Romance anime has a unique capacity for pulling at the heartstrings—no matter if you’re on board for the butterflies, the repartee, or those emotional payoffs that leave your soul stirring. With so many different titles competing for space every season, it can be too much to sift through what’s worth watching. But don’t fret—we did the legwork for you. From new releases to much-awaited sequels and all-time classics, here are the romance anime illuminating screens in 2025.
New Releases Creating Waves This Summer
The Scented Flower Unfurls with Grace
This shonen romance is quietly turning into the sleeper hit of the summer. Against the background of two rivaling schools, it tracks Rintaro and Kaoruko as they dance together around tension, friendship, and surprise affection. It’s soft, it’s charming, and it’s refreshingly genuine—just what you’re looking for in a slow-burn romance. With CloverWorks in charge of production, you can also expect some quality animation.
April Showers Bring May Flowers
A modern take on the age-old “popular and the introvert” relationship. Hana, the timid underdog, piques the interest of popular classmate Yosuke, shaking her mundane high school existence to its core. It’s sweet, hopeful, and sincere—a nice comfort watch that remains contemporary.
Cultural Exchange with Game Center Girl
Renji’s life changes when he wins a claw machine prize for Lily, a foreign exchange student with a lot of charm and curiosity. This light-hearted, culturally nuanced romcom blends slice-of-life vibes with a refreshing perspective thanks to its rare non-Japanese female lead. A chill, cozy romance with arcade antics and heart.
Returning Favorites: Bringing the Feels
Some of the genre’s largest stars return this summer. Look for more swoon-worthy moments and dramatic storytelling from Call of the Night, A Couple of Cuckoos, My Dress-Up Darling, Rascal Does Not Dream, and Dandadan. The latter especially continues to impress fans with its random combination of supernatural mayhem and adorable character chemistry.
Fan-Favorite Romance Series to Revisit
Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again
This is for the romantics who are convinced that love improves with age. When long-married couple Shozo and Ine are magically restored to their youth, they fall in love with each other all over again. It’s humorous, touching, and a reminder that romance never expires.
Making: Too Many Losing Heroines
Whereas most romance shows focus on one romance, this series looks at the experiences of three girls who’ve all been through heartbreak. Enter Nukumizu, a guy who becomes friends with each of them, not to repair them, but to figure them out. The outcome is a reflective, humorous series about healing and human connection.
Dandadan
One of the most lively anime on the air now, Dandadan pairs ghosts, aliens, slapstick comedy, and yes, love. Momo and Ken’s back-and-forth is a comedic, affectionate standout, particularly when contrasted with all the ghostly mayhem.
Maid Sama!
A romcom classic that continues to hold up. Misaki is the tough-as-nails student council president who moonlights at a maid café—and Takumi Usui is the too-perfect guy who discovers her secret. Full of laughs and old-school tsundere charm, it’s a classic of the genre for a reason.
Kokoro Connect
What ensues when a group of teenagers begin to switch bodies—and secrets? This emotionally charged series transcends surface romance, delving into the deeper vulnerabilities of its characters. It’s as much a psychological drama as it is a romance.
The Pet Girl of Sakurasou
When Sorata is assigned to take care of the eccentric, genius Mashiro, sparks fly—but so do misunderstandings. Yuri!!! On Ice combines creativity, heartbreak, and clumsy romance in a school environment replete with outlandish characters. Though it’s most famous for its beautiful animation and sports drama, the relationship between Yuuri and Victor is subtly strong. It’s a slow-burn, emotionally grounded love story that’s conveyed in figure skating—and it’s one of the most iconic anime couples in recent history.
My Happy Marriage
Based in an alternate Meiji Japan infused with magic and domestic conflict, this series tells the story of Miyo, a demure teenager from a violent home, and Kiyoka, the strict man she’s betrothed to. What is initially a chilly arrangement blossoms into a sweet, empowering love filled with inner resilience and redemption.
Tomo-chan Is A Girl!
Tomo and Jun are best buddies, but Tomo craves being regarded as something more than “one of the guys.” This romcom gets all the right notes—great comedy timing, heartfelt emotional moments, and the sort of slow-burn chemistry that fans adore.
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
A fresh breath for grown-up anime enthusiasts. Wotakoi is about office employees with love and geeky interests in the mix, demonstrating that love doesn’t end at graduation. It’s brief, nice, and loaded with humorously familiar moments. Whatever your genre of choice—whether quirky comedies, historical dramas, or modern romances with a twist—2025 promises to be the year of romance anime. So get your snacks ready, add to your watchlist, and prepare to fall head over heels—over and over again.