Not every romance needs to be funny. While there are plenty of excellent romantic comedy anime to choose from, comedy isn't the only marker of a great love story. But a tragic ending shouldn't be a requirement, either, and not every "serious" love story needs to end with a character's demise. Fortunately, some anime raise the romantic stakes without resulting in major character deaths.
For those who are sick of rom-com tropes or who prefer their romance with a dose of genre elements instead, such anime might provide some solace.
10 For Fans of Folktales: Snow White With the Red Hair
It's not as though Snow White with the Red Hair is completely humorless, but it's a far cry from a rom-com. A fantasy story told linearly and with patient pacing is a rare gem in its own right, and more so because the characters in this series are so well-developed.
And like any healthy relationship, the romance between Shirayuki and Prince Zen begins with the seeds of mutual respect. And though the pair certainly hits its share of roadblocks along the way, there's no doubt they'll sort things out by the end. This is a fairy tale, after all.
9 For Fans of Historical Fantasy: Violet Evergarden
There are few series so universally acclaimed in recent years as Violet Evergarden, and for good reason. As PTSD and love stories go, there are few that measure up. Add to that a gorgeously realized cast of characters, a fantasy world that feels timeless, and a society of people coping with the aftermath of a devastating war, and the grounds for a classic are all in place.
It's a huge testament to the love story between Violet, the child soldier, and Gilbert, the man who tried to free her from that role, that even when Violet believes Gilbert has died, it does nothing to lessen the love between them. For a character seen almost entirely through reminiscing, Gilbert has an incredible presence.
8 For Slice-Of-Life Fans: Golden Time
There's not a lot to laugh about when it comes to Golden Time, especially as the story progresses. Like Welcome to the NHK, it approaches the topic of mental illness without being completely dismissive of its repercussions. One protagonist, Banri, is a college student coping with a loss of identity and amnesia in the wake of a traumatic brain injury. Yoko, the other, struggles with a variety of complexes.
While the series has its frustrating moments, due in no small part to the odd directorial choices of Chiaki Kon, the payoff and character development are well worth the journey.
7 For Fans of Magical Realism: A Lull In The Sea
When Nagi No Asukara first began airing, there were certainly romance fans who wanted to avoid the series, and fair enough. Initially, the show feels like it's hitting all the bases of a frustrating netorare series: every single character seems to love someone who inevitably is in love with someone else.
Over time, Lull develops believable relationships between merfolk and land-folk, with grace and thoughtfulness within the confines of a fully-realized fantasy premise. By the end, almost every character has grown up in all the right ways.
6 For Mecha Fans: Gargantia of the Verdurous Planet
There are more than a couple of mecha romances, but perhaps criminally overlooked is Gargantia, the Kazuya Murata show that aired in 2013. What makes this romance one for the books is the way it fits so naturally into the story.
The protagonist, Ledo, a cold and calculating mecha pilot accustomed to killing monsters in space, finds himself stranded on a city-ship, forced to learn the customs and language and adopt the mindset of its people. His relationship with Amy is a product of trying to survive and then learning to question his life thus far. Like the best love stories, it's about falling in love with more than just a person, but with a more wholesome way of life.
5 For Second-World Fantasy Fans: Spice and Wolf
Spice and Wolf remains a modern fan-favorite series for endless reasons: it's well-written and steadily paced, it features a realistic approach to defining a fantasy setting, and its two lead characters have natural chemistry.
Beyond that, there are few slow-burns so delectable as the romance between Holo and Kraft Lawrence, and every ounce of character interaction is rewarding. Just as Holo and Lawrence come to understand each other and the world they find themselves in, so does the audience.
4 For Fans of Period Pieces: Emma
An oldie but certainly a goodie, 2006's Emma is a thoughtful, well-paced romantic period piece. This isn't Jane Austen, but the parallels can certainly be drawn. Set in England in the late 1800s, Emma is a victorian romance about more than just love.
In a society so cruelly defined by class divides, Emma suggests that romance can and should work between a maid and a member of the nobility. People should be worth what goodness they contribute to the world, not their monetary wealth.
3 For Those Seeking Gay Representation: Given
Gay romance anime has come a long way in a short time. Led by flagship series like Yuri!!! on Ice and the success of feature films like Dokyuusei, the BL genre has evolved from something of a niche market to a more representative one. In recent years, the best BL series have moved away from cliché and fetishized depictions and into stories that feel more real.
For those looking for a great story about redemption, loss, and love, look no further than Given, a true standout in multiple genres. A musical anime and a romance, Given is moving and gratifying on multiple fronts, and proves that progress can and will be made.
2 For Those Seeking Lesbian Representation: Bloom Into You
Like the yaoi subgenre, the yuri romance has often been tainted by poor examples of representation. There are certainly yuri manga and anime that don't cater to actual lesbian fans, and often queer relationships have been fetishized to the point of being unwatchable.
For this reason, among others, Bloom Into You is a rare gem. While it's not entirely devoid of yuri tropes, the series works hard to tell an honest love story about two girls. It's a huge step in the right direction and worthwhile viewing on all fronts.
1 For Those Seeking Disability Representation: A Silent Voice
To say that the protagonists of A Silent Voice get off to a rocky start doesn't begin to cover it. At the start of the story, teen Shoya Ishida is remorseful to the point of feeling suicidal in part because he ruthlessly bullied a deaf girl as a child. The girl in question, Shouko Nishimiya, is kind and magnanimous enough to have forgiven him even when he cannot forgive himself.
But in a story all about developing empathy, the message is clear: guilt does nothing to redeem the past, but action can. A Silent Voice isn't about flawless people, but people who are trying to do better, and a love that forms due to hard work and good intentions.
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