Anime has become a widely popular medium for experiencing the language of love. While fans particularly enjoy romance anime shows, there’s a certain intensity and depth when it comes to romance anime movies. The likes of Makoto Shinkai and Hayao Miyazaki have given audiences some of the most iconic love stories of all time. Whether it’s boldly mixing romance with disaster or telling stories about unrequited love, the anime world has bestowed fans with movies which go straight to the heart.

Love in these movies is not a commodity to be exploited to induce drama; rather, it acts like gravity that pulls people into it without any regard for consequence. The greatest romance movies of all time offer a plethora of characters who are entangled in deeply emotional and relatable experiences like heartbreak, first love, unrequited feelings, and love across time and space.

Updated on February 24th, 2025 by Chelsea Steele: For a lot of people, romance anime films are the perfect movies for any quiet night. While there are loads of anime films out there, some strike deeper than others. From heartbreak to sweet first love, this list has been updated to include even more anime romance movies while adhering to CBR’s current publication standard.

Related

This Heartbreaking Romance Anime Bucked a 61-Year-Old Hayao Miyazaki Trend

Your Name was such a success with its stunning animation and heart-shattering story that it brought hope to other creators.

20

Doukyuusei: Classmates Tells of Young Love Between Two High School Boys

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Though Doukyuusei: Classmates is a very simple story with a premise that’s been done many times over, it stands out for its heartfelt and honest depiction of queer romance. In this sweet film, high school boys Hikaru Kusakabe and Rihito Sajou couldn’t be any more different from one another. While Hikaru is outgoing and carefree, Rihito is a shy honors student who keeps to himself. However, they’re brought together in unexpected ways after Hikaru decides to help Rihito with his vocals for the upcoming chorus festival.

As Rihito and Hikaru spend more time together, they strike up a friendship that slowly becomes something more before they know it. The film follows the boys as they navigate their ever-changing relationship and the growing feelings they harbor for each other. At its core, Doukyuusei: Classmates is a simple high school romance. However, with its lovable cast and relatable story of young love, it’s a must-watch that all romance fans will enjoy.

Doukyuusei

Release Date

February 20, 2016

Runtime

1 hour

19

The Last: Naruto the Movie Finally Brings a Fan Favorite Couple Together

Streaming on Netflix

The Naruto franchise has had many great anime films over the years, but few are quite as beloved as The Last: Naruto the Movie. This iconic anime movie is the final film of the franchise and brings the story to a satisfying close. Though romance has never been a major part of Naruto‘s story, there’s still plenty of great couples for fans to swoon over. There are many popular ships throughout the series, though none can compare to the subtle yet sweet relationship between Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga. Though the series itself doesn’t give them much screen time together, The Last: Naruto the Movie makes up for this entirely.

Related

Every Naruto Movie, Ranked

There have been 11 Naruto movies, but which is the best?

The film takes place two years after the Fourth Great Ninja War has ended and follows Naruto and Hinata as they set out together on a mission to save the world from a new looming threat. But as they journey together, their dynamic begins to change in ways neither of them could have predicted. The Last: Naruto the Movie reveals a new side to Naruto and Hinata’s relationship and delves into Naruto’s feelings in ways the series never has before.

The Last: Naruto the Movie

Release Date

December 6, 2014

Runtime

112 Minutes

Director

Tsuneo Kobayashi

Writers

Maruo Kyôzuka, Masashi Kishimoto, Seth Walther

• 

18

Belle Brings the Story of Beauty and the Beast to the Modern World

Streaming on Hulu

From the brilliant mind of Mamoru Hosoda, Belle is a sci-fi fantasy film that combines classic fairytale romance with the virtual world. The film stars Suzu, a young girl living in the country who enters the world of “U”, a virtual reality social media platform that’s been taking the world by storm. Here, she becomes an overnight sensation as the platform’s newest singer, Belle. But as she rises to fame, rumors fly of a monstrous user known as The Dragon. After a chance encounter with this infamous creature, Suzu soon discovers that The Dragon isn’t the monster everyone makes him out to be.

A touching story of love, acceptance, and overcoming trauma, Belle follows Suzu and the mysterious Dragon as they grow close and form a strong bond, both on and offline. Against all odds, the two come together and help each other heal from their past traumas, learning more about themselves as they get to know each other better. With its stunning visuals and touching story, this film is one of the most beautiful modern romance anime movies out there.

