Shonen anime is known for many things. They are known for their intricate worlds and spectacular action.
If there were one thing that shonen anime could be defined more than its many qualities, it would have to be its love for friendship.
The days of the single hero are gone.
Friendship can be a similar thing to love.
This is true for both fiction and nonfictional characters.
It makes anime more interesting, but it can also make it less enjoyable.
Some companionships may not be as pleasant as it is shown in shounen anime.
Sometimes friends can cause more harm than good, but they can also be the key to healing wounded character’s hearts.
No matter what the story choice, these are the greatest and worst friendships of some characters.
18. Sawa Nakamura and Takao Kasuga From The Flowers Of Evil
Although “The Flowers of Evil” has a reputation for being the worst or best-animated film ever made, they also have one of the most toxic friendships to exist.
Sawa Nakamura discovers Takao Kazuga is sniffing Nanako’s bottom wear and blackmails him to become her friend.
They have two very different personalities.
Takao with his sexual attraction towards Saeki and Sawa with her bizarre view of the world makes for one of the most complex friendships in manga and anime.
17. Gin and Katsura From Gintama
Gin and Katsura have a wonderful rapport. This is possible only if you are truly close to each other.
Gin teases Katsura constantly with the strange nickname, Zura.
As a middle school friend, Zura keeps popping up from behind.
Although their friendship is often rocky, it is the longest and most lasting in this hilarious series.
16. Yato and Yukine From Noragami
Yato is a God and Yukine is his Regalia weapon, which is made from human souls, that the Gods of Noragami use.
Although they didn’t get along initially, they formed a strong bond over many trials.
They are master and slave, but they share a bond that is often closer to their brothers, fathers, and children.
Both of their pasts have shaped their relationships, which has made their friendship one of fantasy anime’s strongest.
15. Meliodas and Baan From The Seven Deadly Sins
Some friendships can be made through history.
Some friendships are formed through hard times. Some are created with people who “get it”.
This is the friendship Meliodas & Baan share.
Although neither knows the history of the other, they share a natural chemistry that is mutually supportive and love one another.
Both are formidable fighters who love roughhouse.
One can cook and the other must stay away from kitchens for good.
It is a friendship built on likeness and synergy that is nothing but sin.
14. Akira Fudou and Ryo Asuka From Devilman Crybaby
Even though most of their friendship shines through after the series, it is toxic for many reasons.
Their friendship is built on lies.
In reality, Ryo Asuka, who is intersex in this form, is Satan and has fallen in love with Akira.
Ryo is possessive, and also causes many of the traumatic events that occur to Akira.
He is ultimately responsible for his downfall.
13. Yusuke and Kuwabara From Yu Yu Hakusho
Only a few people cried with Yusuke Urameshi after he was injured in his accident.
Keiko loved him.
His mother looked after him.
The most shocking of all was Kuwabara Kazuma, a super-masculine hoodlum from the school.
Kuwabara might not appear it but he is one of the most caring characters in the series.
He will do anything for his family and friends.
Yusuke, his long-time friend and respected school rival, is also a beneficiary of this.
Kuwabara was pivotal in Yusuke’s most difficult missions and Yusuke can always be trusted to fight alongside him.
12. Takeo Gouda and Makoto Sunakawa From My Love Story!!
Takeo Gouda, a freshman in high school, was rejected by Makoto Sunakawa, his popular and handsome best friend.
Although they may not seem to be best friends, Takeo’s awkward kindness and Makoto’s silent attitude make them perfect.
Makoto is very kind to Takeo and wishes him happiness. Takeo, on the other hand, wishes the same thing.
They support each other in many ways which makes them one of the most popular guy friendships in shoujo animation.
11. Yugi and Joey From Yu-Gi-Oh!
Games play a significant role in connecting people across the globe, and even within a single classroom.
Yu-Gi-Oh! was a bizarre game called Duel Monsters that combined a mysterious history and one strange necklace to connect one small, fragile child with Joey, one of the most determined delinquents at his school.
Yugi would be a genuine person who could see beyond Joey’s tough exterior for the sweetheart he is.
Joey was the tough guy that could do anything for Yugi, in and outside of a duel.
It’s clear that once two people exchange monster cards, they become friends for life.
