Best Romance Anime of 2016

Considered a hopeless case by everyone around him, 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki drifts through various jobs after leaving his first company. His mundane life changes dramatically when he meets Ryou Yoake from the ReLife Research Institute, who offers him a chance to improve his life with a mysterious pill. Without hesitation, Arata takes it and wakes up the next day to find his appearance has turned back to that of a 17-year-old. Arata soon discovers he is part of a unique experiment and must attend high school as a transfer student for one year. Initially thinking his adult experience will make it easy, Arata is proven wrong on his first day: he fails all his tests, is out of shape, and can't adapt to the new school rules that have appeared over the past decade. To make matters worse, Ryou is assigned to observe him, causing constant frustration. ReLIFE follows Arata's struggle to adapt to his chaotic new life and avoid repeating past mistakes, while gradually learning more about his classmates.

Naho Takamiya's first day of her second year of high school gets off to a rough start. After waking up late, she discovers a mysterious letter addressed to her—one that comes from herself ten years in the future. At first, Naho is doubtful, but when the events described in the letter begin to unfold exactly as written, she accepts that it truly came from her 26-year-old self. The letter explains that her future life is full of regrets, and she wants her younger self to correct the mistakes of the past. It also warns her to keep a close eye on the new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, because he is no longer around in the future. With the letter as her guide, Naho now has the chance to protect Kakeru before she ends up regretting it all over again.

Katsuhira Agata is a reserved and introverted high school student who has almost completely lost the ability to feel pain. His classmate, Chidori Takashiro, is one of the few people who remembers what Katsuhira was like before this drastic change. Because of his indifferent and subdued demeanor, Katsuhira becomes an easy target for bullies who extort large sums of money from him; they can hit him without getting much of a reaction, as he remains emotionally detached. One day, Katsuhira, Chidori, and four other teenagers are abducted and forced to take part in the Kizuna System as designated "Kiznaivers." This network connects participants through shared pain, so when one member is injured, the others feel the same level of agony. Assigned to be test subjects for a flawed system meant to create worldwide peace, these teens are bound together by fate. To survive, they must show their true selves to one another, or face consequences that go far beyond the failure of the Kizuna System.

After being dumped by a woman he married in an online game, only to discover she was actually an older man, gullible otaku Hideki "Rusian" Nishimura decides he will never trust a female player again. Years later, Rusian joins a guild with three others, including a player with a female avatar named Ako. Although Ako confesses her love and proposes to him, Rusian is wary that she might be a guy, yet he accepts because she is cute in-game. Things take a turn when the guild decides to meet offline, revealing that Ako is not only a real girl but also his school classmate.

The parallel realm known as Magano is overrun with Kegare—monstrous impurities that can only be cleansed through the efforts of exorcists. Benio Adashino, a highly skilled exorcist famous for her abilities, is called to Tokyo by the Exorcist Union. Along the way, she unexpectedly lands in the arms of Rokuro Enmadou, a young exorcist with a troubled past. But the dangers lurking in Magano do not let up. When a Kegare snatches children, Benio dashes to save them, dragging Rokuro into the fight. Just as she is about to be overwhelmed, Rokuro steps in and proves he has talent matching her own. Sousei no Onmyouji follows the path of these two exceptional exorcists, fated to become the "Twin Star Exorcists" and the prophesied parents of the Miko—the reincarnation of Abe no Seimei—who will one day rid the world of all impurities.

Kae Serinuma is a gentle second-year high school student and a dedicated otaku with a private obsession for BL, or Boy's Love. She often fantasizes about her male classmates developing romantic feelings for each other. However, Serinuma is also widely recognized for being noticeably overweight. One day, while watching her favorite anime, she sees the death of her beloved character. Sinking into depression, she loses her appetite and locks herself in her room for a week. When she finally comes out, she has shed a great deal of weight and turned into a remarkably attractive girl. Suddenly, she catches the attention of four boys from her school who are now competing for her affection. Despite their advances, Serinuma would rather see them fall for one another. The story follows how she handles the situation with these four suitors who are chasing her BL-obsessed self.

