Best Romance Anime of 1988

Above the rooftops of Shinjuku, Genichirou Izayou once suffered defeat at the hands of Levih Rah, a man who bartered his soul for demonic power. A decade has passed, and Shinjuku remains a demon-infested wasteland while the rest of Tokyo stays untouched. One day, Kyouya, Genichirou's son, learns from the news that Japan's revered prime minister has fallen victim to demonic attacks. Despite his uncertainty about inheriting his father's Nempo abilities, Kyouya realizes he is the only one who can stop Levih Rah from threatening the world. Teaming up with Sayaka Rama, the prime minister's daughter, Kyouya ventures into Shinjuku, determined to overcome the challenge his father could not.

Yo Hinomura was once a simple Japanese potter before a confrontation with the Chinese mafia forever altered his path. Now serving as an assassin for the 108 Dragons, Yo is a flawless killing machine. As a display of remorse for his victims, he weeps after completing each assassination. Because of this, he is notoriously recognized by the Dragons and every criminal syndicate worldwide as "Crying Freeman."

Following the conclusion of the Kimagure Orange Road TV series, Kyosuke and Madoka reach the brink of graduation, facing the critical decision of which college to attend. Naturally desiring to stay together, they must balance their studies with the search for a university that will accept both of them. Hikaru, who still has a year remaining before her own graduation, attempts to support Kyosuke in her unique fashion. However, her involvement sparks jealousy in Madoka, prompting her to finally confess her true feelings to Kyosuke. Faced with this emotional crossroads, Kyosuke must take decisive action to choose the girl he truly loves, bringing the story of Kimagure Orange Road to a definitive close.

This animated feature brings the Urusei Yatsura saga to a boiling point by adapting the final story arc of the original manga, though it is not the series' concluding film. Lupa, another of Lum's suitors, arrives on Earth, forcing Lum and Ataru to rekindle their game of tag to stop the planet from being obliterated. Ataru's only path to victory is uttering the three words "I love you," which he has stubbornly refused to say to Lum. Will he finally confess his true feelings to save the Earth, or will his pride lead to the world's destruction?

The residents of Maison Ikkoku hold a party to celebrate Yusaku and Kyoko's wedding. During the festivities, Yusaku grows uneasy after learning that Kyoko is waiting for a letter, sparking jealousy and suspicions about her loyalty. His anxiety lingers through the night, and the truth behind his concerns is finally uncovered the next morning.

Kosaku Hatanaka, a promising boxer trained under Coach Mukoda, was once the only professional athlete from their gym. However, his career has been marred by disappointment, largely because he repeatedly fails to make weight for his matches. After a humiliating incident in the ring that caused several scheduled fights to be canceled, Kosaku is warned that his next bout might be his last if he doesn't improve. His situation seems dire when, breaking his strict diet, he convinces Sister Angela, a local trainee nun, to give him food. It looks inevitable that he will once again surpass the weight limit, potentially ending his boxing career. Realizing her unintentional role in his overeating, Sister Angela takes it upon herself to help him get back on track—even as Kosaku finds himself more drawn to her than to her spiritual advice.

The story starts with Katsuhiko heading to the United States, while his friends Kasumi and Yusaku see him off at Narita Airport. Two years later, Katsuhiko returns to Japan as a professional racer, coming back for both a race and to marry Kasumi. At the same time, Yusaku follows his passion for photography.

The story follows the daily life of a Akko-chan who is a new young wife.

Chalk-iro no People is an OVA series consisting of five short episodes adapted from Seizou Watase's romantic manga. The episodes are titled "Building Without Tide," "Brother and Sister," "Sometimes I'm Happy," "I've Saved the Sidecar for You," and "The Santa Quartet."