Best Romance Anime of 2018

The rare and inexplicable Puberty Syndrome is often dismissed as a myth. It is an unusual condition that only affects teenagers, and its symptoms are so supernatural that hardly anyone acknowledges it as a real phenomenon. However, high school student Sakuta Azusagawa knows from personal experience that it is very real and is surprisingly common in his school. Mai Sakurajima is a third-year high school student who was famous as a child actress in her youth but recently put her promising career on hold for reasons unknown to the public. With an unapproachable demeanor, she is well-known throughout the school, yet no one dares to interact with her—until Sakuta sees her wandering the library in a bunny girl costume. Despite the outfit, nobody seems to notice her, and after confronting her, he realizes she is another victim of Puberty Syndrome. As Sakuta tries to help Mai with her situation, his actions bring him into contact with more girls affected by this elusive condition.

In a far-off future, humanity has been pushed to the edge of extinction by enormous creatures called Klaxosaurs, forcing the survivors to dwell inside massive fortified cities known as Plantations. Children raised in these cities are trained to pilot giant mechas called FranXX—the only weapons capable of fighting the Klaxosaurs—in male-female pairs. Created solely for the purpose of operating these machines, these children have no knowledge of the outside world and can only justify their existence by protecting their species. Hiro, a would-be FranXX pilot, has lost his drive and self-assurance after failing an aptitude test. Skipping his class's graduation ceremony, he goes to a forest lake, where he meets a mysterious girl with two horns protruding from her head. She introduces herself by her codename Zero Two, known to belong to a notorious FranXX pilot called the "Partner Killer." Before Hiro can process the meeting, the Plantation is suddenly attacked by a Klaxosaur. Zero Two engages the creature in her FranXX, but the mecha sustains heavy damage and crashes near Hiro. Finding her partner dead, Zero Two asks Hiro to pilot the mecha with her, and together they easily defeat the Klaxosaur. With a new partner at his side, Hiro has been given a chance to redeem his past failures—but at what price?

The aloof protagonist is a bookworm who remains deeply detached from the world around him. He has no interest in others and is firmly convinced that no one has any interest in him either. His story begins when he stumbles upon a handwritten book titled *Living with Dying*. He soon identifies it as a secret diary belonging to his popular, bubbly classmate Sakura Yamauchi. She then confides in him about the pancreatic disease she is suffering from and that her remaining time is limited. Only her family knows about her terminal illness; not even her best friends are aware. Despite this revelation, he shows zero sympathy for her plight, but caught in the waves of Sakura's persistent buoyancy, he eventually agrees to accompany her for her remaining days. As the pair of polar opposites interact, their connection strengthens, interweaving through the choices they make with each passing day. Her apparent nonchalance and unpredictability disrupt the protagonist's impassive flow of life, gradually opening his heart as he discovers and embraces the true meaning of living.

After oversleeping through all four alarms, the energetic Narumi Momose hurries to her new job on her first day, determined to keep her coworkers from discovering her hidden passion for anime and manga as an otaku and fujoshi. Her plan immediately falls apart when she encounters Hirotaka Nifuji, a former middle school classmate. Although she attempts to maintain her secret by suggesting they grab drinks after work, her cover is blown when he casually inquires if she'll attend the upcoming Summer Comiket. Fortunately, the only ones who overhear—Hanako Koyanagi and Tarou Kabakura—are fellow otaku. That evening, the two catch up over drinks. After Narumi laments that her previous boyfriend dumped her for being a fujoshi, Hirotaka proposes she try dating another otaku—namely, himself. He vows to always support her, be there for her, and help her farm for rare drops in Monster Hunter. Overwhelmed by the offer, Narumi agrees, and the two otaku embark on their adorably awkward romance.

In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, the Demon King Diablo stands unmatched in power. With the game's most coveted items and a maxed-out player level, he crushes any challenger with ease. Yet behind the screen, Diablo is Takuma Sakamoto—a socially awkward recluse whose only passion is his gaming life, even as he steamrolls endless foes. His routine is broken when a summoning spell drags him into a world that looks just like the game, where he keeps Diablo's form. There, he finds his summoners: Rem Galeu, a small Pantherian adventurer, and Shera L. Greenwood, an Elf summoner. They try to use an Enslavement Ritual to control him, but the magic backfires, making them his slaves instead. Trapped in this awkward situation, Takuma sets out with the girls to find a way to break the contract while adapting to his new life as the feared Demon King.

