Romance Anime That Flew Under The Radar
Anime
If you get tired of the same old mainstream romance series and are looking for something fresh and new, there’s a show here every romance fan can enjoy. Ordered from least amount of people who have it in their MAL to most.
I know that underrated/under-appreciated anime is subjective, therefore I am going by the following:
a) series with ~200-400k viewers or less on MAL.
b) if they’re newer (2020-2024) the above rule is used more loosely
c) my own personal judgement which I will explain minimally, so as not to spoil anything
I haven’t seen some of these in a while, so I’ll just put something brief like “a) applies” if I don’t remember the plot much or can’t explain it without spoiling. All of these I have watched, and originally rated an 8 or above. I included what I think I would rate them now.
SOL = slice-of-life.
I know that underrated/under-appreciated anime is subjective, therefore I am going by the following:
a) series with ~200-400k viewers or less on MAL.
b) if they’re newer (2020-2024) the above rule is used more loosely
c) my own personal judgement which I will explain minimally, so as not to spoil anything
I haven’t seen some of these in a while, so I’ll just put something brief like “a) applies” if I don’t remember the plot much or can’t explain it without spoiling. All of these I have watched, and originally rated an 8 or above. I included what I think I would rate them now.
SOL = slice-of-life.
TV, 2014,
10 eps
Me:-
Author:8
More historical drama than romance, but it’s super underrated.
8 stars from me.
8 stars from me.
TV, 2005,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Cute historical rom-drama. It’s a 8-9 for me.
TV, 2009,
39 eps
Me:-
Author:8
If you’re a fan of harem/reverse harem, you may like. This was great because it didn’t really give the harem vibe in a cliche way, like the series rated 5-6 stars on here do. Each character adds to the story, they’re not just there to look pretty.
8-9 stars.
8-9 stars.
TV, 2002,
52 eps
Me:-
Author:8
I scarcely see it talked about. I spoiled myself so my rating isn’t reliable but it’s a lovely drama. 8 stars.
TV, 1995,
52 eps
Me:-
Author:10
So few MAL entries, I suppose because it is a harem and older. Honestly though, I don’t remember it being that harem-y. I really enjoyed it when I first saw it, so much that I rated it a 10. It’s been years and it’s not a short series, but I say give it a shot.
TV, 2009,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Very few viewers and I don’t ever see it talked about anywhere. Cute sports slice of life rom-drama
8-8.5 stars
8-8.5 stars
TV, 2023,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
The title makes it seem a lot cheesier and cliche than it is. I didn’t expect much going in, but it’s more no-nonsense than it is comedy. Great fantasy romance. Also newer, but I think it deserves more recognition. 7-7.5 stars.
Movie, 1991,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Another slower-paced SOL. I was surprised at the lack of people mentioning it, as it is a Ghibli movie. I related to the main character quite a bit and it made me emotional.
7-7.5
7-7.5
TV, 2009,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:7
I’ve never seen anyone talk about this in my life. I don’t even remember how I came across it. Its wonderful though
7-8
7-8
TV, 2002,
38 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Kind of like watching a ballet and that’s one of the things that made it so unique
7
7
TV, 2023,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
I know it’s newer, but I don’t see people talking about it much. It is sort of slow-burn and seemingly bland, but that’s what makes it unique. There’s not a ton happening around the characters, but the dynamic between them is what makes it fun and interesting.
8-8.5
8-8.5
TV, 2016,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:8
A perfect combo of fluff, melodrama and comedy. It’s super short and leaves more to be expected, but it’s great.
7-8
7-8
TV, 2005,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Ai Yazawa, the mangaka, knows how to make a compelling story, and I love her retro art style. You may know her from Nana, but this series is great as well. As a stand-alone, it’s not quite as good as Nana in my opinion, but still very much worth the watch.
7/10
7/10
TV, 2010,
11 eps
Me:-
Author:8
There’s room for improvement as a stand-alone, but it’s great. There’s also 1 (or 2?) unconventional characters here that propel the plot forward and make the anime stand out.
8/10
8/10
TV, 2007,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
I’ve only ever seen it on some lists before and didn’t realize it had so few viewers
7/10
7/10
TV, 2018,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
I’m shocked it wasn’t more popular. Never see it talked about. Nice wholesome SOL for gamers and gaming fans.
8-9/10
8-9/10
TV, 2005,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:7
I never hear anyone even mention this anime anymore. It’s criminal. Same mangaka who made 3-Gatsu no Lion, so if you enjoyed that you might like this too. It’s more melodrama than 3-Gatsu but in the best way.
7.5-8/10
7.5-8/10
TV, 2018,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
If you’ve ever moved to or lived in another country, you might find yourself relating to Teresa, which also sets this series apart from others.
8/10
8/10
TV, 2007,
23 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Up to Your Lie In April standards. Need I say more?
9/10
9/10
TV, 2012,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Haven’t seen it for years but I remember it as wholesome and heartwarming. Nothing too deep, no drama really, just some lighthearted fluff to turn off the brain juices and consume.
7-8 stars from me.
7-8 stars from me.
TV, 2004,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Another rom-com that’s gone under the radar. Lighthearted series that made me laugh aloud a bunch.
8/10
8/10
TV, 2018,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
A) applies
I’m biased because P.A. Works is one of my favorite studios
7.5-8/10
I’m biased because P.A. Works is one of my favorite studios
7.5-8/10
TV, 2014,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Solid 7.5-8 stars.
The OP is such an earworm, the romance is great.
The OP is such an earworm, the romance is great.
TV, 2017,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Short and sweet fantasy romance
8/10
8/10
TV, 2011,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:8
I was shocked that this wasn’t more popular than Nana. I love this anime with all my heart and soul. Was elated when they renewed it for a third season.
Nice, slow-burn romance with a wonderful cast of characters. It involves karuta, a traditional Japanese card game. That might sound lame—it did to me too—but just trust and go watch it. It’s one of the most unique and stunning animes I’ve ever seen, and the art and animation is beautiful.
The series as a whole is a 9-10. Of the entire list, it’s a must-try for sure
Nice, slow-burn romance with a wonderful cast of characters. It involves karuta, a traditional Japanese card game. That might sound lame—it did to me too—but just trust and go watch it. It’s one of the most unique and stunning animes I’ve ever seen, and the art and animation is beautiful.
The series as a whole is a 9-10. Of the entire list, it’s a must-try for sure
TV, 2013,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
I’m surprised more people don’t talk about it. I thought it seemed kind of boring at first from the cover picture, but I was very wrong. iykyk. It’s nothing like you’re expecting. The art and animation is also gorgeous because of PA Works. Of the whole list, this is another one of the series you absolutely must try.
9/10
9/10
TV, 2006,
47 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Technically, Nana has become somewhat popular now because of everyone saying how underrated it is, but I’m just putting it here in hopes it will get even more attention. 10/10 anime for me (also biased because I’m a musician and it really resonated with me). Another must-try.
TV, 2017,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Your classic lighthearted rom-com. I like that it doesn’t just focus on two characters’ dynamics, similar to Horimiya in that way. This is the most popular one on this list, but the hype seemed to die down quick. The manga is great. Diverse cast and I like how various tropes are incorporated. It uses just about every cliche which I think makes it fun.
8.5-9/10 for me
8.5-9/10 for me
