Best Romance Anime of 2017

Fifteen-year-old Chise Hatori, having been abandoned in her youth and mocked by others for her strange ways, was sold at auction for five million pounds to a tall, masked stranger. Desperate for a home, she eagerly accepted her fate. While being led away in chains, she overhears robed figures whispering that their new owner has acquired a rare Sleigh Beggy. The stranger, who reveals himself to be the magus Elias Ainsworth, uses teleportation magic to transport them to his charming countryside cottage in England. There, Chise encounters fairies and other magical creatures, officially beginning her life as the apprentice and designated bride of the ancient magus.

As a child, Masamune Makabe was cruelly turned down by the wealthy and beautiful Aki Adagaki, who dubbed him "Piggy" because of his weight. Heartbroken, Masamune dedicated himself to intense training and transformed his physique. Now a handsome but conceited high schooler, he is set on revenge: he will make Aki fall deeply in love with him, only to crush her heart when they cross paths again. To his shock, Masamune finds that he has transferred into Aki's school. He puts his plan into action by slowly building a connection with the "Brutal Princess," yet his early attempts end in failure. Just as he begins to see progress in his scheme, a mysterious letter arrives, one that uses his old nickname. If Masamune cannot uncover who sent it, his entire plot will collapse before it can truly begin.

Young romance appears in countless distinct and intriguing ways as children start growing into adults. From struggling to express feelings to not understanding what genuine affection truly is, many hurdles can emerge when experiencing romantic attraction for the first time. Yet beneath it all, youthful love is something genuinely wonderful to witness, offering fresh adventures for those who are young and smitten. Tsurezure Children portrays a variety of situations where young love blossoms, along with the challenges and joys that accompany it.

It has been one year since Sagiri Izumi and Masamune Izumi became step-siblings, but the loss of their parents shattered their new family dynamic. As a result, Sagiri withdrew into herself, becoming a shut-in who isolated herself from both her brother and the world beyond. Trying to keep his life together, Masamune supports himself by writing light novels, though he faces a peculiar problem: he has never met his famous illustrator, Eromanga-sensei, known for producing highly erotic artwork. Through a series of awkward incidents, Masamune discovers that his reclusive younger sister is actually the artist behind his success. As new characters and challenges arise, the siblings must navigate the light novel industry together. The story follows their evolving bond and their struggle for recognition, while also examining how long Sagiri can maintain her hidden identity as she gradually begins to open up to the world.

To outsiders, Hanabi Yasuraoka and Mugi Awaya seem like the perfect couple. In truth, they are connected by a shared hidden agony: both are desperately in love with people they can never have. Hanabi has adored her childhood friend and neighbor, Narumi Kanai, for as long as she can remember, and she is overjoyed when he becomes her new homeroom teacher. But her happiness turns to disappointment when Narumi catches the attention of music teacher Akane Minagawa, and they start a relationship. Meanwhile, Mugi has held feelings for Akane ever since she tutored him in middle school. When the two lonely teenagers meet in the hallway, they strike a deal to use each other as stand-ins for their true loves, finding solace in physical closeness to ease their crushing loneliness.

Keita Amano lives an ordinary life as a high school student who is also a dedicated gamer. His quiet routine is disrupted when he meets Karen Tendou, the school's most beautiful and popular idol, who surprisingly reveals her own gaming obsession. Wanting to recruit him, she pulls him into the game club, where he experiences a chaotic and eccentric approach to hobbies that clashes heavily with his own. Tendou's unusual interest in Keita upends his peaceful days, replacing them with awkwardness, impulsiveness, and pure chaos. As a result, Keita finds himself in a daily comedic struggle to keep his sanity amid these unpredictable and wild changes to his once-ordinary life.

After being struck down by a stray lightning bolt from an inattentive deity, Touya Mochizuki is granted a second life in a fantasy world as compensation. He is permitted to bring a single item from Earth, choosing to keep his smartphone as he begins his new journey. Naturally gifted in magic within this mana-rich environment, Touya quickly finds himself the object of affection for several beautiful women. His circle includes the Silhoueska twins, Linze and Elze, along with Yumina Urnea Belfast, Leen, and Yae Kokonoe. Although their romantic pursuits create various complications in his life, their presence also offers him valuable companionship as he explores the secrets of this new realm.

After his lecherous friends play a prank on him, Junichi Hashiba asks out a gal to prove he is not a hopeless virgin. Yukana Yame is initially repulsed by Junichi’s desperate begging, but through some teasing, she begins to bond with him and eventually accepts his confession, surprising him greatly. The story follows Junichi as he battles his low self-esteem and controls his sexual impulses while navigating a new school life filled with vibrant girls and chaotic situations.

