For generations, anime is capturing the beauty and complexities of love by weaving some of the best romantic anime movies. The nostalgic and heartfelt tales of love, separation, and complexities of negative feelings transcend the realm of animation and leave an indelible mark on the viewer’s souls.
From the mystical realism of “Your Name” to the bittersweet romance of “A Silent Voice,” these films transport us to worlds where love blossoms amidst adversity and self-discovery. In today’s article, we’ll take a look at some of the best romantic anime movies that will make you emotional & your heart flutter. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.
15. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Sci-fi romantic anime movies have seen the light of cinema very rarely and “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” is a leading film of this genre. The film follows Makoto Konno, a high school student who gains the ability to time travel after being hit by a train.
She initially uses her power for trivial reasons, like avoiding tests and making money, but soon realizes that altering the past can have unexpected consequences. The film beautifully deals with themes of love, loss, and regret, in a sensitive and meaningful way.
14. Ocean Waves
Some movies are made out of curiosity while others are for financial purposes, however, “Ocean Waves” was an attempt by Studio Ghibli to allow their young staff to produce a film. Despite an inexperienced crew, the film manages to capture the essence of Ghibli’s storytelling, presenting a nostalgic coming-of-age story.
Set in a coastal town of Japan, the story depicts a love triangle that develops between two good friends and a new girl who transfers to their high school in Tokyo. What unfolds is a tale of friendship, unrequited love, and the complexities of navigating the emotions and challenges of youth.
13. A Whisker Away
“A Whisker Away” is one of the best romantic anime movies on Netflix that explores the themes of fantasy, self-discovery, and the power of love. With radiant imagery and a heartfelt musical score, the film takes viewers on a whimsical journey where the boundaries between human and feline blur.
The film follows Miyo Sasaki, a junior high student who secretly harbors feelings for her classmate Kento Hinode. She finds it difficult to express her true emotions until one day, she stumbles upon a magical mask allowing her to transform into a cat named Taro.
12. Josee, The Tiger And The Fish
“Josee, the Tiger and the Fish” is a poignant tale about love, acceptance, and overcoming obstacles. Based on a short story of the same name, the film is praised for its thought-provoking narrative of overcoming personal limitations, making it one of the must-watch sad romantic anime movies.
The film is about Tsuneo, a university student who encounters Josee, a young woman with a disability. As Tsuneo spends time with Josee, Tsuneo discovers Josee’s passion for drawing and helps her experience the world outside her comfort zone.
11. The Wind Rises
“The Wind Rises” is a 2013 historical drama film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film gives a fictionalized account of Jiro Horikoshi, the man who designed the Mitsubishi A5M fighter aircraft followed by the Mitsubishi A6M Zero that was used by the Empire of Japan during the Second World War.
Being one of the best romantic anime movies, the film was able to call out the elements of the power of dreams and the importance of following a passion, even in the face of adversity. Later, it went on to inspire the young generation to pursue their career in arts and technology.
10. The Garden Of Words
“Love has no age” – as a reader you might have come across this quote many times and our next romantic anime movie capitalizes on the same idea through its mesmerizing storyboard. Directed by Makoto Shinkai, the film follows Takao Akizuki, an aspiring teenager, and Yukari Yukino, a lonely woman.
Despite their age difference of twelve years, the two souls begin to develop feelings for each other following an encounter in a garden on a rainy morning! As they strive to keep alive a forbidden relationship, the film evokes a profound sense of longing and beauty.
9. Clannad: After Story
“Clannad: After Story” is one of the best romantic anime movies the visual novel genre has to offer. Serving as a sequel to the original anime series, the film revolves around Tomoya Okazaki, a delinquent who wants to drop out of his school until one day, he encounters Nagisa Furukawa.
Not wanting any trouble, Tomoya tries to ignore her but soon finds out about Nagisa’s dream of reviving her school’s drama club. Tomoya decides to help her and slowly, he gets pulled more and more into the lives of all the girls from the drama club. It’s a beautiful and sad story that can make anyone cry.
