Ask John: What Anime Depict Prevailing Friendships?

Question:
I am currently watching 11Eyes. The show is ok so far, but I was wondering if there are other shows similar to 11Eyes, but none of the characters go crazy or psycho, and the bonds of friends are still tested, yet prove to be stronger to the end?

Answer:
As a viewer, you may have somewhat different tastes than I, and you certainly have more fortitude than I do. While you find 11eyes “okay,” I immediately found it bland and unappealing, and thus stopped watching it. So having watched no more than its first episode, I’m not qualified to recommend other anime distinctly like 11eyes. But I can identify a few anime that revolve around the concept of testing the strength and boundaries of friendship. Naturally, to be specific, I’ll have to refer to some mild spoilers.

Friendship and loyalty have long been significant and serious topics in manga and anime, as loyalty to relationships is a traditional precept of Japanese society. Developing and maintaining strong, trustworthy friendships is a defining characteristic of typical shounen manga and anime. The bonds of love are strong and loyal, and are depicted in anime frequently. The bonds of deep and committed friendship are often just as strong despite being highlighted in anime less frequently.

My memory isn’t good enough to recall every example of friendship winning over adversity or opposition that I’ve seen in anime, but a few instances do come to mind. The 1990 OVA Carol revolves around a group of young men, one of whom has decided to separate from his friends and serve the evil creature Gigantica. However, when pressed with the decision to serve his master or save his former friends, friendship prevails. Makoto Shinkai’s 2004 film Beyond the Clouds, the Promised Place illustrates childhood friends growing apart. However, despite their differing perspectives that nearly bring them to violence, a promise from their youth unites them. The 2006 Freedom Project OVA series makes close friendships between boys a crux of its plot development. Takeru, in particular, maintains his friendly loyalty to Kazuma even when the two boys are on different planets and Kazuma has been inducted into the “enemy” ranks. The six episode OVA series actually depicts at least three instances in which underlying friendship trumps overt opposition. The Eve no Jikan ONA series and movie depict an unusual instance of friendship proving stronger than established rules when a young man defies his father and the family robot defies the fundamental laws of robotics that govern its very existence in order to acknowledge their long unspoken mutual friendship.

Anime series including Jubei-chan II and Gunbuster II present an interesting perspective on the immutability of friendship by illustrating friendships that sustain and prevail even after one of the partners consciously tries to break or oppose the friendship.

The presently ongoing Naruto television series and Break Blade movie series also revolve around characters who were once friends but are now enemies. Since these two franchises have yet to end, viewers will have to wait to see if friendship, hatred, or simple circumstances prevail in the end.