My top 10 recommended romance anime/manga

Romance has always been a tricky, unforgiving genre; you make one mistake and the story slowly begins to crumble. Why is that? Well, as many of us may know, love is a complicated business. So is entertainment. So why do we continue watching it? There’s many different answers that vary based on the individual. Maybe we’re simply taking a chance at trying to find a feeling. A feeling of the tingle of our heartstrings, or a stir in our human emotions. It’s good to feel these things from time to time. But romance is not just all about that giddy feeling or in Tagalog, kilig. Love includes heartbreak, be it an unrequited love, forbidden love, the pains of long distance relationships, etc. media is so full of these lovey-dovey romcoms that we tend to forget the realistic side of love. So in this month of hearts, whatever you’re looking for, be it some sweet tooth-rotting fluff or a drama that will make you tweet #feels or hey why not something in between? Whatever it is, the following anime and manga can offer you just that.

1. Toradora

Ah, the classic. I remember back in fifth grade I used to watch this on TV5, telling myself how much I relate to these characters because all they want in their lives is for their crush to notice them. Ryuji Takasu is often mistaken for a delinquent thanks to his sharp looks when in reality he is actually a softie. Taiga Aisaka may appear small and doll-like but cute and fragile is probably the last thing used to describe her. Armed with a wooden katana and feisty personality, Taiga is known throughout the school as the “Palmtop Tiger.” With a nickname like that would anyone dare mess with her? So what do these two have in common? They each have a crush on each other’s best friends! And so with this revelation, the two embark on a quest to help each other with their respective crushes, forming an unlikely alliance in the process. I like how Toradora started out as this cutesy romcom but as the story progresses, the characters’ backgrounds are given focus like who is Taiga behind that strong and tough façade? The story also becomes more serious and quite dramatic but that’s just the appeal of Toradora for me. You can’t help but feel for these characters, even relate to them. Plus the opening song is so catchy! This anime may be old but it’s still worth watching. Even I don’t mind watching it again. It’s just that good.

2. 14-sai no Koi (Love at Fourteen)

Yes you read that right. Fourteen. The main characters are 14 year olds. You’re probably going to say fourteen? Isn’t that a bit too young? But you’ll be surprised. Kazuki and Kanata are two unusually mature young people. They are both smart, very together and they are in love. But, as grown-up as they act, they are still just 14 and their feelings for each other are captured with tenderness and lack of nostalgia. The story gives the air of simplicity. There’s not a lot of angst — which for romance lovers can be a breath of fresh air from the usual. It’s heartwarming and it’s tender. It’s two friends who really like each other and how their feelings for each other grow and evolve. So yeah it’s not that complicated. But it’s definitely enjoyable for anyone who is looking for a break from the angsty love triangles that many romances seem to have. The art is also minimalistic — it’s clean, consistent and cute which fits the theme very well. As for the characters there’s no major character development or groundbreaking backstories. They are just ordinary people but they are likable and endearing. I recommend this manga for anyone who is looking for a relaxed romance, nothing too serious but still romance all the same.

3. Tomo-chan wa Onnanoko (Tomo-chan is a Girl)

How do you get your crush to see you as more than just a friend? It’s already a struggle enough isn’t it? But what if he sees you as…one of the boys?! That’s just the dilemma of Tomo Aizawa the protagonist of this comedy manga. Boyish high school girl Tomo finally manages to tell her childhood friend Jun that she’s got a crush on him. Unfortunately, her confession goes right over his head — he didn’t even realize she was a girl until junior high, and even now, Jun still thinks of her as a bro! How can Tomo possibly convince him otherwise and win Jun’s heart? If you’re looking for a light, comedic read this manga is good for you. And you’re in a hurry? Well that’s okay because each chapter is only one page long! One of the strengths of this manga is the ability of the characters to carry the story without you getting bored. Not only are they funny but each of them has a unique personality and undergoes well written development. It never forgets to showcase Tomo’s relationships not only with Jun but also with her other friends and those around her. The minor characters are also given focus from time to time and they are just as lovable as Tomo and Jun. While the plot may sound cliché at first, it is anything but. So go ahead and try reading this one. With the short chapters and entertaining characters you’ll be surprised how much chapters you’ve read in one sitting.

