greatest hero in My Hero Academia, All Might serves as an impactful mentor figure to the series protagonist, Izuku Midoriya. After receiving the ability to cultivate One For All from All Might, Midoriya must learn to harness this power properly to become a worthy successor.

All Might's role as a mentor makes him one of the quintessential anime characters like Jiraiya. Despite his intimidatingly massive hero form, All Might shows sincere empathy and belief in the determined Midoriya's potential to master One For All in time.

All Might guides Midoriya down the path to gain mastery of the profound power now within his grasp. As the character who inspired Midoriya to become a hero from childhood, All Might's influence runs deep.

Conclusion

Jiraiya left an indelible influence as Naruto's mentor and one of anime's most beloved personalities. His strengths, humor, and heart for helping the neglected resonated with viewers. The enduring popularity of anime characters like Jiraiya speaks to the impact of well-crafted mentor figures in storytelling.

While no two characters are identical, these 10 anime characters like Jiraiya capture similar qualities exerting their gifts to defend vulnerable people. They impart wisdom, helping their successors realize their potential.

Moreover, most of them share surprisingly touching backstories, motivating their protective principles and further adding to why fans connect with them. The legacies of anime characters like Jiraiya continue impacting new generations of anime heroes to emerge inspired by their compassion and deeds.