18 of the Best Romance Anime to Watch When You Feel Like Swooning
Get ready to believe in love with these romantic movies and TV shows.
When it comes to anime, aka Japanese animation, there's no limit to the different types of genres and storylines that are created, and romance is a huge category in the anime world. From rom-com TV series like Romantic Killer to whimsical movies like A Whisker Away, there's truly something for everyone when it comes to anime.
Are you looking for a sci-fi romance between a human and an android? Check out Plastic Memories. What about a series with a strong LGBT storyline? Adachi and Shimamura is a great show to start with, as well as Yuri!!! On Ice. The beauty of anime is *Lindsay Lohan voice* the limit does not exist; you'll never run out of anime to watch, whether it's on Netflix, Hulu, or even Crunchyroll, which is a streaming service for anime fans.
So, if you're a die-hard anime stan and are looking for your next obsession, or a newbie wanting to find a fun series or movie to break into the medium with, check our list of the best anime romances you can stream right now.
Tomo-chan Is a Girl! (2023)
If you've ever been "one of the guys" but later develop feelings for one of your guy friends, then this is the TV show for you.
Tomo is crushing on Junichiro, but he doesn't seem to see her as more than a friend. Can Tomo get herself out of the friend zone?
Adachi and Shimamura (2020)
This TV series puts an LGBT love story front and center with BFFs Adachi and Shimamura, who soon realize their friendship is turning into something more.
A Whisker Away (2020)
Miro turns herself into a cat to get closer to her crush, Kento. However, she ends up trapped in her cat body and is unable to transform back into a human.
Yuri!!! On Ice (2016)
In this mini-series, Yuri vows to give up figure skating after losing a major competition. However, when his skating idol, Victor, offers to train him for the next Grand Prix, Yuri puts his skates back on. During their training, the two men begin to fall in love.
Romantic Killer (2022)
Teen Anzu loves being single and living her best life... until a magical creature turns her existence into some kind of rom-com. Now, Anzu has to see this new situation through if she has any hope of getting returned to her real life.
Your Lie in April (2014-2018)
After his mother dies, music prodigy Kousei suffers a mental breakdown and loses his ability to play the piano. With the help of a girl named Kaori, Kousei learns how to live life to the fullest again.
Toradora! (2008-2009)
Ryuji is a nice guy who looks mean, while Taiga is a tough girl but doesn't look it. Together, they form an unlikely friendship and help with each other's love life.
Fruits Basket (2019-2021)
Orphan Tohru goes to live with the Somas — a family whose members each turn into an animal from the Chinese zodiac in times of stress, weakness, or when they're embraced by someone of the opposite sex who isn't possessed by a zodiac spirit.
As Tohru gets to know her new roommates, she looks for ways to end the family's curse.
Plastic Memories (2015)
In this sci-fi series, humans and androids (which look like humans) live harmoniously. However, some of the machines have gone rogue, and it's up to Tsukasa, a human, and Isla, an android, to hunt them down. Eventually, they begin to develop feelings for each other.
ItaKiss (2008)
Also titled Mischievous Kiss, this rom-com series follows a girl named Kotoko who is head over heels in ~love~ with Naoki. Unfortunately, Naoki doesn't feel the same way about Kotoko.
Fate eventually intervenes thanks to an earthquake. Suddenly without a home, Kotoko and her father go and live with her father's childhood friend — Naoki's dad. Now, Kotoko and Naoki are living under the same roof. Awkward.
Bubble (2022)
In this movie, Tokyo is cut off from the rest of the world by giant bubbles that defy gravity. The people still living in the city hold parkour tournaments to trade supplies.
When Hibiki, who is gifted at parkour, accidentally falls into the ocean, the bubbles mixed with his last exhale and create a girl. Calling her Uta, Hibiki and his newfound friend begin to practice parkour together. But, how long can Uta last as a human made from bubbles?
Sing "Yesterday" For Me (2020)
College graduate Rikuo lacks ambition and resigns himself to live a dull life. However, that changes when he begins meeting new people who may turn into romances.
Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)
Utena participates in a sword dueling tournament to win the hand of the "Rose Bride," a girl who supposedly harnesses the power to transform the world.
Your Name.
Two teens who have never met suddenly swap bodies and must now live as the other person. Will they be able to switch back, or are they stuck like this forever?
Bloom Into You (2018)
High schoolers Yuu and Touko have zero interest in relationships — that is, until Touko begins catching feelings for Yuu.
Weathering With You (2019)
A teenage runaway meets a mysterious girl who can control the weather.
Castle in the Sky (1986)
While the romance aspect isn't nearly as obvious in this anime, compared to others on this list, it's still a classic Hayao Miyazaki movie that deserves your attention.
After her kidnapper's plane is attacked by pirates, orphan Sheeta is able to escape. She meets Pazu, a fellow orphan, and together the two of them embark on a journey to uncover the mystery of a floating island in the sky.
Violet Evergarden (2018)
This 13-episode series is about Violet, a former soldier who gets a job as a ghostwriter penning letters for clients.
Stacey Grant is a senior editor at Seventeen who runs the brand's Snapchat Discover channel. She also covers entertainment topics specializing in nostalgia, such as classic '90s and '00s Disney Channel and Nickelodeon content.
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