As the new academic term begins, aspiring writer Kotarou Azumi and track athlete Akane Mizuno find themselves classmates in their final year of junior high. Though they start as strangers, serendipitous moments ignite a pure affection between them. The longing glances and racing hearts of youthful romance gradually enter their lives as their destinies intertwine. Yet, navigating these emotions proves complex. While they cherish each other’s presence, the pursuit of love brings its own share of anxiety and pain. Uncertainty about their mutual feelings, alongside the romantic interests of their peers, leaves their future ambiguous. Nevertheless, beneath the glow of a luminous full moon, Kotarou summons his bravery to pose a single question to Akane, a moment that irrevocably transforms their tranquil bond.

After graduating high school, Moriko Morioka, a thirty-year-old woman, finds herself unemployed for the first time in her life, a situation she welcomes with immense joy. Having resigned from a position she held for over eleven years, she fills her newfound abundance of free time with online gaming, creating a charismatic male avatar named Hayashi within the MMO Fruits de Mer. Freed from the burdens of real-world social duties, Moriko immerses herself completely in the game, where she quickly befriends Lily, a gentle and cute healer. The two form a close bond almost immediately, becoming inseparable as Moriko grows increasingly absorbed in her virtual identity as Hayashi. She ultimately embraces a reclusive existence, leaving her apartment only when strictly required. Unbeknownst to Moriko, Yuuta Sakurai, a shy twenty-eight-year-old office worker, is also playing Fruits de Mer from across the city. When they coincidentally meet at a convenience store one evening, both dismiss the encounter as merely another awkward interaction with a stranger, unaware that fate has plans to bring them closer together.

In a future version of Japan, the government has implemented "The Red Threads of Science," a strict policy aimed at increasing birth rates by pairing sixteen-year-olds with marriage partners selected through compatibility algorithms. Defying this system results in severe penalties. Yukari Nejima, a self-proclaimed average teenager, believes this state-mandated match is his only path to a fulfilling life. Yet, spurred by his enduring affection for classmate Misaki Takasaki, he rebels against the system and admits his feelings. After a moment of hesitation, Misaki returns his passion in a brief encounter. Their developing relationship is quickly threatened when Yukari receives his official marriage notification. He soon becomes caught in a tangled web of deceit when his assigned partner, the disinterested Ririna Sanada, uncovers his secret romance and grows oddly intrigued by his forbidden love.

Willem Kmetsch risks everything, leaving his loved ones behind to fight a mysterious monster. Though he emerges victorious, he ends up frozen in ice. During his long slumber, terrifying creatures called "Beasts" appear on Earth, threatening humanity's existence. When Willem awakens 500 years later, he discovers he is the last surviving human—his entire race has been wiped out. Alongside the other remaining races, Willem seeks refuge on floating islands in the sky, living in constant fear of the Beasts below. He leads a solitary life, taking odd jobs just to get by. One day, he is assigned to serve as a caretaker for a weapon storehouse. Thinking nothing of it, Willem accepts—only to realize these weapons are actually a group of young Leprechauns. Though they look just like humans, they have no regard for their own lives, seeing themselves as mere tools of war. Among them is Chtholly Nota Seniorious, who is ready to sacrifice herself if it means defeating the Beasts and achieving peace. Willem becomes a father figure to the young Leprechauns, watching over them fondly and supporting them however he can. He, who once fought bravely on the front lines, can now only hope that those sent into battle return safely from the monsters that destroyed his kind.

After wrapping up the first route of his visual novel, Tomoya Aki, the producer of Blessing Software, feels optimistic about his team's future and their shared ambition to craft the finest game of the season. But there's still plenty of ground to cover. For starters, Megumi Katou remains incredibly bland in personality and still doesn't measure up to Tomoya's vision of an ideal heroine. The other members of Blessing Software—Eriri Spencer Sawamura, Utaha Kasumigaoka, and Michiru Hyoudou—often overlook her existence entirely because she lacks presence and character. As they continue developing their game, Blessing Software comes to understand the challenges of working in an industry where deadlines are strict and revisions are constant, as well as the difficulties of collaborating within a group.

Seiji Aino's mundane existence gets turned upside down when a strange girl named Guri shows up at his front door, demanding a kiss within twenty-four hours or else he'll die. Mistaking her frantic plea for a romantic confession, Seiji kisses the stranger who barged into his home. But Guri is actually a cosplaying Cupid armed with a Kiss Note—a tool that forces any pair of names written in it to become a couple. She confesses she accidentally wrote Seiji's name while indulging in yaoi fantasies, making their kiss meaningless. Matters escalate when Guri reveals that if Seiji isn't paired with someone soon, she'll die and he'll remain a virgin forever. To save himself, Seiji targets popular Akane Hiyama, but she reacts with psychotic obsession upon learning about his kiss with Guri, attacking them both. In the chaos, Guri uses the Kiss Note to pair Seiji with Akane, stopping the assault. Yet, driven by her own budding feelings, Guri also pairs herself with the duo. This bizarre coupling turns Seiji and Akane into temporary angels, forcing them to help Guri matchmake humans or face eternal damnation in hell. Stripped of all normalcy, Seiji must now assist these eccentric girls in their matchmaking duties.

