When two Japanese anime characters form a duo, those characters either complete one another or challenge each other, and there is always a sense of co-dependency. In a trio, however, there are ongoing tensions, a strong sense of competition, and rivalry that can also become jealousy, making the whole group much more interesting.

There are many iconic trios in the anime world, some composed entirely of villains, others of heroes, or a mix of the two. Some are strong and determined main characters; others feature shy and quiet protagonists. All these trios have one thing in common: they make the story unique and truly memorable.

Updated by Alexandra Locke on February 29, 2024: Anime trios are a time-honored trope and they result in some of the best friendship dynamics. Many well-known anime trios inspire each other to be better. While anime has plenty of notable trios, these are some of the best, most iconic groups. This article has been updated to reflect CBR's current formatting standards and to add even more of anime's best trios.

25 Korra, Mako, & Bolin Make A Great Team

Mako and Bolin are brothers who have a chance encounter and subsequent partnership with the current Avatar: Korra. Though there is some initial tension, the newly minted Fire Ferrets become a great Pro Bending team. Even outside of the ring, Mako, Korra, and Bolin prove to be a great team in the fight against the Equalists and Amon.

Eventually, feelings and obligations get in the way, but this trio remains loyal to one another in the end. They have their disagreements and slip-ups to be sure, but their friendship is what makes up the core of The Legend of Korra and leads each of them into their eventual positions as adults.

24 Komi, Tadano, And Najimi Work To Heal Komi's Anxiety

The romantic comedy anime Komi Can't Communicate features a casual but lovable trio of high school students who enjoy sharing their daily lives. The dandere Shoki Komi first befriends her plain classmate Hitohito Tadano, and through him, she befriends Najimi Osana as well, a total social butterfly.

Shoko Komi spends much of the anime expanding her social circle beyond this initial trio, but ultimately, it's these three characters who move the Komi anime forward and make it what it is. They make a fine anime trio as best buds, and it's no surprise that they often appear together in most of the anime's skits.

23 Jessie, James, & Meowth Fail Together

The original Pokémon anime focuses on a classic trio of characters. But part of what makes the anime work so well is that the heroes have a regularly occurring pseudo-antagonistic force — three members of Team Rocket: Jesse, James, and the only talking Pokémon in the original series, Meowth.

Beyond being mere villains, Team Rocket serves as comic foils who juxtapose the main characters. They plot to steal Pokémon and use them for evil purposes, melodramatically announcing their intentions every time they appear with one of the most iconic slogans ever.

22 Winry Rockbell, Edward Elric, & Alphonse Elric Are Childhood Friends

Edward and Alphonse Elric and Winry Rockbell have been friends since they were children. All three of them know the pain of losing their parents, and this fact helped them grow even closer. As teens, Al and Ed are already on their quest to get Al’s body back, but they still return to their hometown to have Ed’s automail fixed by Winry.

Winry may not always be with the brothers during their travels, but her love and friendship are key to the Elrics’ journey. Likewise, Ed and Al inspire Winry to travel and hone her craft. The trio is so close that they eventually become related when Edward marries Winry. Through thick and thin, this trio has survived and finally makes it to a happy ending.

21 Guts, Griffith, & Casca Used To Be Friends

The '90s Berserk anime adapted the Golden Age arc of the manga, following the exploits of the mercenary company known as the Band of the Hawk. The series' main character, Guts, is a late-comer to the Hawks but quickly proves his mettle and is promoted to Captain of the Hawks' Raiders.

The group's leader, Griffith, is apparently in love with Guts. Meanwhile, his second-in-command, a skilled swordswoman named Casca, loves Griffith and despises Guts. The way these three interact with one another and grow over the years forms the emotional heart of the whole series.

20 Frieren, Fern, & Stark Are Traveling Companions

Frieren may have been reluctant to take companions with her on her journey to Heaven, but Fern and Stark have turned out to be a blessing. Although they are very young in Frieren’s eyes, Fern and Stark are invaluable members of the team and have helped save the trio numerous times.