Belle

Release Date

July 16, 2021

Runtime

121 minutes

Director

Mamoru Hosoda

17

The Stranger by the Shore is a Tender Story of Unexpected Love

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Anime films depicting realistic LGBTQ+ romance are hard to come by even nowadays, but they aren’t non-existent. One of the best example of queer romance can be found in the film The Stranger by the Shore, which follows a simple yet beautiful tale of unexpected love. The film stars Shun Hashimoto, an openly gay aspiring novelist living on his own after his parents abandon him for coming out. His life changes forever when he meets Mio Chibana on the shores of Okinawa. The boys spend the entire summer together, but eventually, Mio must leave.

Years later, Mio returns to Okinawa and the two reconnect. However, things have changed between them and it’s unclear if they’ll be able to remain friends. The Stranger by the Shore follows the two as they grapple with their changing feelings and navigate the new realities of their relationship. The film is one of the sweetest, most realistic depictions of same-sex love and showcases many of the struggles real-life queer couples face in a world that doesn’t always accept them.

16

Violet Evergarden: The Movie Reunites a Beloved Couple

Streaming on Netflix

Violet Evergarden is one of the most beloved romance anime series of all time, following a heartwarming tale of love and self-discovery that can also bring its audience to tears. The iconic franchise stars titular heroine Violet Evergarden, a young girl who lived her entire childhood as a weapon of war. Now that the war is over and the fighting has stopped, Violet must start over and find new purpose in a peaceful world, all while trying to understand the meaning of love.

The film Violet Evergarden: The Movie picks up where the series left off as Violet tirelessly searches for Major Gilbert, a precious person from her past who has been presumed to be dead for all these years. The film follows Violet as she follows the glimmer of hope that he may still be alive, even after so much time has passed. As a beloved fan favorite couple, many have longed to see Violet and Gilbert reunite after everything they’ve been through. Violet Evergarden: The Movie gives them the happily ever after they deserve in one of the most emotional and satisfying reunions in anime history.

15

Wolf Children Follows a Widowed Mother Trying to Raise Her Children

Streaming on Amazon Prime

Wolf Children technically falls more into a coming-of-age story for the children, Yuki and Ame. That being said, the whole story of this movie is enveloped and carried by the love between Hana and Wolfman. On one fateful day, Hana meets a mysterious man who is, effectively, a werewolf of sorts. The two fall in love, have children and then, Wolfman is found dead one day. Their two children, Yuki and Ame, have inherited their father’s abilities and become the cutest little half-wolves ever.

Related

10 Must-Watch Anime Perfect for Fans of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro

Fans of My Neighbor Totoro are in for a treat. From Wolf Children to Barakamon, there are aton of wonderful anime’s to choose from.

While most of the story is about Yuki and Ame finding their paths, it’s also about Hana’s struggle as a single mother. Reeling from the loss of Wolfman, Hana is just a human who has no idea how to raise their wolf children. Without Wolfman there, Hana is at a loss and often has difficulty with her children’s behavior and paths of life. Wolf Children is a glorious story that represents Hana and Wolfman’s love through Yuki and Ame. There may not be much explicit romance in the movie, but the entire plot and tale echoes the care that Hana and Wolfman had for one another, which is why it’s still an amazing watch for fans of romance.

Wolf Children

Release Date

July 12, 2012

Runtime

117 Minutes

Cast

• 
• 
• 

  Haru Kuroki

  Yuki (shôjo-ki)

• 

  Yukito Nishii

  Ame (shônen-ki)

Streaming on Max

Ride Your Wave has the characters literally and figuratively surfing away from past grief and loss. After the young surfer Hinako Mukaimizu is rescued by a handsome firefighter named Minato Hinageshi, the two quickly grow close. In a shocking surprise, their romance is cut short as Minato dies in a tragic event. Hinako is then quite haunted by his death, both mentally and from his spirit that appears before her. Thus, Ride Your Wave begins its heartbreaking story of how hard it can be to let someone go.

Despite the fact that Hinako can’t truly be with Minato, she holds herself and Minato back from moving on. There are some comedic elements to this movie, and the visuals are stunning. However, Ride Your Wave is a romance that excels at portraying the hardest part of love: letting it go when it’s necessary. Hinako is a character that anyone who has lost a loved one can relate to. This story is bittersweet, but it’s all about the strides one must take to free themselves from their hurt.

