Whoever said that an anime romance has to be cheesy or poignant?
The anime industry is on the contrary full of romances that base their essence on comedy, advancing the romance in an atmosphere of positive and colorful vibes.
So let’s go over what are the best comedy romance anime and we assure you that the choice is vast and varied, with many different subplots.
This listicle as always is made based on our personal opinion and experience.
Table of Contents
25. TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You
TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You is a romcom released between 2020 and 2022 in 12 episodes.
The main character is Nasa, a simple boy who one day meets the beautiful Tsukasa in an encounter that seems as if it was meant by fate.
A truck hits the boy as he crosses the street to meet the girl, but he refuses to miss the opportunity. The girl rushes to his aid and accepts his proposal to go out with him, on the condition that he promises to marry her.
TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You start with strange premises and certainly moves quickly, as you can see.
We will see the two of them get to know each other in a decidedly whirlwind way, to get married quickly while still underage. And after that, we’ll see their life as a couple with brief glimpses into the past.
There are two scenarios for which we might recommend this anime: If you don’t like to watch the classic courtship scenes, or if you want to watch a romance anime with early couples. Otherwise, we cannot call it a good anime.
24. Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It
From a seinen manga comes the 2020 anime Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It, a great rom-com anime.
Yukimura Shinya and Himuro Ayame are two scientists who want to find out if love can be explained through a scientific theory.
The 2 have feelings for each other and know it, but they want to get to the bottom of it by explaining them rationally as one would for many other things.
Don’t be fooled by the seemingly heavy premise, because this anime is anything but that.
The 2 young scientists in love will experience many comical and awkward situations as their feelings for each other continually grow.
Undoubtedly one of the best romance anime that combines science with its central themes.
23. Working!!
Working!!! is a slice-of-life anime featuring romance and comedy.
The main character is Takanashi Souta, an ordinary 16-year-old student with a kink for cute little things and people.
He ends up taking a part-time job as a waiter at the Wagnaria restaurant from Taneshima Popura, a girl who is precisely small in stature. There he will meet many peculiar people, experience comical situations, and fall in love.
Working!!! is a light and easygoing love comedy, perfect to watch without having to worry about serious themes. This makes it a great fit for those who love romance anime with no drama.
The only problem is that the situations and characters are quite clichéd, but little harm in an anime meant to be funny.
22. Horimiya
Horimiya is one of the most popular romcom in recent years, based on a Yonkoma manga, which is a collection of humorous strips.
It tells us the love affairs of Izumi, an introverted and quiet boy, and Kyoko, who, in contrast, is outgoing and friendly.
The 2 will manage despite their differences to understand and love each other, in an excellent romance that will keep us company throughout the story.
Horimiya despite being mainly comic focuses on the growth, both physical and psychological of the characters. It’s a solid and entertaining romance that will make you grow attached to the two MCs.
21. Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran High School Host Club is a series based on a popular shojo manga featuring comedy and sentimental elements combined with reverse harem.
Haruhi Fujioka is a girl who after much effort has managed to enroll in Ouran Academy, one of the most prestigious academies in Japan.
After finishing classes, to find a quiet place, Haruhi enters a seemingly empty room, only to stumble upon the headquarters of the renowned Host Club.
Haruhi however surprise drops a valuable vase, and to repay the debt she is forced to start working as an employee at the host club by disguising herself as a boy.
As is usual in these anime all the guys will try to conquer Haruhi, going on to form a big reverse harem, and this is how the anime will develop, between comedy and romance.
If you like the genre and have not seen it yet, it’s a pretty enjoyable anime even without being groundbreaking.
20. Recovery of an MMO Junkie
Recovery of an MMO Junkie is a romance anime not set in high-school that combines videogames with a deep psychological aspect.
Moriko Morioka is in her 30s and has just quit her job because she could no longer handle the burden and stress of work. She has thus become a NEET and now tries to fill her life with an online game: Fruits de Mer, her only escape from reality.
Back in the days when she was still employed, she had befriended another gamer, who in turn was trying to fill the loneliness through videogames and was always ready for her in time of need.
Perhaps by playing Fruits de Mer she could meet that boy again? But in the meantime, while out shopping at the combini, she meets a guy which seems to be interested in her. Will this duality be able to coexist?
Recovery of an MMO Junkie is an anime that through its love entanglements goes on to examine psychological issues such as loneliness and social anxiety.
But this does not imply that it is a heavy anime to watch since it manages to make this aspect of it coexist with many comic scenes and one of the best romance anime with a popular guy as male lead.
19. Teasing Master Takagi-san
Teasing Master Takagi-san is one of the most popular romance in recent years. It features the trope of the girl teasing the boy, in a love scenario where the 2 have mutual feelings.