Itsuki Hashima, a light novelist, has an intense fixation on little sisters, a theme he deliberately weaves into his stories. Despite his peculiar obsession, he enjoys the support of a tight circle of friends: Nayuta Kani, a brilliant yet lecherous novelist who harbors romantic feelings for Itsuki; Haruto Fuwa, a fellow male writer who has found considerable acclaim; Miyako Shirakawa, a friend from college; and Chihiro, his perfect younger stepbrother who manages the cooking and housework. The group passes the time by engaging in bizarre games, taking spontaneous trips, exchanging jokes, and commemorating their successes. Yet they also confront personal struggles, from racing against tight deadlines to grappling with painful memories from their past.

Another school year is drawing to a close, and the third-year high school students are steadily approaching the next major step in their lives: graduation. Among them are Mio Natsume, a girl weighed down by unresolved feelings; Hazuki Morikawa, a concert band member who remains distant from her peers; and Haruto Souma, a baseball-obsessed athlete. Meanwhile, second-year student Ena Komiya is determined to revive the photography club to its former glory, refusing to let it be disbanded. Though this group shares little connection with one another, their lives suddenly intersect with the arrival of a third-year transfer student. While transferring so close to graduation is unusual for most, it is routine for Eita Izumi. Due to his father's job, he has never been able to stay in one place for long. But as fate would have it, this latest move brings Eita back to his hometown for his final semester of high school. For better or worse, it also rekindles old relationships left behind in the past. With graduation already stirring its own anxieties, Eita's sudden arrival brings these students' carefree days to an abrupt end. Long-forgotten memories, deeply buried emotions, and inspiring new passions—everything comes to light in their bittersweet final semester.

The story follows Yuu Haruna, who has just relocated to Tokyo with his sisters after their father is sent overseas for work. While heading out to buy dinner and scrolling through his Twitter feed, a high school girl collides with him. Suspecting him of taking upskirt photos, she snatches his phone, smashes it, slaps him, and leaves him sprawled on the ground. It turns out this girl—Fuuka Akitsuki—attends the same school Yuu is transferring to. Unlike most people, Fuuka doesn't own a cellphone; she even listens to music with a CD player. The two gradually grow closer and decide to form a band with their friends, aiming to break into the professional music scene. With Fuuka by his side, what will become of Yuu's new life in Tokyo?

Haruka Shinozaki has had a crush on class representative Akiho Kousaka ever since his first year of high school. She's attractive, excels at sports, and is a model student in every way. Now that they're in the same class this year, Shinozaki decides to confess his feelings—and to his surprise, Kousaka accepts and becomes his girlfriend. However, he soon realizes that Kousaka is more unusual than he initially thought: this seemingly perfect girl has never been in a relationship before. Despite her inexperience, she is determined to satisfy Shinozaki in every possible way—by studying various sexual positions and his personal fetishes. Shinozaki tries to tell her that such research isn't necessary, but Kousaka is fully committed to making him happy in every way she can.

For high school student Shouichi Kamita, worries about college entrance exams and what lies ahead are typical concerns. Yet it’s also during this stage of life that a perplexing emotion, one that troubles people of any age, may start to occupy his thoughts—romantic love. At this moment in his adolescence, Shouichi meets three girls with whom he can envision a future: the always cheerful Hikari Tsuneki, who mercilessly teases him but reveals a gentle side; the competitive gamer Tooru Miyamae, who struggles to express herself to others; and Shouichi’s childhood friend Kyouko Touno, an occasionally immature enthusiast of shoujo manga. Seiren traces Shouichi’s connections with these three girls across three distinct storylines, as their feelings evolve from mutual attraction into something more profound.

Miou Aida and Haruki Serizawa appear to be complete opposites to everyone around them, but as these two third-year students prepare to leave high school behind, they've never been more connected. Miou, a quiet and withdrawn member of the school art club who avoids the spotlight, contrasts sharply with Haruki, the loud and self-assured star of the movie club who has already earned recognition for his directing talent. Yet after an accidental meeting during their entrance ceremony, the two quickly grew close despite their obvious differences. Even so, their relationship has never evolved beyond friendship, leaving their friends puzzled. With only one year of high school remaining, Miou, Haruki, and their companions from the art and movie clubs have limited time to confront their unspoken emotions and the tough choices about their future paths. The pair may always be just an arm's length apart, but as Haruki pursues his goal of becoming a professional film director and Miou struggles to find her own direction, they will discover just how difficult it is to bridge those final 10 centimeters.

