The List

7 Manliest Bromances

Valentine's Day (also known as Singles Awareness Day) is sneaking up. If you're one of the many without a significant other on the sugar coma-inducing holiday, have no fear. Even if romance isn't on your to-do list for the 14th, there's plenty of room for bromance instead. These friendships remind us that two guys can have fulfilling, rewarding friendships with one another without all the complicated romantic feelings. Here's to camaraderie and guys who will see each other through to the end!

Editor's note: Lynzee is out this week; this column was thought lost in a server crash from last year around this time, but it was (obscurely) available in the archives. We're reprinting it as part of the regular archives, and a fresh List will be in this space next week!

7. Kyoya x Tamaki (Ouran High School Host Club) Kyoya is the money wise, rational foil to his extravagant best friend Tamaki. Together, the duo founded Ouran's infamous host club and share the duties as its respective president and vice president. Tamaki is the face of the establishment while Kyoya is the "Shadow King" orchestrating the events. The "cool-type" Kyoya is all about strict appearances but his friendship with the dramatic Tamaki eventually gets him to drop his mask in favor of being true to himself and growing as a person.

6. Iskander x Waver Velvet (Fate/Zero) Waver Velvet is the Felix Unger to Iskander's Oscar Madison. The lanky, cowardly, and unconfident Waver finds himself paired with the robust, affable, and determined Iskander when he summons him from a poached artifact from Lord El-Melloi. Rider's personality is overwhelming and completely at odds with his Master but his jovial and fearless approach to things starts to wear down Waver. The aspiring mage and renowned conqueror grow close, with Waver even swearing fealty to his friend.

5. Kotetsu x Barnaby (Tiger & Bunny) When Kotetsu and Barnaby initially team up, it's nothing more than a forced partnership and the results are less than successful. Barnaby is much more concerned about his ratings compared to the seasoned Wild Tiger. Kotetsu's habit of rescuing people and meddling in others' affairs rubs his partner the wrong way. The longer they work together, though, they more they get accustomed to one another and grow to appreciate their differences. By the series' end they can finish one another's sentences, Barnaby warms up to his nickname, "Bunny," and starts calling Kotetsu by his name instead of just "old man."

4. Caesar Zeppeli x Joseph Joestar (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) Jojo and Caesar initially got off on the wrong foot when they met in Rome, even coming to head in a full-on Ripple duel. It's not until the smooth-talking Joestar manages to save Caesar from Wham and AC/DC and bluff his way out of death that the two start to build respect for one another. Their bond continues to grow as they train with LiSA LiSA, establishing a strong trust as allies and as friends. Their friendship is fully established when Caesar reaches out to JoJo while climbing a tower covered in oil, saving his exhausted friend.

3. Roy Mustang x Maes Hughes (Fullmetal Alchemist) Roy and Maes met in military training where the two comrades became fast friends despite their differences in personality. It would be easy to mistake Maes as nothing but an annoyance to the gloomy Roy, but their friendship runs deep. This becomes apparent under the most tragic circumstances when Maes is murdered. Roy mourns the loss of his friend and becomes obsessively vengeful. When the killer poses as Roy's deceased friend, he quickly lights the murderer aflame for insulting his best friend's memory.

2. Simon x Kamina (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) The charismatic Kamina was always like a big brother to the timid Simon. He'd recruit him for Team Gurren in hopes of reaching the surface from their underground village of Jeeha. Simon's peers had little faith in his ability when he wasn't with Kamina, but that didn't stop Kamina for believing in Simon's abilities. His speeches, and even a straight punch to the face, were all in the name of getting Simon to believe in himself. This had a profound effect on Simon, who would in the end grow into a much taller, more confident man thanks to the encouragement from his best friend.

1. Lupin x Jigen (Lupin the 3rd franchise) Lupin is the unstoppable thief and by his side is Jigen, his right-hand man and sure-shot marksman. If Lupin has a bright idea for a heist, Jigen is always game and ready to help shoot their way out of any dangerous situation. If an idea is too crazy, Jigen balances out Lupin's impulsiveness and works as the voice of reason if his friend gets too carried away, especially with Fujiko. The guys are sometimes shown living together and are by far one of the longest ongoing bromances in anime.

The new poll: Who is your favorite Studio Ghibli protagonist?

The old poll: Which male anime character looks best with long hair?

1. Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist) 14.0%
2. Kenshin Himura (Rurouni Kenshin) 8.3%
3. Sesshomaru (Inuyasha) 7.9%
4. Byakuya Kuchiki (Bleach) 6.5%
5. Kotarō Katsura (Gintama) 5.9%
6. Kurama (Yū Yū Hakusho) 5.0%
7. Yū Kanda (D.Gray-man) 4.0%
8. Inuyasha (Inuyasha) 3.8%
9. Trunks (Dragon Ball Z) 2.7%
10. Kirito (Sword Art Online II) 2.5%
11. Nezumi (No. 6) 2.5%
12. Kuroh Yatogami (K) 2.4%
13. Tōga Kiryū (Revolutionary Girl Utena) 2.1%
14. Hijikata Toshizō (Hakuōki) 1.8%
15. Reinhard von Lohengramm (Legend of the Galactic Heroes) 1.8%
16. Alto Saotome (Macross F) 1.7%
17. Mr. Kokkuri (Gugure! Kokkuri-san) 1.7%
18. Su Won (Akatsuki no Yona) 1.7%
19. Ranma Saotome (Ranma 1/2) 1.7%
20. Neji Hyūga (Naruto) 1.5%
21. D (Vampire Hunter D) 1.5%
22. Jin (Samurai Champloo) 1.5%

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When she isn't compiling lists of tropes, topics, and characters, Lynzee works as the Interest Editor for Anime News Network and posts pictures of her son on Twitter @ANN_Lynzee.