Summary
- Romance anime varies in themes from cute and innocent to dark and tragic, offering a wide range of emotional experiences.
- Shows like Clannad, Wotakoi, and Sakura Trick focus on gentle, drama-free relationships, perfect for fans seeking a simple love story.
- TONIKAWA stands out for its incredibly wholesome depiction of married life, showcasing the sweet progression of a relationship.
Romance anime comes in all sorts of flavors. The classic romantic comedy gives fans a nice balance of 'awws' and laughs. The more tragic romances pull at the heartstrings and leave viewers in tears. Then there are those shows that explore the darker side of love, diving into obsession and unhealthy relationships.
Dark Romance Anime All About Twisted Love
With sinister and gloomy atmospheres, along with relationships that are anything but healthy, these are some of the darkest romance anime ever.
Finally, there are romance anime that are just... Cute. There's very little overarching drama, and they feature two people who love each other. To no one's surprise, these anime also tend to overlap with the slice-of-life genre. These are perfect for fans who just want a simple romance story, free from love triangles, jealousy, or melodrama.
8 Clannad
Wholesome High School Romance Anime That Exudes 'Moe'
Clannad
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- October 5, 2007
- Studio
- Kyoto Animation
- Creator
- Key (Video Game)
- Number of Episodes
- 47
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
While the second season of Clannad, Clannad: After Story, is the series that receives most of the anime community's praise and attention, the first season is also worth watching for its sheer cuteness.
The cast of adorable characters, including the sweet and shy Nagisa Furukawa and the quirky, starfish-obsessed Fuko Ibuki, provide most of the anime's 'moe' factor. The romance between Tomoyo and Nagisa is incredibly chaste and innocent, and it gives a nice build-up to the events of Clannad: After Story.
7 Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
Drama-Free Romance Between Two Otaku Couples
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
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Who says cute romances have to be limited to high school? Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku is an office romance that follows the everyday lives of two otaku couples. Despite what one might infer from the premise, the anime is more than just an endless barrage of anime and video game references.
10 Best Romance Anime With No Love Triangles
Fans who are tired of retreading the old familiar love triangle cliches may want to give the following romance anime a shot.
Wotako i is a cozy, slice-of-life series, with almost no romantic tension or drama between the main characters. Even the belligerent relationship between Tarou and Hanako is mostly played for laughs, and it's made clear throughout that the two really do love each other.
6 Sakura Trick
Gentle And Innocent Love Between Two High School Girls
Sakura Trick
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No 'cutest romance anime' list is complete without at least one yuri/Girls' Love series. Sakura Trick is a slice-of-life anime that follows the growing romantic bond between two high school girls, Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sanada.
The entire anime screams 'moe', with its soft art style and the characters' adorable personalities. Haruka and Yuu's relationship is also depicted innocently, with lots of gentle kissing, hand-holding, and hugs, giving viewers a relaxing watch that's free from any serious drama.
5 My Love Story!!
A Sweet Romance Between A Gentle Giant And A Kind, Petite Girl
My Love Story!!
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- April 8, 2015
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Japanese Title
- Ore Monogatari!!
- Creator
- Kazune Kawahara
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
The cuteness factor of someone who loves another for just being a kind person instead of their physical appearance is undeniable. My Love Story!! Is about the unlikely romance between Takeo Gouda, a high school freshman with a hulking, intimidating appearance, and Rinko Yamato, a fellow high-schooler with a tiny build but a huge heart.
Both Takeo and Rinko are kind, affectionate individuals, which makes their relationship incredibly wholesome. Rinko is the only girl in Takeo's life who sees him as the gentle giant he is, leading to a deeper connection between the two and many sweet moments.
4 Kimi ni Todoke: From Me To You
An Adorable Portrayal Of Not Judging A Book By Its Cover
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You
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- October 6, 2009
- Studio
- Production I.G
- Japanese Title
- Kimi ni Todoke
- Creator
- Karuho Shiina
- Number of Episodes
- 43
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Netflix
The best couples bring out the best in each other. Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You follows a lonely, misunderstood girl named Sawako Kuronuma. Shunned by her classmates for her creepy appearance, her life takes a turn when the popular boy, Shota Kazehaya, starts to notice her.
Like My Love Story!!, the cuteness of Kimi ni Todoke comes from the fact that both the main characters are extremely kind and sweet, both to each other and other people. Shota helps Sawako come out of her shell and make friends, and watching their slow and steady romantic progression feels incredibly rewarding.
After a long wait, Kimi ni Todoke finally returned for a 5-episode third season in 2024.
3 Horimiya
An Endearing Dynamic Between Relatable Leads With Unexpected Depth To Their Personalities
Horimiya
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- January 10, 2021
- Studio
- CloverWorks
- Creator
- Hero
- Number of Episodes
- 26
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
Horimiya is an incredibly heartwearming slice-of-life anime about two high schoolers who have hidden sides outside of school. Kyouko Hori is the academically gifted popular girl who's secretly a homebody in charge of taking care of her younger brother, while Izumi Miyamura is the quiet, nerdy boy who's actually quite carefree and laidback off-school.
Horimiya's wholesomeness comes from Hori and Miyamura first discovering each other's double lives, leading to a special understanding between the two of them. Hori and Miyamura's relationship exemplifies 'gap moe' — the 'aww' feeling that arises when a character displays an unexpected or vulnerable side.
2 Tsuki ga Kirei
A Coming-of-Age Story With A Realistic Portrayal Of Young Love
- Release Date: April 6, 2017
- Director: Seiji Kishi
- Studio: Feel
- No. Of Episodes: 12
An easy way to add a dose of cuteness to a romance is to make both leads endearingly shy and awkward. Tsuki ga Kirei follows the tender romance between two middle-school students, aspiring writer Kotarou Azumi and track-and-field club member Akane Mizuno.
8 Anime Couples That Are Too Adorable Together
Few couples in anime series are as adorable as these pairs, famous for some of the best anime romance storylines.
Tsuki ga Kirei is an incredibly realistic portrayal of young love and emotions. Kotarou and Akane's insecurities are written exceptionally well, and their hesitations and nervousness when it comes to romance are adorable to watch. The relationship's pacing also feels true to life, and the anime avoids pointless drama for the most part.
1 TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You
An Incredibly Innocent Romance Between Newlyweds
TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You
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- October 3, 2020
- Studio
- Seven Arcs
- Japanese Title
- Tonikaku Kawaii
- Creator
- Kenjiro Hata
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
There are quite a few romance anime and manga about married couples where the marriage comes before the romance, but TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You stands out for just how wholesome it is. Despite Nasa and Tsukasa knowing each other for barely a day before getting married, their relationship progresses at a respectable pace after they tie the knot.
Of course, TONIKAWA is just as cute as its art style would suggest. The anime portrays the mundane life of a married couple in an incredibly endearing manner, and it's hard not to feel touched by Nasa and Tsukasa first holding hands or cooking together. It's no wonder that they would go on to win Best Couple at the 2021 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
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