The 7 Most Underrated Romance Anime You Are Missing Out

Romance anime is one of the most long-standing anime genres, as it often delves into the complexities of love, relationships, and personal growth. It spans many genres and settings, from high school dramas to fantasy worlds, historical periods, and even supernatural tales.

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These stories can be heartwarming, bittersweet, or even tear-jerking, offering viewers a deep emotional experience that resonates personally. For example, Clannad can cause me to tear up, Kaguya-sama can involuntarily make me smile, and Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light can force me to hate someone.

Regardless, romance anime provides a perfect blend of valuable life lessons alongside entertainment. Today, I will not be writing down the best romance anime list, but the more underrated ones you may have missed.

Related: 15 Best Anime of All Time, Ranked According to MyAnimeList

7 Underrated Romance Anime Suggestions

1) Cross Game

For the first recommendation, I have to take you back a decade and more to appreciate this unique and touching sports and romance anime that beautifully blends baseball with the coming-of-age story of its characters. Aired in 2009, the Cross Game anime adaptation of the manga by Mitsuru Adachi revolves around the relationship between Ko and Aoba, evolving from animosity and rivalry to mutual respect and deeper feelings.

For context, Ko is the son of a sporting goods store owner and has been friends with the Tsukishima sisters, Wakaba and Aoba, since childhood. Wakaba is close to him, and it’s clear that they have feelings for each other, even as young children, while Aoba often criticises him for his lack of dedication to baseball.

When you thought this was a plot for a potential love triangle, tragedy struck as Wakaba tragically passed away. Her death massively affected Ko and Aoba as Ko’s passion for baseball deepens, while Aoba gradually confides with Ko about their shared loss. If you can survive episode one, you will receive a beautifully crafted coming-of-age romance anime.

2) The Girl Downstairs

From a classic to a modern romance anime, The Girl Downstairs released just a year ago, has already offered watchers a touching and thought-provoking story about two individuals trying to find themselves and each other amidst life challenges. Based on the popular South Korean webtoon by Min Song-ah, the romance anime revolves around the story of a former K-pop idol named Lee Duna and a college student named Lee Joon, who ends up living in the same shared house.

While Lee Joon is initially surprised by the retired idol and keeps his distance, he gradually becomes intrigued by her and the person behind the celebrity persona. With more time spent together, they feel a budding romance towards one another, but they both carry emotional baggage which complicates matters.

Like the popular Oshi no Ko, this romance anime delves into the darker side of fame, showing how the pressures of being in the public eye affect Duna’s mental health and personal life. Fortunately, it is not a similar revenge story, as The Girl Downstairs depicts the two protagonists transitioning from adolescence to adulthood, making decisions about their futures, and learning to deal with their pasts.

3) Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts

If you like Beauty and the Beast, this romance anime is perfect as it explores love, acceptance, and breaking down barriers to overcome prejudice and fear. Based on the manga by Yu Tomofuji, this romance anime takes place in a fantastical world where humans and beasts live in separate realms.

The story follows Sariphi, a young girl chosen as the 99th human sacrifice offered to the King of Beasts and Demons, Leonhart. The King, known for his fearsome reputation, is supposed to devour her, as has been done with all previous sacrifices. However, Sariphi’s calm and fearless demeanour intrigues him. Instead of being consumed, she begins forming an unexpected bond with the King, discovering that beneath his terrifying appearance lies a compassionate heart.

After breaking through Leonhart’s outward facade, Sariphi learns he’s cursed, and only by embracing his true nature can he maintain his human form. Thus, Sariphi and Leonhart began confiding in each other, challenging the prejudices between humans and beasts, and showing kindness and understanding in a world filled with hatred and fear.

4) There She Is!!

Continuing with romance anime with prejudice, we have There She Is!!, a beloved South Korean animated web series created by SamBakZa. For those who prefer shorter episodes, this series only has five episodes (Steps) showcasing the evolving relationship between two main characters: a female rabbit named Doki and a male cat named Nabi.

Like my previous recommendation, this romance anime takes place in a world where rabbits and cats exist in a society where interspecies relationships are frowned upon. However, love is blind as Doki, an energetic and optimistic rabbit, falls head over heels for Nabi, a reserved and somewhat reluctant cat.

While it only has five episodes, each represents a different phase in Doki and Nabi’s relationship. For example, the tone can shift from lighthearted and humorous to more serious and emotional as the series progresses, reflecting the growing complexities of their love story.

Also Read: 10 Best Anime Movies of All Time

5) My Happy Marriage

Onto one of my favourite heart-wrenching romance anime, we have My Happy Marriage, written by Akumi Agitogi. Unlike others on this list, the story resolves around healing and self-discovery. For context, the female protagonist, Miyo Saimori’s life, has been anything but happy despite her noble birth.

When her mother passed away, her father remarried, with Miyo’s stepmother and stepsisters treating her like a servant as they tramped upon her self-worth, forcing her to do their bidding. After reaching the age of marriage, Miyo was wedded to Kiyoka Kudou, a cold and mysterious army commander known for driving away his previous fiancées.

My Happy Marriage Season 2 Officially Announced!

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However, as they spend time together, Miyo and Kiyoka begin to understand each other, and their relationship slowly develops into a genuine and heartfelt love. Their relationship gradually grows throughout the series as they learn to confront and overcome their traumas together, each acting as one’s pillar of strength.

6) Psychic Princess

Love is cultural and universal. Thus, it is only correct for me to include the Chinese anime (Donghua) Psychic Princess in my underrated romance anime list. The story revolves around the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister, Qian Yunxi, who possesses extraordinary psychic abilities. However, due to her powers, she is shunned by her family and sent away to live in isolation in the mountains since childhood.

Her life changed when Prince Ye Youming demanded her instead of her sister as his fiance, with the two starting off their relationship sourly before gradually developing into something deeper as they learn to understand and trust each other.

As expected of an anime set in a historical, imperial China-inspired world, Yunxi becomes entangled in various plots and schemes, facing challenges from her supernatural encounters and those who wish to see her fail. Despite her differences from other people, Ye Youming treats her indifferently, trusting her with his gut feeling rather than logical reasoning.

7) The Great Passage

Lastly, on my underrated romance anime list, I present The Great Passage by Shion Miura, a unique and heartwarming exploration of language, love, and human connection. The story centres on Mitsuya Majime, a shy and socially awkward man who works in the sales department of a publishing company.

Despite his introverted nature, Majime has a passion for words and language. When Masashi Nishioka, an editor in the dictionary department, recruited him to help compile a new dictionary titled “The Great Passage”, he begins moving out of his shell as he meets a variety of people, including his quirky colleagues and a young woman named Kaguya Hayashi, with whom he falls in love.

The realisation of this romance hits too close to home as it offers a refreshing and introspective experience for someone like me who appreciates stories about personal growth and the power of language.

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