The second season of The Asterisk War continues after Ayato Amagiri and Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld have advanced to the next round of the Phoenix Festa, following a brutal battle against Irene and Priscilla Urzaiz. However, their progress is hindered when it is revealed that Ayato's powers remain sealed, a secret no longer concealed from their opponents. At a clear disadvantage, the duo must develop a new approach to stay in the competition. As the stakes increase, it becomes apparent that the obstacles ahead will only become more demanding.

Lux, the former prince of the fallen Arcadia Empire, accidentally enters a girls' dormitory bath and catches a glimpse of the new princess, Lisesharte. Furious at the intrusion, she challenges him to a Drag-Ride duel. Drag-Rides are ancient mechanical suits discovered in ruins across the world. Though once celebrated as the strongest Drag-Knight, Lux is now mocked as the "undefeated weakest" due to his refusal to attack his opponents. After the match, he is compelled to join the all-female academy that trains royal Drag-Knights.

The Savage, an alien lifeform, has begun attacking humanity, with the Hundred being the only technological countermeasure capable of stopping them. Hayato Kisaragi, who survived an encounter with the Savage, has the highest compatibility rate with these weapons. As a result, he is enlisted into Little Garden, a prestigious military academy located on a battleship, to train and improve his skills. In the midst of his intense training, Hayato soon catches the interest of multiple female classmates and gets caught up in various incidents while fighting the creatures that now overrun Earth and threaten its security.

Shirayuki and Zen Wistalia have acknowledged their mutual feelings, and life has returned to its usual rhythm. Shirayuki continues her training as an apprentice court herbalist in the royal palace of Clarines, while Zen carries on with his duties alongside his loyal aides. Their peaceful days are interrupted when Crown Prince Izana, Zen's older brother, receives an invitation from Raji Shenazard, the prince of Tanbarun. Shirayuki is ordered to travel to Tanbarun for seven days in order to foster a renewed friendship with the once arrogant and demanding ruler who previously tried to force her into becoming his concubine. On her journey, Shirayuki is certain to encounter fresh trouble, as she becomes the target of a mysterious boy named Kazuki, a stranger she has never met before.

Mizuki Usami is a devoted member of her school's art club, but there's one major issue—she's the only one who takes it seriously. The club president is always asleep during meetings, and Collette hasn't attended club activities in a long while. Subaru Uchimaki, despite having the skill to win awards if he applied himself, is solely focused on drawing the perfect 2D wife. As Usami tries to carry out typical art club activities, she's constantly thwarted by her useless clubmates and her own distracting crush on Subaru.

Hida Kizuna has the Heart Hybrid Gear (HHG) ability, but it is not strong enough to make him particularly significant. His older sister calls him to transfer to a strategic defense school, where many of the students—most of whom are large-breasted girls—use their HHG powers to fight invaders from another world while wearing extremely skimpy pilot outfits. Kizuna's own combat ability falls short, but his sister has a different plan: it turns out that having erotic experiences with Kizuna allows the girls to recharge their energy or increase their power. Clearly, his new school life is bound to be filled with embarrassment.

Nijiiro Days focuses on the daily lives and romantic entanglements of four high school boys: Natsuki Hashiba, a starry-eyed dreamer with illusions of love; Tomoya Matsunaga, a conceited playboy balancing multiple girlfriends; Keiichi Katakura, a deviant sadist who always carries a whip; and Tsuyoshi Naoe, an otaku whose girlfriend enjoys cosplay. When his girlfriend abruptly breaks up with him on Christmas Eve, Natsuki collapses in tears on the street and receives tissues from a girl wearing a Santa suit. He instantly develops a crush on this girl, Anna Kobayakawa, who happens to attend the same school. Natsuki's quest to win Anna over should have been simple, but his interfering friends constantly disrupt his relationship as they pursue their own romantic goals.

