Highlights
- “A Sign of Affection” is a heart-warming, thoughtful manga that explores the romantic exploits of a deaf college student.
- “Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You” is a well-crafted romantic saga that captures the nuances of adolescent emotional states and connection.
- “Toradora!” is a fine piece of storytelling that follows the slow-burning, well-developed high school love story between two contrasting personalities.
Shortcake Cake mastermind Suu Morishita’s heart-warming romantic manga, A Sign of Affection, is now enjoying a run in the anime medium. The acclaimed saga follows the romantic exploits of deaf college student Yuki Itose.
Itose’s personal life is turned on its head when she meets the confident, well-traveled Itsuomi Nagi. The pair’s budding friendship quickly takes a romantic turn, with an emphasis on Itose’s fear of potentially being let down coming along the way. Overall, it’s a thoughtful manga that has won plenty of fans since it first hit the stands back in July 2019. With the new anime adaptation opening the story up to a whole new wave of fans, A Sign of Affection joins the long list of well-liked anime focusing on nuanced, often humorous, unconventional romance sagas.
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You Is An Affecting Romantic Saga
Studio: Production I.G
- Genre: Romantic comedy, coming-of-age
- Episodes: 38
- Demographic: Shōjo
This neat adaptation of the much-loved rom-com series first hit the screens back in October 2009. The narrative focuses on the bizarre social situation of well-meaning high school student Sawako Kuronuma.
Kuronuma finds herself ostracized at school due to her notable resemblance to an infamous horror movie character Sadako from The Ring. Now stuck in the unfortunate role of class outcast, Kuronuma’s luck begins to turn around when she meets Shouta Kazehaya. An outgoing, popular student, Kazehaya’s interest in her blooms into a sensitive, nicely developed romance. The series garnered considerable praise for thoughtfully capturing the nuances of adolescent emotional states, friendship, and connection, as well as succeeding in presenting an authentic, nuanced romantic relationship.
Toradora! Is A Fine Piece Of Adolescent Life Storytelling
Studio: J.C. Staff
- Genre: Romantic comedy
- Episodes: 25
- Demographic: Shōnen
This well-regarded romantic series zeroes in on the relationship between high school students Ryuuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka. Much of the storytelling between them highlights their contrasting personalities.
Initially serving as allies of sorts in helping each other with their initial respective love interests, their relationship develops as they spend more time together. Where Takasu is stoic, disciplined, and oddly oblivious to the feelings of those around him. Aisaka, meanwhile, is timid and awkward, often coming off as blunt and stand-offish in the process. The pair’s dynamic is a slow-burning one, developing gradually as their initial encounters turn to friendship on the way to becoming an affecting, well-developed high school love story.
Lovely Complex Is A Funny Romance Bolstered By Colorful Leading Characters
Studio: Toei Animation
- Genre: Romantic comedy
- Episodes: 24
- Demographic: Shōjo
The unlikely romance of the mismatched leads in Lovely Complex frequently makes for entertaining fare. Initially allies in helping with each others’ romantic objectives, Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Ōtani’s attempts to help each other out prove to be disastrous.
Instead of securing their respective dates, they inadvertently ensure their respective love interests hook up and become a couple instead. Now hanging out as friends, the series follows the evolution of the oddball pair’s dynamic. From bickering allies to pals amd finally lovers, the series maintains a strong sense of humor and effective character development throughout. Due to their considerable height difference on account of Ōtani’s diminutive stature, the pair are often likened to a comedy duo with a similar physical aesthetic. Viewers get to enjoy seeing the protagonists’ dysfunctional romance blossom into a healthier relationship throughout the series.
Say I Love You Is A Sensitive Portrayal Of High School Life
Studio: Zexcs
- Genre: Romance
- Episodes: 13
- Demographic: Shōjo
Say I Love You introduces viewers to the troubled life of loner Mei Tachibana. The victim of frequent bullying growing up, Tachibana distances herself from her peers for good after being accused of causing a mishap she had no actual involvement in.
Her introverted walls are gradually broken down by the aloof Yamato Kurosawa, a popular boy at her school with a budding ladies’ man reputation. After an unfortunate misunderstanding in their first meeting, the pair gradually turn into friends before embarking on a passionate relationship. Much of the series’ well-written character development is highlighted in Tachibana’s transformation from a silent, pessimistic outsider to discovering her voice and happiness through her dynamic with Kurosawa. With heartfelt, poignant looks at the ups and downs of high school life, Say I Love You is a well-crafted study of adolescent life and the importance of emotional support.
My Little Monster Is A Fun High School Series About A Mismatched Couple
Studio: Brain’s Base
- Genre: Romantic comedy
- Episodes: 13
- Demographic: Shōjo
My Little Monster focuses heavily on the notion of opposites attracting when it comes to its main couple. On one hand, there’s the studious Shizuku Mizutani; on the other, there’s the recklessly rebellious Haru Yoshida.
Initially presented as academically obsessive and emotionally distant, Mizutani’s life undergoes some unexpected changes when she meets Yoshida. Despite his troublemaker reputation, Yoshida proves to be surprisingly smart and thoughtful, and even pulls off top marks in his exams despite rarely attending class. The pair’s romantic dynamic and contrasting personalities make up the core of the series. When it comes to exploring the development of an unconventional romance and the complexities of human emotions and relationships, My Little Monster stands tall in the anime medium.
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