You don’t need the month of February to enjoy the best romance anime show. Whether it’s summer, fall, winter, or spring, you can binge-watch because love is always in the air for an anime fan.
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So, what anime romance should I watch?
You should watch a series that doesn’t focus solely on romance.
With a hint of comedy or slice-of-life, you get a realistic and relatable series such as the Kimi ni Todoke. throw in some drama and you get a tear-jerker like the Clannad After Story.
With fantasy and romance as the backstory, the anime could be a thrilling ride such as the Fruits Basket and SAO.
I could go on and on because the anime world is filled with awesome series. It’s just a matter of choosing the show that suits your taste.
so, let’s start with my list of the best romance anime both in series and in movies.
18 Best Romance Anime TV Shows
Kimi ni Todoke
The English title of this show is “From Me to You.” So far, it’s one of the best series I have watched because of its relatable content.
I know many of us may have trouble fitting in and some are socially awkward like Sawako Koronuma, the female protagonist.
Sawako’s classmates mistake her for Sadako of The Ring because she resembles the freaky character. However, this timid lady is willing to be the center of laughter as long as she could make friends with people.
Until Shouta Kazehaya notices her and her life starts to turn around. The series development is so simple and yet so fun to watch.
The romance between the two friends is so evident you just want to gush and sigh. At the same time, there’s a bit of frustration. Still, this romance anime series is a great watch.
Clannad After Story
Clannad and the sequel Clannad After Story are certified tear-jerkers. Why? You have to watch the series to know because I don’t want to become a spoiler, especially if it’s your first time hearing about the series.
The first series, Clannad, is about Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa while they are still in high school. On the other hand, the sequel is a full-blown romance drama.
It follows their life after high school. The two are married in the second series and have a daughter.
This anime has a slice-of-life theme where you witness the simple life of an ordinary couple who are friends first. What makes it special? It’s the supernatural and comedy combo of the show.
Besides, the issues are on-point in the series. Clannad is highly relatable in some aspects, making it the best anime series.
Sword Art Online
SAO is one of the most popular shows because of its story premise. It’s about a video game where a player could enter a virtual world and must stay alive by beating the game.
Dying is never an option because their body could die in the real world.
This show is a fantasy action series with Kazuto Kirigaya as the lead character. There is a bit of romance since the players who often team up are always opposite sexes.
With this, the characters are often bound to fall in love or at least feel something special for their teammates.
And, Kirito is not excepted by this because he’s a human in the anime.
Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso
Do you want the best tear-jerker anime besides the Clannad After Story? Here's another anime series that will make you howl in sadness.
Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso or You Lie in April (in English) is somewhat a tragedy. But, it shows important life lessons for all anime fans.
The series is about Kaori Miyazono and Kōsei Arima. Kaori is a beautiful violinist and Kosei Arima is a pianist. A tragic experience had made the pianist stopped playing but the energetic violinist convinced him to play again.
It is a beautiful romance story, telling you that you can do anything if you just believe in yourself. If you love music, you’ll appreciate this one.
Fruits Basket
This anime is not about the game of the ‘fruits basket’ in Japanese culture, at least not directly. Actually, it’s about a cursed family of the Chinese Zodiac who Tohru Honda has accidentally discovered.
The show is a bit cliche but the uniqueness comes from the characters turning into zodiac animals when the opposite sex hugs them or when they’re weak or sick.
Fruits Basket is a fairy tale between two people who struggle to admit their feelings. But, with the right circumstances, these two finally find what they’ve been searching for.
It's proof that no matter what trials come your way, you can overcome these if your loved one or special one supports you.
Kaichou Wa Maid Sama
One of the most popular romance anime shows out there, Maid Cafe (which is its shorter English title) talks about a high school girl and a boy who meet, hate each other, and eventually fall in love.
In a high school that recently transitioned from all-boys to a co-ed, the student council president is a woman! She’s quite strict and has an up-tight demeanor especially when it comes to her duties as the president.
BUT! This tsundere character has a secret. What makes it more complicated? The new transfer student had discovered this little secret. And, the roller coaster ride begins for the couple as they discover a hate-love connection.
Toradora!
Ryuuji Takasu has the looks of a delinquent but with a soft-hearted personality. Taiga is a tsundere who often attacks her classmates and other people with a sword.
The ironic part is this mischievous high school student is so small everyone calls her the palmtop tiger.
Their story is quite complicated at first. Why? Because they like other people. Instead, Taiga and Ryuuji started on the wrong foot.
However, as they spend more time together, this cute couple discovers that they have fallen in love. You should watch this to see how messed up the beginning was. You’ll never expect the ending because of their constant bickering.
Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun
This series is about a woman who becomes an assistant to a manga artist. Actually, Chiyo Sakura is planning on confessing her feelings for Nozaki but ends up getting an unfamiliar autograph and later as an assistant.
