Throughout the decades worth of anime, there have been many kinds of romances. Some you can see coming from a mile away, while others change course midway through the plot for the most ridiculous of reasons. And with Valentine's Day around the corner, the excitement to re-examine these sorts of pairings seems beyond appropriate.
Whether they were never (in canon) together, or you wish they had crossed the path to romantic bliss, these couples never really made it to the finish line - though they totally should have. So grab your nearest box of tissues, and let's explore 10 Anime Couples That Were Perfect Together But Never Happened.
10 Tai Kamiya x Sora Takenouchi from Digimon Adventure
Right from the beginning of the original 90's anime (whether you watched the sub or the dub), it was clear that Digimon's Tai Kamiya and Sora Takenouchi had signature magic that only young love could provide.
They both have passionate personalities that allow them to help save the day, and fate just kept pushing them in the same digital directions. But according to canon, Sora eventually ended up with Matt, leaving many of the Tai and Sora supporters saddened by the results. Deep down, the fandom and world know how this romance should have gone.
9 D x Leila Marcus from Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
These two crossed paths while on the job. Leila was part of a bounty-hunting gang, while he was a half-vampire/half-human. Sure, their relationship might have not been conventional, but it was the deep emotional connection between D and Leila Marcus that made their bond so thrilling to witness.
And though (due to D's lifestyle) these flawed individuals never went down the romantic road, it is clear they left a mark on each other's life - especially when D fulfills a promise between him and Leila decades later.
8 Tasuki x Miaka Yuki from Fushigi Yuugi
Though she might have been the Priestess of Suzaku, Miaka Yuki needed a fiery personality to keep her on her toes. That's why the snarky yet adorable Tasuki (in the eyes of many fans) was her perfect match.
He was the most realistic of her potential Suzaku suiters, and was always there for Miaka, even if he often disagreed with her decisions. And though there was an uncomfortable instance when this pairing sorta came true (via the OVA series), fans still wish for the day this non-existent romance could blossom in a more natural (much less creepy) way.
7 Umi Ryuuzaki x Guru Clef from Magic Knight Rayearth
He was (depending on which version you watched) a short master mage with striking purple locks. She was a blue-haired school girl who became a legendary warrior. But when these two got a case of the feely-feels, their relationship turned into one of the sweetest bits within the Rayearth franchise.
Umi Ryuuzaki and Guru Clef matched wits, cared for one another, and had the kind of innocent sentimentality only thought of in fairy tales. But sadly, since they came from very different worlds, fate separated them apart, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.
6 George x Yukari Hayasaka from Paradise Kiss
Perhaps one was more stylish than the other, but there was definitely genuine magic that ignited George and Yukari Hayasaka's romantic possibilities. One was elegant and cold, while the other was focused on her studies and couldn't see the beauty that others saw in her.
But when together, they brought out the best in each other - forcing the other to break from their social and emotional barriers. It's a shame that they couldn't work out their differences, but the impact their brief fling had on one another will never be forgotten.
5 Hitomi Kanzaki x Allen Schezar from The Vision of Escaflowne
From the moment they met, it was clear that Hitomi Kanzaki and Allen Schezar perhaps needed each other (in that Outlander sort of way.) She was a girl lost in a new world, looking for something familiar. And when she stumbled across the fantasy version of her high school crush, the puzzle pieces seemed to all be coming together.
But these two were never meant to live happily ever after. Sure, their initial chemistry was off the charts, but as it became quite obvious, destiny had another (much more royal) trick up its sleeve for these two.
4 Utena Tenjou x Anthy Himemiya in Revolutionary Girl Utena (Series)
Though these two do get together in the movie adaptation, Utena Tenjou and Anthy Himemiya's relationship within the anime series is definitely more of a "will they/won't they" scenario. Right from the moment the pink-haired "prince" rescues the Rose Bride from the student council, their bond was impossible to ignore.
Utena was the perfect selfless force to protect Anthy, while Anthy was the warm energy Utena needed in her life. But sadly, the series ends on a note of mystery - the kind that perhaps is hopeful towards their eventual romance, but leaves more questions than answers.
3 Chibiusa x Perle from Sailor Moon Super S: The Movie
Though many will have wished that Chibiusa could have eventually gotten with her horse prince boyfriend, it is the short spark she shared with Perle that is clearly the best relationship she has within the Sailor Moon anime franchise.
With a bond over being a part of magical families and sharing a fascination with the simple delights in life, their chemistry is the definition of pure. But sadly, Perle had to go back to his world to protect other kid's dreams, making fans crave more mushy adventures with this future moon princess and fairy boy.
2 Misty x Ash from Pokemon
If there ever was an award for the most frustrating potential couple, it would go to Misty and Ash from the original Pokémon series. From famous sequences of bully style flirting to a catchy pop song on the Pokémon 2.B.A. Master album, it was always clear that these two had an electric bit of chemistry stronger than anything coming from Pikachu.
Sure, Ash was infamously oblivious to Misty's developing feelings, but the fandom knew it and some are still crying for it decades later. Come on, Ash - stop looking at your Pokedex and see what's right in front of you!
1 Duo Maxwell x Heero Yuy from Gundam Wing
There have been famous "couples" throughout fandom - Kirk and Spock, Holmes and Watson, and of course, Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy from Gundam Wing. With multiple iconic moments of emotional intensity between them, there has always been some chemistry amongst these two pilots.
Whether it was between the lines (or the cels) fans knew their relationship was never "canon", but Duo and Heero's possibilities could never be denied. Maybe their romance wouldn't have been exactly Gundam lore logical, but this "love" will live on in fandom hearts forever and a day.