Rivalries can really spark some amazing and even romantic bonds between characters. In anime, these fiery relationships usually kick off with opposing personalities, passionate debates, and tough competition. But as the plot unfolds, these rivalries transform into something much more profound, resulting in some unforgettable and touching love stories.
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Here, we dive into the top 10 romance anime where love blossoms from rivalry, highlighting how conflict can lead to beautiful and lasting connections.
10Kamisama Kiss
Start & End Date: Oct 2 to Dec 25, 2012
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural Episodes: 25 (2 seasons) + 5 OVAs Studios: TMS Entertainment This anime tells the tale of Nanami Momozono, a high school girl who finds herself homeless after her dad ditches her. She meets a mysterious guy who offers her a roof over her head, which leads her to a shrine where she becomes the new land god. Nanami’s life gets tangled up with Tomoe, the shrine’s fox familiar, and they start off on the wrong foot. But as time goes on, their rivalry turns into a sweet romance. Kamisama Kiss is made by TMS Entertainment and mixes Romance, Supernatural, and Comedy genres. The show has 25 episodes. You can catch it on Funimation and Crunchyroll.
Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life, Romance Episodes: 12 Studios: TYO Animations Erika Shinohara is caught in a little white lie about having a boyfriend, so she grabs a pic of a cute stranger to convince her friends. That stranger, Kyouya Sata, just so happens to be a student at her school. He’s willing to play along with her charade, but there’s a catch: she has to be his “dog.” Even though they start off on the wrong foot and Kyouya has a bit of a sadistic streak, their bond grows into something deeper. Wolf Girl & Black Prince is brought to life by TYO Animations and fits into the Romance, Comedy, and School categories. It has 12 episodes available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
08Nisekoi
Start & End Date: Jan 11 to May 24, 2014
Genres: Slice of Life, Romance, Comedy Episodes: 32 (2 seasons) + 1 OVA Studios: Shaft Raku Ichijou, the next in line for a yakuza family, finds himself in a tricky situation when he has to pretend to date Chitoge Kirisaki, the daughter of a rival gang leader, to avoid a gang war. At first, they can’t stand each other, but as they play along with their fake relationship, real feelings start to blossom. On top of that, Raku is on a quest to find his childhood crush, which makes his love life even more complicated. Nisekoi is brought to life by Shaft and falls into the Romance, Comedy, Harem, and School categories. The series has 32 episodes. You can catch it on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
07Special A
Start & End Date: Apr 7 to Sep 15, 2008
Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Comedy Episodes: 24 Studios: GONZO, AIC Hikari Hanazono has always played second fiddle to Kei Takishima in every aspect of life. Eager to outshine him, she decides to join the same prestigious school and becomes his relentless competitor. As time goes on, their fierce rivalry evolves into a strong friendship and a hint of romance, all while they tackle the ups and downs of being top students in the Special A class. Brought to life by Gonzo and AIC, Special A is a mix of Romance, Comedy, School, and Shoujo genres. The series consists of 24 episodes and can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Hulu.
06Maid Sama
Start & End Date: Apr 2 to Sep 24, 2010
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Drama Episodes: 26 + 1 OVA Studios: J.C. Staff Misaki Ayuzawa is the no-nonsense president of a student council at a school that used to be all boys. To help her family out, she secretly works at a maid café. When the school’s heartthrob, Takumi Usui, finds out about her side gig, he keeps it under wraps but starts to show interest in her. Their dynamic shifts from playful rivalry to genuine love. Maid Sama! is brought to you by J.C. Staff and mixes Romance, Comedy, and School themes. It has 26 episodes, and you can catch it on Hulu and Crunchyroll.
05Masamune Kun No Revenge
Start & End Date: Jan 5 to Mar 23, 2017
Genres: Romance, Slice of Life, Comedy Episodes: 24 (2 seasons) + 1 OVA Studios: SILVER LINK. Masamune Makabe used to be a chubby kid who got bullied and called “Piggy” by the gorgeous Aki Adagaki. Fast forward a few years, and he’s now a dashing and popular high schooler. He hatches a plan to make Aki fall for him so he can get his revenge by turning her down. But as they spend time together, things start to shift, and their feelings evolve. Masamune-kun’s Revenge is brought to you by Silver Link and falls under the Romance, Comedy, and Harem genres. The series has 12 episodes, and you can catch it on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
04My Little Monster
Start & End Date: Oct 2 to Dec 25, 2012
Genres: Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life Episodes: 13 + 1 OVA Studios: Brain’s Base Shizuku Mizutani is all about her studies and keeps her emotions in check. But everything shifts when she crosses paths with Haru Yoshida, the class troublemaker who’s got everyone on edge. Even though they often butt heads due to their different vibes, they end up forming a special connection that blossoms into romance. My Little Monster, created by Brain’s Base, falls into the Romance, Comedy, and Slice of Life categories. It features 13 episodes, and you can catch it on Crunchyroll and Hulu.
03Lovely★Complex
Start & End Date: Apr 7 to Sep 29, 2007
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life Episodes: 24 Studios: Toei Animation Risa Koizumi, who’s pretty tall, teams up with Atsushi Ootani, a shorter guy, and they’ve become the school’s go-to comedy duo thanks to their height gap and playful arguments. Even though they start off bickering and denying their feelings, they slowly come to see that they could actually be a great match. Lovely★Complex is brought to life by Toei Animation and blends Romance, Comedy, and Shoujo elements. The series has 24 episodes and you can catch it on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
02Kaguya-sama: Love is War
Start & End Date: Jan 12 to Mar 30, 2019
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Psychological, Slice of Life Episodes: 37 (3 seasons) + 1 OVA Studios: A-1 Pictures At the elite Shuchiin Academy, the student council president, Miyuki Shirogane, and vice president, Kaguya Shinomiya, are locked in a clever duel, each trying to get the other to admit their feelings first. Their playful rivalry is packed with smart tactics and laugh-out-loud mind games, but underneath it all, there’s a sweet love story just waiting to blossom. Kaguya-sama: Love is War is brought to life by A-1 Pictures and fits into the Romance, Comedy, and Psychological categories. The series has 37 episodes spread over 3 seasons, and you can catch it on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
01Toradora
Start & End Date: Oct 2, 2008 to Mar 26, 2009
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life Episodes: 25 + 1 OVA Studios: J.C. Staff Ryuuji Takasu is a sweet guy who just happens to have a scary-looking face. He ends up becoming friends with Taiga Aisaka, a tiny but fiery girl known for her short fuse. They decide to team up to help each other win over their crushes, but before long, they discover that their feelings for one another go beyond just being pals. Toradora! is made by J.C. Staff and mixes Romance, Comedy, and Slice of Life elements. The show has 25 episodes, and you can catch it on Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Hulu.
These anime take you on an exciting ride from rivalry to romance, where the competitive sparks turn into a deep and lasting love. With clever exchanges, fierce contests, and personal growth, these tales show us that love can flourish in the most surprising situations. If you liked this list, don’t forget to explore our other blogs for more anime picks and love stories!