Having a friend who knows everything about you is usually a positive thing, but for Nishikata, it's the complete opposite. His classmate Takagi torments him with teasing every single day, using her deep understanding of his habits to anticipate exactly how he'll respond, which leaves Nishikata unable to ever land a proper retort. Still, Nishikata is determined to one day turn the tables on Takagi and make her blush from his own teasing.

After successfully rescuing his master, Rias Gremory, from the Dimensional Gap, Red Dragon Emperor and aspiring Harem King Issei Hyoudou can finally return to his normal high school routine alongside Occult Research Club members Yuuto Kiba, Asia Argento, Xenovia Quarta, and Irina Shidou. The group embarks on a school trip to Kyoto, but their visit to a temple is disrupted by an assault from local youkai. Following the skirmish, the club learns that the mythical nine-tailed fox protecting the city has been abducted and that they are falsely accused of the crime. Issei and his friends must fight to clear their names, save the trip, and protect the city from impending disaster. Meanwhile, Rias, who stayed behind in Tokyo with Akeno Himejima and Koneko Toujou, grows increasingly uneasy about leaving the perverted Issei alone with the other club girls. Beneath her vague anxiety lies a deeper question: what are the true feelings Rias has been struggling with for the past few months?

Having relived his high school days through the ReLIFE program, 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki is amazed at how profoundly the experience has transformed him. He now sees the world from a fresh viewpoint that, as an adult, he had long forgotten. He has built friendships and forged strong bonds with each of his classmates. Yet his supervisor, Ryou Yoake, reminds him that the entire experiment is a fabrication; once it concludes, he will be erased from everyone’s memory. Another ReLIFE participant is also nearing the end of her journey. After two years in the program, Chizuru Hishiro has grown into a far more open and considerate person than she ever thought possible. She has encountered individuals who have reshaped her life, her outlook, and ultimately her very self. But with their ReLIFE drawing to a close, can they bring themselves to part with the memories they have created?

At Dahlia Academy, students from two rivaling nations—the Eastern Nation of Touwa's "Black Doggies" and the Principality of West's "White Cats"—come together despite their long-standing feud. Romio Inuzuka and Juliet Persia, the leaders of their respective dormitories, appear to be bitter enemies. In truth, however, Romio and Juliet are deeply in love, but revealing their relationship would incur the wrath of their comrades. They conceal their affection to preserve peace, yet their secret romance prevents them from enjoying many typical couple activities. As their bond strengthens, Romio and Juliet must confront the reality that keeping their love hidden may become an impossible task.

Hikari Tsutsui takes comfort in the two-dimensional world, where social interactions feel far simpler. Hampered by his awkwardness and lack of social skills, he loses himself in video games and anime, only to endure constant mockery and exclusion from his classmates. His only close companion is Yuuto Itou, a friend who also wears cat ears and shares his deep obsession with gaming. While serving detention for cleaning the pool, Hikari meets Iroha Igarashi. Despite her fearsome reputation, he tries to steer clear of her, believing that getting involved with her will only lead to problems. Iroha is known for her blunt honesty, her unpopularity among female students, and her history of toying with boys. 3D Kanojo: Real Girl follows the story of these two misfits, focusing on a boy learning to handle his new feelings and a girl determined to push him beyond his comfort zone.

In a world where magic is woven into daily existence, Hitomi Tsukishiro lives in a colorless reality, lacking both emotion and sensation. On a night as devoid of hue as any other, as fireworks burst across the sky, her grandmother Kohaku—who has spent 60 years collecting moonlight—casts a spell to send Hitomi back to 2018, when Kohaku was a high school student. Hitomi's goal is unclear, but her grandmother assures her she will understand upon arrival. After traveling through time on a train driven by a strange yellow creature, Hitomi ends up in the room of the reserved artist Yuito Aoi. His sketches suddenly fill her world with vivid color. What is Hitomi's true purpose there, and why do Yuito's drawings restore such stunning vibrancy to her bleak existence?

The continent of Atlatan has fallen into turmoil after the Great Hall Tragedy, a catastrophic incident that destroyed the fragile peace between the Fantasia Union and the Factory Alliance. The wedding of Sir Alexis Douse and Lady Marrine Kreische, meant to unite the two factions, was overtaken by a surge of "Chaos," a dark dimensional energy that summons monsters and demons. From this corruption emerged the Demon Lord of Diabolos, who killed the archdukes of both sides, crushing all hope for reconciliation. Siluca Meletes, a mage from the Alliance, journeys through the ravaged countryside to study under a master magician. On her way, she is rescued from Federation soldiers by Theo Cornaro, a young warrior wielding a mysterious "Crest" that can repel Chaos. Sworn to no particular domain, Theo aspires to become a Lord and liberate his hometown, Sistina, from its tyrant and the spreading corruption. Inspired by his noble ambition, Siluca enters a magical pact with Theo, and together they set out to restore balance to their fractured world.

