Summary
Teachersin both media and real life play a pivotal role in mentoring, guiding, and even challenging their students. While intelligence is a trait most teachers possess,some stand out becauseof their sheer brilliance, deep understanding of their students' psychology, or mastery of complex subjects.
Of course, it should be noted that intelligence isn’t limited to encyclopedic knowledge. A teacher’s role is to think creatively, nurture students' personalities, and adapt methods to meet student needs. A truly intelligent teacher is not only an expert in their subject; they also serve as a mentor and role model.
Eikichi Onizuka fromGreat Teacher Onizukais intelligent, although not in the traditional academic sense. It turns out that hiring a former delinquent and street punk as a high school teacher was the best thing to ever happen to the students at Holy Forest Academy.
Despite his immature and goofy personality, Onizuka has the power to connect with his students using his street smarts. His unorthodox teaching methods may seem reckless to a layman, but they are surprisingly effective in getting through to his students, especially those who are misunderstood or troubled.
Kyo Sohma’s adoptive father,Kazuma Sohma, plays a crucial role in mentoring and supporting his son through the curse of the cat spirit. He is a wise, compassionate martial arts master who understands the struggles ofthe Sohma family and the curse’s psychological effects.
As a martial arts master, Kazuma remains calm even in extremely stressful situations and knows how to be patient with Kyo’s temper and emotional outbursts. He teaches Kyo not only the physical aspects of martial arts but also discipline and self-acceptance.
Kakashi fromNarutoisone of the most beloved charactersin anime and manga, and for good reason. He’s a goofy but highly skilled ninja who plays a significant role as a mentor to the main characters. He is one of the smartest characters in the series, being a quick-thinking strategist and tactician.
He’s pretty good at hiding just how smart he is too, with his laid-back personality and mysterious past. Kakashi is also a versatile fighter, mastering various jutsu and being able to copy nearly every technique with his Sharingan.
My Hero Academia’s Shoto Aizawais responsible for teaching and training Class 1-A, one of the promising classes at U.A. High School. He is known forbeing a stern teacher who will threaten his studentswith expulsion if they don’t meet his high standards, but he does so to prepare his students for the harsh realities of being a hero.
Aizawa does care deeply about his students. He risks life and limb to protect them and ensures they receive the best training possible. Even if his teaching methods may seem harsh, he is completely fair and doesn’t believe in sugarcoating the truth for his students.
Like Shoto Aizawa,Izumi Curtistakes a tough-love approach to teaching and is not afraid to reprimand her students if they fall short of her expectations. Deep down, however, she sees Edward and Alphonse as her own children and genuinely wants them to succeed as alchemists.
She is also one of the most advanced alchemists inFullmetal Alchemist, as well as a highly skilled martial artist. Izumi’s teachings often go beyond the technical aspects of alchemy, as she is a deeply philosophical person who believes thatalchemy should not be used for reckless or selfish reasons.
Kumiko Yamaguchi, the protagonist ofGokusen, is a high school math teacher who lives a dual life. Even though she’s the granddaughter ofa powerful yakuza bossand is expected to take over as the head someday, she’s also a highly respected teacher at Shirokin High School.
Like Onizuka, Kumiko is a firm believer in the potential of every student, no matter how troublesome or misunderstood they may be. She’s skilled at understanding her students' motivations and insecurities and notices things other students might overlook. In addition to being proficient in math, she also has plenty of street smarts as well thanks to her yakuza background.
WhileMaster Roshiis one of the more humorous teachers in anime, his wisdom and strength should not be underestimated. For one, he invented the legendary Kamehamaha attack and is considered the greatest martial artist on Earth.His teachings and years of experiencewere instrumental in shaping Goku and Krillin into the heroes they became.
Master Roshi has honed his martial arts skills over a lifetime, and he isn’t too shabby on the philosophical aspects of mentoring either. His wacky antics balance it all out, providing a lot of theDragon Ballseries' comic relief.
Easily one of the most unique teachers in anime,Koro-senseiis an octopus-like monster who dresses in academic attire and is responsible for teaching Class 3-E inAssassination Classroom. He has grand plans to destroy the Earth after blowing up 70% of the Moon — that is, unless his students manage to assassinate him first.
Unfortunately for the world’s governments, Koro-sensei has abilities that make him impossible to kill, andhe is the best teacher Class 3-E has ever had. He is knowledgeable in all subjects and personalizes his teaching methods for each student, while also imparting important life lessons.
