Top 20 Best Romance Anime Films of All Time

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1. 5 Centimeters Per Second (2007)

2. Your Lie in April (2014)

3. Your Name (2016)

4. Fruits Basket (2019)

5. Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War (2019)

6. Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro (2021)

7. My Love Story (2015)

8. Say “I Love You” (2012)

9. Our Love Has Always Been 10cm Apart (2017)

10. Weathering With You (2019)

11. Tamako Market

12. Whisper Of The Heart

13. Hotarubi No Mori E

14. Golden Time

15. Real Girl - 3D Kanojo: Real Girl

16. Tada Never Falls In Love

17. My Little Monster

18. I’ve Always Liked You

19. Tsuki Ga Kirei - The Story of Youthful Love

20. The Garden of Words

Romantic anime remains one of the most beloved genres among young people today. To discover more about the great anime movies, check out the top 20 Romance Anime Films of All Time below, brought to you by Mytour.

1. 5 Centimeters Per Second (2007)

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Duration: 65 minutes
Country: Japan
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Cast: Kenji Mizuhashi, Yoshimi Kondō, Satomi Hanamura…
Awards: Best Animated Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in 2007

'5 Centimeters Per Second' is renowned as one of the greatest standalone romance anime films of all time and is also highly beloved. The main storyline revolves around the relationship between Tōno Takaki and Shinohara Akari. These two characters met in elementary school and shared a beautiful friendship.

As they were about to graduate from elementary school, Akari had to move to Tochigi with her family. Despite this, the two characters kept in touch by writing letters. Nevertheless, Takaki still harbored deep feelings for his dear friend. Takaki always felt melancholic, haunted by memories, promises, and the separation from Akari long after. This anime has achieved significant acclaim, so you shouldn't miss this classic masterpiece.

2. Your Lie in April (2014)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Duration: 23 episodes
Country: Japan
Cast: Hanae Natsuki, Taneda Risa, Sakura Ayane…

When it comes to the best romance anime films of all time, one cannot forget 'Your Lie in April'. The storyline of this anime film revolves around Arima Kōsei, a talented piano prodigy from a young age. After the death of his mother, he suffers from a nervous breakdown and loses his ability to hear the sound of the piano, despite having no issues with his hearing.

Two years pass, and Kōsei hasn't touched the piano. Until one day, Miyazono Kaori appears and changes everything. This girl helps the main character Kōsei return to the world of music and revive his wounded soul.

3. Your Name (2016)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Duration: 107 minutes
Country: Japan
Director: Shinkai Makoto
Cast: Kamiki Ryunosuke, Kamishiraishi Mone…
Awards: Best Animated Feature Film at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 2016…
Box Office: $380.15 million

Anime 'Your Name' tells the unique romantic story of two main characters, Mitsuha and Taki. Mitsuha is introduced as a high school girl feeling extremely bored with the dull life in the rural area where she lives. She longs to go to glamorous Tokyo to change her mundane life.

Taki is a boy living in Tokyo city. He works part-time at an Italian restaurant after school hours. One special thing about him is his love for drawing and interest in architecture. Then, unexpectedly, for some strange reason, Mitsuha and Taki's bodies are swapped. From there, their fateful connection officially begins.

4. Fruits Basket (2019)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Duration: 25 episodes
Country: Japan
Director: Yoshihide Ibata
Cast: Manaka Iwami, Laura Bailey, Nobunaga Shimazaki…

'Breaking the Curse' is known as one of the highly acclaimed romantic anime films with a magical theme. The main storyline revolves around a beautiful high school girl named Honda Tohru. After an unexpected incident, Tooru is forced to stay at the house of Soma Yuki - a male student in the same class.

During the time living together, Tooru inadvertently discovers the mysterious curse that haunts Yuki's family. From then on, Tooru's life becomes much more colorful. She also helps Yuki's family to dispel the mental pain caused by that mysterious curse. Gradually, feelings bloom between the two characters. This is a romantic anime that you shouldn't miss.

5. Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War (2019)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Duration: 12 episodes
Country: Japan
Cast: Aoi Koga, Makoto Furukawa, Konomi Kohara…

The next romantic anime we'd like to introduce in this article is 'Love is War'. This series revolves around the romantic yet humorous story of two high school students, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane, members of the student council at Shuchiin Academy.

After spending time together as study partners, Shinomiya and Shirogane gradually develop special feelings for each other. However, their pride prevents them from confessing their love first. Therefore, both characters engage in a battle to make the other confess their feelings first.

6. Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro (2021)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Duration: 12 episodes
Country: Japan
Director: Hirokazu Hanai
Cast: Sumire Uesaka, Daiki Yamashita, Kimberley Anne Campbell…

'Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro' is known as one of the best romantic anime of 2021 that you shouldn't miss. The story revolves around a gentle Senpai, a shy and kind-hearted boy. Because of this, mischievous Nagatoro always finds time to tease her Senpai.

Initially bothered by her teasing, Senpai feels extremely uncomfortable around his junior Nagatoro. However, he soon realizes the hidden meaning behind each of Nagatoro's pranks.

7. My Love Story (2015)

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Duration: 24 episodes
Country: Japan
Director: Asaka Morio
Cast: Takuya Eguchi, Megumi Han, Nobunaga Shimazaki…

If you're someone with a strong passion for school anime, with the love of high school romance, then you must watch the anime 'My Love Story'. This is also one of the best school romance anime of Japan.

This anime tells the sweet love story of the couple Takeo Gōda and Rinko Yamato. Despite having an ugly appearance, Takeo Gōda has a very kind, friendly, and generous personality. Takeo's sincerity has touched the beautiful Rinko.

8. Say “I Love You” (2012)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Duration: 13 episodes
Country: Japan
Cast: Ai Kayano, Takahiro Sakurai, David Matranga…

'Say 'I Love You'' revolves around Tachibana Mei, a 16-year-old girl with a solitary lifestyle due to lacking close friends.

However, Mei's life begins to change when a misunderstanding leads her to meet Yamato Kurosawa, the most popular high school student. Kurosawa helps Mei escape from a stalker, sparking romantic feelings in her.

9. Our Love Has Always Been 10cm Apart (2017)

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Duration: 6 episodes
Country: Japan
Cast: Aki Toyosaki, Kenji Suzumura…

'Our Love Has Always Been 10cm Apart' is known as a romantic anime focusing on the gentle and romantic love story of the main characters Miou Aida and Haruki Serizawa. They first meet during the high school opening ceremony.

From their first encounter, they feel a connection and quickly become close. Their feelings gradually develop from friendship to love imperceptibly.

10. Weathering With You (2019)

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Duration: 111 minutes
Country: Japan
Director: Shinkai Makoto
Cast: Daigo Kotaro, Mori Nana, Shun Oguri, Kiryuu Sakura, Honda Tsubasa…
Awards: Best Animated Feature Film at the Japanese Academy Awards 2020
Box Office: $193.4 million

'Weathering With You' revolves around the character Morishima Hodaka, a high school boy feeling bored with life on the island, so he decides to leave home and live in Tokyo. In Tokyo, Hodaka coincidentally meets Amano Hina, a girl with a special ability to change the weather.

Due to this extraordinary ability, Hina has faced many troubles. Hodaka has done everything to protect his girlfriend. Many troubles have occurred, causing Hodaka and Hina to lose contact with each other for many years. Finally, after experiencing many events, Hodaka is reunited with Hina.

11. Tamako Market

Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
Duration: 12 episodes
Director: Naoko Yamada
Production Studio: Kyoto Animation
Release Year: 2014

The main character of this intriguing romantic anime is Tamako, a high school girl with a passionate love for mochi. She is also the daughter of a renowned mochi shop in the town where she lives. The story revolves around the everyday events in Tamako's school life, family, and friends, especially her romantic journey with her two friends Midori and Kanna. This is an anime you shouldn't miss.

