In many action anime, there is a fairly clear expectation: the protagonist should be the character responsible for the biggest battles and the most unforgettable moments of the story. But that doesn't always happen.
Some of the most memorable anime fights were actually fought by characters who were outside the center of the narrative. At certain moments, they received better animation, more creative choreography, greater emotional weight, or simply an opportunity to show why they were so important to that universe.
And this creates a curious situation: for a few minutes, the supporting character stops feeling like a side character and simply steals the spotlight.
From Naruto to Dragon Ball Z, passing through Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, and Demon Slayer, these are five battles that show how this can happen.
5. Rock Lee vs. Gaara — Naruto
Few fights represent the idea of a supporting character stealing the spotlight as well as Rock Lee vs. Gaara. During the Chunin Exams, Lee faces one of the tournament's most dangerous opponents using practically only his taijutsu. When his attacks fail to break through Gaara's sand defense, he removes the weights he was carrying on his legs and reveals a much greater speed than expected.
The fight quickly escalates. Lee uses techniques such as the Primary Lotus and later the Hidden Lotus, while Gaara reveals his Sand Armor. The battle also shows how far Lee is willing to go to prove that someone without ninjutsu or genjutsu can still become a great ninja.
The result is a battle that combines action, emotion, and character development extremely effectively. The fight spans episodes 48 to 50 of Naruto and became one of the most memorable sequences of the anime's first series. The official Naruto website itself describes the confrontation between taijutsu specialist Lee and Gaara, highlighting the moment when Gaara's sand defense begins to give way.
4. Levi vs. Beast Titan — Attack on Titan
If there is one supporting character who often seems to be operating on an entirely different level when he enters combat, it is Levi Ackerman. And his confrontation with the Beast Titan is probably the greatest example of this.
During the battle to retake Shiganshina, Zeke uses the Beast Titan to turn rocks into deadly projectiles and massacre a large portion of the Survey Corps. The situation seems almost impossible to turn around until Levi manages to get close to his enemy.
What happens next is a brutal demonstration of the character's skill. Using the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment, Levi moves at incredible speed, destroys the Beast Titan's defenses, and leaves Zeke completely helpless within seconds. The confrontation is part of one of the major moments of the mission to retake Wall Maria.
What makes it even more impressive is the contrast. Zeke had just decimated an entire group of soldiers, but when Levi finally appears, the feeling of danger suddenly shifts to the other side.
It is a short fight, but that's precisely why it works so well: Levi doesn't need a lengthy confrontation to demonstrate why he is considered one of the most dangerous fighters in Attack on Titan.
3. All Might vs. All For One — My Hero Academia
There are supporting characters who have a better fight than the protagonist. And then there are supporting characters who have a fight that practically defines the entire identity of a series.
It is difficult to talk about My Hero Academia without mentioning All Might vs. All For One. Although Izuku Midoriya is the protagonist, it is All Might who takes center stage in the confrontation against his greatest enemy.
The battle takes place when All Might no longer possesses the same strength he had in his prime. Even so, he must face All For One in front of the public. The fight is not simply a contest of strength: it represents the clash between the former Symbol of Peace and the villain who shaped his entire journey.
When All Might appears to be at his limit, he turns the little power he has left into his final attack and unleashes the United States of Smash. The victory brings an era to an end and officially passes the weight of the future to a new generation. Episode 49 adapts this confrontation, with Crunchyroll itself highlighting the battle between All Might and his greatest nightmare.
For this reason, even though Midoriya is the protagonist, it is perfectly reasonable to argue that All Might vs. All For One is the emotional peak of My Hero Academia. The fight didn't simply need to show who was stronger. It needed to show the end of a symbol.
2. Tengen Uzui vs. Gyutaro — Demon Slayer
When Demon Slayer puts a Hashira at the center of a battle, the series usually turns the confrontation into a visual spectacle. But Tengen Uzui vs. Gyutaro went even further.
During the Entertainment District Arc, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke must fight alongside Tengen against Daki and Gyutaro, the two siblings who jointly hold the rank of Upper Rank Six. The confrontation quickly turns into a fight for survival.
Tengen faces Gyutaro even after being poisoned and suffering severe injuries. At one point, he loses one of his hands and an eye, but continues fighting to create an opening for Tanjiro and the others. His Musical Score technique also allows Tengen to analyze his opponent's attack patterns.
And then comes the factor that turned this fight into one of Demon Slayer's greatest showcases of animation: the work of ufotable. Explosions, high-speed movement, particle effects, environmental destruction, and extremely dynamic choreography make the confrontation feel like a cinematic sequence. The specialized press itself highlighted the episode as one of the series' greatest visual showcases.
Tanjiro remains the protagonist, but for much of this confrontation, it is Tengen who seems to carry the weight of the battle. His fighting style, flamboyant personality, and incredible endurance turn the Sound Hashira into the true center of the spectacle.
1. Gohan vs. Cell — Dragon Ball Z
Perhaps no other example on this list is as interesting as Gohan vs. Cell. After all, we are talking about Dragon Ball Z, a franchise built around Goku, yet the most important battle of the Cell Saga is not won by the protagonist.
Goku fights Cell first, but realizes that his son possesses even greater potential. When Gohan finally enters the battle, Cell attempts to provoke his anger by creating the Cell Juniors and attacking his friends. The death of Android 16 finally breaks the boy's emotional restraint.
Then comes one of the most famous transformations in anime history: Gohan achieves Super Saiyan 2.
The transformation completely changes the balance of the battle. Gohan defeats the Cell Juniors, dominates Cell for much of the confrontation, and later has to face an even more powerful version of the villain. The climax ends with the Father-Son Kamehameha, which destroys Cell for good. The official Dragon Ball website specifically highlights Gohan's transformation into Super Saiyan 2 during the Cell Games and his final confrontation with Cell.
It is also one of those moments where the transformation doesn't exist simply to increase the character's power. It represents years of training, Gohan's potential, and the symbolic passing of the spotlight from Goku to his son.
That is why Gohan vs. Cell continues to be remembered as one of the most iconic fights in Dragon Ball Z — and the Super Saiyan 2 transformation remains one of the most striking visual moments in anime history.
When Supporting Characters Steal the Spotlight
The most interesting thing about these five fights is that none of them needs to diminish their protagonists to work. Naruto, Eren, Midoriya, Goku, and Tanjiro remain fundamental to their respective stories.
What happens is different: for a few minutes, the narrative allows another character to completely take control of the screen.
Rock Lee turns his fight against Gaara into a demonstration of determination. Levi transforms a desperate situation into an almost flawless execution. All Might brings his era as the Symbol of Peace to an end. Gohan achieves a transformation that changes the course of Dragon Ball Z. And Tengen Uzui turns a battle against an Upper Rank into one of Demon Slayer's greatest visual spectacles.
Perhaps that is precisely one of the greatest strengths of good action anime: the protagonist doesn't need to be at the center of every great moment. When a series manages to make the audience care about its supporting characters, any of them can take center stage when the right moment arrives.
And now the question is: which other supporting character had such a great fight that they made you forget, for a few minutes, who the real protagonist was?
