Best Romance Anime of 2001

Following the loss of her mother in an accident, sixteen-year-old Tooru resides with her grandfather until his house undergoes renovations, forcing her to leave. Afraid of imposing on friends or facing familial judgment, she chooses to live alone in a tent in the woods, claiming she will find housing. One evening, returning from work, she discovers her tent has been buried by a landslide. Yuki Souma, the school’s prince, and his cousin Shigure Souma, a renowned author, find her in this predicament and offer her a place to stay until the renovations finish. At the Souma residence, Tooru uncovers a shocking secret: Souma family members who are embraced by the opposite sex temporarily transform into animals of the zodiac. This bizarre occurrence is not a joke but a heavy curse rooted in a dark past. As Tooru meets more members of the zodiac clan, she must determine if her kind and resilient spirit can help them overcome the burdens hidden within their home.

Fifty years ago, the sinister stones called Dark Brings triggered the "Overdrive," a catastrophic event that wiped out a tenth of the planet. In the present, the evil group Demon Card seeks the power of the Dark Brings for their less-than-innocent purposes. Haru Glory, a silver-haired teenager who wields a sword, inherits the title of Rave Master: the one who holds the power of the legendary Rave Stones, artifacts that can destroy the Dark Brings. But the many Rave Stones were scattered worldwide after the Overdrive, letting Demon Card continue their wrongdoing. Groove Adventure Rave follows Haru, his odd dog Plue, the fiery blonde Ellie, and the infamous thief Musica, as they set off on a grand journey around the vast world, searching for the Rave Stones that will finally put an end to Demon Card's tyranny.

Mahoro Andou is a formidable combat android created by Vesper, a clandestine group dedicated to shielding the world from extraterrestrial threats. Her operational lifespan is critically limited; engaging in battle will cause her systems to fail within approximately one month. Conversely, abstaining from combat allows her to exist freely for more than a year. Suguru Misato, a high school student residing alone in his deceased parents' spacious home, struggles with domestic duties and seeks a maid to help manage the household. His search ends unexpectedly when a beautiful girl in a maid uniform rescues him from bus hijackers. This rescuer is Mahoro, who has decided to spend her remaining days serving as Suguru's maid. As Mahoro cherishes her final time, she forms deep connections with Suguru and his friends through their lively daily lives. Yet, she conceals her true motives for becoming his maid, and their histories appear far more connected than Suguru suspects.

After her father remarries, lively sixteen-year-old Himeno Awayuki relocates to a grand mansion featuring a stunning garden, which seems like the perfect home for a girl of her age. Disappointingly, her new stepfamily appears unwelcoming; her stepmother focuses on her husband, her younger stepsister Mawata ignores her, and her age-mate Mayune constantly tries to play pranks on her. However, Himeno cannot afford to dwell on despair as her life intertwines with seven magical youths called the Leafe Knights. They invite her to become a magical princess capable of wielding their power. Although Himeno accepts the role of Prétear, she harbors doubts about her ability to safeguard the world and the Leafes, the vital energy source for all life. Can Himeno discover joy within her blended family while also defeating the Princess of Disaster to save the Earth?

Fresh out of college, Amawa Hibiki holds a degree in physical education but struggles to secure employment, draining his savings on basic living costs. When his landlady demands immediate rent payment, he applies for a teaching position at a local middle school. The principal rejects him outright, stating a firm policy against hiring men and expressing a deep-seated hatred for males, claiming they lack passion and love in their work. Unwilling to give up, and with support from his landlady, Amawa decides to crossdress as a woman without hesitation to secure the job. His goal is to earn income and prove the principal’s bias wrong. Now, he must maintain the secrecy of his true gender while navigating bizarre circumstances, including the romantic advances of his students of both genders.

Following the recent passing of his mother, middle school student Tarou Hanaukyou is expected to relocate to Tokyo to live with his grandfather. Upon arriving at the designated residence, however, he encounters an unexpected surprise: the home is actually a sprawling mansion staffed by hundreds of maids. After receiving a cordial greeting, the head maid Mariel shows Tarou a brief video message from his grandfather, who insists that his grandson should inherit his entire fortune. Although hesitant about the circumstances, Tarou starts to adjust to his new environment, where the mansion’s maids are devoted to fulfilling the wishes of their young master.

Wataru Minakami, an outstanding student, fails his high school entrance exam due to a computer malfunction. He later finds out he has been admitted to Stargazer Hill Academy, located on the mysterious Promised Island. At his father's request, Wataru is sent to the island. Before he can get settled, a dozen lovely and charming girls gather around him, each claiming to be his younger sister. As Wataru bonds with his newfound siblings, a deeper mystery begins to unfold about why they were all brought to the island.

Since the rapidly expanding fleet of the Bebaus brothers leaves few ambassadors for newly subjugated worlds, Lafiel is appointed Territorial Ambassador of the planet Lobnas II. Upon arriving, Jinto and Lafiel discover that United Mankind used the world as a prison planet; its only inhabited island now holds a million inmates. The prisoners are separated into three sectors: the western block houses women, the eastern block houses men, and the central block is mixed, with all inhabitants sterilized. The women of the western sector want to emigrate out of fear of the men, and when they begin to leave, the men in the east rebel, overthrow the guards, and capture Jinto to halt the women's departure. At the same time, an enemy fleet heads toward the system, compelling Lafiel to abandon Jinto.

To avert the catastrophe called the Grand Fall, Rid Hershel and companions Farah, Keel, and Meredy have acquired the three Greater Spirits (known as Craymels in the game) of Inferia. While en route to Mount Farlos, Rid is abducted by bounty hunter Marone Blucarno, forcing the party to travel to Belcarnu, a remote archipelago far from Inferia's main cities. A chain of adventures leaves them stranded on the islands, where a more pressing threat to Inferia slumbers.

Goro is having a run of bad luck, frequently losing jobs and struggling financially. While passing a pet shop, he encounters a fortune-teller who foretells a change in fortune. That evening, three young women show up in his apartment, introducing themselves as his guardian angels. Eventually, twelve girls in total arrive to assist him, each one the reincarnation of a pet Goro had previously owned and that had passed away.

Youka is a thirteen-year-old boy whose uncle, Kakusei, pushes him to follow in his martial arts footsteps and learn the Zenshinkyou style. After suffering mistreatment, Youka flees Zenshinkyou and stumbles upon a Forbidden Tomb, where he meets a beautiful young woman named Shouryuujo. Over time, Shouryuujo accepts Youka as a student of the Koboha techniques, and their journey through martial arts and love begins.

Kanzaki Meirin is a junior high school student with the ability to repel evil spirits using feng shui. In reality, she operates as the fortune teller Dr. Rin. Although she harbors romantic feelings for her best friend and soccer club member Yuuki Asuka, he has a strong aversion to fortune-telling and superstitions.