Best Romance Anime of 2014

Kousei Arima, a piano prodigy dubbed the "Human Metronome," achieved flawless precision under his mother’s strict tutelage, dominating competitions and winning over audiences. Following her sudden death, trauma rendered him unable to hear the piano, causing him to abandon the stage entirely. Now a junior high student, Kousei leads a mundane life with friends Tsubaki Sawabe and Ryouta Watari, still grappling with grief while holding onto music. His monochrome existence is upended when he meets the eccentric violinist Kaori Miyazono, who drags him back into the spotlight as her accompanist. Through a heartfelt deception, the two young musicians draw closer as Kaori strives to paint Kousei’s world with color.

A year after his escape from Sword Art Online, Kazuto Kirigaya has been readjusting to life in the real world. But his tranquility is interrupted when a troubling event emerges in the game Gun Gale Online, where a player called Death Gun is supposedly murdering individuals in reality by shooting them within the game. Summoned by authorities to help look into the killings, Kazuto takes on his alias Kirito once more and enters Gun Gale Online, determined to stop the culprit. Inside the game, Kirito encounters Sinon, a talented sniper troubled by a traumatic history. She soon becomes entangled in his pursuit of Death Gun, and the two of them participate in the Bullet of Bullets, a tournament where their target is certain to appear. Unsure of Death Gun's true abilities, Kirito and Sinon hurry to prevent him from claiming another victim. However, obstacles arise when their past traumas hinder their progress. In a perilous game where either of them could be the next target, Kirito risks his life in the virtual realm once again.

Raku Ichijou is a first-year student at Bonyari High School and the only heir to a feared yakuza family. Ten years ago, he made a promise to a childhood friend. Now, the only clue he has is a pendant with a lock, which can only be opened by the key the girl took with her when they separated. Years later, Raku has become an ordinary teenager who wants to stay as far away from his yakuza ties as possible and spend his school days with his middle school crush, Kosaki Onodera. But when the American Bee Hive Gang encroaches on his family's territory, Raku's peaceful romantic hopes are thrown into chaos. He is forced into a frustrating situation: he must pretend to be in a romantic relationship with Chitoge Kirisaki, the beautiful daughter of the Bee Hive's boss, in order to ease tensions between the two groups. Unfortunately, this huge lie couldn't be further from the truth—Raku and Chitoge hate each other on sight. She thinks he's a pathetic pushover, and in Raku's eyes, Chitoge is about as appealing as a savage gorilla. Nisekoi follows the daily struggles of this mismatched pair, forced to get along to keep the city peaceful. As more girls with connections to Raku's past appear in his life, his search for the girl who holds his heart and his promise takes him in more unexpected directions than he ever imagined.

By the beginning of the 21st century, magic—once dismissed as myth and legend—has been transformed into a structured technology and taught as a technical discipline. At First High School, an institution for magicians, students are divided into two groups based on their entrance exam scores: "Blooms" are those who earn high marks and are placed in the First Course, while "Weeds" are reserve students assigned to the Second Course. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei follows the siblings Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba, who enroll at First High School. After taking the exam, the gifted Miyuki is placed in the First Course, whereas Tatsuya ends up in the Second Course. Despite his low practical test scores and his status as a "Weed" suggesting magical incompetence, Tatsuya possesses remarkable technical knowledge, strong physical combat skills, and unique magical abilities—making him the irregular at a magical high school.

Futaba Yoshioka deliberately hides her feminine traits, acting as though she wants to drive away any potential admirers. After being shunned by her female classmates in middle school for being too popular with boys, she now goes out of her way to avoid a repeat in high school by being loud and clumsy. Among Futaba’s bitter memories, however, are the precious times she shared with the boy she liked, Kou Tanaka. That sweet chapter ended abruptly when he stopped coming to school and never returned. When Futaba learns that Kou is back—now with a different surname—she feels the familiar flutter in her chest. But Kou Mabuchi is no longer the warm boy she remembers from middle school; he is taller, more charismatic, and distant—making him much harder to approach. Futaba believes that if she reverts to her old self, Kou will start to notice her again. But is she ready to give up her stable, uneventful life and risk losing the friends she has made?

