10 Best Anime Summoners With The Most Interesting Familiars (2024)

The best anime summoners are also some of the most interesting characters, as their identities are often linked to their familiars. While some may look down on them for not relying on their own strength, summoning companions to fight with typically makes them more versatile as well as more flexible, easily finding ways to gain the upper hand in any situation.

Whether they resemble their masters or otherwise complement them by possessing the traits they lack, familiars also tend to be more complex and intriguing than normal companions. Most companions are more akin to pets, tagging along with the group out of a sense of loyalty, but familiars typically share a much deeper bond with their summoners, that goes beyond ordinary friendships.

15 Soul Collectors - Kikyo (Inuyasha)

Based on the Manga by Rumiko Takahashi

Kikyo was a powerful priestess in the world of Inuyasha, prior to her death as a result of Naraku's scheming. However, Kikyo was later revived by an evil witch and given a body made of clay, using a small piece of Kagome's soul, whom Kikyo was reincarnated as. When this version of Kikyo runs off, she must utilize other souls to continue moving, and thus begins using so-called Soul Collectors as familiars to bring them to her.

Kikyo's Soul Collectors don't have much personality to them, and don't even seem particularly fazed by dying. However, their existence is absolutely essential to Kikyo's continued presence in the mortal plane, and that ties them together very strongly. Kikyo is often pictured accompanied by her Soul Collectors, giving her an eerie presence that reminds viewers she isn't as alive as she looks.

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14 Puu - Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho)

Based on the Manga by Yoshihiro Togashi

Puu is a small, birdlike creature that spirit detective Yusuke Urameshi hatched from an egg. It grew using his own life force and was said that it would develop into a good or bad creature depending on how he cared for the egg. Yusuke, at one point, was forced to sacrifice the egg to save another person, and that helped ensure Puu would grow into a kind creature.

Puu shares a portion of Yusuke's soul, and as such their lives are linked, and they can sense each other from miles away. Puu doesn't have much in the way of abilities, but it can summon a barrier to help protect Yusuke and/or his friends in dire situations. At one point, it transforms into a phoenix-like creature to match the evolution of Yusuke's abilities, giving it a cool new form.

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Yu Yu Hakusho

Yu Yu Hakusho is a multimedia franchise that began as a Japanese manga series in 1992 by author and illustrator Yoshihiro Togashi. The franchise ventured into anime in 1992 from Fuji Television, and there have also been two animated films. In 2023, Netflix released a live-action TV series starringTakumi Kitamura, Shuhei Uesugi, Jun Shison, and Kanata Hongō.

Created by

Yoshihiro Togashi

Latest TV Show

Yu Yu Hakusho

Cast

Nozomu Sasaki , Justin Cook , Cynthia Cranz , Christopher Sabat , Kent Williams , Shigeru Chiba , Tomomichi Nishimura , Sanae Miyuki , Takumi Kitamura , Shuhei Uesugi , Jun Shison , Kanata Hongô

13 Kuro - Rin Okumura (Blue Exorcist)

Based on the Manga by Kazue Kato

Kuro is the familiar of Blue Exorcist's protagonist Rin Okumura, although he was originally tamed by Fujimoto. Kuro is a Cait Sith, a particular type of demon that resembles a cat with two tails, and takes his name from his black cat appearance. He has a telepathic connection with Rin, allowing the two to communicate instantaneously over large distances.

Kuro is also capable of growing in size, to the point where he's big enough that Rin and others can ride on him comfortably, while his normal size is small enough to ride around on people's heads. In this larger size, Kuro is phenomenally powerful, able to fight even the most powerful demons.

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12 Madarao - Yoshimori Sumimura (Kekkaishi)

Based on the Manga by Yellow Tanabe

Madarao is a dog-like demonic creature that works alongside Kekkaishi's protagonist, Yoshimori Sumimura. Like Kuro above, Madarao originally had a different master, but swore to follow Yoshimori at his former master's request. Madarao normally takes a ghostly form, where his back end trails off into a spirit-like tail.

Madarao is equipped with a collar which restricts his ability most of the time, but when it's removed, he can grow many times his previous size, and takes on a more wolf-like appearance. Madarao and Yoshimori have a sometimes tense relationship, with Madarao not afraid to make fun of and insult his master, but when the chips are down, these two can always count on each other to get out of trouble.

