Top 25 Rom-Com Animes!

Who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh? Who doesn’t want to fall in love? If that is you, get out! Otherwise, here is the new and improved list for the 25 best RCAs that I have watched so far! Some RCAs have fallen off, and a bunch of new ones have taken their place! While there are some anime that I love that are not on this list that just barely didn’t make it, I made some tough choices and brought you the absolute best 25. I also note where you can find each anime, for easy viewing. Without further ado, lets dive in!

25. School Rumble

A delightful watch, with loads of wacky characters and misunderstandings out the wazoo! Tenma and her wagging “Fool’s Cowlicks” are endlessly delightful and Harima is equally enjoyable, whether completely misconstruing what Tenma says or spending time with his animal friends. However, given that it has 54 episodes, it is a very long RCA and not a lot happens in the time frame, plot or character development wise. Also, the relationship between Tenma and Kurasuma is not well developed, but is nice for what we got. Bonus points for two amazing opening themes! A silly show that is fun to watch!

Can be found on: Hulu/OVA 1&2 on Amazon, 3&4 On Facebook

24. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun!

This show is great for a good laugh! The humor is nonstop and I found it to be a simply silly adventure, in spite of no romance. After all, that is the premise of the show itself! It doesn’t get any higher on the list since it is just a simple, silly comedy, while many of the other animes on the list have more oomph to their stories and they actually have romances. Expect laughs and not much else.

Can be found on: Netflix/Hulu/Crunchyroll

23. Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out!

This hilarious anime is the classic scenario of what happens when an introvert is dragged into social events by their overly intrusive extrovert friend. The humor is oftentimes side splitting and the characters themselves are also charming. There is some fan service, but it often can lead to some hilarious situations. What is funny about this anime is that as of yet, neither Uzaki or Sakurai have made any romantic overtures (though there have been plenty of misunderstandings about this). It does seem that the anime is headed in that direction, though. If anything, the other characters are more eager to see it come to fruition than the main “couple”. A great watch, and I’m excited for season 2!

Can be found on: Funimation.com

22. My Bride is a Mermaid

A hilarious show, where the jokes come fast and hard! Sun is also very sweet and by the end has a nice relationship with Nagasumi. Though his spinelessness during the whole thing is rather pathetic, eventually he gets there. It was a fun adventure, and not much else. Hopefully you like it too!

Can be found on: Funimation/Amazon

21. Girlfriend, Girlfriend

Tons of silly comedy with a gaggle of unusual characters, this show is great! Between Naoya’s outbursts and Saki’s panics, there is plenty to laugh about. The fan service can be distracting, but it is still a fun time overall! Here is hoping for a season 2!

Can be found on: Crunchyroll

20. My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

A delightful watch, with great humor, a fun premise and a truly unique harem, this is a show to enjoy for certain! Catarina is so much fun and watching how her world changes is a wonderful time! With a movie and 3rd season on the way, there is plenty of Bakarina to enjoy!

Can be found on: Crunchyroll

19. Maid-Sama!

The comedy and characters are great in this one, and the care that the couple have for each other is heartwarming. The one big problem with this series is that even in the end, Misaki is still resentful of her feelings towards Takumi, even though she does VERY clearly like him. Had it had a second season to explore the rest of where the manga goes, it would be much higher on the list. As it stands, it is an enjoyable show, but as I am not a fan of Tsunderes, it goes no higher.

Can be found on: Netflix/Hulu

18. Lovely Complex

A classic in RCAs, this one brings the laughs and the feels. The humor is great, with especial detail in the facial expressions, and is a joy to behold. The main couple, while often arguing and insulting each other, also have a ton of fun together, which makes them a joy to watch. It also has its fair share of emotional moments, especially with Koizumi and her struggles to get Otani to like her, and more than once you feel bad for her. Thankfully it keeps the tone light enough to be a fun romp, and this is one I would highly recommend.

Can be found on: Crunchyroll

17. My Love Story!!

What makes this show great is watching the couple explore what it means to be in love and building a relationship, especially one where they are two very different people, especially in terms of height. The humor is great as well, however the dialog at times can be very simplistic. This is due to Takeo being a very blunt and simple person. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable show, and has many sweet moments in it.

