For every great anime character who aims to reach the top of their world, there is another who is right at their heels with the same goals. Whether it’s to become the de facto leader of their village, to defend their beliefs and philosophies or simply to become the strongest in the world, these characters compete with each other tooth and nail to prove they’re the dominant party and are dead set on becoming the first to achieve their goal. It’s not an uncommon aspect of anime by any means and there have been plenty that have tried to depict it, but these 10 in particular stand at the top as some of the best rivalries in the history of anime.
Midoriya Izuku and Katsuki Bakugo (My Hero Academia)
New to the anime scene as it may be, Midoriya and Bakugo’s race to the top of the hero world is one which already contends with some of the years-long rivalries on this list. From an early age, the two shared the same dream of becoming a hero on par with their idol All Might, but only Bakugo was lucky enough to be blessed with a quirk and the talent to use it. Shortly before entering high school though, Midoriya was granted the power of One for All and set to work on catching up to his rival post haste, even competing with him directly in his school’s Olympics-level sports festival and in a mock-combat training exercise. As it stands, Bakugo still hasn’t recognized Midoriya as an equal and even detests him for his sudden, meteoric rise to prominence among their peers, but as the series has gone on, they’ve drawn closer and closer to acknowledging each other’s competitive relationship as one which could push both of them forward.
Yami Yugi and Seto Kaiba (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
Across multiple years and several high stakes card-based competitions, Yugi and Kaiba have always sought to surpass each other in the name of achieving their goals. Constantly flipping with one overcoming the other, their contests are fairly even in terms of wins and losses with each win typically matched by a decisive loss down the road.
That said, the two have come a long way from their first confrontation and could even be considered allies by the series’ end. Where once Yugi had to crush Kaiba as revenge for his stealing a prized card from his grandfather, the two eventually throw down for no other reason than wanting to prove who is better, even teaming up to take down otherworldly threats to clear the way for their battles. It may not be a conventional friendship, but it’s certainly one of the more entertaining dynamics among anime characters.
Ichigo and Grimmjow (Bleach)
While Ichigo may take on a slew of different opponents during his stint as a Soul Reaper, Grimmjow stands as one which he arguably sought to surpass more than any other. A hot-headed Arrancar with a desire to be the strongest of his kind, he also holds a code of honor which restricts him from fighting dirty and even leads him to protect or assist Ichigo and his friends several times. As such, he is a perfect match for Ichigo and his blind drive to protect those he holds dear, and the two clash several times before arriving at a climactic clash within the world of Hollows. Even when Ichigo proves victorious, the two still hold each other in high enough regard to protect each other from another Arrancar’s attack, forming the base of a friendship that would form later on in the manga.
Aang and Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
While Aang and Zuko eventually become close friends working toward the same goal of restoring balance to the world, the road to get there is filled with more than a few clashes and conflicts. While both seek to achieve a goal more dear to them than their lives – Aang to master the four elements and save the world, and Zuko to capture the Avatar and restore his standing among his family and homeland – the two slowly realize that their quest to regain what they’ve lost is intertwined in ways they initially didn’t realize. Of course this only comes after clashes both physical and philosophical, and the road to the two respecting each other is a slow and sometimes painful one; by the end though, it proves worth it and allows them to reach their intended goals with each other’s help.
Testuo and Kaneda (Akira)
Memes about endlessly screaming at each other aside, the dynamic between Tetsuo and Kaneda is a picturesque image of an anime rivalry. Childhood friends who stuck together through the crime and squalor of post-apocalypse Japan, a resentment of Kaneda always rested just below the surface for Tetsuo; that is, until an event awakened his telekinetic powers and allowed him to take out his frustrations on the world. In response, Kaneda attempts to bring his friend to his senses several times only to realize their camaraderie had always been one-sided. With no other choice, the two are forced to fight it out, ending with Tetsuo’s powers going berserk and Kaneda having to put his oldest friend out of his misery.
Tragic as it may end up, it exemplified the complicated relationship of friendly rivals and their relationship is a big part of what drives the landmark film. No matter what the two go through, and even after they try to kill each other, they still hold a special place in each other’s lives that leaves the victor understandably shaken when its finally over.
Heiwajima Shizuo and Orihara Izaya (Durarara!!)
It would be an understatement to say these two despise each other. First meeting in high school and then immediately trying to kill one another, their hatred and ensuing fights only escalate with time, brawling in the streets and leaving a trail of collateral damage in their wake. At the core of it though, the two fight to prove the worth of their differing ideologies: Shizuo desperately wants to maintain control of his violent tendencies and keep the city where he lives at peace, while Izaya would love nothing more than to sow chaos into everything he touches. Though they may not ever reach the point of becoming friends, the wild ride that comes from watching the two clash is a joy, if a little bloody and brutal by the end.
Kogami Shinya and Makashima Shogo (Psycho-Pass)
In a world where order is upheld to a dystopian degree, it’s only right that a hard-boiled detective’s greatest adversary would be someone capable of abusing and manipulating that system. Such is the case when Kogami Shinya, an enforcer for the crime surveillance system Sibyl, is tasked with taking down the psychopathic Makashima Shogo, a man capable of committing any crime without detection by the system. As the hunt goes on, it becomes clear the two were always meant to face each other, clashing ideologically and physically on several occasions. It doesn’t help that by the end, both have been irreparably changed by their meeting, unable to go back to the lives they once knew as a result. It’s a bit tragic, but still one hell of a dynamic to witness to completion.
Emiya Kiritsugu vs. Kotomine Kirei (Fate Zero)
Among the many reasons Fate series fans hold Fate Zero in high regard, the dynamic between Kiritsugu and Kirei ranks near the top. Two of the front runners to win the Holy Grail War, each have their own reasons they must succeed at all costs, and as a result both come at each other with a ruthless drive for victory. This culminates not only in a phenomenal final battle, but also several dilemmas which rock both characters to their core. They’re forced to ask themselves if their way of thinking is right, whether their past sins can ever be repented for and even whether they deserve to be alive at all. It’s a relationship that feels both heady and impactful by the end, and one that won’t disappoint even the most discerning fan of anime rivals.
Goku and Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z)
For many, the endless competition for superiority between Goku and Vegeta is THE image that comes to mind for anime rivalries. Two of the last pure-blooded Saiyans in the universe as well as its strongest fighters, the question of who is better hovers over both of them long after their first confrontation. Sometimes, it’s for the worse, pushing the two into earth-shaking battles when they should be defending it from looming threats; other times, it takes them both to greater heights, with the prospect of another fight helping the two to become even more powerful and discover new techniques. Regardless, it also fosters a begrudging friendship between the Prince of Saiyans and the Defender of Earth, and makes for one of the most entertaining pairs within and without Shonen anime.
Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke (Naruto)
Though it may not have started out as the core of the series, the rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke was unarguably what drew people in and kept them there by its conclusion. Starting off as a school yard pissing contest before taking on the weight of their philosophical differences, the dynamic formed between the two aspiring shinobi is as thoroughly explored as it is engrossing. Fans were just as eager to see the characters exchange words and opinions as they were to see them exchange blows – which does occur, and makes for a top-notch anime fight while it’s at it – and couldn’t help but feel content once the dust settles and the two have accepted their differences. It’s a hallmark in how to create a rivalry, and just as people still talk about some of the older rivalries on this list, people will still be talking about Naruto and Sasuke for years to come.
Know of any other great anime rivalries? Mention them in the comments below, and be sure to check out some of our other name lists here.
