Top Unrequited Love Anime Recommendations

DEATH NOTE

Also known as Death Note.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

Light Yagami is a genius high school student who is about to learn about life through a book of death. When a bored shinigami, a God of Death, named Ryuk drops a black notepad called a Death Note, Light receives power over life and death with the stroke of a pen. Determined to use this dark gift for the best, Light sets out to rid the world of evil… namely, the people he believes to be evil. Should anyone hold such power?

The consequences of Light’s actions will set the world ablaze.



Tags: Crime , Detective , Anti-Hero , Male Protagonist , Police , Philosophy , Tragedy , Primarily Adult Cast , Unrequited Love , Kuudere , Fugitive , Memory Manipulation , Gods , Urban Fantasy , Primarily Male Cast , Urban , Yandere , Amnesia , Espionage , Shounen , Suicide , Tennis , Acting , Time Skip , Feet , Assassins , Achronological Order , Asexual

Shingeki no Kyojin 2

Also known as Attack on Titan Season 2.

Studio: Wit Studio
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Mystery

Eren Jaeger swore to wipe out every last Titan, but in a battle for his life he wound up becoming the thing he hates most. With his new powers, he fights for humanity's freedom facing the monsters that threaten his home. After a bittersweet victory against the Female Titan, Eren finds no time to rest—a horde of Titans is approaching Wall Rose and the battle for humanity continues!



Tags: Survival , Post-Apocalyptic , Shapeshifting , Tragedy , Espionage , Military , Kaiju , Dystopian , Primarily Teen Cast , Gore , Revenge , Politics , Anti-Hero , Ensemble Cast , Super Power , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Cult , Incest , Kuudere , Dissociative Identities , Coming of Age , Steampunk , Cannibalism , LGBTQ+ Themes , Primarily Male Cast , CGI , Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Swordplay , Unrequited Love , Matriarchy , Rural

Sword Art Online

Also known as Sword Art Online.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Romance

In the near future, a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online has been released where players control their avatars with their bodies using a piece of technology called Nerve Gear. One day, players discover they cannot log out, as the game creator is holding them captive unless they reach the 100th floor of the game's tower and defeat the final boss. However, if they die in the game, they die in real life. Their struggle for survival starts now...



Tags: Virtual World , Isekai , Death Game , Video Games , Male Protagonist , Swordplay , Primarily Teen Cast , Time Skip , Heterosexual , Female Harem , Artificial Intelligence , Travel , Fairy , Unrequited Love , Primarily Female Cast , Tragedy , Incest , Found Family , Prison , Fishing , Amnesia , Primarily Male Cast

NARUTO

Also known as Naruto.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Supernatural

Naruto Uzumaki, a hyperactive and knuckle-headed ninja, lives in Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf village. Moments prior to his birth, a huge demon known as the Kyuubi, the Nine-tailed Fox, attacked Konohagakure and wreaked havoc. In order to put an end to the Kyuubi's rampage, the leader of the village, the 4th Hokage, sacrificed his life and sealed the monstrous beast inside the newborn Naruto.

Shunned because of the presence of the Kyuubi inside him, Naruto struggles to find his place in the village. He strives to become the Hokage of Konohagakure, and he meets many friends and foes along the way.



Tags: Ninja , Shounen , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Super Power , Cultivation , Orphan , Martial Arts , Revenge , Anachronism , Battle Royale , Found Family , Primarily Child Cast , Ensemble Cast , Shapeshifting , Heterosexual , Kaiju , Bullying , Unrequited Love , Slapstick , Travel , Estranged Family , Gender Bending , School , Assassins , Love Triangle

ONE PIECE

Also known as ONE PIECE.

Studio: Toei Animation
Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy

Gold Roger was known as the Pirate King, the strongest and most infamous being to have sailed the Grand Line. The capture and death of Roger by the World Government brought a change throughout the world. His last words before his death revealed the location of the greatest treasure in the world, One Piece. It was this revelation that brought about the Grand Age of Pirates, men who dreamed of finding One Piece (which promises an unlimited amount of riches and fame), and quite possibly the most coveted of titles for the person who found it, the title of the Pirate King.

