Romance.
How can one describe it?
To some, romance is butterflies in the stomach, while to some, romance is the time one cannot recognize their mirror selves. For others, it might be a fleeting moment that does not last long.
Romance is different for every individual as there are numerous shades in it. Maybe that’s why romance in anime portrays the author’s sentiment towards love, while the anime director adds their bits to it.
There is no need to tell you about the vastness of romance anime as a genre. There are hundreds and hundreds of them, maybe even thousands.
But how many of them are actually finished?
Well, the answer is not many. Only a few of them have completely adapted the source material, be it a manga, light novel, book, or anything else.
No one likes to watch an unfinished romance anime and be left out at the end wondering what could have happened.
This is why I have created a list of completed romance anime so that you can watch them without waiting for new seasons.
So, without further ado, let’s begin the list of the 15 best-completed romance anime that doesn’t leave you on a cliffhanger.
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#15 A Lull in the Sea
Number of seasons: 1
Number of Episodes: 26
Studio: P.A. Works
Rating: 65/100
In the world of “A Lull in the Sea”, every human being used to live in the depths of the sea. Although, with time, people who preferred the land decided to leave the sea dwellers and came above to lead their lives.
There’s a catch to it. The ones who abandoned the sea are abandoned by the god’s protection called Ena which allows humans to breathe underwater.
You are right, it’s a tale about discrimination between residents of the sea and the land that mirrors our real world perfectly.
Unfortunately, four childhood friends, Hikari Sakishima, Manaka Mukaido, Chisaki Hiradaira, and Kaname Isaki, are sent off to the surface to attend a school. Forcibly you might add.
Although they found a friend in a fisherman and a classmate in Tsumugu Kihara, they might not be ready for the eyes that only flaunt hatred and disgust towards them.
Be it reality or fiction, the adults are always the ones ruining the innocence of a child.
#14 ReLIFE
Number of seasons: 1
Number of Episodes: 13
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Rating: 67/100
Arata Kaizaki doesn’t fit in with the herd of sheep society has become. As a job hopper, he is more of an eyesore to the companies.
On his way back home, the 27-year-old was approached by Ryou Yoake, who offered him to be a part of an experiment for a year. During that tenure, all his living expenses will be paid. He might even get a job after the experiment.
Isn’t that fascinating?
Well, he accepted it and swallowed a pill as a part of the experiment. Waking up the next morning his body has turned into his 17-year-old self, and now he has to go to a high school as a transfer student.
Just like that, he went to the school with a cocky smirk on his face. But that smirk didn’t last long as he barely hung in there with other students. Both in academics and sports.
On top of that, Ryou had his eyes on him. The annoyance this guy had to tackle was immense. Personally, I feel bad for this guy.
Hint: Make sure to watch the 4 OVAs of the Final arc to conclude ReLIFE. This anime has a unique approach to romance you might like.
Also, read the manga if you want to enjoy it to the fullest.
#13 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Number of seasons: 1
Number of Episodes: 11
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Rating: 70/100
On a scorching day of summer, Jinta Yadomi is bothered by his childhood friend Meiko Honma, or Menma in short. Menma kept bothering him about a wish that he forgot to grant.
Jinta ignores her regardless.
Why?
Because Menma died years ago.
And just like you, me, or anyone else, this might feel like a hallucination due to extreme summer heat, but it wasn’t a hallucination.
He is soon convinced that Menma has returned as a ghost. The group of friends who used to hang out together in their childhood reunited once again after growing apart following Menma’s death. But this time, it’s to farewell Menma, properly, to let her rest in peace.
Hint: Watch the 11 episodes to find out. And don’t forget to watch the Anohana Movie for a proper conclusion.
#12 Plastic Memories
Number of seasons: 1
Number of Episodes: 13
Studio: Doga Kobo
Rating: 72/100
First of all, you need connections in this world.
Because if you don’t have any, you can’t pull strings to get a job like our eighteen-year-old protagonist Tsukasa Mizugaki. Though Tsukasa failed his college entrance exam, he got a job in SAI Corp (Sion Artificial Intelligence Corporation).
The S.A.I Corp is known for making androids so advanced that you can’t differentiate them from normal humans. These androids are called Giftias.
However, their lifespan is limited to only 81,920 hours which is around 9 years and 4 months.
After that period, they lose their memories and begin to display violent traits. And that’s what Tsukasa’s job is, he has to collect those expired ones before such a thing happens.
Soon Tsukasa is joined by Isla, a Giftias. A beautiful one, and as you might have guessed, he falls for her.
As we all know, love knows no bounds. But the problem here isn’t his love, the problem here is Isla’s remaining time before expiry.
Can Tsukasa pull off a miracle here?
#11 Golden Time
Number of seasons: 1
Number of episodes: 24
Studio: J.C.Staff
Rating: 75/100
What if a blessing comes to you in disguise of a tragedy?
That’s what happened to Banri Tada when he encountered a terrible accident. Amnesia strikes him, and his memories of the past keep disappearing.