Ride Your Wave

Release Date

February 19, 2020

Runtime

94 Minutes

Director

Masaaki Yuasa

Writers

Reiko Yoshida

13

5 Centimeters Per Second Uses a Slow Pace to Convey Its Story

Streaming on Netflix

Anyone who describes 5 Centimeters Per Second as a slow and “a drag” are not wrong. In fact, the film is purposefully made to feel as mundane as possible. The movie is chopped up into chapters, each one a different year from the last. 5 Centimeters Per Second follows the never-ending first love between Takaki Tono and Akari Shinohara. Throughout the film, they each must follow their own paths, even if it doesn’t lead them together.

Now, back to this movie being very mundane. While many people watch films to see excitement and action, in most everyday lives, life can be relatively boring. That’s not a bad thing – it’s just how life is. Life is slow, yet passes people by in the blink of an eye. In 5 Centimeters Per Second, the film conveys the highs and lows of romance as they naturally happen. It takes its time lingering in the sweet pleasures of life, such as a first kiss.

5 Centimeters per Second

Release Date

March 3, 2007

Runtime

63 Minutes

Director

Makoto Shinkai

12

Kase-San and Morning Glories Is Short But Perfect

Streaming on Amazon Prime

Based on the manga by the same name, Kase-san and Morning Glories didn’t get adapted into a series. Instead, it was adapted into a stunning short film. Yamada is clumsy, shy and nervous. Though, the one thing that gets her going is gardening. As the school’s plant appointee, Yamada catches the high-school trackstar and heartthrob, Kase, helping out with the plants. The two of them are smitten at first sight.

As their relationship grows, Yamada finds herself struggling to keep up with Kase’s popularity. She often lets herself fall down rabbit holes of worst-case scenarios. Kase-san and Morning Glories is not only an incredible coming-of-age LGBT story, but also a true portrayal of first loves. It’s a peaceful and low-stakes movie perfect for anyone simply looking for an anime romance that will put a smile on their face. This film highlights all the awkward and silly moments that come with trying to figure a crush out.

Asagao To Kase-San

Release Date

June 9, 2018

11

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop Features the Most Adorable Couple

Streaming on Netflix

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop expertly captures the growing pains of being a teenager struggling to find comfort in oneself and others. Cherry is a quiet, yet kind boy who tends to stick to himself. The noise and commotion of the world are often too much for him. He spends his summer working at a senior care center, and then one day he literally bumps into a girl called Smile, who is something of an internet personality.

While she may not look it, Smile too struggles to fit in with the world. Because of her teeth and braces, she almost always dons a mask to cover her mouth. As Cherry and Smile spend their summer together trying to help an elderly man at the senior center, the two find comfort in one another. Cherry and Smile’s internal pains easily resonate with viewers. Watching the two of them gain confidence in themselves through one another is achingly sweet. Their romance is but a fleeting summer. However, their growth and bond feels very realistic.

10

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Is a Captivating Story About Time Travel and Selfless Love

Streaming on Crunchyroll

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a brilliantly crafted romance story that is impressive and not weighed down by its dramatic themes. Instead, it has an exceptional balance of coming-of-age romance mixed with the elements of time travel, which makes it a perfect watch for viewers who love a uniquely built love story. When Mokoto suddenly discovers that she has the power to leap through time, her first instinct is to tend to her more trivial needs, like improving her grades or changing the outcome of an embarrassing situation.

Related

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time’s Mamoru Hosoda Announces New Winter 2025 Anime

A brand-new anime feature film from the creator of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars and Mirai will be premiering in Winter 2025.

However, it soon dawns on her that every change she makes results in dire consequences for others. That’s how she meets the mysterious Chiaki, who also has fascinating stories of his own about time travel. The two bond and eventually grow close in their attempt to understand the importance of free will and living in the moment. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time strays away from typical tropes and will be a worthwhile watch for fans who love thought-provoking romantic tales.

9

Whisper of the Heart Is a Classic Tale of Self-Discovery and Love

Streaming on Max

Whisper of the Heart is straight out of Ghibli’s classic love story category, which features the studio’s signature themes of young love, self-discovery, and the simplicity of a great coming-of-age movie. The film follows an intriguing tale of two youngsters who wish to pursue their respective passions but are plagued with self-doubt. Shizuku is a bookworm who one day finds a boy named Seiji after realizing that he has read every book she borrowed from the library.