In the modern, well-developed city of Kazamatsuri—famous for its growing greenery and deep-rooted Japanese traditions—lives Kotarou Tennouji, a high school student who doesn't quite share the city's common values. This proud and nosy boy spends his days seeking amusement, bothering his self-proclaimed delinquent friend Haruhiko, and nurturing his romantic feelings for the eccentric Kotori. Kotarou possesses a superhuman ability to permanently rewrite any part of his body, enhancing his strength or speed, which draws him naturally toward the supernatural. A special encounter with Akane Senri—the lone member and president of the Occult Research Club, known as the "Witch"—leads Kotarou to revive the Occult Club. He recruits Kotori and three other members: Chihaya, a clumsy transfer student; Lucia, a strict class representative; and the unassuming Shizuru. As Kotarou uncovers the hidden secrets of each Occult Club member through their shared adventures, he will inevitably face a fate that only he might be able to rewrite.

After some time has passed since student council president Ui Wakana and vice president Hayato Izumi became husband and wife through their parents' arrangement, the two continue to keep their unconventional relationship hidden from the public to avoid unwanted attention. Yet, they often misinterpret each other's intentions. As Ui and Hayato carry on with their duties in the school's student council and share moments at home, this unusual pair slowly begins to grow closer.

Freshman Kaho Nikaidou comes from a powerful family, so nobody has ever spoken a harsh word to her, afraid of angering her household. Wanting to be around people who won't treat her differently because of her background, she moves into a dormitory for the new school year. Shortly after arriving, Kaho accidentally steps into traffic and is saved by a tall, handsome stranger. When she asks his name, he calls her weird and walks away. Having finally met someone who would say something unkind, Kaho instantly falls in love with her rescuer. Meeting him again, she learns his name is Kanade Takahashi and confesses her feelings. Kanade says he'd like them to be a couple, but warns Kaho she might not want to date him once she learns his secret. To her shock, Kaho discovers the startling truth: Kanade is a fifth grader! Deciding she cannot date a fifth grader, Kaho intends to break up. But as she spends more time with Kanade, she grows to care for him even more and continues the relationship. Hatsukoi Monster follows Kaho's first steps into love with Kanade, her immature yet kind fifth grade boyfriend.

Chika Homura starts high school determined to cultivate a cute girl image. Despite her volleyball prowess, she leaves the team to join the school's overlooked Wind Instrument Club, playing the flute because she considers it the most feminine choice. She unexpectedly reunites with her childhood friend Haruta Kamijou, her polar opposite, who remains unimpressed by her attempts to appear more endearing. Undeterred, Chika falls for band instructor Shinjirou Kusakabe, a feeling Haruta also shares. As Chika’s plans unravel, strange mysteries emerge around her and her peers. The club members must collaborate to solve these school-wide puzzles while recruiting new members to compete in musical events.

In a futuristic age, an entity called "The World" maintains peace across the globe. Its actual location remains hidden, but it has watched over Earth for so long that warfare has become nothing more than a legend. The airship Norn is assigned to carry nine individuals who possess special abilities to The World. Once the last passenger is gathered, Norn lifts off. Aboard are eight men and three women: Koharu, who has finally freed herself from loneliness and despises her own ruinous power; Mikoto Kuga, born into a noble household, who employs her barrier ability to shield the Norn and everyone on it; and Nanami Shiranui, whose talent only brings her agony, and who wishes to die to atone for a past transgression. During the voyage, doubt spreads among the passengers when they notice there are more people on the ship than there should be. As they attempt to uncover who has secretly boarded, the vessel is assaulted by an unknown enemy determined to stop the Norn's journey at any price. From this upheaval emerge questions: for what reason were they bestowed these powers, and what is their purpose once they arrive at The World?

Eight years following the events of Macross F, the galaxy slowly falls prey to a mysterious affliction called the Var Syndrome. A fresh generation of skilled Valkyrie pilots must rise to confront this universal threat. As if that weren't enough, the Aerial Knights Valkyrie fighter squadron from the Kingdom of Wind arrives to challenge the Delta Squadron.

