Upcoming Romance Anime: Love, Laughs, and Questionable Life Choices
Hey, Reaper here…again. To bless your hopelessly romantic souls with some heartwarming updates for all you lovey-dovey couples out there. And for the singles? Don’t worry, I see you too—sitting there in your sweatpants, being the living, breathing embodiment of Kazuya “The King of Cringe” from Rent-a-Girlfriend. But hey, at least what I’ve got is better than that dumpster fire, right?
This season’s rom-com anime lineup is packed tighter than my inbox after a bad tweet. We’ve got fake marriages, rival schools, magical roommates, and enough love triangles to make a geometry teacher cry. Whether you’re here to root for the awkward guy with 100 girlfriends or the girl who thinks she’s all that (spoiler: she’s not), there’s something to distract you from the void that is your dating life. So sit back, grab your snacks, and get ready for chaos, cringe, and maybe a smidge of romance—because who needs reality when you’ve got this much drama?
I Have A Crush At Work (January 2025)
Source: Manga By Akamaru Enomoto
Studio: BLADE
Expectation level: Awkward glances across cubicles and accidental hand-touch montages
Oh, Yui and Masugu—classic office romance, my friends, and these two are playing it legendary. She’s swooning over every little thing he does, like he invented the concept of being polite, and he’s got this goofy grin plastered on his face like he just found out his favorite bar’s doing a 2-for-1 deal on wings. But here’s the kicker—they’re trying to keep it a secret. A secret! Yeah, because nothing says “we’re undercover” like exchanging googly-eyed stares across the conference table and “accidentally” brushing hands at the coffee machine. Pro tip: the whole office already knows. They’re just waiting for the big reveal—preferably during an HR meeting, because drama always makes things more fun.
My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In For Me (2025)
Source: Light Novel By Ghost Mikawa
Studio: BLADE
Expectation level: Tsundere Olympics, Gold Medal Edition
If a girl teases you, it totally means she’s into you, right? Wrong! Akiteru knows this firsthand because, spoiler alert, every girl he talks to roasts him like he’s the main course at a barbecue. And dates? Yeah, those are about as real to him as unicorns and calorie-free beer. But no worries—our guy’s got bigger fish to fry, like landing a spot for his game-dev crew at his uncle’s business. Except plot twist! Uncle’s got a little condition: Akiteru has to pretend to be his cousin’s boyfriend. Yep, fake dating, my friends—the cornerstone of legendary awkwardness. Now, enter Iroha, his best friend’s sister, who lives to torment him. What’s she gonna say about this? Whatever it is, you know it’s gonna be brutal. Stay tuned for fireworks, people!
Welcome To Japan, Ms. Elf (January 10, 2025)
Source: Novel by Makishima Suzuki
Studio: Zero-G
Expectation Level: Waifu Import Service
Kazuhiro Kitase has a hobby that’s legend—wait for it—dary: sleeping. No, seriously, the guy’s been crushing REM cycles like a pro since he was a kid. But here’s the kicker—his dreams? Not your average “showed up to school in your underwear” kind. Oh no, he’s been adventuring in a whole other world, where he met a stunning Elf girl. Fast forward a few years, and boom! They’re magically bonded by a Dragon’s brand—because why not? One morning, he wakes up, and guess who’s napping right next to him? That’s right, the dream Elf girl, chilling in the real world like it’s no big deal. Now Kazuhiro’s got a new quest: navigating life in Japan with his magical plus-one, Ms. Elf. Let the dream team adventures begin!
Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious To My Charms (January 2025)
Source: Manga by Ran Kuze
Studio: SynergySP
Expectation Level: Stone-faced romantic comedy with occasional slapstick violence
Kawai Mona: gorgeous, flawless, and so effortlessly charming she could make a statue swoon. Winning hearts is basically her cardio. But then—plot twist—enter Kuroiwa Medaka, the new transfer student who doesn’t just ignore her charms; he doesn’t even glance her way. Like, what? Mona’s used to living life as the sun everyone orbits around, and this guy’s out here acting like she’s just another planet. Naturally, she cannot let this slide. So, Mona goes full throttle, pulling every trick in the book—and a few that definitely aren’t in the book—to win him over. What happens when the school’s queen bee takes on a stone-cold celibate? Buckle up, folks, because this rom-com is about to hit legendary status!
The Shiunji Family Children (April 2025)
Source: Manga by Reiji Miyajima (Yeah, the same guy who wrote Rent a girlfriend…)
Animation: Doga Kobo
Expectation Level: Family dinner with extra servings of unresolved romantic tension
Meet Arata Shiunji and his six siblings—Banri, Seiha, Ouka, Minami, Shion, and Kotono—living their best chaotic family life. But wait, here comes Dad dropping a bombshell bigger than a season finale cliffhanger: Surprise! None of you are actually blood-related. Well, except for Minami and Shion, who are twins. Cue the drama, people! Now this not-so-connected family is trying to make sense of their new reality while dealing with bubbling emotions and secret feelings that are suddenly way more complicated. Will they stick together or completely unravel? Grab your popcorn, because this family saga is about to go full soap opera!
