The World God Only Knows
Top 10 Best Romance Anime You Can Watch Right Now
Starting off our best romance anime list, we have a show that goes against the common idea that gamers are unattractive, too “geeky,” and will stay forever alone. The World God Only Knows proves the opposite and tests a gamer’s digital skills in the real world. Hardcore dating sim player Keima Katsuragi is a hermit who prefers the company of his gaming consoles than his classmates. One fateful day, he stumbles across a demon named Elsie who explains that she’s looking for runaway spirits who take refuge in the hearts of females to be reincarnated as their offspring.
She also explains that the only way to free the host from the spirit is the fill the gap within the girl’s heart. Elise enlists Keima for help, making him woo the possessed targets in his school with the hopes of making them fall in love with him. Throughout the series, Keima manages to swoon with countless girls and gets entangled in growing complex relationships in the later seasons. The World God Only Knows is filled with plenty of references and jokes that any gamer will relate to, making it one of the best romance anime.
Lovely★Complex
Top 10 Best Romance Anime You Can Watch Right Now
When it comes to love, some people can really become insecure about their overall appearance. In Lovely★Complex, Risa Koizumi is considered much taller compared to the average Japanese woman, while Atushi Otani is way below the height average of boys in his age. Because of their unique qualities, the duo is labeled as the comedy “couple,” All Hanshin Kyojin. However, things start to change when they begin to find their respective crushes, so they decide to put their differences aside and work together to finally find some romance.
Throughout their time together, however, the two slowly start a budding friendship and even fall for each other. The comedy couple learns that they actually share the same interest, which raises the question – does appearance really matter that much when it comes to finding “the one”? Aside from its funny moments, Lovely★Complex has become one of the best romance anime because it proves that no amount of standards will stand in the way of real love.
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Top 10 Best Romance Anime You Can Watch Right Now
There are a lot of things that can break a friendship, especially after finding out that one person from your group suddenly passed away. For the Super Peace Busters, it was just another day of games and meeting at the secret base. Little did they know that their conversation over a simple crush would lead to Meiko “Menma” Honma’s death. Fast forward to several years later and the group has finally drifted apart, each busy with their own lives.
Strangely enough, Menma apparently hadn’t moved on to the afterlife as her ghost continues to pester former Super Peace Busters leader Jinta “Jintan” Yadomi. In an effort to finally send her off, he decides to call everyone from the group to find out just what Menma’s final wish is. That said, the show tackles topics such as grief, acceptance, and moving on from situations we cannot control. Anohana’s main story about friendship also digs deeper regarding the intimate relationships between the members of the group, specifically the “what-if” romance between Menma and Jintan.
Yuri on Ice
Top 10 Best Romance Anime You Can Watch Right Now
Yuuri Katsuki grew up around ice skating with his friends and decided to make his passion his profession, becoming a top figure skater who represents Japan. After a crushing defeat during his first Grand Prix Final, however, he decided to retreat from the sports scene and return back to his hometown in Hasetsu. Yuuri grows unsure about his career and mulls over it through the best way: skating. Unbeknownst to him, his friend’s daughters film his skating program and upload it online, instantly becoming viral. Because of the short clip, Yuuri ends up catching the attention of his figure skating idol, Victor Nikiforov.
Victor flies to Japan and offers to become Yuuri’s coach for the season, greatly impressed by his skills and talent. A sports anime at heart, Yuri on Ice manages to delicately handle the budding romance between both characters. It does not place heavy emphasis on the fact that they are both men, but instead treats their relationship like any other.While Yuuri is still a novice in many aspects, he manages to help Victor become more empathetic. In turn, Victor’s constant coaching and trust in Yuuri helps push him to become the best version of himself.
Toradora
Top 10 Best Romance Anime You Can Watch Right Now
Sometimes the whole “love at first sight” concept can get a bit repetitive and dull. Toradora chooses to go for a different method instead, with protagonists Ryuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka starting off as frenemies who use each other to get closer to their respective crushes. Appearances are truly deceiving as Ryuiji isn’t the delinquent he looks to be, while Taiga houses plenty of spirit in her tiny frame.
While they start off with an awkward truce, the both of them slowly become good friends. Their newfound romantic interest for each other begins to sprouts in the later episodes, adding to the expanding mess of feelings each friend in their clique has for each other. Toradora is iconic for being one of the best romance anime because of how it practically handles and juggles emotions without seeming too overdramatic. The series tries its best to be grounded despite the many uses of anime tropes, which actually tend to work out well.
