Regardless if an anime is a romance series or not, fans can’t help but fall in love with the show’s couples. There are always heated debates over who should end up with whom by a series’s conclusion. While some don’t get their wishes fulfilled, others are satisfied with the couples many anime have.
On that note, there are many couples who have stood the test of time. Many on this list have left a major impact on the fandom, which can’t seem to get enough of them. Likewise, here are our picks for the best anime couples of all time. If we missed one of your favorite pairings, let us know in the comments. We’ll get them added on here when we can.
Naruto Uzumaki & Hinata Hyuga (Naruto / Naruto Shippuden)
Despite being an action-oriented work, fans couldn’t wait to see who would end up with whom by Naruto Shippuden’s conclusion. There was a lot of anticipation for this moment due to how long the show had been running on the air. While some weren’t happy with the results, others felt Kishimoto’s decisions on the final pairings made sense.
Naruto and Hinata were a strong ship in the fandom. It was confirmed via the Naruto film, The Last – Naruto the Movie released in 2014. Naruto and Naruto Shippuden built up to this pairing well and by that film’s release many were convinced Naruto would get together with Hinata. Not only is their relationship strong, but Hinata gave birth to two children that fans cherish today.
So much so, that Naruto’s son Boruto Uzumaki would receive a series dedicated to his life in Konoha. This is a romantic shipping that met fans’ expectations and is worth highlighting here.
Krillin & Android 18 (Dragon Ball Z/Super)
Krillin and Android 18 have the best chemistry of the couples we’ve seen in Dragon Ball Z/Super. These two have great chemistry, which shows during each show’s slice-of-life and action-heavy moments. Fans were ecstatic to see Krillin and Android 18 team up during Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power arc.
It gave their characters more screen time and showed why they’re a strong duo. Despite Krillin being one of the weaker Z Warriors, Android 18 does her best to motivate Krillin further. The same can be said for their daughter Marin. While there are other noteworthy couples in the show like Videl/Gohan or Vegeta/Bulma, Krillin, and Android 18 take part in some of the show’s greatest moments.
Tomoya Okazaki & Nagisa Furukawa (Clannad + After Story)
Clannad is an emotional roller coaster that reaches its pique in After Story. Not only do the situations our characters face get more complex and realistic, but it makes for a difficult watch for many fans. Tomoya had many great candidates to choose from in the show’s first season, though. However, Nagisa won his heart in the end.
Their couple dynamic is mesmerizing, authentic, and beautiful. Despite Nagisa suffering from severe health issues in After Story, Tomoya shows his love and appreciation for her every step of the way. The first season does an excellent job of building upon their dynamic while After Story promises to shatter viewers’ hearts.
They both endure similar struggles that come with adulthood like parenting, paying bills, and maintaining strong relationships. If you ever watched Clannad or plan to in the near future, make sure to keep an eye open for these two characters.
Holo and Kraft Lawrence (Spice & Wolf)
Holo and Kraft Lawrence represent inter-species relationships the best in anime. While they start off as strangers, Spice & Wolf dishes out enough screentime to make you care for them as individuals and as a pair. Holo and Lawrence have the best conversational dialogue in the series and fans will find it soothing to their ear.
The show’s English Dub stands among other great ones like Cowboy Bebop and Yu Yu Hakusho. Brina Palencia (Holo) and J Michael Tatum (Lawrence) give their characters enough charismatic appeal and make their interactions feel believable. Considering this anime emphasizes storytelling and interactions over anything else, it’s important that Holo and Lawrence’s dialogue feels valid.
Kaori Miyazono & Kousei Arima (Your Lie In April)
Your Lie In April fans knows of the rough situation Kousei grew up in at the anime’s start. Coping with a loss isn’t a joke and the anime made sure to tackle Kousei’s problems head-on. Losing his mother had a negative impact on Kousei’s ideals as a human and a musician. However, thanks to Kaori involving herself in his life, Kousei received another shot at life.
That said, Kaori and Kousei develop a strong bond throughout Your Lie In April. In many ways, Kaori provided Kousei with the hand he needed to remove himself from the dark rabbit hole he was stuck in after his mother’s passing. Both characters are extremely talented musicians, who helped each other grow over time.
