10 Best Romance Anime – 2024

Romance anime holds a special place in the hearts of viewers, offering a delightful escape into worlds filled with love, laughter, and heartfelt moments. In this list, we celebrate the best romance anime titles that have captivated audiences with their compelling stories and unforgettable characters. From timeless classics to recent gems, these anime are guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings and leave you longing for more.

So without further discussion let’s take a look at the ranking of the 10 best romance anime!

1. Fruits Basket (2019-2021)

One of the most well-known and best romance anime series, Fruits Basket, is also a drama and fantasy series with a beautiful story. Natsuki Takaya’s manga, serialized in Hana to Yume from 1998 to 2006, serves as the basis for this series. The 26-episode Studio Deen anime series from 2001 and the 63-episode TMS Entertainment anime series from 2019 are the two versions of the beloved romantic anime. Now, experts recommend watching the final three seasons instead of the first. Due to the altered climax from the original narrative in the manga.

Fruits Basket tells the story of thirteen members of the Soma family, who obsess over the Chinese zodiac, and a high school student named Tohru Honda. It takes place in a fictionalized version of Tokyo. Yuki Soma, a classmate, lets lonely Tohru live in her home after she lost her parents. She forms attachments with every member of the Soma family, including Kyo, the cat excluded from the group of the twelve animals, and Yuki, the rat of the Chinese zodiac.

2. Kaguya-Sama: Love is War (2019)

Beginning with its first season in 2019, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is one of the most well-liked comedy and best romance anime in past few years. A-1 Pictures produced the second and third seasons of the masterwork manga by Aka Akasaka, which has serialized since 2015. As of December 2022, the anime series comprises 37 episodes, along with two live-action movies released in 2019 and 2021, and the latest anime movie titled “The First Kiss That Never Ends.”

Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane, two arrogant high school students, are the main characters in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War. The romantic comedy’s plot revolves around the bustling days of the Shuchiin Academy student council, led by vice president Kaguya and president Miyuki. They encourage them to declare their love for one another using a variety of strategies. More alluring side characters include Ai Hayasaka, the maid of the Kaguya family, and Chika Fujiwara, the secretary of the student council.

3. Horimiya (2021-2023)

Many well-known best romance anime with a school life theme take place in fictional high schools. Since its premiere in 2021 with 13 episodes, Horimiya has garnered a good rating. CloverWorks, an expanding anime company, adapted the Hero manga series, which Daisuke Hagiwara wrote and illustrated from 2011 to 2021. Fewer people are aware that the first Horimiya anime, Hori-san to Miyamura-kun, adapted Hero’s initial manga of the same name and was released as OVAs between 2012 and 2021.

Horimiya focuses on the friendship between introverted classmate Izumi Miyamura and popular and happy high school student Kyoko Hori. One day, Kyoto discovers that Izumi has entirely changed, concealing his true identity from everyone in the school. He is the boy with the lovely lip and ear piercings, but he attempts to blend in by wearing glasses. Since he brings her injured brother to her place, they become more intimate.

4. My Happy Marriage (2023)

My Happy Marriage, one of the best romance anime with a beautiful story, released in 2023. It doesn’t follow the typical romantic comedy or young love clichés, instead focusing on more profound emotional drama. In the beginning, Akumi Agitogi wrote a light book series that began in 2019. By the summer of 2023, Kinema Citrus had turned the story into an anime. Which received critical acclaim all around the world. In a way that sets it apart from other anime. The series seamlessly blends fantasy and romantic themes to create a distinct and engrossing environment.

In a world where people use Supernatural Abilities to fight evil spirits and demons, society ignores Miyo Saimori because she lacks these abilities. Fate entwines her with the mysterious 27-year-old leader of the prestigious Kudou family, Kiyoka Kudou, as she struggles with her beloved’s dedication to her sister. Many women have avoided the idea of dating Kiyoka because of his reputation as a tough and silent warrior. However, as Miyo explores their married life more, she finds aspects of Kiyoka that go against the popular narratives. The story not only depicts Miyo’s journey of transformation through marriage. But it also skillfully combines elements of fantasy with minutely described aspects of traditional Japanese culture.

5. My Dress-Up Darling (2022)

It’s always entertaining to watch a romance develop between two unique people with disparate characteristics. This is also the case as Wakana Gojou is a doll artist who genuinely enjoys creating dolls. Marin Kitagawa, on the other hand, participates in cosplay. Despite leading quite different lives, they collaborate and pursue their interests together. Which leads to them growing closer and ultimately falling in love.

