14 Romance Anime that Focus on Adult Couples
There are tons of romance anime that explores young love between high schoolers, but sometimes fans want an older cast. Having an adult cast allows a story to explore different themes, like marriage or balancing one’s work and love life.
Here are some popular romance anime with adult lead couples!
1. Golden Time
Studio: J.C. Staff
Episodes: 24
Quick Pitch: Banri Tada is a young man who suffers from amnesia due to an accident. After befriending Mitsuo Yanagisawa, Banri decides to start a new life while attending law school at Tokyo. Just when he was getting used to the college workload, he meets a beautiful and intimidating woman named Kouko Kaga.
2. Natsuyuki Rendezvous
Studio: Doga Kobo
Episodes: 11
Quick Pitch: Ryousuke Hazuki is in love with a flower shop owner named Rokka Shimao. Wanting to get close to her, he decides to get a part-time job at a shop. But there is one problem: Atsushi Shimao, the ghost of Rokka’s husband, will do anything to prevent Ryousuke from getting any closer to Rokka.
Now, the three are faced with a complicated situation between a woman who can’t let go of the past, a ghost who fears being forgotten, and a man who can’t profess his love.
3. Spice and Wolf
Studio: Imagin (season one) / Brain’s Base (season two)
Episodes: 15 + 2 OVAs
Quick Pitch: Holo is a powerful wolf deity who is worshiped in the small town of Pasloe for blessing their annual harvest. But, as the town moves away from agriculture and worships Holo less, she decides to travel to the town of Yoitsu with a merchant named Kraft Lawrence.
4. Honey and Clover
Studio: J.C. Staff
Episodes: 36
Quick Pitch: Yuuta, Takumi, and Shinobu are bachelors who share an apartment with no bath. However, the low rent is perfect as they try to eek out lives as art students. Their lives start to get a little more interesting when two girls move-in: Hagumi and her guardian Shuuji. Life of a young college student may seem fun, but it’s filled with pitfalls that are difficult to navigate.
5. Nodame Cantabile
Studio: J.C. Staff
Episodes: 45 + 4 OVAs
Quick Pitch: Chiaki is a master pianist and violinist, and he wants nothing more than being able to pursue his musical career in Europe like his mentor had. There’s just one problem: he’s deathly afraid of flying. When Noda Megumi, another pianist with magical fingers, walks into the picture, that which follows is a warm tale of two people striving to make each other happy.
6. Servant x Service
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Episodes: 13
Quick Pitch: Lucy Yamagami lands a job at Welfare Administration Section in the city of Mitsuba for one goal: to seek revenge on the civil servant who approved her long name at birth, which is Lucy Kimiko Akie Airi Shiori Rinne Yoshiho Chihoko Ayano Fumika Chitose Sanae Mikiko Ichika Yukino Reina Eri…
Her co-workers include Yutaka Hasabe, who is a flirtatious man who loves to slack off, and Saya Miyoshi, a girl who just wants to survive. Can the administration survive with these three eccentric personalities?
7. Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Episodes: 11
Quick Pitch: After a night out, Narumi reconnects with her childhood friend Hirotaka while playing Monster Hunter XX at a bar. Hirotaka has always been into gaming and Narumi is a hardcore otaku – both of them have struggled dating because of their hobbies.
8. Nana
Studio: Madhouse
Episodes: 47
Quick Pitch: Nana Komatsu is a hopeless romantic who clings to those around her. Though Komatsu has ambitious dreams, she boards a train to Tokyo so she can be close to her boyfriend.
Nana Osaki is enigmatic punk rock singer with dreams of becoming a star. Osaki puts her past behind her and boards a train to Tokyo with the goal of debuting with her band Black Stones.
Both Nana’s lives are about to become intertwined.
9. Clannad: After Story
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Episodes: 47
Quick pitch: Tomoya and Nagisa get married and have a daughter named Ushio. But when tragedy strikes, Tomoya enters a deep depression which leads to a strained relationship with his family.
10. Eden of the East
Studio: Production I.G.
Episodes: 11 + 2 Movies
Quick Pitch: On November 20, 2010, Japan was struck by a barrage of missiles, but no party claimed responsibility. During a trip to America three months later, Saki Morimi encounters a naked amnesiac named Akira Takizawa. Despite having no memory, Akira thinks he may be connected to the missile strikes and unwittingly drags Saki into a death game.
11. Arakawa Under the Bridge
Studio: Shaft
Episodes: 26
Quick Pitch: Kou Ichinomiya is an arrogant businessman with one life goal: never be indebted to another person. After a run-in with some kids, Kou accidentally falls into the Arakawa River and nearly drowns, but is saved by a homeless girl named Nino. Unable to accept the fact he owes Nino his life, he demands to know how to repay her. Nino’s request is simple: be her boyfriend and live with her under the Arakawa Bridge.
12. Maoyu ~ Archenemy & Hero
Studio: Arms
Episodes: 12
Quick Pitch: The world is embroiled in a seemingly endless war between humans and demons. Dissatisfied with their slow progress, Yusha forges ahead to slay Mao. Yusha finds himself caught off guard by Mao’s beauty and strang proposal – ending their war would bring chaos to the world of humans. Mao shares her plan to bring everlasting peace, but Yusha will have to cooperate with her.
13. The Tatami Galaxy
Studio: Madhouse
Episodes: 11
Quick Pitch: The Tatami Galaxy centers around a third-year college student who feels his life has been a waste. After meeting a “god of matrimony,” the student is given a chance to relive his college life and attempts to enter a relationship with Akashi.
14. The Night is Short, Walk on Girl
Studio: Science SARU
Episodes: 1 Movie
Quick Pitch: The story follows an unnamed college senior and his junior, who is simply known as “The Girl with Black Hair.” One night, he works up the courage to confess his love to her while she is having a fun night out – which leads to meeting eccentric people and crazy situations.
What are your favorite adult romances?