Cheerful high school student Chiyo Sakura has developed a massive crush on the dense Umetarou Nozaki. However, when she finally gathers the courage to confess her love, he merely hands her an autograph she does not recognize. It soon becomes clear that the seemingly stoic boy is actually a well-known shoujo manga artist who works under the pen name Sakiko Yumeno. Following a chain of misunderstandings, Chiyo ends up taking on the role of one of Nozaki's manga assistants. As she navigates the comedy of these events, she forms friendships with eccentric classmates, such as her shameless fellow assistant Mikoto Mikoshiba and the school's self-proclaimed Prince, Yuu Kashima. Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun chronicles Chiyo's efforts to support Nozaki in his work while secretly hoping he will one day realize her romantic feelings for him.

Princess Yona of the Kouka Kingdom lives a sheltered life, her childlike innocence captivating everyone she meets. Protected within the palace walls, she is kept far from any real danger. But her idyl existence is shattered by an act of treason that endangers her birthright and forces her to flee. With only her childhood friend and loyal bodyguard, Son Hak, to rely on, Yona must navigate a dangerous world outside the castle. No longer naive, she vows to grow strong enough to defeat her enemies. Together with Hak, she seeks to uncover the secrets of an ancient legend, hoping it will help her reclaim her stolen kingdom.

Following the crimson sun's disappearance, the Breakdown Phenomenon strikes Arata Kasuga's town, causing everyone to vanish. His world is not completely lost, though, because his childhood friend and cousin, Hijiri Kasuga, gives him a magical grimoire that artificially rebuilds reality. To look into this disaster, Lilith Asami arrives and gives Arata a choice: hand over the book or die. Instead, Arata picks a third option: enrolling at the secretive Royal Biblia Academy, where he meets six other magic users. Along with Lilith, these six make up the Trinity Seven, the school's elite each possessing unique powers and abilities. Driven by his wish to save Hijiri and aided by his new allies, Arata leaves no stone unturned in his quest to stop his hometown's destruction and bring his best friend back to life.

Yuuta Togashi and Rikka Takanashi, the awkward couple, now live together as a new school year begins, yet their adorable relationship remains frozen. Yuuta struggles with having a chuuni girlfriend while the group—Sanae Dekomori, Shinka Nibutani, and Kumin Tsuyuri—continue their quirky ways despite moving up a grade. Making matters worse, another chuuni girl from Yuuta's middle school, Satone Shichimiya, shows up... With all these events centered on Yuuta, can he ever make progress in his relationship with Rikka?

Spirits are otherworldly entities of immense power whose appearances cause devastating spatial quakes. While certain factions seek their annihilation, others prefer to capture their affections and neutralize their powers. Having already sealed three Spirits, Shidou Itsuka continues his work with Ratatoskr, seeking out new targets and romancing them to safeguard the world. However, this time around, the pair confronts a growing menace that extends beyond the Spirits themselves, as a far more dangerous force begins to observe their activities.

Yuuji Kazami transfers into Mihama Academy, seeking an ordinary high school life. But the school is unusual—it consists of only the principal and five female students. As he gets to know each girl, Yuuji discovers their unique personalities and the deep, hidden traumas that shape their pasts. Mihama Academy acts as a refuge for these girls, described as fruit that have fallen from their branches and begun to rot. Yuuji must become the catalyst to save them from their self-destructive tendencies, but he struggles with the challenge of helping others when he cannot rescue himself.

To impress her classmates, Erika Shinohara invents tales of a romantic relationship. When they ask for proof, she snaps a picture of a handsome stranger, not realizing he is actually Kyouya Sata, a student revered for his kindness. To avoid humiliation, Erika admits her lie and asks Kyouya to act as her boyfriend. He agrees, but only if she acts as his subservient "dog," revealing his true nature as a cruel sadist masked by charm. As she accepts this strange arrangement, Erika begins to see the real man behind Kyouya’s facade. With growing affection, she questions if he feels the same. Will Kyouya succeed in winning Erika over, or will she stay a "wolf girl" forever?