Without any memories, Banri Tada didn’t know what to do until he befriended Mitsuo Yanagisawa. It was after the encounter with Mitsuo that Banri decided to move on and join a law school in Tokyo.
Why not? Why worry about the uncontrollable?
Banri Tada decided to paint the blank canvas with his colors rather than waiting for someone to paint it for him.
He was enjoying his college life to no end. Be it making new friends, finding new love (first love you might say), or growing from his mistakes, he was overjoyed with how much he could do.
Little did he know that Kouko Kaga would soon break into his life to create memories that will stay with him for an eternity. But, the question remains, will Banri Tada ever recover his memories, and will those affect his new life?
#10 Honey and Clover
Numbers of seasons: 2
Numbers of Episodes: 36
Studio: J.C.Staff
Rating: 77/100
Yuuta Takemoto doesn’t have enough money to rent a separate apartment. So, Like all human beings, he shares an apartment with his art college seniors, Shinobu Morita and Takumi Mayama.
Shinobu is unpredictable, while Takumi is passionate but also the one who looks out for Yuuta.
By the way, there’s no bath in that apartment.
Yuuta is a soul which flies around without much thought of the destination. And just like that, this free-flying soul meets Hagumi Hanamoto, and BOOM.
He falls in love with Hagumi, who has just enrolled in his university.
Meanwhile, Hagumi befriends Ayumi Yamada, a popular pottery student, well acquainted with the three wise monkeys.
Not just that, she has feelings for one of them.
Honey and Clover display college romance at its finest.
#9 My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
Number of seasons: 3
Number of episodes: 38
Studio: Brain’s Base (S1), feel. (S2, S3)
Rating: 80/100
Beauty and the Beast wouldn’t be a proper title for Oregairu, the short for the long name. So long that I don’t want to type it anymore.
Anyways. To describe Oregairu, I would give it the title Beauties and the Zombie. Anyway, The emphasis is on the word Beauties.
Hachiman Hikigaya is dead cold from inside and believes that blissful high school life is a farce. On a fine day, Hachiman decides to open himself up through his writing about modern relationships, and just like that, he is up for punishment from the teacher.
For a guy like him, something like writing an apology letter or standing outside the class would be a piece of cake. So, his punishment was to join the Volunteer Service Club. Yes, a club to help anyone with a problem.
The president of the club is renowned ice queen, Yukino Yukinoshita. The worst possible punishment he would’ve imagined.
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#8 Bakuman
Number of seasons: 3
Number of episodes: 75
Studio: J.C.Staff
Rating: 82/100
Moritaka Mashiro’s childhood dream was to become a mangaka just like his uncle Tarou Kawaguchi who was known for a well-renowned gag manga.
But the unthinkable happens, and Moritaka became a regular middle school student aiming to become a salaryman.
But fate had other plans.
Akito Takagi, an aspiring writer, a model student, and a classmate, stumbles upon Moritaka’s drawings. Akito approaches Moritaka to join hands and become a mangaka as art was not his forte.
Initially, Moritaka was conflicted, but he agreed later on.
He agreed to become a mangaka to fulfill his desire to cast his forever crush, Miho Azuki, in an anime adaptation of a popular manga he wishes to create in the future.
Both Miho and Moritaka decide to get married once they fulfill their dream, her becoming a voice actor and him being a mangaka.
So, Akito and Moritaka begin their journey as a mangaka with the pen name of Muto Ashirogi.
Bakuman brilliantly portrays the journeys of several aspiring mangakas. It also offers romance between different pairs bringing a sense of freshness to this genre.
#7 Cross Game
Number of seasons: 1
Number of episodes: 50
Studio: SynergySP
Rating: 85/100
Sports, Romance, Drama, Comedy, Cross Game. You mention it, This anime has it all.
Kou Kitamura is the son of a sports shop owner. His batting ability is second to none in baseball and is often seen in the batting center owned by Aoba Tsukishima’s family.
Just like Kou, Aoba also has impressive pitching skills.
While both the families are close for so many known reasons, Kou and Aoba are two north poles repelling each other all the time.
Aoba’s elder sister Wakaba Tsukishima is always seen spending most of the time with Kou. This makes Aoba jealous to no end.
What is waiting for these three at the end of the journey?
Hint: If you enjoy reading Blue Box on Weekly Shonen Jump, you should definitely watch Cross Game. Romance plays a huge part in this baseball drama written by Mitsuru Adachi.
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#6 Nodame Cantabile
Number of seasons: 3
Number of episodes: 46 (includes 1 special relevant to the storyline)
Studio: J.C.Staff
Rating: 87/100
Shinichi Chiaki is a born perfectionist. Not only is he hard on himself, but he is also hard on others. Chiaki has always dreamt of playing with the elites in Europe. But, the only thing that stops him from doing so is aerophobia (fear of flying).
Coming from a renowned family, Chiaki is a first-class musician.
