Netflix is home to some of the most popular anime series in the world. With over 130,000 titles available on their platform, you can find a wide variety of romance anime that will sweep you off your feet.
Romance anime is a genre of anime that typically focuses on romantic relationships between two characters. There are many different types of romance anime, but the most common ones include shoujo, josei, and yuri. Read more in detail here: best romance anime series on netflix.
Romantic anime is one of Netflix’s most popular genres, demonstrating that we all enjoy love. We anime fans have a lot to choose from on Netflix, so I set out to find the best love stories it has to offer.
On my list of beautiful and romantic anime recommendations, you may expect uncomfortable high school crushes, love at first sight, first kisses, growing love that will melt your heart, and tragic romance that will shatter it. Whether it’s a romantic drama, comedy, slice-of-life, or fantasy film, they all have one thing: the universal and overpowering feeling of love.
So, if you’re looking to reconnect with your romantic side, check out my Netflix list of the best anime romances. I’ve included information on anime movies and series, as well as the facts you’ll need to make the best choice for you.
Your Given Name
What it’s about: Mitsuha, a high school student, wants to leave her tiny town for the big city, while Taki attends Tokyo high school. When a comet passes over Japan one night, the two people’s bodies miraculously swap. The conversation continues, and the teenagers develop a connection as they attempt to manage their complicated lives.
What makes it great: This highly acclaimed anime film’s body-swapping storyline was inspired by ancient Japanese poetry. Aside from the initial misunderstanding humor, this beautiful and touching anime romance has elements of time travel, combining Japanese culture with contemporary living, all while being backed by great visuals and RADWIMPS music.
Your April Lies
What it’s about: Kosei Arima was a young piano prodigy who had a mental breakdown after a terrible incident. This has a major effect on his music career and personal life, but all changes when he meets Kaori, an outgoing and adventurous violinist who is everything he isn’t. She is able to communicate with him, but she must maintain a secret.
What makes it great: The 22-episode romantic animation is plenty of laughs but also a lot of tears, so bring your Kleenex. Your Lie in April is a lovely musical story with endearing characters, vibrant animation, a classical piano soundtrack, poetic parallels, and cherry blossoms galore that will keep you glued to the screen till the end.
Toradora is number three
What it’s about: Ryuji is a high schooler who, despite his frightening appearance, is a beautiful and caring young man. When he and Taiga, a tiny but feisty girl, realize they’re both interested in one other’s friends, they grudgingly agree to help each other. In the midst of their stories, an unexpected connection emerges.
What makes it appropriate: Toradora! is a virtually unparalleled 25-episode emotional, friendship, and love rollercoaster. Will-they-or-won’t-they element (which applies to everyone in this anime), dynamic characters, crazy antics, cheerful atmosphere, and a touch of drama – this is a Netflix rom-com anime binge that never runs out of emotions!
A Voice That Is Unheard
What happened: Shouya, a mischievous sixth-grader, and his pals tormented Shouko, a hearing-impaired new student, to the point that she was compelled to leave. Shouya is ostracized for going too far, which leaves him feeling guilty, lonely, and unhappy. Years later, he reconnects with Shouko, and all he wants is for his crimes to be forgiven.
What makes it great: A Silent Voice delves into the complex subject of bullying and shows how it may damage both the victim and the perpetrator. Despite its severe problems, this coming-of-age anime film offers a compelling and inspirational tale about love, friendship, and, ultimately, forgiveness that you won’t want to miss.
Clannad
What it’s about: Tomoya is a high school student who has lost his identity after his mother died and his father abandoned him. He’s dropped out of basketball and is just going to school for the purpose of going to school. But when he meets a girl named Nagisa and reluctantly agrees to help her revive the school theatrical club, his life is about to change for the better.
What makes it great: This two-season love slice-of-life anime will captivate you and tug at your emotions every time you watch it. Since this is primarily a character-driven anime, Clannad’s greatest strength is its characters, and the well-timed humor, moe factor, sad moments, and beautiful animation just add to its appeal.
Hello, Maid-Sama!
What it’s about: Surprisingly, Misaki is the first female president of the student council at a traditionally all-boys school. She is liked by teachers and minority female students, but the men view her as a man-hating dictator. When the school’s alpha male, Usui, discovers that Misaki secretly works at a Maid Cafe to help her family pay the bills, her reputation is threatened.
What makes it great: There are many aspects of this rom-com anime that I love, but the protagonists’ chemistry and banter are the heart and soul of the show. Maid-Sama! is a romantic, upbeat, humorous, and heartwarming film. This all comes together in the 26 episodes of the program to create a shoujo anime masterpiece that you’ll want to watch again and over.
Love is War, says Kaguya-sama.
