17 Best Romance Anime Films, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Romance anime films offer emotional connections, love, heartbreak, and self-discovery, creating impactful narratives.
• Movies like 5 Centimeters Per Second and Your Name showcase stunning visuals and heartbreaking love stories that captivate viewers.
• From realistic stories like Ocean Waves to fantasy tales like Weathering With You, romance anime movies deliver on love’s complexities.

Romance anime films have garnered a lot of attention and risen in popularity in recent years. Fans of the medium love these movies for their unique storytelling style, captivating animation quality, and relatable cast of characters. Though light-hearted for the most part, these films do not shy away from tackling deeper themes, such as heartbreak, sacrifice, and journeys of self-discovery.

Romance anime films tend to offer a deep emotional connection between the audience and the featured characters, which makes the narrative feel even more impactful. It isn’t always easy to portray love and all its complexities, but many romance anime films often find the right blend of elements to keep the story engaging.

Updated on October 15, 2024, by Mark Sammut: The best romance anime movies are unforgettable, and they do not come around often. To help fill people’s nights with love, two more films have been added as recommendations.

17 Tamako Love Story

The Confusing Road To Love

• Release Date: April 26, 2014
• Director: Naoko Yamada
• Studio: Kyoto Animation
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.91

A sequel to Tamako Market, Tamako Love Story finds the characters on the cusp of adulthood and facing changes that will greatly influence their future. The series hints at a potential romance between Tamako and Mochizou quite heavily, but it is always in the background rather than the focus. However, the movie pushes this to the forefront, with both characters having to come to terms with the fact that this could be their last chance to express their emotions.

In a fun twist, Tamako Love Story is far more interested in declarations of love and the potential consequences of acting on that interest than actively exploring a relationship. While a satisfying conclusion to Tamako and Mochizou’s romance, the film does require viewers to be already invested in their journey.

16 Kaguya-sama: Love is War – The First Kiss Never Ends

What Happens After The Confession?

• Release Date: December 17, 2022
• Director: Mamory Hatakeyama
• Studio: A-1 Pictures
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.76
• Where to Stream: Crunchyroll

Starting as one of the funniest comedies of all time, Kaguya-sama: Love is War mostly completed its shift to a romance with comedy by the end of season 3.

Spoiler warning
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Kaguya-sama: Love is War -Ultra Romantic-.

The fantastic season ended with Kaguya and Miyuki finally kissing, a moment built up over more than 30 episodes and countless psychological battles pitting the two against each other. For the longest time, the student council president and vice president refused to let down their guard and confess their feelings, instead trying to get their crush to make the first move. They wasted a lot of time, culminating in one of the more romantic kisses in anime history.

While some stories would be happy to end things here, Kaguya-sama uses The First Kiss That Never Ends to examine this turning point’s aftermath. Ultimately, Kaguya and Miyuki are still the same paranoid people they have always been, and they quickly become overwhelmed by the change in their status quo. Beyond that, this movie explores their futures and pasts, while also highlighting secondary characters like Ishigami.

Although great overall, The First Kiss That Never Ends has a few things that limit its ceiling in a best romance anime movie discussion. Firstly, it is not a standalone story nor should it be watched by non-fans. More importantly, The First Kiss That Never Ends feels more like a couple of episodes stitched together than a film. In fact, the movie is split into four episodes on Crunchyroll.

15 Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation

A Short But Sweet Continuation

• Release Date: February 17, 2023
• Director: Shinji Ishihira
• Studio: Studio Deen
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.31
• Where to Stream: Crunchyroll

Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation clocks in at less than an hour, so it is more like an extended episode than a full-length feature; that said, it packs a lot of cuteness and goodness in its 50 minutes. Sasaki and Miyano is not only one of the best Boys Love anime of all time, but it seemed to serve as a turning point for the theme in general, inspiring a rise of more wholesome stories. As implied by its title, the show simply follows two students as they become friends (bonding through the power of BL manga), starting a relationship that eventually transforms into something more. The series is slow-paced but charming, and the same can be said for the movie sequel.

