Highlights
- Forming meaningful relationships is key in manhwa, as protagonists often start out as outcasts or lonely before finding their found family.
- These makeshift families are heartwarming and endearing, ready to risk it all for each other in the face of danger, forming strong bonds.
- These groups range from official teams to small groups of peers, showcasing the importance of trust and connection.
In manhwa, it’s common for a protagonist to be an outcast or suffer from loneliness, and part of their growth is connecting with others and forming meaningful relationships. By the time they face the villain, a group of trustworthy and dependable friends akin to family is formed. That is the basis of the found family trope.
These makeshift families are endearing parts of the story and often garner a lot of attention, often focusing on the heartwarming interactions between characters. Depending on the manhwa, these groups can be anything from an official team to a small group of peers, but the important thing is that they’re always ready to risk it all for each other.
1 The Starling Party
A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special
|
MyAnimeList Score |
7.55 |
|
Published |
2018 to Present |
|
Genre/Theme |
Action, Fantasy, School, Time Travel |
|
Author |
So-nan Yu |
|
Illustrator |
Uk-jakga |
When Desir Arman returned to the past, his first goal was to start training talented people to face the threats that would appear in the future. In that sense, this found family can be taken quite literally, since Desir had to find and scout each member of his team. The goal of this team was to improve their abilities until they could compete with the upper-class mages.
Though they started as classmates, it didn’t take long for the party to bond through multiple battles and threats to their safety. Romantica, Pram, and Adjest trusted Desir unconditionally as he was the one who trained and fought with them. For Desir, they are the closest friends he has, especially in the current timeline.
2 Han Yoojin’s Hunters
My S-Class Hunters
|
MyAnimeList Score |
7.35 |
|
Published |
2021 to Present |
|
Genre/Theme |
Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Time Travel |
|
Author |
Geunseo |
|
Illustrator |
Biwan |
In any found family, there is always at least one person who assumes a parental role. For Han Yoojin, who had to collect many S-class hunters to prevent the end of the world, it was inevitable. His caregiver skill required him to confess his love and build emotional relationships with hunters.
While it’s not quite the same as other found family stories, this group of hunters does end up behaving like siblings, vying for Yoojin’s attention and becoming incredibly protective at the slightest danger. The bickering was so bad that Yoojin decided to raise magic animals instead.
3 Cale’s Posse
Trash Of The Count’s Family
|
MyAnimeList Score |
7.83 |
|
Published |
2020 to Present |
|
Genre/Theme |
Fantasy, Isekai, Reincarnation |
|
Author |
Ryeo Han Yu |
|
Illustrator |
PAN4 |
After being reincarnated as Cale Henituse, the main character aimed to create the optimal living environment once things from the original novel started happening. To that end, he began collecting resources and people. Among these are two magical cats, the original protagonist Choi Han, and a dragon.
While many of these relationships started out transactional, their feelings toward Cale grew as he continued to do acts of kindness and respect them as individuals. While Cale believes he acts in his own interest, he can’t say he doesn’t care about the people he’s picked up so far.
4 The Stray Dogs
Jungle Juice
|
MyAnimeList Score |
7.69 |
|
Published |
2020 to Present |
|
Genre/Theme |
Action, Fantasy |
|
Author |
Hyeong Eun |
|
Illustrator |
Juder |
After being forced out of NEST for consuming meat, Jang Suchan found himself with an independent group called the Stray Dogs. It was made up of other people who had gone through consumption but maintained their rationality. They offered to help Suchan regain control over his instincts.
Each member of the Stray Dogs was someone who suffered at the hands of the Pet Shop or NEST, but they were able to find a sense of family with each other when they were rejected everywhere else. They would risk everything to save one of their own.
5 Jin Mori, Han Daewi, & Yoo Mira
God Of High School
|
MyAnimeList Score |
7.68 |
|
Chapters |
569 |
|
Published |
2011 to 2022 |
|
Genre/Theme |
Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Supernatural, Martial Arts |
|
Author |
Yong-Je Park |
|
Illustrator |
Yong-Je Park |
In some cases, a friendship begins as a rivalry. While entering the preliminaries for the God of High School competition, Jin Mori meets Han Daewi and Yoo Mira when trying to stop a robber. Although they are competitors, the things they experience during the tournament solidify their friendship and create a lifelong connection.
Throughout the tournament, this is shown time and again as they continue to fight together outside official matches. Even after the competition is over, they are willing to risk their lives for each other, even going against gods and demons.
6 Yusung High’s Study Group
Study Group
|
MyAnimeList Score |
7.42 |
|
Published |
2019 to Present |
|
Genre/Theme |
Action, Delinquents, School |
|
Author |
Hyungwuk Shin |
|
Illustrator |
Seungyeon Ryu |
The Yusung Technical High School was created to help Yoon Gamin get better grades since no other group would take him. Along with Kim Sehyun and Lee Hankyeung, he was able to make a space for studying. It wasn’t long until others started to join, delinquents who actually wanted help with their education.
In an environment where they were constantly told that studying was useless, they were able to encourage each other and work together. They supported each other even when faced with gangsters and other threats to their safety.
7 Eunjang High School
Weak Hero
|
MyAnimeList Score |
7.97 |
|
Published |
2018 to 2023 |
|
Genre/Theme |
Action, Drama, School |
|
Author |
Seopass |
|
Illustrator |
RAZEN |
Some of the deepest bonds are made through conflict. When Gray Yeon started fighting bullies, he didn’t expect to make many friends, and that was fine with him. Things change when he finds himself fighting alongside Ben Park, Alex Go, and Gerard Jin. Slowly, he starts opening up to people.
Their tentative friendship becomes stronger after each conflict, growing to be like a group of siblings with Ben as the charismatic leader. They become incredibly protective of each other, dropping everything to back up someone in trouble.
8 Jiwoo’s Friends
Eleceed
|
MyAnimeList Score |
8.55 |
|
Published |
2018 to Present |
|
Genre/Theme |
Action, Super Power |
|
Author |
Jae-Ho Son |
|
Illustrator |
Hye-Jin Kim |
Seo Jiwoo always thought he was the only one with strange powers, but when the world of Awakeners is revealed to him, he realizes he isn’t as alone as he thought, especially with his mentor Kayden by his side. He’s excited to meet awakeners his age, and although their meetings are rough, he makes fast friends with Wooin, Yoo Jisuk, and Lee Subin.
For Jiwoo, these are his first friends, and they have no trouble introducing him to things a normal teenager would do. The fact that they’re awakeners only makes their friendship stronger, since they’ve gone through so many dangerous situations together.
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