Top 10 Most Underrated Romance Anime of the Decade

Top 10 Most Underrated Romance Anime of the Decade – You’ve survived halfway through the decade, but as you’re getting close to World War III, I know you have one important question.

What are the most underrated romance anime I can watch before I get enlisted to war? Well, ladies and gents, here are the top 10 most underrated anime of the decade you must watch. Let’s go.

10. Love After World Domination

In this quirky romcom, Fudou Aikawa, aka Red Gelato, is part of a hero team, while Desumi Magahara, aka the Reaper Princess, leads an evil society. These two are secretly dating, pretending to be enemies while sneaking away for cute moments.

That’s right. It’s like two big countries are at war while the presidents are in love with each other. Sadly, it doesn’t happen in real life. This anime is surprisingly a blast to watch. It’s funny. It’s romantic, but it doesn’t try to be anything super deep or meaningful, which is kind of nice.

The comedy is super silly and just makes you laugh out loud, like the guy finding out about Desumi’s secret through social media. The characters are fun, especially Desumi, since she has that quirky anime girl vibe. The animation is decent, but come on, you’re in it for the romance and comedy.

9. Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke’s Mansion

When Rinko Hanasaki dies suddenly, she gets reborn as Raeliana McMillan, a minor character in a novel she read. As the oldest daughter of a wealthy baron, she lives a carefree life until her fiancé, Lord Francis Brooks, plans her death.

Not wanting her fate sealed, Raeliana tries to break off her engagement, but Francis isn’t playing along, so she strikes a deal with Duke Noah Wynknight. She’ll keep his secrets if he becomes her fake fiancé. You know, I hate these types of stories. So, when I recommend you one, you know it’s really good.

In fact, this is genuinely one of the best romance stories out there. The chemistry between Raeliana and Noah feels really natural—like watching live-action romance unfold, which is rare in anime.

The story is fresh with enough lore and world-building to keep things interesting, and the art is drop-dead gorgeous, which is surprising for an anime like this. But as always, the charming characters are what hold this together. So give it a go.

8. The Tatami Time Machine Blues

Remember The Tatami Galaxy? Well, it has a sequel. In this super fun and trippy anime, a group of friends in Kyoto find a real-life time machine in their storage room.

On a hot summer day, when the air conditioner breaks thanks to Ozu spilling soda all over the remote, they try to fix things by hopping back in time to grab the remote before Ozu ruins it. Of course, things quickly spiral into a chaotic, hilarious adventure that totally pulls you into its wild vibe.

This is like Steins;Gate, but instead of too much physics and heart-pounding suspense, you get some nice comedy, quirky characters, and a wholesome romance. The way everyone’s friendships come alive and how the series nails that feeling of being young and lost really hits home.

Plus, it’s got that nostalgic warmth that just makes you want to revisit it again and again, especially with its killer opening. Honestly, this series is a cool mix of fun, heart, and a little chaos.

7. Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence

Oh man, don’t you love the village vibes? Set in a small village, this follows Pastor Lawrence and Saint Cecilia, who secretly got a crush on him. Cecilia’s magical powers protect everyone, but she’s also got a lazy, adorable side she shows only to Lawrence.

While she’s unaware of her feelings, like your average main character, she’s constantly showing him affection, making their bond super sweet. This show stretches toward those warm, feel-good vibes as a saint and her pastor go about their daily lives.

And as a fan of laid-back romances, I have to say this anime hits all the right notes. The slice-of-life elements are so genuine and cozy, almost like watching two lost souls help each other heal.

Plus, the characters, especially Hazelita and Abel, add some funny and heartfelt layers, which remove any boredom from the show. Honestly, it’s like a perfect dose of happiness.

6. Remake Our Life!

Kyouya Hashiba is a 28-year-old who quits his office gig for the video game world only to get kicked out of his internship and wind up back at his parents’ place. Suddenly, he wakes up 10 years in the past and decides to follow his passion by going to art school.

There he bumps into Eiko Kawasegawa, the girl who hired him before, and finds himself living with future stars like artist Aki Shino, singer Nanako Kogure, and writer Tsurayuki Rokuonji. Yes, three girls and one guy. You know where this is heading.

Bokutachi no Remake is one of those shows where I just sat back and enjoyed the characters more than anything. The chemistry between the cast really carries it, and Kyouya ends up being the glue holding this talented group together.

Sure, he sometimes feels like a bit of a tool for their growth, but it doesn’t ruin the vibe. The plot gets a bit messy with twists late in the game, but it’s overall a fun ride. I’m a huge fan of Saekano, so you know I love a show like this.

