Top 10 Best Anime Friendships
#10: Hanako, Kasumi & Olivia
“Asobi Asobase” (2018)
Granted, this is not your typical trio of whimsical girls who venture through their school years in search of love, adventure, and all things innocent. This is a whole other kind of beast. Starting up the Pastimers Club as a way to alleviate their boredom, this hapless trinity of hilariously vulgar young ladies never miss an opportunity to make the others trip over themselves. You have to give them credit for continuing to maintain such a bond in spite of how many times they’ve backstabbed each other, though given how comedic the outcomes usually are, we’re more than happy to see this set up continue!
#9: Meliodas & Ban
“The Seven Deadly Sins” (2014-)
Outlaws gotta stick together. All throughout their time as both protectors and exiles, the Dragon Sin of Wrath and Fox Sin of Greed have held the strongest bond. Whether they’re goofing around, knocking the crap out of each other or arguing about who’s best girl, you can clearly see the comradery underneath. In the rare instances where they do get deadly serious, both Sins have demonstrated they’d gladly do whatever it takes to save the other, even if it means Ban getting his body blown up for the umpteenth time.
#8: Sailor Scouts
“Sailor Moon” (1992-97)
Top 10 Most Censored Sailor Moon Moments
Fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight, and remaining the most steadfast of friends every step of the way! While the gaggle of gals that make up this magical troupe couldn’t be more different, and often had drama outside of the miniskirts and tiaras, they always rallied when it came to thwarting threats from beyond the stars. Sure, Sailor Moon might be a crybaby and a literal princess at times, but her huge heart always kept the group together through thick and thin. If their friendship can survive what happened with Uranus, Neptune and Saturn, they can handle anything!
#7: Eren, Mikasa & Armin
“Attack on Titan” (2013-)
Anime Duel: Guts vs Eren Yeager
Considering just how much of a wreck their lives have been, the fact these three have remained friends for so long is something of a miracle. While he’s very much governed by his desire for revenge against the monsters that killed his mother, Eren wouldn’t have gotten very far without the help of his two closest Corp buddies. Mikasa is a beast all her own that would eliminate anyone if it meant protecting those most precious to her. As for Armin; he’s a beacon of integrity desperate to hold onto every last shred of goodness left. Without each other, they’d all have gone over the edge by now.
#6: Madoka & Homura
“Puella Magi Madoka Magica” (2011)
We should all be so lucky to have someone like Homura in our lives; a friend who went above and beyond to save her closest companion against an impossible fate. Following on from Madoka’s demise, Homura sold her soul to become a magical girl, using her one wish in an attempt to undo such a grim outcome. Of course, like all deals with Kyubey, it didn’t work out as well as expected, as no matter what she tried, Homura was unable to save Madoka no matter how many jumps to the past she made. Does she give up? Not for a second, even with the indescribable trauma constantly biting at her heels.
#5: Ash & Pikachu
“Pokémon” (1997-)
Top 10 Unlikely Friendships in Anime
Butterfree went bye-bye, Charizard stayed behind, and every extra Pokemon Ash collected were casually YEETed off as soon as he skipped over to the region next door. All save for one – his precious Pikachu. From the very first episode onward, Ash and his Pika-pal have been an inseparable duo that have gone on to win countless battles (and lose more than a fair few championships). Regardless of how many times they’ve been knocked down or had to send Team Rocket blasting off again, it’s clear the electric mouse and the eternal ten year old won’t be leaving each other’s side anytime soon.
#4: Ryuko & Mako
“Kill la Kill” (2013-14)
One is a ball of fury, badassery and swag, and the other is Mako. Together, they’re the ultimate underdogs sticking it to the oppressive overlords of their battle-fuelled academy. While Ryuko is very much the fighter of the two, Mako’s never-ending optimism and manic mannerisms serve as a constant source of support, providing the vengeful orphan with the familial sense of love and comfort she’d been lacking her whole life. They’re about as subtle as everything else in this series, but that doesn’t mean their friendship isn’t genuine and heartfelt!
#3: Yugi & Joey
“Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters!” (2000-04)
Every Yugi Duel Ranked (Yugioh)
Card games just have a way of bringing people together. While these two were originally nothing more than a bully and his victim, a combination of duel monsters and friendship rocketed them all the way to best buds. With Yugi’s innocent nature and impossible hair complementing Joey’s determination and Brooklyn accent, it wasn’t long before they were taking on duellists and facing down shadow games together. Still not sure if the heart of the cards is a real thing, but we sure as hell believe these two care a great deal for one another.
#2: Caiman & Nikaido
“Dorohedoro” (2020)
There are so many reasons these two shouldn’t get along, yet they’re besties. And they are just delightful! He’s a bit of a goof-ball trying to reclaim his lost memories, who also happens to have a reptilian face, while she’s a diner owner who can kick a monumental amount of ass, who also has some major skeletons in the closet. Both have pasts that are mired in blood and betrayal, and yet because of their unorthodox relationship, they find the strength to get through each day with smiles on their faces. That, and Nikaido really knows her stuff when it comes to cooking gyouza
#1: Gon & Killua
“Hunter x Hunter” (2011-14)
Top 10 Anime Characters Who Escaped the Friend Zone
What started as a casual greeting at the start of the Hunter’s Exams soon spiralled into a lifelong partnership, one that would prove strong enough to overcome the worst the world had to offer. While one is the single-minded son of a legendary hunter, the other is a walking weapon raised by a family of assassins, and yet they get along like a house on fire! What’s so amazing about these two is that while they undoubtedly became battle-hardened through various confrontations and tragedies, neither Gon nor Killua ever lost sight of just how valuable their friendship truly was.
