Reigen Is the Adult Mentor Shonen Anime Didn’t Know It Needed

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Shonen anime often features strong mentors who are experienced fighters, easily defeating opponents and teaching the hero new skills and power-ups. However, Mob Psycho 100’s Reigen Arataka breaks this mold. He’s not a powerful fighter, and isn’t actually psychic at all. Instead, he runs a business based on deception and frequently pretends to be more intelligent than those around him.

Honestly, looking at him, Reigen doesn’t seem like the right person to mentor someone as strong as Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama. But that’s actually what makes him so valuable. While a lot of anime shows have mentors focused on making young heroes stronger, Reigen consistently shows Mob that his power isn’t what defines him—it’s about staying connected to his humanity. Over the course of three seasons, Mob Psycho 100 has turned this seemingly fake psychic into one of the best adult role models in all of shonen anime.

Reigen Proves a Mentor Does Not Need Power To Matter

Reigen’s humor comes from the fact that he’s a bit of a fraud. He pretends to be a powerful psychic, giving grand speeches and using silly tricks to convince people. Surprisingly, it works – his confidence makes even the most ridiculous claims seem believable. However, in typical action anime, a mentor like him, lacking real power, would usually become irrelevant once the hero faces tougher challenges.

In intense battles, Reigen shouldn’t be a powerful fighter alongside Mob, and the story shouldn’t rely on him when facing strong spirits or enemies. But Mob Psycho 100 recognizes something many action anime miss: a child needs emotional guidance as much as physical training. Mob is already exceptionally powerful; he doesn’t need Reigen to help him win fights, but rather to offer support and direction in life.

Mob relies on Reigen to learn self-control – to understand when not to use his powers. This is a surprisingly difficult lesson. Reigen shows Mob that simply having power doesn’t mean he should use it constantly, and being different doesn’t make him superior to others. This guidance proves more impactful than any fighting skill. Though Reigen pretends to be a psychic, he genuinely helps Mob by teaching him the dangers of arrogance and pride.

Reigen Helps Mob See Himself as a Normal Kid First

A common and often sad trait of strong anime heroes is how quickly they lose their childhood. They face serious threats, are celebrated for their power, and their suffering is often seen as a necessary step towards greatness. While adults in these stories frequently train young heroes to be strong, they sometimes forget to protect their innocence. It’s important to remember, as is the case with Mob, that these characters are still children.

Mob deserves a normal life, filled with everyday experiences like joining clubs and having crushes. He should be able to focus on small problems and learn from mistakes without being burdened with saving the world. This is what makes his connection with Reigen so important – Reigen allows him to simply be a kid, not a hero or a savior.

Reigen usually takes a different approach. He encourages Mob to take a breath, think things through, and realize he has options. He helps Mob experience a normal childhood, guiding him to understand his complex emotions—like anger, fear, love, and hope. While Reigen can’t fix everything, he provides a supportive environment for Mob to begin navigating these feelings. By allowing Mob to be a kid, Reigen steps into the role of the mentor he needs.

Reigen Is Flawed, but He Still Shows Up When It Counts

Reigen isn’t portrayed as a flawless adult, and that’s what makes him feel so believable. He sometimes exploits Mob’s powers to boost his own business and isn’t always truthful, often bending the truth to get out of difficult situations. He’s flawed – he can be self-centered, arrogant, and make mistakes. The show doesn’t try to paint him as perfect, but it also doesn’t make him a caricature. Despite being something of a fraud, his genuine care for Mob is clear.

Reigen often steps in to guide Mob when he’s feeling lost or overwhelmed. He focuses on the person underneath Mob’s incredible powers, which is important because Mob’s biggest challenges aren’t just about fighting physically. His emotions can build up to dangerous levels, causing him to unintentionally frighten or even hurt others if he can’t keep them in check. While a different mentor might try to match Mob’s power with their own, Reigen treats him like a regular person, offering understanding instead of force.

Reigen’s greatest strength is his ability to see through exaggeration and get to the heart of things. While others talk about powers as if they’re predetermined fate, Reigen grounds the story in reality. He consistently encourages Mob to use his abilities responsibly and to consider what’s right and wrong. This straightforward guidance is what makes him such a valuable mentor. Though he isn’t always truthful, Reigen generally has good intentions when it really counts.

Mob Psycho 100 Gives Shonen Mentorship a Delicately Human Edge

Reigen breaks the mold of typical shonen anime mentors. He doesn’t focus on making Mob incredibly powerful—Mob already has immense strength. Instead, Reigen’s true purpose is to help Mob grow into a well-adjusted and emotionally healthy person. It’s a subtler aim, but ultimately more impactful. While many anime mentors are known for epic battles or tragic sacrifices, Reigen stands out for…

Reigen consistently reminds Mob to avoid using his powers to harm others, to stay humble, and to remember that his abilities don’t define who he is. These lessons aren’t dramatic, but they’re central to the core of Mob Psycho 100. The show isn’t focused on becoming powerful, but on personal growth while maintaining compassion. Reigen guides Mob through this process, even when Mob makes mistakes, and this creates a connection between them that feels more like a genuine relationship than just a teacher and student.

I absolutely love the dynamic between Mob and Reigen! It’s so cool to watch Mob start out really relying on Reigen, but then grow and learn to stand on his own. What makes their relationship so believable is that they’re both flawed people – they both have weaknesses they need to deal with. By the end of Mob Psycho 100, Reigen feels like the perfect mentor, and it hits you that’s because he was never trying to be perfect! He’s messy, sometimes a bit of a fraud, and honestly, pretty embarrassing at times! But despite all that, he teaches Mob some truly important life lessons – lessons that mean way more than any psychic power.

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2026-05-10 19:52