Although not devoid of drama, Sasaki and Miyano is mostly just happy to let the main characters be endearing together. The movie introduces a big plot point in Sasaki’s graduation, but this event is used to strengthen the duo’s dynamic rather than try and push a wedge between them. As great as the film is, Graduation is not a standalone story and needs to be watched after the show.

14 Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl

A Great Continuation Of A Great Series

• Release Date: June 15th, 2019
• Director: Souichi Masui
• Studio: CloverWorks
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.59

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai serves as a prime example of “don’t judge an anime by its title.” The series is a fun and captivating ride that blends mystery, comedy, and romance well, with the latter being particularly strong thanks to Sakuta and Mai’s great rapport. These two could easily carry a movie on their own, and their relationship is the highlight of Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl, a sequel movie that shines a spotlight on an important character in Sakuta’s past.

Now, this movie is not standalone whatsoever and needs to be viewed after the series, making it difficult to recommend to anyone but die-hard fans. That said, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl is a strong outing designed specifically to target the audience’s heartstrings, and it mostly hits the spot.

13 5 Centimeters Per Second

Beautiful Visuals Facilitate a Touching Romance

• Release Date: June 25th, 2007
• Director: Makoto Shinkai
• Studio: CoMix Wave Inc.
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.57

There is no anime lover alive who hasn’t at the very least heard of 5 Centimeters Per Second. It is a romance drama movie split into three acts that all revolve around two young lovers, Takaki and Akari, and their lives that end up diverging in very different directions. It’s more of a story about how love can fade, which makes it all the more tragic.

Striking visuals and a heartbreaking love story help to make this movie a masterpiece that will have viewers rooting for the two primary protagonists. The tragedy of their parting at the end comes as a heartbreaking surprise, but it doesn’t detract from the quality of this movie.

12 The Garden of Words

A Romance Story Fraught With Complications & Drama

• Release Date: July 6th, 2013
• Director: Makoto Shinkai
• Studio: CoMix Wave Inc.
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.88

To say that The Garden Of Words is a stunning visual marvel would still be an understatement because of just how gorgeous the film looks. Beneath the rainy atmosphere of the film lies a unique love story shared between two individuals who meet through a chance encounter. The film stars a high school student named Takako who wants to be a shoemaker and an older woman named Yukino who wants to move on from the past.

The two meet each other in a beautiful garden on rainy days, and as they spend time in each other’s presence, they start to form a deep connection. Their feelings, however, become further complicated by their age difference and personal lives.

11 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Time Travel & Teen Drama Make This a Must-Watch

• Release Date: November 19th, 2006
• Director: Mamoru Hosoda
• Studio: Madhouse
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.10
• Where to Stream: Crunchyroll

Time travel, teen drama, high school, the future, and romance—these are all the themes present and explored in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, a fantastic anime movie that is essential viewing for anime fans.

High school student Makoto discovers she has the power to reverse time for a short period, rewinding minutes, hours, or days depending on how far she leaps. But as she is using these new powers to better her life, she unknowingly worsens the lives of others around her, such as Chiaki, who traveled back in time to see a painting lost in the future. Though there is a romance that blossoms between the two, the pair eventually separates as Chiaki returns to his own time, providing the movie with a heartbreaking conclusion.

10 The Wind Rises

A Sweet & Earnest Love Story That Ends Too Soon

• Release Date: July 20th, 2013
• Director: Hayao Miyazaki
• Studio: Studio Ghibli
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.12
• Where to Stream: Max

Based on a real historical figure, The Wind Rises retells the story of Jiro Horikoshi, who longs to be a pilot but instead pursues the career of a plane engineer due to his short-sightedness. In Tokyo, he meets a young woman, Nahoko, whom he would meet again years later, and the pair fall in love and engage to be wed.

All seems like it would be happy and well, but Nahoko falls gravely ill, and her time will soon be up. She passes at the end of the movie, and it is implied that Jiro dies not long after in a truly emotional and moving climax. The love between the two leads is as tangible as it is touching, making it impossible to not root for the two of them and share the pain of Nahoko’s passing.

