Top 10 Anime Couples

Ah February, the month of love. Well, maybe not for everyone, but I am sure February is a special month for the couples on this list. Here are my top 10 anime couples of all time.

10. Vegeta and Bulma (Dragon Ball)

It would be hard to make a relationship list without mentioning one of the longest lasting relationships in anime history. Bulma was somehow able to melt the heart of this Saiyan prince, turning him from one of the most dangerous villains in the series hellbent on destroying the Earth into one of the most kind-hearted and noble warriors in Dragon Ball. Vegeta’s character arc is easily the strongest of any character in the series and his relationship with Bulma is quite heartwarming. This man turned down participating in a tournament just to spend more time with his family. Now that is character development.

9. Tsukasa and Nasa (Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You)

The most recent anime couple on this list, Tsukasa and Nasa Yuzaki, stole my heart when Tonikawa premiered last Fall. After Tsukasa saves Nasa from getting hit by a truck, she finds him years later to ask him to marry her. While most relationships build up to the promise of marriage, this one begins with it. It is cute, yet hilarious, to see the two of them go through the normal steps of a relationship after taking the biggest of them all. Nasa may be oblivious and Tsukasa may be a little too passionate sometimes, but their relationship is easily one of the most memorable in recent years.

8. Hachiman and Yukino (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU)

After three pain-staking seasons, Hachiman finally confesses his love for Yukino, knowing that if he lets her go, he will never be able to grab her hand again. As much as I love Yui, Hachiman and Yukino were made for each other. These two sharp-witted introverts have a difficult time conveying their emotions normally to other people, but not themselves. It seems that Hachiman and Yukino are the only ones that truly understand each other. The final two episodes prove this, showing that these two were always meant to be.

7. Hatsuharu and Rin (Fruits Basket)

Probably the most painful of the relationships on this list, Hatsuharu and Rin have gone through a lot over the course of the second season of Fruits Basket (2019). After seeing how bad Rin was treated by her own parents, Haru went out of his way to protect her. He vocally detested her own parents’ treatment of her and did everything he could to protect her from those that did not share his feelings. However, this often put Haru in danger, with Rin taking the blunt of the backlash from Akito over it. Rin believed that if they stayed together, she would bring Haru pain. These two care so deeply about each other, despite the pain they bring one another. I am excited to see how much more development they will receive when the final season airs this Spring.

6. Tomoya and Nagisa (Clannad)

Tomoya would go to hell and back if it meant bringing Nagisa happiness. One of the more classic anime couples on this list, Tomoya and Nagisa’s relationship develops greatly throughout Clannad. These two may be the simplest of the relationships on this list, but they are more than deserving of their spot. Clannad After Story showed just how much the two of them had matured and getting to see their relationship fully realized is one of the most satisfying moments of any slice-of-life anime I have seen. That is, of course, before the writers ripped our hearts out with the rest of After Story, but it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, right?

5. Touko and Yuu (Bloom Into You)

Bloom Into You is a series about self-discovery, something both Touko and Yuu experience first-hand. What began as a one-sided relationship “bloomed” into one of the healthiest relationships I have seen thus far. Before meeting Yuu, Touko had never experienced the feeling of love before. However, upon realizing that Yuu never had either, she develops a desire for the one person that doesn’t love her back. Through their shared time together, Yuu begins to realize that she does have feelings for Touko, even if they aren’t as strong as Touko’s feelings for her. The two of them discover what it means to love together, maturing through their mutual pursuit of self-discovery.

4. Okabe and Kurisu (Steins;Gate)

Okabe and Kurisu’s relationship literally transcends time, surviving multiple world lines despite fate seemingly desiring otherwise. They may attempt to hide their true feelings with pride, bravado and theatrics, but their genius makes them a perfect match for each other. Kurisu’s dependability is only matched by Okabe’s selflessness. The two may seem cold and calculated, but they both care more than they would willingly reveal under normal circumstances. Luckily, Steins;Gate is not your average slice-of-life series, and the time travel shenanigans forces Okabe to realize how important Kurisu is to him. They may constantly antagonize each other, but it’s only because of the feelings they share in their hearts.

3. Edward and Winry (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

What better way to fall in love than through conflict, right? Edward and Winry likely had feelings for each other before Ed left Risembool to become a state alchemist. However, it is through Ed pulling Winry into the larger conflict within Fullmetal‘s story that the two start to realize the feelings they share for one another. This culminates in what may be my favorite love confession scene ever, with Ed using the law of equivalent exchange to tell Winry he loves her only for Winry to offer her whole life instead. This single moment shows that, while their personalities have not changed, they have emotionally matured enough to understand their feelings for each other without getting embarrassed by them.

2. Shirayuki and Zen (Snow White with the Red Hair)

A classic period piece love story between a commoner and a prince seems like something straight out of a Disney movie, yet the love story between Zen and Shirayuki is greater than anything Disney has ever done. Zen met Shirayuki out of mere coincidence in the middle of a forest after she ran away from a forced marriage. Watching their relationship blossom during the show’s two seasons is a delight. Witnessing them finding their feelings for each other through their shared time together allows their relationship to feel natural.

1. Eureka and Renton (Eureka Seven)

I wrote a whole article about these two after watching Eureka Seven for the first time, so it only makes sense for them to take the number one spot. Out of every couple on this list, Eureka and Renton are the two that receive the most development over the course of their shared screen time. They learn how to love in their own way, and how to reciprocate that love for one another. Despite their awkwardness and obliviousness, Eureka and Renton begin to understand each other’s emotions. The slow development of their feelings in the first half of the show allows for their relationship to blossom. However, it is the second half where their relationship truly takes shape is what makes them my favorite anime couple of all time.

Is there a special anime relationship that you love that didn’t make my list? Comment below!