I HEART romantic animes!

I have been watching animes since long ago and I have watched a lot! Through my observation, I noticed that there are many genres and sub-genres of animes. Ever since, my preferences of types or genres of animes have been expanded. Currently, my preference is on romantic animes and this type of animes covers other major genres as well, such as, shoujo, josei, shounen, seinen and the whole nine yards! The type of romantic animes that I like normally is shoujo and josei with a dash of comedy and slice of life. In addition, I love romantic animes that involve gender-bender and tsundere character as well. The list that I am going to share is the mixture of josei and shoujo animes.

Below are the list of 10 romantic animes that I really adore:

1. Kaichou Wa Maid-sama!

If you are trying shoujo for the first time, try this series for size….

2. Ouran High School Host Club
A hilarious gender-bender shoujou themed anime. Simply love it!

3. Lovely*Complex a.k.a Lovecon
A heart-warming and totally romantic anime.

4. Toradora!
A tsundere and a domestic god. Hilarious!

5. Itazura Na Kiss
Love the ending! So heart-tending.

6. Nodame Cantabile + Paris Arc + Finale
Music and romance intertwined. One of the best josei anime, to date!

7. Emma: A Victorian Love Story (season 1 & 2)
The title speaks for itself! Not you average josei themed anime, though...

8. Fruits Basket
Bishies heaven!

9. Paradise Kiss
If you are in to fashion and glam this is a must-watch romantic josei!

10. Honey & Clover (season 1 & 2)
Another romantic josei , though, I don’t really heart the ending.

In actual fact, shoujo animes are intended for demographic which is young teenage girls. However, as time passes by, the genre is accepted by people regardless their age or background. Whereas, josei anime is targeting the young women viewers. Even though, shoujo is for teenagers, I watch the animes because I love the theme and the sentiment they are conveying. And, shoujo animes always make me feel light-hearted and giddy... just like a teenage girl suppose to be....

To love thee, or to hate thee...

What is tsundere? This term is rather prevalent in the anime community but there are still many who are not really familiar with the term. The word tsundere is actually derived from two Japanese words; tsuntsun (aloof, morose) and deredere (lovestruck). Tsundere is actually an archetypical characteristic given mostly to female anime characters that are initially antagonistic, aloof and cold towards the protagonist and sometimes everybody. However, as the plot progresses their personalities shift. They will become emotionally vulnerable and tender towards a certain male character. Basically, this is done because they try to conceal their actual facades.

Below are some of the examples of the prominent tsundere characters.

Suzumiya Haruhi

Anime: Suzumiya Haruhi No Yuutsu

Haruhi is a high school student. She is unconventional, totally impulsive and unbelievable beautiful. Other than that, she is popular because she is smart, talented and athletic. Furthermore, she has a very competitive personality. She never opens her heart to any boys as she equates falling in love as a mental desease hence she rejects all boys who ever asked her out. However, to everyone’s surprise she can get along with Kyon despites her loath for boys. For this reason, she is my favourite tsundere character.


Aisaka Taiga


Anime: Toradora!

Aisaka Taiga is nicknamed as Palmtop Tiger due to her 'diminutive' size. Another reason is due to her violent temperament. She likes to snap at anybody and because of that she is NOT dubbed as Miss Congeniality. Nevertheless, she is very beautiful despites her aggressive facial expression and because of that, she receives many love confessions from boys her age. Other than that, she is also clumsy. Then, one day she met Ryuji and when she realises his domestic ability, she begins to depend on him. She even spends most of her time at Ryuji's home and what's important, when she is with Ryuji, her violent temperament is mellowed and she became more liken by all.


Yamada Ayumi

Anime : Honey And Clover

At the beginning of the series she is 21 years old, Yamada is well known by her peers at the art college. She is active and somewhat aggressive. And because of that she is nicked as The Iron Lady. Moreover, due to her good looks, she also catches the attention of her male friends/coworkers at the shopping district she works with but she simply shoves them off. This is because she has her eyes set on Mayama Takumi. Mayama, however, doesn't return her feelings, asking her why she is in love with him and encouraging her to go find someone else.


