hontou ni
15Mar/0613

Random Rant ~Of friends and fiends

I'm currently at ep 23 of Gungrave. Despite the gorgeous animation and slick action, I found myself more drawn the mega-themes undergirding the series; Loyalty and betrayal. My father being the seasoned businessman he is, always says (paraphrased), "Only those you trust can truly betray you." While I do not fully subscribe to it, I certainly understand where he's coming from.

Bosom-buddies-turned-sworn-enemies though an old plot device, remains a powerful tool to inject much angst/drama in any tale. Be it a cruel twist of fate or the corruption of a soul that put pals across opposing ideological or factional chasms, a deep friendship soured always deserves great lament whatever the cause (especially when betrayal of some form is involved). Of course, some are ultimately blessed with reconciliation although many are often achieved through death. Anyhow, here's an incomplete tribute to a few anime 'pals-to-hell" however temporary the enmity might be.

Spoiler warning for Gungrave, Gundam SEED, GunXsword, Mai HiME/Otome, X TV, Kannazuki no Miko, Full Metal Panic and Tenjou Tenge.


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Full Metal Panic! ~ Sousuke/Zaidou

A friend, mentor and comrade-in-arms. A tragic bond forged and broken by the evils of war.

Gundam SEED ~ Athrun/Kira

So severe was their feuding that Kira stole Athrun’s fiancée while the latter retaliated by snagging the sister. Athrun even went on to start a harem in the sequel to prove he has more mojo.

Gungrave ~ Brandon/Harry

The names that inspired this entry. A very classic example of ultimate betrayal between the very best of friends.

Gun X Sword ~ Van/Gadved

Life Lesson #314: Choose your friends wisely today. After all he may be the psycho to put you down tomorrow.

Kannazuki no miko ~ Himeko/Chikane

Granted, they were MORE than friends and it was not a true betrayal. But hey, that MADE the series.

Mai HiME ~ Natsuki/Shizuru

Well if Chikane and Himeko makes this list, leave out Shiz and Nats can I?

Mai HiME ~ Mai/Mikoto

Their enmity spearheaded 2 pivotal deaths and was the focal point of the finale.

Mai Otome ~ Arika/Nina

SUNRISE is really overdoing it huh? Interestingly, they fell out because their close friend betrayed them both.

Tenjou Tenge ~ Shin/Mitsuomi

Women. One of the main reasons men slaughter one another. Well since it’s over Natsume Aya, I’d say it’s worth dying for.

X TV ~ Kamui/Fuuma

Yes, the CLAMP ladies have more testicular fortitude than SUNRISE. Reconciliation via death FTW!

X TV ~ Subaru/Seishiro

See above.

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In the making of this list, I realised how few shonen series I have caught compared to say harem series. I need to have a more balance anime diet. Anyway, here's a MEGAMI treat in hope of Arika/Nina's reconciliation! (probably over Sergey's corpse... :P )

Related posts:

  1. Random rant~ Of friends and fiends part 2
  2. Random Rant ~Gundam and Quantum mechanics
  3. Random rant ~Anime music~ Part 1

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  1. Kabitzin
    March 15th, 2006 - 12:12

    Where is Mitsuki/Haruka of KimiNozo? That was another great moment of friendship in anime. Likewise, Takayuki/Shinji was pretty decent, too.

    Poaching FTW.

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  2. Stripey
    March 15th, 2006 - 12:25

    Woah thanks for the reminder. I probably would throw in Akane too. :) She was really chummy with Mitsuki. Actually I forgot to mention those on the list have seriously tried to snuff out each other’s candles. I really WISHED Shinji had stabbed Takayuki. :)

    Agreed, poaching FTW… Like I always tell me friends.. “The good ones are always taken…” :P

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  3. kuromitsu
    March 15th, 2006 - 16:22

    Oh, Gungrave. Cried my eyes out on that one. But mentioning Brandon and Harry and leaving out Vicious and Spike of Cowboy Bebop? Their story wasn’t made very obvious, but it was another great friendship irreparably broken (and Brandon and Harry always remind me of those two).

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  4. crimson
    March 15th, 2006 - 16:35

    sorry for the twist, i also see the poster in another way:

    A together photo before the start of a boxing (catfight?) match.
    Mai, the referee, “smile girls or i’m gonna get o so mad for a photo ruined”
    *tighens her grip on nina’s and arika’s shoulder*.
    Arika warms up her left iron fist meantime anyway.

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  5. Zyl
    March 15th, 2006 - 18:25

    Was going to suggest Nemu/Sakura and Asa/Kaede but neither were all that close and underneath their friendship was always that rivalry for Junichi and Rin respectively. But still… what made Sakura a sympathetic character for me was how she desperately tried to kill the sakura tree. As for Kaede, I thought was quite cute that she asked for and got permission from Asa to continue loving Rin. Sharing 4fw. :P

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  6. Stripey
    March 15th, 2006 - 20:25

    kuromitsu: Yeah it’s utterly tragic… in fact besides Brandon/Harry, I can also throw in Bunji/Brandon, Bear/Brandon etc. I considered Spike/Vicious too but to be honest, I couldn’t remember if they were really friends or merely comrades by necessity. thanks for jogging my memory. :)

    crimson: haha! now you have done it… I’m imagining once Mai lift her hands, Arika is gonna pow Nina with her left…. :P

    Zyl: oh yes, I should have included Asa/Kaede since a deathwish was involved even though it was unilateral. :) I think Asa will live to regret her approval. With Primula’s support and Kaede’s meticulous concern for Rin (waking up early to give him a drink), she’d make a formidable rival. :) Anyhow I read over at Darkmirage they gonna to release a Kaede-centric Tick Tack equivalent. Poaching then sharing FTW! :)

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  7. T_I
    March 15th, 2006 - 20:38

    I nominate Ryuhou and Kazuma from Scryed

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  8. T_I
    March 15th, 2006 - 20:39

    oh wait, they were never friends to began with. never mind.

    I nominate Gats and Griffith

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  9. Stripey
    March 16th, 2006 - 00:00

    Characters from Berserk? Haven’t caught it myself… a series worth catching? :) Kazuma and Ryuhou belong to the other list where bitter enemies end up as comrades-in-arms. I think that list is much longer :)

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  10. Ender
    March 16th, 2006 - 12:43

    Gatts/Griffith isn’t quite in the same category I think, because Griffith was mostly just using Gatts as a stepping stone. Berserk is definitely worth checking out though, Stripey. It’s mad dark and grisly though – the last episode will leave you with a stunned WTF feeling.

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  11. Xellos-_^
    March 16th, 2006 - 13:04

    For Berserk, watch the anime first then read the manga. The Manga goes into detail then the anime and is still ongoing. If you start with the manga first when you read the manga. You will be going wtf all the time.

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  12. crimson
    March 16th, 2006 - 18:39

    actually, u dont need to watch the anime at all if u read the manga…but yeah, u need to get thru that “wtf” stage early in the manga due to the way the author arrange its pacing.

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  13. Stripey
    March 16th, 2006 - 19:25

    Thanks all for the feedback! Will pick up the anime soon. :)

    ( REPLY )

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