When it comes to anime, there are many school-based stories out there. While most of them involve romantic tales, some are more focused on showcasing the activities that take place within the school premises. One of the most interesting elements of these tales is the bond between the teacher and student. Whether it’s a shounen, shoujo, slice-of-life, or any other genre, the teacher-student relationship never fails to warm our hearts and make us laugh. With that said, here are the top 6 most heartwarming teacher-student relationships in anime.
6. Maito Gai and Rock Lee — Naruto
Naruto is replete with many great relationships between teachers and students, making it hard to choose just one. However, Maito Gai and Rock Lee stand out as a unique and heartwarming pair. Rock Lee cannot harness chakra, which means he can’t use the majority of jutsus that other shinobis can use. However, he specializes in taijutsu, which focuses mainly on physical strength and martial arts. Taijutsu happens to be Maito Gai’s forte, so he decides to teach Lee. Gai helps Lee be the best version of himself, and they both have fun together, often seen sporting similar jumpsuits, shouting in happiness and enjoying their time together.
5. Izumi Curtis and Elric Brothers — Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Izumi Curtis’ character in Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most interesting teacher-student relationships to explore. Although she is primarily the teacher of Edward and Alphonse Elric, she also becomes a significant part of their lives as she plays the role of a mentor, mother, and friend. Izumi teaches the Elric brothers the value of hard work, the importance of never giving up, and the sacrifices that come along with being an alchemist. She loves them fiercely and will do anything to protect them from harm.
4. Saitama and Genos — One Punch Man
Saitama and Genos are two characters in One Punch Man that form an odd yet interesting teacher-student relationship. Genos is a cyborg who is fiercely dedicated to improving his power, hoping to get revenge against Mad Cyborg who destroyed his entire village at the age of 15. Saitama is a laid-back, indifferent hero who can beat any enemy with just one punch. As Saitama seeks a real challenge and Genos is looking for a mentor, their contrasting characteristics balance each other out. The pair often helps each other improve in their areas of weakness.
3. All Might and Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia
All Might plays a key role in Izuku Midoriya’s life. For Izuku, All Might is the cool superhero he admires and aspires to be. Unfortunately, Izuku was born without a quirk, leaving him unable to be a professional hero. However, All Might sees potential in Izuku and decides to help him on his journey. All Might trains Izuku to prepare him for his power, and eventually, he inherits All Might’s superhero abilities. They form a close bond that’s strengthened by their shared purpose of protecting society and innocent lives.
2. Kyo and Kazuma — Fruits Basket
Kyo is cursed to be the cat in the Zodiac clan of Sohma, making him an outcast even among his family. Kyo’s parents reject him, and he is destined to live in confinement in a cage when he turns 18. Kyo is in need of guidance from an adult, and he finds it in Kazuma, his martial arts instructor. Kazuma sees the pain and isolation in Kyo’s life and takes it upon himself to make a difference. He teaches Kyo martial arts and gives him an outlet he can be proud of.
1. Reigen Arataka and Mob — Mob Psycho 100
Reigen Arataka and Shigeo Kageyama, also known as Mob, have a unique and exciting mentor-mentee relationship. Reigen is a con-man who exploits Mob’s powers for his own gain, but ultimately becomes a more caring and compassionate role model for Mob. He teaches the boy how to navigate his supernatural powers, and also offers advice in other areas, including school, love, and relationships. Reigen is willing to risk everything to protect Mob, who despite being much stronger than his mentor, always shows him respect and admiration.
In conclusion, these six teacher-student relationships portray not only the bond between mentor and student but also the lessons of love, friendship, and care that people should have for each other. These anime characters not only teach each other about martial arts or superpowers but also about life and the hardships that come with it. Do you have other anime teacher-student relationships that you think deserve to be on the list? Share them in the comments below.
