Is the "rivals are the main characters" thing common?

[DBZGTKOSDH]

Originally, the main characters in Dragon Ball were Goku & Bulma (Son Goku arc), then Goku alone (21st TB arc - 23rd TB arc), then Goku & Gohan (Saiyan arc - Cell arc), then Gohan with Goten & Trunks (Boo arc), and then Goku & Pan (Dragon Ball GT). But now, Goku & Vegeta seem to be the main protagonists of the franchise, most notably in JSAT, and even more in BoG.

So, I know that Naruto, one of the most popular manga/anime these days, also has two rivals as main protagonists (Naruto & Sasuke). My question is: are there any other popular manga/anime series that have rivals as main protagonists? Is it more common nowadays? If so, do you think that such franchises like Naruto inspired the idea in having Goku & Vegeta as the main protagonists? (I'm not really into other manga/anime, so I've no idea.)

[Kamiccolo9]

Well, Rurouni Kenshin has numerous examples of rivals becoming main characters, such as Sanosuke, Saito, and Aoshi. Same with Yugioh and Kaiba. Pokemon had Brock and Misty, who were both originally antagonists, end up being main characters.

That's all I can think of for now, though.

[Gyt Kaliba]

I'd say it's fairly common, simply because it's a good way to have a character that's almost as strong as the lead (and maybe even temporarily surpasses at times), but keeps a bit of ongoing conflict as well since they don't necessarily get along, or if they do it's in an antagonistic way. Just off the top of my head, Bleach kinda/sorta does this with Ichigo/Uryu at times (it's often forgotten due to how many characters there are now though), Fairy Tail has Natsu and Grey, and Yu Yu Hakusho had Yusuke and Kuwabara (and later Yusuke and Hiei).

Heck, it's one of the main character tropes of Digimon too. For every lead Goggle Boy, there's almost always a 'Rival Boy' along for the ride too.

[EXBadguy]

It's very common, but I thought the Vegeta was like one of the deuteragonists of Z. A trope like that will never get tired out.

[Saiga]

I'd say it's fairly common, simply because it's a good way to have a character that's almost as strong as the lead (and maybe even temporarily surpasses at times), but keeps a bit of ongoing conflict as well since they don't necessarily get along, or if they do it's in an antagonistic way. Just off the top of my head, Bleach kinda/sorta does this with Ichigo/Uryu at times (it's often forgotten due to how many characters there are now though), Fairy Tail has Natsu and Grey, and Yu Yu Hakusho had Yusuke and Kuwabara (and later Yusuke and Hiei).

Heck, it's one of the main character tropes of Digimon too. For every lead Goggle Boy, there's almost always a 'Rival Boy' along for the ride too.

The problem with Bleach is that Ichigo really doesn't care about the rivalry and Uryu seems to just be keeping up his antagonism to avoid being too friendly with him.

[JulieYBM]

Ichigo and Ishida haven't really been rivals for a while, although with Ishida having joined the Vandenreich Kubo appears to be resetting the stage for their eventual face off. Ichigo does continue Son Gokuu's trend of making a new rival then befriending them. I think the closest thing Ichigo has to a currently on-going rivalry is with Grimmjow, although that is about a hot and cold as Ichigo's rivalry with Ishida because of how much running around Ichigo does.

The technique works like a charm, though. The rivalries were always where the conflicts really came to life in Dragon Ball. After Vegeta the rivalries did become less and less personal, though. Freeza's prolonged tenure allowed him to develop into something of a rival, although more so for Vegeta. I hesitate to say Cell had any sort of rivalry going on with any of the characters and by Majin Boo the character interaction had become completely impersonal.

