There is something beautiful about watching characters find their people. The support that fictional characters get from the ones who hype them up, drag them out of emotional pits, and completely change the course of their lives is something many of us crave (while a few lucky ones get to experience it themselves).
So, when you search for the best anime about friendship, you’re actually searching for this bond. Lucky for you, there are plenty of stories that revolve around bonds that are more life-changing than any superpower.
Some of these shows will make you bawl in the middle of the night (you have been warned). Some will make you text that one friend whom you haven’t talked to in ages. So, grab a snack, a blanket, and just in case, some tissues, and let’s get on to the comfort side of anime.
13 Best Anime About Friendship You Should Absolutely Watch
1. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Childhood friendships can be absolutely adorable, until trauma decides to gatecrash the party. Anohana brings together a group of friends who never really got over a tragedy.
The show explores how every person in the group deals with the loss. It peels back years of hidden guilt, turning every emotional reveal into a punch in the gut that you can barely recover from.
2. Barakamon
What happens when you take a grumpy city-boy and throw him on an island filled with children who don’t know what personal space is? Chaos. That is what happens in a nutshell.
It is delightful to see Handa, the stressed-out calligrapher, become friends with Naru’s chaotic sunshine personality. This ridiculously wholesome anime is definitely worth checking out.
3. Natsume’s Book of Friends
If you want comfort anime, then this is your best bet. Watching Natsume’s loneliness melt away as he forms genuine bonds with both humans and yokai is nothing short of rewarding. You can’t help but cheer him on and genuinely pray that he finds people who will truly love him.
The best part of the anime is Natsume’s relationship with Nyanko-sensei. It evolves from annoyance to genuine connection, making the anime feel like a warm hug.
4. Given
Everyone talks about the romance in Given, but its foundation remains steadfast in friendship and support. The characters’ bonds deepen as they help process grief, identity, and self-expression through one shared language – music.
Their dynamic isn’t perfect. In fact, it is messy to say the least. But that is what makes emotional moments hit harder.
5. Silver Spoon
When Hachiken enters a farming school, he doesn’t have many expectations. But fate has something else in mind. His whole world changes when he gets bombarded with friendships that challenge him in ways like never experienced before.
Of course, his classmates aren’t just side characters either. They have their own struggles and dreams. Their influence on Hachiken feels incredibly grounded and relatable.
6. Tsuritama
Can you even imagine an anxious teen and a socially awkward alien bonding over fishing? Sounds really whack, but give this one a try and you’ll get to experience one of the most uplifting friendships in anime.
The show radiates serotonin. You watch with fondness as the boys learn to rely on each other, support each other through vulnerable moments, and just make great memories in general.
7. Kiznaiver
Imagine being physically linked to someone else’s pain. Yeah, doesn’t sound very appealing. Once you see the characters go through it, however, you can’t help but get emotionally attached to them.
The premise is chaotic. But the anime does a great job of exploring empathy and vulnerability.
8. Run With the Wind
You can accidentally knock over your expensive drink. But can ten college guys accidentally form a team to run marathons? As ridiculous as the premise sounds, the anime does a great job exploring unity and growth.
Everyone in the team has different starting points. However, despite their emotional baggage, the characters pull each other forward towards their shared goal.
9. 3-gatsu no Lion
Our protagonist, Rei, has known nothing but shogi. When the Kawamoto sisters come into his life, they bring a ray of sunshine that guides him back to warmth.
Their friendship is gentle and warm. There’s no rush. The bond slowly transforms Rei’s life for the better, helping him to form genuine human connections that had been missing from his life.
10. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
These girls are nothing but chaos personified. Their friendship thrives on imagination, passion, and a shared dream of building the perfect anime world.
It’s always a treat to watch friends push each other to be braver. That’s why every episode feels like a celebration of one of the most genuine friendships ever.
11. Hyouka
If you want a chill anime with a hint of mystery included, this one is for you. The Classic Literature Club starts out with a random group of students, but soon becomes a safe haven for friendships to bloom.
Curiosity is the driving factor in this anime. Hours of solving tiny school mysteries become the bonding time these characters needed to form friendships that will last a lifetime.
12. Kids on the Slope
Music seems like a recurring catalyst for friendships to form, and Kids on the Slope takes it to a whole different level. Kaoru and Sentarou’s friendship tilts from comfort to chaos very quickly, just like the jazz they play.
The friendship here feels very genuine because it’s not full of flowers and butterflies. You get misunderstandings, rivalries, and everything that truly shows how rocky friendships can get at times.
13. Haikyuu!!
If there’s one thing Haikyuu!! fans are proud of is how the mangaka manages to preserve the friendships formed throughout the story so beautifully. If you’re an anime-only fan, then you’re going to love how hyped you can get at every volleyball match.
There’s no enemy team here. The characters are so well fleshed out, their friendships feel so genuine, that you can’t help but root for everyone.
Why These Truly Are the Best Anime About Friendship
The anime in this list handles friendship beautifully. They consider it the emotional backbone of the story, driving character growth, healing, motivation, and sometimes survival.
Happy memories make friendships bloom. But shared trauma, awkward beginnings, chaotic misunderstandings, and genuine moments of support make friendships feel genuine. Whether you’re looking for comfort, motivation, chaos, or pure emotional release, these shows deliver everything that makes friendship-centered anime unforgettable.
Writer. Dreamer. Journalist (maybe?). Anime lover (definitely). I turn curiosity into stories and everyday life into a narrative worth reading.
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