Enter Monkey D. Luffy, a 17-year-old boy that defies your standard definition of a pirate. Rather than the popular persona of a wicked, hardened, toothless pirate who ransacks villages for fun, Luffy’s reason for being a pirate is one of pure wonder; the thought of an exciting adventure and meeting new and intriguing people, along with finding One Piece, are his reasons of becoming a pirate. Following in the footsteps of his childhood hero, Luffy and his crew travel across the Grand Line, experiencing crazy adventures, unveiling dark mysteries and battling strong enemies, all in order to reach One Piece.

*This includes following special episodes:
- Chopperman to the Rescue! Protect the TV Station by the Shore! (Episode 336)
- The Strongest Tag-Team! Luffy and Toriko's Hard Struggle! (Episode 492)
- Team Formation! Save Chopper (Episode 542)
- History's Strongest Collaboration vs. Glutton of the Sea (Episode 590)
- 20th Anniversary! Special Romance Dawn (Episode 907)

Tags: Pirates , Travel , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Super Power , Found Family , Male Protagonist , Ships , Conspiracy , Slapstick , Time Skip , Tragedy , Slavery , Politics , War , Fugitive , Crime , Gods , Dystopian , Prison , Swordplay , Lost Civilization , Samurai , Monster Boy , Food , Henshin , Anthropomorphism , Medicine , Shapeshifting , Cyborg , Robots , Primarily Adult Cast , Desert , Animals , Guns , Skeleton , Anti-Hero , Artificial Intelligence , Anachronism , Marriage , Post-Apocalyptic , Espionage , Dragons , Asexual , Monster Girl , Fairy , Drugs , Kuudere , Assassins , Philosophy , Clone , Battle Royale , Aromantic , Trains , Ninja , Adoption , Female Protagonist , Mermaid , Gender Bending , Time Manipulation , Musical Theater , CGI , Angels , Zombie , Revenge , Unrequited Love , Body Swapping , Acting

Mob Psycho 100

Also known as Mob Psycho 100.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Psychological , Slice of Life , Supernatural

The story revolves around "Mob," a boy who will explode if his emotional capacity reaches 100%. This boy with psychic powers earned his nickname "Mob" because he does not stand out among other people. He keeps his psychic powers bottled up so he can live normally, but if his emotional level reaches 100, something will overwhelm his entire body.



Tags: Super Power , Coming of Age , Urban Fantasy , Ghost , Philosophy , Satire , Male Protagonist , Parody , Primarily Teen Cast , Urban , Shounen , Surreal Comedy , Disability , Primarily Male Cast , Conspiracy , School , Slapstick , Demons , Bullying , Delinquents , School Club , Fitness , Cult , Family Life , Gangs , Dissociative Identities , Unrequited Love

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso

Also known as Your lie in April.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Piano prodigy Arima Kousei dominated the competition and all child musicians knew his name. But after his mother, who was also his instructor, passed away, he had a mental breakdown while performing at a recital. This resulted in him no longer being able to hear the sound of his piano playing. Two years later, Kousei hasn’t touched the piano and views the world without any flair or color. He was content at living out his life with his good friends Tsubaki and Watari until, one day, a girl changed everything. Miyazono Kaori is a pretty, free spirited violinist whose playing style reflects her personality. Kaori helps Kousei return to the music world and show that it should be free and mold breaking unlike the structured and rigid style Kousei was used to.

Tags: Tragedy , Disability , Primarily Teen Cast , Coming of Age , Classical Music , Rehabilitation , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Unrequited Love , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , School , Philosophy , CGI , Tomboy , Suicide , Shounen , Slapstick , Football

NARUTO: Shippuuden

Also known as Naruto: Shippuden.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Supernatural

Naruto: Shippuuden is the continuation of the original animated TV series Naruto. The story revolves around an older and slightly more matured Uzumaki Naruto and his quest to save his friend Uchiha Sasuke from the grips of the snake-like Shinobi, Orochimaru. After 2 and a half years Naruto finally returns to his village of Konoha, and sets about putting his ambitions to work, though it will not be easy, as he has amassed a few (more dangerous) enemies, in the likes of the shinobi organization; Akatsuki.



Tags: Ninja , Shounen , Super Power , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , War , Revenge , Martial Arts , Coming of Age , Orphan , Conspiracy , Cultivation , Ensemble Cast , Necromancy , Anti-Hero , Politics , Time Skip , Gods , Swordplay , Fugitive , Terrorism , Military , Anachronism , Travel , Unrequited Love , Aliens , Kaiju , Shapeshifting , Nudity , Gender Bending , Slapstick , Estranged Family

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu

Also known as Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-.

