Anime is originally from Japan. Over the years, it has acquired an enormous following garnering many fans globally. The top 10 romantic anime movies have beautiful and complex themes which are a fusion of Japanese culture and everyday occurrences.
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To enjoy the best anime love story movies, start with a genre that is loved by many. That is why romance is the go-to genre for those that want to join the bandwagon. Japanese anime has elements that make it unique and different. The mellow dream-like features shown encourage viewers to watch more and fall in love with the characters and creators.
Top 10 romantic anime movies of all time
Many anime movies are short, lasting about an hour or two. The runtime is great for people that have a short attention span. Here are the top movies that you should consider watching:
- Kimi no Na wa (Your Name) – 2016
Runtime: 1h 52m
IMDb rating: 8.4/10
This is one of the top romantic anime movies. It follows two teenagers who share a deep and mysterious connection. The country girl wants to live the exciting Tokyo life that the boy experiences. The two become interested in each other once they realize that they are swapping bodies.
- Howl no Ugoku Shiro (Howl’s Moving Castle) – 2004
Runtime: 1h 59m
IMDb rating: 8.2/10
Howl no Ugoku Shiro is one of the best romantic animated movies of all time. This anime fantasy follows the story of young Sophie, who works at her father’s shop. Her life is not dull, but it is also not interesting, either.
A little colour starts appearing in her monotonous life after she befriends wizard Howl. The wizard lives in a magical flying castle. The two become great buddies until the evil Witch of Waste discovers how close they are and casts a spell on young Sophie. The wizard has to work hard and defeat the magic to make Sophie return to her usual self.
- Mimi wo Sumaseba (Whisper of the Heart) – 1995
Runtime: 1h 51m
IMDb rating: 7.9/10
Whisper of the Heart is based on the manga with the same title. What happens when a boy and a girl keep getting on each other’s nerves? Love is the last thing one would expect between two people who keep crossing paths. This however happens, and the end of it all is beautiful as the two lovers share not only intimacy but also their dreams and goals.
- Hotarubi no Mori e (Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light) – 2011
Runtime: 45m
IMDb rating: 7.9/10
Hotarubi no Mori e uses Japanese folklore to tell a love story intertwined with agony. It follows Gin, a forest spirit, and Hotaru, a young girl who meets the spirit when still a child. Gin could not touch Hotaru the first time the two encountered.
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As a forest spirit, he is not allowed to do that lest he disappears. As Hotaru however matures, the two continue linking up and eventually fall for each other. There are sad segments in their story, but the whole experience is beautiful.
- Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) – 2006
Runtime: 1h 44m
IMDb rating: 7.7/10
An attractive young girl, Makoto, finds out that she can time travel. She uses her special powers to her advantage, doing things that she could not on an ordinary day. Makoto tries to fix issues like constant lateness and terrible grades.
Her powers are not all good as she realizes that she can hurt people, including a boy close to her. This is one of the exciting anime movies about romance you should watch.
- Doukyuusei (Classmates) – 2016
Runtime: 1h
IMDb rating: 7.7/10
Japanese romantic animated movies are made different as you will notice after you watch this 2016 anime. Doukyuuse tells the story of two dissimilar high school boys as they grow up and meet each other.
The movie shows different sides of high school, romance, conversation, and drama among the characters. This movie is a favourite if you enjoy the yaoi genre of anime romance.
- KazeTachinu (The Wind Rises) – 2013
Runtime: 2h 6m
IMDb rating: 7.8/10
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The Wind Rises is based on the real-life of Jiro Horikoshi, who developed the Zero fighter plane. Jiro’s life has not been smooth. He first learned that his eyesight prevented him from flying a plane.
As if that was not enough, Jiro had to face other struggles as an aeroplane engineer. He later falls for some girl who comes with her baggage, but together they work to build their love.
- Koto no ha no Niwa (The Garden of Words) – 2013
Runtime: 46m
IMDb rating: 7.5/10
A lonely teenager skips his morning lessons to sit in a beautiful garden. While enjoying the ambience, the garden brings an older woman who shares feelings of alienation appears. The dramatic love story shows how, unlike poles, can attract even with all the rebellion the world. The young shoemaker and mystery woman relationship is complicated but was worth a shot.
- Zutto Mae kara Suki Deshita: Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai (I’ve Always Liked You) – 2016
Runtime: 1h 4m
IMDb rating: 6.5/10
I’ve Always Liked You is one of the top romantic comedy anime movies of all time. It follows a group of friends who are having challenges telling their crushes that they have feelings for them.
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This is the perfect movie for teenagers. This is because they can relate to the awkward moments experienced in teenage love and maintaining tight bonds among friends and lovers.
- Tamako Love Story – 2013
Runtime: 1h 2m
IMDb rating: 7.1/10
This anime follows two high school students who after keeping their feelings from each other for a while, finally confess. You will enjoy the small-town local rivalries, humour, and heartwarming conversations among characters. Tamako Love Story is one of the top-rated anime romance movies.
The top 10 romantic anime movies tell different stories. Some are about mysterious creatures, family love, drama, high school activities, and how different everyone’s romance experience is.
