Summary
- Anime often focuses on young love, but mature romance stories with older protagonists are available, too.
- Shows like Nodame Cantabile, Wotakoi, and After The Rain depict romance beyond high school.
- Themes of moving on after grief, embracing weirdness, and second chances are explored in these shows.
Anime is one of Japan’s biggest exports and has grown in acceptance within the society itself. That said, most forms of anime still seek to appeal to a younger demographic. Therefore, a lot of the romance shows feature high schoolers experiencing first love.
10 Best Anime With Middle-aged Protagonists
These are some of the best anime with mature, middle-aged protagonists.
This means that finding a romance story geared more towards older audiences or featuring older protagonists isn’t very common, but there are some excellent examples where this has been done excellently. So, for those who seek a romance without the high school hijinks, there are several great options to choose from.
Updated February 10, 2025, by Famutimi Oluwafemi: While it can be pretty easy to find romance anime with a high school slant, shows featuring adult casts have become a lot more common. With some stellar examples from the 2024/2025 anime lineup, there are more shows than ever that will be relatable to older folk who like seeing their lives represented on screen.
14 The Girl Downstairs
An All Too Familiar Feeling Involving Romance
The Girl Downstairs
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2023 - 2024
- Studio
- Red Dog Culture House
- Based On
- Manhwa
- Creator
- Min Songa
- Number of Episodes
- 23
Chinese anime have become more and more common over the past decade with shows like Link Click and Heaven Official's Blessing really catching the fancy of fans. The Girl Downstairs is a Chinese anime adapted from a Korean webtoon of the same name and follows Lee Joon, a college student trying to navigate relationships with a former flame, former idol, and a new contender in this whole saga.
The Girl Downstairs is quite realistic in its portrayal of the feeling of liking someone and them not reciprocating, and the complexity of the modern relationship landscape. The addition of the former idol Lee Duna only goes to make things more spicy and with Joon trying to figure things out, this would be a great watch for lovers of more mature themes in their anime.
13 365 Days To The Wedding
A Typical Romantic Comedy With An Office Cast
365 Days to the Wedding
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024-00-00
- Studio
- Ashi Productions
- Japanese Title
- Kekkon suru tte, Hontou desu ka
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Tamiki Wakaki
- Number of Episodes
- 12
In terms of office romance shows, most people will always point to Wotakoi and what it did for the office romance genre. 365 Days To The Wedding has a similar sort of atmosphere but is a tad more on the slice-of-life side rather than comedy. Takuya and Rika plot a scheme in which they will escape being transferred by their office to Alaska by getting married.
The premise itself is nothing groundbreaking as most can tell exactly where it is going to end; however, the journey is entertaining. The idea of two introverts discovering stuff about one another as they head towards a sham wedding that might very well take place. It also has some decent side characters and is one of those shows that is easy to watch and enjoy.
12 I Have A Crush At Work
No One Can Find Out About Tateishi And Mitsuya's Romance
I Have a Crush at Work
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 6, 2025
- Studio
- Blade
- Japanese Title
- Kono Kaisha ni Suki na Hito ga Imasu
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Akamaru Enomoto
On the opposite side of things, I Have A Crush At Work is about characters who DO NOT want their relationship discovered by their co-workers as it would just make things awkward. In this 2025 show, the main characters, Tateishi from accounting and Mitsuya from planning are in a relationship and find it hard to keep their hands off each other, but no one in the office can find out.
The show is still ongoing, but one of its strongest suits is its more mature take on an office relationship, especially, the start of such a relationship, where keeping it a secret feels very exciting. It's a great romance without any fanservice, so it is simply a mature show about an incredibly cute couple figuring out their new relationship.
11 Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
Josee And Tsuneo's Story Is An Underrated Gem
|
Type |
Movie |
|
Aired |
2020 |
|
Studio |
Bones |
|
Source |
Novel |
|
Genre |
Romance, Drama |
Tsuneo is a university student with big dreams of traveling and studying marine life while Josee is a talented illustrator who is bound to wheelchair. Like A Silent Voice, this anime movie is beautiful to watch and piles up the melodrama in dollops. The two main characters, like in a lot of romance shows, initially don't get along but start to understand each other a little better as time goes on.