On her sixteenth birthday, typical high school student Kobeni Yonomori is startled to learn that she has a prearranged fiancé and a sister-in-law she had no idea existed. Because of an agreement made by her late grandfather, Hakuya Mitsumine and his younger sister Mashiro have moved from their countryside home into the Yonomori household to strengthen ties with their newfound family. The series follows Kobeni’s uneasy romantic relationship with Hakuya as she tries to cope with these abrupt shifts in her life. But when concealed truths about the siblings come to light, Kobeni’s existence is forever transformed.

Kazunari Usa, a high school freshman, moves into a boarding house called Kawai Complex after his parents relocate for work. He looks forward to living independently and avoiding eccentric people, but soon realizes the complex is anything but ordinary. The residents are all unusual: Shirosaki, his roommate, is a pervert and masochist; Mayumi Nishikino, a near-alcoholic office lady, despises couples due to her bad experiences with men; and Sayaka Watanabe, a seemingly innocent college student, enjoys toying with men. Disappointed by the lack of normal people, Kazunari is about to leave when he meets the shy senior student Ritsu Kawai and gradually falls in love with her.

For half a millennium, the Gaz Empire was controlled by the iron-fisted Taboo Emperor Arthur Gaz, who performed brutal experiments on his own people. His tyranny came to an end five years ago when the Eight Heroes defeated him in a climactic battle for the capital, bringing to a close the three-hundred-year conflict between the empire and the six-nation alliance. Now, Tooru Acura—a former saboteur from the war—finds it hard to adjust to civilian life, with no jobs that make use of his combat experience. His fate changes when he meets Chaika Trabant, a white-haired Wizard who carries a coffin on her back. She is looking for her father's scattered remains so she can give him a proper burial, and she asks Tooru and his adoptive sister Akari to help her. At the same time, the Council of Six Nations, formed from the old alliance, dispatches Albéric Gillette and his Kleeman Agency to hunt down and seize the daughter of the late Emperor Gaz. When the Acura siblings learn the shocking truth about Chaika's parentage, they must choose between aiding her in gathering the tyrant's ashes or upholding the fragile peace that the continent is trying to maintain.

While traveling to Areishia Spirit Academy, Kamito Kazehaya stumbles upon Claire Rouge, who is naked after bathing for a purification ritual. Claire, an elementalist hoping to form a contract with a powerful spirit to increase her strength, is frustrated when Kamito accidentally becomes the spirit's contractor instead, even though only shrine maidens are permitted to hold such contracts. Undeterred, Claire declares that Kamito must become her contracted spirit. Upon arriving at the academy, Kamito avoids Claire and meets Headmaster Greyworth Ciel Mais, who offers him admission. Although attending a school full of shrine princess trainees will be challenging, he reluctantly agrees in exchange for information about Restia Ashdoll, his former spirit. He also accepts the Headmaster's challenge to win the Blade Dance, a tournament happening in two months, where he must defeat the strongest elementalist, who is rumored to be bound to a darkness spirit.

Despite their major differences, Hajime Tsunashi—a devoted otaku who works from home managing a blog—and his wife Kaoru—a hardworking office worker who tends to drink too much—have fallen in love. Their marriage proves that it involves much more than just early romance, bringing both joy and challenges as time goes on. Because of their quirky personalities and the odd people around them, the pair frequently ends up in ridiculous and bewildering situations. Still, their lasting connection pushes them to get through hurdles and develop as people, motivated by the wish to bring happiness to one another.

In the Sun Kingdom, sunlight is an everyday reality for its inhabitants, and the concept of rain is something they have never encountered. In contrast, the distant Rain Dukedom experiences the opposite weather, and all its people possess the ability to summon rain using their voices. Livius Orvinus Ifrikia, having conquered the entire world and expanded the Sun Kingdom's reach within just three years of his coronation, learns of the Rain Dukedom's power to create rain and decides to marry Nike Remercier, one of its princesses. However, rumors spread beyond the Sun Kingdom depict Livius as a cruel, merciless, and despotic ruler, and as word reaches the princess, she braces herself for the worst. Yet, upon meeting her fiancé, Nike discovers he is a completely different person from what she had anticipated.