While in Japan, he bumps into Megumi Noda. You can call her Nodame.
She is exactly the type he isn’t comfortable around. A messy appearance, going with the flow with no regard for the future, and the fact that Nodame is her neighbor shook him up even more.
However, Chiaki was taken aback when Nodame’s piano played. Tou can say, Her music reached him.
It’s a fact that the North Pole and the South Pole of a magnet will always attract each other. One way or the other.
Nodame has fallen for Chiaki and is too deep to get back up.
#5 Horimiya
Number of seasons: 1
Number of episodes: 13
Studio: CloverWorks
Rating: 90/100
Everything is extremely-weird yet believable in Horimiya, just like the protagonists, Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura.
While Kyouko Hori is known for her strong personality, a beauty with brains in school, Izumi Miyamura is the epitome of pin-drop silence, often misunderstood as an otaku.
However, Kyouko Hori at home is a housekeeper who takes care of everything while her mama is doing overtime every day of the week.
Be it cleaning, cooking, doing groceries, or taking care of his little brother, Hori does it all.
Similarly, Izumi Miyamura is a sweet delinquent who is hard to identify outside school. With piercings, tattoos, and no glasses, Izumi is a different beast.
And when these two meet each other’s hidden selves, it’s the beginning of the spring season.
It is one of those rare anime, which skipped a lot of manga content, yet received unconditional love from the viewers.
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#4 Tsuki ga Kirei
Number of seasons: 1
Number of episodes: 12
Studio: feel.
Rating: 91/100
The title Tsuki ga Kirei means “The Moon is Beautiful” in Japanese.
However, those words are taken from “Tsuki ga Kirei desu ne”, literally meaning “The Moon Is Beautiful, Isn’t It?” in Japanese, which is also a poetic way of saying I Love You.
That’s how innocent and simple the story is.
Two students in their final year of junior high meet each other, and after a few gazes, they blossom feelings.
However, young love brings anxiety, expectations, heartache, and more.
Not wanting to play the hide and seek game anymore, Kotarou Azumi gathers the courage to ask a simple question to Akane Mizuno under a moonlit night.
Will Kotarou get the answer he desires?
#3 Clannad
Number of seasons: 2
Number of episodes: 47
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Rating: 94/100
A delinquent befriends a frail girl who wants to resurrect the school drama club. With nothing else to do, he decides to help her achieve her dream. If you need more details, keep reading.
Tomoya Okazaki is a delinquent whose sudden encounter with Nagisa Furukawa changes his life.
After befriending her following that encounter, he gets to know that her dream is to resurrect the school’s drama club. He also heard about her recurring illness, which kept her away from the school for a year.
And just like that, Tomoya joins hands with Nagisa and four other girls to help achieve the dream. While doing that, he begins to understand that life is not as one-dimensional as he believed it to be.
#2 Fruits Basket (2019)
Number of seasons: 3
Number of episodes: 63
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Rating: 98/100
Tooru Honda’s love for the Chinese zodiac was prominent from childhood. An unfortunate turn of events left her all alone, and after that, Tooru lived in a tent.
But the fact that it was on the private property of the Souma family was unknown to her.
After noticing that Tooru is homeless, Shigure Souma takes her in. While staying there, she meets Kyou Souma and Yuki Souma, who are natural enemies more than cousins.
And this is where it gets interesting. The Souma family is under a curse that triggers by a hug.
If you want to know more about it, watch this supernatural romantic drama.
#1 Your Lie in April
Number of seasons: 1
Number of episodes: 22
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Rating: 100/100
The word prodigy is both a blessing and a curse.
That didn’t change for the piano prodigy Kousei Arima.
After losing his mother, Kousei Arima falls into a slump and becomes unable to hear his piano.
However, the blessing of being a prodigy came to Kousei Arima in the form of Kaori Miyazono, a violinist who brought brightness to his gloomy world.
She does not stop at just being a bright light.
She kept pushing Kousei Arima toward the music, which became nothing more than a stranger to him.
Kaori Miyazono is hell-bent on giving back the genius of Kousei Arima to the music world.
Besides being a beautiful woven story, Your Lie in April’s music will win your heart.
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Honorable Mentions:
As you know, I always have something extra for you. So, here are a few more completed romance anime you should watch.
- Kids on the Slope
- Sing “Yesterday” for Me
- Waiting in the Summer
- True Tears
- Romeo x Juliet (An adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet)
The first two anime adaptations are from a manga with a bit of cramped content, but they are a must-watch if romance is your thing.
While the rest two anime are originals except Romeo x Juliet. So, no worries about the source material.
With that, I conclude the list of 15 Best Completed Romance Anime. I hope you have enjoyed the listicle and have found at least one anime to binge this weekend.
Note: While there are OVAs and Specials of every anime on the list, some of them are relevant to the main storyline, so make sure to check them out.
Keep that in mind and watch anime to your heart’s content. That’s all for today and keep visiting averagebeing.com for more awesome anime content.
