Highlights
- Rivalries in anime, whether in battle or non-battle shonen, are used to encourage character growth physically and mentally.
- Forest of Piano follows the rivalry between Kai and Shuhei, two pianists with different skill sets and playing styles, as they compete, overcome obstacles, and grow as musicians.
- In Free!, the rivalry between Haruka and Rin starts in grade school and continues through high school, pushing them to compete in competitive swimming and challenging their friendship.
Anime is known for its popular rivalries, most commonly its battle shonen anime. Rivalries like Sasuke and Naruto, Goku and Vegeta, and Bakugo and Midoriya come to mind when fans think of the term “rivalry” in anime. These rivals compete with each other to get stronger and grow as people, and they sometimes even rely on each other when times get tough. Above all, rivalries in anime are used as a means to encourage character growth, both physically and mentally.
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The same concept applies to non-battle shonen anime rivalries as well. Whether it’s athletes who compete for the number one spot or rivals secretly in love, anime rivalry is a unique plot device that pushes characters forward, often towards common, or opposing, goals.
7 Kai Ichinose & Shuhei Amamiya
Forest of Piano
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Studio |
Gaina |
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Release Date |
April 8, 2018 |
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No. Of Episodes |
24 |
Forest of Piano features the rivalry of Kai and Shuhei, two talented pianists who differ in skill sets and playing style. Kai is gifted with natural talent and an individual sound that is unrivaled. Shuhei plays everything perfectly but is jealous of Kai’s ability to move a crowd. Although Kai says that his only rival is himself, Shuhei sees Kai as his biggest obstacle to getting to the top.
This is a beautiful slice-of-life anime that follows Kai and Shuhei from childhood to early adulthood as they compete in competitions, overcome obstacles, and grow as musicians. It is available to watch on Netflix.
6 Haruka Nanase & Rin Matsuoka
Free!
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Studio |
Kyoto Animation |
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Release Date |
July 4, 2013 |
|
No. Of Episodes |
37 |
The Rivalry between Haruka and Rin started in grade school and would continue through high school. They start as friends and rivals, but when Rin loses to Haruka after training abroad, things turn sour as he starts to see Haruka as an obstacle. In contrast, Haruka just wants to be in the water and doesn’t quite understand the point of their rivalry.
RELATED: Hilarious One-Sided Rivalries In Anime
Free! is a sports anime about competitive swimming. It features strong friendships and is a great watch for fans of shonen anime or those who prefer a more grounded story. It is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
5 Yuuri Katsuki & Yuri Plisetsky
Yuri on Ice
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Studio |
MAPPA |
|
Release Date |
October 6, 2016 |
|
No. Of Episodes |
12 |
Yuuri Katsuki is on the last legs of his career, hoping for redemption after his weak performance one year prior. Yuri Plisetsky is a young up-and-comer who wants to train under Victor, Yuuri’s coach. The two train together under Victor’s supervision, with Yuri hoping to bring Victor back to Russia with him. Although Yuuri doesn’t really see Yuri as a serious rival, Yuri uses his older namesake as something to strive towards and overcome.
Yuri On Ice is a figure skating drama that focuses on Yuuri Katsuki’s redemption and his relationship with his coach, Victor. Together, Victor and Yuuri rework Yuuri’s program and mental game. It is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
4 Arata Wataya & Taichi Mashima, Chihaya Ayase & Shinobu Wakamiya
Chihayafuru
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Studio |
Madhouse |
|
Release Date |
February 13, 2013 |
|
No. Of Episodes |
76 |
The rivalries in Chihayafuru are abundant, but the main ones are Arata and Taichi, as well as Chihaya and Shinobu. Taichi quit playing Karuta, so he could focus on his studies, but picks it up again in high school at the urging of Chihaya. Arata is a Karuta genius who sees the game better than anyone his age. Although there is a skill difference between the two, Taichi strives to surpass Arata, often mistaking his love for Chihaya for his need to surpass Arata in Karuta.
In contrast, Chihaya and Shinobu are both genius Karuta players, each one with different skills and styles. Chihaya and Shinobu both respect each other, but Chihaya wants to usurp Shinobu’s position as queen. Chihayafuru is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
3 Yuki Sohma & Kyo Sohma
Fruits Basket
|
Studio |
Studio Deen |
|
Release Date |
April 6, 2019 |
|
No. Of Episodes |
64 |
The rivalry between Yuki and Kyo started in childhood and would continue through their teen years. Their rivalry is something they were seemingly born into, with Yuki being the rat and Kyo being the cat. But when they meet Tohru Honda, their rivalry grows, and they enter into a love triangle with Tohru at the center.
RELATED: Great Anime That Perfectly Blends Romance And Supernatural Elements
Fruits Basket is the story of Tohru Honda as she meets the Sohma family and learns of their hidden secret. It is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
2 Kaguya Shinomiya & Miyuki Shirogane
Kaguya-sama Love Is War
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Studio |
A-1 Pictures |
|
Release Date |
January 12, 2019 |
|
No. Of Episodes |
37 |
Kaguya and Miyuki take the “rivals in love” trope and turn it upside down. They are rivals, who happen to be in love, and their rivalry centers around this love. It is a competition between the two of them to get the other to confess, but their respective stubbornness makes things complicated. Naturally, hijinx ensue as the two duel it out to see who will confess first.
Kaguya-sama Love Is War is a hilarious romantic comedy unlike any other. It takes place in a high school environment where the student council are the top dogs, and Kaguya and Miyuki are elite students. It is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
1 Shoyo Hinata & Tobio Kageyama
Haikyuu!!
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Studio |
Production I.G. |
|
Release Date |
April 6, 2014 |
|
No. Of Episodes |
93 |
The dynamic between Shoyo and Tobio is a classic anime rivalry, with one having extreme natural talent, and the other being a genius-type. Unlike typical rivalries, however, Shoyo and Tobio play different positions and are actually more powerful when they play together. The two must overcome their differences in order to reach a common goal, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.
Haikyuu!! is a sports anime about high school volleyball. Not only is there a rivalry between Shoyo and Tobio, but there are also rivalries between the various teams. It is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
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