12 Best Romance Anime That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Best Romance Anime

The products we’re discussing here were selected by our team of reviewers on their own. Please note that GameSpot may get compensated if you purchase something listed on our site.

People’s tastes in romance in television and film are as diverse as the people themselves. There are those who like a real romance, those who prefer rom-coms, and those who just want to cry all the time. Fortunately, anime contains all of these, sometimes in a single episode. (My Love Story, you have my ire.)

There’s a romance anime out there for everyone, from comedies to tearjerkers. To ensure that everyone can find something they enjoy, we’ve included a variety of older and newer romance anime as well as a few films. And what better way to commemorate the celebration of love than with a Valentine’s Day-themed party? This Valentine’s Day, whether you’re solo or with a loved one, you can enjoy these romantic anime.

To see these cartoons in action, be sure to view the gallery’s video! Check out our recommendations to the greatest anime accessible on Netflix and the top anime streaming services for additional information on the subject. Make sure to check out our list of the finest presents for Valentine’s Day, romantic movies, and fun games for couples to do together.

1. Fruits Basket (2019)

Fruits Basket

It’s been over 20 years in the making, but Fruits Basket (2019) is finally the accurate anime adaptation of one of the most beloved mangas of all time. As a result, Fruits Basket fans will be able to watch the complete plot as it is adapted from the original manga by Natsuki Takaya for the first time.

Tohru Honda, a high school student who moves in with the Sohma family, is the protagonist of the novel. Sohmas have a dark secret: they’re cursed with the spirits of the zodiac, and when a member of the other gender hugs them, they transform into their respective animal. Aside from the obvious comical moments, the show is full of drama and humor. Fruits Basket’s reimagined anime, however, has a strong focus on the series’ romantic subplot. There are several particularly sweet sequences in the reboot that hint at the growing romance between Tohru and (spoiler!). Almost all of the characters in the episode are dealing with some sort of romantic crisis. It’s never been a better time to catch up on Fruits Basket, as Season 3 (the final season) premieres this spring. Jennifer Sitzes, editor of commerce

2. Your Name

When it comes to love anime flicks, it’s impossible to bring up the phenomenon that was Your Name without mentioning it. From two entirely different origins, it relates the story of a high school girl in rural Itomori and a student in bustling Tokyo: Mitsuha. Though strangers, the two unexpectedly begin to swap bodies one day and their lives become intertwined in more ways than one. After a light-hearted start, the second half of the film is an emotional rollercoaster that takes some truly unexpected turns, making for a rollercoaster ride of a movie. This one is going to make you cry, so be prepared with some Kleenex. Jennifer Sitzes, editor of commerce

3. My Love Story!!

My Love Story

My Love Story’s Takeo and Yamato aren’t your average romantic anime couple; they’ve been together for a full season. When Yamato meets Takeo, the novel’s main character, she immediately falls in love with him despite the fact that he has the intimidating appearance of a yakuza boss. The relationship between the couple and their friends becomes an important component of their shared story.

This isn’t another will-they-won’t-they romance; rather, My Love Story follows Takeo and Yamato’s relationship from beginning to end. It’s dependably enjoyable and hits all of the classic cliches without overdoing it, including beach, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day episodes!! One of the most endearing themes in recent memory makes this a perfect movie to watch with a special someone.

4. Nisekoi

Nisekoi is still one of our favorite lighthearted romantic comedies. Raku and Chitoge, two high school kids whose fathers are members of competing gangs, are the focus of the story. In order to keep the peace between their groups, Raku and Chitoge’s dads decide that their children must date, therefore the two must appear to be a couple in order for chaos to not break out. Raku, on the other hand, has feelings for a different female, which complicates matters.

As much as Nisekoi may contain harem elements, it stands out because its lead character, Raku, is endearing enough that Chitoge and Onodera could see themselves falling for him. With Shaft’s inimitable flair, Nisekoi’s heart-fluttering, blushing scenes only become better and better.

5. Toradora

Toradora

Ryuuji Takasu has a spooky appearance but a kind heart, whereas Taiga Aisaka is a diminutive but feisty student who is affectionately referred to as the “Palm-Top Tiger” by her peers. It turns out that Taiga and the other girl have feelings for each other’s best friends because of Taiga’s carelessness. After much deliberation, they decide to help one another out.

A typical rom-com scenario, to be sure, but Toradora is anything but. There is an excellent chemistry between the characters in this film that avoids the typical romantic comedy flaws. One of the best anime romantic sequences can be found in this film.

