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.

Crouching TIGER, Hidden DRAGON...

If you like romantic comedy anime series TORADORA! is definitely the one! This series is hilarious yet it will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. It highlights the concept of friendship at a very interesting angle. I was instantaneously hooked ever since episode 1 - and still going. This series is absolutely a must-watch material.

Before I begin any further, let me explain a bit on the title of this anime series. TORA is actually tiger in Japanese and hence the first name of the female protagonist of this series Taiga. DORA is actually a shortened form of an English word dragon (doragon) and also the first name of the male protagonist Ryuuji (which means dragon). So, this series basically revolves around the lives of two protagonists: Takasu Ryuuji and Aisaka Taiga.

Introducing the Tiger!

Aisaka Taiga the best example of a tsundere character in an anime series. She is portrayed as a socially awkward, cantankerous, violent yet clumsy 17-year-old girl. Because of that predicaments, at the beginning of this series, she chooses to be a loner and she detaches herself from her friends at school. Furthermore, she is known as a Palmtop Tiger because of her violent temperament despite her diminutive size and her under-developed condition (if you get my drift).

Other than that, she is dubbed as the school's most dangerous animal of the highest risk level. However, strange enough, whenever she is alone with Ryuuji, everything bad about her tones down and she is relaxed and comfortable with her surrounding. It seems that Ryuuji has the soothing power to assuage her violent temperament. In this series she has a crush on Kitamura Yuusaku.


Enters the Dragon!


Takasu Ryuuji is portrayed as a gentle and a dependable 17-year-old student who loves to cook and skilled at needlework (he is so skilled he even helps to make Taiga's breasts pad!) Another quirk that he has is, he is obsessed with cleanliness and freaks out if he sees mold and mildew around his bathroom. However all that are ignored by his schoolmates because of his cold eyes and murderous expression. According to his mother, this trait is inherited from his supposed 'deceased' father. He is the best example of an old saying 'don't judge a book by it's cover'. Apparently, he has a secret crush on his own classmate Kushieda Minori.

So, apparently because of these crushes, these two have become fast friends and they are learning from each other. Because of this, they manage to be normal and mingle around with everybody in school. Furthermore, mismatched partner in crime promise to help each other in pursuing their objects of affection. Will they succeed? Well... I really don't have the answer for that as I haven't finished the series yet.

So far, I have watched up to episode 12 and I really enjoy the development of the plot. I would love to recommend the anime series. Especially those who enjoy romantic-comedy anime. Try this LINK and happy downloading!

The casts of Toradora!