Across all genres of manga and anime, one of the most common elements is strong rivalries between characters. In nearly every series, the main protagonist — as well as many of the secondary characters — takes part in a rivalry, whether it be with one of their closest allies or staunchest enemies.
Although rivalries can sometimes feel formulaic, they're a very useful tool for drawing comparisons between characters and exploring their respective interiorities. The trope has been (and will continue to be) a major part of anime. As a result, there is no shortage of iconic feuds to sort through.
Updated on June 5, 2023 by Kennedy King: With each passing year, new anime series are released, many of which include a trope nearly as old as fiction itself: rivalries. These competitive feuds are often at the core of a character's motivations, and although some are less successful than others, the greatest rivalries deserve to be acknowledged.
25 Kamina And Viral
Gurren Lagann
Although Kamina isn't the main protagonist throughout all of Gurren Lagann, he still forms a quality rivalry thanks to his feud with the Beastman Viral. The leader of Team Gurren and Viral are quick to clash, beginning with their initial conflict and escalating after the formation of Gurren Lagann.
As time goes on, Viral continues to hold on to the grudge and rivalry he has with Kamina, even after learning of the heroes' demise. Their feud is an essential part of Gurren Lagann since Kamina and Simon would have never formed Team Gurren were it not for Viral.
24 Tai And Matt
The Digimon Franchise
Sometimes, even the best rivalries don't really have a specific origin. Instead, they simply comprise two friends who let their competitive spirits drive a wedge between them. This is more or less the case with Tai and Matt, two of Digimon's most prominent characters.
The major catalyst for Tai and Matt's rivalry is the fact that the latter doesn't care for Tai's leadership of the DigiDestined. Matt questions Tai's choices at every turn, indicating a natural clash of personalities and philosophies. The two semi-resolved this rivalry by the time of Digimon Adventure Tri, but their shared crush on Sora negated much of their progress.
23 Gray Fullbuster And Lyon Vastia
Fairy Tail
The love triangle between Fairy Tail's Gray, Juvia, and Lyon is highly indicative of the show's goofy tone. Juvia is madly in love with Gray, who doesn't seem to care. Lyon is very open about his feelings for Juvia, who is sort of creeped out by it. Finally, Gray and Lyon can barely stand each other's presence, which dismays Juvia to no end.
However, a love triangle is not the only reason Lyon and Gray are rivals. They both studied under the same Ice Magic teacher and have been competing with each other ever since their first meeting. Gray may spend more time with Natsu, but there's no denying his feud with Lyon is more fiery.
22 Soma Yukihira And Takumi Aldini
Food Wars!
Food Wars! is, more or less, a shonen anime where the fighting is replaced by cooking. Students at Tōtski Academy hone their culinary skills and compete against one another, resulting in a fun show that experiments with a variety of anime tropes, including rivalries.
Takumi Aldini is always looking to Food Wars!'s protagonist, Soma Yukihara, in some way, hoping to surpass the skilled chef in cooking challenges. However, Soma is completely oblivious to Takumi's desire for a nemesis, subverting the trope in typical Food Wars! fashion.
21 Natsu Dragneel And Gajeel Redfox
Fairy Tail
Natsu Dragneel, the main character of Fairy Tail, is a hot-blooded Mage of the Fairy Tail Guild who earns the ire of quite a few individuals. Like Natsu, Gajeel Redfox uses Dragon Slayer Magic, instantly creating a natural point of comparison between the two characters.
Whereas Natsu uses Fire Dragon Slayer Magic, Gajeel uses Iron Dragon Slayer Magic. These magical attributes perfectly represent the personalities of their respective users, as well as the reason for the natural animosity. Natsu's loud, outgoing personality clashes with Gajeel's steely edge, adding a fun layer to what ultimately becomes a tentative friendship.
20 Saitama And Sonic
One-Punch Man
As is the case for most aspects of One-Punch Man, the rivalry between Saitama and Sonic is more of a subversion of the trope. Saitama, the main protagonist of One-Punch Man, is a hero for fun. However, thanks to his overwhelming strength, he rarely gets to enjoy any true competition.