6. Your Lie in April

When Arima Kousei, a talented pianist, suffers a near-fatal accident, the story of her recovery is heartbreakingly poignant. However, a chance encounter with a free-spirited musician, Kaori Miyazono, reignites a passion he thought had vanished.

What’s intriguing about Your Lie in April is how little emphasis is placed on the blossoming romance between Arima and Kaori. To the contrary, it delves into their tumultuous private lives in an effort to bring the two closer together in a way that is both natural and genuine.

A gloomy shadow hangs over Arima because of his troubled relationship with his mother and the psychological damage it has done to him. Traumatic memories engulf and overwhelm him when his fingers contact ivory keys, so he can’t even hear what he’s playing.

It’s Kaori’s contagious enthusiasm and unwavering determination to see him triumph over the dark that serves as his compass. When the two of them work together, they discover what music means to each other and what it means to them. Finding what you love and falling in love are both important themes in Your Lie in April. Editor-in-Chief Tamoor Hussain

7. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun

Monthly Girls Nozaki-Kun

She asks her crush out for the first time in high school, and he offers her his autograph. The tall, gorgeous and clueless Nozaki-kun turns out to be a very popular shoujo mangaka (a writer of romantic manga aimed at teen girls) and Chiyo accidently becomes his assistant as a result of his inattention.

Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun is a shoujo comedy first and foremost, and it’s a very good one at that, too. Its ensemble cast of charming dweebs is, of course, what gives it both its humor and its poignancy. Rock out to the theme tune and learn a little about mangaka work in just 12 episodes, all in the span of one season.

8. His and Her Circumstances

It portrays the love story of two seemingly perfect students who are secretly incredibly imperfect characters in His and Her Circumstances (known as Kare Kano). Yukino Miyazawa is a self-proclaimed queen of vanity who feeds on the attention she receives. Soon after, she meets another model student Soichiro Arima, who she feels is stealing attention away from her. Arima discovers her secret and blackmails her, exposing a new side of himself.

They develop a friendship and eventually a romantic relationship. Together, they come to terms with who they truly are and accept each other for who they are.

This shoujo romance stands out from the others thanks to its eccentric, two-faced protagonists and their unconventional approaches to dealing with life’s challenges. This anime’s romance is also convincingly portrayed. To be clear, the animation ends suddenly and you’ll need to read the manga if you want to finish the plot. It is, however, the 26-episode Anime’s unique, varying animation styles that make this character-driven love story worth checking out. • Chastity Vicencio, senior producer of video;

9. Clannad: After Story

Clannad After Story

In Clannad: After Story, Tomoya and Nagisa, the protagonists of the original series, have graduated from high school, and the story takes place after that. In After Story, you’ll be rewarded with a story that’s charming, poignant, and infamous for making everyone cry if you persevere through its nice but not quite as good predecessor.

10. 5 Centimeters Per Second

5 Centimeters Per Second is a three-part film chronicling Takaki Tono’s early life, adolescence, and early adulthood. He meets and falls in love with Akari when they are both in elementary school. Aside from the fact that it deals with young love, 5 Centimeters Per Second beautifully conveys Takaki’s sorrow across the various chapters of his life through its animation and direction.

11. Yuri on Ice

Yuri!!! On ICE

Even if Yuri on Ice isn’t classified as a romance anime, it’s still one of the best. When Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki meets his long-time idol, Victor Nikiforov, he is on the verge of giving up on skating altogether. As a sports anime about figure skaters, yes, but it’s more about a mutually beneficial and supportive relationship than anything.

Even if you’re not into guy-on-guy romances, Yuri and Victor’s connection in the show is remarkably forward-thinking for an anime. Yuri on Ice also explores friendship and the common quarter-life identity crisis that can drive us to reassess our goals and dreams. In addition, there’s some excellent skating and a diverse ensemble of supporting characters to set the stage for a lovely romance.

12. Lovely Complex

The tallest student in her class, Risa Koizumi, stands at 6’1″. Atsushi Ootani, the class’s shortest student, has a slender frame. There’s a lot of anxiety between them both regarding their height and how it might effect their romantic prospects. Of course, they’re a match made in heaven… except for the issue of their respective heights.

You may get your hands on a copy of Lovely Complex on DVD if you want an adorable and amusing classic romance animation that takes its time building its characters. In addition, the issue of height is a topic that many people can identify with.