Studio: White Fox
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Psychological , Romance , Thriller

In the story, Subaru Natsuki is an ordinary high school student who is lost in an alternate world, where he is rescued by a beautiful, silver-haired girl. He stays near her to return the favor, but the destiny she is burdened with is more than Subaru can imagine. Enemies attack one by one, and both of them are killed. He then finds out he has the power to rewind death, back to the time he first came to this world. But only he remembers what has happened since.



Notes:
- The first episode aired with a runtime of ~50 minutes as opposed to the standard 25 minute long episode.
- In the Winter 2020 season, Re:ZERO was rebroadcast and re-edited to fit into an hour time-slot. This edit included the first OVA and added slight modifications to certain scenes throughout. It also added an additional scene at the end of the final episode.

Tags: Isekai , Time Manipulation , Time Loop , Tragedy , Alternate Universe , Male Protagonist , Witch , Magic , Gore , Cult , Love Triangle , Body Horror , Maids , Suicide , Heterosexual , Primarily Female Cast , Unrequited Love , Elf , Yandere , Demons , Politics , Hikikomori , Coming of Age , Butler , Femboy , Tomboy , Travel , Twins , Assassins , Kemonomimi , Meta , Kuudere , Nekomimi , CGI , Dragons , Body Swapping , Crossdressing , Foreign , Tsundere

Toradora!

Also known as Toradora!.

Studio: J.C. Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Ryuuji Takasu is a gentle high school student with a love for housework; but in contrast to his kind nature, he has an intimidating face that often gets him labeled as a delinquent. On the other hand is Taiga Aisaka, a small, doll-like student, who is anything but a cute and fragile girl. Equipped with a wooden katana and feisty personality, Taiga is known throughout the school as the "Palmtop Tiger."

One day, an embarrassing mistake causes the two students to cross paths. Ryuuji discovers that Taiga actually has a sweet side: she has a crush on the popular vice president, Yuusaku Kitamura, who happens to be his best friend. But things only get crazier when Ryuuji reveals that he has a crush on Minori Kushieda—Taiga's best friend!

Toradora! is a romantic comedy that follows this odd duo as they embark on a quest to help each other with their respective crushes, forming an unlikely alliance in the process.

Tags: Tsundere , Coming of Age , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , Unrequited Love , Male Protagonist , Slapstick , Female Harem , Tragedy , Food , Fake Relationship

Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu

Also known as Parasyte -the maxim-.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Psychological , Sci-Fi

They arrive in silence and darkness. They descend from the skies. They have a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade–and take control of–a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces. So no one knows their secret–except an ordinary high school student. Shin is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?



Tags: Body Horror , Shapeshifting , Survival , Aliens , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Gore , Anti-Hero , Revenge , Seinen , Heterosexual , Crime , Tragedy , Cannibalism , Environmental , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Urban , Military , Guns , Coming of Age , Love Triangle , Villainess , Bullying , Female Harem , Unrequited Love , Nudity

Darling in the Franxx

Also known as DARLING in the FRANXX.

Studio: Trigger , CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mecha , Psychological , Romance , Sci-Fi

The distant future: Humanity established the mobile fort city, Plantation, upon the ruined wasteland. Within the city were pilot quarters, Mistilteinn, otherwise known as the “Birdcage.” That is where the children live... Their only mission in life was the fight. Their enemies are the mysterious giant organisms known as Kyoryu. The children operate robots known as FRANXX in order to face these still unseen enemies. Among them was a boy who was once called a child prodigy: Code number 016, Hiro. One day, a mysterious girl called Zero Two appears in front of Hiro. “I’ve found you, my Darling.”



