Naruto is primarily about shonen-style action and adventure, though the series still has a strong emotional core with themes of grief, forgiveness, and certainly love. As Naruto continued, romance played a minor but gradually more prominent role in the narrative, most of all between protagonist Naruto Uzumaki and the dandere Hinata Hyuga.
Naruto and Hinata’s wholesome romance allowed the series to end on a high note, and as of Boruto, they have a family together. It’s an inspiring love story, but in the end, Naruto appeals far more to Hinata as a lover than he does to most audiences. Instead, anime fans are more impressed by other lover boys in anime who have more distinct and compelling qualities as boyfriend or even husband material.
Update April 11th, 2023 by Louis Kemner: it’s true that the Naruto/Hinata ship is popular and substantial in the anime world, but that’s mostly because anime fans love Hinata as a romantic character, while Naruto Uzumaki is most famous for being an inspirational action star. Naruto has good traits as a lover, such as loyalty and emotional sensitivity, but other anime Best Boys are more compelling and nuanced in their own love stories and show what real anime romance looks like.
15 Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia)
My Hero Academia protagonist Izuku Midoriya has a loosely similar personal arc as Naruto Uzumaki, being a kind and brave boy who went from zero to hero in a shonen adventure. Unlike Naruto, though, Izuku is a bit more aware of other people’s emotions and isn’t completely clueless around girls.
Izuku may be bashful around Ochaco Uraraka and vice versa, but they have wonderfully strong chemistry as hardworking, idealistic heroes in training who inspire one another. Any scene that teases their potential romance is better than most of Naruto and Hinata’s earlier romance scenes.
14 Tanjiro Kamado (Demon Slayer)
Demon Slayer star Tanjiro Kamado is famous, and sometimes made fun of, for his incredible empathy and emotional sensitivity. Even before his demon slayer days, Tanjiro was a model eldest sibling who looked after the others, and he likes setting a good example for everyone.
All these qualities, combined with his courage and optimism, make Tanjiro quite appealing as a friend and potential lover. The silent dandere Kanao Tsuyuri sure thought so when she met Tanjiro at the butterfly estate, and she was swiftly both impressed and smitten.
13 Tatsu (The Way Of The Househusband)
The Way of the Househusband is a charming seinen comedy anime featuring a reformed mobster named Tatsu, the househusband in question. He gave up his violent Yakuza lifestyle and settled down with a lovely businesswoman named Miku, and their marriage is strong and cozy.
Only rarely are Tatsu and Miku seen acting lovey-dovey around each other, but it’s still heavily implied. No matter his rough past, Tatsu is now a pacifist homemaker who finds great joy in pampering his wife and running a clean, tidy household for her to return to every evening.
12 Himuro (The Ice Guy And His Cool Female Colleague)
Some anime lovers play it cool and keep their burning passion hidden behind a calm, relaxed exterior, such as Himuro in The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague. Himuro is a classic male kuudere, and his “cool exterior” attitude is literal because he has the yuki-onna’s frozen powers.
Himuro often makes tiny blizzards and snowmen when he’s excited or nervous, and most of all, those little snowmen are a wonderfully clear sign that Himuro is deeply smitten with his gorgeous new co-worker, Fuyutsuki. That visual quirk, combined with his charming personality and good looks, make Himuro a stellar love interest.
11 Miyuki Shirogane (Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War)
Kaguya-Sama: Love is War stars two brilliant but stubborn high schoolers in love, the wealthy heiress Kaguya Shinomiya and the humble school council president, Miyuki Shirogane. Both of them are highly compelling and entertaining lovers, fighting a battle of romantic wits in the entire anime.
Miyuki may come from humble origins and has a serious sleep debt, but he’s giving it his all to be a model student and be his best possible self for Kaguya. Even if he’s stubborn and prideful like Kaguya is, Miyuki is also a selfless, noble, and inspiring boy who commands a great deal of respect.
10 Demon King Claude (I’m The VIllainess, So I’m Taming The Final Boss)
The otome isekai anime I’m the Villainess stars a strong-willed and noble villainess turned hero, Aileen Lauren d’Autriche. To escape her own doom, Aileen cut ties with her fiance, prince Cedric, and befriended Cedric’s older half-brother Claude, the demon king.
Claude is no cliché demon king boss battle. He is a kind and misunderstood humanoid demon who soon grew highly protective of his new fiancée, Aileen. He and Aileen became “relationship goals,” with Claude calmly but fiercely protecting her and being a perfect gentleman at all times.
9 Naoya Nifuji (Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku)
Wotakoi: Love is Hard For Otaku is a slice-of-life josei anime with two main couples, the Hirotaka/Narumi and the Taro/Hanako pairings. Then a third and more modest relationship took root between the deredere Naoya Nifuji and his dandere classmate at college, Ko Sakuragi.
