Summary
Theromance genrein anime will always be popular. There will always be people who enjoy watching animated characters fall in love. That said, romances also come with cliches and a lot of times, there are general expectations of what a romantic anime can provide, and typically these expectations aren’t the highest.
There are shows that have burst past these expectations and delivered something unique to the viewer. This could be the animation style, the subversion of a trope, or writing so strong that it turns a simple love story into a masterpiece.
10Just Because!
The Childhood Friend Won
Just Because!is a show from 2017 that many have already forgotten about. It follows Eita Izumi, who returns to his old town to finish up high school and reconnects with old friends and also rekindles old feelings. The show with a premise like that seems like a run-of-the-mill romance, but it displayed a lot of strengths.
For one, it was a lot more subtle and nuanced in its take on romance in general. But, perhaps the biggest surprise was that it was also a show that saw the childhood friend win in thelove ‘battle’. It does seem like the name ‘Just Because!’ may have been an allusion to love doing what it wants with whom it wants.
On the outside, Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou, or just Alya, is a cool, calm and collected individual who oozes indifference. However, she secretly habors feelings for her classmate, Masachika Kuze, which she sometimes confesses in Russian, the only problem is that Masachika understands Russian.
The cultural inferences in the show were refreshing and as opposed to a generic show, what fans got was a charming story with cute characters and the occasional laugh. It was made byDoga Kobowho are perhaps most famous forNozaki-kunandOshi no Ko.
Tsuki ga Kireiis a subtle anime that tells a straightforward love story between Kotarou and Akane, the former an aspiring writer and the latter a track star. The show doesn’t feel like anything one would expect anything out of, but as audiences settle into the rhythm of the show, they find themselves drawn into the raw honesty on display.
Kotarou is a straight shooter and is honest about his feelings, which isn’t always the most common trait in a romance protagonist. The obstacles in the way of the romance are usually faced head-on by Kotarou, and their romance with Akane is refreshing.
When many sawSnow White with the Red Hair, they would have assumed it was a story that would follow the Disney classic beat for beat, with the only exception being that the protagonist, Shirayuki, has red hair. While the story is a fantasy one with princes and princesses, Shirayuki is far from a damsel in distress.
What sets this show apart is just how strong a cast it has especially Shirayuki who is beautiful, feminine, yet independent and resourceful, which isn’t always how such characters are portrayed. The show has two seasons and has always been well-reviewed. It looked like it would be a generic romance, but was anything but.
Beastarstakes a hard look at societal distrust and prejudice in a story that initially looked like an anime version of Zootopia. The show sees, Legoshi, a wolf and Haru, a bunny, develop feelings for each other on the backdrop of a murder mystery that might involve Legoshi who is a carnivore.
Anime that have a3D looksometimes aren’t given as much of a chance as others and it might have felt that Beastars will be similar, but this was not the case. Also, for anyone simply expecting a highschool romance got something very different as Beastars went into murkier territory and turned out to be a pretty great watch.
Kyotaro fantasizes about killing his classmates. In particular, he fantasizes about ending the beautiful Yamada. The two however, meet and start to understand one another better and a friendship ensues. The expectation at first glance withThe Dangers In My Heart, was that it would be a simple ecchi with a cute girl and weird guy.
It turns out that the show is a lot more nuanced than first advertised and the contrast between the leads physically is interesting. Also, the show explores a friendship with hints of a romance and takes it time. Many were not prepared for The Dangers In My Heart, and it became something of a sleeper hit.
Hotaru Oreki joins the classics club where along with the energetic Eru Chitanda, he solves what look likemundane mysteries.Hyoukais a beautiful anime made by Kyoto animation and is a show that can go under the radar for many due to its somewhat bland synopsis.
But it is in the normal things that Hyouka does really well. The characters of Oreki and Chitanda are both really well written, and the beauty of the animation tends to take people by surprise. The story is also highly relatable, and the romance is a slow burn, all of which contributes to a really well-made show.
There are some Hollywood movies that come out around the same time that seem to be the same story but with different characters (think Olympus Is Fallen v White House Down). Apparently, the same happens in anime sometimes withWe Never Learnfeeling very similar to Quintessential Quintuplets in its premise with a struggling protagonist made to tutor beautiful girls.
WhileWe Never Learnis a harem and does a lot of what harem does, it also elevates the art especially in regards to the character development to the point whereby each character is genuinely likable. The show feels like it is better than it has any right to be, and all in all is very enjoyable.
Too Many Losing Heroineslooks like a harem, but it is so far from being one in reality. The story is really about what it is to lose out on love, and a protagonist who helps all the girls get through it, not by being a romantic object himself, but rather by extending ahand of friendship.
The show is also gorgeous, and this can catch the viewer by surprise since it has such a simple premise. The chemistry between the characters is also very wholesome, and the friendships seem genuine. It looked like a typical harem show, but for those who gave it a chance, it turned out to be so much better.
Your Lie In Aprilalways looked like it was going to be good. Handled by A1-Pictures and made from an award-winning manga, it already looked good, but few could have predicted just how great it became. The story of Arima Kousei and Kaori Miyazono still leads people to tears to this day.
What made the story so compelling and elevated it was the honesty of the characters. They were complex, layered, and the musical score that accompanied the show was delightful. The animation was top-notch and showed the care A1-Pictures put into the project.