For most students at Ansarivan Dragonar Academy, learning to ride and tame dragons is straightforward—but first-year Ash Blake is the exception. Known as the "number one problem child," he is mocked by his peers because, despite possessing an oversized star-shaped brand that marks him as a future dragon master, no dragon has ever appeared for him. That changes one day when Ash's dragon finally awakens in full glory. However, it looks nothing like any dragon ever recorded—it takes the form of a beautiful girl. To make matters worse, this dragon has a sharp attitude and immediately informs Ash that she is the master, and he is the servant. Ash's troubles with dragon riding are only just beginning.

The quest to locate Emperor Gaz's remains goes on. Chaika remains determined to discover her true identity and the meaning behind her existence. At the same time, the Red Chaika persists in hunting down the remaining pieces of Emperor Gaz's body. The Gillette corporation continues its operation to capture every Chaika. During their journey, they uncover a hidden truth that the Emperor kept secret, prompting Chaika, Fredrica, Toru, and Akari to investigate further.

In visual novels, an imaginary flag is an event that becomes a turning point for the entire story. When a player triggers a romance flag for a heroine, they proceed onto her route; a death flag signals that a specific character will die later on. High school student Souta Hatate can see these flags above people's heads and is able to bring them down to prevent certain events from occurring. He has used this power to stop others from dying. However, after a past accident in which he was the sole survivor, he came to believe that only misfortune follows those close to him, and has avoided making friends or forming relationships ever since. But everything changes after he transfers to a new school. When he topples another death flag, his classmate Nanami Knight Bladefield notices his ability and tries to learn more about him, promising to stay by his side no matter what. Thus begins Souta's journey as he meets new friends and acquaintances while unraveling the mysteries of his power—which may run far deeper than anyone imagines.

Idol fanatic Kousaku Hata is crushed when his beloved Yuka Kusakabe abruptly announces her retirement at the height of her success. As her most devoted admirer, this news hits him harder than he can handle. Thrown into deep despair, he withdraws from the world and locks himself away. But when his friends finally persuade him to return to school, he receives a shocking surprise. His idol has transferred into his class, now going by the name Ringo Kinoshita. This unbelievable turn of events reignites Kousaku's determination, and he commits himself to making the most of this once-in-a-lifetime chance. With encouragement from his teacher and friends, Kousaku strives to grow closer to the girl of his dreams and discover the true reason she left the entertainment industry.

After Koutarou Satomi's father is unexpectedly transferred for work, the first-year high school student must find an affordable place to live on his own. He eagerly accepts the chance to rent Room 106 at Corona House for just five thousand yen a month. Things start smoothly, but Koutarou's life takes a strange turn when he discovers a mysterious cave while working a part-time job. The next evening, a series of seemingly mythical figures show up at his door, each insisting they have the rights to the student's apartment. These invaders include Sanae Higashihongan, a ghost who claims the room is haunted, magical girl Yurika, alien princess Theiamillis Gre Fortorthe, and Kiriha Kurano, a direct heir of the Earth People. More importantly, each of the four girls needs Koutarou's apartment for her own reasons and refuses to back down without a struggle. Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? is a comedic free-for-all over a six-tatami mat room, blending supernatural beings, romantic high school antics, and a surprisingly friendly landlady.

Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga. centers on a family that is still mending itself. Following their wedding, the Kanzakis bring together a teen son and daughter. High school freshman Mitsuki Kanzaki, however, is not on board. Scarred by a past of missing and cruel father figures, she struggles to open up to her new stepfather and stepbrother. Then an accident sends Mitsuki to the hospital, and she becomes possessed by the spirit of Hiyori Kotobuki—a girl her age who harbored a fierce love for Mitsuki's stepbrother Yuuya. Because her love for Yuuya went unreturned, Hiyori cannot move on to the afterlife; she must make it come true... inside Mitsuki's body! Now Mitsuki's survival depends on helping Hiyori ascend to Heaven. But can she endure sharing herself with an overbearing, lovestruck ghost? Will she ever trust her new family? Can she bring herself to satisfy Hiyori's longing for Yuuya? And could there be some hidden desires of her own?