Frieren, Stark, and Fern have their idiosyncrasies that annoy the others, but they all get along fairly well for the most part. Where Frieren is lackadaisical sometimes, Fern keeps her ground. And when Fern is too stressed, Stark helps her loosen up. Meanwhile, Frieren protects them both not only as a favor to her late friends but for her own benefit, since she now considers them friends as well.

19 Goku, Vegeta, & Piccolo Are Friends & Rivals

The Dragon Ball franchise stars Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo, all brave warriors from other worlds who protect the Earth. They have fought each other in serious combat, but now they have come together as allies, even if they still have their differences.

Goku's optimism contrasts Piccolo's stoicism and Vegeta's cynical rage. Meanwhile, both Goku and Vegeta are some of the last Saiyans, giving them something to bond over in contrast to Piccolo, a constant outsider. Interestingly, both Vegeta and Piccolo were once villains before eventually befriending Goku. The three of them end up saving Earth and many other worlds.

18 Spike, Jet, & Faye Are Bounty Hunters

The director Shinichiro Watanabe rose to prominence after creating the hit anime Cowboy Bebop, a jazz-inspired series about a group of spacefaring bounty hunters. Spike is a relaxed and easygoing guy who uses Jeet Kun Do to turn opponents' attacks against them. Jet is a more severe and determined character, bulky with muscle and a perfect foil to Spike.

Faye decides to join the other two aboard their ship, and while she can seem lazy and overconfident, she is the most complex of the three, creating conflict while also supporting the others. Their personalities play off of one another to build dramatic tension and camaraderie.

17 Rei, Shinji, & Asuka Fight Angels

The protagonist of Neon Genesis Evangelion is Shinji, an unlikely hero ruled by fear and depression. He constantly battles his emotions, particularly his insecurities about his alienated relationship with his father. Despite this, he is one of only a few people on the planet who can pilot giant EVA mechs.

The second pilot, Rei, is seemingly emotionless, but her one emotional bond is with Shinji's father, who clearly loves her more than his own son. The third pilot, Asuka, is emotionally volatile, bonding with and despising the other two, depending on the given day, while confusing Shinji (and herself) with fluctuating romantic feelings. The plight of these three teens keeps audiences coming back for more.

16 Mugen, Jin, & Fu Are Very Different

Samurai Champloo is an incredible anime full of humor and adventure. The series gets its comedy from the unique visual style and the trio the viewer follows. Mugen, Jin, and Fu could not be any more different from each other, even if they tried.

Not only do Mugen, Jin, and Fu have very different personalities, but they also have different goals in life and different values that clash with one another. Despite all that, they are thrown together and forced to make the best of their journey as a group, blessing the viewers with many hilarious and improbable situations.

15 Ichigo, Chad, & Uryu Are Comrades In Battle

Depending on the story arc in question, Bleach's heroes might form a trio, a team of four, or even larger groups, such as Ichigo's four-man team to rescue Rukia in the Soul Society arc. Still, in combat terms, it's easiest to boil Ichigo's team down to himself, Chad, and Uryu Ishida.

Protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki agreed to let Uryu and Chad assist him in the Hueco Mundo mission, and they made a fine anime trio. These three heroes also brought along Orihime Inoue, a defensive healer, to back them up in the Soul Society storyline. Meanwhile, in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, Uryu joined the Wandenreich, so the trio became Ichigo, Chad, and Orihime.

14 Eren, Mikasa, & Armin Just Wanted To Be Free

This trio of friends in Attack on Titan is an iconic group from the manga and anime. Though these three have serious differences in personality and lifestyle, they have found in each other brothers and sisters in arms, a new family made from broken pieces and held together by the sheer power of their friendship.

This trio fought well together for several seasons in Attack on Titan, but events later in the series have driven them apart. Now Eren Yeager is a brutal antihero trying to destroy the world, and Armin and Mikasa are desperately trying to stop him before it's too late.

13 Ash, Misty, & Brock Want To Be The Very Best

The original Pokémon anime starred one of the most prominent and beloved anime trios of all time: protagonist Ash Ketchum, his tsundere friend Misty, and the tough, reliable Brock. They're all wacky youths who often annoy each other with their juvenile antics, but their bond is a strong one.

