Love triangle anime series can be a lot of fun to watch, whether the triangle is the story's central focus or just one phase of the narrative. Plenty of anime series feel much more emotionally resonant and the characters are more sympathetic when true love becomes a battle that must be won. Love is never easy, especially when there's someone else competing for the same heart.

The best love triangle anime series tend to be romances where this kind of personal competition drives the entire plot. During a three-way romantic feud, the characters will be challenged to become better versions of themselves and figure out what true love really means to them. Sometimes, that is done for comedy's sake, and other times, some serious drama and heartbreak may follow the love triangle's resolution.

Updated by Louis Kemner on December 17, 2023: This list has been updated with five more examples of love triangle anime that keep everyone on their toes with intense romantic battles and drama.

25 Berserk: Guts x Casca x Griffith

More About This Love Triangle:

• Griffith never returned Casca's feelings of adoration
• This love triangle mainly took place in the Golden Age
• Guts and Casca bonded over their mutual experiences with scars

The famed Berserk seinen manga/anime franchise may have a lot of brutal combat scenes and horror elements, but surprisingly, it also has a strong shojo/style emotional core. Berserk isn't violence for its own sake — its protagonists have strong personal reasons to fight and survive.

Casca is a heroic and noble swordswoman who loves Griffith for recruiting/saving her, but Griffith doesn't return those feelings. Instead, Guts and Casca become lovers, and Griffith feels left out. Interestingly, Griffith has strong feelings for Guts rather than Casca, and that makes them a complicated trio to watch in action throughout Berserk's run. It's a love triangle anime unlike any other, with medieval war, blood and guts, horror, true love, and destiny all intertwined.

24 Oshi no Ko: Aqua Hoshino x Kana Arima x Akane Kurokawa

More About This Love Triangle:

• Akane isn't brave enough to stand up to Kana yet
• Mem-Cho strongly suspects this triangle's existence
• Aqua isn't in love with either girl yet in the anime
• The love triangle may overlap with the Tokyo Blade play

The idol anime series Oshi no Ko is many things at once: a dark drama, a partial isekai story, and certainly a love triangle anime. Protagonist Aqua Hoshino was once a full-grown doctor, but now he's a boy in his mid-teens who has become very special to not one but two girls his age.

The energetic tsundere Kana Arima may tease Aqua, but she can't help feeling attached to him, especially after he lifted her spirits with his Pieyon disguise. Meanwhile, Akane Kurokawa is deeply grateful that Aqua saved her life during her darkest moment, and she will do anything to win his heart, even mimic the late Ai Hoshino.

23 Bleach: Ichigo Kurosaki x Orihime Inoue x Rukia Kuchiki

More About This Love Triangle:

• Bleach's fans ship Ichigo with Rukia because of their strong on-screen chemistry
• Fans detest Orihime because she's a threat to the IchiRuki pairing
• Other fans say the final IchiHime and RukiRenji pairings are the best

Even if Bleach is not a romance anime, it's still a love triangle anime in the eyes of shippers everywhere. Protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki had to choose between his charming classmate Orihime Inoue and the strong tsundere Rukia Kuchiki, and many Bleach fans contend that Ichigo chose wrongly.

In Bleach's story, this love triangle causes a few bouts of heartache and drama until it is resolved, with Ichigo marrying Orihime and Rukia marrying her childhood friend Renji Abarai. There were good in-universe reasons for that arrangement, but fans still cite Ichigo/Rukia as the "true" pairing and the best part of this franchise.

22 Kaguya-Sama: Yu Ishigami x Miko Iino x Tsubame Koyasu

An intense anime love triangle eventually took root in the Kaguya-Sama: Love is War series. While the story's main focus is on Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane, the anime made sure to give the dandere boy Yu Ishigami an interesting love life, too, even if he didn't intend to have one.

Yu Ishigami had eyes for the delightful and energetic Tsubame Koyasu, who inspired him with her radiant personality and willingness to help others. Meanwhile, Yu didn't realize that the tsundere Miko Iino was interested in him, and she had a tough time expressing those feelings of hers. At least she had her friend Kobachi to provide moral support.

21 My Hero Academia: Izuku Midoriya x Ochaco Uraraka x Himiko Toga

More About This Love Triangle:

• Izuku and Ochaco are both too shy to admit their mutual affection
• Ochaco was in denial that she and Himiko were similar
• Himiko loves Ochaco just as much she loves Izuku

My Hero Academia's main anime love triangle concerns Izuku Midoriya/Deku and two memorable girls who only have one thing in common — their strong desire to be more like him. Ochaco Uraraka is a kind and selfless hero in training, while Himiko Toga is a twisted yandere criminal, but they do understand each other on a deep level.