Can be found on: Hulu/Crunchyroll

16. HoriMiya

While the show’s humor is good, the relationship between Hori and Miyamura is what really sells this show. Lots of sweet, tender moments, plus fun interactions between the rest of the cast make this one an especially enjoyable one.

Can be found on: Hulu/ Dub on Funimation

15. Kiss Him, Not Me

This show delivers on the comedy! Tons of laughs to be had, with a gaggle of weird characters, plus a fun look into the world of the fujoshi! Plus it has a reverse harem! How often do you see that?!

Can be found on: Crunchyroll/Funimation

14. Special A

And speaking of comedy, this show is a riot! The characters all have fun quirks which give way to hijinks a plenty! The only thing stopping it from breaking through to the upper echelon is that it doesn’t quite have emotional moments that the best on the list have. Also the romantic subplot involving Megumi and Yahiro comes out of left field. This, however, is a great RCA and I would highly recommend it!

Can be found on: Hulu

13. Date A Live

Great humor, some impressive action and a truly special cast of characters make this one memorable! A fair amount of fan service to be had, just as a warning, but if you like that, it will be a plus. What really sells this for me is Tohka, who is just adorable and oh so lovable! 4th season coming soon, let’s keep the Date A Live!

Can be found on: Season 1-2 Hulu, Season 1-3 Crunchyroll Sub/ Funimation Dub

12. Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You

A very unique premise, fun humor throughout and an absolutely adorable couple, this anime will warm your heart. The couple themselves are one of the best, with both Nasa and Tsukasa each lovingly sweet towards each other and always have only kind things to say about the other. The humor is delightful, and the side characters help round things out. This is also a mystery going on, which helps add a little intrigue into the show. Overall, a great addition, and I hope we get more in the future!

Can be found on: Crunchyroll

11. Aggretsuko

This show oozes charm! Great comedy, a very unique premise and a cute little red panda screaming death metal is always a good time! Plus the opening is headbanging awesomeness that I will never skip! The characters also show surprising depth, and oftentimes it is heartbreaking to see little Retsuko struggle with love and occasionally life in general. But all in all, the show is a fantastic watch, and I highly recommend it to all.

Can be found on: Netflix

10. Ah! My Goddess (all iterations)

A truly unique premise, a wonderful couple and a handful of different adaptations, there is something for everyone! While most of the series lacks strong emotional moments other shows have, there is plenty of comedy to be had, and Keiichi and Belldandy’s relationship is one of the best! So go ahead! Watch all the incarnations, and hope we can get a Goddess to grant my wish: to have the rest of the series adapted!

Can be found on: Funimation/YouTube/Various Sites

9. Kamisama Kiss

This show nails the comedy solidly, along with having a fun supernatural bend to it. The romance is one sided for the most part,  but by the end, it is beautiful! Fun from start to finish, if only the end was easier to find!

Can be found on: Hulu/Funimation/Finale on Various Sites

8. Science Fell in Love, so I Tried to Prove it!

As a fellow nerd (though less of a math guy myself) watching this anime made me so happy! The humor is top notch, the romance is surprisingly sweet and the premise is so unique that you have to check it out. Plus it is informative as well, so you can laugh, love AND learn! And the swishing ponytail: need I say more?

Can be found on: Crunchyroll

7. Oresuki: Are You The Only One Who Loves me?

With an absolutely ridiculous premise (that only gets more so as the series goes on), hilarious running gags, and a wacky cast to round it out, the show is comedy gold! There are also some emotional moments to help balance things out and some great interactions with all the characters. Joro himself is also hilarious, especially when he starts catching onto the running gags themselves. Some light fan service (but more in one particular episode), and Pansy’s stalker demeanor is a little worrying. Nevertheless, it is a fantastic show, and here is hoping it gets a second season!

Can be found on: Crunchyroll

6. Golden Time

Great comedy, lovable characters, a fascinating look at amnesia and a beautiful romance all combine for a winner of a show. Lots of emotional moments all lend this show a dramatic edge to it, and more than once it will tug on your heartstrings. The main couple are great together and watching them grow is heartwarming! Give it a watch, it gets the gold!

