Characters in anime might have their own lives, dreams and aspirations, but they all function as archetypes within the narrative. This means that they can usually be categorized based on their general personality and moral outlook, with one example being the "-dere" system.

RELATED: 10 Best Battles In Shonen Anime All About The Villains

While protagonists and antagonists are naturally on opposing ends of the psychological spectrum, there are many characters who can even turn their worst enemies into their best friends. These friendships don't always work smoothly, but they are almost always held together with a kind of mysterious bond that transcends words.

10 Bakugo & Midoriya's Enmity Turns Into A Promising Friendship — My Hero Academia

Deku and Bakugo clashing in MHA

At the start of My Hero Academia, the aggressive Bakugo treats the gentle Midoriya with the utmost contempt for something that isn't the latter's fault in any way: being born without a Quirk. However, this derision quickly morphs into virulent anger when Midoriya receives All Might's Quirk and starts outshining Bakugo at pretty much everything. Weirdly, this is where their friendship truly begins, with Bakugo finally accepting Midoriya as a rival and an equal.

9 The Bebop's Found Family Is As Loving As It Is Dysfunctional — Cowboy Bebop

Anime Cowboy Bebop Full Crew Faces

Not a single member of the Bebop's crew is like another, yet they have such an intense rapport and mutual understanding that it's heartwarming — like when gloomy Spike picks yet another pointless fight with Faye Valentine or when Ed and Ein chase each other around the deck.

Perhaps it's the paternal presence of Jet Black that calms everyone down enough to get any work done, but the fact remains that these five characters knit themselves into a rather tight found family. This makes it all the more heartbreaking to see them fall apart at the end.

8 Greed & Ling Yao Share One Similarity In A Sea Of Differences — Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Greed trying to save Ling Yao in FMA:B

Ling Yao arrives in Amestris with a singular goal, the retrieval of the Philosopher's Stone in order to become the next Emperor of Xing. When Greed is re-distilled by Father and fed to Ling, the Homunculus fails to completely take over because of Ling's indomitable willpower and sense of individuality.

RELATED: 10 Fights Shonen Characters Should've Realistically Lost

They are forced to inhabit the same body, eventually warming up to each other as the series progresses. As different as Ling and Greed may be, the one thing they both have in common is the desire for power.

7 Kuwabara & Yusuke Have Quite Independent Perspectives — Yu Yu Hakusho

Yusuke Helps Kuwabara Study

In Yu Yu Hakusho's first arc, Yusuke and Kuwabara hate each other as one would expect of two rival gang leaders. While highly vicious towards each other in most scenarios, Kuwabara finally admits, albeit indirectly, how much he cares about Yusuke when he starts spilling the beans at the latter's funeral. This act helps Yusuke realize that he admires Kuwabara as well, gradually leading to a solid relationship over time. In fact, it reaches a point where they literally become each other's weakness.

6 How Did Griffith & Guts Become Friends In The First Place? — Berserk

guts and griffith are face to face in berserk

Berserk's Griffith tends to display himself as extremely distinguished and shocks anyone who discovers that he comes from abject poverty. His appearance is almost angelic, revealing little compared to how well he can read others.

On the contrary, Guts doesn't share his friend's grand ambitions and considers life to be little more than grim as a result of many horrific childhood experiences. Despite the stark contrast between their appearances and personalities, Griffith and Guts end up having the strongest bond in the story.

5 Genos & Saitama Have Antithetical Ambitions — One-Punch Man

One-Punch Man — Genos and Saitama in a Public Bath

It's rare to see a shonen anime protagonist as lazy and unmotivated as Saitama, breaking the trope that heroes must always have something to aspire for. Saitama has dreams, of course, but they usually revolve around supermarket sales and not saving the world.

RELATED: The 10 Most Overpowered Villains In Shonen Anime

The ever-serious Genos has a clear picture of how he wants his life to turn out, even if he hasn't decided on what to do after he defeats the so-called Mad Cyborg that destroyed his home and family. In any case, Genos and Saitama can't really do without each other.

4 Kamina Turns Simon From Meek Digger To Heaven-Piercer — Gurren Lagann

Simon and Kamina from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Gurren Lagann's Simon is initially timid, preferring to spend time digging tunnels than interacting with others, until Kamina – his self-proclaimed big brother – brings him out of his shell. The older man is considerably more brash and courageous, and slowly rubs off on Simon over the course of their adventures together. Kamina's death leaves Simon utterly distraught. After the humans win against the Beastmen, a statue is erected honoring the fallen leader of Team Dai-Gurren.

3 Gon & Killua Are The Yin-Yang Of Their World — Hunter X Hunter

Gon and Killua from Hunter X Hunter

Hunter x Hunter's protagonists, Gon and Killua, are practically inseparable. They enjoy each other's company regardless of whether they're fighting a common enemy, taking Nen courses together, gorging on homemade meals, or even taking a bath together. In fact, all these scenes replay in Killua's mind when he thinks about how important Gon is to him. That being said, these characters aren't exactly two peas in a pod. Gon is enthusiastic, polite, and is prone to bursts of rage, whereas Killua is terse, morbid, and sometimes behaves quite mischievously.

2 Ryuko & Mako Make A Bizarre But Effective Team — Kill La Kill

Ryuko and Mako plan a date in Kill la Kill

Ryuko Matoi makes her name known on her very first day at Honnoji Academy, openly challenging Student Council Leader Satsuki Kiryuin. Although quite gutsy, Ryuko is sensible enough to know when she's lost a fight, choosing to flee the scene rather than die for something as nebulous as pride.

RELATED: 10 Best Protagonist Introductions In Shonen Anime, Ranked

Mako is eerily amicable. Because of that, she has a far easier time making friends than Ryuko, a stereotypical loner. She was even able to endear herself to Ryuko, so much so that they conclude their arcs by going on a well-deserved date.

1 Mikasa, Armin & Eren Have Clashing Personalities — Attack On Titan

Eren Yeager Mikasa Ackerman Armin Arlet

Attack on Titan's Eren is consumed by Anti-Titan vengeance, Mikasa's singular aim is to protect Eren, and Armin wants to see the outside world more than anything else. These disparities do not once cause the love these three have for each other to waver. In fact, they end up yearning for and supporting one another's goals and ambitions. Eren is excited to take a trip to the "water that glows like fire," while Mikasa and Armin are inexorably drawn into the world war he creates.

NEXT: 10 Most Chilling Villain Entrances In Shonen Anime, Ranked