Shonen is written and marketed for a largely young male audience where the major focus is on external conflict, like the need to take down an evil wizard or despot. It’s filled with goal-driven heroes and gangs of adventurers and friends. Though romance can sometimes appear in a shonen as a subplot, it tends to almost never be a major focus.
The “love at first sight” romance trope is a pretty dramatic, swoony trope, so it’s surprising that it would be so common in shonen romances. But it tends to be just as present in shonen anime as shojo or josei — perhaps even more.
10 Diavolo (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Diavolo and Donatella Una fell for each other hard and fast in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (the “Golden Wind” arc), but Diavolo’s love for Donatella proved to be like a flash in the pan. It was as lasting as it was immediate.
Diavolo and Donatella had a child together, Trish, but their family didn’t keep Diavolo from abandoning Donatella. She waited until the very end, hoping to see Diavolo again. Love at first sight may be romantic on the surface, but it’s not always long-lasting.
9 Firo (Baccano!)
Ennis of Baccano! doesn’t know what it’s like to be human until she learns from the memories of an alchemist. She doesn’t have much of a concept of romance. That all begins to change, however, when Firo falls head over heels for her, practically from the moment that he first sees her outside a burning house.
To say that their romance is a slow burn is a huge understatement; it spans over several decades. Firo is shy, and Ennis is reserved and struggles to interpret their dynamic.
8 Koga (InuYasha)
In InuYasha, Koga begins his eventual courtship with Kagome on an awkward note — by kidnapping her. Koga doesn’t fall for Kagome the exact moment he meets her, but he does very shortly after. His love for her is swift and iconic.
When Kagome risks herself to save Shippo, she demonstrates her character to Koga, and he immediately falls in love with her and claims her as “his woman.” Unfortunately for him, Kagome does not return Koga’s affections in the slightest.
7 Brock (Pokémon)
One of the longest-running gags in Pokémon is Brock’s willingness to fall in love with nearly every girl he meets, especially each Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny he and his party encounter. He’s not nearly as charming to the women he admires as he is exuberant in his attempts at flattery.
Brock is a total buffoon, tripping over himself, practically ready to marry any pretty stranger at the drop of a hat. Brock’s matchmaking attempts don’t really smack of sincere love — more infatuation and desperation — but he truly does act lovesick.
6 Juvia (Fairy Tail)
Juvia falls for fellow mage Gray Fullbuster right away in Fairy Tail. Easygoing Gray seemed unmoved by Juvia’s overtures for a while, but below the surface, he developed feelings for her, too.
Though Gray is protective of Juvia, he doesn’t take her seriously for a long time. As is often the case in shonen, her fondness for him is used as a running gag for comedic relief. But Gray’s reticence to jump into something shows a genuine bond that grew from a friendship into something more.
5 Rock Lee (Naruto)
Rock Lee’s tendre for Sakura dates back to their first meeting at the Chunin Exams in Naruto. Rock Lee is a sweet himbo, and he would have made a good partner for Sakura, but she caught a case of love at first sight herself for Sasuke.
Sakura is enamored by Sasuke’s abilities and good looks, whereas she doesn’t think Lee is attractive. Lee protects Sakura when he doesn’t have to, and though Sakura doesn’t return his feelings, she’s inspired by his character and wants to be more like him as a person, which is incredibly admirable on her part.
4 Hinagiku (Hayate The Combat Butler)
Hinagiku’s first meeting with Hayate in Hayate the Combat Butler has the makings of the perfect romantic comedy. Hinagiku does make it clear later on that her feelings for Hayate began from the first moment he caught her from falling from that tree.
Hinagiku differs from some other lovestruck characters in that she initially tries to deny her feelings for Hayate, but there’s no denying how much she cares for him. Poor Hinagiku isn’t the only one who cares for the admirable Hayate.
3 Kanae (Bleach)
Kanae entered Ryuken’s life as his family’s maid in Bleach. She’s very protective of him and empathetic to his quandaries. Though she harbored a flame for Ryuken from the very beginning, she tried to smother her feelings.
Kanae and Ryuken met as young children; her devotion to him started early. Though love at first sight often comes with infatuation and obsession, or pining, Kanae is remarkably staid, with a Victorian sense of propriety. She is selfless from beginning to end.
2 Anasui (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Anasui falls for Jolyne right away in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean. Anasui loves her so much that he becomes her ally and resolves to help her defeat Pucci. He’s desperate to attain her affections, rejoicing in little things like when she falls asleep on his shoulder.
Anasui does help Jolyne often, but he can go a bit too far and be presumptuous with her. And in an alternate universe, the two are indeed a couple.
1 Trunks (Dragon Ball Super)
In the Future Trunks Saga of Dragon Ball Super, Trunks and Mai fall for each other and officially become a couple. As a kid, Trunks makes calf eyes for Mai and falsely claims that she is his girlfriend.
Mai also falls right away for Future Trunks, comically making the present Trunks she’s studying with green with envy over his own self. Despite Mai’s interest in Future Trunks and his smitten feelings for her, their relationship still takes time to develop.