10 retro romance anime that still warm the heart

Retro romance anime have a lasting charm; while modern series often feature sleek animation and quick pacing, the classics from the 1970s to 1990s carry a sincerity and gentle, slice-of-life pace that’s hard to match. Drawn on cels and aired weekly, these titles sparked playground debates over favorite pairings.

Their detailed character writing, honest humor, and memorable soundtracks created the foundation for today’s romantic comedies. From fancy palaces to small college dorms, the settings may vary, but the heart-warming feeling is universal. Nostalgia alone does not explain their lasting appeal.

Each entry on this list shows complex adult emotions, teenage insecurities, and the bittersweet idea that love is as much about moving on from the past as it is about looking to the future. Below are 10 retro romance anime, ranked by cultural impact and thematic depth rather than release date.

10 must-watch retro romance anime

1) Maison Ikkoku

Rumiko Takahashi’s Maison Ikkoku centers on Yūsaku Godai, an aimless student retaking entrance exams who lives at Maison Ikkoku, a rundown apartment building managed by the recently widowed Kyōko Otonashi.

Godai falls for Kyōko right away, but misunderstandings, mischievous residents, and nosy tenants keep the pair from romance for 96 episodes. Every story arc of this retro romance anime resets the tension, moving the two leads one step closer or one step back.

Maison Ikkoku’s charm lies in its patience, letting Godai’s part-time jobs and Kyōko’s grief unfold naturally in 1980s settings like ramen shops. While modern audiences may find the slower pace challenging, the gradual character growth delivers a deeply rewarding emotional payoff.

2) Kimagure Orange Road

Kimagure Orange Road (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Kyōsuke Kasuga is secretly a psychic living as an ordinary high-schooler when he moves to a new city; there, he meets Madoka Ayukawa, a moody beauty, and bubbly Hikaru Hiyama, who declares herself Kyōsuke’s girlfriend.

Psychic hijinks mix with real teen heartbreak as Kyōsuke tries to be fair to Hikaru while falling for Madoka. Studio Pierrot’s pastel colors and synth-pop soundtrack in the Kimagure Orange Road anime capture mid-1980s Tokyo with a dreamy feel.

Beneath the magical fun, the series explores a love triangle long before “shipping wars” became common online.

3) Marmalade Boy

Marmalade Boy (Image via Toei Animation)

A slice-of-life shōjo that starts with an unusual family change: Miki Koishikawa’s parents announce they are divorcing and marrying another couple, with both sets of parents moving into one house along with Miki and the other couple’s son, Yū Matsuura.

Dating under the same roof as adults sounds strange, yet the story uses this setup to explore jealousy, consent, and emotional issues quickly. What makes Marmalade Boy stand out is Miki herself, an honest protagonist who expresses her feelings openly and recognizes her own faults.

This retro romance anime combines that honesty with typical dating scenarios, mixing beach episodes and school festivals with breakup threats over pay phones. Still visually bright thanks to modern remasters, the fashion - ribbons, sailor collars, chunky bags - offers time-capsule entertainment.

4) His and Her Circumstances

His and Her Circumstances (Image via Gainax and J.C. Staff)

Hideaki Anno’s 1998 adaptation of Masami Tsuda’s manga features top student Yukino Miyazawa, who maintains a perfect public image to hide her vanity and insecurities, until equally perfect Arima Sōichirō discovers her secret.

What starts as a comedy of mutual blackmail turns into a look at hiding childhood trauma behind academic success. After a few episodes, the story shifts to quiet scenes of side couples and quick on-screen text; some call it messy, others call it creative.

Extreme close-ups and word bursts give His and Her Circumstances its innovative flavor, setting it apart from more traditional shōjo series. Despite production issues that shortened the main story, the two lead characters feel real, reminding viewers that love sometimes starts with two people afraid to show their true selves.

5) Boys Over Flowers

Boys Over Flowers (Image via Toei Animation)

Wealthy bullies at the elite Eitoku Academy target anyone they dislike, until middle-class student Makino Tsukushi stands up to F4 leader Dōmyōji Tsukasa and earns a red card. A reverse harem develops as Makino deals with verbal abuse, four suitors, and scenes on private islands.

