Summary
- The enemies-to-lovers trope is common in anime, showcasing characters evolving from hatred toward affection in creative ways.
- Romance is the focus in anime with enemies-to-lovers relationships, providing satisfying and wholesome storytelling.
- Shows like "Love of Kill" and "My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU" feature complex character dynamics and growth in romantic settings.
The enemies-to-lovers trope is not new ground thematically in media. In anime, it is also a common trope where two protagonists hate each other's guts, but through some pivotal situation, they get to know each other better and even start to fall in love.
12 Best Enemies To Lovers Manhwa
Enemies to lovers is a common trope in fiction, and the following list showcases some of the best in the Manhwa world.
While common, it is also a very satisfying sort of romance and can be quite wholesome. This list aims to celebrate such titles. It should be noted that romance shows are the topic of discussion, so while enemies-to-lovers relationships exist in other genres (like Vegeta and Bulma from Dragon Ball Z, for example), romance anime remains the focus of this list.
10 Love Of Kill
The Main Protagonists Want To Kill Each Other
Love of Kill
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end- Finale Year
- 2022
- Seasons
- 1
When a bounty hunter, Chateau Dankworth, is tasked with taking down the notorious assassin, Song Ryang-ha, the last thing on her mind is romance. But, Song takes an interest in the heroine and begins to relentlessly chase her romantically.
While this show cannot compare to the likes of Spy x Family, which also has two lethal leads, it has its moments. The leads are both truly enemies, and Song is definitely entertaining — if a little unhinged. It is certainly worth a try, and the fact that it features actual adults, along with some dark humor, makes it one to consider.
9 Maoyu
The Hero And The Demon Lord Fall In Love
Maoyu: Archenemy & Hero
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2013 - 2013-00-00
- Network
- Tokyo MX
- Directors
- Takeo Takahashi
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Arms
- Japanese Title
- Maoyuu Maou Yuusha
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Mamare Touno
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.23
Maoyu sets up a really smart story on the premise of a hero finding out that the demon lord is a drop-dead gorgeous redhead who actually wants to end the war. The two start to work together to bring about peace, and feelings start to enter the equation along the way.
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Despite the plot gimmick to get the two characters together, Maoyu has a lot of depth, and outside of the romance, there is quite a bit of intrigue, including some of the forces that aren’t happy with the war actually coming to an end. The leads are fun to root for — especially the demon queen, who comes across well over the course of the series.
8 My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
Hachiman And Yukino Start To Understand Each Other
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2013 - 2020-00-00
- Network
- TBS
- Directors
- Takashi Naoya, Ryutaro Suzuki, Shuhei Matsushita, Shohei Yamanaka, Tatsuya Sasaki, Tomoyuki Kawamura, Satoshi Saga, Risako Yoshida, Noriyuki Nomata, Hirokazu Yamada, Yoshihiro Hiramine, Yoshimichi Hirai, Koji Kobayashi, Koji Aritomi, Shigehisa Iida, Taisuke Tsukuda, Shunsuke Ishikawa, Shuntaro Tozawa, Tomoyuki Kurokawa, Yousuke Hashiguchi
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- Brain's Base
- Japanese Title
- Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Wataru Watari
- Number of Episodes
- 38
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8 (Season 1)
When Hachiman is forced to join a club, he chooses the volunteer club, which also has the beautiful Yukino Yukinoshita. The ideals of the two immediately clash, with Hachiman playing the role of the apathetic villain while Yukino is always willing to help those in need in more conventional ways.
Depending on taste, there are those who would find Hachiman’s attitude rather annoying, but as he and Yukino grow closer, there is tremendous growth there. Throw in the character of Yui as a potential love rival, and suddenly there’s drama in spades.
7 Lovely Complex
Opposites Attract
Lovely Complex
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2007 - 2007-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Producers
- Hiromi Seki
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Aya Nakahara
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.03
Lovely Complex is about Risa Koizumi, a girl considered really tall for her age, and Atsushi Otani, a boy who is short for his age, so it really is a case of opposites attract. Risa aspires to convince Atsushi of her love for him and start a relationship.
The show brings a charm and sweetness that will be appreciated by those who love a good romance. Atsushi grows on the viewer as he starts to let go of some of his more mean tendencies. It also features a beautiful depiction of friendship between Risa and Nobuko.
