The romance anime genre is one of the most popular and diverse genres due to its unique story-telling techniques and the sheer variety of shows available. With so many available shows, it raises the question of what makes a good romance anime. Is it the MC (or main character), opening, or how the characters get together? More often than not, the answer is all of the above. However, the depth and uniqueness of the MC are almost the most important factors.
This genre has evolved much from the classic tale of boy meets girl. Nowadays, the originality and character depth of the MC is the most important factor when searching for a good rom-com. In this list, we will look at anime MCs who are able not just to carry their respective show but also put their unique spin on the romance genre.
Hikigaya Hachiman – My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU (OreGairu)
In romance, no anime protagonist is as unique and fun as Hikigaya Hachiman. He is famous for his antisocial and pessimistic view of life and is one of the series’ most relatable and well-received characters.
Unlike many other anime, Oregairu focused on its romance alongside acceptance and the need for change, and no character embodied this in the entire series like Hikigaya. His journey from being an outcast to someone who cares about his friends is truly inspiring. He learns that everyone deserves to be happy, even him, which leads him to confess his feelings for Yukino. Besides, some of his quotes are still being quoted today with no signs of becoming irrelevant anytime soon.
Miyuki Shirogane – Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
Crowned one of the best romance anime series, Kaguya-sama explores the romance genre through psychological warfare. As the two protagonists fight to see who confesses their love for the other first in this unique storyline, they need characters who can match the epic story.
Miyuki is the student council president, and despite being a second year, his passion and determination are without question. He loves his duty as school president, even sacrificing his sleep to make up for his busy schedule while secretly handling his love for Kaguya Shinomiya.
Hirotaka Nifuji – Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku took a unique spin on anime by looking at four working adults’ lives as they try to navigate their work life and their romantic relationships while being an otaku. Amidst this, Hirotaka Nifuji is one of the main characters in Wotakoi alongside his girlfriend, Narumi Momose.
Hirotaka Nifuji is a typical run-of-the-mill otaku and an avid gamer who doesn’t let the thoughts of others bother him. In a time in Japan where being an otaku is considered undesirable and unattractive, Hirotaka is a confident and proud otaku who loves gaming and his girlfriend.
Sakuta Azusagawa – Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
Sakuta Azusagawa is the main protagonist of the Bunny Girl Senpai franchise. He is a calm guy who is relatively isolated from others, but don’t let that fool you. He isn’t afraid to show his playful and perverted side to the girls he interacts with, often making pervy comments, hence the “Rascal” from the series’ name.
Despite his pervy attitude, he is one of the most dependable characters, dropping everything to help the people he cares about, even at the cost of his life. This trait of his makes him one of the most romance anime MCs.
Izumi Miyamura – Horimiya
Izumi Miyamura is the main character of the Horimiya series. He is first depicted as a gloomy nerd with no friends and hangs out alone until he has an interesting encounter with Kyouko Hori, who meets Miyamura outside school and finds out his looks are deceiving.
The two eventually fall in love despite being opposites. While Hori is shown to be popular, bright, and beautiful, Miyamura is known to be dull and generally attractive in school. However, when his relationship is called into question by the rest of their peers, Miyamura is forced to make a change for the one he loves.
