I'm in the planning stages for a YA novel.
Should the protagonist have a non-human sidekick?
I was thinking something like Senketsu in Kill la Kill, or the motorcycle in Kino no Tabi. Can they contribute to the story or is it some odd form of wish-fulfillment? Is it mainly for comic relief?
What was the original logic of these things? Is it a Japanese thing, or are there Western examples of it? It feels as if the concept has been around forever.
I mean they could, technically, but the chances are astronomically small. Usually they're just unbearably annoying.
Here's an idea: Make the protagonist the non-human sidekick.
>>9626897
Often that's deliberate. It's a slightly cheap way to make the protagonist look more poised and impressive.
>>9627502
Unless the protagonist isn't all that much impressive. Make them a more human character