4. Kuragehime (Princess Jellyfish)

Oh, this one. This one got me tearing my hair out while screaming at the characters but still cheering for them at the same time. Yep it’s that kind of manga. Kuragehime centers on geek girl Tsukimi Kurashita who is a huge fan of jellyfish. No I’m not kidding. She moves to Tokyo to become an illustrator and lives in an apartment complex that is full of geek girls just like her. One night she rescues a dying jellyfish from a pet store with the help of a stylish woman who decides to stay the night at her apartment. And Tsukimi finds out the next morning that the stylish woman is in fact, a cross dressing man. To make matters complicated, their apartment has a strict no-men-allowed rule so now Tsukimi has to keep this a secret from her friends. And that is just the start of everything that will turn Tsukimi’s life upside down. This manga totally reminds me of an Asian drama: rich, attractive male lead? Check. Dense (oh so dense!) but lovable main character? Check. Crazy love polygon? Check. A lot of things hooked me into this manga and one of them is how relatable the characters are. They are all passionate with what they love and they are not ashamed of it. Whether it be fashion or jellyfish, these characters will fight to keep doing what they love and will not apologize for it. For someone like me who is sometimes hesitant of some hobbies, this was such a big call out. And I totally see myself in Tsukimi thanks to her shy, introverted personality that even though her density annoys me I still find myself cheering for her as she tries her best to break out of her shell. And while her progress is slow it’s still progress. The side characters get their share of the spotlight too and they are all lovable and hilarious. If you’re looking for a manga that will give you that Asian drama feels this is it!

5. Koe no Katachi (A Silent Voice)

At some point you’ve probably seen this once in your news feed thanks to the movie version being shown here in the Philippines. While the movie stayed faithful to the manga and is good in its own way, the manga offers the full experience. The story begins with fifth grader Shouya Ishida who is weirded out by the deaf new student Shouko Nishimiya. Because of that difference the others bully and ostracize her but Shouya is the one leading them. Until one day Shouya took things too far and Shouko is forced to move to another school and that’s when Shouya’s life changes. Suddenly everyone is blaming him despite being bullies themselves. He becomes the scapegoat. He is now the one being bullied. Fast forward to high school and Shouya is suffering from social anxiety thanks to that experience. He now has trouble looking at people, resulting to him becoming friendless. His path of redemption begins when he meets Shouko again and is determined to right his wrongs. What I appreciated most in Koe no Katachi was its representation of deaf people and the way it tackled mental health issues because it’s rare to see an anime/manga with that kind of theme! Kudos to the creator for that one. I also liked the development of Shouya and Shouko both relationship-wise and their individual characters. This manga will also make you question if Shouya deserves that second chance specially if you have experienced bullying in the past. And while I do admit Shouya got what’s coming for him it was hard not to cheer for him as you can see his effort and his regret in what he’s done. While I disliked some characters thanks to their hypocrisy, overall this has been a wonderful read.

6. Hidamari Ga Kikoeru (I Hear the Sunspots)

Think of this as Koe no Katachi but they’re college students. And they’re both guys. But hey love is love right? Because of a hearing disability, Kouhei is often misunderstood and has trouble integrating into life on campus, so he learns to keep his distance. That is until he meets the outspoken and cheerful Taichi who tells him that his hearing loss is not his fault. Taichi’s words cut through Kouhei’s usual defense mechanisms and opens his heart and thus begins their friendship that will develop into something more. But here is where it gets all complicated because Kouhei has not said what they are to each other and Taichi does feel something for Kouhei but with Kouhei not acknowledging anything Taichi is confused. Are they lovers? Are they friends? But friends don’t kiss right? Hidamari Ga Kikoeru does not solely focus on the relationship between the two. It also gives light on people with hearing disabilities and their struggles. Taichi and Kouhei’s character development was also fun to read for in a way this is also a sort of coming-of-age for Taichi. He may be in college but he is still figuring himself out. He doesn’t seem to like his chosen program thus having difficulty with his studies and with his budding feelings for Kouhei he also finds himself questioning his sexuality. So I think Taichi is a pretty relatable character. The story is also not heavy on the drama it’s a light read but at the same time, will make you curious on what will happen next. Some may find the pacing slow but I think it’s good that the author shows their development first unlike most mangas where the MCs are in love in the first chapter. In short I find the pacing realistic and overall this has been a very good read.

