The 15 Short Romance Anime that You Must Binge-Watch
Joan Jacques Ceriola
Tops & Rankings
Are you short on time or don’t feel like starting a long and demanding series, but you’re still in the mood for a tender and heartwarming love story? Then you are in the right place.
There are many romance series that in about 12 episodes or just a movie tell an excellent and complete love story without leaving you with cliffhangers or inconclusive endings.
So find yourself 5 minutes to read this list, grab some snacks, and choose which one of this series from our list of the best short romance anime you can binge-watch tonight.
By short anime, we mean a story that is 100% complete in a few episodes, and not seasons.
Table of Contents
15. Tomo-chan is a Girl!
Tomo-chan is a Girl! is a romance anime released and finished in the past few months, during the winter of 2023.
Tomo, after a long preparation, was finally able to confess to Junichiro, her childhood friend.
But there is one problem: he always believed that Tomo was a boy!
This is the beginning of Tomo’s mission to make Junichiro realize that she is a girl, to make him fall in love with her.
Tomo-chan is a Girl! is a fun romance anime that tells a light and complete story in just 12 episodes.
If you are looking for something fun and focused on comedy, give it a chance.
14. Tsurezure Children
In just 12 episodes, this anime explores the ups and downs of young love, from the awkwardness of confessing your feelings to the thrill of discovering new emotions.
With a cast of lovable characters and multiple adorable couples to root for, Tsurezure Children will have you smiling from ear to ear with each episode.
Whether it’s the bickering and mature relationship between Ryouko and Akagi, the goofy one of Kana and Chiaki, or the honest and open regarding Ayaka and Takeru, each couple brings something unique to the table.
But what sets Tsurezure Children apart is its kindhearted atmosphere.
It’s a refreshing and uplifting watch that’s sure to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
13. Tokyo Marble Chocolate
Looking for a heartwarming romance anime that won’t take up your entire day? Check out Tokyo Marble Chocolate.
This quirky 2-episode anime tells the story of Yuudai and Chizuru, 2 unlucky-in-love characters who find each other on their first Christmas together.
But things take a turn when Yuudai’s mini donkey escapes and separates them. But despite being apart, they reflect on their relationship and grow closer.
And what makes this anime even more unique is that it’s told from both characters’ perspectives, giving you a deeper understanding of their thoughts and feelings.
At just over 50 minutes of total running time, Tokyo Marble Chocolate is a manual short and sweet romantic comedy.
12. E.F. – A Tale of Memories
E.F. – A Tale of Memories is a romance anime that utilizes a distinctive narrative structure. It tells two love stories in parallel, which intersect at specific points in the plot.
The first story revolves around Renji and Chihiro, whose love story is affected by Chihiro’s condition of losing her memories every 13 hours.
This leads to a poignant and continuous cycle of Renji having to win back Chihiro’s love, and the girl starting from scratch every time she loses her memories.
The second story features a complex love triangle between Hiro, Miyako, and Kei, with numerous twists and turns.
E.F. was released in 2007, and it has the distinction of managing to tell a complete and finished story in its only 12 episodes, with a soundtrack and animations typical of the 2000s.
11. Say I Love You
Say I Love You is a heartwarming shoujo romance anime that’s often underrated but definitely deserves more love.
It’s a short and sweet story that follows Mei Tachibana, a high school student who’s been hurt by friends in the past and has become reclusive until she meets in rushed circumstances the charming and popular Yamato Kurosawa.
As their relationship progresses, they face challenges like misunderstandings and the attention of other girls, but they learn to navigate them together.
With only 13 episodes, this is a short and easy watch that’s perfect for a cozy night in.
So if you’re looking for a touching story about self-discovery and the transformative power of love, Say I Love You is a great pick.
And if you love it as much as we do, you can even check out the popular live-action film adaptation that earned over $7.4 million at the Japanese box office.
10. Horimiya
This only 13-episode gem follows the unlikely pair of Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura.
Hori is apparently a popular girl, who in reality spends her free time doing housework and studying, while Miyamura seems a shy and outcast guy, but when nobody sees him he’s actually popular and outgoing.
After a chance encounter, they reveal their true selves to each other and become lovers, navigating the ups and downs of high school life together.
What makes Horimiya stand out from other rom-com anime is its unique approach to the romantic relationship between the main characters.
Instead of waiting until the end of the show to confess their feelings, Hori and Miyamura become a couple by the first few episodes, without any unnecessary drama.
From there, the show explores how the two characters grow and change together, learning to accept themselves and each other.
9. Monthly Girls Nozaki Kun
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun is an excellent romcom released in 2014.
Sakura is a girlwho is secretly in love with her classmate Nozaki, and one day she finally finds the guts to come forward and confess her love.
What she doesn’t know is that Nozaki is a famous mangaka, and he’ll mistake the girl’s confession for a letter from a fan and decides to hire her as his assistant.
This is the beginning of their particular relationship full of unrequited love, which may hide surprises and tender moments behind these absurd situations.
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun tells a funny and over-the-top story in just 12 episodes, perfect to binge-watch tonight.
