Top 20 Most Romantic Anime Series

A creative reimagining of the classic fairy tale, this anime delivers plenty on the romance front. Shirayuki is a young herbalist whose unusual red hair attracts the wrong kind of attention. When Prince Raj orders her to serve as his concubine, it sets her on a journey to freedom, self-acceptance, and, of course, love. Shirayuki’s friendship and eventual romance with Prince Zen Wistaria is well-developed, from Shirayuki healing Zen from the poisoned apple to their declaration of love. It helps that Shirayuki is no doormat, but is resourceful and principled. Despite the differences in their social status, Shirayuki and Zen are equals in all the ways that matter.

A contender for the ultimate feel-good anime, "My Love Story!!" simultaneously adheres to and skirts around romance tropes. While earnest and inherently likable, Takeo's massive physique tends to be rather off-putting for girls, especially in comparison to best boy, Makoto Sunakawa. Fortunately, Rinko Yamato is different. Along with having an unconventional male protagonist, "My Love Story!!" genuinely explores the romance between Takeo and Rinko, who are an official couple for the majority of the series. Takeo and Rinko are adorable together, while Madhouse's animation helps add a touch of magic to make the show shine even brighter.

It’s love at first sight when Godai meets Kyoko. Created by Rumiko Takahashi of “Inuyasha” and “Ranma ½” fame, this slice-of-life anime is perfect for slow-burn fans. Set in Tokyo during the 1980s, the series follows young tenant Yusaku Godai’s love for his manager, Kyoko Otonashi. But Kyoko’s grief for her late husband impedes their relationship, especially when both Godai and Kyoko believe they each love other people. Despite its long episode count, “Maison Ikkoku” is more than worth your time, especially for all the twists and turns it has!

A classic series that more than earned its reputation, "Ouran High School Host Club" walks the line between sickly sweet and relentlessly hilarious, usually pulling off both tones splendidly. As the female lead in a reverse harem, Haruhi is surrounded by various potential suitors, all of which are quite charming; that said, most of the overtly passionate displays of affection come from the Host Club members entertaining their guests. While the manga delves deeper into the central romances, the anime has quite a few emotionally captivating scenes that will tug at the heartstrings of any romantic.

What can be better than following one couple on the road to happily ever after? How about following four? In this anthology show, young students struggle to confess their feelings for their crushes. The series is true to the experience of young love, with plenty of fluff, awkwardness, social comedy, and of course, romance. Some couples’ relationships are established early on, whereas others have a “will-they-won’t-they” dynamic. It’s a short anime, and the relationships are left unresolved. But for your fluff hit, there are few series better.

In many ways, "Maid Sama!" is fairly conventional and predictable, but the anime is elevated to a higher level thanks to the main couple's chemistry. Usui is the ultimate dream boy who loves to tease Misaki, the student council president who secretly works at a maid cafe. While Usui gets on Misaki's nerves, the two share an unbreakable bond, one that seems to defy time and space. When it comes to romance, "Maid Sama!" is a bit of a slow burner; that said, whenever Usui and Misaki share the screen, romantic tension is normally not far behind.

Speaking of high school romance, you know you’re getting a great one when the title is a ship name. “Horimiya” is a portmanteau of lovers Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura, two high school students with secrets of their own. Hori’s popularity in school hides the fact that she is raising her young brother on her own. Meanwhile, Miyamura is a gloomy otaku at school and a tattooed punk at home. When they each discover their true identities, the shared secret serves to bring them closer together. Hori and Miyamura’s romance is sweet and wholesome as they learn to look past the typical high school stereotypes and get to know each other’s true selves. It’s a win for us.

There’s something about romance in an apartment building that is so irresistible. This time, five college art students get involved in increasingly complicated love triangles and misunderstandings. When Hagumi Hanamoto arrives at the complex, it isn’t long before students Yuta and Shinobu fall in love and compete with each other for her affections. Meanwhile, Takumi falls for widow Rika Harada, while pottery master Ayumi pines for the unavailable Takumi. Taking place over four years, the anime skillfully depicts its relationship entanglements with bittersweet realism. It’s one of the best romantic anime of the mid-aughts.

This anime is full of love, and not just for cosplay. Wakana Gojo’s talent for tailoring hina dolls leads to a faithful meeting with fashionista classmate Marin Kitagawa. When Marin asks him to make her a costume based on her favorite video game character, they quickly begin a partnership that eventually becomes much more. The combination of an extroverted girl with an introverted boy is an entertaining one, and their moments are sweet and cute. It’s so great to witness shy Wakana step out of his shell and accept his gift. All thanks to the magic of cosplay.

Considering the target audience, most shojo anime tend to revolve around teenage characters. While that is perfectly fine, "Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku's" older cast comes as a welcome change of pace from the normally green characters. Introducing multiple couples at different stages in their relationships, "Wotakoi" replaces grandiose declarations of love with more intimate and realistic interactions. "Wotakoi's" strength lies in the four main characters, who all stand out as individuals and are not solely defined by their relationship status. Whenever the anime gets romantic, the moments are always fully earned and effective.

What a premise. Loner Kyotaro Ichikawa fantasizes about murdering his classmates, especially the beautiful middle-schooler-cum-model Anna Yamada. What begins as a psychological thriller at best turns into romance as Kyotaro gets to know Anna, quirks and all. Eventually, Kyotaro opens up to the world through his relationship with her, beginning to shed his anti-social tendencies. The anime’s comic and unflinching portrayal of middle school awkwardness and edginess is one of its strengths. Kyotaro and Anna are well-written and when they do fall in love, it is a satisfying pay-off. Also: Short boy and tall girl? We are more than here for it.

