Most people love watching anime because of the various characters that are present in these shows. The sheer number of flamboyant and memorable personalities on display is impressive, and proves why so many people love the medium. Viewers who end up getting hooked on certain shows genuinely form strong bonds with characters who justify the screen time they get.
One fun relationship that viewers love to see blossom in anime is the bond of friendship between two lovable characters. However, while it might seem that these two steadfast friends will endure the worst moments, the fact remains that certain friendships end up collapsing and lead to betrayal, tragedy, or a combination of both. Here are some of the most notable anime friendships that end on a sour note.
10 Guts & Griffith (Berserk)
It would be impossible to make a list about tragic anime friendships without mentioning this duo from Berserk. There was a time when Griffith and Guts considered themselves to be fast friends…but that was before Griffith's meltdown after his friend left the group.
With the advent of the Eclipse, Griffith ended up embarking on a dark route while Guts decided to take his revenge against a man he considered to be his friend. Only time will tell how their story will be resolved in the manga.
9 Light Yagami & L Lawliet (Death Note)
Light's pursuit for world dominance clashed with L's hunt for justice. However, there was a time when the two actually formed a great bond, especially when Light lost his memories.
So, it was sad to see Light go back to his old ways and end L's life, vacating the path for him to become the god of the new world. While L's protégé ultimately brought Light down, the bitter ending of this friendship is still one of the most impactful and tragic moments in Death Note.
8 Kakashi Hatake & Obito Uchiha (Naruto)
While Naruto and Sasuke eventually reconciled after a long estrangement, Kakashi and Obito never managed to explore a future where their friendship was intact. Obito was too far gone by the time Kakashi encountered him, and it was only after his fate was sealed that they finally saw eye-to-eye.
For what it's worth, Obito did manage to give Kakashi a parting gift before dying. Ultimately, Kakashi ended up losing his best friend, but at least he got some closure — a privilege when compared to the other friendships on this list.
7 Lelouch Vi Britannia & Suzaku Kururugi (Code Geass)
Code Geass is one of the most popular anime ever made, with Lelouch's quest to rise onto the throne being a great one indeed. However, this put him on a collision course with his best friend, Suzaku.
The fact that these two characters were extremely close to each, other only for Suzaku to learn the sheer depth of the atrocities committed by Lelouch, was quite saddening. While they did get a moment to themselves near the end of the series, Lelouch's poetic death at the hand of his friend prevented any hope of a happy ending for this friendship.
6 Akira Fudo & Ryo Asuka (Devilman Crybaby)
Devilman Crybaby is easily one of the saddest anime around, covering a beloved piece of source material with quite a bit of modern flair. The show starts off with Akira and Ryo exploring their ideals of the world before the former turned into a Devilman.
It turned out that Ryo never really looked out for Akira, and only used him for his own nefarious goals. After Akira lost everything and everyone close to him, he decided to fight against Ryo in a battle to the death, dying at the hands of a person he considered to be his friend.
5 Shotaro Kaneda & Tetsuo Shima (Akira)
Akira is one of the most impactful anime films ever made. The main plot took a look at two best friends, Shotaro and Tetsuo, and how their world completely turns upside down after the latter crashes into an esper.
Being unable to control his powers, Tetsuo slowly loses his mind before turning on his friends as his powers slowly went out of control. It's a horrible ending to a friendship that could have blossomed had it not been for that one incident.
4 Eren Jaeger & Armin Arlert (Attack On Titan)
Eren Jaeger is one of the most fascinating anime protagonists of all time, turning from a goody-two-shoes hero into an incredibly compelling villain. However, this transformation led to him alienating the two people closest to him, Armin and Mikasa.
Fans of the series fondly remember the times when Eren stood up for Armin, and the latter almost sacrificed his life in a bid to capture the Colossal Titan. As it stands now, Eren has carried out some truly despicable actions and is definitely going to go all-out in his final battle against Survey Corps and the rest of humanity.
3 Sajin Komamura & Kaname Tosen (Bleach)
Bleach has its fair share of friendships and rivalries, but the bond between Komamura and Tosen is something that gets broken for good with Aizen's betrayal. Given how close the two Shinigami were, it's easy to see why Komamura simply couldn't stomach his best friend going against Soul Society.
This makes the conflict between the two quite a compelling showdown. Both fighters bring out everything in their arsenal, with Komamura teaming up with Hisagi to take out this defector once and for all in an epic encounter.
2 Spike Spiegel & Vicious (Cowboy Bebop)
There was a time when Spike and Vicious was fast friends, but that was before Julia, Vicious' girlfriend, came into their lives. After having an affair with Vicious' partner, Spike and Vicious became hateful rivals.
Julia's death added even more fuel to the fire of this rivalry, with both characters capping off their rivalry in a climactic showdown that led to them both losing their lives. It's a bombastic conclusion that just shows why so many people love this show with a passion.
1 Satoru Gojo & Suguru Geto (Jujutsu Kaisen)
There was a time when Gojo and Geto were close friends who grew up the ranks together as talented Jujutsu Sorcerers. However, while Gojo decided that his power should be used to help the weak, Geto believed that only the strong who have cursed powers should be left alive on the world, and the rest should perish for the greater good.
Suffice it to say, this clash of ideals led to this friendship dissipating for good, with both characters going at each other's throats soon after. With Geto's death being confirmed in Jujutsu Kaisen 0, fans can't wait to see how this character is still alive in the main timeline of the series.