Frazzle-haired middle schooler Inari Fushimi is shy, clumsy, but genuinely kind. While running through the winding streets of her hometown, she takes a shortcut past the local shrine and finds a small fox pup struggling in a river. After rescuing him, she continues on her way, but her life is about to change drastically. Grateful for saving the pup, the shrine goddess Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami, called "Uka-sama," bestows a fragment of her power upon Inari. Now Inari can transform into anyone by shouting the magic phrase "Inari, konkon." She wonders if this ability will give her the courage to confess her feelings to her crush, Kouji Tanbabashi. With her new divine power and the fox spirit Kon, Inari forms a heartfelt friendship with Uka-sama, encounters more of the supernatural world, and comes to learn that true love knows no limits.

If you could hear voices or see glimpses of the future, would that be a blessing or a curse? Glasslip centers on Touko Fukami, a budding glass artist raised in a family of glass artisans. She leads a carefree life in Fukui, interrupted only by occasional flashes of images from the future. During her 18th summer, she encounters transfer student Kakeru Okikura at school, and later again at her favorite café, Kazemichi, alongside all four of her friends. The future's voices guide Kakeru to Touko, and his presence shakes up her ordinary routine. Together, the six friends must confront a summer they'll never forget, filled with hope, love, and heartbreak.

Twintails represent the ultimate beauty of humanity—or at least that's the firm belief of Souji Mitsuka, a first-year high school student. At school, Souji spends his days daydreaming about and rating girls' twintails, even going so far as to establish a club devoted to the hairstyle. His obsession does not go unnoticed; when extraterrestrial monsters attack Earth and seize all the world's twintails for themselves, a mysterious woman named Twoearle recruits Souji to fight back using twintails of his own. By transforming into the twin-tailed warrior Tail Red, Souji battles the vicious alien organization Ultimegil, whose objective is to colonize Earth and steal everyone's spiritual energy, or "attribute power." Alongside fellow twin-tailed fighters Aika Tsube and Erina Shindou, Souji must find a way to defeat the invading army and protect the twintails he cherishes so deeply.

Third-year high school student Yui Kusanagi discovers a mysterious sword in her home's storehouse and is suddenly transported to another world. While exploring this unfamiliar place, she encounters five unusual but attractive men, and then comes face to face with Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus has established the Academy of the Gods to mend the fraying bond between deities and humans, and he has selected Yui as its sole instructor. She is given one year to teach the young and hesitant gods—including the five strangers she previously met—about what it means to be human, while also learning about the gods herself. If she fails, all of them will remain trapped in Zeus' realm forever.

At Shiomi Academy, there's a legend about "The Shepherd"—a mysterious figure who supposedly appears to diligent students and grants them a single wish. Kyoutarou Kakei, a second-year student who serves as the unofficial leader of the Library Club, is deeply absorbed in a book within the school's famous Great Library when he receives an unexpected email from the Shepherd. The message warns him of an impending event that will alter his destiny. Troubled by this, Kyoutarou hurries to a nearby train station, where he spots fellow student Tsugumi Shirasaki in danger. He manages to save her just as a train derails and nearly strikes her. In gratitude for his bravery, Tsugumi decides to join the Library Club and invites Kyoutarou to take part in her secretive "Shiomi Happy Project." Alongside other new club members, they work together to improve the academy and search for the true identity of the elusive Shepherd.