Other Pokémon protagonists have come and gone in the many years since, but for older fans, the Ash, Misty, and Brock trio will always be the definitive protagonist team. They are almost like a found family at times and rely heavily on one another during their tough journeys together.

12 Emma, Norman, & Ray Orchestrate An Escape

The Promised Neverland is a dark and twisted show where nothing is what it seems. Even so, the main trio manages to bring some light and warmth to such a gruesome and cruel story. Taking the lead of this trio is Emma, who is the absolute sweetest, strongest, and most determined character in the anime.

As Emma, Norman, and Ray are the oldest children in the house, they have taken it upon themselves to care not only for the smaller children but also for each other. Their unbreakable bond allows them to trust and rely on each other when their world crumbles, which surely deserves some recognition.

11 Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke

Demon Slayer's main trio of shonen stars may feel fairly conventional at times, but they're still some of the most popular and prominent heroes in the current anime world. First, Tanjiro meets the dandere Zenitsu Agatsuma on the road, and then they meet with the brash Inosuke, who tries to fight them at first.

Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke often bicker and get on each other's nerves, but those three boys go through a lot and trust one another with their lives. Their teamwork reaches new heights in both the Mugen Train and Entertainment District story arcs.

10 Aang, Katara, & Sokka Started The Adventure

Aang, Katara, and Sokka are the original adventurous trio from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Though they were young and inexperienced, these brave kids decided to go on a quest to help Aang learn all four bending elements with the eventual goal of defeating the Fire Lord.

Since Katara and Sokka are brother and sister, there is plenty of tension between them, but Aang is always there to settle things. Generally, though, they all get along and work as a team during battles. The trio is later joined by Toph, Suki, and Zuko, but Aang, Katara, and Sokka have a special bond because they’ve been together the longest.

9 Daichi, Sugawara, & Asahi Are More Than Teammates

Daichi, Sugawara, and Asahi from Haikyuu!! find themselves linked together by their common love for volleyball and their determination to see their high school club regain its past glory. Their friendship continues to grow even stronger as the story goes on.

Daichi, Sugawara, and Asahi know that life will soon take them down different paths. However, they never give up on their common dream and work their hardest to fully enjoy the time they are given together. They experience the highs and lows of the sport they love together before they have to go their separate ways.

8 Ayame, Hatori, & Shigure Sohma Are Always Together

There are many amazing trios worth mentioning in Fruits Basket, including the obvious one — Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki — but the most iconic trio is Ayame, Hatori, and Shigure Sohma. Although it's clear why Ayame and Shigure became so close, having the same goofy and dramatic personality, it may seem odd that the kuudere Hatori even bothered to hang out with them.

However, as Fruits Basket digs deeper into the past of all three characters, the reasons behind their friendship are revealed and make all the sense in the world. Growing up in such a restricted environment with little to no hopes of ever breaking free, they found in each other the comfort and security they'd lacked their entire lives.

7 Yuji, Megumi, & Nobara Are Friends & Classmates

The Jujutsu Kaisen anime borrows many of the best elements from both Bleach and Naruto, including the former's concept of a high school boy fighting supernatural monsters and the latter's focus on small teams of heroes. The Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara anime trio feels like the successor to Naruto's classic Team 7.

This is one of the best anime trios, but it also forms totally by accident. Yuji was never meant to be a sorcerer, but when he swallows one of Ryomen Sukuna's fingers, he is a part of the Cursed World with no going back. Satoru Gojo, his new mentor, teams Yuji up with the sorcery student Megumi Fushiguro and then adds Nobara Kugisaki to round out the team, and they've been a fine anime trio up to the Shibuya Incident.

6 Denji, Power, & Aki Are A Dysfunctional Trio

A dysfunctional but amusing anime trio soon takes shape in the Chainsaw Man anime, starting with protagonist Denji and his new partner, the horned fiend Power. They are total novices as devil hunters, so the veteran Aki Hayakawa is assigned to their team. They even live together in Aki's apartment.

These three antiheroes become one of the best anime trios because they're all zany characters who barely get along, but they manage to fight and survive together as a team anyway. In a way, Denji and Power are like a juvenile foster brother and sister duo, and Aki is the exasperated oldest brother.