In the expansive world of anime, many characters have found true love, in the realm of shojo anime and beyond. Everyone loves a good love story, and even action-oriented shonen and seinen series know how to deepen their characters with a spicy love story. Just look at Guts and Casca from Berserk, just to name one example. But will the lovers survive?
That might depend on the genre. Many classic shojo series are reluctant to kill off their characters, and the tension and drama come from the evolution of the central relationship. Still, there are some series where one of the lovers does die, and the survivor must find a way to overcome their grief and bid a fond farewell to their departed lover. Which anime couples are all the more compelling and tragic after someone perished?
10 Jonathan Joestar & Erina Pendleton, Happily Married Until Jonathan Made His Sacrifice (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Many works of fiction depict brave and noble characters sacrificing everything, including their very lives, for the sake of their family, their friends, or even innocent bystanders. A classic example is Jonathan Joestar when he faced his arch-nemesis Dio Brando one last time.
Jonathan thought he had won, but then Dio's severed head attacked, and Jonathan lay down his life to ensure that he and Dio's head both succumbed in that flaming, sinking ship. He was survived by his wife Erina, who bore his son George Joestar II. She also raised Lisa Lisa, a future major character.
9 Joichiro & Tamako Yukihira, Who Shared A Passion For Food (Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma)
Before the main events of this culinary anime, protagonist Soma Yukihira was part of a whole family of chefs, and he learned much from his parents and their passion for restaurant work. Joichiro Saiba (later Yukihira) was a wildly talented chef, and he once attended Totsuki.
His wife Tamako wasn't so great in the kitchen, but she loved food all the same, and this inspired her son Soma to cook out of love, not pride. Tragically, Tamako collapsed one day and died of a heart defect. Joichiro was heartbroken, but he never gave up on food. Tamako would want him to keep up the good work.
8 Byakuya & Hisana Kuchiki, Who Had A Forbidden Love (Bleach)
Captain Byakuya Kuchiki of squad 6 isn't just a Soul Reaper; he's also the head of the noble Kuchiki family, and the elders expected him to marry a high-class woman. But he didn't. Instead, Byakuya met an impoverished young woman named Hisana, and despite noble family law, married her.
Their love was genuine, but no doubt Byakuya was widely criticized for this move. Then, five years into the marriage, Hisana died of an illness, and her dying wish was for her husband to find her little sister, Rukia, and save her. Byakuya did just that.
7 Asuma Sarutobi & Kurenai Yuhi, Two Lovestruck Jonin (Naruto)
This particular romance was largely in the background, but it was definitely there, and Kakashi Hatake gently teased them about it once or twice. Asuma Sarutobi, who had the Third Hokage as a father, fell for Kurenai Yuhi, and they eventually conceived a child together.
However, both jonin knew the risks of their trade, and sure enough, they were tragically torn apart when Asuma lost his life fighting the villainous Akatsuki organization. Kurenai survived, though, and delivered a healthy baby. She and Shikamaru Nara will always remember Asuma and his heroic deeds, and he has a firm place in their hearts.
6 Meliodas & Elizabeth Liones, Immortal Lovers (The Seven Deadly Sins)
In the early episodes of this fantasy action series, it seemed that Meliodas and Elizabeth Liones were a charming but otherwise unremarkable couple. But there is far more to it than that. Centuries ago, Meliodas turned against the demon king, and Elizabeth was fighting as an archangel. Both sides of the holy war disapproved of their union.
So, Elizabeth was struck down and killed, then cursed to be reborn as a mortal human, then die and be reborn again and again. Meliodas' heart could hardly stand to see his lover return and die so many times, and now, he'll do anything to break this curse, even at the expense of everyone else.
5 Yu Hirose & Patricia Walker, Who Had A Secret Affair (Maid-Sama!)
The complete manga version of Maid-Sama! goes into much greater detail about this couple than the anime does, but anime fans can switch to the manga to get the complete story and see how Takumi Usui's parents met. Patricia Walker's husband was Edward, and they had a son named Gerald. But that's not all.
Patricia met a Japanese man named Yu Hirose and had a passionate affair with him, and their love-child was Takumi Walker. Patricia later died of illness, and Takumi was raised by the Usui family in Japan, hence becoming Takumi Usui. He later explained all this to his girlfriend, Misaki Ayuzawa, who could hardly believe her ears.
4 Van Hohenheim & Trisha Elric, A Mortal & A "Monster" (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Van Hohenheim is no ordinary man. He was once Slave #23 in the Xerxes city-state until the dwarf in the flask made him into an immortal, humanoid Philosopher's Stone. He saw himself as a tragic monster, but a certain Trish didn't feel that way. In fact, she loved him.
Hohenheim would outlive any human he ever met, but despite that, he married Trish, and they had two sons, Edward and Alphonse Elric. Hohenheim traveled often, and he was away when his wife caught a local illness and perished. Thus, Ed and Al resented Hohenheim for not being there when their mother died, and yes, Hohenheim feels bad about it, too.
3 Isshin & Masaki Kurosaki, Who Met During Mortal Combat (Bleach)
These two characters never appeared together in the anime, and they only briefly shared a few scenes during the manga's Thousand-Year Blood War arc. Still, their story is a fascinating one. An artificial Hollow named White went on a rampage, and Captain Isshin Shiba of squad 10 went after it. He didn't realize that a certain Quincy girl was in the area, too.
Isshin and Masaki fought White together, and then Isshin gave up his Soul Reaper powers to save Masaki's life under dire circumstances. They had a son and two daughters together, but one tragic day, a powerless Masaki perished at the hands of the monstrous Grand Fisher. Years later, Isshin avenged her.
2 Kyoko & Katsuya Honda, Who Loved Their Daughter Tohru More Than Anything (Fruits Basket)
This is another anime couple that appears mainly in flashbacks, instead of during the story's main events. Years ago, Tohru Honda's mother Kyoko was a wild child, a bitter delinquent who saw no future for herself. Then, she met a charming and kind man named Katsuya Honda, and they eventually fell in love.
The Hondas lived a quiet but comfortable life, and they took great pride in their young daughter, Tohru. Unfortunately, Katsuya died of illness, and this was a massive blow to Kyoko. Still, Kyoko persevered until years later, when a traffic accident ended her life. Now Tohru is an orphan, but she soldiers on, determined to live up to the legacy of both parents.
1 Soichiro & Sachiko Yagami, Who Faced Kira Together (Death Note)
Soichiro Yagami led the police in the investigation against Kira, and his entire family, mainly his wife Sachiko and his daughter Sayu, were deeply concerned that he might perish in the line of duty. Still, Sachiko was no quitter. It never once occurred to her to get a divorce or even live apart from her husband. She wouldn't dare give up on him.
Instead, Sachiko reaffirmed her faith and trust in her husband after Mello threatened the family, and Soichiro was deeply moved by his wife's courage and dedication. It was an inspiring moment, but all the same, Soichiro really did lose his life.