Akira Tachibana is a quiet high school student who used to be a track runner but can no longer perform as she once did after a severe foot injury. Although her classmates consider her attractive, she shows no interest in the boys at school. Working part-time at the Garden Cafe, Akira starts to develop feelings for the manager—a 45-year-old man named Masami Kondou—despite the considerable difference in age. Kondou displays genuine care and kindness toward the customers at his restaurant, a trait that others may see as soft or weak, but which draws Akira to him. As they spend time together at the cafe, they grow closer, intensifying her emotions. Burdened by these uncertain feelings, Akira eventually decides to confess, but what will the outcome be?

Once a hot spring inn, Yuragi-sou now operates as a boarding house with shockingly low rent, but it's nearly empty except for a handful of eccentric residents. Word has it that a dangerous ghost haunts the place, driving away anyone who tries to move in. This makes it the ideal spot for Fuyuzora Kogarashi—a broke, homeless psychic looking for cheap lodging and spirits to exorcise. Kogarashi braces for a showdown with the ghost, only to discover it's not the malevolent entity rumors describe. Instead, it's the spirit of a lovely, silver-haired girl who remembers nothing of her life before death except her name: Yuuna. Even stranger, the other tenants of Yuragi-sou can also see Yuuna, and each possesses their own supernatural ability. Amid the turmoil stirred up by his quirky housemates, Kogarashi works to uncover the lingering regret that binds Yuuna to the mortal world—before she turns into an evil spirit condemned to an eternity in hell.

Mitsuyoshi Tada has never paid much attention to love, and as the second-year high school student and aspiring photographer begins a new term, romance is the last thing on his mind. That changes when he encounters a cheerful foreign girl named Teresa Wagner while photographing a cherry blossom tree. After she asks him to take her picture, they part ways, only to cross paths twice more that same day. Finding Teresa caught in a sudden downpour, Tada invites her to his family’s coffee shop to dry off. There, she explains she was separated from her traveling companion, a strict redhead named Alexandra "Alec" Magritte. When Alec reunites with Teresa shortly afterward, they say their goodbyes, expecting never to meet again—but the next day, the two unexpectedly transfer into his class. Teresa and Alec quickly adapt to life at Koinohoshi High School and decide to join Tada in the photography club, alongside his narcissistic friend Kaoru Ijuuin, the idol-obsessed Hajime Sugimoto, the serious class representative Hinako Hasegawa, and the dog-like Kentarou Yamashita. With these two unusual additions to his already eccentric group of friends, Tada’s second year of high school becomes even livelier—and he may have to reconsider his stance on love.

Vampires live among humans, hidden within the fringes of society. Though they do not need blood to survive, strong emotions can trigger an overwhelming bloodlust, transforming them into uncontrollable beasts. Twenty-two-year-old university student Tsukasa Taira discovers the reality of vampires when her childhood friend is revealed to be one during a tense encounter with Yuuki Anzai—a hybrid of human and vampire. After her friend is taken into custody, Tsukasa finds herself increasingly drawn to Anzai, who reluctantly returns her feelings. Yet this unusual relationship faces immense challenges, as Anzai must constantly fight the part of him that longs to consume Tsukasa.

In 1991, arcade video games are all the rage. Becoming a professional player is a distant dream in an industry still finding its footing, but sixth-grader Haruo Yaguchi is determined to pursue that path. His skill at video games has won him respect in local arcades and given him confidence and pride—until his classmate Akira Oono destroys him in Street Fighter 2. Akira is wealthy, attractive, and intelligent, as close to perfect as possible. Haruo never cared about such things before; despite his many personal flaws, his supremacy at video games was, in his own view, unquestionable. Now that someone has emerged who can challenge him, part of Haruo can't help but resent her. Yet another part craves a rival who can meet him on equal footing, and Akira is more than capable.

Yuuto Suou never expected urban legends to be real, but when he follows his childhood friend Mitsuki Shimoya in testing one out, reality shifts. After snapping a photo of himself with the shrine's sacred mirror using his phone, he is pulled into a parallel world built on ancient Norse mythology. Armed with the knowledge from his studies and his solar-powered smartphone, Yuuto works to elevate the Wolf Clan—the people who took him in—to greatness, all while winning the devotion of the Einherjar, a band of warrior maidens who wield magic.