Fujibayashi Kyou

Anime : Clannad

Fujibayashi Kyou is a loud and aggressive. Despites her aggressive demeanor, she is well known as a good cook. She is Okazaki Tomoya's classmate in their second year.Throughout the year, Kyou has maintained a steady friendship with Tomoya even though they are put in different classes on their third year. Most of the time both of them bicker like nobody's business. However, secretly she is developing a crush on him. She is one of the classic tsundere characters in an anime series.

Evidently, there are thousands if not hundreds (yes, I am exaggerating!) tsundere characters out there that are worthy of being noticed. These characters are actually the very reasons why I love romantic-comedy animes.

I've Got To Get Going Soon..

Sorosoro Ikanakucha
by, Suga Shikau

Nandaka dou demo yoku natte gozenchuu sabotte shimatta
Miesuita iiwake wo shitara yokei meitte kita
Kinou no yoru kanojo ga tabeteta poteto chippusu no fukuro
Terebi wo minagara nondeta biiru mo sono mama teeburu ni...

...Saenai hibi da to ha omou
ironna koto kangachairu kedo

"Denwa kurai yokose" to kazoku ha iu
Hanaseru koto ha betsu ni nanimo nai kedo
"Tsumaranai" to yoku kanojo ha iu
Mou sugu shougo sorosoro ikanakucha

Doa wo akeru to tsumetai kuuki ga gyutto mimi wo tsukanda
Nobu ni te wo kaketa mama boku ha iki wo suikonde miru
Surechigatta yasekoketa inu ga boku no hou wo mite niyatto waratta
Shiroi iki ga waza to rashii kurai ichiichi karamitsuku

Shuumatsu ni nareba mou sukoshi
ironna koto mashi ni naru ka na

"Ai-shite iru no?" to kanojo ha iuItsumo umaku henji ha dekinai
"Shiketa kao suru na" to tomodachi ha iu
Tameiki ha mou ii sorosoro ikanakucha

"Otona ni nare yo" to daremo ga iu

Boku ni shika mienai yume ha mou ii"

Gomen" to kuchiguse no you ni boku ha iuIiwake ha ii

sorosoro ikanakucha

English Translation :

Somehow, I've stopped caring, and I ended up skiving off all morning

When I make transparent excuses, I get way too depressed

There's the bag of potato chips that my girlfriend ate last night

And the beer I drank while watching TV just lying there on the table

I think it's these cloudy days,

although I'm mulling over all kinds of stuff

My family tells me, "At least give us a call"

Even though I don't really have anything I can talk about

My girlfriend often tells me, "This is boring"

It'll be noon in a few; I've got to get going soon

When I open the door, the cold air grabs tight hold of my ears

With my hand still on the doorknob, I try sucking in a breath

That starving dog I passed by looks over at me and barks out a laugh

To the point that it looks intentional, my white breaths coil around me one by one

When the weekend comes,

will some stuff get a little better?

My girlfriend asks me, "Do you love me?"
And I can never give her a good answer
My friends tell me, "Don't look so surly"
I've had enough of sighs; I've got to get going soon

Everyone tells me, "Be a man"
I've had enough of dreams that no one but me can see
Like it's my catchphrase, I tell them,
"Sorry"Enough excuses; I've got to get going soon

HONEY for you and CLOVER for me...

Well, I'm no fan of Honey and Clover : Hachimitsu to Kurouba, but when I accidentally watched it I instantaneously fell head over heel for the anime. What do you know, this anime is in the class of its own! It's a breath of fresh air. The plot is simple and 'real'. The charaterisation for each character is really realistic and 3-dimensional. I really like the portrayal of each character especially when everybody has their own monologues and these monologues represent the characters' innermost thought. It's really 'human-like'.

Each character has his/her own internal and external conflicts which make each character unique! Love triangle between Hagu, Morita and Takemoto contributes to the love theme of the anime. Takemoto's quest of life displays the 'coming of age' theme of the anime. The friendship potrayed by each character exudes the theme of freindship and camaraderie in this anime.

Besides the plot and the characters, the theme and the insert songs for this anime are awesome! Very soothing and they complement the moods for each episode! It seems that the creator really love songs by Spitz, Suneohair and Yuki. Sorosoro Ikanakucha and Tsuki to Knife would be my favourite! It's a must watch! Download the series H.E.R.E!

This is one HELL of an anime! KUDOS to the creator!