Friendship is one of the most important aspects of shonen anime. Aimed at teens and young adults, the majority of these stories are filled with friendships that play a crucial role in defining both the characters and the outcome of a series. These bonds between characters help them to mature and better understand the world around them.
These friendships are formed between siblings, friends, classmates, and even rivals. The characters in such friendships push each other to their limits, and ultimately end up making each other better. With that in mind, here are some of themost iconic best friends in anime.
Updated on July 12, 2025 by Suzail Ahmad:The world of manga and anime is filled with many titles that teach their audience many valuable life lessons. They explore many important themes in depth, helping fans to understand them better. Friendship is one of the most common themes that has been put under the microscope.
Some of the highest-rated anime series use friendships as a means to make the characters more appealing. The bond between two characters can also be used to develop their personalities and to make them stronger. It’s quite apparent that friendship is an excellent plot device that can do wonders for the story, which is why so many authors have used it in their works. But not every anime duo works out. Only a few of them manage to etch their names in the fans' minds.
Mob and Reigen are a unique duo in more ways than one. They are not of the same age but have good chemistry. Reigen served as Mob’s mentor and helped him get through difficult moments. The two were constantly involved in dangerous missions, and they only succeeded because of their trust.
Mob and Reigen helped each grow mentally and emotionally. As the one with more experience, Reigen was often in charge of most missions. Initially, Reigen was manipulative but realized his folly towards the end. The duo had their ups and downs, but there is no denying that they’re among the most iconic best friends.
Senku and Taiju have been friends since childhood. On the surface, Senku seems rude towards Taiju, but that’s the farthest thing from the truth. Despite calling him an oaf, Senku respects Taiju and knows he is superior in certain fields.
This is evident from Senku’s decision to rescue Taiju before anyone else. The two make a spectacular team. Senku is the brain behind difficult operations, while Taiju acts as the muscle. Together, they have overcome many challenges and will continue to do so till the very end.
In the last decade, Midoriya and Bakugo have become two of the most well-known anime characters. Their friendship has been through many phases. Initially, they were close, but Midoriya’s inability to awaken his Quirk caused them to drift away.
Their friendship improved when the two boys joined U.A. Bakugo was impressed by Midoriya’s determination and his unwillingness to give up. With time, Bakugo and Midoriya even participated in several together.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus are two of the most iconic anime characters. Hailing from the Sailor Moon series, the two are not just similar in looks, but personality as well. Throughout the story, they have shown that they care about each other, going as far as being ready to lay down their lives to protect the other person.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus are also rather powerful. Individually, they can take down the biggest threats and complete all sorts of dangerous missions. When they team up, the effects are devastating, and even all the evil in the world dares not to challenge them.
Silvers Rayleigh and Gol D. Roger met each other many years prior to the current timeline. Roger approached Rayleigh and made him an offer that he couldn’t refuse. Ultimately, the two started the Roger Pirates. Roger became the captain, and Rayleigh was his right-hand man.
However, they did not let the labels stop them from being friends. They shared the occasional drink, and they talked about their lives. Rayleigh and Roger stayed friends until the latter turned himself in willingly to the Marines to be executed by them. The bond between them is so strong that Rayleigh still reminisces about his time with Roger.
Giorno Giovanna and Bruno Bucciarati did not have the best of starts to their friendship. They were not too fond of each other, and they nearly killed each other when they met for the first time. However, the two eventually struck a connection and ended up becoming close friends.
In a way, Bruno and Giorno pushed each other to become better fighters. Despite being so close, they maintained their individuality, ensuring that things didn’t become too boring. Unfortunately, their friendship was cut short by Diavolo, who killed Bruno in battle. Even after his death, Bruno’s spirit remained with Giorno, which helped the latter to push on and beat Diavolo. It is safe to say that Giorno would have never accomplished his dream with Bruno.
Boruto and Kawaki aren’t exactly two peas in a pod, but they have a good dynamic in the first part of the manga. The two had very different upbringings. Boruto was coddled by his parents and treated well by the villagers, as he was the Hokage’s son. Kawaki, on the other hand, was physically abused by Jigen as the latter wanted him to become the perfect vessel for the rebirth of Isshiki Otsutsuki.
When Boruto and Kawaki met, they would always argue. Most of the time, it was due to a difference in opinions. With time, the two began to see each other’s perspective and got along well. They even fought enemies together and kept a watchful eye on each other’s backs.
Despite having robust personalities, Power and Denji somehow managed to become good friends. Initially, they were always at each other’s throats, but with time, their relationship matured. Denji and Power share many similarities, which act as the basis for their friendship.
The two also have good coordination, which helps them fight against tough opponents without too many problems. The best thing about their friendship is that Denji and Power could be their real selves in front of one another. They didn’t have to pretend to be someone else, which is important for any good friendship. When Chainsaw Man returns with new seasons, fans will get the opportunity to watch the duo in action.
Even though Tanjiro and Nezuko are siblings, it is hard to ignore the bond that the two share. After losing almost his entire family, Tanjiro was left with only Nezuko, who had been turned into a demon. The rules would dictate that Tanjiro would be killed by Nezuko, and the latter would meet her end at the hands of a Demon Slayer.
But the two were so attached to each other that they managed to overcome this hurdle. Tanjiro managed to stop Nezuko from consuming human flesh like ordinary demons. In order to protect her from the sun, he started carrying her in a large box on his back. They overcame many adversities by trusting themselves and risking their lives to keep each other safe. By the end of the series, the two become extremely powerful as well.
Pokémon
Jessie and James make up two-thirds of the iconic Team Rocket that fans grew up with and adore. Jessie and James constantly appear in episodes in hopes of nabbing Ash’s Pikachu and whatever valuable Pokemon may be available.
Unfortunately for them, they almost never manage to achieve their goals. In almost every episode, the iconic duo entertains the audience with their antics. They come up with new methods, which inevitably fail. Despite their inability to win, Jessie and James do not give up. Often, when one of them is feeling down, the other tries to cheer them up. This particular quality makes Jessie and James one of the better anime duos.
