10 best romantic anime to watch this Valentine’s Day
Netflix/CrunchyrollFrom critically acclaimed movies to captivating series, here’s our list of the ten best romantic anime you need to watch this Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is here, and as such, we believe it’s the perfect time to watch some anime series or movies that will make you long to be with the person you love. After all, anime embraces all sorts of love, from romantic to platonic and familial to unrequited.
Don’t go thinking these anime are all mushy love stories, though. Anime incorporates love stories into many genres, including comedies and even time travel movies, so there’s something for everyone on this list. So, from critically acclaimed movies to love-lorn series, here’s our list of the ten best anime you need to watch this Valentine’s Day.
10. The Way of the Househusband
NetflixThe Way of the Househusband is a short and sweet comedy about Tatsu, a former legendary Yakuza member known as the “Immortal Dragon” who terrified the criminal underworld. However, Tatsu vanished one day, and when he returned, he’d married Miku, putting aside his violent past to become a house husband.
Tatsu now wears his trusty apron and is trying his best to become a homemaker to support his beloved wife. As a result, he has developed all the necessary skills—preparing the most delectable dishes, getting the best prices at supermarkets, and everything in between—much to the amazement of his former allies and enemies.
Where to watch: Netflix
9. Horimiya
CrunchyrollA charming romantic comedy series, Horimiya follows the story of Kyoko Hori and Izumi Miyamura, two students trying to hide their true selves from their classmates.
Hori is a popular straight-A student who devotes all her after-school time to caring for her home and younger brother rather than going out with her friends. Miyamura, on the other hand, appears to be a sad otaku in the classroom, but outside of school, he’s really a cool punk.
When the pair discovers each other’s secret, a friendship begins, and a romance blossoms as they desperately try and keep their two worlds separate.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
8. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun
CrunchyrollThis hilarious romantic anime series follows a group of oddball high school students. Our protagonist is Chiyo Sakura, a teenage girl with a crush on her classmate Umetarou Nozaki. When she finally admits her feelings, Nozakai misunderstands and reveals to her he’s secretly the mangaka Sakiko Yumeno.
After a series of bizarre events, Sakura ends up working as his assistant in an attempt to get closer to her crush. As the pair work on the manga, Sakura befriends some eccentric classmates, such as the hot-headed Hori, the quiet but shameless Mikoto, and a girl named Kashima, whom everyone refers to as Prince.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
7. Given
CrunchyrollGiven is an emotional series about love and music centered on the taciturn Mafuyu Sato and his bandmates. While he’s a musical prodigy, Mafuyu’s past trauma holds him back.
It’s only through spending time with charismatic guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama and the band that he begins to see the joy in life again. An exceptionally moving series, Given is a story about heartbreak, the importance of bonds, and breaking free from the shackles of your past.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
6. My Happy Marriage
NetflixMy Happy Marriage is a Shoujo anime that debuted in 2023. Although the series has a manga, the anime closely follows the light novel. Our hero is the unfortunate Miyo Saimori, a young woman who works as a servant for her cruel family.
When she’s forced into an arranged marriage with a notoriously ruthless military captain, Kiyoka Kudou, Miyo is terrified. However, what awaits her in her new marital home isn’t a painful marriage but a life full of happiness.
Where to watch: Netflix
5. Insomniacs After School
Prime VideoInsomniacs After School is a captivating story of self-discovery and acceptance. The plot revolves around two high school students, Ganta Nakami and Isaki Magari. Ganta has trouble falling asleep and is often irritated at school as a result, leading him to separate himself from others. Meanwhile, Isaki acts carefree, but she’s also hiding her insomnia from her friends.
Everything changes, however, when Ganta discovers Isaki napping in the observatory. Realizing that she and Nakami share a common interest, she offers to share her secret resting area with her fellow insomniac. The two find comfort in one another’s company, making it easier for them to face the problems in their lives.
Where to watch: Prime Video
4. Maid Sama!
CrunchyrollMaid Sama! is a heartwarming Shojo classic that follows Misaki Ayuzawa, the exceptionally diligent Student Council President of Seika High School, a former boys’ school where 80 percent of the student body is still male. Misaki goes by the nickname “Demon President” because of her strictness. Part of her stubbornness comes from her inability to trust men after her father left her mother alone to raise two daughters.
However, Misaki also has a side she never wants anyone to see. She works part-time at a Maid Cafe because of her family circumstances and is too embarrassed to let anyone know. When her classmate Takumi Usui finds out her secret, though., and refuses to leave her side since Misakai realizes men aren’t quite as bad as she thinks.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
3. Your Name
Prime VideoYour Name is widely regarded as Makoto Shinkai’s masterpiece. While the film’s amazing animation is striking in its beauty and complexity, the true strength of the film lies in its plot. We follow Mitsuha and Taki, two youths living in different parts of Japan. Mitsuha is from the quiet rural hamlet of Itomori, while Taki attends high school in the bustling city of Tokyo.
One fateful day, the pair experience a strange event in which they abruptly swap bodies. Realizing they can communicate through words written on paper, the pair are bound together by this unique connection and go on an astonishing journey full of thrilling adventures, helping one another along the way.
Where to watch: Prime Video
2. Whisper of the Heart
MaxWhisper of the Heart is a beautiful Studio Ghibli film about two teenagers, Shizuku and Seiji. Shizuku loves reading novels and writing poetry, so much so that she neglects her education. When she finds out Seiji has been checking out the same books as her, she becomes curious about his identity.
This (and a cat on a train) leads Shizuku to an intriguing antique store. There, Shizuku meets and befriends Seiji, and the pair inspire each other to pursue their passions for writing and violin making.
Where to watch: Netflix
1. Howl’s Moving Castle
NetflixA timeless classic, Howl’s Moving Castle is a poignant and touching masterpiece. Set in a magical world, it explores a variety of themes, including humanity, compassion, and belonging, but its most lasting message stems from what it has to say about the evils of war.
The protagonist, Sophie Hatter, is a normal young lady who becomes cursed by the Witch of the Waste after meeting Howls. Due to the curse, Sophie’s appearance has changed to that of a 90-year-old lady. She leaves her home and embarks on an aimless trip, but her life takes a turn for the better when she reaches Howl’s Castle.
Where to watch: Netflix