The 15 Best Action Romance Anime You Need To Watch
- 12,688 VOTESPhoto: Studio Pierrot
In Yona of the Dawn, Princess Yona lives a life of luxury until her father is assassinated, and she suddenly has to reckon with the realities of the world outside the palace. She discovers that the world is actually full of corruption and inequality, and decides that as a princess, it's her duty to restore peace and safety to the people of the Kingdom of Kouka.
As she struggles to restore justice, she gathers comrades to help her out. One of them is Son Hak, a powerful soldier who leads the Wind Tribe. Their developing relationship runs parallel to the political intrigue and battle sequences that carry the show.
- 23,392 VOTESPhoto: A-1 Pictures
When hundreds of people are trapped in a virtual reality game - the namesake of Sword Art Online - Kirito and Asuna must work together to beat the game and escape back into their real lives - it's either that or die inside the game.
Over the course of their journey, they end up developing a romantic relationship - one which they carry over into the real world once they finally escape.
- 31,915 VOTESPhoto: Sunrise
InuYasha follows, Kagome Higurashi, a seemingly ordinary high school girl whose life changes forever when a demon drags her down a well and she winds up in Sengoku era Japan. There, a wish granting jewel manifests inside of her, but it breaks during a battle with a demon. With help from a half-human, half-demon hybrid named Inuyasha and several other allies, she sets off to find the shattered remnants of the jewel to make sure that they aren't used for evil.
Over the course of their journey, Kagome and Inuyasha grow closer and eventually fall in love.
- 41,697 VOTES
The Devil Is A Part-Timer!
Photo: White FoxAfter being forced through an interdimensional portal by a hero named Emilia, Satan finds himself stranded in modern day Tokyo. To survive, he winds up getting a job in the anime version of McDonald's. The Devil Is a Part-Timer! isn't all french fries and hamburgers, however - the half-angel who defeated Satans wants to make sure he's gone for good, so she follows him on to Earth, where she too is stripped of her powers.
Now, their battles are more slice-of-life than life-or-death, but they still duke it out - until they start to develop genuine romantic feelings for one another.
- Photo: J.C.Staff
It's all in the title: Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Bell Cranel wants to be the greatest adventurer in the city of Orario, but he can't do it alone. To make any headway, he'll need the help of the goddess Hestia. Together, they explore a labyrinthian dungeon and try to defeat the enemies within.
All the while, Hestia is falling head over heels in love with Bell - will he reciprocate her feelings? Or is he too busy adventuring? You'll have to watch the series to find out.
- 6931 VOTES
The World Is Still Beautiful
Photo: Studio PierrotThe World Is Still Beautiful blends comedy, romance, and action to create a satisfying viewing experience. Livius Ifrikia is the powerful ruler of the Sun Kingdom, a place where sunshine is constant and rain does not exist. He learns about the Rain Dukedom, and marries Nike Remercier, the princess of this land, in the hopes of bringing a more balanced weather system to his kingdom.
Nike has heard some pretty nasty rumors about Livius, so she's less than thrilled at the prospect - but when they actually meet, she finds something quite contrary to what she expected.
- 71,155 VOTES
The Ancient Magus' Bride
Photo: Wit StudioThe Ancient Magus' Bride combines a lush fantasy world with hair-raising fights, as well as the romance that slowly blooms between the two protagonists. Many of the conflicts arise when various spirits and demons take interest in controlling Chise Hatori's incredible powers, and these typically require intense magical battles.
Between battles, Chise forges a powerful bond with her otherworldly housemate, Elias - eventually wanting to be his bride, as the title suggests.
- 8641 VOTESPhoto: J.C.Staff
The world of Shakugan no Shana is a dangerous one. Murderous beings called the Crimson Denizens leave their victims as mere shadows of themselves (called Torches). The only people who stand a chance against them are powerful warriors called Flame Hazes. When Yuuji Sakai becomes a Torch, he also meets Shana.
At first, Shana sees Yuuji as an object rather than a person and is rude and dismissive of him. But over the course of the series, she begins to see him more favorably, and romantic tension blooms.
- 9545 VOTES
Romeo X Juliet
Photo: GonzoAs you may have guessed from the title, Romeo x Juliet is a retelling of the classic Shakespeare play - with an anime twist. The Montague family has slaughtered nearly every member of the Capulets, leaving only the heir to their throne, Juliet Fiammata Asto Capulet. She survives, but retains no memories of her own past. She spends her days as a vigilante hero who dedicates herself to helping oppressed people.
While on a vigilante excursion, she meets Romeo Candorebanto Montague, the son of her family's mortal enemies. Unaware of each other's backgrounds, the two fall desperately in love. But one thing is clear: the two of them won't be able to be together without some serious strife.
- 10847 VOTESPhoto: Toei Animation
The titular hero of Sailor Moon and her fellow Sailor Scouts must defend the Earth from a wide variety of evil villains, but they still find time to fall in love. The central romance is between Sailor Moon and her destined partner, Tuxedo Mask. While viewers know that they're ultimately going to get together, the progress of their relationship is just as exciting as the battles against Queen Beryl and other villains.
There are also some sweet moments between couples like Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune - at least, in the original Japanese version. In the dub, they're cousins.
- 11487 VOTESPhoto: Studio Pierrot
When middle school student Miaka Yuki is transported to ancient China through a magical book called the Universe of the Four Gods, the last thing she expects is to become the Priestess of Suzaku and have to protect the people of Konan from danger. She also isn't expecting to fall in love with Tamahome - a guy who seems like a sarcastic, money-grubbing jerk, until Miaka gets to know him - or for the emperor of Konan to fall for her too!
Though Fushigi Yuugi is loaded with fights and political intrigue, the romance is just as important, if not more.
- 12325 VOTESPhoto: Shaft
The Monogatari series follows Koyomi Araragi as he helps girls with a variety of supernatural problems. Often, these involve all-out battles where anything can happen - even Koyomi's head being lopped clean of his neck (he's a quasi-immortal vampire, so he can handle it).
In addition to helping these girls, he also forms romantic connections with them - the strongest being with his girlfriend Senjyougahara. But there's also some serious tension with Hanekawa, a close friend who also happens to be possessed by a demon.
- 13345 VOTESPhoto: Sunrise
The Vision of Escaflowne follows Hitomi Kanzaki, a 15-year-old girl who is suddenly swept into a world of magic and adventure with the appearance of Van, the prince of the Kingdom of Fanelia. Using a combination of magic and mechas, the two of them attempt to fight off the evil empire of Zaibach - and in the process, find themselves falling in love.
- 14443 VOTES
No.6
Photo: Studio BonesIn No.6, Shion is a wealthy elite who lives a privileged life in the isolated city-state of the show's title. He doesn't realize what life is like outside his opulent bubble until Nezumi, a fugitive from the world outside, comes crashing into his life. As Shion learns more and more about the horrors that exist beyond his walls, he starts wanting to do something about the injustice.
The two boys begin falling in love, but their relationship is tested when they develop markedly different ideas about how to deal with the dystopia that exists outside of No.6.
- 15360 VOTESPhoto: J.C.Staff
In Revolutionary Girl Utena, Utena Tenjou decides she wants to become a prince after a fateful meeting. When she enters Ohtori Academy with the ring that the mysterious prince gave her, she winds up embroiled in a battle for ownership over Anthy Himemiya, the Rose Bride. Utena isn't interested in holding Anthy hostage - the truly princely thing to do would be granting her freedom - but to do that, she's going to have to overturn a system that's far more complex than anything she bargained for.
Between sword fights, Utena finds herself falling in love with the Rose Bride.