7. Romeo x Juliet

What’s this? An anime version of the classic Shakespeare play? Well you can treat it as such but don’t expect it to faithfully follow the original play. In the floating continent of Neo Verona, the Montague family seized control and murdered every member of the Capulet family with the exception of Capulet’s daughter, Juliet. 14 years later, Juliet and those loyal to her family live hidden from the iron fist of the Montague family. Juliet’s life changes upon a chance encounter with Romeo and she finds herself falling in love, not knowing that he is the son of the man who ordered the murder of her family. I admit I already knew the ending to this one but still decided to watch it out of curiosity and I was not disappointed. The first half of the series actually made me feel giddy, rooting every time for Juliet and Romeo to meet and gushing how cute Romeo is. Aside from the romance, the action was also a major plus for me. The swordfights are amazing and you can see how outer forces conspire against the two lovers — it’s not just the fact that their families hate each other, but the growing turmoil within the city under a tyrannical rule also plays a part in the conflict of the story. If you’re looking for a fantasy anime with forbidden love as its theme but also want some sweet action then this one is for you.

8. Ouran High School Host Club

When I was brainstorming for this list I scolded myself for almost forgetting about this anime. I first watched it when I was a kid, on a DVD I bought out of a whim and I remember watching it with my kuya who enjoyed it just as much. The protagonist of the story is Haruhi Fujioka, a scholarship student in an elite private academy. Looking for a quiet place to study she stumbles upon Music Room no. 3 and accidentally breaks a million yen vase. Unfortunately for her that room is being occupied by the host club of her school — a bunch of attractive guys who spend their time entertaining ladies. As Haruhi obviously cannot pay for the vase she now has to dress up as a guy and join the host club. And that ladies and gentlemen, is where the crazy shenanigans begin. Each member of the host club has a unique personality that sets them apart from the rest — from the princely Tamaki to the mischievous Hitachiin twins, they all keep the ladies (and the viewers!) coming back for more. I did not find a single character I did not like — it’s really that entertaining and hilarious! The opening and ending songs are also catchy — I dare not skip them despite hearing it many times. While the anime is amazing, I admit the ending fell short but lucky for us there is a manga which takes the story further than the anime has. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good ol’ romcom

9. Emma: A Victorian Romance

We’re all a lowkey hopeless romantic deep down and this manga will just bring it out of you. Set in Victorian era England, it is the love story between a working class maid and an upper class gentleman. One afternoon, William Jones decided to pay a visit to his former governess Kelly Stownar, where he meets Emma, the maid working for Kelly. Despite being a maid, William is lovestruck with Emma and finds ways for the two of them to meet. They may be aided by their friends but because of their difference in class, William’s own family and society conspire against them. The art in this manga is gorgeous. It really captures the historical setting perfectly and even has a couple of educational references thanks to the author who is a self-confessed Anglophile. There’s not a lot of comedy on this one but there are lots of cute, sweet moments and of course drama. You can’t just help but wonder if they will ever get to be with each other and that’s the thing with this manga. It may not be an on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller nor does it have groundbreaking plot twists (at least not that much) but you’ll still find yourself clicking on to the next chapter. You will swoon, you will cry, you will tear your hair out. There’s just something about the historical backdrop that simply captures you. History and romance lovers, read on.

10. Kuzu no Honkai (Scum’s Wish)

As I’m writing this one I am imagining somewhere out there an anime fan like me who is reading this list might be saying “what the heck dude seriously?” and even my best friend did not like this. So why am I including this? Because folks, I felt this anime on an emotional level. This anime is for anyone and everyone who ever experienced the pain of unrequited love. (Whoa, dude!) ok let me start by saying: this is not your typical romance anime. This doesn’t even have comedy! This is pure mature drama. But it is still romance. Kuzu no Honkai represents the ugliness of human emotions and carnal base desires. It looks into the darker side of romance and tackles matters which romance anime basically never does. This is not a story about how to get your crush to notice you, but rather it deals with issues such as how to emotionally cope with having an unrequited love, reflecting on yourself as a human being and opening your eyes to your own flaws, and considering what it must be like for the target of your unrequited affection if you force your own feelings onto them. It showcases how love truly is blind, that you can end up falling for the wrong person against your better judgment, and you just cannot help but desire them anyway. It is heart-wrenching throughout, but also psychological and packed to the brim with moral lessons to be learned. Honestly I did not like any of the characters (with the exception of Hanabi) but I think this is not the goal of the anime anyway. You’re not supposed to like them. They’re realistic. They’re human. They remind us of someone we know or used to know. Heck, they can even remind us of ourselves. Or at least that part of ourselves we don’t normally acknowledge. If you’re looking for the kiligs, you won’t find it in this anime. But if you’re looking for something different, something unique, something that will make you think then look no further.