9 A Silent Voice

A Charming, Captivating, & Outright Beautiful Romance

• Release Date: October 20th, 2017
• Director: Naoko Yamada
• Studio: Kyoto Animation
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.93

A Silent Voice carries a powerful message at its core and presents it with such finesse that fans cannot help but be captivated by its charm. The film stars a deaf high school girl named Shoko Nishimiya, who is tormented by her past, and a boy named Shoya Ishida, who was one of the perpetrators who once caused Nishimiya great pain. Years later, Shoya is haunted by his own actions. After having a chance encounter with Nishimiya, he seeks to redeem himself by making things right.

Shoya does his best to win over Nishimiya’s trust and befriend her, and he also starts to appreciate the world from her perspective. Along with a beautiful storyline, the movie is bathed in beautiful visuals and an amazing soundtrack that really helps it resonate with audiences.

8 Whisper of the Heart

A Beautiful & Heart-Felt Romance Story

• Release Date: March 7th, 2006
• Director: Yoshifumi Kondo
• Studio: Studio Ghibli
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.22
• Where to Stream: Max

Another entry in Ghibli’s movie library, Whisper of the Heart is one of the few romance movies set in the big city of Tokyo. It revolves around the two central protagonists, Shizuku and Seiji, who are both old souls, a creative writer and violin player respectively, with each of them loving books and antique stores. The two meet in the store and grow closer over their love of the same books.

Though this movie sounds more simplistic than other entries, Whisper of the Heart stands out as beautiful and heartfelt, with a very real love between the two young main characters and a meet-cute story kicking off their romance. And with the promise of a happy ending at the movie’s closing scene, it is a rewarding romance film to watch.

7 Doukyusei: Classmates

A Beautiful And Simple Boys Love Romance

• Release Date: February 20th, 2016
• Director: Shouko Nakamura
• Studio: A-1 Pictures
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.28

Romance anime is an acquired taste, and that goes triple for Boys Love. Due to decades of questionable dynamics, the genre has a fairly negative reputation that is likely to discourage the uninitiated from making the plunge. However, in recent years, Boys Love shows have taken a turn towards more positive representation by showcasing relationships that do not emphasize an uneven power dynamic or age gaps. Anime like Given, Sasaki and Miyano, and Twilight Out of Focus are all great entry points into this subsection of romance, but they are traditional series and relatively lengthy commitments. Consequently, newcomers might want to start with Doukyusei: Classmates, a one-hour movie that represents modern Boys Love anime at its best.

While certainly touching upon the Boys Love aspect, this 2016 film is ultimately just a grounded romance about two high school students who connect over a shared interest. Kusakabe and Sajou have very different public personas, but they strike up a friendship when the former decides to help out the latter, an inciting incident that encourages both guys to contextualize what they consider to be love. Doukyusei: Classmates has a soft and naturalistic art style that complements the story well, and both leads are relatable and likable.

6 Weathering With You

Convincing Romance & Terrifying Supernatural Dangers

• Release Date: January 17th, 2020
• Director: Makoto Shinkai
• Studio: CoMix Wave Inc.
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.27
• Where to Stream: Max, Hoopla

Weathering With You is a gorgeous romantic adventure starring a high school boy named Hodoka. Hodoka runs away from his small town in Tokyo only to meet a girl named Hina, who has the power to control the weather. The two start to grow closer, but the consequences of Hina’s mysterious abilities start to catch up with them. They must figure out a way to deal with the strange occurrence concerning Hina’s weather-shifting powers while keeping evil forces at bay.

The film is brimming with style and captivating animation, making the best use out of its weather-centered theme. Weathering With You tests the power of friendship and love, and it is a must-watch for fans of Makoto Shinkai films.

