To all hopeless and hopeful romantics, Valentine’s Day may have already passed but love is still in the air, especially in the world of anime. Romance animes have been around since the anime industry started to rise. It is a classic type of genre that will always address the preferences of viewers when it comes to love and life that they experience or don’t usually get to experience themselves.
Spring 2023 for anime fans has been so good so far. With the launching of new highly-anticipated animes from varying genres, romance anime will not be beaten as one of the leading genres for this season. There are couples who have returned for Spring 2023. But, there are also couples that will bring viewers a fresh and new kind of love story.
The best thing about all romance animes this spring is that each love story will take different interesting paths in building their relationship. This will certainly help in setting these shows apart from each other and won’t bore the viewers even if they decide to watch all of them. So without further ado, here are the nine best couples of Spring 2023:
9. Akane Nishimura and Taiyo Takada – My Clueless Friend
If you’re a huge fan of animes like Teasing Master Takagi-san then the story of Akane Nishimura and Taiyo Takada will be able to give you the same heartwarming feeling. The protagonist may still be early to be in a romantic relationship; however, the friendship that they will be able to build will make it harder for viewers to deny their chemistry. Although the protagonists do not have those cute fighting like cats and dogs moments, their story will make you feel all sorts of emotions as they work on themselves with the help of one other.
The female protagonist, Akane, struggles in making friends while Taiyo won’t even break a sweat in making one. Akane Nishimura is a fifth-grade outcast and loner, unlike Taiyo Takada who goes with the flow and is frequently considered by others as air-headed. Takada’s warm personality will be a blessing to a loner like Nishimura-san. She will find her first-ever friend in him and will spend most of their grade school days, such as walking home together.
8. Ichikawa Kyoutarou and Yamada Anna – The Dangers in My Heart
At first glance, the series seemed like it follows the soft and unpopular guy and the popular girl trope. However, it becomes more unconventional because of the male protagonist, Ichikawa Kyoutarou. Ichikawa thinks that he is the main character of a psychological thriller movie and must kill someone. Due to the infectious beauty and popularity of Yamada Anna that irritates him, Ichikawa was determined that she is the person that he had to kill.
Despite how much Ichikawa despises Yamada, he is always there to help and ends up being surprised by his own actions toward her. Ichikawa may appear as a socially awkward emo boy, but in reality, he is more kind and empathetic than others. Like most, he just wants to fit in. While Yamada Anna’s magical high school life turns out to be nothing but a facade. Together they work on these issues of them whether they like it or not because they are just too perfect for each other.
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7. Rokudo Tousoke and Ranna Himawari – Rokudo’s Bad Girls
A gangster and nerd-like love story. Rokudo’s Bad Girls is a romance-comedy anime that revolves around the male protagonist having to live his high school life with girls chasing after him. Although for a non-popular school boy like Rokudo, this would have been a dream come true. But, the ones that keep on coming after him are high school bad girls like Ranna Himawari who is known to be a fearsome delinquent.
Ranna Himawari’s angst and aggressiveness are no match to the kindness of Rokudo that made her fall for him. To other people, Ranna is feared due to her monstrous personality and aura. However, getting lovestruck by Rokudo completely changes her. Because of him, she started acting more diligent in school and soft-hearted, particularly to her crush. With her wooden sword and big bike, Ranna is ready to fight and protect Rokudo anytime and anywhere.
6. Ichiro Kuga and Shiori Goshiki – Galaxy Next Door
This love story provides something fresh to the viewers. Although the main characters look simple, the story will literally take viewers to a galactic turn because of Shiori Goshiki’s real identity. The story Ichiro and Shiori differs from other romance animes because they are neither Mr. Popular meet Ms. Nobody, nor vice-versa, kind of characters. Ichiro Kuga is a hard worker and kind young man who took the responsibility to take care of his two siblings after both of their parents passed away.
Ichiro is a talented mangaka; however, he is struggling because of the lack of assistance. He finds it hard to meet the deadlines set by the publishing company because of being a one-man team. But, when he needed help most, Shiori walks in and applied as his assistant. During her first day, Ichiro instantly noticed that his newly hired assistant has exceptional skills, and really made his work lighter. But their connection will become more intimate when Ichiro accidentally touches something behind Shiori. By touching it, Ichiro gets transported to an infinite void and gets pulled out by Shiori. Because of this circumstance, Shiori told Ichiro that she is actually a princess of a species called Star people betrothed to him.
