Romance is seen as its own genre, and to be sure, there are some series that have few goals aside from shoving two characters together by the end and granting the audience vicarious fluttery feelings. But even though there's love at the core of an anime, it doesn't mean that's all there is to the story. While slice-of-life romances deserve their devotees, some of the best romances aren't afraid to depict how love fares when confronted with dire straits and higher stakes.

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Just because there's kissing, it doesn't mean there can't be gunfights and duels, mecha battles, magic, and death. Fans looking for a little more excitement to counteract those painful moments of heartfelt longing will find plenty of anime that fit the brief.

10 Revolutionary Girl Utena Features Duels & Queer Love

Uteny and Anthy  from Revolutionary Girl Utena

Utena is one of the few unabashedly queer series to hail from the 1990s. Directed by the legendary Kunihiko Ikuhara, the show boasts a surreal school romance and a blatant refusal to comply with gender norms, as well as a bizarre episodic action-sequence construct that graces almost every episode.

To become a noble prince and defend her paramour Anthy, Utena must duel with any opponents who may threaten their love and her quest. Describing Utena is virtually impossible, and anyone who hasn't seen the seminal classic is missing out.

9 Eureka Seven Remains A Mecha Romance Staple

Eureka and Renton Eureka Seven

Mecha fans know that despite outward appearances, romance runs rampant. Between the star-blazing battles and apocalyptic themes, there's always room for an extra dose of drama in the form of romantic tension. But while many mecha only use romance as a substory at best, Eureka Seven uses the love that forms between Renton and Eureka as a central propulsive force in the story.

As the story reaches its culmination, the plot seems inextricably tied to their budding romance. That's a lot of pressure to put on a teen couple, but these two are far from the universe's first star-crossed lovers.

8 Banana Fish May Be Tragic, But It's Also A Thrilling Piece Of Representation

ash kisses eiji in prison banana fish

Banana Fish was one of the earliest BL manga to achieve widespread success across a range of audiences. Featuring a protagonist caught in a web of gang violence, drug abuse, and military conspiracies in New York City's gritty underbelly, there's no shortage of action setpieces peppered throughout the 2018 anime's run.

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Still, it's hard to deny that what draws many fans to Banana Fish is the complicated relationship between the two leads, Ash and Eiji. The fact that it's asexual and perhaps doomed doesn't diminish the profundity of their bond.

7 The Ancient Magus Bride Gives Beauty & The Beast A Much-Needed Revamp

Anime The Ancient Magus Bride Elias And Chise Meeting

There have been countless retellings of The Beauty and the Beast in recent years. While some of these adaptations are better than others, many of them fail to address a central problem that pervades the classic narrative: there's a thread of Stockholm syndrome inevitably stitched through any story about a beast locking a love interest away.

Curiously, Magus' Bride subverts that trope almost immediately, establishing that the heroine has made the bleak choice to sell herself, and the man who "purchases" her is a monster who's anything but monstrous. Full of magic, mystery, and folkloric elements, The Ancient Magus' Bride entertains on numerous levels.

6 Re: Zero Isn't Afraid To Face Unrequited Love Amid Chaos

Rem Appears To Kill Subaru In Re: Zero Anime

While some may argue that Re: Zero's romance is secondary to the story, it's also one of the best aspects of the first season. Time-loop stories have the interesting tendency to reveal more about supporting characters than a straightforward narrative can, and as Subaru delves deeper into this fantasy world and repeatedly experiences his own death, the audience learns not just about his deep affection for Emilia but Rem's affection for him.

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This is no love triangle, but something a bit sadder, fraught with repetition, magic, amnesia, and loss.  All that mess doesn't make it any less romantic but adds to the riveting nature of this clever series.

5 Inuyasha's Romance Is Second Only T0 Its Sense Of Adventure

Inuyasha, Kikyo & Kagome

Inuyasha manages to hit multiple demographics without even seeming to try. The show feels like both shonen and shoujo simultaneously, and while it's no secret that one day Inuyasha and Kagome are bound to end up together, there's enough action to take in along the way to satisfy almost any viewer. With enough bloodshed for shonen fans, enough romance for rom-com aficionados, a Sengoku-era setting for history buffs, and enough folkloric monsters for fans of Japanese culture, there are few marks the classic series doesn't hit.

4 Beyond The Boundary Balances Supernatural Excitement & A Slow-Burn Love Story

beyond the boundary Akihito and Mirai holding hands.

While Kyoani has earned no shortage of devoted fans, more reluctant anime lovers have shied away from the studio in recent years because many of its series began to feel a bit too familiar.  When Beyond the Boundary aired in 2013, some were deterred by what seemed like shallow writing, a convoluted story, and the way the moe standbys clash with the more violent supernatural action elements. But as the writing improves and audiences come to know Mirai and Akihito better, the better aspects of this beautifully animated series begin to shine through. By the final episode and subsequent film, this is a romance worth rooting for.

3 Violet Evergarden Features A Former Child-Soldier As A Lead

Violet Evergarden in the movie poster for Violet Evergarden

What happens to a child soldier once the war's done? Violet Evergarden addresses this most impossible of questions with tact and nuance as the protagonist attempts to give her life a purpose in the wake of years of violence. While the bulk of the battle-based action has already occurred by the time the show catches up to Violet, the audience is granted brief glimpses into Violet's harrowing experiences as a mercenary. And through her daily struggles to succeed as a ghostwriter, viewers learn to love Gilbert, the man who treated Violet like a person even when she didn't think of herself as one.

2 Yona Of The Dawn Combines Royal Intrigue, Betrayal, & A Convincing Love Story

The main cast of the Yona of the Dawn anime

Those who like their romances improved by delectable historical costumes will find much to admire in Yona of the Dawn. Yona is a princess, but no cliched damsel in distress. Upon walking in on her lover killing her father on the night she intends to announce her engagement, Yona, along with her alluring bodyguard, must go into hiding during the coup d'etat. It's hard to think of any series that so skillfully entwines historical intrigue, romance, royal plots, and genuinely solid action as Yona, and here all the pieces are there and played to perfection.

1 The Devil Is A Part-Timer Delights In A Dozen Genres, Including Romance & Action

satan, alciel and Emilia (The Devil Is A Part Timer):

The characters of The Devil is a Part-Timer definitely don't realize they're in something like a romance, but the audience does. And while it's really hard to pin this modern classic to just one genre, the amorous undercurrent is hard to deny and easy to enjoy. When Maou-sama's enemy and would-be assassin Emi appears and discovers she is just as powerless as her nemesis once they're both in the human world, they are forced to work together. Inevitably feelings develop, gratifying but never forced. Fans can only hope that the show will keep blending genres now that season two has finally been announced.

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