Vitriolic Best Buds/Western Animation

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Examples of Vitriolic Best Buds in Western Animation include:

  • Teen Titans: Raven and Beast Boy fit into this trope quite nicely. They're (eventually) incredibly close friends, but usually they show it through sarcastic quips and the occasional fight.
  • Dinobot and Rattrap from Transformers: Beast Wars start off hating each other and argue constantly. The bickering continues after they grow close. In fact, it's when one doesn't snark back that the other knows something is wrong.
    • Hell, Dinobot's Famous Last Words were pretty much exchanging volleys with Rattrap and quoting Shakespeare.

Rattrap: Like I said, you're just a blasted slag-spouting saurian, but... it's nice to know where you stand.
Dinobot: Upwind of you for preference, vermin.

  • In Transformers Generation 1, type 2 seems to be how Tracks and his human friend Raoul relate to each other.
  • Optimus Prime and Sentinel Prime's relationship in Transformers Animated is another one-sided example, as Optimus is at best tolerant of Sentinel's Jerkassery (He's still willing to cover for his mistakes, even when he deserves what he has coming for them.) Although this is implied to be as a result of the events that led to Elita-1's "death." However given that this is Sentinel we're talking about, Your Mileage May Vary.
  • South Park: Stan, Kenny and Kyle's relationship with Cartman. They love and hate each other because Cartman is a sociopathic, deranged racist who makes everyone do his work. As Chef puts it, Cartman is "their friend, whether they like him or not."
    • Lampshaded in one episode where a formerly homeschooled kid with no concept of male friendships begins hanging out with them. He mistakes the boys for bitter enemies, and they are forced to give him a lesson in "guy talk" (a.k.a. the art of harmlessly insulting someone you actually like.)
    • Similarly, in the episode where Token gets upset about being 'the only rich kid in town', the boys explain to him that they all rip on each other all the time. Like they rip on Kenny for being poor, or Kyle for being a Jew, or Stan for being in love with Wendy, or Cartman for being fat, or Cartman for being stupid, or Cartman for having a whore for a mom, or Cartman for being a sadistic asshole...
  • A one-sided case in SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob is utterly convinced that Squidward is his best friend while Squidward makes it obvious he's anything but.
    • Except for whenever Squidward assumes SpongeBob is dead, and then he mourns him. When SpongeBob inevitably comes back, Squidward reverts to being a jerk, but we all know as annoyed by SpongeBob as he is, deep down, he likes him.

Squidward: SpongeBob, no matter what I've said, I've always sort of liked you!
SpongeBob: Squidward, I used your clarinet to unclog my toilet!
Squidward: Huh?

    • Another telling example is when Mr. Krabs sells SpongeBob into damnation with the Flying Dutchman for 62 cents, and Squidward is genuinely shocked and angry.
    • Also, when Squidward moves to a gated community where sponges and starfish aren't allowed, Squidward ends up trying to escape because he missed Spongebob (and because he was bored of every day being the exact same.)
  • Another one-sided case: Vlad Masters and Jack Fenton of Danny Phantom have this... Jack believes that Vlad's his "best bud" but Vlad actively wants to kill Jack. However, Vlad doesn't do much to disillusion the man, as Jack is an idiot savant and not even having not spoken to the man in twenty years seems to have dissuaded him from it. His put downs range from slamming the door on Jack after inviting the rest of his family into his home to "volunteering" Jack for a suicide mission. Sad, considering they really were best friends before the accident.
  • Skwisgaar and Toki from Metalocalypse. Skwisgaar almost never speaks to Toki except to insult him, yet Toki seems to hero-worship the guy. A few episodes even imply Toki has a crush on him.
    • To the point that in the Season Finale of the first season, when they are about to get killed together, Toki says he always hated Skwisgaar, and Skwisgaar responds with the words "I knows, Toki, I knows". They are said in a loving tone instead of a hateful one, practically proving this theory right.
    • Also of note, in the episode "Tributeklok", Toki is revealed to be a member of the Dethklok tribute band 'Thunderhorse', as Skwisgaar. He explains: "I'm not payings tributes to myself because in Thunderhorse I'm Skwisgaars!"
    • Hell, the entire band is pretty much like this with each other most of the time (when they're not hiding the fact that they really do care about each other), with Skwisgaar and Toki being the best in-group example.
  • In an episode of The Fairly OddParents, Jorgen calls Cosmo and Wanda his two closest friends, which completely surprises them since in nearly every appearance he's made before and since he's spent it berating them and putting them through painful ordeals. He's also friends with Binky, which usually ends painfully for him. Being Jorgen's friend is generally painful.

Jorgen: I don't have a lot of friends, okay? I mean, you punch them in the face once and it's all, "Ooh, stop punching me!"

  • Avatar: The Last Airbender. Toph is like this with pretty much everyone in the gang, but she seems to favor Katara in particular.
    • She says as much in "The Ember Island Players", when she gives Zuko advice and then punches him.

Zuko: Ow! What was that for?
Toph: That's just how I show affection.

