Non-romantic anime recommendations are in short supply these days. In lieu of Valentine’s Day, people often forget that affection between buddies is just as valuable as between couples. Many have friends that’ve been around so long long, even outlasting our years of dating. Some of you probably even still have friends that knew you in elementary school. Many of us have made connections via our interests and the places they take us. Whether through school clubs, online forums, the gym, mutual friends or conventions, being in community spaces often leads to finding our tribes. When you think about it, why wouldn’t you celebrate the people who you’ve come to love throughout the years?

Palentine’s Day is my new favorite holiday. If you didn’t know, the holiday is for celebrating platonic love in any form - specifically between friends. The official date is February 13th, but I think it’s fine to celebrate anytime around the middle of said month. (Not to be confused with Galentines, that is strictly for the girlies.) On this day you hang out with the pals, eat some treats and maybe wear color coordinated outfits. This is something you can do in person and online; just have fun with it, there are no rules as long as it’s with the gang!

All that to say, if you want something to watch that revolves around what it means to be a friend, I’ve got you covered. If you’re especially not big on romance but enjoy the warmth of platonic relationships, you’ve come to the right place.

However, if you are looking for something romantic, check out our other valentines themed posts here and here!

Kimi Ni Todoke: If Cinnamon Rolls Became Friends

Starting off strong, we have the girls from Kimi Ni Todoke. In my opinion, this is a top tier girls girl show. Nobody is trying to tear the other down or selling out her friends for male validation. This is the most lunch sharing, sticker swapping, sleepover makeover good vibes show out there.

In the beginning, Sawako is unpopular, timid and misunderstood by her fellow classmates. She yearns for friendship, but isn’t quite sure how to successfully grasp it. When her classmates Ayane and Chizuru notice that she’s actually fun to be around, the trio form one of the most natural and genuine friendships I’ve seen in a while. There’s the awkwardness of not knowing if you’re all really friends yet or just good classmates. The exploration of boundaries, after school gossip, friendly encouragement, inside jokes and denying crushes; all of the staples of high school friendship. Sawako alone is sweet enough to give you cavities, but the three of them put together are so wholesome it’ll melt your heart.

While the overarching plot revolves around the main characters crushing on each other, I love that the cast is well rounded by a great friend group. Not just the girls, but the guys are sweethearts, too. If you’re a Fruits Basket lover, this is a lighter substitute and a classic in its own right. 

Haikyuu: The Giant Friend Group That Leaves No One Out

If you want something with basically no existence of romance, I give you the ultimate bromance: Haikyuu. This volleyball anime revolves around Hinata Shoyo, a tiny high school freshman who dreams of playing for Japan in the Olympics. In order to do so, he and his rival, Kegeyama Tobio, must work together on the same team and put aside their pride. The rest of the team is packed with fun, layered and lovable characters. From the coach all the way to the substitute players, they all get their moment to shine. I guarantee that you’ll like each of them with time. There are too many moments to list that either cracked me up or left me in shambles. I never thought when I found this show in 2016 it would leave such a lasting impact. You don’t even have to like volleyball to love the show, the cast ensures that by themselves.

I’m not a big fan of sports anime, but I do love how vulnerable and introspective the characters are. Hilarious, heartwarming and inspirational, the story of Karasuno High’s volleyball team (known as the Crows) will make your heart soar. If you’re not brimming with pride by the end of season one, you watched it wrong. Run it back until you get it right. At the very least, you’ll leave it wishing for a duo in your life like Tanaka and Nishinoya.

Black Clover: How to Have A Rivalry Without Toxicity

When people discuss Black Clover it’s usually to compare it to its shounen forefathers and dissect the fight scenes. However, there are several dynamic duos worth watching for and my favorite is the bond between Asta and Yuno. Despite being rivals, these two actually have a great relationship. Compared to other shows’ toxic dynamics, they doesn’t leave us questioning if they’re really friends. These two get it right and challenge the classic shounen stereotype. Black Clover is already a battle heavy show that relies on the power of friendship like many shows before it. Although, this is one of the few examples of a healthy rivalry between real friends.

