My Top 10 Romance Anime Ranked!
Anime is like a religion to most of its passionate fans. Regardless of which genre they are the biggest fan of, most fans try all sorts of different anime genres. As such, Anime spans all sorts of different genres to please a wide variety of viewers. Even within the same genre, no two anime are similar most of the time. A genre that touches hearts and soothes souls is the Romance Anime genre. No matter what gender or sexual orientation, romance anime have something beautiful to add to our lives.
These are my Top 10 Favorite Romance anime in ranked order. They are a must-watch if you haven’t already, from bottom to top, are as follows:
10. Kamisama Kiss
If you could do everything by yourself, I wouldn’t have a reason to exist.
– Tomoe
The series follows protagonist Nanami Momozono, who is your average high school girl. While bad luck seems to keep piling up on her, she has a fateful encounter. Her life goes from being a very ordinary life to a very mystical one. The icing atop the cake is none other than the handsome Tomoe who becomes her familiar in the process. Though their interactions are tense and guarded at first, they eventually grow to trust each other. Ever so subtly, the sparks of love begin to develop between the two as their relationship and intertwined fate are made apparent.
09. Snow White with the Red Hair
I wish that you would always be by my side.
I will protect what we have with my very soul.
– Zen
Protagonist Shirayuki is but a humble herbalist. The one thing about her that stands out is her bright red hair. Being an independent and determined young woman, she refuses to become a concubine under her kingdom’s impudent prince. In the midst of her escape from him, she has a cute encounter with Prince Zen Wistaria from the neighboring kingdom. Determined to be in charge of her own life, she earns a position as a royal herbalist in Zen’s kingdom. In the meantime, the two’s constant interactions cause them to slowly fall for each other, a love built upon trust and admiration.
08. Hotarubi no Mori e
I love you.
– Hotaru
Yeah… me too.
-Gin
This cute little stand-alone movie features a young girl and a forest spirit. Upon a chance meeting in the forest, Hotaru Takegawa path crosses Gin who dons a Kitsune mask. The latter being a spirit, unable to have any physical contact with humans, their interactions are unique and cute. The story will bring out the ultimate feel for viewers, as the special connection between the two only grows and becomes very much real. Better have a box of tissues ready for the finale of this movie!
07. Five Centimeters Per Second
Maybe we tried to leave as much memories of ourselves with each other because we knew one day we wouldn’t be together any more.
Another Makoto Shinkai classic stand-alone anime movie. The film highlights one of the biggest barriers to romance, distance. Under various tough circumstances, viewers see how the characters drift apart both physically and emotionally. The practicality of long-distance relationships is questioned and put to the test, and as much as people hope for things to work out, they just don’t most of the time. Takaki’s life and relationships are split into three iconic segments, namely “Cherry Blossom”, “Cosmonaut” and “5 Centimeters per Second”. Love isn’t all flowers and chocolates at all, so keep the tissues ready for the tears.
06. Fruits Basket
My Happiness Comes From The Kindness Of Those Around Me
-Tohru
Tohru Honda’s life is full of hardship, yet she smiles through the toughest times, being ever so thankful for all the little things she has. Following an unexpected accident, Tohru is left orphaned but is found by some members of the Soma family. This includes one of her classmates. While temporarily lodging at their aboard, she comes across a shocking truth: the Soma family members have a kind of curse. Whenever each person is hugged or embraced by a person of the opposite gender outside of their family, they temporarily turn into an animal from the Chinese Zodiac. The 2019 remake version is better than the older and it continues further into the story. The series features love, hardship, trust, and inner strength.
05. Nisekoi
I really hate it when I miss you so much and I can’t do anything about it.
– Kosaki Onodera
You definitely won’t ever be lonely.
– Chitoge Kirisaki
The story looks at a false love occurring between Raku and Chitoge. Each being the heir to two opposing gangs and the children of the gang leaders, they are to pretend to be in a relationship to appease the war between the two gangs. While having a general dislike for each other, the two slowly grow closer due to their circumstances and unknown to them, develop feelings for each other. But to add to the mix, Raku has a locket with him, the key to which he entrusted to his childhood love. But he neither remembers her name or face. Chitoge along with a few other girls as well have keys that seemingly match the locket. Amongst them is Raku’s High School crush Onodera.
04. Toradora!
I hate waiting, but if waiting means being able to be with you I’ll wait for as long as forever.
-Taiga Aisaka
Taiga is the ultimate tsundere loli high school girl. Setting the standard for multiple other tsunderes, she is aggressive, shy, blunt, loud, and obnoxious. Over the course of the series, she develops a very close friendship with her classmate Ryuuji. Each of them liking the best friend of the other and being very open about it. But as they try to help each other get together with their crushes, they start depending on each other more and more, falling in love slowly yet surely.
03. Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
You are the first person ever to appear in my life and able to make me a mess.
-Takumi Usui
This is one of the most timeless romance anime out there. Being full of humor and adorable moments, we follow the love story of the near-perfect Takumi falling for the School’s Student Council President Misaki. The trigger is none other than the discovery of the fact that Misaki secretly works at a Maid Cafe as her part-time job. What starts as a simple deal to keep a secret develops into a love neither of them can ever hope to go back on.
02. Kimi ni Todoke
Because we can’t understand each other, it makes us want to make things clear even more.
-Sawako Kuronuma
Sawako is your average high school girl, but she closely resembles the creepy monster from the movie The Ring. This causes her to be quite the social outcast except for her closest friends. Being a kind, sweet, and ever so selfless girl, she attracts the eyes of the hottest guy in school, Kazehaya. Despite having almost all the girls after his heart, he only has eyes for Sawako. But of course, she hasn’t the self-respect needed to interpret the hints. The story is slow and adorable as viewers see both characters shy away from each other.
01. Your Lie in April
Everything you say and do…it all sparkles so brightly. It’s too blinding for me, and I end up closing my eyes. But I can’t help aspiring to be like you.
– Arima Kousei
Probably the best romance anime up to date, this is an absolutely tragic masterpiece. Kousei Arima is a prodigy pianist who has touched the hearts of many from a very young age through his music. But following some traumatic incidents, he gives up playing the piano. He eventually runs into Violinist Kaori Miyazono, who is hellbent on getting him to play the piano for her while she plays the violin, as a duo. The two slowly grow to trust and depend on each other, as Arima starts getting over his past and faces the future with music. But Kaori is hiding a deep secret, one which is hidden with a small lie. Their love story is as beautiful as it is tragic, but overall a must-watch.
This is my list of Top 10 Romance Anime! Each telling a unique and beautiful love story, these are sure to speak to the hearts of all who watch them. These gems are recommended to anyone who is a fan of the genre!
