Whether they take the form of intense battles as in Dragon Ball Z or fun contests like in Haikyuu, rivalries have always been a staple of the anime genre. In contrast to how rivalries are presented in some anime, where there is a lot of animosity and hatred, there are many examples of healthy and positive rivalries.
The competitors respect one another, show good sportsmanship, and encourage one another to perform at their best in spite of the healthy rivalry that exists between them. They show that competition doesn't have to be cutthroat and that even fierce rivals may respect and like one another. They are rivals, but they treat each other with kindness and admiration.
10 Yuno And Asta - Black Clover
Black Clover is a popular anime series noted for its mysterious protagonists who train hard to become better magic knights. Yuno and Asta's goal in the show is to become the Wizard King, the second-strongest magic knight in the land after the king.
The wisdom and talent needed to become the Wizard King may seem like an unreachable ideal, yet both protagonists find internal motivation to continue their quest. Due to the fact that only one person has ever held the title of Wizard King in any given era, the two are constantly pushing themselves to their limits in order to overtake their competitor and claim the title for themselves.
9 Sanji And Zoro - One Piece
Roronoa Zoro and Vinsmoke Sanji, both known as the "wings of the future pirate king," have long been at odds with one another. Both characters in the One Piece series work for Straw Hat Luffy and try their best to help him achieve his goal of becoming the Pirate King.
Zoro and Sanji are rivals despite their divergent motivations; each wants to prove that they are superior fighters. When one of them gets a leg up, the other one has to go outside his comfort zone and quickly advance in order to keep up.
8 Bakugo And Midoriya - My Hero Academia
The My Hero Academia series is well-known for a couple of things. However, the fierce competition between Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo takes center stage. Both characters are fierce competitors, and they show little pity for one another in their pursuit of becoming as powerful and wise as All Might, the former greatest hero and symbol of peace.
At the beginning of his rivalry with Bakugo, Midoriya was vastly outclassed. However, he finally became on par with Bakugo. This kept Bakugo on his toes as he strived to become the greatest hero of all time.
7 Luffy And Law - One Piece
Throughout the One Piece anime series, Monkey D. Luffy has made a name for himself with his eccentric behavior and obsessive desire to rise to the position of Pirate King. There are other young pirates like Luffy who aspire to one day rule the seas. As a result, he faces stiff opposition. Trafalgar Law, captain of the Heart Pirates and wielder of the Op-Op devil fruit, is one of his most feared adversaries.
Law hasn't shown a desire to become Pirate King, but he won't stand for Luffy outperforming him under any circumstances. This fosters a competitive environment that helps the two grow up more rapidly.
6 Nagisa And Karma - Assassination Classroom
The Assassination Classroom anime series portrays the story of Korosensei, an alien. With his superpowered abilities, Korosensei is nigh unkillable. However, he agrees to teach a class of students how to assassinate him. The two top students in the class, Nagisa and Karma, are always in fierce competition to kill Korosensei and outwit each other.
While Karma is physically stronger and has more aptitude for combat, Nagisa’s stealth techniques are nigh undetectable. With their differing proficiencies, the duo strives to be the one that kills Korosensei.
5 Hinata And Kageyama - Haikyuu
After Tobio Kageyama's junior high volleyball squad annihilated Shoyo Hinata's team, the two became fierce rivals. Despite his loss, Hinata vows to get even with Kageyama. At Karasuno High, however, he quickly learns that Kageyama is not an adversary, but a teammate.
While they have set their disagreements aside for the team's benefit, it is clear that they are still competing with each other during training sessions. Their astonishingly rapid development can be attributed to their relentless pursuit of excellence and competition with one another.
4 Naruto And Sasuke - Naruto
One of the most well-known and adored rivalries in anime history is that between Naruto and Sasuke. They were always at odds with each other, but it all started when Naruto saw Sasuke as a competition for Sakura's affection. Their rivalry began when Naruto, who had a thing for Sakura, constantly sought to outdo Sasuke, whom Sakura had a crush on.
Although some viewers may have found their intense rivalry to be damaging at the beginning of the Naruto series, it ultimately improved their relationship. The two were always respectful of one another's abilities and used one another as sources of power, even when they were at odds.
3 Goku And Vegeta - Dragon Ball
Goku, the protagonist, and Vegeta, the antagonist, have an epic rivalry in the famous Dragon Ball series. The two have always competed with each other because of their competitive natures and their distinct upbringings. However, Goku has developed at a faster rate than Vegeta throughout the series, leading many viewers to label the competition as unfair.
Goku's development motivates Vegeta to improve his own strength, so the rivalry isn't all bad. Even when it appears like all hope is lost, Goku is still motivated by knowing that Vegeta is keeping an eye on him.
2 Yukihira And Erina - Shokugeki no Soma
The anime series Shokugeki no Soma features intense rivalries at every turn. The show follows Yukihira, a young man with culinary aspirations, as he attends a prestigious cooking academy. Yukihira meets Erina at culinary school and soon finds herself in a competitive relationship with her. Although Yukihira is at first inferior to Erina, he soon catches up to her and outshines her in the kitchen.
Yukihira and Erina's competition was at first driven only by Erina's contempt for Yukihira. Over the course of the show, though, she comes to respect and even learn from the chef.
1 Jin And Mugen - Samurai Champloo
The relationship between Jin and Mugen in the Samurai Champloo series is fascinating. Right from the moment the characters meet, they are at each other's throats. Although it may seem like the duo are always at odds and fighting with one another, when inspected closely, their relationship is healthy and wholesome.
One of the key reasons for their healthy relationship is that they recognize each other's strengths and abilities. And despite their entirely different fighting styles, they acknowledge that they can pick up one or two tricks from each other.