The romance theme is often present in anime, either as the main plot or as a subplot, but it doesn’t have to be a requirement to create a good series at all.
Indeed, there is plenty of anime where the protagonist is not the least bit interested in love that are excellent and beautifully written.
And this is not to say that the romance theme is totally neglected since as you will see in many of these series the protagonist will have a lot of contenders.
So let’s go over what are the best anime where the MC has no love interest, written as always according to our personal taste and opinion.
Table of Contents
15. The Irregular at Magic High School
The Irregular at Magic School is an anime aired in 2014. The plot is set in the late 21st century, in a future where magic has become commonplace and has merged with science and technology.
The events follow the lives of a group of boys attending a school where magic is taught and where the students are divided into courses based on their talent.
The main character called Shiba Tatsuya is relegated to the Second Course, the one for less talented magicians, as opposed to his sister, who ends up among the most talented in the institution from the start.
But he’ll soon prove them wrong, showing his extraordinary technical knowledge and physical combat capabilities.
The Irregular at Magic School is an entertaining anime, with good action scenes and a cool and op MC. This will also lead to him having a lot of success with girls, even though he won’t reciprocate with anyone.
14. Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto
Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto, also known as Sakamoto desu ga? is a school comedy anime series that first aired in 2016, based on the manga series of the same name, written and illustrated by Nami Sano.
The anime tells the story of Sakamoto, a high school student who is the epitome of perfection and suave.
And despite the constant attempts of his classmates to bring him down, Sakamoto always manages to come out on top and make himself look even more remarkable.
And of course, as you may have guessed, Sakamoto will also be incredibly popular with the girls. But he will not be interested at all in reciprocating them, leaving behind a trail of broken hearts.
This series is known for its humor, a mix of slapstick, puns, and satirical commentary on daily life that will crack you up with laughs.
13. Overlord
Overlord is an anime based on a light novel series written by Kugane Maruyama and illustrated by So-Bin in 2012, adapted in an excellent Isekai classic.
Although the initial premise is the same as other anime in the genre, the protagonist Momonga is not reincarnated into a weakling but instead into what is considered the most powerful being in his world.
This will lead him to be in command of a powerless army with which he will slowly conquer everything conquerable in a series of events that are never predictable or trivial.
And that’s exactly what’s unique in this series. The rawness of the actions performed by Momonga are real, as the tangible weight they have on the people of his world.
And although not predominant at all, there will be a little subplot romance with Albedo, one of Momonga’s assistants, who will try hard to win him over.
But Momonga has only time to increase his power and become an even more feared ruler, and certainly not for love.
12. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
A 2016 anime adapted from a shonen manga that tells the story of Kusuo Saiki, a prodigious boy with incredible psychic powers.
The story is about the struggle of Kusuo to achieve an everyday life while put under pressure by many extravagant characters during the story.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is a good anime to watch even without a hint of a love interest. It’s an incredibly underrated anime with comical and absurd scenes that will break you with laughter.
And don’t underestimate Saiki, as despite being a comic anime protagonist he is incredibly OP, and could easily beat many of the protagonists of other shonen series.
11. Food Wars
Based on a celebrated manga serialized in no less than Weekly Shonen Jump, Food Wars follows the story of Soma Yukihira.
He is a young aspiring chef who enrolls in an elite cooking school to fulfill his dream of becoming the best chef in the world.
The school is famous for its tough and unforgiving exams, but Soma is determined to pass them all and become constantly better.
This anime is based on cooking and is full of gripping culinary battles, funny moments, and lots of ecchi fan service.
There will also be some small romance subplots, with fairly obvious crushes and love interests, but in which Soma will never take part, giving 100% attention to his goal and only that.
With its engaging story, diverse set of characters, and visually stunning food presentation, Food Wars is sure to entertain and satisfy your appetite.
10. Saga of Tanya the Evil
Saga of Tanya the Evil is a 12-episode anime based on the light novel of the same name written by Carlo Zen.
The protagonist of the story is a cynical salaryman who, after firing one of his employees, will be killed by the latter.
Finding himself facing God, the man will be punished for his cynism and blasphemy by being thrown into a parallel world at war in the guise of Tanya, a young and weak girl.
But instead of being good, he’ll decide to be a merciless war machine in this world too.
Saga of Tanya the Evil is a unique isekai with a realistic and raw setting and a great and evil protagonist. This anime manages to be innovative and incredibly interesting even without the slightest hint of romance.
9. Haikyuu!!
Haikyu!! is one of the giants of the spokon genre, adapted in a greatly popular anime.
The main character is Shoyo Hinata, a young boy who, after watching a professional volleyball match, decides to take up the sport himself and become an ace.
The only obstacle? He is too short for volleyball, as the standards ask for much better candidates. But this won’t stop him, and so begins the ascent of the Little Giant of volleyball.
Haikyuu!! is suitable for those who love volleyball and well-written stories. Thanks to a fleshed-out cast and an exciting plot full of crazy matches, this is a great show.
It’s a story of passion, determination, and the will to never give up, that manages to be perfectly entertaining even without any romance subplot.