5. The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies

Earth’s under attack by an evil army led by the ruthless Lieutenant Shun Miller, who’s pretty terrifying even to his own team. The plan? Wreak havoc and crush the city protected by the adorable magical girl Byakuya Mimori.

But everything changes the moment he sees her. He falls hard for her at first sight. Once again, we have two people from opposing teams falling in love. And the reason why we have two shows of the same kind is because that trope is really good.

This anime isn’t trying to be some complex masterpiece, and that’s fine. It’s just genuinely cute, sweet, and worth a watch. The studio’s tribute to the author, who sadly passed away young, really shines through, and they did a solid job turning her idea into something charming.

Those short 12-minute episodes make it easy to rewatch anytime and just enjoy the vibes. Honestly, if you’re into romcoms and cute anime, you’ll get a kick out of this. It’s simple but effective, and sometimes that’s all you need.

4. Romantic Killer

It’s rare to see reverse harem shows flipping the script, but this anime flips the script by turning an otome game into real life thanks to a bossy wizard called Riri, who drags Anzu Hoshino out of her comfort zone. She’s all about her games, chocolate, and her cat.

But suddenly, she’s dodging love interests and strange romantic scenarios that feel straight out of a visual novel. This show surprised me big time, mainly because of how much fun the comedy brings and how different it is from your regular reverse harem show.

The jokes land well, and the way it mimics otome game tropes keeps things quirky and engaging. The characters develop nicely, and the side stories add some depth. Sure, the art style is a bit iffy, especially the 3D bits, but it doesn’t ruin the vibe.

Overall, it’s a hilarious, light-hearted romcom that’s more clever than expected. Perfect if you’re into reverse harems or just want a good laugh. Netflix once again does something amazing with anime.

3. Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

This movie is a super chill slice-of-life flick centered around Cherry, a shy haiku writer, and Smile, an aspiring influencer hiding behind her mask out of insecurity.

Their worlds collide—or pop up like soda pop—during summer as they team up to find a lost vinyl record for an old man. Rather than the perfect romance story, this is about two people with their own insecurities coming together and a bond slowly forming between them.

Visually, this anime is a gem. The animation flows smoothly from calm scenes to lively ones, and character expressions are surprisingly detailed, capturing personality quirks perfectly.

There are also a ton of wholesome and sweet moments in the middle of the movie. And since it revolves around music, expect a lot of music, too. It’s a sweet, relaxing watch with charming characters in a cozy atmosphere. And I’m actually surprised how this is pretty underrated.

2. Murai in Love

Murai is a typical high school guy with a wild dream. He’s into marrying his teacher, Tanaka. After getting rejected, he dramatically transforms himself, cutting and dyeing his hair to look like her favorite otome game character, Hitotose.

The chaos kicks in when Tanaka is shocked to see Murai’s new look and starts feeling all kinds of awkward around him, even as Murai keeps pushing to win her over. It’s one of those “What are you doing, student? I’m your sensei!” type of stories.

Watching this anime is like a roller coaster. Don’t let the rough animation fool you. The voice acting is top-tier, really selling the characters’ personalities, and the side characters add a nice flavor to the story.

The whole story may revolve around a sensei-student romance, but it gives you that much-needed goofy and cute romcom we’ve been lacking in recent years. It’s full of charm and feels like a cozy binge. Easily underrated, but actually an absolute gem.

1. A Sign of Affection

And we’re finishing off with a masterpiece. Yuki Itose is a university student who’s been living in her own world of silence due to her hearing impairment. She mainly interacts with her best friend, Ren, and communicates through writing.

Things change when she meets Itsuomi Nagi, a cheerful multilingual traveler on her daily commute. Despite her challenges, Yuki finds herself opening up to him, and their friendship begins to blossom into something more sweet.

This anime is a cozy, heartwarming ride that hits all the right notes without overdoing the drama. I know I’ve been mentioning a lot of cozy romances, but this is extra premium ultra pro-max cozy. The characters feel genuine, especially Yuki’s positive attitude and open-mindedness.

The animation is stunning, and the subtle details make it all feel peaceful and calming. Even though it sticks to a gentle pace, the story’s simplicity makes it feel super easy to fall into, making it the perfect underrated gem for anyone wanting a feel-good romance.

That is it from today’s post on Top 10 Most Underrated Romance Anime of the Decade. If you do not agree with the points in the post and have some of your own opinions, share them with us in the comments section down below. Keep visiting Animesoulking for more information about Anime and Manga.

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