This trope is super in vogue lately, with examples like Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro and My Dress-Up Darling.
These premises are reflected in Nishikata and her deskmate Takagi. Teasing Master Takagi-san is an extremely cute and innocent romance that will make you enjoy a quiet and light anime with quality comic moments.
This purity and tenderness make this anime a true gem for those looking for wholesome and pure love stories with a bit of nostalgia from the good old times.
18. Komi Can’t Communicate
Komi Can’t Communicate is an anime that came out recently and has been able to attract a great deal of acclaim. It’s still ongoing with 24 episodes released by far.
Komi is a beautiful girl, and everyone is in love with her, but because of her aloof attitude, she seems unapproachable.
But Tadano knows the truth: Komi doesn’t know how to relate to others, which is why he will ask for her help. Her objective? Find at least 100 friends.
Komi Can’t Communicate is a light-hearted school rom-com centered on gags and on the absurd situations in which Komi and Tadano will find themselves.
All this while the romance subplot continues, and the 2 will grow closer and more intimate.
17. My Dress-Up Darling
My Dress-Up Darling has been able to make a name for itself thanks to its wise use of fanservice and a pleasant cast.
The events revolve around the young high school boy Wakana Gojo, an otaku guy with his particular passions. His life will change considerably after he makes the acquaintance of his popular and beautiful classmate Marin Kitagawa.
The girl, after catching him sewing clothes for dolls, will ask for his help in creating custom-made clothes for her, as she is fond of cosplay.
This won’t only push the boy out of his comfort zone, but it will also open him up to a new way of thinking. The bizarre situation in which Gojo finds himself is good to hone his social skills and discover love.
My Dress-Up Darling! is an excellent blend of romance, nerdy elements, some excellent animation, and some fleshed-out characters, all tied up by an enjoyable comic and funny atmosphere.
16. Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Heart Throb
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Heart Throb is one of the most popular sentimental comedies in recent years, released in 2014.
The anime is inspired by a series of light novels and stars Yuuta and Rikka, who are forced to live together due to a series of events.
This cohabitation will contribute to the slow development of their love, or at least until the arrival of Satone, an old acquaintance of Yuuta’s who will interfere in the young couple’s relationship by initiating a love triangle.
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Heart Throb is an anime that balances romance, comedy, and a dash of drama always contextualized to the romance.
The real star of the events will be the hilarious and absurd situations experienced by the characters as the two girls compete for Yuuta.
15. Nisekoi – False Love
Nisekoi tells the story of Raku Ichijou, the heir to a powerful Yakuza family. He’s a typical teenager that many years ago made a promise to a girl that gave him a pendant, saying that they will marry once adults.
Raku tries desperately to find the girl with a key that will open his pendant and he also has a huge crush on his old friend Kosaki Onodera.
However, Raku is dragged back to reality by the appearance of a rival gang of his family, the American Bee Hive Gang. The 2 clans decide to settle by pairing Raku with the daughter of the enemy’s leader, Chitoge Kirisaki, a girl popular for her beauty.
But even if it’s a false love, who knows if this act can produce real feelings as the story goes on.
Nisekoi is undoubtedly one of the best romance anime with enemies falling in love and with harem elements. Its characters are heavily stereotyped, but they still end up being enjoyable, probably because of their excellent character design.
You won’t be able to decide which one is the best girl for you as you die laughing at the absurd situations in the story.
14. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun is a popular school rom-com released in 2014 with 12 episodes.
Sakura is secretly in love with her classmate Nozaki, and one day she finally decides to come forward and confess her love.
What she doesn’t know is that the boy is a famous mangaka, and she mistakes the girl’s confession for a letter from a fan. He will then decide to hire her as his assistant, resulting in many comical situations and unrequited love moments.
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun is as it sounds, a light comedy created by different situations as the romance subplot goes on. The fun is assured, as is the lack of drama.
13. Golden Time
In 2013, the Golden Time anime was released, with its exuberant and over-the-top story.
The 3 protagonists are part of a love triangle and you will see how it evolves as they live out their college lives.
Banri Tada lost his memory by falling off a bridge just before graduating, an interesting incipit for this story. Mitsuo Yanagisawa is one of his friends at college and is related to the third character of the story.
We are talking about the girl Koko Kaga, Mitsuo’s beautiful and popular childhood friend who shows up by slapping him with a bouquet of roses.
The dynamics between the 3 are much more complex than that, you can only watch it to discover how.
Golden Time relies mainly on its love triangle to propel the story forward. But that doesn’t mean it’s a 100% cheesy story.
