My latest anime binge-watches have been primarily romantic comedy anime, which happened because I watched one fabulous series and wanted to find a similar one for my next binge.
And on and on and on.
That ended with me binge-watching a massive number of what I think are the best romantic comedy anime from the last 10 years.
If you are also into the same genre of anime I seem to lately be fixated on, here are the best 12 romantic comedy anime from 2010 to the present for you to also enjoy.
Oh and in no particular order — meaning the romantic comedy anime at #11 could easily be my #1 as I loved them all so much.
Koikimo — (aka Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui) — Spring, 2021
In the last few years, as the ‘woke mob’ have gone to town trying to ‘cancel’ everything they don’t personally like, the wonderful Koikimo was given screaming criticism on social media by wet, gutless ‘anime fans’ who seem to think every anime released should fit into their narrow moral values.
And, if not, “CAAAAANCEL!!!”
That most of them with the criticism about ‘pedophilia’ probably didn’t watch Koikimo for more than a few minutes, if at all, is pretty evident, as this anime is superb.
Koikimo follows the story of Ichika who, on her way to school one day, saves the life of playboy Ryou as he almost falls down a massive flight of stairs at the train station.
In response, Ryou falls in love with her. The problem? 17-year-old Ichika is in her last year of high school, and Ryou is 10 years older.
But what starts as a romantic comedy about an older guy who falls in love with a teenager who wants nothing to do with him, slowly builds into something else.
Koikimo is sweet, beautifully written, Ichika is a wonderful character who certainly knows how to stand up for herself and, Ryou, the playboy, turns out to be someone you don’t expect.
Watch Koikimo on Crunchyroll, and Ichika will quickly become one of your favorite anime characters. As will Ryou.
My Senpai is Annoying — (aka Senpai ga Uzai Kouhai no Hanashi) — Fall 2021
I just expected to laugh a few times at My Senpai is Annoying, then move onto the next romantic comedy anime on my list.
Little did I know I would fall in love with loud, brash, constantly laughing Harumi Takeda, teeny tiny tsundere saleswoman Futaba Igarashi’s senior at the trading company where she works.
I would be rooting Futaba on in her efforts to get his attention every step of the way and, when this wonderful anime finished, go rushing off to find out if a second season had been greenlit yet.
No, it hasn’t been yet.
Watch My Senpai is Annoying on Funimation.
It was easily one of the best romantic comedy anime of 2021 and, IMO, far better than Komi Can’t Communicate, which really isn’t that good.
Maid-Sama (aka Kaichou wa Maid-sama!) — Spring, 2010
Needless to say, all 28 episodes of Maid-Sama (one season and 2 specials) were binge-watched by yours truly in 48 hours, I loved, loved, loved this so much.
And I was bummed beyond belief when I realized it didn’t and will likely never get a second season. Especially as there is so much material in the manga that could have been used.
Misaki is the first female student at her nearly all-boys school, and really doesn’t trust the male species.
That is until the most popular boy in the school, Usui, walks into her after-school workplace, and discovers her secret. She works as a maid in a maid cafe, something she doesn’t want anyone else to know.
Will Usui keep her secret? Will he use it for his own gain? Why does he always seem to be standing next to her? And why is he always there to make sure she never fails?
Maid-Sama is one of the best romantic comedy anime of the last 10-plus years. Easily.
Funny, smart, with two of the best-written, and funniest main characters, a slew of secondary characters that are just as great and, oh yeah, a romance you desperately hope will work out for both of them.
Watch Maid-Sama on HiDive.
Toradora! — Fall, 2018
In Toradora!, Ryuuji is a sweet, kind, gentle guy who studies hard, takes care of the house and cooks for his single-parent working mother, and is kind to his friends. The problem is, he looks like a delinquent, and people tend to be scared of him.
Teeny, tiny Taiga, known as ‘Palmtop Tiger’ is a fireball. Loud, obnoxious, is as likely to knock you into the middle of next week as look at you, and really doesn’t care if you like her or not.
The odd pair don’t communicate at all, until one day they discover Ryuuji is in love with Taiga’s best friend and she is in love with his.
Soon the two are working together to try to get each other’s crush to notice them, but will things go the way they expect?
Watch Toradora! on Netflix. It’s wonderful.
Horimiya — Winter, 2021
Horimiya follows Hori and Miyamura, two classmates who meet outside school one day when Hori’s brother falls down and Miyamura brings him home.
Shocked by the way Miyamura looks, Hori still invites him in for a cup of coffee but is surprised when he acts like he knows her.
It’s then she realizes the Miyamura sitting across from the table from her, with his many piercings and secret tattoos, is actually in her class at school. But boy, does he look different.
Soon the pair are spending time together outside school, as both have a secret they would rather their friends didn’t know.
A beautiful art style, two main characters who are extremely likeable right from the get-go, and superb secondary characters make this romantic comedy anime a joy to watch.