Left by her mother at a young age, Aoi Tsubaki has always possessed the ability to see ayakashi—spirits from the Hidden Realm. Her grandfather Shirou Tsubaki, who shared this same gift, raised her and taught her how to coexist peacefully with the ayakashi. After her grandfather passes away suddenly, the self-reliant Aoi must continue her college life, relying solely on her culinary knowledge as a means of protection against the human-eating spirits. To ensure that the ayakashi do not turn to her or other unaware humans as a meal, she takes it upon herself to feed the hungry creatures that cross her path. After giving a mysterious ayakashi her lunch, Aoi is taken to the Hidden Realm, where the ayakashi turns out to be an ogre-god known as Oodanna, the "Master Innkeeper." There, she learns that she was put up as collateral for her grandfather's debt of one hundred million yen, and that she must pay the price for his careless decision by marrying Oodanna. Aoi boldly declines and decides to resolve matters her own way: she will pay off the debt herself by running an eatery at Oodanna's inn. Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi chronicles Aoi's path as she sets out to change and impact the lives of the ayakashi via her sole weapon against them—her delicious cooking.

Despite being extremely shy, Atsuhiro "Akkun" Kagari managed to win the heart of the sweet and affectionate Non Katagiri. However, his discomfort with showing romantic affection—whether giving compliments or sharing a kiss—makes him act rough and outright cruel toward Katagiri in their everyday interactions. Yet Akkun is truly a boy in love; he demonstrates his feelings for Katagiri in his own peculiar manner. From following her around to snap photos to listening in on her private chats, he ends up essentially stalking his own girlfriend. Fortunately, Katagiri finds Akkun's behavior cute and charming, and she understands that his harsh words are not meant seriously. Even though their close friend Masago Matsuo thinks their relationship is a bit strange, Katagiri loves her sweet tyrant exactly as he is.

As technology continues to advance rapidly, humanity develops hIEs—human-like robots serving as both public and personal assistants in society. The compassionate high school student Arato Endou treats these androids as equals, though his limited finances prevent him from ever owning one. His ordinary life is disrupted when a simple trip to the grocery store takes a terrible turn. Attacked violently by a rogue hIE, Arato finds himself near death, but he is rescued by an unusual hIE carrying a coffin-like weapon. Her name is Lacia, one of five exceptionally advanced hIEs that have recently escaped from the mysterious MemeFrame Corporation. When a hacked car threatens to run them over, Lacia proposes a deal to Arato: in return for saving his life, he must register as her new owner, assuming full responsibility for her actions. With no real alternative, he agrees to trust this artificial girl and lets her live in his home. As Lacia grows accustomed to her newfound peaceful life, she warns the fascinated Arato of one important fact—she does not possess a soul.

Aspiring light novelist Yuu Nagami keeps entering writing contests but has never won a single one. Despite his repeated failures, he stays determined to hone his craft and become a better writer. After checking the winners list from his latest competition, he sees that someone named Chikai Towano swept the event. He soon learns that behind that pen name is his sister Suzuka—the last person he ever expected to be an author. Suzuka cannot let anyone know she is Chikai Towano, so she asks her brother to act as her stand‑in. Yuu agrees on one condition: he will keep pretending to be Chikai Towano for his sister until he can publish a book of his own. Until that day comes, Yuu uses his new alias as a chance to enhance his writing abilities and meets fellow authors and new acquaintances along the way.

On a secluded island called Urashima, far removed from the mainland, a man drifts ashore with no memory of his name or birthplace. What he does remember is that he is a time traveler with a mission: to rescue a certain girl from danger. When night falls, he meets Rinne Ohara, a girl whose singing stirs a specific name in his mind—Setsuna—and he decides to adopt it as his own. Since Rinne knows another "Setsuna," she takes him into her home as a servant, hoping he is the same person she recalls. Meanwhile, Setsuna continues to learn about Urashima, seeking to uncover his lost past. He discovers the island's folklore, its three great families, and the endemic disease that prevents anyone afflicted from going outside during daylight. As the mysteries of his missing memories and Urashima itself unravel, Setsuna must remember his purpose and fulfill his mission quickly. Yet, witnessing the many troubles plaguing the island, he begins to wonder—is his journey through time merely an attempt to change the fate of a single girl?

On the day of his high school graduation, Itsuki's cousin Mahiru informs him that she is pregnant. Suddenly, a luminous gateway appears and pulls them both into the realm of Granvania. In this world, "Impurities" have been disrupting the Stars, throwing Granvania into chaos and turmoil. Itsuki, revealed to be destined to encounter the "Star Maidens," is hailed as Granvania's final hope and entrusted with the mission to create "Star Children" to fight the impurities. Until this task is finished, Itsuki might not be able to go back home.