Tags: Orphan , Super Robot , Post-Apocalyptic , Dystopian , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Robots , Tragedy , Heterosexual , Conspiracy , Found Family , Psychosexual , Femdom , Kaiju , Monster Girl , Lost Civilization , Memory Manipulation , Aliens , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Politics , Demons , Environmental , Love Triangle , Military , Clone , Monster Boy , Travel , Family Life , Virginity , Unrequited Love , Space , Nudity , Body Horror , Netorare , Survival , Yandere , Time Skip , Marriage , Tsundere , Drawing , Medicine , Reincarnation , Aviation , Agriculture , Fishing , Gore , Pandemic

Sword Art Online II

Also known as Sword Art Online II.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

One year after the SAO incident, Kirito is approached by Seijiro Kikuoka from Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Department "VR Division" with a rather peculiar request. That was an investigation on the "Death Gun" incident that occurred in the gun and steel filled VRMMO called Gun Gale Online (GGO). "Players who are shot by a mysterious avatar with a jet black gun lose their lives even in the real world..." Failing to turn down Kikuoka's bizarre request, Kirito logs in to GGO even though he is not completely convinced that the virtual world could physically affect the real world.

Kirito wanders in an unfamiliar world in order to gain any clues about the "Death Gun." Then, a female sniper named Sinon who owns a gigantic "Hecate II" rifle extends Kirito a helping hand. With Sinon's help, Kirito decides to enter the "Bullet of Bullets," a large tournament to choose the most powerful gunner within the realm of GGO, in hopes to become the target of the "Death Gun" and make direct contact with the mysterious avatar.



Tags: Virtual World , Primarily Female Cast , Video Games , Male Protagonist , Battle Royale , Guns , Swordplay , Female Protagonist , Death Game , Tragedy , Bullying , Female Harem , Primarily Teen Cast , Assassins , Tomboy , Kuudere , Crossdressing , Unrequited Love

Mob Psycho 100 II

Also known as Mob Psycho 100 II.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Psychological , Slice of Life , Supernatural

The second season of Mob Psycho 100.

Kageyama is an ordinary 8th grader who just wants to live a normal life. Although he can disappear in the crowd in a flash, he was actually the most powerful psychic. The lives of those around Mob and his numerous feelings that softly piles up for the eventual explosion. The mysterious group "Claw" stands before him once again. In the midst of his youthful days, where will his roaring heart take him!?



Tags: Super Power , Coming of Age , Urban Fantasy , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Shounen , Primarily Teen Cast , Satire , Ghost , Terrorism , Primarily Male Cast , Tragedy , Urban , School , Primarily Child Cast , Body Horror , Surreal Comedy , Slapstick , School Club , Bullying , Athletics , Unrequited Love

Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru

Also known as My Dress-Up Darling.

Studio: CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Ecchi , Romance , Slice of Life

High schooler Wakana Gojou cares about one thing: making Hina dolls. With nobody to share his obsession, he has trouble finding friends—or even holding conversation. But after the school’s most popular girl, Marin Kitagawa, reveals a secret of her own, he discovers a new purpose for his sewing skills. Together, they’ll make her cosplay dreams come true!



Tags: Cosplay , Otaku Culture , Fashion , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , Gyaru , Seinen , Photography , Slapstick , Coming of Age , School , Tsundere , Urban , Unrequited Love , Nudity

DEVILMAN crybaby

Also known as Devilman Crybaby.

Studio: Science SARU
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Psychological , Supernatural

New Devilman project marking Go Nagai's 50th anniversary as a creator.

The protagonist Akira Fudou learns from his best friend, Ryou Asuka, that an ancient race of demons has returned to take back the world from humans. Ryou tells Akira that the only way to defeat the demons is to incorporate their supernatural powers, and suggests that he unite with a demon himself. Akira succeeds in transforming into Devilman, who possesses both the powers of a demon and the soul of a human. The battle of Devilman and Akira Fudou begins.



Tags: Demons , Tragedy , Body Horror , Gore , Urban Fantasy , Gods , Shapeshifting , Psychosexual , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Cosmic Horror , Nudity , War , Monster Boy , Angels , Henshin , Anti-Hero , Mythology , Coming of Age , Unrequited Love , Cannibalism , Revenge , LGBTQ+ Themes , Athletics , Boys' Love , Hip-hop Music , Heterosexual , Guns , Drugs , Meta , Masturbation , Bisexual , Public Sex , Politics , Motorcycles , Afterlife , Shounen , Post-Apocalyptic , Conspiracy

Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai

Also known as I Want to Eat Your Pancreas.

