The 2000s was a time where a lot of love was in the air. The 90s were over and with it, the magical girl series and lighthearted shows. From the vampire boom of Twilight and Vampire Knight and popular shoujo such as From Me To You and My Little Monster, there was an abundance of new couples to stan.
However, that does not mean all of these couples were as beloved as others. Some made fans swoon, and some that made others want to grab the nearest trash can. Here are the five best and worst anime couples of the 2000s. Be aware of spoilers throughout the article.
10 WORST: Amu Hinamori & Ikuto Tsukuyomi (Shugo Chara!)
It is not hard to want to cheer on Amu in her search for finding love, especially after the one Tadase Hotori, her crush, loves turns out to be nothing but her alter ego, Amulet Heart. Compared to Tadase, Ikuto was the one who truly accepted Amu for who she was despite being an anti-hero throughout the series.
However, most who cheer them on forget one crucial factor: Amu is 11-years-old while Ikuto is 15-years-old. Sure, it would not be odd if they were both adults and were dating, but the depicted manner of their relationship does more than just raise an eyebrow.
9 BEST: Misaki Ayuzawa & Takumi Usui (Kaichou Wa Maid-sama!)
Misaki and Takumi's relationship was a hot topic during the mid-2000s for being cute and, at the same time, stable for a shoujo. For one, Misaki was a strong female lead where there were barely any in the spotlight while Takumi chased after her at first, whereas it was usually the opposite during this time.
Misaki may have been headstrong and stubborn, but Takumi respected her personality and even fell in love with her because of this. Although it took some time, they both began to see eye-to-eye and fell in love with each other.
8 WORST: Yuki Cross & Kaname Kuran (Vampire Knight)
Yuki may have the memory of being saved by Kaname when she was a small girl, but that does not mean she must love him. For one, it is revealed after a few chapters that Yuki and Kaname's relationship runs deeper than a simple crush on Yuki's part and overprotectiveness of Kaname's.
It turns out that on top of being Kaname's descendant, she is also his so-called sister. Despite this, the love triangle of this series ceased. Yuki picked both Zero and Kaname and gave birth to daughters from both of them.
7 BEST: Shinichi Chiaki & Megumi Noda (Nodame Cantabile)
Shinichi Chiaki and Megumi Noda, who is more well-known by the nickname Nodame, have quite the unique relationship. While Shinichi at first thought of Nodame as nothing but a nuisance who had a great talent for playing the piano, Nodame loved him for a while and kept chasing after him.
While they are dating, they are not a couple who are lovey-dovey, often taking a serious approach to their relationship. However, they do love and worry for each other, so they round each other well with the pieces they lack.
6 WORST: Sakura Haruno & Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto)
It is no wonder why Sakura and Sasuke are on this list, as they are frequently referred to in shounen anime as one of the worst couples is shounen anime history. While they are not the worst, the attitude Sasuke takes with Sakura is more abusive than kind. Throughout the series, while Sasuke has shown care toward her, he has done more harm than good.
He even almost killed her for being annoying. Putting it all aside however, they did end up getting married and have a daughter, Sarada, so perhaps they worked out their differences.
5 BEST: Sakura Kinomoto & Syaoran Li (Cardcaptor Sakura)
Sakura Kinomoto and Syaoran Li began as enemies in capturing the lost Clow Cards, but somewhere along the way, Syaoran started to fall in love with Sakura. These two are the definition of a sugary-sweet anime couple.
Since they were both when they fell in love, they both do not know how to act around each other. However, the care and love they show by doing sweet things such as eating together and even working to catch the newly released Clear Cards, is satisfying to watch.
4 WORST: Makoto Itou & Basically Everyone (School Days)
School Days is deemed the worst anime of all time, although it should be considered to the worst love triangle of all time for everything that happened between the main characters. While Makoto Itou said he wanted to go out with Kotonoha Katsura and got his wish, Sekai offered herself as "practice" for when he does the do with his girlfriend.
It turns out Makoto did the do with everyone besides Kotonoha, mostly Sekai, and died because of all of his cheating. In the end, it left Kotonoha broken as well as the only one who did not get his love.
3 BEST: Kraft Lawrence & Holo (Spice And Wolf)
While the witty banter between Kraft Lawrence, mostly called Lawrence, and Holo is one of the critical points of the anime, it is also a delightful part of their relationship. Lawrence and Holo are a couple who know how to treat each other.
Despite Holo's wisdom, Lawrence knows well how lonely she is as she wishes to return to Yoitsu. They both compliment each other well in that they know each other better than themselves.
2 WORST: Light Yagami & Misa Amane (Death Note)
Light Yagami is one of the best and worst anti-heroes of an anime, but you cannot help but love and hate him at the same time. When it comes down to his treatment of Misa Amane, however, you have to hate him.
Although Misa loves him because "Kira" killed the person who murdered her family, Light regards Misa as nothing than a pawn, and that is what Misa is shown as throughout the series: a pawn who loves a tragic character named Light.
1 BEST: Tomoya Okazaki & Nagisa Furukawa (Clannad)
Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa were no doubt the most spoken about couple in harem anime during the time this series was released. While Clannad was indeed a harem anime, Clannad: After Story showed that Tomoya and Nagisa were married.
Though most of the memories of this couple are filled with sadness, there was definite happiness that made them a joy to watch grow together.