It manages to balance its romance and comedy well, with absurd, over-the-top gags that will crack you up performed by 3 grown-up characters who are still young inside.
12. Pet Girl of Sakurasou
Pet Girl of Sakurasou is a drama and romance anime telling the story of the protagonist Sorata Kanda, a popular boy who lives in the Sakurasou dorm.
It’s known to be housing the most famous Sumei High delinquents, the school that Sorata is attending.
The boy must learn how to deal with all the bizarre characters living there and his goal is to escape. Things change quickly though, as the joining of Mashiro Shiina, a new transfer girl, will make Sorata change his mind.
Sorata will decide that she must protect the as beautiful clumsy girl from the muggles in the dormitory. But who knows whether this sentiment will also turn into something else?
Pet Girl of Sakurasou is an enjoyable, comedy-based romance with relatable, over-the-top characters.
Romance is a key aspect in this anime, but well combined and balanced with the comedy and ridiculuous situations that the protagonists will experience.
11. Ore Monogatari!!
The story follows the adventures of Takeo Goda, a 2-meter-tall, muscular student who doesn’t have much luck with girls. Every girl he likes ends up falling in love with his far more attractive best friend Makoto Sunakawa.
One day Takeo rescues a girl named Rinko Yamato from an attacker on a train, and so the 2 unexpectedly fall in love at the first sight.
The original manga had good success in the East, even placing as the best manga for girls for multiple years.
And that’s certainly because of its super wholesome romance, its cute and funny moments and the presence of an unusual couple to say the least.
Takeo and Rinko are all but the average dream couple you get to see in Japanese animation with 2 handsome guys, but that’s exactly why it works so damn well.
10. Wotakoi
Wotakoi is an 11-episode anime series based on a manga of the same name written and drawn by Fujita.
The series stars Narumi Momose, a serious and impeccable employee who hides from friends and colleagues the fact that she is an otaku and a nerd, who loves to play videogames.
But she will not be alone, because in the office where she works Hirotaka Nifuji, a charming old friend of hers lives his otakuhood head-on too.
In addition, Hanako Koyanagi, Narumi’s senpai, and her boyfriend Taro Kabakura, are also otaku.
Wotakoi as you may have guessed highlights these 4 charismatic characters with their comical and funny interactions as the love between Narumi and Hirotaka blossoms.
If you want to combine nerdy elements into a light and satisfying romance anime with otaku MCs, this is a solid choice.
9. From me to You
From Me to You is a manga written by author Karuho Shiina winner of the prestigious Kodansha Award in 2008, a title of no small importance in the Japanese anime and manga scene.
The anime adaptation was released in 2010 with 25 episodes.
The main character, named Sawako, is derisively called Sadako by her classmates because she resembles the character of the same name in Ring, the Japanese version of the famous Western horror film The Ring.
One day she will make the acquaintance of Shota, a popular boy in the school, who will treat her with consideration. This unusual relationship will blossom love and give birth to one of the best romance anime.
You read it for yourself in the plot, this anime may seem heavy because of the initial bullying of Sadako.
But fear not, it’s merely the pretext to get the plot started. After this, there will only be room for one of the most wholesome couples ever and a lot of funny moments.
This anime really one of the best underrated romance anime we recommend discovering.
8. Lovely Complex
Lovely Complex is a 24-episode anime based on the shojo manga of the same name by Aya Nakahara and animated by Toei Animation.
The main characters in the story are Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Otani, two students who live in Osaka and attend the same high school. They however have quite a peculiarity.
Risa is 170 centimeters tall, a lot for a Japanese girl, and on the other hand, Otani is a basketball player, but he is only 156 centimeters tall, below average for the sport he plays.
At school, the two are nicknamed All Hanshin Kyojin, after a popular Japanese comedy duo consisting of a short man and a tall man.
We will see their relationship as it grows up, and blossoms into a beautiful love story.
Lovely Complex is a romance series created to be comical and light-hearted. And the 2 main characters will be the stars of the show thanks to their self-deprecation and absurd moments.
7. Toradora!
Toradora began as a light novel series written by Yuyuko Takemiya and a manga adaptation by artist Zekkio.
The main character Ryuji Takagi, because of his creepy look and being the son of a yakuza, is kept at a distance and feared by his schoolmates.
In reality, he is a quiet and responsible boy, as well as obsessed with hygiene. Opposed to him we have Taiga Aisaka, feared for his heated disposition despite being of petite stature.
Toradora! is a romance in the pure sense of the word, basing its plot entirely on love.
But despite this, we will witness a convincing story, which before the romantic moments shows us a lot of comedy with a believable group of friends.