Naoya, unlike Hirotaka, is a lively and innocent young man who can charm anyone he meets. Naoya is a sensitive and outgoing fellow who enjoyed getting to know the shy Ko, and he felt bad anytime he thought he upset her. Over time, Ko came out of her shell and embraced Naoya as her first real boyfriend.
8 Wakana Gojo (My Dress-Up Darling)
My Dress-Up Darling features the popular genki girl Marin Kitagawa, who wowed anime fans with her radiant personality and passion for cosplay. Ordinarily, girls like her don’t really notice the quiet, unassertive boys in their class, but Marin soon zeroed in on Wakana Gojo as her new cosplay partner.
Wakana Gojo, despite his insecurities and dandere exterior, is Marin’s ideal friend. He is a skilled and hardworking tailor, which Marin urgently needed, and his commitment to Marin’s cosplay career was downright inspiring. It’s no wonder Marin soon fell for her new dandere friend and got innocently jealous when he helped the Inui sisters with their own cosplay.
7 Loid Forger (Spy X Family)
In Anya Forger’s eyes, both of her parents are exciting superheroes, with Loid being an ultra-cool spy and Yor being a ferociously strong mother bear. For that reason, Spy x Family fans agree that Yor is a top-tier waifu and, to some extent, Loid is a stellar husbando.
Loid may be a spy who made the Forger household for the mission’s sake, but he’s still a great love interest. He can’t help but care deeply for his new wife and foster daughter, and he’ll do anything to protect them and make them happy.
6 Yuki Somha (Fruits Basket)
Fruits Basket’s inspiring heroine Tohru Honda generously supported all the Sohmas who needed her, and she didn’t ask for anything in return. Inspired by Tohru’s selfless generosity, the kuudere Yuki Soham decided it was time for him to extend that favor to someone who needed him.
Yuki reached out to his quiet and troubled classmate, Machi Kuragi, and became her own Tohru Honda. Yuki wasn’t the conceited prince everyone sees him as – he’s a compassionate, sensitive boy who feels good about himself when he looks out for others, making him an outstanding love interest.
5 Junta Hayami (Romantic Killer)
Romantic Killer is a parody rom-com anime starring a geeky red-headed girl named Anzu Hoshino, who only loves romance games, chocolate, and her pet cat. Then Riri the wizard took those three things hostage to pressure Anzu into pursuing a real-life romance, such as with Junta Hayami.
While Tsukasa was merely some bishonen with a tsundere attitude, Junta genuinely likes Anzu and hopes she will love him back. Junta also worked hard to reinvent himself as a baseball star and had a massive glow-up compared to his childhood self.
4 Raido (Aharen-San Is Indecipherable)
Aharen-San is Indecipherable is a goofy little rom-com anime starring a pair of kuudere leads who forged a deep bond, even if they hardly ever speak. Reina Aharen was lonely because she was too quiet for others to hear, but then Raido befriended her and made her very happy.
Raido may seem dull at first, but he is actually a stellar male love interest because of his calm, polite demeanor and commitment to the relationship. He is also competitive without being a jerk about it, and he and Aharen have a perfect love language based on food, games, and acts of service.
3 Fudo Aikawa (Love After World Domination)
Love After World Domination is a gentle parody of the Power Rangers franchise, starring a squad of colorful costumed heroes who battle the villainous Secret Society Gekko. Fudo Aikawa, the red team leader of his squad, has a secret lover: the gorgeous Reaper Princess, a villain.
Fudo and Desumi, or the Reaper Princess, can only meet in secret or face the consequences as enemies turned lovers. Fudo is a fine lover for Desumi, being an honest, noble, and loyal fellow who takes his love life seriously and is hilarious in the process.
2 Hitohito Tadano (Komi Can’t Communicate)
Even if Hitohito Tadano seems like a boring self-insert at first glance, he is actually the ideal boyfriend for a shy girl like Shoko Komi in Komi Can’t Communicate. Anime boys like Tadano prove that less is more, and boys like him shouldn’t try too hard to prove themselves.
Instead, Tadano speaks from the heart and is highly empathetic, allowing him to understand the quiet, misunderstood Shoko Komi and give her exactly the support she needs. That made him Komi’s best friend and potential lover, giving Tadano a serious edge that Ren Yamai can’t even conceive.
1 Futaro Uesugi (The Quintessential Quintuplets)
The Quintessential Quintuplets‘ most popular characters are the five Nakano sisters, as expected, but the male lead still has a lot going for him. Futaro Uesugi was asked to tutor the Nakano quintuplets, and even if he’s blunt and has a hot temper, he’s a kind, selfless person who will work himself to the bone for others.
Futaro stubbornly overcame every obstacle to keep tutoring the Nakanos, and he befriended them all over time. He’s an amusing and engaging love interest because he cares greatly for the five sisters, but must also carefully juggle their maidenly feelings and make sure no one gets hurt while the sisters compete for his heart.