Top 10 Anime Like Kimagure Orange Road For Romance Lovers

Kimagure Orange Road is a cult romance comedy anime that features one of the most popular love triangles ever.

Released as an adaptation in 1987 by Pierrot, this anime managed to break through the hearts of many anime fans worldwide.

Today we are going to show you the recommended anime to watch if you like Kimagure Orange Road. Most of them are romcoms or ’80s anime as they share too many similarities.

10. Hikari no Densetsu

Hikari no Densetsu is a romance drama anime focused on personal growth and rhythmic gymnastics.

We could say that this show is Coming of Age and features some good animations, plus a love triangle (or square) between the female lead and 2 other characters.

You’d be surprised to know that Tomomi Mochizuki, the director of Kimagure Orange Road’s pilot episode in 1985 (plus the first movie), is the chief and episode director of this anime.

Overall, this is another ’80s sports romance anime that you should have on your watchlist if you want to taste that vintage style.

The story follows Hikari Kamijo who wants to become a top rhythmic gymnast while struggling with her physical limitations and facing a sentimental dilemma.

9. Nisekoi (False Love)

Nisekoi is one of the children of the original romcoms and we think you will like it because it features an interesting love triangle and a lot of comedy.

In Kimagure Orange Road, Kyosuke had to pretend he was in love with Hikaru so as not to disappoint her but in Nisekoi this pretense is not intentional.

The main character Raku Ichijo, the son of a powerful Yakuza family, is obliged to be in a relationship with Chitoge Kirisaki, the daughter of a rival Yakuza faction.

As a typical teenager, he made a promise many years ago to a girl who gave him a pendant, vowing to marry her once they became adults.

Raku embarks on a desperate search to find the girl with the key that will unlock his pendant. Meanwhile, he harbors strong feelings for his childhood friend, Kosaki Onodera.

All of this is in full conflict with the arranged false relationship with Chitoge and this is exactly the gist of Nisekoi.

You won’t see supernatural elements but it is among the most popular modern romcom anime and a nice variation on the theme.

8. The Kabocha Wine

If you can’t sleep on high school settings with teenage love and less pathos, The Kabocha Wine is a great niche pick that many of you will (probably) don’t know.

While it’s not even remotely as iconic as Kimagure Orange Road, it can be considered as the inspiration for Lovely Complex.

A true fan of Kimagure Orange Road would never refuse to watch a vintage romcom, especially if it’s even niche in the West.

The Kambocha Wine follows the life of high school student Aoba Shunsuke who, after moving to Tokyo, Shunsuke meets Natsumi Asaoka, his first love.

The relationship between the 2 feels unusual because Natsumi (also called L or Eru) is much taller and bigger than him.

7. Suzuka

Suzuka is a teen love story set in high school with a focus on sports and produced much later during the mid-2000s.

While there is no love triangle and no supernatural elements, the other typical plot devices and tropes are all there for you.

As the story develops, you will start noticing more differences to Kimagure Orange Road but this shouldn’t demotivate you.

Suzuka is a nice addition to your watchlist if you want to see how high school romance comedies evolved over the years while preserving some elements.

This anime follows Yamato, a high school student who falls in love with the talented track and field athlete, Suzuka.

Despite her initial disapproval of him, Yamato joins the school’s track team to prove his worth to her and show her that he is serious about his feelings.

What makes Suzuka one of the best sports romance anime is the captivating storyline that keeps you invested in Yamato’s journey to become the best athlete he can be and win over Suzuka’s heart.

6. Tokimeki Tonight

This anime is a great example of romance comedy with supernatural elements, much like Kimagure Orange Road but definitely more supernatural.

Vampires and monsters are represented perfectly with Tokimeki Tonight’s cute and childish style as it’s mostly a humor show.

This anime follows the story of Ranze Eto, a teenager who is the daughter of a vampire father and a werewolf mother.

She is able to transform into anything she bites and this will give birth to several funny situations as she tries to hit on her crush at school, Shun Makabe.

