Best romantic anime without love triangles

Adding a love triangle to a romantic anime can be a double-edged sword. Some fans enjoy the heightened drama and tension because it allows them to form a deeper emotional connection to the characters. Plus, it gives them a character they can passionately root for on internet forums.

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Love stories involving Yakuza can be extremely captivating, as the following manga shows.

Other fans, on the other hand, immediately roll their eyes at any kind of love polygon. They can feel a little forced, and after a while all the crazy antics and misunderstandings can get a little tiring. Understandably, these fans crave a simpler love story, where two people simply meet and fall in love, and the drama comes from something other than romantic contrast.

1 Science fell in love, so I tried to prove it

MyAnimeList score: 7.35

• Release date
  : 11 January 2020
• Creator
  : Alifred Yamamoto
• Studio
  : Weightlessness
• Japanese title
  : Rikei ga Koi ni Ochita no de Shoumei shitemita
• Number of episodes
  : 24
• Genre(s)
  : Romance, Comedy, Life

Science fell in love, so I tried to prove it follows two computer science students, Ayame Himuro and Shinya Yukimura, who use the scientific method to prove that they are in love with each other. It all starts when Ayame confesses her feelings to Shinya, who, as a man of science and logic, cannot accept them without scientific proof.

The focus of the series is mainly on the relationship between Himuro and Yukimura, while the other characters are either already in relationships or cheering the main duo on to get together. Even the relationships of the supporting characters have almost no romantic conflict.

2 The world is still beautiful

MyAnimeList score: 7.59

The history of The world is still beautiful is set in a world with two kingdoms: the Sun Kingdom and the Rain Duchy. Nike Remarcier, the fourth princess of the Rain Duchy, travels to the Sun Kingdom to marry the Sun King Livius Orvinus Ifrikia. This is part of a political agreement to bring peace and rain to the kingdom.

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Since The world is still beautiful is about a couple in an arranged marriage who develop feelings for each other, there aren’t many characters vying for Nike or Livius’ affections. The series largely avoids love triangles, and any hints of a love rival are quickly resolved.

3 Plastic memories

MyAnimeList score: 7.91

Plastic memories is a science fiction anime about a college dropout named Tsukasa Mizugaki. He manages to land a job at SAI Corp, where he is tasked with rescuing advanced androids called Giftias who are nearing the end of their short lifespans. He is paired with a Giftia named Isla, and the two eventually develop feelings for each other.

Plastic memories contains no love triangles and revolves entirely around the relationship between Isla and Tsukasa. The drama of the series comes primarily from the two coming to terms with their feelings during Isla’s fleeting lifespan, rather than the presence of romantic rivals.

4 Monthly Nozaki-kun for Girls

MyAnimeList score: 7.82

Monthly Nozaki-kun for Girls features three couples – Chiyo and Nozaki, Yuu and Masayuki, and Yuzuki and Hirotaka. And surprisingly, there are no significant romantic rivalries between them. Although there are many misunderstandings, they are not treated as a serious threat to the characters’ relationships.

The manga artist herself has stated that she doesn’t like dealing with love triangles, which explains why the series is the way it is. Overall, the misunderstandings and one-sided crushes in the series are mainly for comedy and don’t represent any real competition for the main characters.

5 My happy marriage

MyAnimeList score: 7.75

My happy marriage Set in a slightly fantasy version of the Taisho era, it centers on a young woman named Miyo Saimori who comes from a noble family. After years of mistreatment by her adoptive family, her marriage is arranged to Kiyoka Kudou, a man rumored to be an unfeeling and cold-hearted person. To Miyo’s surprise, he actually treats her with kindness and compassion, contrary to what his reputation would suggest.

How The world is still beautiful, My happy marriage focuses on the main couple’s transition from a contractual marriage to a romantic relationship. The series is mainly about healing from trauma, and the biggest threat to Miyo and Kiyoka’s relationship is their families.

6 Wotakoi: Love is hard for Otaku

MyAnimeList score: 7.93

Wotakoi: Love is hard for Otaku is about the everyday lives of two otaku couples. Narumi Momose and Hirotaka Nifuji are childhood friends who are dating at the beginning of the series, while Hanako Koyanagi and Tarou Kabakura have been in a relationship for some time.

The series focuses on these two couples navigating the challenges that come with being in a relationship with an otaku. It’s a feel-good anime with almost no romantic drama, and that includes love rivals and love triangles.

7 TONIKAWA: Overjoyed for you

MyAnimeList score: 7.87

TONIKAWA: Overjoyed for you is about a newly married couple, so there are practically no romantic entanglements with other characters. It is about a boy named Nasa Yazuki who is rescued from an oncoming truck by a girl named Tsukasa Tsukuyomi. Nasa falls in love at first sight and asks Tsukasa to marry him.

The series’ romance is as straightforward as it can be: Nasa and Tsukasa navigate the joys and challenges of married life. TONIKAWA: Overjoyed for you largely avoids romantic melodrama and is therefore a relaxing experience.

8th Maid Sama!

MyAnimeList score: 8.00

Maid Sama! is about an all-boys school that recently started accepting girls. Misaki Ayuzawa, the first female student council president, works hard to provide a safe environment for the girls while working at a maid cafe to support her family. Her world is turned upside down when Takumi Usui, the most popular boy in school, discovers her secret identity.

Although both Misaki and Usui have several admirers in the series, they are not taken too seriously. Maid Sama! focuses on the main characters’ growing feelings for each other, with the presence of romantic rivals being extremely brief and not posing a significant threat.

9 Horimiya

MyAnimeList score: 8.20

Horimiya follows two high school students who both lead secret lives. Kyoko Hori is both popular and academically gifted, but she is also a responsible homebody who takes care of her younger brother and keeps the house in order. Izumi Miyamura is a reserved and quiet nerd who is quite outgoing outside of school and has numerous piercings.

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Primarily, Horimiya avoids major love triangles that are present throughout the series. There are minor characters who have unrequited crushes on Hori and Miyamura, but they are not considered serious obstacles to their relationship.

10 Clannad: After the story

MyAnimeList score: 8.93

Clannad: After the story starts where the first Clannad Anime ended with Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa after they started dating. And even though it is based on a romantic visual novel with multiple love interests, elements like harems or romantic rivalries are significantly downplayed, with Tomoya and Nagisa feeling extremely committed to each other.

The anime is not only about the relationship of the main couple. Besides the romance, Clannad: After the story deals with themes such as family, parenthood, loss and grief, making it one of the most touching anime series of all time.

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