Having successfully captured all the Clow Cards and transformed them into her own Sakura Cards, Sakura Kinomoto begins her first year at Tomoeda Middle School. After her first day of classes, she reunites with her beloved Shaoran Li, who tells her he is permanently relocating back to Tomoeda. To her delight, it turns out Shaoran will also be attending the same school, and it seems like everything in Sakura's life is going perfectly. However, when Sakura falls asleep, she dreams of a mysterious figure in a cloak and finds herself surrounded by transparent cards. Waking up in a panic, Sakura is horrified to discover her dream has become reality, as the Sakura Cards have turned clear. Continued dreamlike encounters with the unknown enemy and her acquisition of a new magical key set the stage for Cardcaptor Sakura's newest adventure!

Legend says Beelzebub, one of the seven princes of Hell, turned against God and was cast out of Heaven for all time. Now, Beelzebub rules the realm of Pandemonium, where former angels spend every day of their endless lives working. A devil like him would make anyone shudder just hearing his name. But what if Beelzebub isn't as terrifying as people think? What if he's obsessed with soft, fluffy things? And what if Beelzebub is actually a woman? That's what new assistant Myurin discovers when he's hired to serve Her Majesty Beelzebub. She might know exactly how to keep Pandemonium running smoothly, but once she leaves the office's formality, the girl needs help just to function like a normal... devil. Even though Myurin hates being unprofessional, he's secretly fascinated by her adorable behavior, and his new job teaches him that nothing is quite what it appears, especially when it comes to the other head devils of Pandemonium.

Set in the 15th century amid the Hundred Years' War between France and England over the French throne, the story follows Montmorency, a noble's son devoted to studying magic and alchemy at a royal knight academy. After France's devastating loss at Agincourt, the school is disbanded. Left with nothing and now a fugitive, Montmorency, newly an alchemist, meets a mysterious village girl named Jehanne.

High school student Tomari Hinowa is summoned to the principal’s office only to receive startling news: he is set to wed. A strange, fluffy entity named Kanenogi has selected him as their spouse, and although Tomari harbors initial doubts, he ultimately agrees to the union. The story then unfolds as a collection of charming episodes depicting the bizarre yet heartwarming marital life of this unconventional couple.

The Taishou period continued for twenty-five years instead of ending after the usual fifteen. To safeguard her declining household, a young woman decides to marry a man whose name she does not even know. However, right before the wedding, her younger brother inexplicably takes his own life by setting himself on fire, discovered clutching an antique book. The bewildered girl is approached by the Imperial Library Intelligence Asset Management Bureau, commonly called Fukurou. These men explain that there exist Maremono—books that exert a powerful influence on those who read them. Moreover, after her brother's incident, she unknowingly acquires the power to perceive Auras—the emotions of Maremono that appear as glowing lights, normally invisible to people. It seems fate itself is trying to pull her into its flames. Despite her fears, she decides to step out of her cage. Jealousy, hatred, contempt, compassion, and love await her—a darkness of betrayal that has already started to enchantingly spread through the imperial capital. Tossed and swayed by that darkness, will the young woman ultimately uncover the truth through her struggles, or...?

Arato Endou and his loyal hIE, Lacia, reunite to demonstrate that artificial intelligence can be safely neutralized, regardless of its brilliance. As they infiltrate the facility to face Higgins, Lacia’s creator, they must battle foes on multiple fronts. These include Snowdrop, an out-of-control hIE determined to consume Higgins, and Methode, a hIE seeking revenge against Lacia. Furthermore, the world’s super-intelligent AIs have unanimously agreed to eliminate Lacia, viewing her as a danger to humankind. With time running out and the odds heavily stacked against them, can Arato and Lacia achieve their goal of a peaceful coexistence between humans and hIEs?

Evil forces are gaining strength. After Sister Jill turns one of her subordinates into the beastly Breast Claw and deploys her minions to execute a jewelry store robbery alongside the Panther Claw group, Honey Kisaragi leaves her Catholic girls' school to face the danger as Cutie Honey. This outcome is precisely what Sister Jill intends, since she covets Honey's Airborne Element Fixing Device, the artifact that enables her to shift into seven distinct forms. At the same time, Sister Jill appears in disguise as Inspector Genet, attempting to gain Honey's trust through a different approach.

This anime is set in Fukuoka and chronicles the romantic experiences of four main female characters during their high school years, college days, and as working adults.