Unfortunately, our couple doesn’t escape freely with a happy conclusion. However, seeing how much of an impact each character played on the other’s life will grip you. If you’re looking for a creative narrative with drops of romance and music appreciation, check out Your Lie In April.
Ken Kaneki & Touka Kirishima (Tokyo Ghoul)
Tokyo Ghoul might be a gritty series, but it built up Kaneki and Touka’s chemistry wonderfully over time. Despite Rize kicking him to the curve after turning him into a ghoul, Touko gave Kaneki the time of day. She stood with him during many brutal fights and helped him transition smoothly to his new lifestyle.
Both characters receive superb development throughout the series that helps them overcome dreadful hurdles. Although they wouldn’t show deep affection for each other until later seasons, fans couldn’t wait for it to come. Future seasons give justice to their relationship, despite losing the quality and intricate details in the manga.
While this is a violent and bloody show, series creator Sui Ishida gave fans a joyful romance to follow. In the end, Touka gave birth to beautiful kids and had a loving family to care for alongside Kaneki. This helps the future seasons feel a tad better despite the quality drop.
Jonathan Joestar & Erina Pendleton (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is another series filled with extreme violence, mature themes, and drama. Jonathan Joestar, the series’s first protagonist, had to overcome multiple hurdles to earn his happy life with Erina. While it was short-lived, it was nice seeing how much of an impact each character played in each other’s lives.
For those unaware, Jonathan had to endure endless turmoil under his stepbrother Dio’s hands. Dio hated the Joestar family and did everything he could to make Jonathan’s life miserable. From murdering his canine companion Danny to sexually harassing Erina, Dio made sure to leave Jonathan with a lasting scar.
As mentioned earlier, Jonathan and Erina eventually found their ticket to happiness. While it’s unfortunate that Jonathan couldn’t stick around longer, the small moments we receive of him and Erina together is a sight to behold.
Edward Elric & Winry Rockbell (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Fullmetal Alchemist was an epic adventure series. It had it all from entertaining characters to intense violence and heavy mature themes. Edward and his brother Alphonse experienced everything from child experimentation to heinous murders. Against the odds, both characters wind up obtaining their joyful endings.
Edward and Winry’s relationship was carefully developed over time. Every encounter they had would make people laugh or smile. Despite Edward getting on her nerves, Winry was more than happy to provide Edward with emotional and mechanical support. Eventually, Edward and Winry would reveal their feelings for each other and develop a loving family.
Takeo Gouda & Rinko Yamato (My Love Story!!!)
My Love Story!! is an intruiging romantic comedy series. Instead of following typical tropes, it follows a protagonist who wants to help the girl get with a better-suited guy. Like most romantic comedies, our male protagonist eventually gets with the girl, leading to an intimate and memorable moment between the two.
Takeo never thought he’d ever get with anyone. His hulking demeanor would scare away anyone, regardless if they were girls or boys. It’s not until Rinko enters his life that Takeo understands the error behind his thinking patterns. That said, viewers will adore seeing Takeo’s attempts at getting Rinko and his popular friend hooked up.
He’s not the brightest tool in the shed. However, by the series’s conclusion, he’ll realize that there’s someone out there for everyone. This is a charming and inspiring romance anime everyone must watch just for its characters and premise alone.
Muruem & Komugi (Hunter X Hunter 2011)
Hunter X Hunter isn’t a romance anime. It’s a show that fans adore for its heavy themes, incredible fights, and world-building. However, there’s one story arc that tackles romance with strong integrity. This is the Chimera Ant arc, where our protagonist Gon Freecss and his friend Killua Zoldyck must stop the ants from escaping and killing people.
During this arc, we meet the Chimera Ant King, Meruem. He has zero tolerance for failure and isn’t afraid to murder fellow ants or annoying humans. However, his personality shifts after playing a couple of rounds of Gungi with a blind girl named Komugi. Komugi doesn’t pose any threat to Meruem physically, however, she plays a key role in helping him become a better individual mentally.
The two develop a “Beauty and the Beast” styled relationship over time. Viewers will adore the intimate moments they share. Although their relationship ends with an upsetting explosion, it’s one of the best romances the series offers.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best anime couples of all time!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!