Highlights
- Ouran High School Host Club cleverly satirizes shojo tropes, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre.
- Your Name’s success paved the way for non-Ghibli anime films to shine on an international stage.
- Maison Ikkoku’s realistic approach to romance has made it a hidden gem in the world of romantic comedies.
Everyone loves a good love story, anime fans especially. Be it the good old-fashioned rom-com, heartwrenching romantic tragedies, or quirky offerings from the harem genre, there’s been a diverse array of series that tug at your heartstrings and make you laugh or cry at the same time.
Givean all that, it’s important to look at some of the most influential titles in the romance genre, so fans can be more informed on where their favorite tropes, conventions, and sub-genres come from. These anime have left an indelible mark on the genre, and love them or hate them, their impact cannot be denied.
8 Ouran High School Host Club
Gender-Bending Shojo Parody That Defied Stereotypes
Ouran High School Host Club has attracted quite a large fanbase due to how it cleverly and affectionately satirizes common shojo tropes and clichés, and its gender-bending protagonist, Haruhi Fujioka. By turning several tropes associated with the reverse harem genre on its head, OHSHC has managed to make its way near the top of several Best Shojo Anime lists.
Intersetngly, despite being a parody of shojo anime, it’s been a gateway series to the world of shojo for many viewers. LGBTQ+ fans in particular have taken a liking to the series, due to its focus on gender ambiguity and challenging stereotypes.
7 Your Name
Beautifully Animated Film That Brought Non-Ghibli Anime Movies to the Mainstream
Your Name‘s list of accolades is endless, having won several awards for its stunning animation, heartfelt story, memorable soundtrack, and stellar voice acting. It was the only non-Ghibli anime film to top the Japanese box office until 2019, when Weathering With You came out.
Your Name‘s body-swapping plot has influenced several creators in the anime and manga industry, including the mangaka of Onimai: I’m Now Your Sister!. It proved that non-Ghibli anime movies can be just as appealing to an international audience, and there’s even a Hollywood remake in the works.
6 Clannad: After Story
Considered One of the Most Emotional Anime Series of All Time
The first season of Clannad received mixed-to-positive reviews but the sequel, Clannad: After Story was universally beloved by fans and critics alike. A big reason is its exploration of the struggles of adulthood, the importance of family, and dealing with loss, which led fans to shed more than a few tears.
Clannad: After Story has cemented its place as one of the best tearjerkers in anime, if not THE best. It has set a benchmark from which all other emotional anime are to be judged, making an indelible mark on the anime community.
5 Ah! My Goddess
One of the Earliest Harem Series, Led to the Popularity of the ‘Magical Girlfriend’ Trope
- Release Date: January 6, 2005
- Studio: AIC
- Creator: Fujishima Kōsuke
- No. of Episodes: 46
Modern harem anime and manga probably would not exist if it were not for the explosive popularity of Ah! My Goddess. It follows an ordinary college student named Keiichi Morisato, who accidentally dials the ‘Goddess Help Line’ and summons the Goddess Belldandy. Keiichi wishes for her to stay with him forever, and she moves in with him.
Belldandy is the quintessential ‘Magical Girlfriend’, a supernatural girl who falls in love with the everyman protagonist. Along with that trope, Ah! My Goddess has also led to the general boom and popularity of the harem genre.
4 Urusei Yatsura
Pioneered Several Tropes in the Harem Comedy Genre
Rumiko Takahashi is responsible for some of the most influential romantic comedies in anime and manga, and Urusei Yatsura is no exception. And if the 2022 anime remake is any indication, it has had quite a lasting legacy.
The main love interest, Lum Invader, is one of the most iconic characters in anime history, inspiring several similar characters. The series is also considered the first harem comedy, spawning several tropes and conventions that would become mainstays in the genre.
3 Tenchi Muyo!
Provided the Template for the Modern Harem Protagonist, Led to the Popularity of Anime in the West
Urusei Yatsura may have been the first harem comedy but modern harem anime have taken more cues from Tenchi Muyo!, specifically regarding the plot of an ordinary protagonist surrounded by women vying for his affections.
Starting its life as a six-episode OVA, Tenchi Muyo! was also one of the earliest anime series to gain popularity in the West in the 90s. The anime proved to be so popular in fact, that it spawned a manga series, several anime TV series, novels, video games, and even a stage play in 2019.
2 Maison Ikkoku
Popularized ‘Will-They-Won’t-They’ Plots in Romantic Comedies
Maison Ikkoku is easily one of the most underrated and influential works in Rumiko Takahashi’s oeuvre. While it’s still a romantic comedy like Takahashi’s other series, it’s a lot more grounded in reality with no fantastical or speculative elements. The realistic nature of the series and the main couple’s ‘will-they-won’t-they’ dynamic has gone on to influence other anime rom-coms like Mahoraba.
The series has been well-received by critics for its excellent balance of humor and drama, with many calling it the greatest slice-of-life romantic comedy in anime. The series has even been featured in the music video for ‘I’m Alive’ by American singer-songwriter Norah Jones.
1 Kimagure Orange Road
Quintessential Shonen Romantic Comedy, Influenced the Tsundere Archetype
- Release Date: April 6, 1987
- Studio: Studio Pierrot
- Creator: Matsumoto Izumi
- No. of Episodes: 48
Kimagure Orange Road is widely considered to be one of the first shonen rom-coms, providing what’s possibly the most influential example of a love triangle in the genre. The series also provides one of the first tsunderes in the medium with the main love interest, Madoka Ayukawa.
Unlike a lot of romantic comedies that came after it though, Kimagure Orange Road has extremely well-developed characters. It has been praised for its realistic portrayal of middle school characters and emotional, coming-of-age narrative.
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