Anime ruled the entertainment industry in 2020 by delivering some dazzling series. From “Fruits Basket” to “Rent-A-Girlfriend”, these popular shows had us hooked to our screens throughout the year. As unbelievable as the craze may sound, one cannot argue on their exciting concept and delightful animation. However, the success of these romantic anime may have overshadowed some shows that deserved the equal spotlight. Given the influx of so many amazing romantic anime shows in one year, one can imagine why some went unnoticed. This list comprises the 10 best romantic anime of 2020- where 5 got way too popular while the remaining 5 got overlooked.
Tonikaku Kawaii
An unconventional love story where the course of romance takes a new route. A young man, Nasa, gets so smitten by Tsukasa’s beauty that he doesn’t see the truck moving in his direction. Fortunately, Tsukasa manages to save him from a fatal accident by a few seconds. When Nasa asks her out on a date, she turns him down and proposes him to marry her instead. Unlike other couples, their story started after they tied the knot.
A Whisker Away
This one-sided romance explores the various layers of psychology. It featured a young girl who was so obsessed with the popular boy of her class that she turned herself into a cat. She was overjoyed to have finally grabbed his attention because he was a cat lover. His growing fondness for her cat-self almost pushed her to adapt this life forever until she got to her senses. Thanks to Netflix that this amazing story reached so many viewers across the globe.
Josee, The Tiger and The Fish
Josee is a young girl who finally decides to step out of her comfort zone and explore the world after she meets a high-spirited boy. It’s a warm story that was meant to be a hit but fell victim to bad timings. Getting released in the global market, especially in the U.S. would have earned it a huge success. But the pandemic pushed its dates and swallowed its potential fame.
Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War
The Manga series is poised to sit on top of the romance genre is undoubtedly this one. “Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War” is a rom-com that has won love and appreciation from across the world. Whether you are into rom-coms or not, this show has successfully captured your attention. Fans were rewarded with its second season in 2020 that went beyond their expectations. The plot was engaging as usual and delved more into the character arcs.
In/Spectre
Are you fond of those action films where the protagonists end up falling in love after experiencing a life-threatening moment together? Well, “In/Spectre” captures that theme but its plot keeps intensifying with every episode. Kotoko is a young woman who is doomed with love at first sight as she runs into Sakurangawa Kuro. Little did she know that the two would be joining forces two years later to become the mediator between the human and the supernatural world.
Rent-A-Girlfriend
Not every overlooked show is disappointing! Similarly, not every popular anime deserves the limelight it enjoys. The case with the latter can be applied on “Rent-A-Girlfriend”. It’s not the plot but the male protagonist who lost his fans’ affection with every episode. The plot features a boy who rents a girlfriend after being dumped by his partner. But no matter how profound a moment is, Kazuya Kinoshita’s character has displayed no growth.
Sing “Yesterday” For Me
Sadly, the most overlooked show is the one that is the most relatable to the audience. This story features a group of young adults who are trying to discover themselves in the hustle and bustle of life. Rikuo is a young man struggling to move into the next chapter of his life after college. As he begins to give up every element of hope and light within him, he comes across a woman who shares the same plight as he does. It acts as a wakeup call for Rikuo who then promises himself to embrace the present and work on his future.
7 Seeds
If you are into anime, then don’t forget to add “7 Seeds” to your watchlist. It has a highly captivating plot, where 7 groups of young boys and girls wake up to a post-apocalyptic future one day. They try to navigate through their interpersonal relationships and love crisis while also struggling to protect themselves from tigers, dinosaurs and more.
Fruits Basket
If you are one of those fans who can’t stop selling Japanese animation to their friends, then go with “Fruits Basket”. It’s simply impossible to not like this adventurous shojo adaption. The second season took Tohru’s thrilling quest to a whole new level. The mystery of Tohru’s family curse had our eyes fixed on the screen throughout the season. Its romance game is still on the work but we are already sold.
My Next Life As A Villainess
Weren’t you all expecting to see this name on the list? Saying that we were smitten by this unique storyline is an understatement. “My Next Life As A Villainess” has broken all records and taken everyone by storm with its humour. It is based on a young girl who lands in her favourite video game, only to find herself in the villain’s shoes. No matter what she does, Katarina always ends up meeting the unfavourable fate written for her character.