The speedy ninja known as Speed O' Sound Sonic is a minor villain in the world of One-Punch Man, and he desperately seeks to challenge Saitama to an even fight. This obsession amounts to a very one-sided rivalry wherein Sonic is always seeking to battle Saitama, only for the bald hero to forget Sonic's name and quickly defeat him in combat.
19 Vinsmoke Sanji And Roronoa Zoro
One Piece
Sanji and Zoro of One Piece have a complicated relationship. They possess a lot of respect for each other and similar opinions regarding many things, but that doesn't stop them from fighting on a regular basis. Their commitment to their captain, Monkey D. Luffy, guarantees that their animosity won't boil over into anything too serious, yet they verbally accost each other whenever given the chance.
The rivalry between Sanji and Zoro simply boils down to a clash of personalities, and when push comes to shove, the pair are more than willing to set aside their differences to work towards the greater goal. As much as they would hate to admit it, these rivals would be lost without each other.
18 Sakura Haruno And Ino Yamanaka
The Naruto Franchise
One of Naruto's earliest rivalries takes place between Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka. The two talented kunoichi have been close since they were young children, but after they each developed a crush on Sasuke Uchiha, a wedge was slowly driven between them.
While fans are quick to simplify Sakura and Ino's rivalry as a battle for Sasuke's heart, that would be a disservice to their connection. In many ways, Sakura and Ino are reflections of one another, and although they share the goal of earning Sasuke's affection, what truly drives them as shinobi is their desire to be better than each other.
17 Shizuo Heiwajima And Izaya Orihara
Durarara
Durarara's Shizuou Heiwajima is interesting. He is superhumanly strong because, for many years, he would break his bones anytime he tried to lift heavy objects. Each time he recovered, he became stronger. It's a strange origin, to say the least, but it's part of what makes his rivalry with Izaya Orihara, the powerful information broker, so hilarious.
Every time Shizou sees Izaya, he throws any object he can get his hands on at him. Therefore, it makes sense that Izaya, who claims to love all of humanity except for Shizou, has such a problem with the strongest man in Ikebukuro.
16 Ichigo Kurosaki And Renji Ibarra
Bleach
Bleach's Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Ibarra are two redheads with personalities that match their fiery hair color. Their rivalry begins during Renji's first encounter with Ichigo in the human realm, and it continues throughout their adventures in the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo.
As a Substitute Soul Reaper, Ichigo's outsider status automatically irks many of the members of the Soul Society, Renji included. However, after the pair battle numerous Hollows and renegade Soul Reapers, they slowly develop a friendship, eventually transforming their contentious relationship to one of good-spirited competition.
15 Meliodas And Ban
The Seven Deadly Sins
The captain of the Seven Deadly Sins, Meliodas, and the group's resident immortal, Ban, both have quite a competitive spirit. The two aren't only the strongest physical fighters in The Seven Deadly Sins — they also share the same lust for a good fight.
Ban and Meliodas are always happy to duke it out with each other, even going so far as to arm-wrestle each other over 700 times throughout their time together. Their rivalry is front-and-center throughout most of The Seven Deadly Sins' narrative arcs, although it is eventually forced to take a backseat due to more pressing matters.
14 Asta and Yuno
Black Clover
Black Clover doesn't challenge the conventions of the shonen genre, but it does a fantastic job of utilizing well-established tropes in a way that still feels fresh. The rivalry between Asta and Yuno is a perfect example of this.
Asta and Yuno were raised as orphans alongside one another, and when they join the Magic Knights, their friendly rivalry quickly drives them to the top of their respective squads. The pair's competitive nature elicits the same from their peers, slowly dismantling the socioeconomic barriers between the residents of the Clover Kingdom.
13 Inuyasha And Sesshomaru
Inuyasha
A great example of sibling rivalry comes from Inuyasha. The titular protagonist and his brother, Sesshomaru, have been at each other's throats ever since their father left the former the Tessaiga, leading Sesshomaru to resent his brother and Inuyasha to hate his sibling for his cruel treatment.
Though the relationship between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru might be better described as a mutual hatred, the two eventually come to respect each other. This, as well as their familial bond, qualifies them as rivals, even if most of their time in Inuyasha is spent despising the other.