What it’s all about: Shirogane, a workaholic from humble origins, and Kaguya, a rich heir, are both at the top of their courses. The competitors have another characteristic in addition to being intelligent egomaniacs: they are passionately in love with one other. Rather than just confessing, they try to outwit one other by expressing their feelings first.
What makes it great: One of Netflix’s best anime rom coms is set on a battlefield where the dignity of two stubborn geniuses is at stake. With funny mind games, linguistic clashes, and deliciously uncomfortable scenarios, the 12-episode show will grab you. Nonetheless, you’ll stick around for a touching story about love and teenagers learning to conquer their anxieties.
Keeping Up With You
What it’s about: Hodaka ran away from home and wound himself in Tokyo, where he’s stuck in unusually rainy weather. He meets Hina, an orphan with a special gift: the ability to control the weather via prayer. They collaborate to restore sunshine to Tokyo, but Hina’s powers come at a cost and with ramifications that may endanger the whole city.
What makes it great: An intriguing story about star-crossed lovers with a mystical edge set in Shinto culture. The hyper-realistic graphics really bring Tokyo to life, and they work wonderfully for this sad Netflix anime drama. Weathering With You explores youthful love and the importance of family while simultaneously addressing climate change.
Ouran High School Host Club is number nine.
What it’s about: Haruhi, a scholarship student at Ouran Academy, was looking for a place to study when she stumbled across The Host Club, a group of beautiful men who mistook her for a boy owing to her looks. Haruhi destroys a valuable vase and is forced to work as an errand boy for them in order to pay off an eight million yen debt.
What makes it good: The romance, sardonic humor, laid-back atmosphere, and dynamic characters that often break the fourth wall are the reasons why this shoujo anime will fascinate you. The 26 episodes of the anime are jam-packed with Host Club shenanigans, both funny and tragic. It’s one of the greatest romantic comedy animes of all time, and it’s full with valuable lessons.
Howl’s Moving Castle
What it’s about: Sophie is transformed into a 90-year-old lady by the jealous Witch of the Waste. She embarks on a journey in pursuit of a wizard called Howl, who she thinks can assist her in breaking the curse. Sophie works as a cleaner at Howl’s Moving Castle and falls in love with the infamous wizard, despite the fact that he has his own deadly curse.
What makes it amazing: This animation tale is brought to life by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. The film is full with vibrant characters and a sense of wonder, and its primary themes include love’s power, the importance of family, and sacrifice. You’ll fall head over heels with Howl’s Moving Castle if you love classic anime stories.
Nozaki-kun, Nozaki-kun, Nozaki-kun, Nozaki-kun
What it’s all about: When Chiyo, a high school girl, finally tells Nozaki about her emotions, he thinks she’s a fan and gives her an autograph. The teenager turns out to be a well-known shoujo mangaka who writes behind a pen name. To get closer to Nozaki, Chiyo works as one of his manga helpers.
What makes it good: This is a bright and breezy film centered on the chemistry of the main pair. There is never a boring moment in the program, and you will laugh out loud throughout the 12 episodes, particularly if you are a shoujo fan who enjoys clever jabs at the genre’s ridiculous clichés (that are never intended to be cruel).
Kamisama Kiss
What it’s about: Nanami’s father leaves town to escape debt collectors, leaving her destitute and homeless. She sees a man in need while sitting in a park and helps him; in return, he gives her a place to live and bestows godhood upon her. Nanami is now a land deity who lives in a shrine with the help of a fox spirit called Tomoe.
What makes it great: If you like supernatural romance and Japanese mythology, this yokai anime about Nanami and Tomoe’s love is for you. The show’s 13 episodes will make you laugh and swoon while also tugging at your heartstrings. Kamisama Kiss is a charming little shojo anime that checks all the criteria.
Girl with a High Score
What it’s about: Haruo doesn’t get good grades or do well in sports, but he excels in video games. The dedicated gamer spends his days at the local arcade, where he meets his match – his wealthy and reserved classmate Akira, who knocks him out of Street Fighter II. Haruo is initially adamant on beating her, but the two youngsters eventually become friends because to their mutual love of video games.
What makes it great: High Score Girl is a fascinating look at early 1990s gaming culture. The sweet love story between Haruo and Akira seems genuine, and the antique setting will make you fall even more in love with it. High Score Girl is a short anime to watch, but it’s jam-packed with romance, drama, comedy, and gaming knowledge.
Master Takagi-san is being teased.
What it’s about: Nishikata is a middle school student who is weary of his friend Takagi making fun of him. He tries to avenge her on a regular basis, but Takagi always outwits him and leaves him red-faced. Will Nishikata ever figure out a method to make Takagi blush, and will he realize that her teasing isn’t all in good fun?
What makes it good: Nishikata and Takagi are the anime’s emotional focal points. The cute pair will quickly steal your heart with their puppy affection and non-malicious teasing. Teasing Master Takagi-innocence san’s and compassion will hook you from the first episode and keep you hooked for the whole two-season run.