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5. Raeliana McMillan and Noah Volstaire Wynknight – The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion
The story of Raeliana and Noah is one of this year’s most anticipated romance anime. The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion has been a fan-favorite manhwa; hence, many were excited when its anime adaptation was finally announced. Raeliana and Noah may give off the usual tropes. But rather than a hate-to-love relationship, Raeliana, and Noah’s relationship will eventually grow from nothing to something.
Raeliana already died once and refuses to accept that she will die again after getting reincarnated. Thus, she is willing to do whatever it takes. On one hand, as a duke, Noah has to maintain his reputation. He is perceived as someone who calculates everything accurately but can be sarcastic sometimes. In order for Raeliana to call off his engagement, she turns to Noah for help. However, their relationship got complicated after that which left them both living in the same household.
4. Insomniacs After School
Another highly-anticipated fan-favorite anime. If you have a hard time sleeping and got nothing much else to do then this anime is probably the best show just for you. Insomniacs after school open up about the struggles of people who are suffering from sleeping disorders. The story follows a high school teenager who has problems in school, not because of bad grades but because of sleeping in the middle of a class. Fortunately, he will, later on, meet a girl who is also going through the same problem as him and will be able to build a bond out of it.
Ganta Nakami is an insomniac whom his schoolmates consider to be grumpy. However, his sleeping disorder has resulted in people around him to misunderstood who he really is. He may seem unmotivated due to his lack of sleep. But, he will meet a person whom he can share his struggles with. In the astronomical observatory, he will meet a bubbly girl named Isaki Magari. Isaki tries to hide her insomnia from others and goes to the observatory to rest. Their encounter inside the observatory will become their secret hiding place and will work together to surpass the challenges they are facing as insomniacs.
3. Akito Yamada and Akane Kinoshita – Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru
Akito Yamada and Akane Kinoshita’s story has been causing quite a buzz since its debut. The romance in this anime is the story that almost everyone would watch because it gives the viewers what they want. It is without a doubt that Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi Wo Suru will get the viewers hooked, at the same time, meet their expectations just through the first episode of the series. The anime features the common introvert guy and extrovert girl trope but in a far more interesting take as they try to meet halfway through a game.
Furthermore, the series has been well-loved and appreciated by fans since its release. This is because the viewers believe that the characters are also relatable. Akito Yamada is a professional gamer who is aloof and prefers to be alone in his room playing. Despite his very reserved personality, Yamada has a soft heart and never hesitates to help those in need, including Akane Kinoshita. Akane might have grown interested in RPG games due to her ex. However, she will learn to love it even after her breakup. Yamada and Akane playing the same games and meeting in meet-ups will allow them to get closer even with their opposite personalities.
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2. Sousuke Shima and Mitsumi Iwakara – Skip and Loafer
A hundred percent click, not skip new romance anime is Skip and Loafer. The series consists of the genres of romance, comedy, and slice-of-life. The story of Shima and Iwakara is a slow-paced love story because the whole plot of the series does not focus only on them, but also gives the other characters the spotlight that they deserve. However, the soon love story of Shima and Iwakara and how their relationship will be developed is one of the main focuses of the series.
Sousuke Shima and Mitsume Iwakara grew up in different environments. One grew in the urban areas, while the other grew in the rural parts of Japan. Iwakara is both a dreamer and an achiever who is determined to reach all her goals by venturing into Tokyo. Because of her confidence, Iwakara wasn’t aware that Tokyo was much more than she have ever imagined. Luckily, he will meet the smart, good-looking, and carefree, Sousuke Shima. Unlike Iwakara, Shima doesn’t really have future plans. But, his helping during Iwakara’s first day in school and for the rest of the school year will also greatly affect his personality.
1. Nasa Yuzaki and Tsukasa Yuzaki – TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You
Nasa Yuzaki and Tsukasa Yuzaki have finally returned after almost three years of fans patiently waiting. The married couple is back to let the viewers get a glimpse of their day-to-day lives as a married couple. TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You is a light-hearted romantic-comedy anime, but with a little bit of drama. Since the release of season one in 2020, fans have always loved the series for its straight-to-the-point story, as well as, the charming relationship of the two.
Nasa Yuzaki and Tsukasa Yuzaki have maintained their popularity while fans waited for their return. This is because of the well-written and lovable characters. Therefore, viewers can expect the same in season two since more characters will be introduced which will surely add excitement to the series. The first season of Tonikawa offered fans something new. Unlike usual tropes in romance animes that end with characters confessing, Nasa and Tsukasa started their relationship with a marriage proposal. In season two, viewers will definitely be granted pure entertainment and wholesomeness. Nasa and Tsukasa will continue to work their way through their marriage as they get to know and love each other more.