Chisato Mizusawa works as a composed and composed assistant office manager who claims to have no fondness for alcohol. In reality, she enjoys drinking, but a different, cuter side of her appears only when she’s intoxicated—a secret she shares solely with her husband, Sora, who is a bartender. When Chisato returns home each evening, Sora looks after his beloved wife, preparing a nice meal and a fresh cocktail for her. These drinks range from Plum Splet and Irish Coffee to Orange Breeze and other tasty mixtures that she happily downs. However, while she adores alcohol, she holds an even deeper love for her gentle husband. Together, they enjoy a life full of joy—and the not-so-rare cocktail.

On a seemingly endless night that stretches across an entire year, an ordinary university student relentlessly pursues a black-haired underclassman who is the girl of his dreams. His strategy so far has been simple: he deliberately engineers daily encounters with her, making each one appear as a meaningful coincidence. Despite his efforts, their relationship remains stagnant and shows no signs of progress. In contrast, the black-haired girl believes everything is guided by fate and seeks to immerse herself in as many novel experiences as possible, leaving outcomes to destiny. While wandering through Kyoto's bustling streets, she learns that a childhood book—the very starting point of her fated journey—is now available at a second-hand bookstore. Upon hearing this, the college student sees another chance for a "coincidental" meeting: he aims to acquire the book before her, hoping to finally seize the thread of fate that might link their hearts.

Every day, a girl in a mask stands by the shore and sings a wistful tune. As a child, Nino Arisugawa endured two sudden, heartbreaking goodbyes, and since then she has been singing to the ocean, tied to a vow made with her two childhood friends—her first love, Momo Sakaki, and the boy who wrote melodies, Kanade "Yuzu" Yuzuriha. The two boys never met each other, but each promised Nino individually that if she were ever torn away from them, her voice would serve as a signal to bring them back together. Six years later, fate finally places Nino, Momo, and Yuzu in the same high school. Yet time has altered many things in their lives—while Nino stubbornly tries to keep the childhood promise with the boys, Yuzu's old feelings for her resurface, and Momo goes out of his way to avoid meeting Nino again. Through music, can they repair their friendship and navigate all the emotions tangled up in this complex love triangle?

The second season of the Rewrite series which adapts Moon and Terra routes.

High school freshmen Haruki Mishima and Towa Honda focus their days on academics, club activities, and girls. Amidst their busy schedules, a romantic spark begins to develop between the two close friends. Haruki has harbored feelings for Miharu Mashiki since childhood, and a random meeting at a convenience store reawakens his affection. Meanwhile, Towa has his sights set on class representative Mami Mihashi, though his feelings go unrequited. Haruki takes a more subdued approach to winning over Miharu, contrasting with Towa's persistent pursuit of Mami. Despite their differing strategies, love remains out of reach for both. As time passes, it remains to be seen whether romance will eventually blossom for the pair.

Cardia Beckford's memories of her past are vague, but she remembers her father Isaac and the isolated home where she lives alone, shunned by the townspeople who see her as a monster. The reason lies in a lethal substance within her body: an eternally beating heart called Horologium, embedded in her chest by her father. This device can generate limitless power, but it also causes her skin to corrode anything it touches. The Horologium is sought after by many in London, including the terrorist group Twilight, which is rumored to have close ties to Isaac. The British military forces Cardia from her home as a prisoner to seize the Horologium's power. On the road, however, she is abducted by the gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, who vows to steal her heart. Accompanied by Lupin and his allies, Cardia embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about Isaac's connection to Twilight, her lost memories, and the Horologium inside her.

A bright light flashes from her phone, and the gentle Yuzuki finds herself whisked away to Shinga, an alternate realm that mirrors Japan's turbulent Sengoku period—a time of endless civil war. In this world, the Gekkazoku, tribes of supernatural beings like vampires and werewolves, coexist peacefully with humans, a balance maintained by Himemiko, a woman whose power shields Shinga. But her mysterious disappearance has plunged the world into chaos. To return home, Yuzuki must locate Himemiko, yet the ongoing feuds among warlords constantly hinder her quest.

Sasuke Sarutobi, a typical college student at Kyoto University, spends his free time researching time slips as a hobby—until he actually experiences one, hurling him into the Sengoku Period. Upon arriving, Sasuke comes face-to-face with warlords he would have only dreamed of meeting: Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the infamous "Demon King of the Sixth Heaven," Oda Nobunaga, who takes him on as a vassal. By introducing modern concepts to these feudal lords—from playing tennis to sending chain letters—Sasuke gradually carves out a place for himself in an ancient world that feels entirely new.