I’m not really sure if this romance anime is a case of unrequited love. The last episode is somehow an open-ended one. Later you will see that Nozaki patterns the main protagonist of his manga series to Chiyo.
This fact could be an indication but sadly there’s no official announcement about their relationship as a couple. The truth is that the anime (and the manga) didn’t really focus on their romance.
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun is more of a slice-of-life and comedy anime. The romance between the two main characters would have developed if the series is really a pure romance show.
Ouran High School Host Club
Haruhi Fujioka is a female trap character in the series by accident. She pretended to be a boy when she accidentally entered the room of the Host Club-a club where the richest high schoolers are the members.
Because of her rushing, the stoic girl ends up paying an 8-million debt when she breaks an expensive vase. So, her adventures begin. Haruhi falls for Tamaki Suoh and the rest is history.
Aside from this romance anime show, the Ouran High School Host club tackles different topics like cross-dressing, finding purpose in life, among other things.
Many of the Hosts in the club seem like good-for-nothing rich kids, but deep down, they’re lost souls who want to find meaning in their lives.
Kare Kano
The English title for Kare Kano is His and Her Circumstances. It follows the life of Yukino Miyazawa and Soichiro Arima, two model students who end up loving each other.
Miyazawa is the top student in her class until Arima enters to snatch the limelight from her. This pretty girl looks so sweet and polite but has a different side that nobody knows.
However, Arima discovers her other side and threatens to divulge this secret to everyone. The female top student is forced to do the boy’s bidding.
Unknown to her, Soichiro is actually in love with her and is blackmailing her to be close to her.
Gradually, Miyazawa warms up to her rival and begins to develop feelings for him.
Snow White with the Red Hair
This romance anime will make you want to fall in love all over again. It gives you that gushing feeling you get only from watching the best anime show.
This anime is about Shirayuki who is a herbalist in the Tanbarun kingdom. As the title indicates, the female protagonist has red hair which makes her unique. She’s beautiful in her own way.
But, the Prince of Tanbarun notices her and forces her to his concubine. Unwilling to give up her freedom, Shirayuki cuts her hair and leaves the kingdom. In her escape, the beautiful apothecary meets Prince Zen
Yep, you know it. A romance story begins. The anime is so fun, so exciting and the best to watch.
Lovely Complex
In a typical romance anime, the girl is usually shorter than the boy. But, not in this romance anime. It’s the other way around.
Koizumi Risa is the tallest girl in her class and Atsushi Ootani is the shortest guy. It’s a strange twist of fate, but could the couple overcome the biggest hurdle in their relationship?
As you already know, society could be pretty harsh on people with unconventional love stories. Oftentimes, these persons become the center of jokes and criticism.
Aside from the love story, this romance anime tells you about how to accept who and what you are. The opinions of others don’t matter.
Sukitte Ii na yo
Tachibana Mei has no friends because she endured a traumatic experience when she was in grade school. She becomes an aloof person, not talking much or interacting with others.
However, her life is about to change when Yamato Kurosawa notices her.
The two started in a mutual understanding. Although Mei loves Yamato, she never tells him in the most explicit ways.
The timid girl has a hard time telling what she really feels. But when Mei tells “I Love You” to Yamato, it is the sweetest thing ever.
So, yeah! This is one of the best shows with lots of make-me-feel-good-inside-out scenes.
Ao Haru Ride
The English translation of this Japanese anime is Blue Spring Ride. True to its title, this anime brings you on a roller coaster ride of emotions and confusion.
The two main characters, Kou Tanaka and Futaba Yoshioka were former classmates in middle school and promised something before the boy moved out.
Years later, Kou is now using a different surname. Not only that. His personality has changed.
Futaba, as well, has changed too. This lovely girl decided to become “one of the boys” because of an unpleasant experience back in middle school. Despite the obvious feelings of Kou and Futaba, they decided to pursue other persons instead.
It’s really an unforgettable ride. You must watch this to know how these two lovebirds have overcome the hurdles.
Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo
When you translate this Japanese title to English, it literally means The Pet Girl of Sakura Dormitory. Sounds sleazy! But, the anime is far from it.
It is actually a story of two second-year high school students who meet in an uncommon place. The Sakura dormitory is a place of oddballs, students with different quirks.
The male protagonist Sorata Kanda loves cats so much that he got ejected from the regular dorms of school and transferred to Sakura Dorm. Then, Mashiro Shiina transfers into the school.
The main female character is an aspiring mangaka but a socially inept person who doesn’t know how to take care of herself. Wait, what?!
Well, anything is possible in romance and so there goes the start of a romance story between two “compatible persons”.
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru
Also known as My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, this anime series features two anti-social main characters.
Yes, you heard it right. Hachiman Hikigaya is a social recluse because of his looks and develops a practical view of others around him. Yukino Yukinoshita is a beautiful and talented high school but is brutally honest to a fault.
