In the real world, a red flag on a date or in a relationship means that a person is incompatible, or that a relationship can’t continue without inevitable disaster of some kind. But the anime world is full of tsunderes, grandiose miscommunications, and farfetched plot stakes. A few red flags are like the pepper flakes that spice a good pasta dish.
Not all anime red flags are created the same, though. Some really do mean that a character would be a trash partner, whereas some characters may not seem good on paper, yet overall, they are great people who make excellent love interests.
10 Ranma Saotome (Ranma 1/2)
In Ranma 1/2, Ranma is much more likely to bicker with Akane than hold the door open for her on a daily basis. It also doesn’t help that the first time they meet, Akane mistakenly thinks he’s being untoward because she misunderstands his transformation. Even though Ranma can be thick-headed and jealous, his feelings for her are genuine, and he tries to show them. One Christmas, he can’t help but shower her with one sweet little gift after another because he remembered the list of items she told him she wanted.
When it comes down to it, Ranma’s less afraid than Akane to talk about his true feelings. When she annoys him, he doesn’t hesitate to chastise her, even as he helps her out. He really wants to make Akane happy, even if he can be teasing and cantankerous.
9 Lilia Reinoise (I’m The Villainess, So I’m Taming The Final Boss)
To be fair, Aileen’s character was a true villainess in I’m the Villainess backstory; she bullied and ostracized Lilia. Lilia went on to fall in love with Aileen’s fiancé, and Cedric goes on to dump Aileen in a very cruel, public manner. Lilia and Cedric can’t stop there, either. Cedric insists on trying to humiliate Aileen over and over despite her willingness to change, and Lilia is happy to continue with her own duplicities.
Lilia even tries to go after Claude’s heart after he’s allied himself with Aileen. Luckily, Claude sees Lilia exactly for who she is and won’t be manipulated. And likewise, Cedric had his work cut out for him trying to go up against Aileen and her new fiancé. Lilia and Cedric are both toxic and deluded—though Cedric may be even worse. He’s a downright reprehensible person.
8 Shigure Sohma (Fruits Basket)
Shigure shoulders a lot of the comic relief in Fruits Basket. He often stands by while Kyo and various other Sohmas fight in and demolish his house. Though he may be slightly more responsible than other Sohmas, he’s an awful lech.
Shigure also has a very complex relationship with Akito. Not only is Shigure grossly comfortable making sly and inappropriate comments about young ladies, but he’s also incredibly manipulative with women. Even though he may be capable of sincere feelings, he isn’t the kind of person someone should consider dating.
7 Yona (Yona Of The Dawn)
Yona of the Dawn begins when Yona’s wrapped up in her angst over unrequited feelings for her own cousin, Soo-Won. Yona doesn’t understand much about the world, and she’s stubborn about what she thinks she wants. She is a sheltered princess who can be very naive.
In many ways, Yona’s immature; she has a short temper and a fragile sense of self. But even though Yona is weak in the beginning, that doesn’t mean that she can’t rise to the occasion. Though she does hold on to her infatuation with Soo-Won for far too long, she does eventually process and let go of those feelings.
6 Takumi Usui (Maid-Sama!)
The love interest in Maid Sama! is sweet, but Usui could never be called suitable or healthy. The point of Maid Sama! is a fun, tongue-in-cheek romance rather than something prescriptive for a healthy relationship. If a viewer bears that in mind, there’s room for Usui to be likable and charming with his wit and flirtatious humor.
Otherwise, Usui’s rather controlling, jealous, and grossly high-handed. Misaki can be rather buttoned-up (for good reason, as she’s a hardworking, serious girl with many responsibilities), and Usui pushes her enough to get her to loosen up a bit.
5 Koga (Inuyasha)
Inuyasha is a classic romance-heavy shonen with many lovable yet incredibly flawed love interests. Inuyasha is immature and angsty, and Koga isn’t far behind with his own red flags. Koga may be a caring leader, but he, too, can be impetuous and jealous.
Poor Kagome must deal with both of them, though it is hilarious to see Koga and Inuyasha bickering like a clash of the canine-fanged titans. Koga falls in love with Kagome after he kidnaps her, though he falls in love with her because of her objectively admirable character traits. Not many could blame him for his feelings, but he doesn’t go about them in a good way. He thinks the way to Kagome’s heart is by killing Inuyasha for a “clean break.”
4 Trevor (Castlevania)
Trevor is going through a tough time in Castlevania. He doesn’t seem to care about much other than having a drink in peace and not missing breakfast. His nobler nature takes hold when he rescues the altruistic Speaker, Sypha Belnades, from a death trap.
Even though Trevor helped Sypha out, his beer-soaked, ornery manner doesn’t do much to recommend him. It isn’t until they spend a lot of time together, and he shows a consistent noble streak that she sees enough good in him to begin to trust him.
3 Akane (My Love Story With Yamada-kun At Lv999)
Akane gets dumped by her cold-hearted boyfriend and fellow gamer in the first scene of My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999. She tries to vent off some steam by playing her favorite game, which can be a healthy coping skill—but when she vents to Yamada, he tells her he’s uninterested.
Akane goes even further by initiating a fake dating ploy with Yamada, which doesn’t reflect on her emotional state much better. The rest of her first evening meeting Yamada in person only goes downhill from there. Though Akane is floundering, she’s a good-natured person who sometimes trips into silly situations. Ultimately, she can be trusted with a relationship.
2 Meier Link (Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust)
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust opens with a demonic force sneaking into a sleeping woman’s bedroom and stealing her away into the night. As it turns out, the woman is no damsel, but a proper Shakespearean Juliet determined to be with her vampiric Romeo. There are many things about Meier Link that would warn a partner away—especially a human one.
Meier is immortal, powerful, and thirsts for blood despite his best intentions. But regardless of all that’s working against their relationship, Meier is a perfect gentleman. He doesn’t want to change Charlotte and goes to great lengths to keep her from harm on all fronts. His love for Charlotte is pure, even though her family will never trust his intentions.
1 Yor Forger (Spy X Family)
The main conceit of Spy x Family revolves around both protagonists’ dishonesty. Yor isn’t truthful with her friends, though her reasons and personality are sympathetic. She doesn’t have the most responsible habits with drinking, either, though she can be pretty conscientious about it. When her brother comes to dinner to meet her “husband,” Loid suggests she abstain, and she readily agrees.
Yor is so good-natured, which is a direct contrast to her fierce personality when she moonlights as an assassin. Assassin doesn’t exactly equal mother material at first glance, but Yor is an excellent mother to Anya. Even though he doesn’t know what her real job is, Loid’s lucky to have her as his “wife.”
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