Romance is the truest genre of anime that can warm the hearts of fans and completely engulf them in the story of two souls that become one. Romance anime have many themes, some that follow a perfect match on their long journey of realizing feelings for each other or polar opposites who find love when they weren't looking for it.
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While romance anime are filled with happy endings, there are just as many tragedies left in the wake of happy relationships. Characters who are the second choice, or not even in the fight for someone's affection. Here are some anime characters who didn't receive a happy ending in romance anime.
Megumi Kitagawa - Say I Love You
A Queen Bee That Gets Stung
- Release year: 2012
- Studio: Zexcs
- Number of Episodes: 13
In the series Say I Love You, Megumi is a character introduced in opposition to the female lead, Mei Tachibana. As a very popular girl, Megumi receives a lot of praise for her appearance, which gives her a high standing among her classmates.
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Unfortunately, Megumi's outwardly attractive appearance does not align with her manipulative and shady internal feelings as she tries to come between Yamato and Mei's relationship. Karma rebounds, and her underhanded tactics end with her alone, forcing her to watch Yamato and Mei flourish.
Yui Yuigahama - My Teen Romantic Comedy Snafu
A One-Sided Affection That She Must Suffer Alone
My Teen Romantic Comedy Snafu features a winding love triangle, with Yui Yuigahama receiving the short end of the stick. Yui is a very bright and cheerful young girl, but she deals with strong anxiety, which manifests when she falls in love. As Yui harbors strong feelings for the series' main character, Hachiman Hikigaya, and although the two are close, a stronger bond never truly forms. Instead, Hachiman confesses to their mutual friend, Yukino. Yui must suffer in silence as she not only kept her love a secret to spare the feelings of her friends, but must watch as the object of her affection walks away with someone else.
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2013 - 2020-00-00
- Network
- TBS
- Directors
- Takashi Naoya, Ryutaro Suzuki, Shuhei Matsushita, Shohei Yamanaka, Tatsuya Sasaki, Tomoyuki Kawamura, Satoshi Saga, Risako Yoshida, Noriyuki Nomata, Hirokazu Yamada, Yoshihiro Hiramine, Yoshimichi Hirai, Koji Kobayashi, Koji Aritomi, Shigehisa Iida, Taisuke Tsukuda, Shunsuke Ishikawa, Shuntaro Tozawa, Tomoyuki Kurokawa, Yousuke Hashiguchi
Ami Kawashima - Toradora
A Love That Never Begins
Toradora is an enemies-to-lovers anime with a whimsical and winding story that includes multiple scenarios of unrequited love. One of the most prominent is Ami's feelings that manifest for Ryuuji, the series' main character. Ami maintains a certain personality in school so that she can fit in, while this comes off as manipulative to some, Ryuuji is the first person to accept her. Her feelings for Ryuuji manifest sharply and strongly, placing her at great odds with Taiga. Ami's feelings remain her own as Ryuuji and Taiga form a relationship, and she must swallow her pride and move on with her life.
Toradora!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2008 - 2009
- Directors
- Tatsuyuki Nagai
- Writers
- Mari Okada
Himmel - Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
A Love That Waited A Lifetime
Himmel is a secondary character in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, serving as one of the main focuses of the story. Himmel and Frieren were partners in an adventurer's party who slayed the Demon King. Along their adventure, Himmel gave subtle clues that constantly flew over Frieren's oblivious nature. Himmel's feelings for Frieren are made apparent throughout the series as he openly flirts and even proposes. Unfortunately, Himmel's feelings were never acknowledged, and even on his deathbed, his true feelings were never understood until it was too late.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
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- September 29, 2023
Rui Tachibana - Domestic Girlfriend
A Love That Was Overshadowed By Something Stronger
Rui is a main character in Domestic Girlfriend and one of the members of the throuple consisting of herself, her sister Hina, and the series' main character, Natsuo. The relationship between the three is complex as both sisters fight for Natsu's affection. While both Hina and Rui achieve their end goal, Rui is left behind after she and Natsuo reconcile that they are not a great fit for one another. Rui's story is tragic, as it was her own decision to end the relationship with Natsuo, who moved on to a committed relationship with Hina after their breakup.
Domestic Girlfriend
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2019 - 2019
- Network
- TBS, MBS
- Directors
- Ageha Kochouran
Takaki Tono - 5 Centimeters Per Second
The Victim Of A Love That Didn't Last
The animated film 5 Centimeters Per Second is a beautiful but heartwrenching anthology about love and perseverance. The story begins with Takaki and Akari already in a committed relationship, a young love that stems from their childhood bond. As the story progresses from Takaki's point of view, it highlights the natural deterioration between them as they grow, mature, and drift apart.
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While Takaki was confident in his feelings for Akari, their feelings were not strong enough to endure distance as their lives took different paths. Takaki's heartbreak is devastating as, later in life, Akari moves on, but Takaki still holds a significant amount of weight from the experience.
5 Centimeters per Second
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- March 3, 2007
WHERE TO WATCH
Mugi Awaya - Scum's Wish
A Dream That Did Not Fit Into Reality
Mugi is one of the main protagonists of Scums Wish, a dark romance anime that deals with unrequited love, moral ambiguity, and discovery. Mugi is a young high school student who seeks to enter into a relationship with his teacher, Akane Minagawa, who used to be his home tutor.
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Mugi confesses to Akane, who takes advantage of him while having no romantic feelings about him whatsoever. The relationship between the two is toxic, with Akane continuing to date other men and even marrying one of her colleagues. While Mugi was fully aware of Akane's true personality, he thought he could change her. While this forces Mugi to mature and realize the disparity between the two, the break leaves a heavy impression on him.
Scum's Wish
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2017 - 2017-00-00
Kousei Arima - Your Lie In April
A Love Realized Too Little Too Late
Your Lie in April is one of the most infamous romance anime that rocked the anime community to its core. Kousei Arima is a young piano prodigy who lost the ability to play due to a traumatic event. This changes when Kaori enters his life, a young girl whom he develops powerful feelings for, who reignites his passion for music and allows him to hear the notes he plays. Throughout the majority of the series, Kaori is dating Kousei's best friend. However, upon her death, she reveals that she had always been in love with Kousei. Kousei is riddled with guilt and sadness, mourning the love he could have had and the passing of his perfect partner
Your Lie in April
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- 2014 - 2015