Ochaco and Himiko have had a few emotionally charged fights where they blend their personal feelings with their opposing desires to win the heroes vs villains war. All that revealed a lot about what these girls think of themselves, Izuku, and each other while also suggesting that heroes and villains might not be so different after all.

20 School Rumble: Kenji Harima x Ouji Karasuma x Tenma Tsukamoto

High school is a breeding ground for love triangles. Sometimes, it starts with a pair of people, like Kenji Harima and Tenma Tsukamoto, protagonists in the romantic comedy School Rumble. While they truly adore each other, they can't admit it.

Then, as they move to the next year of school, a new element is added: Ouji Karasuma. Where Kenji is a delinquent, Ouji is as straight-laced as they come. Still, he finds something amazingly wonderful about Tenma. However, he also has an issue letting his true intentions be known.

19 Honey and Clover: Shinobu Morita x Hagumi Hanamoto x Yuuta Takemoto

Sometimes, a love triangle becomes a love square. This is when a fourth person starts to have feelings for the pair attracted to the single person. Though symmetrical, it causes even more confusion.

Such is the case in Honey and Clover. A pair of art college students, Shinobu Morita and Yuuta Takemoto, fall for Yuuta Takemoto. There are two further complications besides the love triangle. First, Shinobu and Yuuta are roommates. Second, her friend, Ayumi, begins to fall for one of the young men.

18 Voltron: Legendary Defender: Keith x Lance x Princess Allura

In the early seasons of Netflix's Voltron: Legendary Defender, it seemed something was going on between Keith, Lance, and Princess Allura. However, it wasn't as obvious as other love triangles. While Lance was truly engaged in impressing Allura, the romance between her and Keith was more subdued.

The triangle was broken in season eight of the series. Allura finally succumbs to Lance's intentions and starts a romance with him. In the end, this is good news. The somewhat immature Lance becomes more caring and protective during this period.

17 Ef: A Tale of Memories: Kei Shindou x Hiro Hirono x Miyako Miyamura

A prime component of love triangles tends to be the interest of one childhood friend for another. Since the latter doesn't realize the former is infatuated with them, they turn to another person. This is the concept behind Ef: A Tale of Memories.

The childhood friends are Kei Shindou and Hiro Hirono. On Christmas Eve, Hiro lets Miyako Miyamura borrow his bike to stop a purse thief. When he discovers the bike destroyed and Miyako unconscious, the young man brings the girl to his home. This is where a romance starts to bloom, and Kei's jealousy emerges.

16 Golden Time: Kouko Kaga x Banri Tada x Nana Hayashida

Amnesia is both a boon and a curse for Golden Time's protagonist, Banri Tada. The bad news is he forgot everything about his previous life. The good news is he can start anew. He does this by enrolling in law school, making this one of the few good college anime series out there.

One of his classmates, Kouko Kaga, begins to fall for him. However, as Banri's life starts to gel, in steps Nana Hayashida, a former childhood friend and romantic partner. Though he thinks repressed feelings are returning, Banri isn't sure if they are real or not.

15 White Album 2: Setsuna Ogiso x Haruki Kitahara x Kazusa Touma

This love triangle begins as messy as it started. Setsuna Ogiso asks out Haruki Kitahara firstー before Kazusa Touma has the chance to tell him about her feelings. In addition to this, Haruki is interested in Kazusa but begins to date Setsuna because Kazusa never confesses her feelings.

While all of them get along as members of the Light Music Club, the real drama between the three is seen as the anime's plot unfolds, making it one of the most well-written love triangles in anime.

14 Neon Genesis Evangelion: Asuka Langley Sohryu x Shinji Ikari x Rei Ayanami

Neon Genesis Evangelion is less known for being a romance anime and more for being renowned as one of the most highly acclaimed psychological mecha anime in existence (if not the best) by fans. It's also a subversive mecha anime that questions the genre's foundations in intriguing ways.

On a more personal note, while most fans know about the tsundere Asuka and her conflicting feelings toward Shinji, some fans think of the dynamic between him and Rei as a show of affection. She does not know how to process or understand these feelings, however. Whatever side fans are on, they can indeed be considered a love triangle to many.

13 Re:Zero: Emilia x Subaru x Rem

"I love Emilia" are words any fan of Re:Zero should know. Despite Subaru saying this to Rem for good reason, it doesn't hurt any less. The love triangle between Emilia, Subaru, and Rem can go on for a long time, as Subaru only has eyes for Emilia in a romantic sense.

