There's a lot of things that shonen anime are known for. There's their finely detailed worlds, spectacular action, and a variety of cool powers and magic systems. However, if there was something to define shonen anime more than those qualities, it would be its affinity for friendship. Gone are the days of the lone hero.
Shonen anime for decades have reveled in friendships, whether they're siblings, childhood besties, or even friendly rivals. During such a tumultuous age where friends really can't be close with one another, now is a good time to reflect on some of the closest anime friendships that touched everyone without really having to touch anyone. In honor of all those anime speeches that gave people power ups, here are some of the closest friendships in shonen anime.
10 Gin And Katsura (Gintama)
Even though Sakata Gintoki has made a decent home with his Odd Jobs crew, he does constantly come back to the adventures of his Joi brethren, and none have appeared as frequently in the show as the little brother of the Old Jouishishi, Katsura.
Gin and Katsura have a classic rapport that is only possible for two people that are genuinely close. Gin constantly teases Katsura with the weird nickname, Zura. Zura constantly pops up from behind like an annoying friend from middle school. Though their exchanges are typically rocky, they are the oldest and most consistent friendship in this laugh filled series.
9 Meliodas And Baan (The Seven Deadly Sins)
Some friendships are developed from history. Some are developed from hard times. And some are made with the people who just "get it." That's the time of friendship that Meliodas and Baan have. While neither has a full run down of the other's history, they do have a natural chemistry and adoration for one another that only comes when meeting the perfect friend.
Both are immensely strong fighters that love to roughhouse. One can cook, and one needs to stay far away from kitchens forever. It's a friendship based on both likeness and symbiosis that is anything but a sin.
8 Yusuke And Kuwabara (Yu Yu Hakusho)
When Yusuke Urameshi got into his accident, there was only a handful of people that cried for him. There was Keiko who loved him. There was his mother who looked after him. And, the most surprising of all, there was the super-masculine hoodlum of the school, Kuwabara Kazuma.
Kuwabara may not look it, but he's one of the most sensitive characters in the entire series who'll do anything for his friends and loved ones. That goes double for his long time friend and respected school rival Yusuke. Kuwabara has been pivotal in some of Yusuke's most dire missions, and Yusuke could always be trusted to fight alongside his good friend.
7 Yugi And Joey (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
Games have played a major role in connecting people everywhere between the globe and even across the furthest ends of a classroom. In Yu-Gi-Oh!, a strange game like Duel Monsters and a mysterious history with one weird necklace helped connect the destinies of one short, fragile kid with one of the most strong-headed delinquents in his entire school, Joey.
Yugi would be one of the most genuine people that could see past Joey's tough demeanor for the sweetheart that he is. Joey was the tough muscle that would help do anything for Yugi both in and out of a duel. It just goes to show that, once a couple of people have traded monster cards, they're friends for life.
6 Natsu And Happy (Fairy Tail)
Though he may be small, cute, and furry, Happy is not the pet of the Fairy Tail guild or even Team Natsu. He is an equal and essential partner that has helped Natsu out of some of the toughest jams of his life, and the only fast moving thing that can carry the mage without him getting sick. As Natsu so eloquently put it, Happy isn't a vehicle. "He's a friend."
Natsu, on the other hand, is always ready to defend his furry friend, even when he found that he was an Exceed whose race may have tried to kill him. If anything, it's hard just to imagine Natsu without seeing Happy right on his back.
5 Light And L (Death Note)
Light and L. may very well have the rockiest relationship on this entire list. Light Yagami was the world-renowned serial killer, Kira, who got away with an extravagant amount of murders with his mysterious Death Note. L. is a world-class detective who was hired to take him down by any means necessary.
While it sounds like the two should be at each other's throats (and, to be fair, they kind of were), these two had the closest dynamic in the entire series. Both are high-level geniuses who have never had anyone to competently match wits with. When the two would finally meet, it didn't take too long for them to form a friendship, albeit a fake one. However, after seeing how close they got, it really did seem like something was there.
4 Ed And Alphonse (Fullmetal Alchemist)
It should be noted that siblings are not always going to be friends. As sad backstories and competitive noble families have shown, sometimes one's greatest enemy can be living under the same roof as them. That's why a pair like Edward and Alphonse Elric is so important.
While these two may fight and argue on occasion, they're best friends who are constantly looking out for one another; and Fullmetal Alchemist's twisty, conspiratorial world, that's possibly the best thing to have. When one's missing a couple of limbs and the other has none of them, it's best to make the most of what's left, and these two have certainly done a lot together.
3 Gon And Killua (Hunter x Hunter)
While Gon may have started his adventure with Kurapika and Leorio, he'd spend most of it with the only other kid his age taking the Hunter Exam. Gon is the simple-minded yet ever determined son of one of a Hunter who was raised in a humble, small village. Killua is a sharp-minded child assassin who was raised by an entire family of killers in an extravagant yet incredibly lonely estate.
Gon would be the very friendship that saved Killua and gave him purpose in life, whereas Killua helped return the favor by constantly having Gon's back and, later, actually saving his life.
2 The Straw Hat Pirates (One Piece)
While a lot of entries on this list focuses on the close proximity of two people, it's hard to pick a single pair out of the Thousand Sunny. One Piece is the very series that taught a lot of anime fans what the word "nakama" means and how important it is to understand that a "family" can really be anything.
It can be a foster mother, adopted siblings, or even an entire league of archaeologists. The most powerful one of them all in this series is the pirating bond made between a skeleton, cyborg, demon child, talking reindeer, chef, sniper, cat burglar, samurai, and a rubber man. It's not just a crew. It's something closer than family.
1 Naruto And Sasuke (Naruto)
While a lot of shonen anime can have some pretty entertaining friendships, not many have ever emphasized a particular one or based an entire plot around it the same way that Naruto has. Masashi Kishimoto never intended for Sasuke Uchiha to be as big as he was; but after seeing how the fans received the edgy dreamboat and some strong encouragement from his editors, he would not only give Sasuke more time but would make him one-half of the heart of the series.
The other half was, of course, the charismatic knucklehead who'd work effortlessly to show his dark companion what friendship and family can do for two lost souls. In what was once just a ninja adventure became an entire friendship based on rivalry, conspiracy, and decades worth of bloody history that kept the two coming back together.