Each of these boys wants to see the other succeed more than anyone else in their lives. Much like any ideal friend, Asta and Yuno motivate each other to excel and never give up on their dreams. Asta is the type to win over anyone he comes into contact with, which lands him allies in high places. Yuno is more reserved and thinks before acting, but is always there when his friend needs him. And just like most adult best friends, they barely see each other.

This is another show where the MC starts as an outcast, but quickly finds their community. It’s not quite as melodramatic as Naruto or Fairy Tail, but it’s very good at making you feel like there’s always someone in your corner. Plus, if you’re trying to go non-romantic, there’s only some light flirting by side characters every once in a while. 

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken: Proof That Your Freak Can Always Be Matched

Next up is a show that won several awards and much acclaim during the pandemic, but never received the hype it deserved. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is a slice of life comedy about three high school girls who secretly start an animation club hoping to one day break into the industry. While critically acclaimed and repeatedly awarded, I know that many in the anime community missed it. Which is still surprising to me because the girls are down to earth, funny, and driven.

I love how much the girls’ personalities differ. Shows sometimes fall into the trap of putting the same types of people into friend groups because it’s easy. Asakusa is the MC, but she’s socially awkward and imaginative. Kanamori isn’t into anime, but she helps out as Asakusa’s friend and runs the business end of things. And Mizusaki is a popular girl and model, but wants to be an animator, too. The show is a love letter to manga artists and animators, showing that people share the same dreams at any age. I love that the trio has depth in each character that sets them apart to make them individuals. More than anything, I love that this is a show about girls who want to make an anime! How many times have you come across that in this geekdom? These are girls just being girls, allowed to be innocent, nerdy and That level of representation alone was enough to pique my interest, and I hope it grabs yours. This series is a great example of how no matter what your hobbies are, there’s always good company to be found in others. 

One Piece: The Ultimate Friendship Odyssey

Last up is an obvious but tried and true example of what it means to be a true friend. One Piece. I know fans who swear by this series and will praise it til their last breath, Of the many themes surrounding this show, found family is one of the biggest. One Piece is the story of Luffy, who ate a Devil Fruit as a child and gained rubber powers, and his journey to becoming King of the Pirates. While this is another underdog story, it’s also one of the best rallying tales of friendship and adventure.

Luffy is a character that’s boisterous, warm and unapologetic in every situation. While that’s one way he makes enemies, it’s also what draws people to him. Sometimes we hold ourselves back from what we want, but friends like Luffy will keep you moving forward. Watching him go from being alone in a barrel at sea to gathering a crew that would go to war with him is so touching. Luffy and the Straw Hats are the perfect blend of chaotic good and found family that keeps you wanting more. And don’t worry about the show being 1,000+ episodes. Once you connect with the story it’s a breeze.

I don’t expect any of you to have a swordsman, navigator, or sniper as a best friend. Though maybe you have a dog that looks like Chopper or an uncle that reminds you of Franky. Even if that isn’t the case, it’s the loyalty and trust between crew mates that makes this story worth the time. Not only would they die for each other, but each of them is so strong that they’d never let that happen. Follow along in their pursuit to greatness and let yourself revel in the power of friendship. Or maybe it’s the power of Luffy and Zoro’s showerless funk. Either one will knock your socks off.

Now go cherish your friends!

All of these recommendations have tangible and lovable characters that feel like people you’ve met or would want to. In this season of love, I hope to remind you all that romantic relationships are not the end all be all. Love is in every little thing we do: every discord call with mutuals, every nice comment we leave under a post, every friend we make at a con. Long distance, online and local, our friendships are what we make of them. In order to make them great, we must ask ourselves: What does it mean to be a good friend? How far would you go for your friends? Are the friends you have pouring into you? Are you reciprocating their energy?

Remember that much like the aforementioned characters, we are better with love in our lives. Making friends can be daunting, but don’t allow fear to keep you from making connections. Whether by hobby, motivation, or circumstance, you can meet people who you’ll want in your life for years to come. And if you’re fully staffed on comrades, let your friends know what they mean to you. Even if they won’t sail the Grand Line with you, they can still change your life.