Studio: Studio VOLN
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Spring time in April and the last of the cherry blossoms are still in bloom. The usually aloof bookworm with no interest in others comes across a book in a hospital waiting room. Handwritten on the cover are the words: "Living with Dying." He soon discovers that it is a diary kept by his very popular and genuinely cheerful classmate, Sakura Yamauchi, who reveals to him that she is secretly suffering from a pancreatic illness and only has a limited time left. It is at this moment that she gains just one more person to share her secret.

Trying to maintain a normal life as much as possible, Sakura is determined to live her life to the fullest until the very last day. As her free spirit and unpredictable actions throw him for a loop, his heart begins to gradually change.



Tags: Tragedy , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Philosophy , Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Rehabilitation , Classic Literature , Achronological Order , Unrequited Love , School

Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan

Also known as The Disastrous Life of Saiki K..

Studio: J.C. Staff , EGG FIRM
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life , Supernatural

To the average person, psychic abilities might seem a blessing; for Kusuo Saiki, however, this couldn't be further from the truth. Gifted with a wide assortment of supernatural abilities ranging from telepathy to x-ray vision, he finds this so-called blessing to be nothing but a curse. As all the inconveniences his powers cause constantly pile up, all Kusuo aims for is an ordinary, hassle-free life—a life where ignorance is bliss.

Unfortunately, the life of a psychic is far from quiet. Though Kusuo tries to stay out of the spotlight by keeping his powers a secret from his classmates, he ends up inadvertently attracting the attention of many odd characters, such as the empty-headed Riki Nendou and the delusional Shun Kaidou. Forced to deal with the craziness of the people around him, Kusuo comes to learn that the ordinary life he has been striving for is a lot more difficult to achieve than expected.

Note: Aired in 2 versions, a 120-episode 5-minute short series, and a combined 24-episode 24-minute TV series with the same content.

Tags: Super Power , Surreal Comedy , Satire , Episodic , Parody , School , Meta , Mythology , Asexual , Male Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Shounen , Tsundere , Kuudere , Aromantic , Memory Manipulation , Urban , Chuunibyou , Unrequited Love , Ghost , Heterosexual , School Club , Gyaru , LGBTQ+ Themes , Incest , Video Games , Gangs

Kanojo, Okarishimasu

Also known as Rent-a-Girlfriend.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance

Kinoshita Kazuya is a 20-year-old failure of a college student. He managed to kiss his girlfriend once, but was dumped after a month. "Ugh... Damn it. I never want to go through that again."

Completely spiteful, Kazuya uses a certain method to date a girl. He goes to their meeting place and suddenly hears, "You're Kazuya-kun, right?" A beautiful girl brushing her long, black hair behind her ear was there, smiling at him. Her name was Mizuhara Chizuru. Something real is born after just a single rental! A reckless rom-com filled with love and excitement is about to begin!



Tags: Love Triangle , Male Protagonist , Female Harem , Heterosexual , Unrequited Love , Slapstick , Masturbation , Shounen , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Female Cast , Fake Relationship , Tsundere , Work , Surreal Comedy , College , Acting , Female Protagonist , Urban , Anti-Hero , Feet

Tokyo Ghoul:re

Also known as Tokyo Ghoul:re.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Two years have passed since the CCG’s raid on Anteiku. Although the atmosphere in Tokyo has changed drastically due to the increased influence of the CCG, ghouls continue to pose a problem as they have begun taking caution, especially the terrorist organization Aogiri Tree, who acknowledge the CCG’s growing threat to their existence. The creation of a special team, known as the Quinx Squad, may provide the CCG with the push they need to exterminate Tokyo’s unwanted residents. As humans who have undergone surgery in order to make use of the special abilities of ghouls, they participate in operations to eradicate the dangerous creatures. The leader of this group, Haise Sasaki, is a half-ghoul, half-human who has been trained by famed special class investigator, Kishou Arima. However, there’s more to this young man than meets the eye, as unknown memories claw at his mind, slowly reminding him of the person he used to be.

Tags: Detective , Amnesia , Tragedy , Dissociative Identities , Male Protagonist , Time Skip , Urban Fantasy , Police , Body Horror , Gore , Crossdressing , Hikikomori , Seinen , Primarily Adult Cast , Urban , Unrequited Love , Slapstick , Femdom , Bondage , Heterosexual , Martial Arts , Mythology