The manga sold over 61 million copies, and the 1996 anime remains a key adaptation. Unlike later versions, the original anime keeps both its humor and darker elements; flashbacks of Tsukasa’s privileged yet troubled childhood appear subtle yet impactful.

The series’ soundtrack, including its upbeat opening and ending themes, captured 1990s youth pop and helped inspire later Korean and Chinese drama remakes, proving its lasting appeal.

6) Touch

In the shadow of a talented twin brother who dies in an accident, underachieving Tatsuya Uesugi reluctantly takes his place on the high-school baseball team while having feelings for neighbor Minami Asakura. Every stolen base reflects the gradual easing of guilt that keeps Tatsuya from confessing his love.

Mitsuru Adachi’s storytelling balances locker-room jokes with quiet moments at a vending machine and a single movie-theater hand-hold that feels significant. Although stadium lights and batting cages are prominent, Touch uses sports as a metaphor for emotional growth.

7) The Rose of Versailles

The Rose of Versailles (Image via Tokyo Movie Shinsha)

Set in the court of Versailles before the French Revolution, this 1979-1980 series follows Oscar François de Jarjayes, raised as a male officer in the royal guard, who falls in love with her servant André Grandier while helping Marie Antoinette.

Elegant gowns contrast with the coming revolution as Oscar struggles between loyalty to the nobility and love for a commoner who wants equality. The art style - sparks, cascading roses, long eyelashes - defines pre-CGI effects, yet those elements fit the historical drama of excess before collapse.

Later anime set in revolutionary times borrow the rose-petal transitions and doomed-romance style first seen here.

8) Aim for the Ace!

Aim for the Ace! (Image via Tokyo Movie)

Tennis player Hiromi Oka joins Nishi High School, but talent alone does not get her on the team until coach Jin Munakata and senior Takayuki Tōdō help with training and subtle romance. Romantic tension grows during matches: Hiromi faces competitive pressure and love triangles that bring tears.

The 1973 series aired weekly, starting the sports-shōjo mix. The bold line effects used for racket swings became a hallmark of Osamu Dezaki’s style, influencing later anime, while techniques like the slow-motion zoom on Tōdō’s smile helped establish sports-romance visual archetypes seen in future series.

9) Fushigi Yūgi

Middle-school student Miaka Yūki falls into a mystical book and enters ancient China, chosen as the Priestess of Suzaku to summon a god with seven warriors. Warrior Tamahome starts romantic tension amid politics, betrayal, and the risk that actions could change reality in both worlds.

Yuu Watase’s 18-volume manga led to a 52-episode TV series with dramatic music. The series builds to intense moments: sacrificing characters, tragic reincarnation, and a final, hopeful reunion that crosses worlds. For fans, Fushigi Yūgi remains a cherished memory, offering a reassuring message of self-worth.

10) Video Girl Ai

Video Girl Ai (Image via Production I.G)

Teen Yōta Moteuchi rents a magical VHS tape to cure heartbreak; instead, Video Girl Ai steps out of the TV with glitches and synth sounds. What starts as a companion story turns into questions about humanity, free will, and loving someone meant to disappear when the tape ends.

The six-episode 1992 OVA draws from Masakazu Katsura’s manga without overstretching the premise. Production I.G appeals to fans of old tech and sci-fi; scanlines blend into neon-lit skies as Ai wonders if programmed emotions can match real ones.

Fans often sample the soundtrack for its late-night scenes, mixing Tokyo lights with emotional close-ups. For modern viewers in digital culture, this retro romance anime offers a grounded feel that is missing today.

Conclusion

Retro romance anime handled love like old records, with warmth that feels real because it lasted through years of viewing. Each entry combined simple animation with strong writing, showing that true emotion outlasts visual updates and trends.

Whether from a magical tape, a baseball field, or shared moments in hallways, these retro romance anime built the basics for current romantic comedies. Queue up an opening and let these classics remind you why animated romance stories work so well.