10. Osamu and Atsushi From Bungou Stray Dogs
Atsushi’s life changed for the better thanks to Osamu’s assistance, and his newfound purpose in life gave him a newfound motivation to be a part of Osamu’s team.
He’s helping him overcome the trauma.
These two are more like siblings than friends because of their deep connection.
9. Natsu and Happy From Fairy Tail
Although he is small and cute and furry, Happy does not belong to Team Natsu or the Fairy Tail guild.
Happy is Natsu’s equal and most important partner.
He has been able to help him out of some of his toughest moments and is the only thing that can move fast enough to carry him without getting sick.
Happy is not a vehicle, as Natsu put it so well.
He’s a friend.
Natsu, however, is always there to protect his furry friend.
It’s difficult to picture Natsu without Happy on his back.
8. Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu From Nana
Nana Osaki is opposite Nana Komatsu, but they share the same first names.
Nana Komatsu is a strong-willed girl who falls for the wrong men.
Nana Osaki, on the other hand, is a punk-styled independent lady who has lived with Ren Honjou since she was 16.
She decided to not follow him and become a rockstar’s girl.
They became fast friends and share the same problems.
7. Light And L From Death Note
L. and Light may have the most rockin’ relationship of any couple on the entire list.
Light Yagami was Kira, a world-famous serial killer who managed to escape with an extraordinary number of murders using his mysterious Death Note.
L. is a top-class detective hired to bring him down using any means necessary.
Although it may sound like they should be fighting, these two had the best dynamic of any series.
Both are highly skilled geniuses and have never been able to match their minds with anyone.
It didn’t take long for the two to meet and form a friendship.
It was evident that something was happening after they saw how close they became.
6. Guts and Griffith From Berserk
Griffith is having the same problems Ryo Asuka had with Devilman Crybaby.
He is possessive of Guts, his so-called friend.
Griffith has done so many things throughout Berserk, it’s hard to summarize it all.
He’s massacred people and sexually assaulted multiple women.
Griffith attacked Casca to spite Guts, even though Guts was his lover.
Griffith is an unstable, vile man and a terrible friend.
5. Ed and Alphonse From Fullmetal Alchemist
As both competitive noble families and sad backstories have demonstrated, sometimes one’s greatest enemy may be the person living under the same roof.
It is why Edward and Alphonse Elric are so important.
Although they may argue and fight occasionally, they are best friends and always look out for each other.
It’s better to make the best of what you have, even if one is missing a few limbs.
These two certainly did a lot together.
4. Yuuki Hase and Kaori Fujimiya From One Week Friends
Kaori Fujimiya suffers from anterograde amnesia.
She was injured in a car accident when she was a child.
Yuuki Hase decided to make friends with her and smile at least once per week.
This friendship is one of the purest and unrelenting friendships in anime.
Each week Yuuki asks Kaori if he can be his friend.
Fans cannot help but cheer for this friendship and more as the years go by.
3. Gon and Killua From Hunter X Hunter
Gon started his journey with Kurapika and he would spend the majority of his time with him.
Gon is the humble and determined son of a Hunter, who was raised in small villages.
Killua, a brilliant-minded child assassin, was raised in a large family of murderers on an extremely lonely estate.
Killua would have Gon as his friend and the one who saved him.
Killua, on the other hand, helped Gon return the favour by having Gon’s back constantly and later saving his life.
2. The Straw Hat Pirates From One Piece
One Piece was an anime series that introduced many anime fans to the concept of “Nakama” and taught them how it can be any kind of family.
You could have a foster mom, adopted siblings or an entire archaeology league.
This series’ most important is the pirating alliance between a skeleton and a cyborg, demon-child, talking reindeer (chef, sniper), cat burglar, samurai, or rubber man.
This is more than a crew. It’s more than a crew.
1. Naruto and Sasuke From Naruto
It doesn’t matter how well-known Naruto’s and Sasuke’s friendship is in Shounen anime.
Despite Naruto trying to befriend Sasuke during Naruto’s adventures, Sasuke became bitter and forced him to flee the village.
Sasuke attempted to kill Naruto several times, including everyone at one time during the Shinobi War.
This blatantly caused him immense mental stress.
Their friendship was toxic, despite them reconciling their differences in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