Last year, “My Dress-Up Darling” hit instant success upon publication. Therefore, it was too enjoyable to witness the exquisite animation and the endearing characters together. Fans highly anticipate the second season of this show, making it the perfect time to watch the first season and catch up before the next season airs.

6. The Dangers In My Heart (2023)

In a relatively short amount of time, The Dangers in My Heart anime season 1 accomplishes a lot. Yes, at first glance, this seems to be just another shonen romance in which a well-liked girl falls in love with a regular person who leads a rather reclusive life. These kinds of stories are common and usually offer little more than obvious desire fulfillment. The Dangers in My Heart seems to fit the mold of a classic example of this kind of story. However, the best romance anime pulls it off.

Ichikawa is a regular guy who enjoys daydreaming about obscene topics and doesn’t have many pals. Ichikawa doesn’t make the best first impression, although not going into too much detail, the anime still doesn’t avoid it. On the other hand, Anna is a model who works as a bubbly yet bashful girl who enjoys eating. The two kids wind up spending time together after meeting by mistake at the school library. This leads to the emergence of a friendship that may develop into something more. Ichikawa changes a lot over the season as a result of Anna’s attempts to break him out of his shell. In addition, Anna is a three-dimensional heroine with her own blind spots and fears.

7. Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai (2018 – 2019)

Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai is yet another top-notch addition to our list of best romantic anime. It is a unique romance anime that is captivating to watch and has elements of pure imagination surrounding it. Sakura Azusagawa is the main character, a high school girl leading a typical life. However, one day he meets a female who is dressed as a wild rabbit and who, to everyone else, seems to be invisible. From that point on, the ordinary life has transformed into something wonderful.

The storyline makes it clear how different this anime is from the conventional rom-com drama. It melts your heart with its passion and smashes it in pieces with the same. All thanks to a fascinating plot and endearing characters.

To see this dramatic climax, you should watch the follow-up movie to this anime. If you enjoy fantasy rom-com anime, I wholeheartedly suggest this one.

8. Insomniacs After School (2023)

In terms of pure romance, Insomniacs After School was the apex of the genre in Spring 2023. The best romance anime, which is based on the renowned seinen manga by Makoto Ojiro, centers on two students who, up until they met each other at their school’s observatory, were cursed with the inability to fall asleep. Isaki and Ganta quickly click, and their bond grows stronger as they try to get the Astronomy Club back up and running. Their motivation is to keep access to their new hiding place.

Pitch-perfect timing characterizes Insomniacs After School, an animation that masterfully depicts the leads’ feelings of alienation stemming from their insomnia as well as the subtle solace they derive from one another. Even though the plot is full with sexual tension, the show puts more emphasis on developing Ganta and Isaki’s friendship than on their romantic relationship, showing that their bond is deeper than merely a common hardship.

9. Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You (2009 – 2011)

Best romance anime recommendations should include Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, a well-known shojo manga and anime series. The manga series, authored by Karuho Shiina, was serialized on Bessatsu Margaret from 2006 to 2017. Production I.G. turned it into an anime adaption with twenty-five episodes in 2009–2010, and a second season with thirteen episodes released in 2011 succeeded it. In 2010, a live-action version of the movie was similarly well received.

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You is set in Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture of Japan, and centers on the high school experiences of Sawako Kuronuma, a fifteen-year-old girl. People around her fear her because of her long black hair, which makes her look like the figure Sadako from a horror movie, in contrast to her honest and pure attitude. Her school days are changed by Shota Kazehaya, a popular classmate who gets along with her better than other classmates.

10. Your Lie In April (2014-2015)

Many anime fans around the world have seen Your Lie in April, one of the most watched romance anime of the 2010s. It was adapted from the 11-volume manga series created by Naoshi Arakawa and aired with 22 episodes between 2014 and 2015 by the well-known anime studio A-1 Pictures. It is also reported that a live-action movie based on the romantic drama series was produced in 2016.

The coming-of-age tale of a young, gifted pianist named Kosei Arima and a vibrant violinist named Kaori Miyazono is told in Your Lie in April. Once renowned as the “Human Metronome” for his mechanical accuracy, Kosei gave up playing the piano after his mother died. He meets her one day as Tsubaki Sawabe’s childhood friend and Kaori’s classmate, and she motivates him to pick up the piano once more. The anime’s title refers to a deception that Kaori shares with Kosei, and she plays a crucial role.

Romance anime offers a captivating escape into worlds filled with love, laughter, and heartfelt moments. Whether you’re a fan of classic romance anime or craving something new, these top 10 romance anime titles are guaranteed to leave you spellbound. From timeless classics to modern gems, each anime updates a unique and unforgettable journey that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

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