Maid Sama!
Top 10 Best Romance Anime You Can Watch Right Now
Misaki Ayuzawa is the no-nonsense, talented student council president of Seika High School who always keeps all the unruly students in line. She is trained in aikido and places more emphasis on her studies than her looks. Not to mention that she also moonlights as a cute maid in a cafe. To keep up with the expenses, Misaki has no choice but to take up the job that she tries so hard to keep under wraps from everyone at school. At work, she drops her strict and rough behavior for a more dainty and cute countenance.
While she tried her best to keep her other life private, Seika High School student Takumi Usui manages to catch a glimpse of her uniform. She fears that he will expose his secret and grows increasingly frustrated over the fact that he had kept quiet about it. Instead, he frequently visits her at the cafe as a regular customer. While Misaki initially doubts him, she slowly learns to open up and become fast friends with Usui. She isn’t afraid to call him out whenever he teases her, but there’s no denying the feelings they share with each other. Possibly one of the best lessons Maid Sama has to share as one of the best romance anime is that everyone deserves a shot at love.
Your Name
Top 10 Best Romance Anime You Can Watch Right Now
What might start out like a spinoff anime movie of Freaky Friday, there’s a good reason why Your Name is praised as one of the best romantic anime. The story follows big-time city boy Taki and sweet country girl Mitsuha who are discontent and bored with their respective lives. In a strange twist of fate, the two suddenly begin swapping bodies and experiencing each other’s daily tasks, from school to their part-time jobs. These events lead to plenty of mayhem, new friendships, and a major turning point in both of their lives.
There’s plenty of comedy at the start of the movie, but it takes a sudden emotionally sharp turn during the latter half. Mitsuha and Taki also become curious about each other and slowly fall in love amidst their body-swapping antics. Their relationship tries to highlight that true love survives all types of distance and is something you can never actually forget. Your Name is the perfect film for those looking for a romantic comedy anime movie filled with a good handful of dramatic twists.
My Love Story!!
Top 10 Best Romance Anime You Can Watch Right Now
It can be pretty rough when all of the people you like always end up falling for your more attractive best friend. This sticky situation is something Takeo Goda feels all too well, especially since he isn’t that much of a looker himself. However, chivalry and courage manage to set him on the right path after he rescues Rinko Yamato from a groper on a train.
Unlike most girls, Rinko isn’t frightened of Takeo’s appearance and even falls for him because of his confidence, strength, and kindness. In spite of this, he believes that she is actually in love with his best friend and silently volunteers to become her Cupid, despite a deep yearning for his own chance at romance. At the end of the day, the heart knows what it wants as things will take a unique twist in Takeo and Rinko’s blossoming relationship.
Clannad: After Story
Top 10 Best Romance Anime You Can Watch Right Now
Following the events of the first season, Clannad: After Story continues Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa’s story as they finally graduate, meet new people, and slowly mature together in the process. The couple also decides to start their own family together, but the harsh reality of the real world continues to pressure them with new problems. Nagisa manages to deliver their child, Ushio, but tragedy strikes shortly afterward, changing the family’s life forever.
Clannad: After Story places a lot of emphasis on family values and the importance of standing by each other, even during the roughest periods in life. Tomoya, Nagisa, and Ushio are forced to experience the toughest hurdles in life and even suffer major emotional rifts in the process. No matter the hardships they experience, life always goes on. And while things look bleak, there is always a miracle waiting to happen.
Your Lie in April
Top 10 Best Romance Anime You Can Watch Right Now
A tender coming of age story, Your Lie in April focuses on musical prodigy Kousei Arima who has distanced himself from his passion following a traumatic experience with his mother’s death. While once a talented piano player, he can no longer “hear” the notes he plays due to his post-traumatic stress disorder. Following his mother’s passing, he has also become reserved and absorbed in his thoughts, worrying his friends.
Enter Kaori Miyazono, the free-spirited and whimsical girl who suddenly arrives and shakes up Kousei’s world. A fellow musician, she is a talented violin player who decides to follow her own capricious beat instead of following the musical score. Kaori comes at Kousei in full force, urging him to rediscover his love for music by becoming her piano accompanist. He is starstruck by her personality and slowly learns to stand on his own again, but not all good things are meant to last. Your Lie in April is one of the best romance anime because of its simplistically sweet story and amazingly detailed soundtrack. There won’t be a single dry eye in the room once you finish the series.
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