8. Howl’s Moving Castle
Based on the novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones, “Howl’s Moving Castle” is an exemplary work of the top romantic anime movies in the list of the highest-rated anime movies on IMDb. The film was a critical and commercial success, being nominated for the Oscars as well.
Howl’s Moving Castle follows Sophie, a young girl who turns into an old lady after being cursed by a witch. She seeks refuge in the enigmatic moving castle owned by the wizard Howl. Within the castle’s walls, Sophie discovers a world of magic, mystery, and unexpected alliances.
7. Whisper Of The Heart
Studio Ghibli movies are generally directed by the prolific Japanese filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki but “Whisper of the Heart” is a film by Yoshifumi Kondō. Released in 1995, this romantic fantasy film follows a young girl named Shizuku as she discovers her passion for writing.
One evening, she looks through the checkout cards in her library books and discovers they were all checked out previously by someone named Seiji Amasawa. As Shizuku learns who this person is, she also begins to learn about herself and her goals in life – a self-discovery that will change her life forever.
6. 5 Centimetres Per Second
Makoto Shinkai is a master of curating good romantic anime movies through visually stunning visuals and touching background music. “5 Centimeters per Second” is a bittersweet romantic drama reflecting the fleeting nature of time and melancholy of longing.
The story unfolds in three parts, narrating the lives of two childhood friends who are separated by distance and circumstances. As the film progresses, it navigates us through their challenges of growing up and pursuing dreams while their paths continue to cross!
5. Weathering With You
Another film by Makoto Shinkai, “Weathering With You” is one of the best romantic anime movies knowns for its breathtaking animation, engaging characters, and heartfelt narration. Set in a world where rain never seems to end, the story follows Hodaka, a high school boy who escapes to Tokyo.
On reaching the vibrant city life, he meets Hina, a bizarre girl with the extraordinary ability to control the weather. Together, they navigate the challenges of life, love, and the consequences of altering the forces of nature. A must-watch romantic film for viewers who love this genre.
4. Into The Forest Of Fireflies’ Light
Adapted from the original shōjo manga, “Into The Forest Of Fireflies’ Light” examines the unique love story of a young girl who spends all of her summers with a mysterious, masked spirit. The film follows Hotaru Takegawa, a 6-year-old girl who gets lost in a forest inhabited by a mountain spirit.
She is found by a mask-wearing, human-like entity named Gin, who tells her that he will disappear forever if he is touched by a human. Even though she can never touch the spirit in case she risks him disappearing, Hotaru still manages to develop a perfect summertime romance drama that can make anyone emotional.
3. I Want To Eat Your Pancreas
“I Want to Eat Your Pancreas” is a moving and heartbreaking film that explores the emotional ties between humans on a deep and meaningful level. Through its captivating storytelling, the film deals with friendship, love, loss, and the beauty found in fleeting moments.
The film tells the story of Haruki, a high school student who discovers that his classmate Sakura Yamauchi is suffering from a terminal pancreatic illness. Despite their initial differences, they form an unlikely friendship as they rediscover life and mortality together.
2. A Silent Voice
“A Silent Voice” is a critically acclaimed artistic feature anime film made by Kyoto Animation. The hand-drawn backgrounds, realistic storyboard, and expressive character designs combined with its exquisite imagery make this film one of the best romantic anime movies to date.
The film is about the developing relationship between high school students, Shouka Nishimiya and Shoya Ishida. As a child, Shoya bullied Shouka for being deaf which resulted in his expulsion. Years later, they meet again, and this time Shoya tries to make it up to her by forgetting all the past mistakes he did.
1. Your Name
Through its compelling characters and beautiful narration, “Your Name” has made its name in the top-selling charts of romantic anime movies. The film walks us through the life of two teenagers, Mitsuha and Taki, who finds themselves swapping their bodies and growing closer in the process.
As Taki and Mitsuha try to navigate their swapped lives, they find themselves involved in the threads of time, fate, and destiny. The film explores themes of love, connection, and the transcendent power of human relationships making it a prolific film to be featured worldwide.
Which one of the following romantic anime movies is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other movies like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.
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