The female lead wants to have a normal life after all and this isn’t that different from Kyosuke and the powers of the Sakuga family.

5. Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Super Dimension Fortress Macross can boast the most prominent love triangle in the history of mecha anime and that twist of romance that made it popular back then.

While similarities stop here, this is a pivotal series in terms of love triangles and a big part of romance in the ’80s, so this is a mandatory recommendation.

The story begins when a massive alien ship crashes on Earth. Fearing an impending alien invasion, humanity quickly dismantles the ship to construct the formidable spacecraft called Macross as a defensive measure.

But their fears are confirmed when the alien race known as Zentradi attacks Earth on the day of Macross’ unveiling, leading to an intense and thrilling space battle.

But don’t be fooled by the premise, this anime is way beyond the typical action/mecha series.

Romance takes center stage, particularly the iconic love triangle involving pilot Hikaru Ichijo, Macross officer Misa Hayase, and idol singer Lynn Minmay, who plays a significant role in the war effort.

4. Touch

Touch is a romantic drama set in high school with a strong focus on sports that makes it stand out compared to simple romance stories.

This is also what made it more influential and popular, with a necessary mention of how characters are portrayed and how they grow throughout the series.

The story revolves around Uesugi Kazuya, a dedicated baseball player, his gifted twin brother Tatsuya, and their childhood friend, Asakura Minami.

The plot thickens when Tatsuya realizes that he’s in love with Minami, the same girl Kazuya has been eyeing since they were kids.

The characters are middle school students who are struggling with school, love, and their relationships with each other. It’s a coming-of-age story that explores the complex dynamics of sibling rivalry and young love.

3. Lovely Complex

While Lovely Complex may feel completely different, this anime is a must for any romcom fan out there.

In Kimagure Orange Road there was no strong association between the physical aspect of the characters, it was more about the attitude of the 2 girls in the love triangle and the indecisiveness of the male lead.

The story revolves around Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Otani, two students who live in Osaka and attend the same high school.

Risa is 170 centimeters tall, which is considered quite tall for a Japanese girl, while Otani is a basketball player but stands at only 156 centimeters tall, below average for the sport.

At school, they are often referred to as All Hanshin Kyojin, after a popular Japanese comedy duo consisting of a short man and a tall man.

Throughout the series, we witness their growing confidence and see their love develop into something strong and genuine.

2. Urusei Yatsura

Urusei Yatsura is another historical example of a love triangle and an important representative of romance comedy in the 1980s.

From style to tropes, there are striking similarities given by the period in which both anime were produced, as you can notice from how characters were drawn.

Urusei Yatsura features more supernatural elements in the form of Lum using her powers more often compared to Kyosuke Kasuga and his psychic powers.

The story takes place in the quiet town of Tomoboki, which is suddenly disrupted by the arrival of an alien spaceship filled with Oni with a very specific intention: to conquer the planet.

But there’s a way for humanity to save itself: if one person, chosen at random by a computer, can touch the horns of the Oni princess Lum, the planet will be spared. And this task falls to our protagonist, Ataru.

What to say, Urusei Yatsura is part of those anime that actually changed the landscape of romcom and even got a modern remake in 2022.

1. Maison Ikkoku

If we had to mention another romance anime that changed history, Maison Ikkoku would be our other choice.

While Kimagure Orange Road focuses on the teenage years, this anime follows a more mature story with a main cast of adults.

Slice-of-life is once again there with a little bit more drama and depth compared to its counterpart. And guess what? You will also listen to some amazing City Pop soundtracks, the zenith of Japanese music.

The story revolves around Yusaku Godai, a young man who is preparing for his college entrance exams. Yusaku resides in Maison Ikkoku, a bustling boarding house where distractions make it challenging for him to concentrate on his studies.

Initially planning to leave, Yusaku’s decision takes a turn when Kyoko Otonashi, the new building manager, arrives, and he falls in love with her and decides to stay.

The 1980s are the golden age of romance anime and the contribution of Rumiko Takahashi is still alive today, so the best time to watch Maison Ikkoku is today!