Animehas something for everyone, whether you’re looking for tender love stories or blood-pumping action sequences. It’s a medium that has exploded in popularity over recent years. With live-action adaptations such asOne Piecethat pull new viewers into the world of anime, that popularity boom continues.
One thing anime does better than anything else is duos, whether that’s best friends, lovers, or rivals. Most anime kick into high gear once the main relationship reveals itself on-screen, so we thought it was time to look at a collection of the greatest pairings in anime. This isn’t in any particular order and isn’t exhaustive, so kick back and read below to see some of the best duos in anime.
10Naruto And Sasuke
Opposites Attract
NarutoandSasukeare each others… well, everything. Squadmates, best friends, rivals, and bitter enemies. They were even each other’s first kiss, even if it was by accident. The majority of the story of the Naruto anime is built upon Naruto seeking to return Sasuke to the Hidden Leaf Village; their relationship is the crux of the story.
They’re two characters who couldn’t be more different. One is cool and collected, the other brash and impulsive. The story explores this, leading you to the conclusion that their young lives of isolation mean they aren’t so different after all.
9Light And L
Neither Willing To Lose
There’s certainly no shortage of fans who ship Light and L fromDeath Notetogether, and we salute you. But what made this pairing so iconic wasn’t the romance many wished for; it was their battle of wits. It’s one of the great rivalries of all time, a grand chess match that hasn’t been equaled since.
It’s debatable who actually won in the end since their game continues to play out even after one of them is removed from the board. Something generally agreed upon is that the manga and anime both lose a little bit of their magic once only one of them is the focus, showing just how great a pairing this was.
8Kyo And Tohru
True Love
There are plenty of romance-focused anime out there if you want to take a break from the epic battles the popular Shonen genre offers. One of the greatest is Fruits Basket, a delightful journey through love, the healing of emotional wounds, and people cursed to turn into the animals of the Chinese zodiac. Yes, you read that right.
Kyo and Tohru are easily the best example of an anime romance couple done right. It’s worth watching Fruits Basket. Even if it isn’t the sort of thing you would usually go for, you’re liable to believe in true love like never before.
7Simon And Kamina
Let’s See You Grit Those Teeth
Gurren Lagann spawned many of the anime memes we still see to this day, such as the classic “Yours is the drill that will pierce the heavens!” line. What it also gave us was the bond between Simon and Kamina, blood-brothers like no other.
Their relationship resonates throughout the entire show; the influence Kamina has on Simon is transformative. Although they aren’t together for the full run of episodes, you may see Kamina’s influence in everything Simon does.
6Yugi And Seto
Time To Duel
When you think ofYu-Gi-Oh!you’re of course, going to think of the card game. Odds are good, though, that you’ll think of Yugi Muto and Seto Kaiba as well, bitter rivals who grew to find respect and a gradual friendship for each other.
Given just how many different Yu-Gi-Oh! anime there have been,each with its own set of rivals; it’s a testament to Yugi and Seto that theirs is still the first to come to mind. That could be nostalgia, but there’s no arguing they’re one of the greatest anime duos of all time.
5Edward And Alphonse
Brotherhood - It’s In The Name
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis one of the best anime ever made, period. You could spend days talking about how good the setting is, and it is fantastic, but the best thing is in the title. Brotherhood. Edward and Alphonse aren’t just the protagonists of the story, they’re the soul of it.
Their brotherly bond is not only entirely believable, but it drives the entire narrative forward. They don’t always get along; they bicker and squabble just like brothers do. They would do anything for each other and sacrifice themselves for one another, just like brothers would. If you haven’t seen Alphonse and Edward in action yet, go watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodright now. It’s that good.
4Zoro And Sanji
They Fight Because They Care, Probably
The Straw Hat crew from One Piece are a found family, all loving and caring for one another. At least until you look at Zoro and Sanji, screaming insults at each other and fighting at every opportunity. This is usually for comedic effect, but their rivalry spices up the dynamic of a crew that would otherwise be too one-note.
Although they’re constantly butting heads, it’s clear that this is the relationship of two brothers rather than real enemies. They regularly stand together against threats, battling enemies alongside one another even while they compete to see who can get the higher bounty on their heads.
3Ash And Pikachu
The Very Best, Like No One Ever Was
When you think about what a rocky start they had, almost no anime duo is as enduring as Ash and Pikachu. They set the example we believe should be the standard for everyPokemonTrainer and their partner, one built on mutual trust and respect.
Many of you will have grown up with Ash and Pikachu, even if Ash stayed perpetually ten years old. Watching them go on so many adventures together only cemented their relationship as best friends to the very end, no matter how many Thunderbolt attacks Ash ended up taking.
2Itadori And Todo
The Greatest Bromance
Yuji Itadori and Aoi Todofrom Jujutsu Kaisen are one of the strangest friendships in anime and one of the best. Todo simply decides that they are best friends, and in his mind, they always have been once he finds out they like girls of the same type.
From that moment on, he became Itadori’s biggest ally, coming to his aid more than once in deadly fights. He furthers their relationship by starting to call Itadori his brother, confusing people who don’t know they aren’t actually related. Itadori gets swept up by Todo’s enthusiasm and confused by their sudden bond, but the two have shown to have incredible chemistry when fighting side-by-side.
1Goku And Vegeta
The Endless Rivals
Is there a more iconic duo in anime than Goku and Vegeta? What started inDragon Ball Zwith a fight to the death for the fate of Earth gradually developed into a bitter rivalry and then eventually friendship. Vegeta might never admit they’re friends, his Saiyan pride would never allow it, but it’s clear that’s what they’ve become.
Whether they’re engaged in an epic beam struggle or training together, there’s something about the chemistry between them that never gets old. Goku, with his easygoing attitude and natural adeptness for martial arts, clashes perfectly with the uptight Vegeta, who has to push himself to his limits for every advancement in power.
