Love Is In The Air this Spring 2024 Anime Season
There are fewer things in life I enjoy more than a good romance. Now, whether it’s a true romance series or a romantic comedy, or any other offshoot of the genre, every season we’re treated to at least one or two good ones. Now that we’re nearly through the current season, let’s take a look at the state of the romance anime this season.
Must Watch
Astro Note
In Astro Note, The alien Mira invades Earth, searching for the “key” she needs in order to become her home planet’s true ruler. It’s supposedly located on the grounds of an apartment building left to her by the former landlord. Enter Takumi, a promising young chef in need of a job, who falls head over heels for Mira after applying for a live-in chef position at the apartment complex.
So I’ll admit I’m cheating a bit by putting this romantic comedy here, but it’s my list and I make the rules. The animation is reminiscent of anime from a few decades ago, coated with a modern day sheen, much like the Urusei Yatsura remake. The physical comedy aspects are gold, and while the romance isn’t moving anywhere near as quickly as I’d like it to, the ensemble cast more than make up for it. The comedy definitely overshadows the romance elements for now, but I’m okay with that, because more people need to watch this. Please, go watch this. You’ll be laughing every episode and the characters grow on you, even if they aren’t your cup of tea initially.
A Condition Called Love
Per Crunchyroll, “This is a story about first love between a girl who doesn’t understand romantic love and a boy that may be a bit too heavy-handed when it comes to love.”
I was a little hesitant to place A Condition Called Love in the must-watch category, because they weren’t lying when they said that Hananoi, the male lead, may be heavy-handed when it comes to love. Dude is absolutely over the top in showing his affection for Hotaru, the heroine. It’s overbearing, suffocating, and at times, unhealthy. And I say all that fully realizing that when you’re as young as these kids are, your emotional compass can be underdeveloped or broken due to lack of experience. I remember being head over heels with a girl I thought I was going to marry in high school, and as in love as I was, I can’t say I ever went to the lengths Hananoi does. He waits outside her job nearly every day she’s there, shows up hours early at their meeting spot every day, and literally tells her that he doesn’t care about anyone else but her if they’re together. Not family, not friends, just her.
“Then why do you think this is a must watch romance anime Marquan?” Glad you asked. Even with Hananoi overdoing it a lot of the time, he seems to come from a good place. We get flashes of why he is the way he is, and while his behavior isn’t healthy all the time, it can be overlooked because he’s hot. Or at least that’s the way things go in romance anime. But truthfully, the main reason you should watch this is to see the growth of Hotaru: She starts off the show ignorant of what love is, and why everyone around her wants it so badly. She likes her friends and her family and that’s enough for her. Watching her attempt to comprehend why people do the things they do in the name of love, watching her come to terms with the fact that love comes in different shapes and sizes and is different for everyone, well, it’s a good time. But I’ve got to say, man, do romance leads get away with a lot because they’re attractive!
Whisper Me A Love Song
Whisper Me A Love Song is a yuri romance, where two girls fall in love at first sight, though those loves couldn’t be further from each other. Himari falls in love with Yori’s voice/music, while Yori falls in love with Himari romantically. What follows is Himari coming to terms with the differences between the “loves” they share.
This is a completely based pick, because I adore the manga for Whisper Me A Love Song. Though, since the manga is really sweet, and the anime is a pretty faithful adaptation, you’re in for a good ride with this anime. I love stories like this, as it allows the reader/viewer to view different perspectives since the characters’ feelings arise from different places. Love can mean something completely different for everyone, and the journey to discovering if those meanings overlap, clash or merge is fascinating when done right. My excitement to witness this manga come to life has begun to dwindle lately due to the issues that have arisen. Whisper Me A Love Song should have been a vibe, but it’s currently on a downward spiral production-value wise. While I’m still enjoying the story, it’s nowhere near as pretty to look at as it deserves to be.
Duke of Death
Cursed by a witch to live a life killing everything he touches, a young Duke is exiled by his family to a mansion secluded in the forest. On a quest to break his curse, he’s cared for by a family butler and a young flirty maid. His days are packed to the brim with romance and hijinks with a healthy dose of danger. Duke of Death separates itself from others in the genre so well that you won’t find another romantic comedy like this.
If the animation style doesn’t bother you, you’re in for a treat. Our Spring 2024 Sequel Guide sums it up best: Despite the curse hanging over their heads, the Duke, his family and friends find a way to live life to the fullest, despite the limitations the curse places on the smallest of interactions. With romance, comedy and magic abounding, I guarantee the viewer will be drawn into this wonderful and bittersweet world of magic, curses and love.
Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included
This is one of the comfiest shows of the season. Supernatural girls all gravitate to the sometimes dense, but always kindhearted, Shintaro. And since this also shares the harem tag there are a bunch of cute monster girls to grow to love. This show is a must-watch if you’re looking for a relaxing, wholesome romantic comedy, despite the romance being extremely light. While this is a section for must-watch romance, I’d be doing you a disservice by putting it in the section below. Plus, I make the rules, and this is my list, so here it stays.
Lukewarm On/Stay Away
This section is reserved for the romance shows I feel should be avoided, unless you’re into such material, of course. We don’t kink-shame around here. But honestly, these anime are bottom of the barrel to me and I’ll explain why. I’ll give a quick synopsis for each, and why I’m avoiding them.
Vampire Dormitory: Girl living disguised as a pretty boy is taken as a vampire’s thrall because said vampire can’t drink the blood of a woman. I wouldn’t say this is a must-watch or anything like that. It’s pretty, the plot is easy enough to follow, but I just can’t imagine that these boys can’t actually tell that the mc is a girl. Mito must be a master of disguise since she’s able to effortlessly fool everyone around her…or all these boys are just blind.
Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again: The title in a nutshell; two elderly grandparents eat a magical fruit and become young again. The numerous jokes about family members’ attraction to the newly young again grandparents was icky, so I ended up dropping this. It was cute when it focused on the grandparents’ actual relationship though.
Unnamed Memory: A prince is cursed to be the last of his bloodline, and seeks to break it, which leads him to a powerful witch. He immediately proposes to her in order to overcome the curse due to the belief that her power could overpower the strength of the curse. This anime started off very promising, but I ended up dropping it. Well, I plan to finish it eventually. Maybe.
An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: A powerful sorcerer spends all he has to buy an elf slave he falls in love with at first sight. While the story isn’t as bad as that premise sounds, it still left a sour taste in my mouth because I can’t see an actual romantic relationship budding from this, because of the fact she was purchased as his slave. In his defense, he does remove her slave collar and frees her. But it’s hard to feel any type of emotion at that when she willingly places the slave collar back on, because it’s how they “first became connected.” Just don’t bother with this one.
Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Cheat Powers: Flio is summoned to another world to be a hero, but is cast aside when a second hero is simultaneously summoned with higher stats than him. Lo and behold, the other hero is trash, Flio is OP, but he decides to live a carefree life where he was banished. This is an inoffensive show with a lead who actively avoids slavery — which is a major plus, but isn’t engaging as romance.
Date A Live V: It’s the newest season of Date A Live. I feel if you’re still following this one, there’s nothing I can tell you to get you to give up on this show. It’s mid, but. if you have nothing better to watch, and like some action with your romance shenanigans, by all means continue.
Hopefully you all find something to enjoy from this list! Until next time!