It turns out that Seiji is a violin player who dreams of being the best. Initially brought together for their love of books, the two grow closer in their struggle to understand the gravity of their dreams and how they can achieve them. Whisper of the Heart’s beauty lies in its simplicity and clarity in depicting young love. It has just the right amount of drama and healthy romance to make it an enjoyable watch.

Whisper of the Heart

Release Date

July 15, 1995

Runtime

111 Minutes

Director

Yoshifumi Kondō

8

The Garden of Words Is a Feast for the Eyes & Hearts

Not Currently Available on Streaming

The Garden of Words may perhaps be the healthiest age-gap romance out there and will take the viewers on a peaceful yet poignant emotional ride. Another one of Makoto Shinkai’s masterpieces, The Garden of Words follows the budding friendship between a high school student and a woman dealing with loneliness. Takao skips school to design shoes in a serene garden while Yukari comes there to unwind and take a break from work.

The two open up to each other about their lives, experiences, aspirations, and insecurities. The movie is an exceptional blend of complexity, romance, drama, and thought-provoking themes, which is a given for Shinkai movies. The main things that elevate the romance and overall story are the aesthetics and soundtrack, which will transport the audience to the very garden.

The Garden Of Words

Release Date

May 31, 2013

Runtime

46 minutes

Director

Makoto Shinkai

Writers

Makoto Shinkai

7

To The Forest of Firefly Lights Is a Heartbreaking Story About Genuine Connection

Not currently streaming

To The Forest of Firefly Lights is a unique love story that’s more about the loyalty and depth of a true friendship than a couple-like scenario. The story revolves around a child named Hotaru who got lost in a forest one summer. She was found and guided by the kind spirit named Gin, and she developed a strong affection towards him. Over the years, their friendship ripened as Hotaru grew older, but Gin remained the same. Their story seemed like a summer fairy tale, but there was a catch.

Gin will disappear upon human touch, which means that their relationship will go beyond the limitations of unrequited love. Despite knowing the consequences, Hotaru and Gin continued to meet and cherish the time they had together. To The Forest of Firefly Lights is a bittersweet saga that portrays the love of the highest form. It tells the viewers that loving someone isn’t always an easy thing, nor does it need to be physical. It can be as simple as knowing that the other person exists.

6

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish Is a Sad and Realistic Tale of Longing and Love

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Josee, The Tiger and the Fish has a grounded feeling to its romance that’s more refreshing than tragic. Tsuneo is an aspiring student who wants to study abroad and thus works odd jobs to save money. He then gets a chance to become the caretaker of a wheelchair-bound girl named Kumiko. Initially, he finds her brazen attitude off-putting, but they slowly become closer after realizing that they both have a passion for traveling and seeing the world.

Their shared love for travel eventually becomes the stepping stone for a deep friendship and then a heartfelt romance. Josee, The Tiger and the Fish beautifully tackles its sensitive themes, especially Kumiko’s condition, and does a wonderful job of not streamlining or dramatizing her situation. It’s an inspiring love story that resonates with the themes of unconditional love and self-acceptance.

Josee, The Tiger & The Fish

Release Date

July 12, 2021

Runtime

1 hour 39 minutes

5

I Want To Eat Your Pancreas Is a Bittersweet Love Affair

Available on Blu-ray via Amazon

I Want To Eat Your Pancreas is one of those romance stories that will traumatize light-hearted viewers. It’s considered one of the saddest and most heartbreaking anime love stories of all time, but it also offers a view of love that is worth experiencing. The movie may not have that happily-ever-after ending for the fans, but it’s a grounded story that depicts the realities of falling in love with someone on borrowed time.

Related

25 Romance Anime That Will Make You Cry

Taking viewers on an emotional ride, anime like Fruits Basket and A Silent Voice have earned their place among the greatest sad anime of all time.

There’s no easy way to tell a story where a completely ordinary and healthy high school boy falls for his terminally ill classmate. I Want To Eat Your Pancreas is relatable on every level because it represents the helplessness of the heart that it feels when it falls in love with someone despite knowing that utter disappointment and heartache waiting at the end of it. The movie tells the viewers of the importance of living in the moment and that not all goodbyes are sad.