Despite fans wishing for him to love Rem back for how dedicated she is, this love triangle might stay on a one-way streak for a long time — perhaps even until the light novel ends, as Rem and Emilia get along quite well. That love triangle definitely ranks among the most contentious and intriguing among all isekai anime series.

12 Yona of the Dawn: Hak Son x Yona x Su-Won

The love triangle in Yona of the Dawn is a tricky one, as Yona is in love with her childhood friend Su-Won. That is, until she tragically discovers that he killed her father and launched a coup d'etat against her kingdom.

On the other hand, Hak Son is her other childhood friend and bodyguard who has been in love with her as well. He simply watched her as she was in love with Su-Won. With the direction Yona of the Dawn has gone, it seems apparent who will win in this love triangle.

11 Kiss X Sis: Riko Suminoe x Keita Suminoe x Ako Suminoe

Keita Suminoe has a love triangle between his twin stepsisters, Riko and Ako Suminoe. Ako is seen as the token child, helping her mother out with cooking and cleaning, but on the inside, she's a pervert.

Riko is more forward when speaking but has a shy personality. The twins can be told apart by their hairstyles. The series progresses far into Keita's relationship with his sisters. Kiss x Sis is known for its 12-episode OVA but received a 10-episode side series in 2010.

10 Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea: Manaka Mukaido x Hikari Sakishima x Chisaki Hiradaira

Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea gives viewers a love triangle of three childhood friends. The world has been separated between those who live on land and those who live underwater. Manaka Mukaido and Chisaki Hiradaira both have a love interest in Hikari Sakishima. Chisaki is more mature between herself and Manaka and doesn’t let her emotions dictate her thoughts often.

Hikari's calm demeanor is the opposite of Manaka. Emotionally driven, she struggles to realize what she really wants at times and ends up crying because of it. Despite this, Hikari still shows a preference for Manaka. She refuses to confess because she knows how Chisaki feels.

9 Skip Beat!: Ren Tsuruga x Kyouko Mogami x Shoutarou Fuwa

Kyouko Mogami was manipulated by Shoutarou Fuwa into being his servant to help him further his idol career. Vowing revenge, Kyouko enters the idol scene, starting a new life. Shou, who hides his full name in the series, is stuck up. While he views Kyouko as a stepping stone, he has genuine feelings for her.

Ren Tsuruga is the opposite of being super nice and uses Ren as a stage name. Separating Ren from his real name of Kuon Hizuri, Ren doesn’t think he is worthy of Kyouko, having met her in the past.

8 Kokoro Connect: Himeko Inaba x Taichi Yaegashi x Iori Nagase

Love triangles can be complicated, but they can become even more so when body-switching is possible. In Kokoro Connect, Himeko Inaba and Iori Nagase have a love triangle towards Taichi Yaegashi.

Himeko is the vice president of the Cultural Research Club, which gives her a professional aura, but she's sensitive on the inside. Iori is the president of the Cultural Research Club and is in love with Taichi as well but refuses to date him because of the body-switching epidemic. This allows the club members to switch bodies with one another for short periods. While in each other's bodies, they discover secrets that take a mental toll.

7 Chihayafuru: Taichi Mashima x Chihaya Ayase x Arata Wataya

In a classic example of a childhood friend against a transfer student, Chihayafuru has a love triangle between Taichi Mashima and Arata Wataya toward Chihaya Ayase. She's is a tomboy and a love interest for her childhood friend, Taichi.

Taichi has everything going for him but won't admit his feelings for Chihaya due to transfer student Arata. Though the opposite of Taichi, he shares a common interest in Karuta with Chihaya. Chihaya inspires him to keep playing.

6 InuYasha: Kikyou x Inuyasha x Kagome Higurashi

One of the most popular anime of the early modern era is InuYasha, which dates back to the fall of 2000. Inuyasha is a half-demon hybrid between a human and a demon dog. The love triangle in InuYasha is like no other. Kikyou is the shrine maiden in love with Inuyasha, who died but was brought back to life.

Kagome Higurashi is the reincarnation of Kikyou and has an interest in Inuyasha. Despite similar appearances, Inuyasha hasn't forgotten his feelings for Kikyo, which causes more than a little tension between the three of them. If fans count Naraku's dark lust for Kikyo, then the anime has a love square, but then again, Naraku stands no chance — emotionally, it's really between Kagome, Kikyo, and Inuyasha.