Greatest Rivals

Moonlight Shadow · Post by **Moonlight Shadow** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 12:14 am

wouldn't Asuka and Rai against each other be cool to watch
I bet Asuka'd win!!!!

Moonlight Shadow · Post by **Moonlight Shadow** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 12:15 am

kearlywi · Post by **kearlywi** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 5:57 am

Remember that this thread is "greatest rivals," not all rivals (you can think of).

There were some great answers in here. I'll try to respond to all of them.

RanmaUrashima wrote:Ranma and Ryoga in Ranma 1/2
Spike and Vicious in Cowboy Bebop
Vash and Knives in Trigun

Excellent answers. If I had to compile a top 5 these would be in it. Ranma/Ryoga is a slam dunk, the vicious vs spike episodes were the best in what is considered (by public opinion) the best anime series (see top 30 anime, or start asking people). And Knives vs Vash drove the second half of trigun.

CaTaClYsM wrote:Isamu Dyson and Guld Bowman.

Excellent, easy to miss nominee. The best rivalries are those that drive the story, where the entire anime is based off of it.

MAS PRODUCTIONS wrote:Though it doesn't really appear to be a rivalry in a sense, but

Gutts and Grffith - Berserk

Oh I would DEFINITELY consider this a rivalry. The first time these two met they fought each other. And it wasnt exactly an honorable duel (if you recall), and it was a duel for pride. Griffiths relationship with Guts completely drove the entire plot of the series, especially in the last 1/3 of the show. Maybe griffith didnt see Guts as a rival, but Guts certainly did (and he should have). They were like brothers at times. The ending (anime series) was so damn tragic. The director needs to be sent to prison, or forced to make a second season, one or the other, for how he "ended" the series. (Yes I am aware of the manga, thats why I'm pissed

)

MAS PRODUCTIONS wrote:
razzlychan wrote:Ryoga and Ranma in Ranma 1/2 and Inu Yasha and Kouga from Inu Yasha
Rumiko Takahashi (the creator) really likes rivalries so she puts them in almost all her series.

Urusei Yatsura
Lum and Shinobu

Ranma 1/2
Ranma and Ryoga
Ranma and Moose
Ranma and Kuno
Ranma and who the ever else likes a girl who likes Ranma and not them.
Akane, Shampoo, Kodocha, and Ukyo

InuYasha
InuYasha and Koga
Kagome and Kikyo

My avatar used to be a "disgruntled" ryoga, and I'm not surprised to see him get so many nods in this thread.
Anyway, Rumiko Takahashi does like rivalries. Considering that her series run so long, I can't say I'm surprised. She has to use every tool at her disposal in order to make a series last that long (and still be very good). The Kagome/Kikyo situation is a love rivalry (how f*cked up is that?), but isnt really a true rivalry to me (to me, rivalry indicates some level of kinship or even friendship). Its one of the most intriguing and original love triangles I have ever seen, and I like that someone put it up here. It does drive the plot of Inuyasha IMO (forget the stupid jewel

, FFS), and is very important to the series, so if I could count it it might be number 1.

Good rivalries not mentioned:
Van vs. Folken (reminded me a lot of me and my younger brother)
The cat girl sisters from escaflowne that both Dig Folken (sorry cant remember their names). Wheres dwChang when I need him?

Dylandau and Van (not as developed but very enjoyable nonetheless)
Kamui and Fuma (OF COURSE)
Vash and Wolfwood (very surprised this one didnt come up)

Best Rivalry:
Very, Very tough question. I would have to give it to Ranma Saotome vs Ryoga Habiki. At first, we feel like Ranma is the likeable hero down on his luck, until we meet his rival, who has it much worse. As I watched Ranma 1/2, over the many seasons, I found that over time I felt more and more Envious of Ranma and more and more sympathetic of Ryoga. Where as it seemed Ranma was blessed with incredible talent and good luck (with women), Ryoga simply had his passion and "never give up" spirit to guide him through problems. Ryoga was mr. average, and Ranma was mr. superstar. Ryoga starts out hating ranma, and actually tries to kill him (at least I think) several times at first. Over the series we see this initially hostile rivalry mature into an awkward friendship, then later we see signs of friendship turning into a nearly brotherly relationship.
It got to the point in season 3 where I could tell if an episode was going to be good simply if Ryoga was in it.

HeartbreakerByZep · Post by **HeartbreakerByZep** » Sun Dec 07, 2003 11:56 am

Moonlight Shadow wrote:wouldn't Asuka and Rai against each other be cool to watch
I bet Asuka'd win!!!!

Watch out for those supreme battle lances. Yeah, suposedly the Lance of Longinus is far to huge for a human to use without an Evangelion, but I've seen model figures that suggest differently.