I Ended Up Marrying The Girl I Hate The Most In My Class (January 2025)
Source: Light Novel by Seiju Amano
Studio: Studio Gokumi & AXsiZ
Expectation Level: Enemies-to-Lovers Speedrun
Meet Saito Hojo, your average high schooler—oh, except for the part where he’s next in line to inherit his grandpa’s mega-corporation. No pressure, right? But there’s a catch: he’s gotta marry Akane Sakuramori, the one girl on the planet who makes his blood boil—and trust me, the feeling’s mutual. Now they’re stuck playing house while trying to keep their totally-not-romantic marriage under wraps at school. But here’s the twist: as they bicker their way through newlywed life, they start to realize maybe—just maybe—they don’t hate each other as much as they thought. Cue the romantic fireworks and awkward tension, because this love-hate train is about to leave the station!
Honey Lemon Soda (January 2025)
Source: Manga by Mayu Murata
Studio: TMS Entertainment & J.C. Staff
Expectation Level: Sweet enough to cause diabetes
Back in middle school, Uka Ishimori was nicknamed “Stone” (ouch), but she’s ready for a fresh start at Hachimitsu High, the school of freedom and individuality. Enter Kai Miura, the effortlessly cool guy with lemon-colored hair who just so happens to sit next to her—and who, fun fact, once said one word to Uka in middle school that inspired her to pick this school. To Uka, Kai’s a total superstar, way out of her league, but plot twist: he starts looking out for her, helping her come out of her shell and fit in with her classmates. With Kai’s encouragement, Uka’s world goes from dull to dazzling, and she’s finally stepping into the light.
Witch Watch (April 2025)
Source: Manga by Kenta Shinohara
Studio: Bibury Animation Studios
Expectation Level: Magical chaos and explosive romantic accidents
Meet Morihito Otogi, the guy who’s not just built like a tank—he’s got the ogre bloodline to back it up. One day, his dad drops the ultimate curveball: he’s now the familiar of his childhood friend, Nico, who just so happens to be a teenage witch. Oh, and they’re moving in together because he’s got one job: protect her from anything that even thinks about causing trouble. Easy enough, right? Except Nico’s head over broomstick in love with him, and Morihito? He’s so laser-focused on his bodyguard duties, romance doesn’t even make the to-do list. But wait, there’s more! Nico’s got a full-blown prophecy of doom hanging over her, so yeah, this magical cohabitation is about to get real legendary.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity (TBA 2025)
Source: Manga by Saka Mikami
Studio: CloverWorks
Expectation Level: Delicious cakes with life lessons on top
Chidori Public High and Kikyo Private Academy are like oil and water—Chidori’s the rough-and-tumble home of delinquents, while Kikyo’s all about noble girls and prestige, with a rivalry so intense it’s practically tradition. Rintarō Tsumugi, a Chidori student, is just doing his thing at his family’s bakery when Kaoruko Waguri, a Kikyo girl, walks in and surprises him by actually appreciating his kindness. Later, he saves her from some trouble, earning her gratitude and leaving him wondering if they’ll cross paths again—only to discover, surprise, surprise, she’s from that school. Despite the rivalry, the two start to connect, proving that even across school lines, a little friendship (and maybe more?) can rise above the drama.
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 2 (January 2025)
Source: Manga by Rikito Nakamura & Yukiko Nozawa
Studio: Bibury Animation Studios
Expectation Level: Harem chaos dialed up to 11
Our protagonist is living the ultimate chaos-fueled dream—or nightmare, depending on how you look at it—navigating a morally questionable journey through a harem so huge it’s practically a world record. Plot? Who needs it when you’ve got 100 girlfriends throwing themselves at you with over-the-top love confessions, date scenarios that defy physics, and enough awkward moments to power an entire sitcom? Somehow, he’s juggling it all without completely losing his mind (yet), and the result is a whirlwind of romance, comedy, and absolute madness. It’s ridiculous, it’s chaotic, and it’s nothing short of legendary!
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, folks—the ten rom-com anime that are either gonna warm your hearts or make you question every life choice that led you here. Whether it’s ogre babysitters, 100-girlfriend chaos, or that one couple who hate each other so much it’s basically foreplay, this lineup has something for everyone—or no one, if you’re emotionally unavailable like half these characters. But hey, isn’t that the charm? Love, cringe, and secondhand embarrassment all wrapped up in sparkly animation. Final thoughts? If your favorite anime isn’t in this list, don’t worry—it’s probably just busy losing relevance. See you next time, lovers and loners!