12. Whisper Of The Heart

Screenplay: Hayao Miyazaki
Genres: Romance, Drama
Duration: 111 minutes
Director: Yoshifumi Kondo
Production Studio: Studio Ghibli
Release Date: 07/15/1995

13. Hotarubi No Mori E

Author: Yuki Midorikawa
Genres: Romance, Drama, Touching
Duration: 44 minutes
Director: Takahiro Omori
Production Studio: Brain’s Base
Release Date: 09/17/2011

This classic anime revolves around the character Hotaru - a cute girl who gets lost in a mysterious forest inhabited by spirits. At this point, a boy named Gin helps her, but on the condition that she must not touch him as doing so would cause him to vanish. The romantic and heartwarming love story between them gradually unfolds. 'Hotarubi No Mori E' is like a gentle and warm love song, leaving viewers with deep and mysterious emotions. The most touching scene that brings tears to many is the embrace between Gin and Hotaru towards the end of the film.

14. Golden Time

Genres: Romance, Comedy
Duration: 24 episodes
Director: Chiaki Kon
Author: Yuyuko Takemiya
Production Studio: JCStaff
Release Date: 10/04/2013

This romantic anime revolves around the character Banri Tada, who, after being involved in a serious accident, loses all memory of his past life. Determined to enroll in the Law School at Tokyo University, Banri struggles to forget his old life, especially since his ex-girlfriend Linda keeps haunting him. The sweet romantic relationships intertwined with the bitterness of separation will leave viewers deeply moved by this profound romantic anime.

15. Real Girl - 3D Kanojo: Real Girl

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Genres: Anime, School, Romance
Duration: 24 episodes
Country: Japan
Director: Takashi Naoya
Cast: Ayami Nakajo, Yuri Tsunematsu, Hiroya Shimizu, Moka Kamishiraishi
Release Date: 4/4/2018

'3D Kanojo: Real Girl' is an anime adaptation of the manga '3D Kanojo Riaru Gāru' by Nanami Mao. Tsutsui Hikari, an authentic otaku, is deeply passionate about virtual girls in anime and games. Consequently, he has few friends and is still single. Everything changes when, one day, while cleaning the swimming pool as a punishment, Hikari meets Igarashi Iroha - a famous girl in the real world. After numerous troubles, Iroha unexpectedly asks Hikari out on a date. This is a romantic anime you shouldn't miss.

16. Tada Never Falls In Love

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Genres: Anime, Comedy, Romance
Duration: 13 episodes
Country: Japan
Director: Yamazaki Mitsue
Voice Actors: Nakamura Yūichi, Iwami Manaka, Miyano Mamoru,…
Release Date: 2018

The main character of this anime is Tada, a photographer who loves beauty but has never found love. While passionately taking photos of flowers, Tada accidentally meets Teresa Wagner, an exchange student from Luxembourg who got lost during her trip to Japan. Tada tries to help the lost student and takes her to his grandfather's café. Their romantic story begins here.

17. My Little Monster

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Genres: Anime, Comedy, Romance, School
Duration: 13 episodes
Country: Japan
Director: Kaburagi Hiro
Cast: Suzuki Tatsuhisa, Tomatsu Haruka,…
Release Date: 2018

The main character of this romantic anime is Mizutani Shizuku, a very diligent high school student who is a bookworm, only focusing on studying. Shizuku accidentally befriends Yoshida Haru – a special male student who is always on the troublemakers' list at her school. From then on, Haru insists on her becoming his girlfriend, and their love story begins.

18. I’ve Always Liked You

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Genres: Anime, Romance, School
Duration: 63 minutes
Country: Japan
Director: Tetsuya Yanagisawa
Release Date: 2016

This romantic anime revolves around a group of high school friends, mainly focusing on two childhood friends Natsuki and Yuu. One fine day, Natsuki confesses his long-hidden feelings for his best friend Yuu but hesitates to do so officially. Hence, both of them proceed as a 'practice couple'. Enomoto, the boy who secretly admires Natsuki, lacks the courage to express his feelings towards her. As the romance between Yuu and Natsuki blooms, the third person, Enomoto, decides to intervene in this love triangle.

