Top 10 Most Satisfying Anime Kisses (Ft. Todd Haberkorn)

“Steins;Gate” (2011)
Time-travel can be a bitch, especially when it gives you the choice of saving your beloved childhood friend from being murdered…but also poses a very real risk of the woman you love also meeting a similar fate. The conflict of said choice nearly breaks the mad scientist, until Kurisu herself encourages him to save Mayuri instead…though not before they finally admit their love for each other in a moment that’s as beautiful as it is heart-breaking. Admit it, you’d break the space-time continuum for her as well!

“Berserk” (1997-98)
Can affection stem between two broken souls who only know violence? Well, if these two can do it, nobody has any excuse. After returning to the Band of the Hawk in order to rescue Griffith, Guts finds the mercenary band in chaos without the guidance of their fallen leader, all the while Casca reaches her breaking point due to the current state of affairs, even happy to throw herself off a cliff and end it all. Thankfully, the man she used to despise is there to save her, which leads to the two traumatised warriors finding solace together in one of the series ONLY genuinely happy moments.

“Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions the Movie: Take on Me” (2018)
While this long-overdue coupling are certainly prone to lose themselves in their own heads, we’re happy to announce that this particular kiss is not a delusion. These two imaginative dorks went the whole way. They confessed their feelings, acted like a real pairing and apparently were so elated they got to kiss each other they literally lit up the night sky with their love, all the while screaming about how happy they are. It’s a truly sweet scene befitting of Rikka’s oddities, but you have to wonder just how many people were woken up by all the racket!

“Code Geass” (2006-08)
Let’s be honest here, Lelouch vi Britannia is no stranger when it come to getting cosy with the ladies, both on the rebellion side of things as well as those loyal to the Empire. C.C and Shirley have both been happy recipients of Zero’s affection, but as for the one that was truly the most potent, we’re giving it to our girl Kallen, whose departing kiss is mired with regret and pain as she knows that the man she loves has painted himself as the ultimate tyrant for the sake of peace…and she can do nothing but accept this cruel fate.

“Mobile Suit Gundam SEED” (2002-03)
Jeez, it’s a wonder Athrun and Kira’s friendship fixed so quickly, when the dude was getting intimate with his bestie’s twin sister! Not that we can blame him given how Cagali is a sweetheart who is suddenly thrust into the role of leadership when Orb becomes a battleground for the Natural and Coordinator forces. On the cusp of the final battle, Cagali announces that she refuses to let either one of her boys kill themselves in such a pointless manner. Moved by her dedication, Athrun manages to land a big one on her before taking up arms for what we thought was the last time!

“Sword Art Online” (2012-)
Despite virtual fiascos, countless other women wanting a piece of Kirito’s master sword and everything that Oberon did, these two have continued to endure as one of modern anime’s longest running couples. As such, there have been plenty of kisses and intimate moments along the way, but the one that still manages to hit all the “aww” points for us is their first. Must have been quite a magical moment, you know, if you ignore the fact that Kirito nearly got skewered. Then again, he did get a night with a beautiful gamer girl out of it so…worth it?

“Bakuman” (2010-13)
Now this is what you call sticking to your guns. After managing to fulfil his dream as a successful mangaka, Mashiro is finally able fulfil the original promise he made to the girl of his dreams by proposing to her in the exact spot where he first declared his love. Such a romantic and heartfelt gesture was always going to go down well, and as such he gets greeted with one hell of a kiss, one so mystifying that it manages to catapult them to their wedding in the very next scene.

“Toradora!” (2008-09)
Seeing these two express their obvious love for one another in such a spectacular way was truly a hard-fought victory. After all, when they first met, Taiga knocked the poor boy’s block off because they got off on the wrong foot, and the only reason they stayed in contact was to try and set each other up with their respective crushes inside their inner circle. Of course, with so much time to get to know one another and see past the dragon face and tiger temperament, the two eventually ended up realising they really, really, really like each other, culminating in a kiss scene that is downright precious!

“Yu Yu Hakusho” (1992-94)
Turns out even demon-busting punk boys can still win the heart of a fair maiden. Not only did Yusuke manage to keep his promise by coming back from the Demon World alive, but he chose to do so just as his bae was screaming out her feelings into the sunset. Turns out perfect timing can reap you a hell of a reward, as an overjoyed Keiko lets her happiness be shown by tackling him to the beach floor and shutting up the Spirit Detective with a decisive smooch. Smooth sir.

“The Last: Naruto the Movie” (2014)
We waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and yet it didn’t look like the Jinchuruki was ever going to wise up and realise he had a pale eye beauty waiting for him in the wings, longing to make her affection known. Hell, she even admitted her love for him during the battle with Pain and STILL nothing happened. At least until she was kidnapped by some guy from the moon, prompting Naruto to finally get it in gear and steal back his future wifey from a life of interstellar captivity, concluding with something of a fairy tale union as the two embrace in front of a gorgeous luna backdrop. About freakin’ time!