12 Monkey D. Luffy And Portgas D. Ace
One Piece
One Piece's Portgas D. Ace and Monkey D. Luffy aren't blood brothers, but based on their appearances and personalities, they couldn't be more similar. Besides their visual similarities, both characters are similarly driven to achieve their goals.
Though Ace and Luffy go their separate ways as pirates, the pair always enjoy using the other as a measuring stick for their own progress. Even after Ace's death, Luffy uses his memory to work harder — especially when he's in the presence of Blackbeard, the man who apprehended Ace before his execution.
11 Yugi Moto And Seto Kaiba
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Yugi Moto and Seto Kaiba of Yu-Gi-Oh! have faced each other in more memorable duel monster matches than any two characters in the entire franchise. These two have something of a one-sided rivalry since Kaiba's first loss against Yugi led him to become obsessed with surpassing him, while Yugi bears no animosity toward Kaiba.
Yugi and Kaiba's opposing personalities and dueling philosophies are at the core of the rivalry, and since they have a healthy sense of competition, they meet in duels quite often. Yugi's underdog status is a massive thorn in Kaiba's side, especially after the hero finally comes out victorious in battle.
10 All Might And Endeavor
My Hero Academia
As with most shonen anime, My Hero Academia sports a variety of well-developed rivalries. However, while most of the series' focus is on the upcoming generation of heroes, the one-sided feud between All Might and Endeavor is arguably its most generative.
Endeavor's goal of becoming the world's No. 1 hero was dashed for years by All Might's presence, driving him to use All Might as a constant measuring stick for his own progress. This motivation led Endeavor to neglect his personal life in pursuit of becoming stronger — a mistake made even worse by the fact that he made little progress. My Hero Academia explores the losing side of a rivalry better than the vast majority of anime, and nowhere is this more clear than Endeavor and All Might's relationship.
9 Ryuko Matoi And Satsuki Kiryuin
Kill La Kill
After her father's demise, Kill la Kill's protagonist, Ryuko Matoi, learns she can find answers about his killer at Honnoji Academy. The strange school is run by the Student Council President, Satsuki Kiriyun, who Ryuko quickly develops a heated rivalry with. Ryuko repeatedly demands answers from Satsuki, only for the Student Council President to turn her down.
Ryuko and Satsuki end up clashing on multiple occasions, fighting against each other with their Kamui in some of Kill la Kill's most visually spectacular battles. As with any good rivalry, Ryuko and Satsuk end up working together after finding common ground, resulting in an unexpected final sequence.
8 Mugen And Jin
Samurai Champloo
Shinichiro Watanabe's Samurai Champloo might not be quite as well known as anime's most commercially successful titles, but in regard to its impact on the medium, it's as influential as any title in modern history. A unique combination of samurai films, lofi hip-hop soundscapes, and contemporary humor, Samurai Champloo follows Mugen and Jin, two samurai tasked with helping a woman named Fu.
Mugen and Jin are quick to go after each other's throats, as their personalities and backgrounds clash. Mugen travels Japan as an outlaw, whereas Jin, his antithesis, plies his craft as a principled, stoic samurai. Though the two gain something of a friendship in the form of mutual respect, they still constantly want to fight each other by the series' end.
7 Ash Ketchum And Gary Oak
Pokémon
Ash Ketchum is loosely based on Red of the Pokémon game series, and with this in mind, his rivalry with Gary, the grandson of Professor Oak, is as storied as any in anime history. From the moment Ash receives his first Pokémon, Gary Oak asserts his dominance as a trainer.
Gary is something of a spoiled brat, and his arrogant attitude and detachment from his Pokémon are part of why Ash seeks to put him in his place. They battle off and on throughout Ash's journey through the Indigo and Orange Leagues, and even after their final battle, Gary continues to make appearances in the series.
6 Spike Spiegel And Vicious
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is arguably the most critically acclaimed title in anime history. Its protagonist, Spike Spiegel, works as a smooth-talking, sharp-shooting bounty hunter by the events of the series. Before this, Spike worked alongside the dastardly criminal Vicious as part of the Red Dragon Syndicate.
Vicious takes over as the leader of the Red Dragon Syndicate after Spike's departure, setting them both on the path to their climactic battle at the end of Cowboy Bebop. Though Spike's fate is ambiguous, his life journey was undeniably tethered to Vicious'.