Throw in genuinely funny comedy, and a budding romance that is one of the sweetest in anime ever, and Horimiya is a delight.
Watch Horimiya via Funimation.
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun (aka Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun) — Summer, 2014
If you are looking for one of the best romantic comedy anime with characters who always seem to get themselves into situations that are so crazy and convoluted you can’t believe it, then Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun is the one for you.
Chiyo has fallen in love with Nozaki, a boy in her school who is oblivious to just about everything around him. To the point that, when she plucks up courage to confess to him, and blurts out “I’ve always been your fan”, he misunderstands and gives her an autograph.
It turns out, Nozaki is a well-known mangaka and, before she knows it, Chiyo is working in his studio helping him complete his monthly manga comics.
As time goes on, Chiyo falls more and more in love with Nozaki, but will he ever notice or care?
You can stream Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun via Crunchyroll.
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku (aka Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii) — Spring, 2018
Narumi is late for her first day at her new job. A job she is starting with the hope her co-workers will not discover she’s an otaku.
But, when she arrives, it’s only to see Hirotaka, her old friend from school who, during drinks after work asks her if she will have a table at the upcoming Comiket convention for the doujinshi manga she creates.
Luckily for Narumi, the only two other people there are Hanako and Tarou, both otaku themselves.
Soon after, Narumi is complaining her boyfriend has dumped her because he has no interest in dating a fujoshi (‘a rotten girl’ in the otaku community), and Hirotaka calmly says she should date a fellow otaku instead.
Oh, and by the way, how about him?
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku features a stunningly beautiful art style, quirky, crazy characters and a love affair that is so nerdy and awkward, you will just laugh delightedly all the way through.
Watch Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku on Amazon.
Higehiro (aka Hige wo Soru. Soshite Joshikousei wo Hirou) — Spring, 2021
Higehiro begins with salaryman Yoshida being turned down by the woman he loves.
On his way home, drunk and heart-broken, he sees a young girl, Sayu, sitting on the street near his apartment. When he approaches her to ask if she needs some help, she tells him she needs a place to stay and, if he lets her stay with him, she’ll have sex with him.
Not being the kind of guy who will take advantage of a teenager, Yoshida tells her she can stay with him, but she will sleep on the floor as there will be no hanky-panky.
Soon the odd pair are living together. Sayu doing his housework and cooking, until he insists she also gets a part-time job and considers going back to school, and Yoshida still pursuing the woman he loves.
But will the pair remain as just friends, or will something else develop?
And no, Higehiro isn’t about a pedophile, at least not the main male character. Instead, this romantic comedy anime is about two people who care about each other, and try to make each other’s lives better.
Watch Higehiro via Crunchyroll.
Eromanga-sensei — Spring, 2017
The ‘twist’ to this romantic comedy anime is young light novel author Sagiri Izumi has a successful book series. A series that is illustrated by an artist he has never met, but one he would love to get to know as he is intrigued by their slightly erotic art.
Turns out, of course, that the artist is his shut-in step-sister Sagiri, who is popular online in her own right.
Like Koikimo, Eromanga-sensei is another anime the woke mob went after because, apparently, burn it with fire is their response to anything that is slightly out of the norm when it comes to romantic relationships.
And Eromanga-sensei was the worst of the worst, according to them, as it features a sister falling in love with her brother, although….in reality they are not actually related by blood, just by marriage, and they have barely had any interaction for years anyway.
Eromanga-sensei features slightly off-color sexual jokes, adorable moe girls, silly only very slightly sexual situations, and some of the quirkiest, funniest characters in romantic anime.
And, as far as the prudes and this wonderful romantic comedy anime go, if you don’t like it, DON’T WATCH IT and leave the rest of us alone to enjoy what we enjoy.
Watch Eromanga-sensei on Crunchyroll.
Tsuredure Children — Summer, 2017
Another of the best romantic comedy anime from 2010 and on is a series of 12-minute shorts about relationships between a group of high school students. All of whom are in different romantic situations and all struggling to figure out how to cope with what is, for most of them, their first ever romantic feelings.
Tsuredure Children is a hidden gem — beautifully acted, a gorgeous art style, satisfying situations and so many characters who are all so wildly different, yet still struggling with many of the same issues.
Watch Tsuredure Children on Crunchyroll.
My Dress-Up Darling (aka Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru) — Winter, 2022
The best anime of this current season, My Dress-Up Darling is one of my favorite series in years.
With only four episodes out so far, this one is a bit of a cheat, as it will be a couple of months before it has ended and all episodes are available to watch.
But… if you want to watch the most adorable, most beautiful, sweetest, kindest main girl, who also happens to be massively into cosplay, and one of the nicest, cutest, loveliest male leads, both of whom often seem to misunderstand each other, but always figure it out, My Dress-Up Darling is the one.
The art style on this one is stunning, and main girl Marin is an absolute stunner.
You can watch My Dress-Up Darling on Crunchyroll.