The story follows Arata Kaizaki, an unemployed 27-year-old whose life is drifting apart. His life changes after meeting Ryou Yoake, a member of the ReLife Research Institute, who offers him a special drug.
With it, he can return to his 17-year-old self, when he was a popular guy, to become the subject of a year-long experiment.
Chizuru Hishiro, a high school student, is the protagonist’s former love interest. He is determined to win her over this time around, with the hope of a second chance at their relationship.
ReLIFE magically manages in its only 13 episodes to condense an incredibly psychological, mature, and romantic story with a complete and satisfying ending.
If you are a fan of mature and psychological anime with a touch of supernatural you can’t miss it.
7. Bloom Into You
With only 13 episodes, this captivating anime follows the story of high school student Yuu Koito, who’s never experienced the feeling of love, despite being a fan of romance.
But when Yuu meets the elegant and mature student council president, Touko Nanami, she finds herself drawn to her in ways she never expected.
What sets Bloom Into You apart from other romance anime is its realistic portrayal of love, acceptance, and self-discovery.
All this with excellent animations will make things even better.
And there isn’t even the need to say it, but if you’re a fan of yuri romance, you can’t miss it if you haven’t watched it already.
6. Looking Up at the Half-Moon
Looking Up At The Half-Moon is a gem of a short romance anime that you should add to your watchlist.
With only 6 episodes, this 2006 series packs an emotional punch that will stay with you long after you’ve watched it.
The anime follows Ezaki Yuuichi, a boy who is confined to a hospital due to hepatitis A. One day, he meets Akiba Rika, a moody and bossy girl around his age who is also staying at the same hospital.
Despite her personality, Yuuichi can’t resist her beauty, and the two begin a journey of love that is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching at the same time.
What makes Looking Up At The Half-Moon so special is its ability to capture the fragility of life and the power of love.
The anime delves into the complex emotions that come with a fleeting romance and doesn’t shy away from the reality of terminal illness.
So yes, you got it. Grab some tissues if you decide to watch it.
5. The Garden of Words
Looking for a breathtaking romance movie that will leave you spellbound? Look no further than The Garden of Words, a short and sweet masterpiece that will touch your heart in just 45 minutes.
Follow the tale of Takao, a high school student with a passion for shoemaking, as he meets the enigmatic Yukari by chance in a rainy Tokyo garden.
As they spend more time together, their bond grows stronger, providing them with the solace and companionship they both desperately crave, but only on rainy days.
But as the rainy season is about to end, they must face the challenges of their own lives and their love is put to the test.
The Garden of Words is a visually stunning anime movie that has won multiple awards for its quality. Its beautiful animation and touching story of love, loneliness, and personal growth will leave you feeling a range of emotions.
4. After The Rain
After the Rain is an incredibly underrated romance anime released in 2018.
Akira Tachibana is the classic unattainable beauty, as enchanting as she is unapproachable.
Everyone is in love with her, but she’s secretly in love with the manager of the café where she works part-time, a forty-five-year-old divorced man who is already a father.
After the Rain deals with the theme of the difficult love between 2 people of different ages and its consequences.
And in just 12 episodes it manages to tell a complete, incredibly psychological, and mature story about a sensitive subject. All with gorgeous animation and a unique character design.
5 Cm Per Second is one of the best romance movies in our opinion that captures the complexities of love and the pain of missed connections.
Follow childhood friends Takaki and Akari through 3 interconnected segments, as they struggle to hold on to their memories and hope of reuniting.
This movie is a sad and heartbreaking story that is unlikely not to strike you to the core.
In just a little more than an hour, it tells a story that will leave you with a huge sense of emptiness inside.
And it’s exactly this simple and straightforward message that is his strength, as unfortunately almost all of us have been struggling with the horrible feeling of unrealized love.
2. Tsuki ga Kirei
Discover the heartwarming love story of Kotarou Azumi and Akane Mizuno in Tsuki ga Kirei, a fantastic short anime and a complete romance story.
In just 12 episodes, watch as they go from strangers to a couple facing the challenges of young love and the struggles of growing up that we all know.
Unlike typical romance anime, Tsuki ga Kirei offers a refreshingly realistic approach to love, without over-dramatization, melodrama, or stereotypes.
You’ll find yourself relating to the characters and rooting for their relationship as it’s tested by uncertainty and competition.
If you’re looking for a short and engaging romance anime with stunning animations, Tsuki ga Kirei is a must-watch.
1. Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light
Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light is a 45-minute movie that follows Hotaru, a young girl who gets lost in the forest and meets Gin, a yokai with a human shape cursed to disappear if touched by humans.
Despite the curse, they become close friends and develop romantic feelings for each other, but their love is destined to be short-lived.
This movie is simply a must-watch for anyone who loves slice-of-life stories with a touch of the supernatural and incredibly sad endings.
In fact, Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light has won several awards, including the Jury Award at Scotland Loves Animation festival and the Animation Film Award at the 66th Annual Mainichi Film Awards in Japan.