6 Kamisama Kiss
Tomoe Grows To Respect And Love Nanami
Kamisama Kiss
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2012 - 2016-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- TMS Entertainment, V1 Studio
- Japanese Title
- Kamisama Hajimemashita
- Based On
- Manga
- Number of Episodes
- 25
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.11 (Season 1)
Kamisama Kiss really lives up to the ‘kiss’ part of its title. Nanami is a down-on-her-luck girl who thinks she's hit the jackpot when she is offered a home. But, it turns out that she has been made an earth goddess, and now she has to get her new familiar, Tomoe, to help her.
Kamisama Kiss is one of the classic shojos of old that doesn’t require a degree and doesn’t feature any philosophical debates about the nature of humanity. Tomoe and Nanami are a fun couple to watch as the latter starts to grow on the former. The side characters only help enhance the show, and the music is top-notch. What more could one ask for?
5 Toradora
Taiga Is One Of The Most Celebrated Tsunderes
Toradora!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2008 - 2009
- Directors
- Tatsuyuki Nagai
- Writers
- Mari Okada
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- J.C.Staff
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Yuyuko Takemiya
- Number of Episodes
- 25
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Tubi
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.05
Ryuuji and Taiga are both hanging out together to help each other get the love interest they desire. They start out not liking each other at all, but things inevitably change as they begin to know each other better.
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Ryuuji and Taiga are both misunderstood in a lot of ways, and Taiga’s violent personality can make her hard to root for, but she is, deep down, a sweetheart. The show has some comedic elements, and many fans find themselves rooting for these two former enemies to fall in love.
4 Romeo X Juliet
Shakespeare Brought To Life In Anime Form
Romeo X Juliet
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2007 - 2007-00-00
- Writers
- Reiko Yoshida
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Funimation, Hulu
Romeo and Juliet is one of William Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies, having been adapted across movies, television, novels, and comics. So, it should come as no surprise that it also has an anime adaptation. But, while a lot of it feels like the classic, there are quite a few differences too. For one, Juliet is far from a damsel in distress and is even something of a vigilante.
The romance element in this show is its strongest point, and Romeo and Juliet make a lot of sense as a couple. This might be a spoiler, but it shouldn’t be unexpected — the ending of the play is kept intact. Nonetheless, it is an excellent take on a classic story.
3 Masamune-kun's Revenge
An Anime Take On The ‘Makeover’ Trope
Masamune-kun's Revenge
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2017 - 2023-00-00
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Masamune is a short, pudgy kid who, despite his looks, asks out the reserved Aki Adagaki. After he gets brutally rejected and broken, he vows to have his revenge on the girl who rejected him. How? By becoming hot — and then rejecting her and breaking her heart.
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Masamune-kun is a run-of-the-mill anime, but it is also a good show to relax and enjoy without putting in too much effort. When Masamune and Aki meet again, they already don’t like each other. Aki’s secret desire is funny, and Masamune’s confidence in his looks lands him squarely in the narcissist protagonist pile. That said, it is still an entertaining time.
2 Nisekoi
The Original Enemies To Lovers Anime
Nisekoi: False Love
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 11, 2014
- Seasons
- 2
- Studio
- Shaft
- Japanese Title
- Nisekoi
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Naoshi Komi
- Number of Episodes
- 32
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.57 (Season 1)
Raku Ichijou is the sole heir to a yakuza empire, and he suddenly finds himself thrust into a situation he would rather have avoided — he must pretend to be in a relationship with Chitoge Kirisaki, and the two do not get along. But, for the sake of their families, they agree to go along with it.
Nisekoi is just over a decade old and is one of many harem anime that came out at the time. As something made by Studio Shaft, the visuals are stunning, and there are very cute moments in the story. As is typically the case of harem anime, there are a lot of compelling choices for Raku besides the main love interest.
1 A Silent Voice
The Story Of Redemption
A Silent Voice
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- September 17, 2016
- Runtime
- 130 Minutes
- Director
- Taichi Ishidate, Naoko Yamada
- Writers
- Yoshitoki Ôima, Reiko Yoshida
- Studio
- Kyoto Animation
- Based On
- Manga by Yoshitoki Ōima
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
Shoya is a popular kid in elementary school, but he is also a bully. He bullies a new student, Shoko, who is deaf, to the point where she transfers to another school. Soon, Shoya starts to get bullied himself, and he realizes the extend of the pain he'd caused. He reconnects with Shoko while in high school, and the two start to develop feelings for one another.
The enmity in A Silent Voice is a bit one-sided, as Shoko never really hated Shoya. The story is one about guilt, shame, and redemption. The characters are a joy to interact with, and the emotional roller-coaster most fans will experience when watching Shoya and his growth is remarkable. The romance feels complicated, but at the end, any watcher will be glad they saw A Silent Voice.
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