A full eight years have passed since Kaito Kuroba's father died under mysterious circumstances. Kaito himself is a fairly normal, if somewhat cheeky, teenager—until he uncovers a stunning truth: his father was the legendary Phantom Thief Kaito Kid, known as "The Magician Under the Moonlight." The elder thief was murdered by a secret criminal syndicate hunting for the Pandora Gem, a mythical stone said to shed a tear when the Valley Comet passes by once every ten millennia. Drinking that tear is rumored to grant eternal life. Determined to avenge his father's death, Kaito takes on the Phantom Thief's mantle. Night after night, he steals valuable jewels in search of the Pandora Gem, hoping to find it before his enemies can claim its power for themselves.

To explore the "end of the sky" mentioned in ancient legends, Kal-el Albus is dispatched to the floating island of Isla. There, he joins the Aerial Division of Cadoques High School, living a carefree existence with his classmates. But everything changes when a sudden assault by the air tribe plunges Isla into a violent conflict.

Kaori Sasaki, a member of Uchihama Academy's Astronomy Club, confesses her feelings to Sou Akiyama. Later that evening, she dies in a tragic road accident. Her friends and fellow club members mourn her at a local hospital. Yet the next day, Kaori shows up at school as if nothing happened, and no one notices anything unusual. The day passes without incident, and the group of friends begins planning for the upcoming cultural festival. Suddenly, an unnatural earthquake shakes the room. Everyone splits up to investigate—except for Nagisa Hanamiya, who remains behind. As the others leave, Nagisa notices that the strange relic-like cube she had been playing with begins emitting a mysterious blue light. Meanwhile, Sou stumbles upon an unconscious, naked girl lying in a pool of water. Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete follows the Astronomy Club's increasingly strange adventures—from dealing with ghosts to calming disputes between student clubs. All the while, they unravel the truth behind the sudden appearance of a new transfer student.

The night before summer break, high school sophomore Manatsu Daichi spots a strange circular rainbow hovering over Tanegashima and heads there by himself. He has seen that rainbow before. Haunted by memories of his father's mysterious death and a past encounter with an odd boy and girl, Daichi reaches the island just as an alarm blares from a facility marked Earth Engine. A voice asks him if he is a captain, right as robotic invaders from Uranus known as the Kill-T-Gang appear. The battle among the shining stars is about to start.

"Ignorance of Japan's history is fine by me; it has zero relevance to my daily existence." Such is the mindset of carefree high schooler Saburou when he is abruptly transported back to the Sengoku Era, materializing right before the legendary warlord Nobunaga Oda. Exhausted and evading his own retainers, the frail Nobunaga begs Saburou to assume his identity since the two share a striking physical resemblance. Despite Saburou's bewilderment, Nobunaga quickly hands over the props needed to validate his status as the true feudal lord before vanishing. Now thrust into the role of a historical figure he barely knows, Saburou embarks on an unforeseen journey to impersonate the man striving to unify Japan, relying on his modern perspective and knowledge to navigate the challenges ahead.

Shortly after transferring to Seisou Gakuin, Kanade discovers the orchestra club deep in preparations for the National concur. Joining forces with the other members, she will hone her abilities, encounter new rivals, and build memories that will shape an unforgettable summer.

Momona is a regular junior-high school student from Jewel Land. At her cousin's wedding, she feels a twinge of jealousy toward the bride, Lady Diana, because she had a small crush on that cousin. But after seeing Lady Diana with him, Momona grows fond of her and accepts her as her cousin's wife. Right when Lady Diana is about to meet her properly, Momona gets whisked away to a snowy area of Jewel Land, where the ruler, Lady Jewel, is addressing the Petit Ladies—girls chosen as Jewel Candidates to become the next Lady Jewel. Momona meets Ruby, a white rabbit who becomes her partner and mentor, guiding her through the trials needed to earn the title. The candidate who completes the most challenges wins and becomes the next Lady Jewel. However, standing in her way is Lillian, another girl determined to claim the title so she can install her brother, Cayenne, as her King. Momona soon develops feelings for Cayenne, but Lillian tries to keep her at a distance. Cayenne seems to return Momona’s affection, but who will ultimately be chosen as Lady Jewel? And can Momona and Lillian ever become true friends? Will Cayenne and Momona find a way to be together?