Romance in anime can play either a big part or a small one. There are always ups and downs when it comes to building a relationship. Romance in anime usually comes with some drama and becomes an emotional rollercoaster, but there are some that up the drama because they’re forbidden.

Whether it’s because of society, a curse, or other reasons, the characters in these relationships have a lot going against them. However, it does make the relationships more interesting, and lets viewers see how the characters will overcome the obstacles before them.

Update on November 14, 2022 by Sarah Prado: There’s just something about a forbidden romance that just makes it a little more fun to watch. Knowing that the couples have a lot of obstacles keeping them from being together just makes the relationship all the more interesting to see how they’ll overcome them. It can be beautiful and exciting to see the two characters finally become a couple and get their happily ever after, or it can be tragic to see circumstances prevent that in some way. Either way, fans can’t help but root for these couples to be together even if it’s forbidden.

15 Romeo Montague And Juliet Capulet (Romeo x Juliet)

Considering that they’re based on the characters from Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, it’s no surprise that these two have a forbidden relationship. Juliet is on a mission to stop the Montague family and their oppressing rule on Neo Verona. Romeo also wants to stop his father’s tyranny as well and shares many ideals with Juliet.

The two of them should be natural enemies because of the rivalry with their families and the fact that Romeo’s father slaughtered most of Juliet’s family. Juliet was hesitant to enter a relationship with him because of his name, but she realizes he’s not like the others. The two of them truly fall in love with each other and work together to stop Romeo’s family.

14 Simon And Nia Teppelin (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)

These two have been through so much that fans were rooting for them to have a happy ending. They started off as teens who met and slowly fell in love as the series went on. The two of them became quite the duo and Nia helped Simon with his depression over Kamina’s death. She even helped defeat her father, Lordgenome, when Simon almost lost the battle. Even after the timeskip, it was clear that the two of them loved each other and Simon proposed to her.

Nia didn’t accept because she didn’t know what it meant, but accepted after it was explained to her. Sadly, Nia would become the Anti-Spiral messenger and became an enemy to humanity as the Anti-Spirals planned to eradicate them. Nia eventually returned to her normal self and helped Simon in the final battle, but this meant she would disappear not long after. The two would marry before this, leaving fans with a bittersweet feeling.

13 Naho Takamiya And Hiroto Suwa (Orange)

Knowing the future can be a scary thing and these two have to determine what they will do to prevent tragedy. Naho receives a letter from her future self which tells her of the tragedy that befalls her and Hiroto’s friend, Kakeru. Her future self tells her ways to prevent this, but without revealing the truth. Hiroto also receives letters from his future self that tells him that he and Naho have built a good future together, being married and having a daughter.

However, if the two of them want Kakeru to live, they must make the heavy decision of whether they let events happen naturally or prevent them. Letting them happen means they get their happy ending with each other but Kakeru dies. Preventing the events means not only does Kakeru live, but Naho and Hiroto don’t marry and have their family. It’s a tough decision that not only affects them, but the lives around them.

12 Shirayuki And Zen Wisteria (Snow White With The Red Hair)

This relationship is a classic case of social classes playing a huge role. Shirayuki is a young woman who works as a herbalist after running from the kingdom of Tanbarun when the prince there wanted her to become his concubine. She runs into Zen, the prince of Clarines, and befriends him after he eats a poisoned apple meant for her. Shirayuki trains to become a court herbalist in his country and the two of them start to fall in love with each other.

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However, Zen’s position as a prince prevents him from being with anyone of lesser social status. His family is adamant that he finds a suitable princess to marry, but Zen knows deep down his heart belongs to Shirayuki.

11 Saber And Shirou Emiya (Fate/Stay Night)

Saber and Shirou’s relationship is definitely a complicated one due to the fact that they are servant and master. Shirou is a teenager who fights in the Fifth Holy Grail War while Saber is a Servant that is considered the strongest in her class. She’s much more powerful than Shirou, but Shirou still tries his best to protect her and prevent her from fighting others.

This does irritate Saber and leads her to believe they won’t win the war if Shirou continues to be reckless of his own safety. She might be a Servant, but Saber won’t hesitate to voice her disagreements with him. Their relationship is more than just their titles and their feelings for one another are strong, but the fact that Saber is a Heroic Spirit and Shirou being human can’t be ignored.

10 Legoshi & Haru (Beastars)

It’s easy to see why Legoshi and Haru’s relationship is odd. He’s a tall gray wolf, and she’s a tiny dwarf rabbit. Usually carnivores and herbivores avoid each other, but Legoshi and Haru want to make it work between them. Legoshi even trains with Gohin to help fight his natural instincts of wanting to devour Haru.

Many look down on Haru because of her promiscuous reputation, but Legoshi sees her in a positive light and accepts her as she is. Haru found Legoshi a little strange because of his mannerisms (like most people who talk to him do), but also finds him oddly charming. It’s not a perfect relationship and many around them believe they shouldn’t be together, but they are determined to make it work.