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11 Kiritsugu Emiya - Saber (Fate/Zero)

Based on the Light Novel By Gen Urobuchi

The world of the ever-expanding Fate series is defined by the Holy Grail Wars, ruthless games of survival that occur regularly, and whose participants are motivated by the promise of having any wish granted. To this end, seven Masters and their summoned Servants engage in deadly battles, each fighting for a different purpose.

While every participant is interesting in their own way, the most iconic pair has to be that of Kiritsugu Emiya, a "Magus Killer" hired by the Einzbern family, and Saber, or Artoria Pendragon, also known as the "Once and Future King". The two make for an incredibly powerful team, brought together by a common goal.

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10 Jotaro Kujo - Star Platinum (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders)

Based on the Manga By Hirohiko Araki

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders is the first title in the franchise to introduce the concept of Stands, one of the best and most compelling anime power systems ever. The show follows Jotaro Kujo and his crew as they journey to Cairo, Egypt, facing dangerous Stand users along the way.

However, these Stand Users rarely present a serious threat to Jotaro, as his own Stand, Star Platinum, is among the most powerful in the series. Not only is it incredibly strong and fast, but it also awakens the ability to freeze time itself, during which Jotaro is the only one who can move freely, easily gaining the upper hand in any fight. While not exactly a "summoner-familiar" dynamic, Jotaro and Star Platinum are so iconic that they deserve to rank among the best anime summoner and spirit companions.

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9 Yuna - Kumakyuu & Kumayuru (Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear)

Based on the Light Novel By Kumanano & 029

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear revolves around Yuna, a girl who finds herself transported to a magical in-game world after accepting a bear costume she receives from the administrators of a VRMMO she’s been frantically playing. She soon learns that her bear costume is impossibly powerful, allowing her to defeat even the strongest of foes with ease.

After defeating the Goblin King, she also gains the ability to summon Kumakyuu, or the Hugging Bear, and Kumayuru, the Swaying Bear, two familiars who allow her to travel more conveniently and intimidate bandits. Moreover, they can change their size as needed, though they are adorable regardless of size.

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8 Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière - Saito Hiraga (The Familiar of Zero)

Based on the Light Novel By Noboru Yamaguchi & Eiji Usatsuka

While most familiars exist exclusively for the sake of their summoners, The Familiar of Zero overlaps with the popular isekai theme, making Saito Hiraga a special case. Prior to being summoned by Louise, Saito was a normal student from Tokyo, Japan, who could never have expected that his life would be changed by a mysterious portal.

Yet when Louise, a void mage, summons him, he suddenly finds himself at Tristain Academy of Magic, which he initially assumes to be some kind of cosplay convention. Having expected a completely different familiar spirit, such as a griffin, even Louise is surprised to see him, but the two grow to accept and care for each other. This series puts an interesting spin on both the concepts of summons and the isekai trope.

7 Yuu Narukami - Izanagi (Persona 4 The Animation)

Based on the Manga By Shuji Sogabe

While Persona 4 the Animation may not be a perfect adaptation of the Persona games, it remains a highly enjoyable show nonetheless. The story follows Yuu Narukami, as he moves to the town of Inaba and comes across more oddities than he bargained for, getting pulled into a mysterious alternate reality along with this new group of friends.

Emblematic of the franchise, everyone in the group has their own unique Personas, and Yuu’s own iconic familiar is Izanagi, based on the Japanese creation god of the same name. While he is also able to make use of others, Izanagi is his first one, as well as the one that allows Yuu to awaken the power within.

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6 Natsume Tsuchimikado - Hokuto (Tokyo Ravens)

Based on the Light Novel By Kouhei Azano & Sumihey

The events of Tokyo Ravens take place in a world defined by onmyoudou magic, which Japan once used during the Second World War to gain an advantage over its opponents. However, after the “Great Spiritual Disaster”, onymoudou was refined for uses such as medicine and technology, in an attempt to prevent similar spiritual disasters.

Natsume Tsuchimikado is one of the most skilled onmyouji studying at the Onmyou Academy, possessing abilities that rival even the most famous anime exorcists. Though she can summon multiple shikigami, her most interesting one has to be Hokuto, a seemingly normal girl whom she creates to get close to Harutora and learn more about him.