I Want To Eat Your Pancreas

Release Date

September 1, 2018

Runtime

108 Minutes

Director

Shinichiro Ushijima

Writers

Shinichiro Ushijima, Yoru Sumino

Cast

• 

  Mahiro Takasugi

  Haruki Shiga

• 
• 

  Yukiyo Fujii

  Kyoko Takimoto

• 

4

Weathering With You Is a Stunning Love Story With a Climate Change Backdrop

Streaming on Max

After Your Name, Makoto Shinkai became the undisputed king of grand-scale love stories that are also about pressing real-world issues. Weathering With You is another one of Makoto’s masterpieces. It is a stunning piece of animation complimented with lovable characters and a heartfelt story. The film follows the story of a 16-year-old boy, Hodoka, who runs to Tokyo in an attempt to live a better life.

Along the way, he meets the charming Hina, who has the mysterious power to control the weather. In their adventure of understanding and dealing with Hina’s powers and their consequences on the environment, Hodoka falls in love with her. Suddenly, she becomes the most important thing in his life, for whom he can even fight forces that are deemed uncontrollable. Weathering With You is a gorgeous story that will tug at the viewers’ heartstrings and pull them into the plot’s gravity.

Weathering With You

Release Date

June 19, 2019

Runtime

112 minutes

Director

Makoto Shinkai

• 

  Kotaro Daigo

  Hodaka Morishima (voice)

• 

  Nana Mori

  Hina Amano (voice)

3

A Silent Voice Is a Beautiful Journey of Love & Forgiveness

Available to Rent and Buy on Prime Video

A Silent Voice is absolutely breathtaking, from the visuals and direction to the characters and the story. The film will naturally make the viewers invested from the beginning, especially in Shoko’s character, who is an often-bullied deaf high school girl. A Silent Voice portrays powerful and sensitive messages throughout the story and sugarcoats it with just the right amount of romance.

Shoko and Shoya, the boy who was one of the students who used to bully Shoko, are extremely relatable characters and convey an eye-opening story that will have everyone in tears. The way his past comes to haunt Shoya and his journey to redemption is simply fascinating, especially how Shoko becomes his path to both forgiveness and love. While Shoko and Shoya seem to be a rather unconventional couple, the two of them experience the most profund romance of all time.

A Silent Voice

Release Date

September 17, 2016

Runtime

130 Minutes

Director

Taichi Ishidate, Naoko Yamada

• 
• 

  Saori Hayami

  Shoko Nishimiya

2

Howl’s Moving Castle Is a Magical Journey of Unconditional Love

Streaming on Max

There’s no debating the fact that Howl’s Moving Castle is one of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s finest works. It’s one of the best romance stories to come out of the famed studio, and it’s safe to say that the classic has withstood the test of time. With just the right dash of fantasy, magic, romance, and action, Howl’s Moving Castle will have the audience rooting for Sophie and Howl right off the bat.

When a seemingly ordinary Sophie contracts a mysterious curse and is turned into a 90-year-old woman, her only option is to either accept it or find a way to break the curse. During her journey, she comes across the popular and handsome wizard Howl and his infamous moving castle. This celebrated love story offers the viewers a slow-burn romance that goes beyond standard infatuation and stands tall on deep emotions like loyalty, trust, and unconditional love.

1

Your Name Is One of the Greatest Love Stories of All Time

Streaming on Crunchyroll

It’s almost impossible for Makoto Shinkai to top his own iconic creation, which took the world by storm in 2016. Considered one of the most captivating and fascinating anime movies of all time, Your Name represents everything worthwhile about love stories separated by time and space. Two teenagers get entangled in an epic adventure when they realize that they have started to switch bodies.

However, that becomes the least of their problems as they realize that not only are they from different places but from different timelines as well. Your Name is genius, genuine, heartfelt, and a real tearjerker. The movie will take the audience on a beautiful ride where love makes a young man move mountains for a girl he hasn’t even met. Besides being a global phenomenon, Your Name is the best of the best because it adds unique meaning to the star-crossed lovers trope with emotional depth, surprising plot twist, and stunning visuals.

Your Name

Release Date

August 26, 2016

Runtime

106 minutes

Director

Makoto Shinkai

• 

  Ryunosuke Kamiki (Taki Tachibana voice)

• 

  Mone Kamishiraishi (Mitsuha Miyamizu voice)

• 

•