The romance between the two is really cute and the two help each other get past their limitations. Josee in particular was a very interesting character and it can be painful to see how she became a bitter person who felt there was nothing left of her dream. While this anime rendition of this story doesn't delve into some of the mature themes the movies have, it does depict a more mature romance and themes.
10 Nana
Nana Celebrates The Highs And Lows Of Adulthood
Nana
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2006 - 2007
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Ai Yazawa
- Number of Episodes
- 47
Nana is something of a classic romance story and features two characters that bear the same name; Nana Komatsu, and Nana Osaki. The former is a simple girl who dreams of love and settling down while the latter is a rocker who wants fame and recognition.
While the story is a romance, it is remarkable as it doesn't simply settle for the romantic aspect and also deals with themes of toxic friendships, the consequences of decisions, and the reality of growing up. The realism in the story grounds it pretty firmly in the world as it is today. It is an older series that might not have been seen by many due to its age, but it deserves a lot more attention.
9 Nodame Cantabile
A Mature Romance Between Two Geniuses
Nodame Cantabile
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- Release Date
- January 11, 2007
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- J.C.Staff
Genius comes in different forms, and so it is with the protagonists of this show, Noda Megumi and Chiaki Shinichi. The former is a slob who likes to play her music by ear with the freedom that enables her to express herself, while Chiaki is a talented maestro who is a stickler for the rules.
Nodame Cantabile is a classic case of opposites attract, and it really shines in the amazing musical score. The relationship troubles that Noda and Shinichi face are also very relatable, as the two struggle to fully accept one another.
8 Natsuyuki Rendezvous
Choosing Between Letting Go And Moving On
Natsuyuki Rendezvous
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- July 6, 2012
- Studio
- Doga Kobo
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Haruka Kawachi
- Number of Episodes
- 11
Grief is a subject that is sometimes tackled in anime. An example is Your Lie in April, where Arima had to contend with his mother’s death. In Natsuyuki Rendezvous, Shimao Rokka runs a flower shop and soon has Hazuki Ryousuke working with her. Hazuki is in love with Rokka, but there is only one problem: Her dead husband is still by her side as a ghost.
The anime does feature some comedy, as Hazuki is the only one who sees Rokka’s husband, and a lot ensues from this. The romance is a love triangle with a supernatural twist. On top of this, the mature themes of moving on after death and growing up to become a person with a direction really lend a greater stature to the story.
7 I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying
Short, Sweet, And Relatable
I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2014 - 2015-00-00
- Network
- Teletama
- Seasons
- 2
Kaoru is a workaholic career woman while her husband, Hajime, is a hardcore otaku who left the traditional workplace to make a living off his blog. The show centers on Kaoru and how she navigates life with a husband who has hobbies that she doesn’t understand.
10 Amazing Short-Episode Anime
Anime fans who don't want to commit to a long series can settle down with these short adventures.
Each episode of the show is just about 3 minutes, which makes it an easy watch - and while the content is wholesome, it also tackles some prevalent themes like loneliness, the troubles connected with preparing to have a kid, and connecting with a partner.
6 Sing 'Yesterday' For Me
The Desire To Move Forward
Sing "Yesterday" For Me
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 5, 2020
- Studio
- Doga Kobo
- Japanese Title
- Yesterday wo Utatte
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Kei Toume
- Number of Episodes
- 12
Sing "Yesterday" For Me came out in 2020, and it flew under the radar a bit for that season. Part of the problem was that, for those who watched it, they were split. Everyone agrees that it's a great show, but some were less than pleased with how it ended.
The story follows Uozumi, a convenience store clerk who is feeling stuck in life. An encounter with an old flame makes him want to rekindle their relationship, but things get complicated. Regardless of its ending, this show portrays some of the anxieties of adulthood really well as the characters look to go beyond their comfort zones.
5 Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
An Endearing Office Romance
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
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 endNarumi starts at a new job determined to hide the fact that she is an otaku, only to meet an old friend, Hirotaka, also an otaku. The two start dating and have to figure out how to navigate romance being the types of people they are.
14 Best Romance Anime Set In Workplaces
Even in formal workplaces, love still finds a way to flourish. Here are the top anime to watch if you love the workplace romance trope.
Wotakoi at heart, is all about embracing one’s weirdness. In a society like Japan’s, which is not always so welcoming to people with otaku interests, finding someone who loves the same things is always welcome. The anime also features some cool side characters, which ramps up the romance and adds some much-needed humor.