The ironic thing is these two people are members of a Service club that helps others with their social problems. I know, right? How could two antisocial students manage to pull this off?
Fortunately, Hachiman and Yukino did succeed. Watch it to know how these manage to help people with their problems.
What makes this anime interesting? Their budding romance! Given their propensity to bite and snap at someone, this is a show worth contemplating to watch.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War
In this romantic comedy, two top-notch students are in love with each other but are trying their best not to confess.
Weird right? Because in the best romantic anime series, either the woman or the man is doing their best to confess. Well, not these two lovebirds!
Kaguya Shinomiya is the vice president of the student council. She grows up in a wealthy family that raised her in a sheltered life. This lovely girl is quite talented and used to getting what she wants.
So, when she realizes her feelings for Miyuki Shirogane, instead of confessing, she does all she can and manipulates him into doing the confession.
For Miyuki, a confession is a form of weakness. So, no matter what, he vows that it would be Kaguya to confess. Indeed, love is war in this romance anime in the cutest way!
Honey and Clover
Unrequited love? Check! Love Triangle? Check! Romance anime? Check! What could you ask for more? Honey and Clover is a complete mix, making it one of the best shows.
The anime follows the lives of five friends who are caught up in a never-ending pursuit of love and happiness. Do you want to know how entangled the lives of these individuals are? Better watch the anime.
It’s like watching your college life on a big screen. In the forefront, Honey and Clover is a romance anime but in hindsight, it talks about college struggles including love life.
4 Best Romance Anime Films
Kimi no Na Wa
This is a movie with a supernatural mix into it. Kimi No Na Wa has a simple premise and character design. The romance in the anime is not something you can call extraordinary.
So, why is this so popular in the anime community? It’s their search for the other person when they realize they’re falling in love. When their time is not on the same wavelength, this is where it gets interesting.
I myself was glued to the movie while watching this. Combined with amazing soundtracks, you’d want to watch it over and over again.
The story is simple. Mitsuha Miyamizu is a country lady who wants to try living in city life as a male. Taki Tachibana is a high school student who lives in Tokyo and who has a part-time job.
One morning, these two wake up in each other’s body but they only discover this after several body-switching incidents. Thus, their search begins because they wanted to be together.
Hotarubi no Mori e
Touch is one of the most essential ingredients in a relationship. It is an expression of love. Through touch, you can hug and kiss your loved ones.
BUT, this is exactly the restriction between Hotaru Takegawa and Gin. Besides that, these two friends belong to two different worlds. Hotaru is a human and Gin is a mountain spirit.
Their friendship started when the beautiful girl was six years old. It blooms into a romance that both didn’t expect to happen.
The movie is bittersweet, but it shows anime fans that despite the world difference, you can love someone with all your heart and all the best you can.
Howl's Moving Castle
Brought by Studio Ghibli, this movie is about a woman who was cursed to look like an old lady after insulting one of the most powerful witches. Sophie, then, meets Howl who looks dashing and handsome in her old lady looks.
This soft-spoken lady falls for the wizard. Instead of looking for the solution to her curse, she decided to help Howl first. In the process, the beautiful Sophie befriends Markl and Calcifer, the fire demon that is the source of the castle’s magic.
The romance anime’s setting is a war-laded country, where wizards serve the central palace as warriors.
The story is beautifully created. However, if you haven’t read the book, there are some missing pieces in the movie.
Tamako Love Story
Most of the time, telling what you really feel to a special person in your heart is hard. This is the premise of the Tamako Love Story.
Tamako and Mochizou Ooji have special feelings for each other. The high school student is a simple-minded folk who lives one day at a time and has a dream.
This dream is to perform in a baton show, excellently, and to manage the restaurant of her family.
However, most of her classmates, including Mochizou, have big dreams. The man of her dreams wants to study at a university in Tokyo. Could they tell their feelings before Mochi goes to university?
Is Yuri on Ice a Romance Anime?
Well, it depends on how you view Yuri’s relationship with Viktor. The anime focuses on sports, figure skating. But, there are some scenes where Viktor and Yuri Katsuke display their budding feelings.
The anime series didn’t dwell on that as you would see in other boy-girl romance anime shows.
Plus, this Yaoi anime deals in homosexuality, albeit not explicitly. Still, it’s worth a watch if you’re into figure skating.
Who is the best couple in anime?
In this list, all of them are the best. Why? Because each love story shows a different side of romance. If you’re a truly romantic person, you can see this.
But, if I have to choose which one is the best, I’ll go for Mei and Yamato and Sawako and Shota. What is similar with these popular anime couples? Each tries to bring out the good side of one another. They support one another.
Is Maid Sama Romance?
Yes, it is a romance TV anime series. It has all the right mix of a romance story from the constant bickering to the loving gazes of two people in love.
Is there romance in Major?
Not really. It’s more of a sports anime focusing on baseball. Major has more than 100 episodes under the shounen demographics.