Couples in anime are a staple and are often the main basis for a story. They can be an inspiration to us in our relationships or give us hope that true love is out there. From the funny to the all-out sappy and romantic, here are five anime couples that make us believe in that crazy little thing called love.
Bulma Briefs and Vegeta – Dragon Ball Z/GT/Super
Bulma, the resident genius of Dragon Ball’s superpowered group and Vegeta, the Prince of all Saiyans may tease each other but it’s clear that they love each other dearly. It’s the kind of dynamic you see all the time. We all know that couple that bickers but would go to war for their partner.
In the beginning, the couple struggled as Vegeta had trouble losing his old Saiyan views of women and wanting to be served like the prince he is. But Bulma challenged him and made it clear she’s no common housewife. After making his way to Earth, injured and upset after the destruction of Planet Namek, she handled him with the strength and care that he needed. It was something that endeared her to him, though it’d be a while until we heard him admit as such.
Hiroki and Nowaki – Junjou Romantica
Junjou Romantica follows three couples, each with a moniker relating to their narratives: Junjou Romantica, Junjou Egoist, and Junjou Terrorist.
Junjou Romantica‘s most interesting couple is by far Hiroki Kamijou and Nowaki Kusama, also known as Junjou Egoist. Nowaki is a hard-working college student who wants to become a pediatrician while Hiro is a hot-headed and abrasive university professor. The issue in their relationship is that they both feel as if they don’t have enough to offer each other.
This shows itself when Nowaki goes overseas for his studies and decides not to send any of his letters to Hiro lest he begins to feel how much he misses him and decide to rush home instead of continuing his studies. He wants to catch up with Hiro in maturity and career success so that their age difference no longer matters.
Hiro is heartbroken by the year-long silence. But once they come face-to-face and talk things out, they come to the realization that just by being together they offer something more precious than either could ever know.
Usagi and Mamoru – Sailor Moon
It’s hard to do a list of anime couples who made us believe in love and not talk about one of the most iconic couples of all time. Usagi and Mamoru’s relationship is a big part of Sailor Moon. It’s their love that allows them to show strength in times of peril when they think they can’t go on, and it encourages the other Sailor Scouts to continue to fight for love and justice.
In the movie, Promise of the Rose, we find out that Usagi and Mamoru met when they were children. Mamoru was sitting on a hospital bed crying after his childhood friend had left him to return home. Usagi came in while on her way to visit her mother who had just given birth. After listening to Mamoru explain why he was crying, she took a rose from the bouquet she’d bought for her mother and told Mamoru that’d she’d be his friend now.
Kaname Chidori and Sousake Sagara – Full Metal Panic
Full Metal Panic is the story of Mithril agent, Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori, the high school student he is in charge of protecting. They have to work together through military dangers and high school shenanigans.
While we don’t see them as an established couple in the anime, we do watch their bond grow. They clearly trust each other and value one another. Sousuke is great in his line of work but inept when it comes to social situations. Kaname is smart but sometimes her pride gets in the way of her accepting help.
One of the best scenes is in the second series, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu when Sousuke goes to great lengths to shadow Kaname on a date with a former crush just because he saw that something was bothering her. After she turns down the guy and Sousuke endures some wacky hijinks in a mascot suit, they sit on a bench (with Sousuke still in full costume) and Kaname laments how much it means to her that even if she can’t admit something is wrong, Sousuke still goes out of his way to take care of her.
Victor and Yuri – Yuri!!! on Ice
When Yuri!!! on Ice premiered in 2016, it took the community by storm. The story of Yuri Katsuki, an insecure figure skater who goes on hiatus after many crushing losses and his coach, Victor Nikiforov, who sees the best in him even though he doesn’t see it in himself.
It’s heartwarming to watch Victor be so supportive of Yuri after he’s thrust back into the sport he both loves and fears and their mutual respect and admiration of one another is truly endearing.
Yuri shows his dedication to his relationship with Victor when Yuri considers giving up skating for him. He was willing to abandon his career again so Victor could go back to being the star he was. What takes this from a common sacrifice to a sweet moment is Victor refusing the offer. He wants Yuri to be the star he knows he can be and he won’t let Yuri give up his career for anything, not even his own.