5 Howl’s Moving Castle

A Charming Tale of Love & One of Studio Ghibli’s Greatest Movies

• Release Date: June 17th, 2005
• Director: Hayao Miyazaki
• Studio: Studio Ghibli
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.66
• Where to Stream: Max

Based on a novel of the same name, Howl’s Moving Castle is a fantastic entry in Ghibli’s movie library, telling the tale of the famed wizard Howl and the ordinary human woman named Sophie who ends up entangled and living in the wizard’s titular moving castle.

Magic, drama, war, and romance are all at the heart of this film, with a slowly developing romance between Howl and Sophie. Despite being cursed and turned into an old woman, the two start to develop a slowly growing love. It also helps that the happy ending could rival all of Disney’s Princess movies. What makes this movie stand out so much is the morals: Looks aren’t everything, and true love can conquer all.

4 Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light

A Fantasy Anime Movie With a Heartbreaking Climax

• Release Date: September 17th, 2011
• Director: Takahiro Omori
• Studio: Brain’s Base
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.27

To the Forest of Firefly Lights (also known as Hotarubi no Mori e) explores the strange and mystical budding friendship between a human girl, Hotaru, and a humanoid creature called Gin. The two meet in the forest, and after she is escorted out, she returns to spend more time with the mysterious entity. Eventually, their friendship evolves into something more as Hotaru matures closer to adulthood, but their relationship is strained as Gin can’t touch humans, or he will disappear.

This is where the tragedy comes into play, as Gin accidentally touches another person when out on a date with Hotaru, leaving her alone with her grief and forcing her to move on. Not every anime love story has a happy ending, and To the Forest of Firefly Lights is a heartbreaking example.

3 Your Name

One of the Most Strikingly Beautiful Romance Movies With a Touching Story

• Release Date: April 7th, 2017
• Director: Makoto Shinkai
• Studio: CoMix Wave Inc.
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.83
• Where to Stream: AppleTV, Crunchyroll, Vudu

Your Name is one of the most popular and influential anime films to date and really helped turn the anime film industry into a global phenomenon. This critically acclaimed film by Makoto Shinkai tells a beautiful tale of two high school students, Mitsuha and Taki, who, out of nowhere, start to switch bodies. The two then try to make sense of this strange occurrence while navigating through their differing lives.

Romance lovers will love the dynamic between the two main leads, as, without even meeting each other, they start to fall in love. The story involves heavy twists toward the end, which makes this love story even more intriguing. Your Name is a must-watch anime film that has cemented itself as a modern classic of the genre with its gorgeous visuals and intricate storytelling.

2 Josee, The Tiger And The Fish

This Romance Movie Has Some Very Real & Important Lessons to Teach

• Release Date: July 12th, 2021
• Director: Kotaro Tamura
• Studio: Bones
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.39
• Where to Stream: Crunchyroll

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is a charming and heartwarming romance anime film that has a very grounded but impactful premise. The film tells the story of a college student named Tsuneo, who becomes a caretaker for a wheelchair user named Josee. Though starting off on the wrong foot, the two form a deep connection and begin to inspire each other to pursue their dreams.

The film makes a great depiction of how difficult life can be for someone with a physical disability while also emphasizing the importance of never giving up on dreams despite one’s apparent restrictions and setbacks. Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is another visually stunning feature film bound to leave fans in awe of its beautiful winter scenery.

1 I Want to Eat Your Pancreas

A Tragic but Grounded Love Story

• Release Date: October 29th, 2019
• Director: Shin’ichiro Ushijima
• Studio: Studio VOLN
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.55

Not all lovers are meant to stay together forever, and this fact is made evident in the film I Want to Eat Your Pancreas. This romance anime is an emotionally challenging ride from start to finish, as it deals with many heavy themes. The film stars a high school girl named Sakura, who has a terminal illness, and her ordinary classmate Haruki.

As Sakura’s condition deteriorates, Haruki decides to help her check off all the things she wants to experience before she dies. The film is a celebration of life and is meant to emphasize the importance of the present since nothing is ever guaranteed. I Want to Eat Your Pancreas is bound to leave many fans in tears with its sad but grounded ending.