6 High School Romance Anime For Beginners

Please be advised, viewers have described experiencing the following symptoms when watching romance anime: increased heartbeat, emotional mood swings, shortness of breath, warm fuzzies, increased tear production, second lead syndrome, and in extreme cases, unrealistic expectations of love.

Do you want to discover romance animes? These 6 titles are sure to make your little hearts go doki doki! Brace for impact and prepare your hearts for some serious feels, as we delve into the complicated, and at times terrifying, world of first love… Start with some sweet (and at times bittersweet) high school romance anime.

Get ready to fall head over heels in love with these 6 romance anime titles!!

Lovely Complex

Air Date: 2007
Episode:  24

Synopsis: An abnormally tall girl, Koizumi Risa, and a short guy, Ootani Atsushi, attempt to find their ideal romantic partners, but their preexisting complexes over their respective heights throws a wrench in their quest for love. But, perhaps their ideal match is closer than they think…  

Kimi ni Todoke

Air Date: 2009
Episode: S1:25 / S2:12
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Synopsis: Kuronuma Sawako desperately wants to make friends and have a normal life, but because of her resemblance to the ghost girl from The Ring films, her classmates shun her. When the most popular boy in her class, Kazehaya Shouta starts talking with her, she starts to think that maybe the friendship she desires is closer than she ever imagined.

Shigatsu no Kimi no Uso (Your Lie in April)

Air Date: 2014
Episode:  22
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll | Netflix

Synopsis: After the death of his mother, piano prodigy Kousei Arima falls into a deep depression that renders him unable to hear the music from his piano, forcing him to give it up. Years pass and Kousei has resigned himself to a life without music, that is until he meets a beautiful violinist, Kaori Miyazono, who reignites his love of music and adds a bit of color back into his life.

Orange

Air Date: 2016
Episode: 13 + 1 Animated Film
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll | Funimation

Synopsis: If you had the chance to fix a past mistake, would you? Sophomore Naho Takamiya is given that choice when she receives a letter from herself 10 years in the future.  What she finds in the letter is not what she was expecting, spurring Naho on a journey to alter the future of not just herself, but her friends’ as well, namely the new transfer student Kakeru Naruse.

Marmalade Boy

Air Date: 1994
Episode:  76 + 1 Animated Film

Synopsis: Life is turned upside down for high school student Miki Koishikawa when her parents tell her they are getting divorced. But, things get even more screwy when they tell her they are swapping partners with another couple?! Throw in a super hot stepbrother named Yuu, and any hopes Miki had of a  peaceful life are completely out the window.

Ouran High School Host Club

Air Date: 2006
Episode: 26
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll | Funimation | Netflix

Synopsis: When scholarship student Haruhi Fujioka accidentally breaks an expensive vase in the tucked-away Music Room 3 of the prestigious Ouran High School, she finds herself indebted to the school’s Host Club. Unable to pay for the damage, the six handsome (and loaded) members of the Host Club force her to be their errand boy. However, thanks to her boyish looks, she is quickly promoted to full-time host, despite the fact that she’s in fact female. Now, Haruhi must navigate the gilded world of the Host Club, where women’s fantasies are their business…

Falling in Love with Love…

Alright, so that’s the end of today’s lesson. I sincerely hope that this list gave you guys a springboard off which to start your own romance anime journeys. I played it safe this time, sticking with high school romances, but there’s a whole romance anime world out there to explore, and if these titles didn’t appeal to you, I encourage you to seek out more anime that deal with love. This list isn’t meant to be the end all for romance anime. Hell, there are some titles that I cut from this list (and it broke my heart to do it too)… Go out explore, and of course, fall in love with some romance anime!!

But, enough of my yammering, I want to hear from you guys! What are some romance anime you would suggest to newbies? Anything on this list you’d cut? Drop a line in the comments section. Who knows, maybe your suggestion might help initiate someone’s love of romance anime!!