The love story is also captivating, full of twists, unrequited love, and moments that will leave you speechless.
6. Maid-Sama!
This anime is set in Seika High School, a predominantly male high school where Misaki Ayuzawa achieved the position of first-ever female student council president, becoming extremely popular.
And her primary purpose, given the majority of males, is to protect girls from boys.
Misaki encounters Takumi Usui as he rejects a love confession by a classmate who starts crying. Misaki tries to intervene, but Usui shows total indifference, and so the relationship between the two begins in the worst possible way.
But Misaki is hiding a secret, namely that outside of school hours she works at a maid cafe, and guess who will find out about her on that same day? Usui will have to keep the secret so as not to ruin the girl’s school career.
Maid Sama is an incredibly solid romance, combining almost perfect laughter, awkward moments, and a constantly growing romance, all in a cute moe key that makes it an excellent romance anime with no drama.
5. OreGairu
A 13-episode anime based on the light novel series of the same name written by Wataru Watari featuring Hachiman Hikigaya. He is an antisocial high school student with a distorted and pessimistic view of social life that leads him to be alone.
That is until his teacher forces him to join the institution’s volunteer club, which is attended and run by the prettiest and one of the most popular girls in school, Yukino Yukinoshita.
The 2 will find that they have much in common, but joining the club with Yui, another attractive girl will start a love triangle.
OreGairu is an atypical romance, which relies heavily on the comic side but invites young people to reflect on what is really important in their lives.
The real focus of the work is undoubtedly the growth path of its protagonists who, little by little, begin to come out of their own bubbles to discover that not everything in the outside world is to be thrown away.
Plus, Hachiman is one of the coolest MC you can find in romance anime.
4. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
Based on Hajime Kamoshida’s light novel of the same name, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is a 2018 anime by CloverWorks.
The plot revolves around Sakuta Azusagawa, a high school boy who keeps to himself and has only two friends.
This is caused by the fact that rumors are circulating about him allegedly assaulting some boys. One day, while walking around the library, he runs into a girl dressed as a bunny.
The girl’s name is Mai Sakurajima, his senpai older than him as well as a professional actress and popular girl. The two will begin to discover each other, opening doors to their various past experiences.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is a complex romance that goes to give more attention to its psychological aspects related to trauma rather than romance.
There will be many twists, and turns, deep moments, and some light comedy mainly given by Sakuta, but tying these themes together will always be one of the best romances you can find with one of the best couples ever.
3. Kaguya-Sama: Love is War
Kaguya-Sama: Love is War deals with small self-contained stories about the eternal psychological and love struggle between Miyuki Shirogane, distinguished student council president, and his deputy, Kaguya Shinomiya.
The only difference between the 2 is that Shirogane comes from a modest family, while Kaguya is extremely wealthy and popular.
Both are determined to get the other to confess their love first because you know, the one who gives in first loses, and they can’t afford it.
This anime is an incredibly solid and complete show that not only male romance fans should watch, but even those who don’t like the genre.
You will find everything: a comedy that will break you up with laughter, cute moments and romance, and a dash of drama but always in a comedic vein and not heavy at all. That’s why we have no shame in calling it one of the best romance anime you can find on Hulu.
2. Monogatari Series
The story deals with the events of Koyomi Araragi, a generous boy attending high school who sees his life change after meeting Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade, a vampire.
The main character will save her by giving away some of his blood, and this will make the boy a vampire too.
After becoming almost human again as a result of these events, he begins to find himself in the midst of various affairs involving spirits, gods, and ghosts while living his private life.
Don’t be fooled by the plot, this anime is far from one of the classic stories of monsters and ghosts that must be defeated to preserve peace on earth.
Monogatari is a more unique than rare anime, almost impossible to categorize, perfectly combining so many genres and elements, including a great psychological romance, comedy and a mind-blowing plot.
1. Maison Ikkoku
Based on a seinen manga by Rumiko Takahashi, Maison Ikkoku is a great classic of the 1980s.
Yusaku Godai, the protagonist of the events, is a young high school student who aspires to enter a prestigious college. To prepare himself best and quietly for the difficult entrance exam, he rents an apartment at the extravagant Maison Ikkoku boarding house.
The boarding house is run by Kyoko Otonashi, an extremely charming woman older than him with whom Yusuke has an immediate love affair.
Maison Ikkoku is a major cult hit in the romance genre, making history and shaping the genre as we know it today. This anime indeed is one of the fathers of subgenres and tropes like harem and romance anime where an older girl loves a younger boy.
Its mature and psychologically rich love story perfectly balanced with comic interludes, still to this day manages to surprise and convince without falling into stereotypes of the romance genre.
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