It comes to no surprise that anime (Japanese animations/cartoons) have gained a rise in popularity in 2020 – especially given the fact that most of our time is spent inside. What is appealing about anime is that there is no specific genre it fits in – there are various types of shows that may appeal to any viewer of any age.
This list is about 3 romance animes that I believe will change how you usually view love and is very centered about self-discovery and how love can be a stepping stone.
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*Potential Spoilers Ahead*
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
1 Season (13 episodes) + A Movie Released in 2019 (Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl)
CrunchyRoll ✔️| Netflix ❌| HULU✔️
Sakuta Azusagawa is a typical teenage boy with a bad reputation. He attempts to keep a low profile due to this reputation until an unexpected bunny girl appears in the library. Mai Sakurajima is an up and coming actress in Japan, but all of a sudden, no one seems to recognize her. Together, they attempt to uncover the reason for Mai’s sudden invisibilty to the world, but will they be able to find out before Sakuta doesn’t recognize her too?
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai has raised a lot of traction in 2020 and is a crowd favorite (for good reason). Although this story may seem like the typical harem anime, there is a lot of depth within the relationships that are formed in the series. There is also a large emphasis on self identity and how the way we view ourselves can impact us negatively if we so choose to go down that path. Overall, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is a show that is a must watch if you are interested in watching romance animes.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (series) is available on streaming services such as Crunchy Roll and HULU. The movie Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl, however, is unavailable on most streaming platforms, although it may reach popular platforms soon.
Your Lie in April
1 Season (22 episodes)
CrunchyRoll ✔️| Netflix ✔️| HULU✔️
Your Lie in April follows the story of Kōsei Arima, a previous piano prodigy who is unable to play due to the untimely death of his mother. He views the world devoid of any color or life and can’t bring himself to play the piano again. Once meeting violinist Kaori Miyazono, however, his world transforms. Kaori is everything he is not; free-spirited, outspoken, and unafraid. With the two coming together, Kōsei is able to take steps towards healing from his past and improving himself. Unbeknownst to Kōsei though, Kaori is holding a major secret that could potentially change the course of his path towards his self-improvement.
I definitely recommend watching this series. It is a very short series that will leave you still thinking about it years later (coming from experience, of course). The major theme of this story is about healing from past traumas and how love can help lead you into that direction – rather than being the source of healing itself (which is a theme in many love stories).
Your Lie in April is available on most popular streaming platforms, namely CrunchyRoll, Netflix, and HULU.
Fruits Basket (2019 Reboot)
2 Seasons (50 Episodes) + A Season 3 Coming In 2021
CrunchyRoll ✔️| Netflix ❌| HULU❌
Fruits Basket is about high schooler Tohru Honda who comes to take residence in the Sohma household where she learns of a huge secret behind the clan. After learning this secret, Tohru begins to understand more of the mysterious Sohma family and goes on an adventure of self-discovery and love to save them from a curse that looms over their heads.
Fruits Basket is one of my favorites. What makes this anime so unique is that the series is not just about love in the romantic sense, but also about love between families and friends and how that love can help heal trauma – which is an important aspect of the show. Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki (the main characters) all go through a metamorphosis throughout the series that seems so raw and realistic. I definitely recommend watching the reboot, as it follows the Manga almost completely compared to that of the original anime that was released in 2001. The ending from 2001 is said to be different from the Manga ending, so that is something to look forward to when watching the reboot, especially if consistency is important for you.
Fruits Basket is available on CrunchyRoll but will most likely be available on popular streaming services in the future. Currently there are 2 seasons but there is works for a 3rd season, which is said to be released in 2021.
When checking out romance animes, consider the 3 above. These are great starters to the genre and are filled with depth that some romances are unable to reach.