While not specifically associated withanime,Netflixhas a strong range of shows and movies. Except for platforms that prioritize Japanese animation, Netflix has arguably the most impressive anime library, one that not only covers most genres but also contains exclusives that cannot be watched anywhere else.Netflix also tends to get a few new shows per season, ensuring its selection is pretty much always expanding.
As the service treats “anime” as a genre, it can be surprisingly hard to browse a specific type of show. To help simplify the process, let’s go through thebest romance anime on Netflix, covering both classics and modern series.
The focus is on Netflix anime that push romance to the forefront. For example,Ranma 1/2andDandadanhave been left out since it would be a stretch to describe them as romance anime. That said, they are both fantastic.
This recommendation comes with the caveat that Legoshi and Haru’s romance fades into the background during seasons 2 and 3, which can be disappointing since their relationship is arguably the best part of the first cour. Still, season 1 is strong enough on its own to warrant a watch, and the sequels are still quite good, even if they are primarily psychological dramas with very little romance.
Set in aworld of anthropomorphic animals,Beastarsexplores the discrimination and social tension that arise from the antagonistic dynamic between herbivores and carnivores. As a wolf and bunny, respectively, Legoshi and Haru are from opposite sides of the equation, and their differences both bring them together and drive them apart. Their relationship is fantastic while prioritized.
As a concept, harem is generally considered a separate entity from romance, despite the genres overlapping in a lot of areas. Even though they both revolve around relationships, harems focus almost exclusively on the protagonist’s journey towards picking their partner, with the culminating romance being an afterthought.
A fairly prototypical harem,The Quintessential Quintupletsis executed extremely well and, for the most part, does a great job developing all the characters. Uesugi is hired to tutor five sisters who are failing badly at school, and he gradually builds a friendship with all of them. While not necessarily a great romance,The Quintessential Quintupletsisone of the best harem romances.
One of the funniest anime on Netflix,Romantic Killeris a parody of romance and reverse harems, one stuffed with gloriously over-the-top facial expressions. Showing very little interest in boys, Anzu prefers to spend her free time doing her own thing; unfortunately, a strange wizard shows up and flings her headfirst into a romcom, with three guys falling for her.
Initially, this anime comes across as a comedy that seems to have no interest in pursuing legitimate relationships, but this steadily changes as the story progresses. During the second half of the season,Romantic Killerbecomes a surprisingly effective romance, with Anzu having great chemistry with all three male leads.
Now, here is just a cuteNetflix romance anime.Hi Score Girlis alove letter to old-school gaming, particularly arcades. The anime primarily revolves around the “rivalry” between Haruo and Akira, with the former never being able to defeat the latter. Over roughly half a decade, these two grew closer via their shared experiences and love for gaming, despite spending plenty of time apart during this period. Haruo also develops a fascinating friendship with another girl named Koharu.
Hi Score Girlis a low-stakes and mostly easy-going anime that does not overstay its welcome or rely too heavily on melodrama. Romance is not always the main focus, but it is always building on the background.
Anall-time reverse harem classic,Ouran High School Host Clubis arguably that genre’s ultimate gateway anime. Why? Well, it happens to also be one of the best comedies of all time, while also being a pretty awesome romance (within the confines of a harem structure).
Haruhi, a girl who feels more comfortable dressing up as a male student, ends up joining her school’s Host Club to pay off a debt, an agreement that was reached before the club’s members realized her gender. Long story short, most of the boys develop feelings for Haruhi, especially the club’s president.
Ouran High School Host Clubworked as well as it does because all the main characters are fully fleshed out, and they are not defined by their relationships with Haruhi. Consequently, any romantic feelings feel completely natural.
One of the more famousNetflix romance animeexclusives,My Happy Marriagehas led a strange life. Both seasons debuted to fairly high acclaim, only to fade as they progressed. The show has, admittedly, a few notable weaknesses, specifically a tendency to feature one-note villains. The supernatural element can also come across as half-baked at times, and the action sequences are not great.
For all its flaws,My Happy Marriagegets one thing spot-on: Kiyoka and Miyo’s romance. After overcoming some initial uncertainty, these two form a wholesome rapport built on support, tenderness, and honesty. Both characters carry childhood trauma that shaped their outlooks on relationships, and they find solace and love in each other.
Based on aChinese manhua,No Doubt In Usmight be overlooked due to not being regarded as a conventional anime; however, anyone looking for an epic love story needs to 100% check out this show as it is comfortably amongNetflix’s best romance anime. While it lasts for 48 episodes, they are half-length, so this is a relatively quick watch in the grand scheme of things.
With the Chinese imperial court as the backdrop, the Empress and Emperor have their relationship tested when they magically swap bodies, allowing them to view the world from the other person’s perspective. In a fun change of pace, the story focuses on two characters who fall back in love after initially growing apart, a dynamic that very few shows touch upon.
Debuting inFall 2024,Blue Boxoffers a rare mix of romance and sports, to the point that fans of both genres should give it a watch. That said, this anime is first and foremost a romance, with the sports aspect being not only secondary but, at times, can come across as irrelevant. Taiki is in love with Chinatsu, the star player of his school’s girls' basketball team.
Inspired by her passion for the sport, Taiki decides to take his badminton training seriously, all to ask Chinatsu out after he makes it to nationals. A childhood friend named Hina also has a very obvious crush on Taiki, which just complicates matters.
While not necessarily the most original story,Blue Boxnails its characters. All three leads are not only incredibly likable but also have fantastic chemistry with each other, and their banter is quite realistic by the romance genre’s standards.
Your Lie In Aprilis pretty much iconic by this point, and there is a very good chance that anybody remotely interested in romance has already sat through A-1 Pictures' masterful series. For those who haven’t, they owe it to themselves to jump into this story, one that is filled with drama, beautiful music, hope, depression, and (polarizing) comedy.
Kosei has not been able to play the piano since his mother’s death, but things change when he meets a prodigy named Kaori. This encounter triggers a powerful relationship that goes beyond infatuation or lust, as the two build a strong and unbreakable connection. Impressively, they are not the show’s only great characters.
Before 2024,Kimi ni Todokewas great but also somewhat disappointing. After a fantastic 2009 season, the anime dropped a sequel that seemed happy to spin its wheels, refusing to pull the trigger on the core romance until way too late. With no follow-up, this story felt like it never reached its peak.
Fortunately, in 2024,Kimi ni Todokereturned for its third season, which happened to be a Netflix exclusive. These five episodes represent the romance anime genre at its best, telling relatable and mature stories driven by well-defined characters who are constantly learning about themselves. They cover the highs, lows, and insecurities of love, all the while working as coming-of-age character studies.
Just to be clear, newcomers should start from the beginning sinceKimi ni Todokeis never anything less than good.