Habahiro Hige is a simple-minded office worker with a deep passion for Tabekko Marshmallows. His daily routine is frequently interrupted by his twenty-four-year-old colleague, Iori Wakabayashi, who delights in teasing him and exploiting his weakness. She taunts him by eating the sweets in his presence, purchasing his preferred brands at convenience stores, and causing him embarrassment before their boss. While her friends struggle to understand her attraction to him, Iori is captivated by his soft, marshmallow-like physique and will do whatever it takes to capture his attention. Unbeknownst to Habahiro, Iori is attempting to seduce him into a romantic relationship, operating under the belief that winning a man’s heart is achieved through his stomach. Carrying a bag of treats, she continues to play chase with him, hoping he will eventually see past her tactics. The question remains whether he will realize that their bond has the potential to become s'more.

Usagi Tsukino continues to grapple with the challenge of maintaining a normal home life while fulfilling her responsibilities as Sailor Moon, the protector of love and justice. Teaming up with her fellow Sailor Guardians and her boyfriend Mamoru Chiba, she investigates a series of incidents involving students from Mugen Academy, an elite institution where individuals are being mutated into monsters. Their inquiry leads to encounters with three enigmatic figures: Haruka Tenou, a dashing racecar driver; Michiru Kaiou, a gifted violinist; and Hotaru Tomoe, a frail and mysterious girl. As further crises unfold, the Sailor Guardians face the unexpected arrival of two new planetary protectors who operate with their own agendas. Despite their uncertain loyalty to Usagi and her allies, the group must unite to confront a shared adversary: an evil force known as Pharaoh 90.

In a realm where artistic expression manifests as magic, individuals capable of stirring deep passion through their Magic Arts are known as Artistas and pursue careers in the entertainment industry. At Hoshinomori Private Magical Arts High School, which trains these talents, a mysterious new transfer student named Kohana Aigasaki arrives. She is assigned to the planning committee for the annual Hoshinomori Summer Festa cultural festival. Kohana navigates her romantic high school days alongside six other boys who aspire to become performers. Each young man specializes in a unique Art and strives to ensure the success of Hoshi Fes. Furthermore, they all compete to be selected as the Artista Prince and Princess, a prestigious title awarded to a single pair of students once every year.

The narrative picks up right after the events of the third season, focusing on the contest to determine who will perform at the opening of the Triple S international sporting event. The HE★VENS idol group from Raging Entertainment disrupts the rivalry between QUARTET NIGHT and ST☆RISH, creating widespread chaos. Following a proposal from QUARTET NIGHT, the three groups move forward to a new phase, while HE★VENS vows to take revenge on the other two.

Reaching the in-between stage where they are neither children nor adults, twelve-year-olds Hanabi Ayase and Aoi Yui experience events that change their lives. Because of the teasing behavior of the boys in her class, Ayase holds a low opinion of the opposite sex. That view begins to shift when she is partnered with the gentle Takao Yuuto for a school project and unexpectedly shares their first kiss on the rooftop. Seeing her best friend discover love, Aoi longs to find her own. She ends up falling for the impulsive Kazuma Hiyama after he defends her from a classmate who spread rumors about her following a rejection. 12-sai.: Chicchana Mune no Tokimeki follows these four through this adolescent phase. As they grow up together, this sweet romance captures the innocence and thrill of first love.

The Blue World, representing reason, faces relentless assaults from the Nightfly O'Note—creatures born from the Red World, which embodies instinct. Akira Asagi, a 17-year-old researcher from the Blue World, is chosen to command the war effort at Ryuukyuu LAG, a proud defensive stronghold on the islands of Ishigaki and Iriomote. There she encounters the sixth combat unit "IS," formed four years after the fifth unit was wiped out in a brutal battle. Akira must guide these six riders—known as the Scared Rider Xechs—to fight against the opposing world while simultaneously fostering bonds among them.

The narrative follows Hanabi, a sixth-grade girl caught between childhood and adulthood. She faces situations like accidentally seeing her homeroom teacher kissing and feeling anxious about undergoing bodily changes earlier than her peers. The show portrays the pure concerns and initial romantic feelings of a 12-year-old girl.