A precursor to “Ouran High School Host Club,” this anime follows middle class Tsukushi Makino in her first year at the elite Eitoku Academy. It isn’t long before she gets tormented by a group of four boys known as the Flower Four. One of those boys, Tsukasa Domyoji, is intrigued by the strong-willed Tsukushi, but she, repelled by Tsukasa’s arrogance, prefers his much nicer friend, Rui. But just as Tsukasa and Tsukushi learn to respect one another and eventually get together, class differences threaten to drive them apart. It’s a satisfying emotional journey, and Tsukushi’s refusal to put up with the Flower Four’s taunts is inspiring. This “Pride and Prejudice”-style romance is a keeper.

It’s not every day a series features a character with hearing loss. Yuki Itose is an ordinary college student, communicating through sign language and lip-reading. When an English-language tourist asks her for directions, she is rescued by a multilingual Itsuomi, who it turns out attends her university as well. Unlike other romance anime, Yuki’s and Itsuomi’s romance is mercifully free of contrived drama, especially misunderstandings. Still, there are plenty of obstacles to overcome, including Yuki’s obviously jealous friend Oushi and Itsuomi’s friend Ema, who is likewise in love with him. The romantic development, as well as the show’s research into sign language, makes this anime stand out from the rest.

Nanami Momozono is an ordinary high school student who becomes homeless thanks to her father’s gambling debts. When she saves a man called Mikage from a dog, he gives her his home in gratitude. It turns out this home is actually a shrine and Nanami is now its new god. With the new title comes Mikage’s old familiar, a fox demon named Tomoe. But even as Nanami and Tomoe grow closer, a love between a human and demon cannot be…or can it? A lighthearted mix of “Inuyasha” and “Fruits Basket,” this anime makes its central romance clear, with Nanami’s proactive spunkiness and Tomoe’s tsundere tendencies. Also, Tomoe changing his mind about Nanami and developing feelings for her is so poignant. This couple is adorable.

We’ve covered “Snow White” and now it’s time for “Cinderella.” Looked down for her lack of powers, Miyo Saimori is forced by her stepmother to become a servant in her own house. Miyo hopes, however, of an arranged marriage to escape her awful family. Unfortunately, her fiancé is none other than Kiyoka Kudou, a coldly aloof commander infamous for his fleeing brides. Fortunately for Miyo, Kiyoka is far from the monster he is reputed to be. A twist on both “Cinderella” and “Beauty and the Beast,” this anime’s romance blossoms beautifully as Miyo gains confidence and Kiyoka’s icy exterior melts. “My Happy Marriage”’s themes of overcoming trauma is a powerful and poignant one, with a main pairing we won’t forget anytime soon.

Like most timeless romances, Ryuji and Taiga's meet-cute ends with the short-tempered girl punching the misunderstood boy in the face. "Toradora!" established many tropes that would become increasingly popular in anime and manga, although few series come close to matching the original. While the early chapters where Ryuji and Taiga are only begrudgingly helping each other are mostly comedic, around episode 8, "Toradora!" shifts towards a more dramatic tone. Romance is sprinkled throughout the entire series; however, the final seven or so episodes are just one shot to the heart after another.

The most basic love story involves a boy meeting a girl, the two do nothing but argue, Cupid appears, causing their feelings to turn to love. "Lovely Complex" shows that any formula – no matter how overused – can work when handled with a deft touch. Putting aside a substantial size different, Koizumi and Otani share a lot in common, but the two equally short-tempered students are constantly struggling to come to grips with their feelings for each other. From the pair's hilarious days as friends to the dramatic final stretch packed with ex-lovers and tear-jerking confessions, "Lovely Complex" is an unforgettable and frequently moving journey.

Sawako Kuronuma is kind, shy, and innocent; unfortunately, her classmates cannot see beyond the fact Sawako resembles the girl from "The Ring." The timid teenager is all alone until the nonjudgmental Shota Kazehaya stumbles onto her path, beginning a friendship that is just as much about personal growth as romance. While the anime takes its sweet time getting there, "Kimi ni Todoke" does a splendid job of showing how these two rather different people fall in love. By the end, Sawako and Kazehaya feel like proper soulmates, not due to some exciting Hollywood gesture but because the couple shares a special bond founded on many awkward but adorable interactions.

As an adaptation of the beloved manga and a reboot of 2001's anime adaptation, 2019's "Fruits Basket" updates the classic series for a modern audience while sticking true to the source material's core appeal. Orphaned and temporarily homeless, Tohru Honda moves in with the cursed Soma family, who have a habit of transforming to animals at the slightest touch. While there are some reverse harem elements, "Fruits Basket" is more of an emotion-driven drama that thoroughly explores the psyches of the characters, especially the core trio of Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki. Love, heartbreak, and humor; "Fruits Basket" has it all.

All’s fair in love and war. The heads of the student council, President Miyuki Shirogane and Vice President Kaguya Shinomiya are among the most powerful students in the whole school. And of course, there are feelings involved. The twist? Shirogane and Kaguya are both tsunderes who’d rather walk on coals than confess their feelings for each other. Cue hilarity as the two try to trick each other into confessing first, with a fun narrator keeping score. You could cut through this pair’s sexual tension like a knife, at first played for laughs and then played straight as the series transitions into drama. For big laughs and heart-tugging romance, this is the series to watch.

Which other romantic anime series do you feel is a love story for the ages? Let us know in the comments down below!