9 The Duke Of Death & Alice Lendrott (The Duke Of Death And His Maid)

The Duke was cursed by a witch when he was a child, causing him to kill every living thing he touches. He was disowned by his mother, and the only people living with him are his butler Rob and his maid Alice. Despite his curse, Alice openly flirts with the Duke and loves to tease him by getting uncomfortably close without touching him. Even though she knows that one touch will kill her, Alice is fearless when she’s around him.

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They do their best to act normal, pretending to high-five, dance, and give each other a pat on the back, but it’s a painful reminder they can’t even do these little things. They can’t hug, kiss, or even hold hands.

8 Spike Spiegel & Julia (Cowboy Bebop)

This romance didn’t have much time to blossom, but it was clear the two of them loved each other very much. Spike and Julia were part of the Red Dragon Syndicate, and she was in a relationship with Vicious at the time. After nursing Spike back to health, he and Julia started an affair in which Spike planned to leave the Syndicate to be with her. Vicious learned of their plans and told Julia he would kill them unless she killed Spike.

Julia opts to go into hiding while Spike willingly goes into the ambush set up for him. When they meet again years later, their reunion is tragically cut short as Vicious sends his men after them.

7 Gennosuke Kouga & Oboro Iga (Basilisk)

This anime will remind viewers of Romeo and Juliet, but with warring ninja clans. The Kouga and Iga clans were at war with each other for a long time, and briefly reached a tense peace. Gennosuke and Oboro were betrothed to each other in hopes their marriage would ease tensions. However, their clans return to fighting each other, and must send their ten best warriors to settle things once and for all.

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Gennosuke and Oboro must decide if they want to kill the one they love to save their clans or watch their clans slaughter each other. They truly love each other despite their engagement being arranged, and hate having to choose between true love and their families.

6 Almost All Relationships For The Zodiac Members (Fruits Basket)

Because of Akito, almost all the Zodiac members were unable to have any relationships, whether with each other or with people who aren’t members. When Hatori asked permission to be with Kana, Akito attacked him and severely injured his eye, managing to convince Kana it was her fault. Akito hit Kisa when she and Hiro revealed their relationship, causing Hiro to distance himself from her. She pushed Rin out a window after discovering her relationship with Haru, and Rin broke up with him to protect him.

This made a lot of them, especially the younger generation, fearful of having relationships because of Akito's wrath. The best way to protect the one they loved was either to keep them at an arm’s distance or cut them off all together.

5 Meliodas & Elizabeth (Seven Deadly Sins)

With Meliodas being a son of the Demon King and Elizabeth being a Goddess in her first life, their union was forbidden by his father and her mother. As a punishment, Elizabeth was cursed to be reincarnated as human over and over, losing her memories each time she dies. If she regains her memories, she dies in three days. Meliodas was cursed with immortality, and his emotions would be consumed until he returned to being a bloodthirsty demon.

Meliodas would always find the reincarnations of Elizabeth, and she would usually regain her memories, forcing him to watch her die over and over again. This continued for about 3,000 years until they were able to break the curse.

4 Shiro Amada & Aina Sahalin (Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team)

Many Gundam series have at least one romance that plays an important part in it, but this one does it without sacrificing a great story and action scenes. Shiro and Aina are star-crossed lovers, fighting on opposing sides in a war. Aina is part of the Principality of Zeon, while Shiro fights for the Earth Federation.

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It doesn’t help that the two of them are the best pilots on their respective sides and play important roles in the war. The two of them have to make the difficult decision to either choose each other, or their sides of the conflict.

3 Toshihiko Momota & Yuka Kamitsuki (Kemonozume)

These two should be enemies, but love comes in between them. Toshihiko is a swordsman who has been trained to eliminate shokujinki, demon-like beings who can take the appearance of a human. After meeting Yuka, the two of them begin a relationship, and he eventually learns she’s a shokujinki. Toshihiko refuses to kill her, and leaves his family to go on the run with her.

Their relationship has many complications because of Toshihiko’s family coming after them, but also because other love interests are trying to get in the way. It gets even more complicated when Yuka reveals she’s pregnant.

2 Mavis Vermillion & Zeref Dragneel (Fairy Tail)

Because of their curses, it’s impossible for Mavis and Zeref to be together. The more they love life, the more people die around them. Zeref wanted to keep her away because he was afraid of his curse killing her, but Mavis ended up cursed like him from using Fairy Law. They weren’t together for a long time, and their kiss caused their curses to react in a way that ended up killing Mavis despite her immortality. Her body still had magic in it and was sealed in Lacrima.

Mavis would continue to be around as a Thought Projection and watch over Fairy Tail. Sadly, the two would never be together again in life, but died together in each other’s arms.

1 Gin & Hotaru Takegawa (Hotarubi No Mori E)

They were doomed from the start. Gin is a spirit who lives in a forest, and will disappear forever if he’s touched by a human. He meets a six-year-old girl named Hotaru and helps lead her out of the forest after she gets lost. After this, Hotaru continues to come to the forest every summer and visits Gin. The two of them begin to fall in love when she’s a teenager, even though they know it’s impossible for them to be together.

Their first date would be their final one, as Gin saves a child from falling, but the child is human and not a spirit like he thought. Before disappearing, he and Hotaru embrace one another as they’ve always wanted. Though in pain, Hotaru decides to move on with her life while always treasuring her memories of him.

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