Hajime no Ippo has some of the best rivalries, though. Damn near everyone Ippo has fought has had some sort of lasting impression, but Miyata, Sendou, and Mashiba are definitely his core rivals. Even though Mashiba moved up in weight class he still serves as an antagonistic force for Ippo because he doesn't want his little sister dating someone he views as weak. It's a hilarious subplot, although I wish Ippo would finally man up with Kumi. Ippo's one thousand chapter-long rivalry with Miyata is perhaps comics' most insane considering they haven't actually fought each other in over one thousand chapters yet each is continually chasing after the other. The Sendou rivalry is what I call a good hot-blooded rivalry, though. The two times the characters have fought they've nearly killed each other. There's always a sense of real excitement in their matches because while they're good friends and so similar as boxers they have very different mindsets that influence the ebb-and-flow of their fights.

Developing the rival makes the story more exciting. You see it even in western superhero comics with characters like The Joker and Lex Luthor, although perhaps to a less exciting degree. I've never felt genuine excitement for a battle between Superman and any of his rivals, but I think that has more to do with mainstream superhero comics treating battles as separate to the story, rather than a medium to develop the story and characters.

[DarkPrince_92]

Spoiler:

Hajime no Ippo has some of the best rivalries, though. Damn near everyone Ippo has fought has had some sort of lasting impression, but Miyata, Sendou, and Mashiba are definitely his core rivals. Even though Mashiba moved up in weight class he still serves as an antagonistic force for Ippo because he doesn't want his little sister dating someone he views as weak. It's a hilarious subplot, although I wish Ippo would finally man up with Kumi. Ippo's one thousand chapter-long rivalry with Miyata is perhaps comics' most insane considering they haven't actually fought each other in over one thousand chapters yet each is continually chasing after the other. The Sendou rivalry is what I call a good hot-blooded rivalry, though. The two times the characters have fought they've nearly killed each other. There's always a sense of real excitement in their matches because while they're good friends and so similar as boxers they have very different mindsets that influence the ebb-and-flow of their fights.

Yup. Love Ippo. YYH with Yusuke and Hiei's relationship, very reminiscent of Goku and Vegeta's rivalry. I hate you, but I'll help you.

[Rocketman]

Also Yugi and Kaiba, after the Pharaoh helped Kaiba get over that whole "I'm so goddamn crazy I hired a serial killer to kill you and tortured my own brother" thing. Which was partially caused by the Pharaoh torturing Kaiba for stealing from his Grandpa, but even so.

[AgitoZ]

It's quite common. So common that I don't think listing more and more Jump series will progress the discussion since the majority (if not all) of their action titles have it.

[Polyphase Avatron]

One Piece tended to avoid this for a while until Trafalgar Law was introduced.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

One Piece tended to avoid this for a while until Trafalgar Law was introduced.

You mean that Law is Luffy's rival? Not really.

[Polyphase Avatron]

Well he sort of is.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

Well he sort of is.

Well, they both want to find One Piece, which is what almost every pirate wants. Luffy & Law aren't trying to surpass each other for the shake of a personal rivalry. You could say that the rest of the Supernovas of the Worst Generation are all rivals with each other though.

[Gyt Kaliba]

I actually tried really hard to come up with an example of a rivalry in One Piece, but I couldn't. I'm sure there's gotta be one, but for the life of me I couldn't come up with anything. I think at this point there's just so much and so many characters that it's all I can do to keep the storyline straight.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

I actually tried really hard to come up with an example of a rivalry in One Piece, but I couldn't. I'm sure there's gotta be one, but for the life of me I couldn't come up with anything. I think at this point there's just so much and so many characters that it's all I can do to keep the storyline straight.

Zoro & Mihawk perhaps? Though I don't think Mihawk views Zoro as his rival.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

Yea, I kind of guess the whole "rival" is fairy common nowadays. One anime rivals that jumps straight too mind is Natsu and Gray from Fairy Tail. Now, their rivarly isn't as fierce as Goku/Vegeta but the goffyness of their rivarly is certainly reminiscent of Goku/Vegeta.

[chongjasmine]

Rival is a common thing in anime, these days.
Rivals give the main character of the anime a reason to keep going stronger.