8. Dr. Stone
In the year 5738, all humanity is turned to stone due to a natural disaster, leaving the world in a wild state. Ooki Taiju manages to awaken, being confronted with a completely different reality than he remembered.
After reuniting with his brilliant scientist friend Senku the story begins, to try to understand why this apocalypse occurred.
Dr.Stone is one of the most popular and followed shonen series in recent years, with a fantastic post-apocalyptic setting and incredibly interesting and not at all boring scientific focuses.
There will be some romance subplots, but mainly concerning Taiju, the deuteragonist, and not Senku, the real MC of the story, who will devote himself 100% to science, with no time or interest in love.
7. Death Note
Death Note is a thrilling and intense anime series where the main character, Light Yagami, is consumed by his obsession with his distorted justice, leaving not even the slightest room for romantic plotlines.
Light Yagami is a young model student who harbors intense disgust and disappointment with the world around him.
His life will change drastically when one day he sees a mysterious notebook, the Death Note, fall from the sky, capable of causing the death of anyone simply by writing his name.
Light’s plans are clear, to use the notebook to kill as many criminals as possible to purge the world of evil.
But soon, he will have to deal with L, one of the most outstanding private investigators, hired to unravel the mystery of the continuing deaths among criminals.
Death Note has become one of those must-watch anime.
It has now firmly entered pop culture thanks to its excellent thriller moments and what is perhaps the best psychological confrontation ever created in the medium.
6. Barakamon
Barakamon is a slice-of-life in which a young city boy must come to terms with his new life on a rural island while learning the art of calligraphy.
The premise might mislead and not seem particularly brilliant, but a cast of outstanding characters immediately surrounds the protagonist, making the story super interesting.
Experiencing life through Handa‘s eyes and watching him grapple with his growth is consistently engaging and inspiring.
Barakamon is a story of personal growth, improvement, and hard work to achieve one’s goals. Handa is also an extremely well-written character, and you will surely become attached to him as you watch him change.
And his evolution will also be huge in romantic terms, as we will see him start out as a character with no interest in love.
But as he evolves and slowly discovers his emotions, he will also discover the beauty and importance of having an important person near him.
5. A Place Further than the Universe
A Place Further than the Universe is a criminally underrated coming-of-age anime series aired in 2018.
The series follows the story of four high school girls, Mari Tamaki, Shirase Kobuchizawa, Hinata Miyake, and Yuzuki Shiraishi, who set out on an expedition to Antarctica to find Shirase’s mother, who went missing.
Along the way, they face many physical and emotional obstacles as they learn about themselves and each other.
This is a heartwarming and emotional story that follows the girls as they embark on an adventure of a lifetime, and it’s a perfect blend of comedy, drama, and adventure.
So yes, no romance, but just a group of friends learning about each other and the world around them.
4. Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji
Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji is a gambling-centered anime about the story of Kaiji, a poor young man facing an enormous debt.
The story is set in 1995 in Japan. After graduating from high school, Ito Kaiji moves to Tokyo to look for work but finds the city in its history’s most significant economic crisis.
Depressed in his tiny apartment, he turns to alcohol, smoking, and gambling, eventually racking up huge debts. But he will not give up and decides to get every money back.
This is an excellent anime for people who enjoy watching a main character grow and change over time rather than focusing on the romantic plotline, that will be completely absent.
The show focuses on Kaiji’s journey as he is forced to confront his own mistakes and weaknesses and ultimately rise above them to overcome his dire circumstances.
3. Mushishi
Mushishi follows the story of Ginko, a serious and composed character, and also a Mushishi.
This term refers to experts of Mushis, strange creatures whose origin or habits are unknown. What is known is that coexistence with them is often complicated for human beings.
For this reason, specialists who know how to deal with them are always needed.
Each episode will be dedicated to a different mushi, creating a succession of self-contained stories narrated in a slow, reflective, and artistic way, creating a unique atmosphere that is almost hypnotic and lulling.
The show offers a unique blend of fantasy and slice-of-life, and the romance theme is not even contemplated or needed.
2. One Piece
One Piece is the most famous pirate history ever made, with the most sold manga in history.
The adventures of Luffy and his crew are known to any anime fan, and there is no doubt that One piece is one of the best shonen series ever.
The worldbuilding of this series is simply fantastic and rich in details, featuring a variety of islands, continents, and seas and unique and over-the-top characters.
And the romance component is absent by choice of the author.
Oda himself said multiple times that he absolutely doesn’t want to include love stories among the main characters, so as not to take away space from what is the real protagonist of the story: adventure.
1. One Punch Man
One Punch Man is one of the most popular shonen series in recent years, released in multiple seasons starting in 2015.
The story revolves around Saitama, a 25-year-old boy who decides to become a hobby hero and possesses the power to defeat any enemy with a single punch.
But this power is also a curse, forcing him into a boring life with no one strong enough to challenge him.
If you want to start with an anime with fast-paced fighting scenes but with a great dose of comedy and no romance themes, One Punch Man is a fantastic choice.
The series offers an unconventional take on the superhero genre, examining well-written characters and their relationships in a story that intertwines combat with a parody of the OP MC stereotype.
Related Posts:
