With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching in just a few short weeks, now is the perfect time to catch up on the best the romance anime genre has to offer. Crunchyroll offers an extensive library of romance anime series, with everything from romantic comedies to love-themed dramas.

With hundreds of different romance animes on Crunchyroll, it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. These ten essential picks are absolute classics in the genre, and should be considered required viewing for any fan of romance anime. Some of these series are fairly new, while some have been popular for years, but they are all undoubtedly worth the watch.

10 My Dress-Up Darling

Produced by CloverWorks

When Gojo Wakana, who loves creating Japanese dolls in his free time, meets Marin Kitagawa, who adores cosplay, sparks fly quickly. Although Gojo is a fairly shy person, Marin helps him explore his ion for fashion along with her, and as the pair create beautiful outfits together, a deeper love gradually blossoms between them.

Although they may seem an unlikely couple at first, Gojo and Marin bring out the best in one another. Even though they have very different personalities, since Marin is very outgoing and Gojo is more reserved, they appreciate common interests together and accept one another wholeheartedly regardless. With a second season on the way in 2025, this is the perfect opportunity to dive into My Dress-Up Darling.

9 Horimiya

Produced by CloverWorks

Horimiya is a must-watch coming-of-age romance that proves the phrase "opposites attract" to be true. Hori Kyouko is popular, friendly, and always surrounded by people, while Miyamura Izumi is quiet and would rather spend time reading than socializing. Despite their differences, they quickly realize they are a perfect match despite the odds and make it official quickly, which is a refreshing twist, since some romance anime series have couples that do not get together until the series is almost complete.

Many romance animes have a much more somber, dramatic tone, but Horimiya is lighthearted and filled with humorous scenes, making it an absolute delight to watch. Despite the relatively straightforward plot, Horimiya's dynamic characters and feel-good tone ensure it is a very enjoyable watch.

8 Kimi ni Todoke

Produced by Production I.G.

The idea of a shy classmate and a popular classmate falling in love despite their differing personalities is a common, and perhaps at this point, overdone, trope in romance anime, but Kimi ni Todoke is one of the greatest pieces of proof that this trope can work well with the right creativity in writing and character development.

Sawako Kuronuma, the female love interest, is not timid for no reason. She has spent her entire life being mistreated due to her appearance, and as much as Kimi ni Todoke is a love story, it is also a story of acceptance, both Sawako's self-acceptance and her finding other people, like Kazehaya Shouta, who wholeheartedly embrace all aspects of her without judgment. This classic series is sure to warm viewers' hearts, while also reminding them of how detrimental bullying can be.

7 Toradora!

Produced by J.C.Staff

Toradora! is a true romance anime classic, and often one of the first that fans of the genre recommend. The series follows hot-headed Taiga Aisaka, who seems harmless but often alienates others with her uncontrollable temper, and Ryuuji Takasu, who looks threatening but is actually softhearted and loving.

As Taiga and Ryuuji play matchmaker for their friends, they slowly begin to realize that maybe there is something worth exploring between them as well. Taiga's fiery outbursts and the silly high school antics the characters get up to also add plenty of humor to the narrative, making Toradora! a perfectly well-rounded romantic comedy that has definitely earned its fame among anime fans.

6 My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999

Produced by Madhouse

My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 is a fairly recent romance anime that is sure to capture the attention of video game lovers. At only 13 episodes, it is also a relatively quick series to binge-watch over a weekend. It follows Akane Kinoshita, a college student who becomes wrapped up in the world of an MMORPG video game called "Forest of Savior," and in that game, she meets Akito Yamada.

Unbeknownst to Akane, she would later run into Akito in the real world at an event for the game they both love. Although it takes a while for the reserved Akito to open up, the pair form a flirtatious friendship, both online and in-person. There are countless clever video game references in My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999, and the slow-burn romance between Akito and Akane is absolutely adorable to watch unfold.

5 Kamisama Kiss

Produced by TMS Entertainment

For those interested in supernatural romance, Kamisama Kiss is a perfect choice. When high school student Nanami Momozono showed an act of kindness to a stranger in need, she found herself blessed by the gods in a way she never imagined. As gratitude for her good deed, Nanami was transformed into a land god, and had to learn to use this unfamiliar new power she now possessed.

Nanami and the fox yokai, Tomoe, began working together, and although Tomoe was wary of her at first, it did not take long for the pair to fall deeply in love. Many romance anime are more slice-of-life and focus on realism, so Kamisama Kiss stands out as a uniquely endearing supernatural romance, with tons of laugh-out loud scenes too.

4 Ouran High School Host Club

Produced by Bones

Ouran High School Host Club has one of the most creative and interesting premises of any romance anime, which explains why it is considered one of the best shojo series ever. Haruhi Fujioka, the protagonist, accidentally breaks a precious vase and lacks the necessary funds to pay back her debt, so she instead begins working at her school's host club, disguising herself as a boy while working at the club that entertains the school's female students.

Her fellow host club workers discover her secret identity pretty quickly, and one in particular, Tamaki Suoh, falls for her. Other than the romance, Ouran High School Host Club is best known for its hysterical humor. The outlandish situations that Haruhi and the boys of the host club get themselves into while entertaining host club guests and trying to hide Haruhi's real gender are sure to make anyone burst out laughing.

3 Your Lie In April

Produced by A-1 Pictures

Your Lie In April is a heartbreakingly beautiful watch that viewers will not soon forget. Following Kousei Arima, a talented pianist who lost his ion for his instrument after his mother died, and Kaori Miyazono, a vibrant fellow musician who helps finally reignite Kousei's ion for music, Your Lie In April is a treat for music lovers and romance anime fans alike.

Since the series revolves around music, the score for the series is captivating, setting the emotional tone of the series' most important moments. Your Lie In April tackles difficult topics, namely loss, grief, and death, making it an absolute tear-jerker, but still a touching story of true love between two musicians who find solace in both each other and the instruments they love.

2 A Sign of Affection

Produced by Ajia-do Animation Works

Not only is A Sign of Affection adorable, it positively portrays a character with a disability, adding to the romance anime space. The story centers around Yuki Itose, who is a college student who is deaf, and she meets Itsuomi Nagi on the train one day by chance, marking the start of their love story.

Yuki and Itsuomi's story is the focal point of A Sign of Affection, but the side plots and side characters are equally interesting, making the series an endlessly intriguing watch. The series is one of the more dramatic romance anime on Crunchyroll, particularly due to an unexpected subplot involving an old friend from Yuki's past. Aside from the main premise itself, the musical score and colorful pastel animation are gorgeous, making the anime not just a compelling watch, but a visually beautiful work of art as well.

1 Fruits Basket

Produced by TMS Entertainment

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Fruits Basket

TV-14

Animation

Comedy

Drama

23

9.6/10

Release Date

April 6, 2019

Directors

Yoshihide Ibata

Writers

Natsuki Takaya

Cast

• 
  Laura Bailey
• 
  Eric Vale

• 

Where to watch

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WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

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Fruits Basket (2019) is an anime adaptation following Tohru Honda, a high school girl who ends up living with the mysterious Sohma family. She discovers that twelve of the Sohma clan are cursed to transform into animals of the Chinese zodiac when embraced by the opposite sex. The series delves into the lives and challenges faced by the cursed while exploring themes of acceptance, friendship, and personal growth.

Creator(s)

Yûichirô Kido, Natsuki Takaya

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

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Fruits Basket is arguably the most popular romance anime of all time, based on one of the best-selling mangas in the world, and it has this stellar reputation for a reason. Tohru Honda, the bubbly, caring protagonist, embodies kindness in everything she does, and her infectious joy for life rubs off on both Kyo and Yuki Sohma, ensnaring these three characters in a dramatic love triangle. When Tohru moves in with the Sohma family after her mother's death, she discovers there is heartbreaking conflict within the Sohma family, due to the Zodiac Curse they are all afflicted by.

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Although Fruits Basket is a romance anime at its core, it is much more than that. The story also thoughtfully discusses topics like trauma, loss, abuse, and interpersonal conflict, as well as sprinkling in adorable moments of humor too, since the Zodiac Curse turns the Sohmas into animals every time they are hugged by the opposite gender.