Diego is happiest around Manny see! The bottom photo is a screencap of Diego going who knows where after he and Manny have their "breakup" fight at the beginning of IA3 and he just looks so disconsolate here … and almost as if he's about to cry!
Because he misses Manny so much already because he and Manny are the two closest in the entire group - by virtue of risking their lives to save each other and willingly putting their lives on the line/down for each other in IA1 - and it's so funny, too, becos in the scene where Manny confronts Diego and Diego tells him about wanting to leave, Manny's reaction is as though Diego has DUMPED him.
But around Manny Diego is happiest and has the most genuine smiles/body language becos Manny is HIS BESTIE and the one soul he trusts the most and as is seen in the above image Diego fairly lights up around him and he doesn't look quite so expressive or happy around any other character.
Not even Shira … or Sid.
Diego is heart-happiest around Manny and it shows! They have the most beautiful friendship/bromance in the entire Ice Age series and it really should be talked about/discussed more along with ficced and fanarted/fanvidded more!
Also, honestly, I still find this "breakup" of theirs weak writing in IA3 because Manny and Diego seem the type to have a strong, unbreakable friendship so this kinda feels OOC to me regardless though.
But we did get some Mango angst and Manny & Diego with strong arcs/plotlines in an Ice Age sequel again with both of them grounding the movie with their friendship, again, a la IA1, with some slight callbacks "You have to trust me" to IA1 and Diego and Manny both willingly putting each other's lives on the line - Diego for Ellie & Peaches more so but in a way still for Manny - for each other and that's why I love this friendship. <3
