While anime often focused on fantastical battles where characters trade superpowers, there are intimate series that examine matters of the heart. Romance anime has become a popular genre and there are some extremely emotional stories that have played out in some of the bigger series.
New and modern anime series have gotten ambitious in certain areas and it’s resulted in a number of romance anime that feel like they want to transform the genre rather than fulfill old tropes. 2020 introduced audiences to some new anime series that make wonderful additions to the genre.
10 Mr Love: Queen's Choice Presents A Handful Of Prince Charmings (6.12)
It shouldn't come as a major surprise that Mr Love: Queen's Choice is based on a visual novel mobile game since its plot revolves around a blank slate of a heroine that has a handful of different men to sift through to bet her suitor. Queen's Choice is set in a nebulous fantasy world where the men all possess special powers and important secrets, which makes the courtship even more exciting. Queen's Choice is lacking when it comes to plot, but MAPPA's animation work is impeccable and there's chemistry right from the start.
9 In/Spectre Mixes Supernatural Missions With A Budding Romance (6.98)
In/Spectre feels like the heightened anime version of The Gift of the Magi. Kotoko sacrifices her right eye and left leg in order to become a trusted mediator and link between both the Human and Spirit Worlds. Kotoko teams up with Kurou and the pair try to right supernatural wrongs and make sure there's as little bleed over as possible between the Spirit and Human Worlds. Kotoko and Kurou’s growing relationship as they carry out their work is fantastic, but the situation becomes more complex as Kurou's ex, Saki, also works her way into their lives and spirit business.
8 Sing "Yesterday" For Me Shows That Sometimes An Old Story Isn’t Over (7.06)
Romance and the slice of life genres often go hand-in-hand, but it's not always an easy balance to pull off. Characters feel real and connect, but the story can come across as inconsequential if there's not enough of a narrative drive. Sing "Yesterday" For Me is a very special kind of series where Rikuo Uozumi finds himself in a rut and lacking motivation.
His ex-girlfriend, Rikuo, unexpectedly re-enters his life and he finds himself energized for the first time in ages. The back and forth between Rikuo and Haru is so soothing and the anime's patient nature is an asset.
7 Science Fell In Love, So I Tried To Prove It Breaks Love Down To Formulae (7.36)
Science Fell In Love, So I Tried To Prove It is just as hilarious as it is romantic. There’s a very simple premise in play, but it yields infinitely satisfying results. Two staunch scientists who find matters of the heart completely foreign try to break romance down to a repeatable scientific equation that they apply on one another. It’s highly entertaining to watch emotions overrun these two and for them to respond with dry mathematics, but a sweet love slowly grows between the inquisitive minds.
6 Rent-A-Girlfriend Finds Love In The Ugly Truth (7.38)
Those that are fans of convoluted '90s rom-coms should instantly connect with Rent-A-Girlfriend. There's a cheesy premise that kicks off the series where discouraged and recently single Kazuya decides to cope with his negativity by renting a girlfriend. The experience doesn't go as Kazuya plans, but when he calls out his rented suitor, Chizuru, he finds himself fascinated by who she really is. Rent-A-Girlfriend's direction is telegraphed early on, but that doesn't make this romance any less enjoyable. It’s proof that fun characters and infectious chemistry are enough to overcome a weak plot.
5 My Next Life As A Villainess Shows That Even Villains Deserve Happiness (7.50)
There's been an ongoing conversation between anime and video games for years and more modern anime series creatively reinvent gaming tropes. My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! touches on familiar principles, but in a deliciously meta manner.
Catarina discovers that she's been reincarnated as a character in a fantasy video game, only her villainess character is typically reserved to an empty existence because the hero chooses someone else. Catarina becomes determined to change this narrative and prove that an alleged villainess can get a happy ending.
4 Given Allows A Tender Friendship To Blossom Into More (7.64)
Given explores such sensitive territory that it's hard to not be moved by it. Ritsuka and Mafuyu are two teenage boys that bond through their communal love for music and the guitar. Ritsuka and Mafuyu grow closer together and learn that their interests in each other extend beyond music.
It's a challenging journey for them both, but it reflects such an honest love. Given is technically an anime film, but it acts as the sequel to the first season of Given, which came out the year before. It's a worthy addition and the movie continues on the anime's story.
3 My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax Confronts Years Of Emotions (8.48)
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax is the anime’s third season and it’s at this point that the series really forces its characters to confront their emotions and make some important decisions. Curiously, the My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU anime plays with a stereotypical opposites attract narrative that’s set within a high school. There’s nothing especially ambitious or unique about the series, but its attention to characterization and plotting makes these individuals feel like real people.
2 Season 2 Of Fruits Basket Brings Tohru Deeper Into The Sohma Clan (8.55)
Fruits Basket was considered one of the most beloved romance series back when it was a manga and the first attempt to adapt it into an anime ended up shortchanging it of its nuance. The recent reboot of Fruits Basket has been a stunning adaptation that hasn’t left out any of the pivotal events from Tohru Honda’s time with the cursed, but lovable, Sohma family. Season two tests Tohru’s bonds with the Sohmas to an even greater degree, especially when it comes to Akito, who’s determined to make matters miserable for Tohru.
1 Season 2 Of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Turns Romance Into A Battlefield (8.76)
Much like how Kaguya-sama: Love is War's title demonstrates, romantic endeavors can be just as exciting as any battle. Love is War focuses on two extremely strong-willed and manipulative individuals, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane, who break romance down to a grueling chess match of subterfuge.
Season two of the series pushes their twisted arrangement to new places and acts as a strong reminder of why Kaguya and Miyuki are one of the best anime couples to come along in years. This metaphorical war begins with ulterior motives, but there's such an earnest respect and admiration between Kaguya and Miyuki.