Chunibyo, Love, and Other Delusions!
What it’s about: Yuuta enrolls in a high school where no one knows who he is in an effort to move on from his middle school “chunibyo” (8th-grade syndrome) period of playing as a fantasy hero known as “Dark Flame Master.” Unfortunately for Yuuta and his efforts to keep his dark secret hidden, he meets Rikka, a weird lady with an eyepatch and a chunibyo condition of her own.
What makes it good: Yuuta enrolls in high school, where no one knows who he is, in an effort to move on from his “chunibyo” (8th-grade syndrome) phase of playing as the fantasy hero “Dark Flame Master” in middle school. Unfortunately for Yuuta and his efforts to keep his dark secret hidden, he meets Rikka, a weird lady with an eyepatch and a chunibyo condition of her own.
InuYasha is the sixteenth character in the InuYasha series.
What it’s about: Kagome is the reincarnation of Kikyo, a priestess who guarded the Shikon Jewel. Kagome’s gem is reborn after she falls into an ancient well, and she wakes in medieval Japan. But the treasure is shattered, so she enlists the help of Inuyasha, a half-demon, to gather the deadly shards before they fall into the wrong hands.
What makes it special: Isekai, a 167-episode anime, is a one-of-a-kind blend of fantasy, humor, adventure, action, and, of course, an epic love story. Due to their perilous journeys, in which they encounter many challenges and fight the forces of evil, Kagome and Inuyasha grow as people and as a couple. Give this beautiful, early-2000s fantasy tale a try; it hasn’t lost any of its appeal.
My Little Monster
What it’s about: Shizuku, a straight-laced girl who solely cares about her academics and achievements, meets Haru, a misfit who becomes her first friend. He’s a renegade with a violent personality who will do whatever he wants. The pair learns all there is to know about love and friendship as they traverse the trials and obstacles of high school and adolescence.
What makes it special: It’s a cheerful romantic comedy animation with a slice-of-life feel to it. Haru, the witty and unpredictable male lead, will keep you wondering as to what he’ll do next, while Shizuku, the cold and reserved male lead, is a unique shoujo character. In the first episode, there is a love confession, which is unusual for the genre.
Violet Evergarden
What it’s about: There are 13 episodes in this anime series, each lasting about 23 minutes. The anime takes place after World War I had ended. During the fight, there was a lot of carnage, and the continent of Telesis was divided into two factions.
Things are beginning to change now that the war is over, and the continent is recovering. Violet Evergarden is a young woman who has spent her whole life fighting. She was raised with the express purpose of annihilating opponents. She’s at a lost for what to do now that the fight is over.
She starts working for the postal office after a falling out with her adoptive family. She watches an auto memory doll in action, whose job task is to record a person’s thoughts on paper. It piques her interest, and she wants to be her own auto memory doll.
This job takes her on a number of journeys and activities that lead to self-discovery. Will she now be able to comprehend the words of the one person who meant the most to her?
What makes it great: ‘Violet Evergarden’ isn’t your average romance anime. The vast majority of the shows on this list are not. The anime is about learning what real love is all about. It’s an excellent anime with a good story. The breathtaking views add to the experience. Violet’s personality appeals to me.
Sword Art Online
The anime is set in the year 2024, at a time when virtual reality technology has advanced considerably. ‘NervGear,’ a famous online game named ‘Sword Art Online,’ is creating quite a stir by using cutting-edge technology.
It allows players to create avatars and control them using just their thoughts. The anime’s protagonist, Kazuto Kirigaya, is very lucky to have received the game’s first shipment. When he logs on, however, he and many other players are unable to exit the game and must stay in it until they have finished 100 levels.
The game’s creator seems to have incarcerated the players. Now he must go across Aincrad’s world, which seems to be set in a medieval period and is filled with fantastical weapons and monsters. He has to remain in the game for as long as he can because if he dies in the game, he will die in real life.
What makes it great: Sword Art Online is a popular anime set in a video game world. This kind of anime is popular because online games that connect one person to a large number of people all over the globe are a great concept.
It provides a rich ground for a variety of fascinating stories. Sword Art Online is one of the products of such stories. It was first published in 2012 and immediately became popular. This anime series consists of 25 episodes, each of which lasts 23 minutes.
Naruto
What it’s about: It follows the journey of Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous teenage ninja striving to fulfill his dream of becoming the Hokage of his village. There is a popular term in the ‘Naruto’ fandom known as “NaruHina,” which alludes to Naruto and Hinata’s relationship. What makes it good: ‘Naruto’ is the kind of anime that grows on you over time, and although it’s predictable in every way, there’s no going back once you’re hooked on this classic shounen.