5. Toradora!

The humor is wonderful, the characters are solid (Minori is best girl, change my mind!) and there are a number of very impactful emotional moments that dip this show straight into drama territory, especially near the end. The only issue with this show is that, while Taiga and Ryugi do make a good couple, going from caring about each other to being romantically involved seems sudden, especially on Ryugi’s part, but once it does happen, they commit completely. Also Taiga being so violent towards Ryugi at the beginning of the series is troubling, but she has plenty of opportunities later to show how much she cares. Seeing their relationship was cute, and as unlikely as it seems, they make a great couple. A wonderful anime that I would highly recommend!

Can be found on: Netflix/Crunchyroll

4. Recovery of an MMO Junkie

This one won my heart! The humor is great, the characters so loveable and the fact that it is about gamers really struck a chord with me. Not only that, but the romance between Moriko and Yuta is so precious it makes me want to die! The only sad part is that it only has 10 episodes, due to the manga author’s failing health. But who knows: one can always hope he gets better enough to keep writing, and then we get even more adventures with these two! But even if not, it was still an amazing ride, and I enjoyed every minute!

Can be found on: Crunchyroll

3. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War

This one is amazing! The show is hilarious, the concept is singular, the characters are fantastic and we care about them in a way that you wouldn’t expect given how prideful and unnecessarily obtuse they can be. Normally we see couples being stubborn and prideful and we resent them, but this show makes us endeared to them even more. Special props goes to the dubbed version, as Ian Sinclair’s narrator is as hilarious as it is random! Though you might find yourself screaming at the screen “Oh just kiss already!”  more than once (or a dozen times).  We know they will get there, but it will have to wait, at least, till season 3!

Can be found on: Season 1: Hulu/Crunchyroll, Seasons 1&2 on Funimation.com 

2. Fruits Basket (2019)

There is a reason this story is one of the most beloved in anime! It was so hard to decide between this and #1, and honestly both are interchangeable. With wonderful characters, delightful humor throughout, tons of heart and pathos, this show delivers! Tohru is so precious and I just love seeing her on screen, especially as she heals all the trauma the Soma family has had to endure. It also displays a unique look at abuse and manipulation, which adds to the depth to the show, along with giving us a truly hateable villain. I also have to admit, despite how rude Kyo was at the beginning, he and Tohru make a great couple. There is plenty of show to enjoy, being one of the longest RCA with 63 episodes in total! So please, please, PLEASE check it out! You won’t be sorry!

Can be found on: Crunchyroll/Hulu/Funimation

1. Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions

Why this RCA is not on more peoples’ lists is beyond me! It is a crime against both romance and comedy, and I will not rest until this anime gets the recognition it deserves! It combines great comedy, utterly lovable characters, beautiful animation, and a fun look at a uniquely Japanese phenomenon that is unforgettable!

But what truly separates this show, and why I decided to award it my top show is this: more than any other anime on the list it has so many layers to it, with the complex psychology of Rikka and her relationship with the world, chunibyo and Yuta. More than any other RCA, this one truly explores the concepts of love, growing up and what reality means to all of us. Plus, Yuta and Rikka are so cute together, it is so so SO WHOLESOME!!!!!

If there was any way I could be in charge of this show, I would make 2 more seasons to explore them in college, married life and eventually having kids, because these two deserve it! But I will concede that the movie ended things wonderfully and the fact that I love this show that much is proof enough that it deserves this spot! This is an absolute must watch for anyone who loves RCAs, as you will laugh, cry and have your heart melt over this winner of an anime!

Can be found on: Seasons 1&2 on Netflix/Crunchyroll, Movies and OVAs on YouTube

So that is my list! Hope you enjoyed it, and let me know what you thought below! Do you agree? Do you disagree? Did I totally underrate your favorite and now you are out for revenge?! Are there any others that I haven’t mentioned that you think are worth a watch? Drop me a line, I would love to talk!

Updated: 9/22/21