Like mainstream film and television, Japanese anime also has much to offer in terms of the prevailing media genre, romance. The discussion of themes of love, heartbreak, and moving on can also be beautifully portrayed in anime. Even though typical anime character tropes are stereotypically written, anime fans still love them because of the unique storylines and the personalities of these anime characters.
If you are on a mission to redeem yourself for not having a date this Heart’s Day, do so by binge-watching these romance anime series and falling in love with 2D characters!
1. Blue Spring Ride
Set in high school, “Ao Haru Ride” or “Blue Spring Ride” was released in 2014 and is an anime crowd-favorite. The show tells the story of Futaba and Kou, who are childhood friends. Even before love blossomed between the two of them, they were separated as Kou moved to another city with his family. Years later, they meet again in high school, and Futaba is set on getting to know the new Kou and understanding what changed in him.
Even though the anime received mixed reviews, “Ao Haru Ride” is a good recommendation for new anime watchers who are interested in dipping their toes in the anime world. The interaction and fan service of Futaba and Kou are what set it apart as a feel-good anime romance show. The characters are also charmingly written and drawn, which is loved by its avid audience.
2. My Love Story With Yamada-kun at Lvl 999
Released in 2023, “Loving Yamada at Lvl 999” is one of the newest romance anime shows that might be an addition to your new batch of favorite shows! Although this anime show consists of 13 episodes, its plot, characters, and art style will make you yearn for more episodes. In the anime, after Akane gets her heart broken by her gamer boyfriend (now ex), she continues to play the online game her ex loves to play. Through that same game, she then meets Yamada, a boy younger than her who is also a gamer.
A lot of its viewers adore Yamada’s character. Even though he appears as a cold and nonchalant boy to Akane in the beginning, avid watchers find Yamada’s art style attractive. Additionally, the anime show is more character-driven than plot-driven. With such a simple storyline, its loving characters made the show appear realistic and fresh to the eyes of the viewers.
3. Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
Another subgenre popular in the realm of anime is those set in an office setting, and “Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku” is simply one of the anime shows that is groundbreaking in this section! Released in 2018, the show tells the story of Narumi and Momose, who knew each other back in middle school. Now that they are already part of the corporate world, they meet again as officemates. Narumi’s interests are consuming yaoi or boys’ love stories, while Momose takes a liking to online games, making them both otaku.
Like “Loving Yamada at Lvl 999,” “Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku” is another light, fun, and wholesome anime show. Its viewers see the show as a fresh and comforting take on the office-setting genre, as its characters’ interests are aligned with those of the younger generation. The anime show has interesting and playful characters, which makes the storyline relatable to its viewers.
These short but sweet anime shows are definitely a heart-fluttering experience to watch, especially if consuming romance literature is your thing. If ever you feel like watching more, don’t limit yourself to watching only those with one season or a few episodes, as there are other shows out there that are as good as those on this list.