    • In a way, Zuko and Iroh. It's clear that the two of them care for each other, but Zuko frequently acts insulting, domineering, and snappish toward his uncle, while his uncle is seemingly oblivious. On the flipside, Iroh more or less constantly trolls his nephew.
      • After Iroh devotes nearly an entire episode to interrupting Zuko's search for the Avatar solely to buy a new lotus tile to replace the one he lost:

Iroh: It was in my sleeve THE WHOLE TIME! *shit-eating grin*

  • Hawk and Dove from Justice League Unlimited are brothers that fall into this territory. The first being a hot-headed sulist who loves fighting and the second a very politically aware Technical Pacifist.
    • The show has quite a few including Black Canary and Huntress, Hawkgirl and Wonder Woman, and the Flash and...... anyone. As Hawkgirl described her relationship, "We're like oil and vinegar. We go together, but we don't mix."
  • Occasionally, Popeye and Bluto were depicted this way. The best example is "Fightin' Pals", which starts off with the two of them exchanging "playful" punches just as Bluto is heading off to explore Africa. When months pass and Bluto doesn't return, Popeye heads to "Darkesk Afrikey" to find his old pal. Driving himself to exhaustion, he finds Bluto... surrounded by lovely native girls, living in a tropical paradise. When Bluto sees Popeye on the brink of death, he hauls out a can of spinach and revives him. The two exchange polite greetings... and proceed to start beating the living crap out of each other, laughing all the way. The weirdest Moment of Heartwarming you'll ever see.
  • The Tallests of Invader Zim have something like this, constantly bickering and making jabs at each other. It's never explicitly stated what their relationship is, only that they became Tallest at the same time because they happen to be approximately the same height. But they do visibly dislike each other, even though they're together all the time and are often equally flamboyant and nasty.
  • Homer and Ned in The Simpsons. Homer insults Ned, steals from him (even to the point of breaking into his house!) and continually wishes him harm. Yet, when it comes to helping Ned through his anger issues, rebuilding his house after a hurricane, saving his business by drawing in potential customers, helping him find a new wife or showing him how to have a good time, Homer is always there for him.
    • Homer: "Stupid best friend Flanders>"
  • Buck and Larry from Time Squad. Larry frequently is very kind to Buck with his actions (much less with his words), cooking him meals, cleaning his weapons, sewing clothes for him and, according to Otto, disinfecting his underwear. Buck usually shows no gratitude whatsoever - in one episode, after exclaiming that "since Larry cooked us such a tasty dinner, I'll now amuse him with some anecdotes" takes out a diary he stole from Larry's room. However, Larry isn't blindly devoted to Buck whatever venom he spits at him; they regularly participate in old-married-couple-like quarrels, mainly throwing insults at each other, though sometimes Larry complains about being overworked and underappreciated. Usually Buck will reply telling him that he's just a robot and he's supposed to do what robots do. Larry then goes on about how he can't believe he is just a robot to Buck, and how he has dreams, needs and feelings too. But they have moments of Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other (usually then spoiled by Buck, but not always) and blatant Homoerotic Subtext.
  • Uncle and Tohru in Jackie Chan Adventures, especially in the episode, "The Demon Behind".
    • More like Uncle and everybody.
  • On Jimmy Two-Shoes, Samy is Lucius' Yes-Man whom he treats like garbage. However, in one episode, Lucius states to no one that Samy is his best friend. Though he seems to bemoan even having friends.
  • On King of the Hill, this is Hank Hill's relationship with...well, pretty much every character who could reasonably be called a friend. No matter how much they piss him off, he does whatever he can to keep them out of trouble, and there's no one they'd rather have looking out for them.
  • Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck of Looney Tunes. Daffy also with Porky Pig and Speedy Gonzales.
  • Stewie and Brian on Family Guy. The two even have their own "Road To" episodes!
  • Tom of Tom and Jerry has this relationship with Butch.
  • Pororo the Little Penguin has the entire cast.
  • In The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Hulk and Hawkeye.
    • In the second season, The Thing of The Fantastic Four and Hulk.
  • Applejack and Rainbow Dash of My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic are regularly downright friendly with each other, but their competitive and prideful natures sometimes pushes them into this kind of relationship. AJ also has shades of this in her relationship with Rarity - they'll regularly argue, mock each other and bring up each other's most embarrassing moments, but if one of them needs help with something important, the other is there.
  • Baljeet and Buford in Phineas and Ferb. They even sing a musical number about their relationship in one episode.
  • Daria and Jane, which become more blatant as the series progresses.
  • Archer and... pretty much anyone, but especially his ex, Lana.
  • G.I. Joe had Leatherneck, a Marine and Wetsuit, a Navy S.E.A.L. They're constantly praising their own branchs while snarking at the other, have come to literal blows over the slightest thing, but undeniably have each other's back such as Leatherneck getting poisoned by Serpentor where Wetsuit let himself get bit by Serpentor's pet to get an antidote. Upon recovering they returned to insulting each other as a sign of things being ok.
  • Regular Show: The main duo with Muscle Man and High-Five Ghost. Though Muscle Man constantly makes jokes and pranks them at Mordecai and Rigby's expense, they gradually hang out more and more due to their similar interests.
  • Bender and Leela in Futurama. The only thing preventing the two from leaving each other stranded to die a horrible interplanetary death are the two's feelings for Fry by proxy. That and keeping their jobs.
  • Alvin and The Chipmunks: David Seville and AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLVVVVVVVVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • From Code Lyoko:
    • Odd and Ulrich, definitely. This is most exhibited in the episode "Killer Music".
    • Also, Sissi's two lapdogs Nicolas and Hervé. At least two arguments between them ended with Nicolas slugging Hervé, but the two are still friends for some reason.
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