Who said you need a partner to feel loved when you have these anime at your disposal?
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and couples are already getting ready for the big day throughout the week of love. Unfortunately, this time can be quite hard for single people who are scared of missing out on all the fun. But if you’re an anime fan, you don’t have to worry about any of that because your most entertaining partner is already in your life and on your screen. So if you’re also single this Valentine’s Day and worried about running into couples if you get out, here are some amazing anime you can watch at home and feel better about your life.
10. Play It Cool, Guys
Adapted from a slice-of-life manga series by Kokone Nata, this anime is a short and sweet watch for all single guys. It follows high school student Shun Futami, vocational school student Sōma Shiki, university student Hayate Ichikura, and working professional Takayuki Mima. Despite being different in age and profession, all these men have one thing in common- they are very handsome and very clumsy. From pushing a pull door to wearing their jerseys inside out, they regularly run into problems that make them even more endearing in the eyes of their peers. When the four of them meet, it becomes a hilarious and adorable everyday life story that you can finish in a day.
9. Romantic Killer
As the name suggests, this series is not particularly romantic, although there is a heroine and many male leads involved. One day, Otome game addict Anzu is visited by a wizard named Riri. It’s revealed that Anzu has been chosen as a subject to reverse the declining birthrate in Japan and has to go on dates with some handsome guys Riri has selected for her. If she refuses, the wizard will take her games, her chocolate, and her cat away from her forever. Despite the bizarre premise, the anime delivers on every front, be it comedy or romantic situations. Anzu is also a girl who enjoys being single in spite of being surrounded by handsome guys. If you’re also someone who doesn’t want to change their single status, then this anime adapted from Wataru Momose’s manga is perfect for you.
8. Orange
Taking a sharp turn away from comedic and wholesome, we are going to enter a premise that might be a bit triggering for some people. Based on Ichigo Takano’s manga, Orange tells the story of high school girl Naho Takamiya, who receives a letter containing some instructions from her future self. Although she ignores it at first, Naho learns that the transfer student Kakeru Naruse will commit suicide in the same year, and she needs to stop the event from occurring. With the help of her friends who have also received similar letters, Naho starts helping Kakeru who is devastated after losing his mother. The series deals with some serious issues like mental health, depression, and suicide. However, it does it impressively well and with a lot of care and kindness. The series also teaches us the importance of friendship and positive influence in our lives.
7. My New Boss is Goofy
If you’re having a hard time at work, then this anime will definitely help you relax a little on Valentine’s weekend. Based on Dan Ichikawa’s manga series, the protagonist of this anime is Kentarō Momose, who suffered terrible bullying and abuse at his previous workplace at the hands of his boss. He switches companies after seeing a beautiful advertisement created by a company called Minette. At Minette, he meets Yūsei Shirosaki, his airheaded boss who is extremely kind and compassionate. Seeing Shirosaki’s behaviour and his funny antics, Momose slowly starts to get over the trauma he had suffered. The anime also has some great side characters and an adorable kitten which Shirosaki adopts. Overall, this cosy and healing series is great for those who really need a break from work.
6. Hyouka
Another short and amazing anime based around high school is Hyouka, adapted from the Classic Literature series of books written by Honobu Yonezawa. Hōtarō Oreki is a first-year high school student who joins the Classic Literature club at the request of his sister to save it from being disbanded. There, he meets Eru Chitanda, a girl who is fond of mysteries and has an ulterior motive behind joining the club. Together with the other members, Hōtarō and Eru start solving mysteries around their town. Though Eru has feelings for Hōtarō and he might also like her back, the two never actually enter a relationship during the series. This 22-episode anime is perfect for those that are fond of cosy mystery-solving and friends getting into trouble together.
5. Delicious in Dungeon
Whether you love food, monsters, magic, or battle, Delicious in Dungeon has it all. Adapted from Ryoko Kui’s fantasy manga, the series follows a human named Laios, who enters a dangerous dungeon after losing his sister inside. He is joined by his party members- an elven mage named Marcille and a halfling locksmith named Chilchuk. Though his other party members refuse to accompany him, Laios meets a dwarf named Senshi, who shares his enthusiasm for eating dungeon-dwelling monsters. The four of them start the journey and go through several levels of the dungeons, eating different delicacies made with monster meat, to find Laios’ sister Falin. The series is incredibly entertaining with interesting monsters and a found-family trope that tugs at your heartstrings. There is no romance plot in the series, which makes it a perfect watch for you if you want to avoid couples.
4. Natsume’s Book of Friends
Born with the power to see Yokai spirits, Takahashi Natsume is an orphan who has lived with several relatives throughout his life. He feels lonely since nobody else can sense these dangerous creatures. One day, after accidentally freeing an Inugami that takes the form of a maneki-neko doll, Takahashi learns that his maternal grandmother Reiko had the same powers as him. He finds Reiko’s Book of Friends, where she collected the real names of all the Yokai whom she defeated during her lifetime. More and more spirits start hounding Takahashi after they learn about the book and his connection to Reiko and the protagonist decides to start freeing them one by one. The series has an unlikely friendship at the centre of its plot and handles the supernatural theme really well. With seven seasons of the anime already out, this series can keep you entertained for a long time.
3. Bocchi the Rock!
Hitori Gotoh is a new high school student with extreme social anxiety and has no friends. In middle school, she started learning the guitar to join a band and become popular. Unfortunately, despite having thousands of online followers who love her skills, she has no friends in real life. One day, she meets Nijika Ichiji, a drummer who’s looking for a guitarist in her band. Despite her anxiety, Gotoh joins the band and meets the bassist Ryō Amada and later the three are joined by the vocalist and rhythm guitarist Ikuyo Kita. With the help of her bandmates, Hitori Gotoh, who learned the nickname Bocchi, starts overcoming her trauma and pushing forward toward her dream of performing with her band. Based on Aki Hamazi’s manga, the extremely heartwarming series has amazing animation, incredibly funny moments, and a protagonist you might relate to if you struggle with meeting new people.
2. Nana
If you’re a fan of woman-centric stories, then you might’ve already heard of Ai Yazawa’s manga Nana and its anime adaptation. The story follows two girls, Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu, who meet by chance after both move to Tokyo. Nana O is a musician who wants to make it big with her band Black Stones. On the other hand, Nana K wants to move in with her boyfriend and live her life on her own terms. Despite the difference in their personalities, the two girls become great friends and start living together. Unfortunately, the trials of love, career, and fame start taking a massive toll on their friendship. The ups and downs of glamorous careers and the darkness behind it is captured very well in the series. Although a not-so-happy ending awaits you, Nana still remains one of the few anime with a realistic portrayal of adult friendship.
1. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Closing the list with a series that many consider to be the best of 2024. Based on Kanehito Yamada’s manga series of the same name, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End follows an ancient elven mage Frieren. 50 years after defeating the demon king with her party, Frieren returns to the capital and meets her old party members, who have all aged. After watching a meteor shower as they had promised, the party’s hero Himmel dies of old age. Frieren suddenly feels extremely heartbroken and starts to understand the feelings she had for Himmel. After the death of the priest Heiter, she takes his adoptive daughter Fern under her wing. Later, she also hires a warrior named Stark, who was taught by her other party mate Eisen. Together, they set out on a journey to find the place where all souls go to rest. Frieren starts appreciating the fleeting beauty of human life although she has an extremely long lifespan as an elf. The series will make you smile, laugh, and cry as it teaches you some of the greatest lessons about being a human. There are also some breathtaking action scenes that will keep you glued to the screen.
If you love reading manga, here are some great romance manga you should add to your reading list.