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5 Kelvin - Melfina (Black Summoner)

Based on the Light Novel By Doufu Mayoi

Black Summoner’s titular protagonist is Kelvin, who was reincarnated in a magical world by Melfina, a powerful goddess. In a twist of fate, Melfina grants Kelvin the chance to choose his new abilities, to which he responds by asking for the S-class summoner title, and selecting her to be his first companion, having fallen in love with her.

Though he initially lacks the power to summon her, due to her divine status, he grows stronger as a summoner by fighting various monsters and forming bonds with different followers. Eventually, he can summon Melfina, which marks the beginning of a life full of shenanigans, and an interesting twist on the "summoned by a goddess" isekai trope.

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4 Lucy Heartfilia - Aquarius (Fairy Tail)

Based on the Manga By Hiro Mashima

Fairy Tail is a title defined by its colorful cast of mages, each with their unique powers and developments throughout the show. As the main user of Celestial Spirit Magic, Lucy Heartfilia is able to summon Celestial Spirits by using their respective keys, and her fighting style revolves around her different summons.

Lucy has access to various keys, ranging from the more common silver ones to the rare golden ones that each depict one of the astrological signs. Aquarius's key was the first one that Lucy obtained, inheriting it from her deceased mother, and despite her initially hostile attitude, Aquarius grew to consider Lucy as a daughter. When Lucy had to sacrifice Aquarius in order to summon the Celestial Spirit King, their farewell was one of the most heartbreaking moments in the entire series.

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3 Kero - Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura)

Based on the manga by CLAMP

Cardcaptor Sakura features perhaps the ultimate anime summoner, Sakura herself, who has the entire Clow Card collection at her disposal at the end of the series. However, if any of the creatures she summons could be considered her familiar, it would have to be the guardian of the cards, Kero.

Kero looks like a cuddly stuffed toy, but don't be fooled; his powerful, true form is that of a winged lion. Kero often provides Sakura with advice and information on the Clow Cards, but doesn't usually help her in battle. Still, he's there for Sakura in other ways, often cheering her up and keeping her motivated.

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2 You Asakura - Amidamaru (Shaman King)

Based on the Manga By Hiroyuki Takei

Shaman King revolves around the Shaman Fight, a prestigious tournament wherein shamans, together with their summoned spirits, fight each other 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 first Guardian Ghost is Amidamaru, a 600-year-old samurai known for his numerous killings.

Devoted to his master, Amidamaru grants You his strength and allows him to quickly progress through the tournament, surprising everyone with their synergy. Though You also gains another great spirit eventually, Amidamaru remains his most important and trusted companion.

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1 Megumi Fushiguro - Divine Dog (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Based on the Manga By Gege Akutami

Megumi Fushiguro is one of the most interesting characters in Jujutsu Kaisen, a title set in a world where the titular jujutsu sorcerers fight Curses, fearsome beings formed from human malice. Even without considering his abilities, Megumi is an exceptional fighter. Moreover, he is also able to read the situation and come up with ingenious plans. As for his fighting style, Megumi uses the Ten Shadows Technique to summon various shikigami, Cursed Spirits that he has bound to his will after defeating them in combat.

While Mahoraga is certainly the most powerful shikigami summoned by the Ten Shadows Technique, Megumi has a strong bond with Divine Dog, a pair of shikigami dogs. When the white one is killed, the black one inherits its power, transforming into the much stronger Divine Dog: Totality. It's this bond that makes Megumi one of the best anime summoners, with one of the most interesting familiars to boot.

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Jujutsu Kaisen

TV-MA

Animation

Action

Adventure

Jujutsu Kaisen is a supernatural action anime that follows high school student Yuuji Itadori as he battles against magical curses. After Yuji selflessly saves a classmate by taking a curse into his own body, he is discovered and trained by a powerful sorcerer named Satoru Gojo. Gojo, who also happens to be a faculty member at a high school, enrolls Yuji there to help him and other students prepare themselves against the supernatural forces that plague humanity.

Cast

Junya Enoki , Yuma Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Adam McArthur , Asami Seto

Release Date

October 3, 2020

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Franchise(s)

Jujutsu Kaisen

Writers

Hiroshi Seko

Directors

Sunghoo Park , Shōta Goshozono