19. Tsuki Ga Kirei - The Story of Youthful Love

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Genres: Anime, School, Romance
Duration: 12 episodes
Country: Japan
Director: Kishi Seiji
Cast: Chiba Shōya, Kohara Konomi, Tamaru Atsushi,…
Release Date: 2017

This romantic anime portrays the love story of classmates Akane Mizuno and Kotarō Azumi. Both are third-year middle school students, and the series depicts their journey of growth along with the relationships surrounding them, including school life, club activities, and teenage romance. These stubborn, temperamental, and unpredictable young students create interesting stories throughout the 12 episodes. It's a remarkable romantic anime that you shouldn't miss.

20. The Garden of Words

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Genres: Animation, Romance
Duration: 46 minutes
Country: Japan
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Cast: Miyu Irino, Kana Hanazawa, Fumi Hirano
Release Date: 31/5/2013

The Garden of Words, the ultimate romantic anime in this list, tells the story of Takao, a high school student passionate about shoemaking. One rainy day in Tokyo, he encounters a mature woman named Yukari in a garden. They develop feelings for each other, but face numerous obstacles to truly be together.

In this article, we've compiled the top 20 best romantic anime of all time for you. We hope you have a great day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the most beloved romantic anime films of all time?

Some of the most beloved romantic anime films include 'Your Lie in April', 'Your Name', and '5 Centimeters Per Second'. These films feature compelling narratives, emotional depth, and stunning animation that resonate with audiences, making them classics in the genre.

How does 'Your Lie in April' explore the themes of love and healing?

'Your Lie in April' follows the journey of Kōsei, a piano prodigy who loses his ability to play after his mother's death. The arrival of Kaori, a free-spirited violinist, helps him confront his past and rediscover his love for music, illustrating how love can heal emotional wounds.

What is the main storyline of '5 Centimeters Per Second'?

'5 Centimeters Per Second' tells the poignant story of Tōno Takaki and Shinohara Akari, who share a deep bond from childhood. Their relationship is tested by distance and time, highlighting themes of love, loss, and the bittersweet nature of memories as they grow apart.

How does 'Fruits Basket' incorporate magical elements into its romance?

'Fruits Basket' uniquely blends romance with magical realism, as Tohru Honda discovers that her classmate Yuki and his family are cursed to transform into animals of the Chinese zodiac. This magical aspect deepens the emotional complexity of the relationships and their struggles.

What sets 'Your Name' apart from other romantic anime films?

'Your Name' stands out due to its unique body-swapping narrative, where Mitsuha and Taki, two teenagers from different backgrounds, experience life in each other's bodies. This innovative storytelling combined with breathtaking animation and a powerful soundtrack makes it a remarkable film.

What are the main themes explored in 'Weathering With You'?

'Weathering With You' explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the impact of climate change. The protagonist, Hodaka, meets Hina, a girl with the ability to manipulate weather, leading to a romantic yet challenging journey as they navigate their feelings amidst societal pressures.

Why is 'Say I Love You' significant in the romantic anime genre?

'Say I Love You' is significant because it tackles themes of loneliness, vulnerability, and the importance of connections. The protagonist, Mei, who has always kept to herself, learns to open up to others through her relationship with Yamato, making it relatable for many viewers.

What emotional journey does 'The Garden of Words' portray?

'The Garden of Words' beautifully portrays an emotional journey between Takao, a high school student, and Yukari, an older woman he meets in a garden. Their interactions explore themes of longing, connection, and the complexities of love, all set against a backdrop of stunning visuals.

How do romantic anime films appeal to young audiences?

Romantic anime films appeal to young audiences by blending relatable themes of love and friendship with captivating storytelling and art. The emotional depth, character development, and often idealized romance resonate with viewers, providing both escapism and a reflection of their experiences.

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