Summary
It’srare that true romance comes out of the ‘shipping war’ side of the internet, especially in anime. When it does, either taking you by surprise or becoming another logical step in a character’s arc, it can be a beautiful addition to the story. It’s even better when the characters have been a couple the entire time, becoming a power duo the longer the anime runs.
From Naruto to Yuri!!! On ICE,relationships can provide a much-needed breath of fresh airandcheer you upafter even the most emotionally devastating arcs. As long as those tragic arcs don’t revolve around the couple’s relationship in question. That never ends well.
10Ymir And Historia
Attack On Titan
These two have a lot on their plates and areby no means the most lovey-dovey couplehere, but they still support each other where it counts. Both of these characters have their rough edges, especially in the earlier show and manga, but when put together,they balance each other out quite well. They’redirect opposites of each other, yet theylive their lives together.
Ymir is a selfless character, and she balances out Historia’s drastic change in character by the time shechanges from Krista Lenz to her true identity. Historia is a far more selfish woman, but not when it comes to spending her life with Ymir.
9Ichigo And Orihime
Bleach
Ichigo is one of the most abrasive characters in the anime at times, butwith Orihime, he is always extremely gentle. Orihime is a softer character, making these two the perfect pair.Ichigo has trouble expressing any deep feelings after the death of his mother, so it can be hard to spot exactly how much he loves Orihime compared to her openly expressing the feelings she has, but the details are there.
Besides him being gentle only with her, Ichigo is alsoextremely protective of her even when he’s being hurthimself. Add that to the fact that he fullycame back from the dead when she calledhim, and you’ve got a classic pairing.
8Inuyasha And Kagome
Inuyasha
These twomay not have a clear-cut relationship arc, but they do have a romance that lasts even through Inuyasha’s struggles with the demon inside him and his emotional struggles.Kagome is steadfast, and she is always there for Inuyasha when he needs her. He’s always there for her too, protecting her, making sure she’s taken care of even when sick, and the two of them grow together as characters,eventually getting married in the last episode.
Inuyasha was always self-sufficient, not relying on anyone, but when Kagome enters the picture,he learns to let her influence him and help him learn to trustothers.Kagome was also the first person to know Inuyasha’s deepest weakness, and she cared for him, staying with him no matter what they went through.
7Kirigaya (Kirito) And Yuuki (Asuna)
Sword Art Online
Kirito and Asuna were always endgame.From that first boss battle, the two of them had undeniable chemistryand fought so well together, so it’s only natural that a deep relationship followed. Even separated by ALO, Asuna knew Kirito would come looking for her and rescue her, and he did, proving his devotion to her.They get married in-game and even get together in reality,even though both of them were called back to the front lines after.
It would be hard to make a relationship work in a combat game setting and in a real-world setting, but Asuna and Kirito make it look easy. The two of them are powerhouses on their own, sotheir relationship is spent building each other up.
6Kaneki And Touka
Tokyo Ghoul
This anime is so dark sometimes, and often this relationship is the brightest light in the room.Touka is the one constant in Kaneki’s life, even among the Anti-Aogiri soldiers' family dynamic. He can count on her, and in a way, Touka can count on him as a constant, too.Their characters are drawn to each other for a sense of belonging and permanencein a world so driven by violence and bloodshed.
Touka is such a determined, protective character, and to have someone like Kaneki step up and protect and provide a home for her in a way she’s not used to is such a wholesome romantic gesture. It definitely takes your mind off the gore for a bit.
5Sailor Uranus And Sailor Neptune
Sailor Moon
Michiru and Haruka (Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, respectively) areone of the most notable queer couples in anime, despite the censorship attempts from DiC Entertainment.Their chemistry, accompanied by romantic music, is undeniable, and the two of them are open and honest about their devotion to each other. Although Haruka tends to flirt with any woman she can, she never gets rid of her love for Michiru.
The two of them work as a unit, serving as powerful Sailor Guardians and operating slightly more mercilessly than the other Sailor Guardians. It’s hard to picture one of them without the other.Even their planets are right next to each other. A match made in the heavens!
4Naruto And Hinata
Naruto
Growing up together is always a shoo-in sign for a lifelong bond, and Hinata and Naruto embody that. The respect these two have for each other’s personal growth alone is a large step in a budding relationship, and the fact thatthey both started out as underdogs and built each other upis an even bigger step. Naruto always believes in Hinata and supports her no matter what, and she always supports him.
Despite the power differencebetween the two,they view each other as equals, balancing each other out in combat and coming out stronger together because of it. Naruto and Hinata also have thedefinition of a slow-burn relationship, which is refreshing to see.
3Victor And Yuri
Yuri!!! On ICE
This is amonumental anime, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. Victor and Yuri’s relationship, although never explicitly stated on-screen, is adorable and wholesome the whole way through.Victor is constantly there to help Yuriwith his anxiety and struggle with returning to ice skating, and he supports Yuri every step of the way, sometimes literally.Yuri is there to take care of Victorwhenever he needs it, which Victor often does need.
The two of them areinseparable, even past their coach-student relationship. Yuri and Victor are devoted to each other, so much so that most, if not all, of Yuri’s return to skating is dedicated to Victor. For being such an ambiguous relationship, it’s clear about one thing:Victor and Yuri are definitely soulmates.
2Alzack And Bisca
Fairy Tail
These two are basically atextbook example of a power couple. They are bothextremely skilled marksmen, and in every arc, they’re inseparable and devoted to each other, getting married and having a daughter, Asuka, a year into the Tenrou timeskip. Bisca emotionally supports Alzack, Alzack defends Bisca and is dedicated to her, and vice versa. It’s theperfect balance of a relationship.
Bisca and Alzackboth emigrated from the western country, but they met each other by joining Fairy Tail.Their magic is similar, which explains why they’re such a good team in battle. They’re never overly romantic, but subtle romance seems more fitting for these two powerhouses.
1Edward And Winry
Fullmetal Alchemist
Childhood friends and prodigiesin their respective fields, Ed and Winry were practically destined to be together. Ed might not be Winry’s physical type, but they complement each other so well it’s easy to see why she still falls for him. They’re polar opposites when it comes to conflict, but each respects the other’s ways.Ed even stops Winry from killing her parents' killer, since he knows she would regret killing.
They’re each other’s support system, andeven without his alchemy, Winry is still incredibly important to Ed, and even though his proposal to her was nothing short of dorky, she made it clear she accepted and eased his embarrassment. Their interactions are perfection.
