There are loads of romance manga, but the ones that get anime adaptations tend to be fanservice-heavy shounen story or ones filled with misunderstandings and dense MCs.
While those are great in small doses, we hope that romances with steady progression and honest couples will get the spotlight someday.
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Here is some great romance manga that absolutely needs an anime adaptation!
11. Reimei no Arcana (Dawn of the Arcana)
Genre: Drama / Fantasy / Romance Manga
Chapters: 65 (Finished)
Quick Pitch: Princess Nakaba of Senan is forced to marry Prince Caesar of Belquat to ease the tensions between their two countries. Nakaba moves to Belquat with her guard Loki, but the two are met with immediate discrimination because they are Ajin.
Since Nakaba is an Arcana, she foresees an event that leads to Caesar’s death. Despite Caesar’s growing acceptance of Nakaba, she struggles with the choice of saving him or letting his death to destroy Bequat.
Why it needs an adaptation: Reimei no Arcana isn’t all lovey-dovey and focuses on political marriages as a tool. While there is romance, the series also focuses on social commentary and Nakaba’s internal struggles.
10. Otoyomegatari (A Bride’s Story)
Mangaka: Kaoru Mori
Genre: Drama / Historical / Romance Manga / Slice of Life
Volumes: 8 (ongoing)
Quick pitch: Set in 19th Century Asia, Amir is a 20-year-old woman sent another village to marry a young boy named Karluk. Initially shocked that Karluk is 12-years old, she is overcome with worry as Russia starts expanding south, cause political unrest.
Why it needs an adaptation: Otoyomegatari is a sprawling story that isn’t just focused on love. Political turmoil and cultural blending are center pieces of this saga!
9. Seven Days
Mangaka: Venio Tachibana (Story) / Rihito Takarai (Art)
Genre: Romance Manga / Shounen Ai / Slice of Life
Chapters: 13
Quick Pitch: Shino is incredibly handsome, but his sour personality has led to numerous failed relationships. Seryou is a popular ladies’ man, but he has a policy of breaking off relationships after seven days.
During this brief period, his former partners always report feeling special. After hearing this rumor, Shino jokingly asks Seryou out, which Seryou happily accepts for the next seven days.
Why it needs an adaptation: Seven Days is a wonderful snap-shot of two people experiencing love after spending most of their school days in hollow relationships.
8. Love So Life
Mangaka: Kaede Kouchi
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance Manga / Slice of Life
Chapters: 111 (Finished)
Quick Pitch: Shiharu works at a daycare where twins Aoi and Akane go due to their uncle Seiji’s busy schedule.
After seeing the twin’s attachment to Shiharu, Seiji offers to hire her as their personal nanny.
Once she accepts the offer, Shiharu finds herself loving her new “makeshift” family.
Why it needs an adaptation: Yes, the twins are super adorable, but Shiharu’s growth throughout the story is just as endearing.
7. Tomo-chan wa Onnanoko!
Mangaka: Fumita Yanagida
Genre: Comedy / Romance Manga
Chapters: 749 (Ongoing)
Quick pitch: Tomo Aizawa successfully confessed her feelings to Junichirou Kubota. There is one problem: Junichirou sees Tomo as a buddy due to her tomboy nature.
The series follows Tomo as she navigates the friend zone and tries to get Junichirou to fall in love with her.
Why it needs an adaptation: Tomo-chan wa Onnanoko! is currently one of the funniest rom-coms in manga. The situations are both hilarious and relatable, with Tomo’s frustrations being all too real.
6. High School Debut
Mangaka: Kazune Kawahara
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance Manga / Slice of Life
Chapters: 62 (Finished)
Quick Pitch: Haruna spent her middle school years playing softball, but her love of shoujo manga leads her to want to experience romance.
Unfortunately, she lacks style and grace, which forces her to find a “love coach.” Yoh is said to be a master of style and agrees to coach Haruna as long as she doesn’t try to fall in love with him.
Why it needs an adaptation: High School Debut has a typical setup, but is made entertaining with a great cast and adorable moments.
5. Taiyou no Ie (House of the Sun)
Mangaka: Taamo
Genre: Romance / Slice of Life
Chapters: 53 (Finished)
Quick Pitch: Mao has always loved visiting Hiro’s household as a child to escape from her troubles. However, the passing of Hiro’s parents and her parent’s divorce leaves Mao feeling abandoned.
Now in high school, Hiro finds Mao in a shrine and offers her a place at his home in an attempt to rebuild their childhood friendship.
Why it needs an adaptation: Do you love childhood friends, heartwarming moments, and steady romantic progress? Of course, you do!
4. Last Game
Mangaka: Shinobu Amano
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Chapters: 66 (Finished)
Quick Pitch: Naoto Yanagi enjoys a high social status thanks to his wealthy parents. On top of that, he is highly desired due to his looks, intelligence, and athletic ability.
However, his ivory tower is destroyed after meeting Mikoto Kujou in middle school. Despite being poor and plain looking, she eclipses Naoto in test scores, athletic events, and popularity.
Naoto becomes obsessed with defeating Mikoto once in anything and it has led to unhealthy, 10-year one-sided rivalry.
Now in college, Naoto hopes to get Mikoto to fall in love with him so he can dump her. It’s his last chance at “victory,” but things don’t go as planned.
Why it needs an adaptation: Last Game is cuter and more entertaining version of Masamune-kun’s Revenge. It’s also a fun spin on the rich boy / plain girl trope.
3. Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan (Our Happy Time)
Mangaka: Sumomo Yumeka
Chapters: 8 (Finished)
Quick Pitch: Juri Mutou is a pianist who has attempted suicide three times and has grown to resent her mother. Monica, Juri’s aunt, is a member of the clergy at a prison and invites Juri to visit a death row inmate.
Yuu is a death row inmate convicted of murdering three people and has attempted suicide to escape his punishment. He receives letters from Monica as part of a clergy program, but he views the letters as pity. Yuu decides to accept a meeting with Monica so he can request for her to stop sending letters but encounters Juri.
These two people shrouded in depression and suicide begin a new journey to find hope and solace.
Why it needs an adaptation: Do you love tearjerkers? Because Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan will make you cry.
2. Dengeki Daisy
Mangaka: Kyousuke Motomi
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Chapters: 80 (Finished)
Quick Pitch: When Teru’s brother died, she was left was a cellphone and an e-mail address of someone named Daisy. Teru was told that Daisy would look after her from afar and could be contacted at any time.
Over the next few years, Daisy would become Teru’s invisible pillar of strength. But she is tested after being forced to work for Tasuku, the school’s cruel janitor.
As Teru works to repay for breaking a window, she slowly learns that her connection between Daisy and Tasuku maybe connected.
Why it needs an adaptation: Opposing personalities and age-gaps can lead to tantalizing stories! Dengeki Daisy also benefits for having a powerful, emotional hook between the two main characters.
1. Horimiya
Mangaka: HERO (Writer) / Daisuke Hagiwara (Artist)
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Chapters: 87 (Ongoing)
Quick Pitch: Kyoko Hori is a sunny and popular high school girl, which contrasts with her gloomy classmate Izumi Miyamura.
However, they two have different personas outside of class: Kyoko loves dressing down and taking care of her household while Izumi is covered in piercings and has a tattoo.
They promise to keep each other’s true personalities a secret, which leads to a close bond between them.
Why it needs an adaptation: Horimiya is one of the puriest and funniest rom-coms. Kyoko and Izumi’s interactions are really cute, plus they are upfront about their love.
No annoying misunderstandings or dense protags! And no, that three episode OVA doesn’t count.
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