Romance plays a major role in just about any story, including anime. It’s a popular genre of anime that transcends demographics and other genres, and it contains some of the most beloved titles of all time. While many enjoy a good love story, it’s not for everyone, and as a result, not all romance anime are well-received.
Over the years, many great anime romances have gained a bad reputation due to poorly written storylines, unlikable characters, or simply because they’ve become outdated over time. While they may have their fair share of problems, it doesn’t mean these series aren’t good. These romance anime are often judged harshly by fans, but they still have something to offer and don’t deserve all the hate.
10 Vampire Knight Had An Interesting Premise & Just Needed Better Execution
Vampire Knight is a romance series that most fans either love or hate. Despite its immense popularity back in the 2000s, it received an incredible amount of hate during its run, with many criticizing its plotline and infamous love triangle. However, though the series isn’t void of problems, it’s become a vastly over-hated series throughout the years.
Vampire Knight has a unique and interesting premise, but its poor execution leaves most viewers underwhelmed. With a bit more seasons and a little elbow grease, it could easily be a great dark romance that fans would love.
9 Domestic Girlfriend Is Cringey & Problematic, But It’s Filled With Lovable Characters
Just going off the title, many can assume the worst from Domestic Girlfriend. There’s no denying that the series’ premise is cringey at best and problematic at worst, centering around the love triangle between Natsuo Fuji and his new step-sisters, a romance trope that many have grown to hate over the years.
Despite the setup, Domestic Girlfriend has some very lovable characters that fans can’t help but root for. It’s filled to the brim with drama, but in some of the best ways, pulling the audience in and getting them invested in each character’s problems.
8 Plastic Memories Still Manages To Tug At The Heartstrings, Despite Its Flaws
Fans are often torn when it comes to Plastic Memories. Some say it’s a heartbreaking tearjerker, while others see it as a shallow attempt at a sad story. Overall though, the general consensus seems to be that it’s a bit of a let-down.
Plastic Memories may not be the greatest romance anime to ever exist, but it’s still good in its own right. After all, a story doesn’t need to be original to be enjoyed by its audience. While it’s certainly far from original, the love story between Tsukasa and Isla is compelling and still strikes a chord with viewers.
7 Charlotte’s Rushed Anime Adaptation Still Has Its Good Points
Key Visual Arts anime adaptations are well-known for their high-quality drama, lovable characters, and heartbreaking moments. However, most fans agree that Charlotte failed to meet the high bar set by past titles. The series follows a similar format to its predecessors, seamlessly blending slice-of-life and supernatural for a combination that always wins over audiences.
Unfortunately, Charlotte’s poor pacing tends to rush through an otherwise enjoyable storyline, disappointing most viewers. But despite its faults, the series still has many good points that make it worth the effort, including its gorgeous visuals and lovable characters.
6 Chobits Has Become Outdated Over Time But Still Deserves Praise
The famous manga artist group CLAMP has made countless iconic series throughout their career, and many withstand the test of time. Unfortunately, Chobits is not one of them. It was once one of the most popular CLAMP series around, but in later years, many have revisited it with a critical eye, pointing out its many flaws and outdated clichés.
While it’s true that Chobits has a fair amount of tropes that have aged poorly over time, it’s still a wholesome and all-around enjoyable series that easily matches up to their other, more popular works. It’s a piece of 2000s anime history that helped shape the decade, and for that alone, it deserves nothing but praise.
5 Don’t Toy With Me Miss Nagatoro Is Misunderstood
When Don’t Toy With Me Miss Nagatoro first came out, many immediately began to criticize it. Because the first few episodes emphasize Nagatoro’s tendency to pick on her Senpai, viewers assumed the entire series was meanspirited and cruel.
This early bullying doesn’t last long, and soon enough, Nagatoro and Naoto’s relationship becomes a very sweet and wholesome one. The series is still ongoing, so there’s a chance the audience will come around, but so far, Don’t Toy With Me Miss Nagatoro is sadly misunderstood.
4 Peach Girl Has More To Offer Fans Than Just Drama
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Peach Girl is a classic shojo series from the 2000s, and it’s famously hated by shojo and romance fans alike. Many claim it’s nothing but a dramafest, filled with backstabbing, rumors, and unlikable characters. This is true to some extent, but Peach Girl is far more than just a petty high school drama.
At the start of the series, all protagonist Momo Adachi wants is to win over the guy over her dreams by any means necessary. As the series progresses, she begins to learn her self-worth and puts herself first. As she comes to love and accept herself, those around her can’t help but love her, too, making for an inspirational story about overcoming self-hatred and learning to embrace one’s uniqueness.
3 Darling In The Franxx Has A Disappointing Ending, But The Romance Is Still Worthwhile
Fans were hyped when Darling in the Franxx was first released, and the budding romance between protagonist Hiro and Zero Two became the most iconic of the year. Though they seem like any typical anime couple at first, there’s actually a great deal of complexity between the two, from their early beginnings to their time together as partners, making them a well-written and interesting pair.
Even as the quality of the series began to decline, their relationship remained the best part of the story. For most fans, Darling in the Franxx has an incredibly disappointing and underwhelming end. Despite this, many would still argue that it’s a worthwhile watch, if only for the compelling story between this iconic couple.
2 Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie Gets Surprising Hate, Despite Being So Popular
With so much hype behind Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, many expected it to be the next My Dress-Up Darling in terms of popularity. Shockingly, the opposite has seemed to happen, and many have complained that Shikimori is a disappointment. The main reason for this seems to be that it’s overall a simple slice-of-life, filled with fluff and feel-good moments.
Because there’s little action or drama, many have decided that Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie is boring and not worth anyone’s time. However, just because it’s not an action-packed thriller doesn’t mean that it isn’t good. It’s not for everyone, but the series is an adorable romance story with lovable characters, and it deserves a second chance from fans.
1 School Days Is Edgy & Horrifying, But That’s The Point
By this point, School Days has reached an infamous level of hatred among the anime community, with many still shocked and disturbed by its storyline to this day. However, this series was never meant to be a cute, wholesome rom-com. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Everything that most fans hate about School Days is what makes it so great.
It’s edgy, horrific, and filled to the brim with gore, but that’s the point. It’s a psychological series that deconstructs the harem genre, taking all of its tropes and turning them on their heads. While the series definitely isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s been given an undeserving bad rep due to its shocking themes and bloodbath of an ending, but it’s far better than most anime fans give it credit for.