Best Romance-themed Anime of all time

[rocklobster]

In honor of Valentine's Day, what were the best Anime Romance series of all time?
Here's mine:
Crest/Banner of the Stars (Lafiel and Jinto. They belong together)
Tenchi Muyo
Sailor Moon

[CDLviking]

Who could ever forget Ranma and Akane, or Ranma and Shampoo, or Ranma and Ukyo, or....
So yeah, I would put Ranma 1/2 on the list.
Macross is also one of the classic romance stories of anime, but also one of the most frustrating (as love triangles tend to be).

[That Dude]

I totally agree with Macross. I'd have to say that it is the best of all. I'd have to add Escaflowne (it gets kind of annoying but it's still great.) One of the best is Nadesico though.

[shooraijin]

Maison Ikkoku. ^^

[Mangafanatic]

Full Moon Wo Sagashite. It was sooo cute. *sniff sniff*

[Spiritsword]

The love story developing in the Tsubasa manga looks to be a good one, and Sakura and Shaoran's romance in CCS is very cute.

In anime, I think The Vision of Escaflowne and Voices of a Distant Star are my favorites. Voices was so touching. ^___^

[Kireihana]

I agree with Osaka, Full Moon wo Sagashite was great. Although it's like one of the only romance anime I've seen. XD

[Debitt]

I liked the romantic elements of Escaflowne. ^_^ Hitomi and Van forever!

And though His and Her Circumstances has some parts that I don't agree with, I thought the relationship itself was very cute.

[Jeikobu]

Ai Yori Aoshi all the way. It's a very touching, romantic anime I am proud to own, and I think that the only anime series that I like better out of any genre is Pocket Monsters (the Kanto eps).

[TheMelodyMaker]

Normally I might say Hamtaro for its little bit of romance here and there, but I think I'm going to second Sailor Moon this time around.

[Rogie]

No one can topple Marmalade Boy. There are more romances in that anime than all other anime romances combined (*exaggerating slightly*). And, what's more, I'm only maybe a third into the series, so who knows how many more romantic triangles, rectangles, or octagons will sprout up!

I would also agree with Sailor Moon, and I would add Comic Party and Gundam 0083. Gundam 0083 is especially powerful in the romance department due to the war background. ^^

[Mr. SmartyPants]

full moon wo sagashite and aishiteruze baby

[Kisa]

Ooo tough.... mine would be:
Full Moon wo Sagashite, Imadoki, DNAngel, Pretear, Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch....
can't think right now.. too late at night... ><

[Arnobius]

Love Hina (manga)
Maison Ikkoku

[spoiler]The thing I preferred LH over MI was the fact that in Maison Ikkoku, Godai and Kyoko wound up in bed before they got married, while Keitaro and Naru's sexual activity between the end of the manga and their marriage in the epilogue was left unexplored[/spoiler]
A lot of people do say Sailor Moon, but that one seems rather clingy, and the 7 years difference in age between Mamoru and Usagi is a bit odd...

The problem I have with a lot of anime is they go too far too fast.

[Ashley]

Full Moon wo Sagashite, of course, as well as Tanemura's other definitive work, KKJ. Hail Tanemura, queen of romantic angst!

And what about Fruits Basket? How many of us faithful readers haven't swooned over this scene or that, regardless of our cat or mouse-boy fandom.

DNAngel too; I mean, come on, that's a central plot theme!

[CDLviking]

No one can topple Marmalade Boy. There are more romances in that anime than all other anime romances combined (*exaggerating slightly*). And, what's more, I'm only maybe a third into the series, so who knows how many more romantic triangles, rectangles, or octagons will sprout up!

Come now, Ranma has more fiancees than one could shake a stick at. It's not even a love triangle, it's a love web.

Where's all the Ranma love gone?

[Kaori]

I very rarely watch or read anything that is purely romantic in nature, but there are a few anime with love stories that I have enjoyed. Samurai X would probably rank among my favorites, and Gasaraki has a fairly nice, understated romance.

[Arnobius]

Come now, Ranma has more fiancees than one could shake a stick at. It's not even a love triangle, it's a love web.

Where's all the Ranma love gone?

We lost patience after seeing the same story 40 times ]the parents divorcing each other to marry the other is something St Paul would have had some things to say about and the couple's decision at the end to carry on a relationship they believe is morally wrong (incest) before learning the truth is certainly contrary to Christian morality[/spoiler]

[shooraijin]

The same story 40 times ... too true. But I love it anyway.

I forgot to mention Kimagure Orange Road, also. As far as Maison Ikkoku,

[spoiler]at least in the anime it's not shown -- the lights just go out and the viewer can think whatever he wants to about that IMHO. Unfortunate that the manga is rather more blunt. ;-;[/spoiler]

[The Doctor]

Hmm....Robotech has my favorite love story of all anime...that and thus far Banner of the Stars....since it is a LONG DEVELOPING love story from first meeting, to friendship, to finally romance. VERY long, but sweet.

[Mimichan]

What about Fushigi Yuugi.? or Hana Yori Dango?....well, I only saw the first 12 eps of HYD....so, I dunno. But it seemed romantic enough.

[Cap'n Nick]

Heheh, Ranma. I suspected for awhile that the series would end with a wide pan of every woman in Japan standing in line in front of the Tendo dojo waiting for her turn to confess that she too was engaged to Ranma. At least, that's how I would have done it.

[shooraijin]

That's true, there's Hana Yori Dango, though the dynamics of that romance are ... a little odd. ^_^;;

On Ranma, I think the best parts of the romance occur in the OAVs and movies, though. I still sob through the Ballad of Ranma and Akane.

[CDLviking]

I can't decide whether I like the end of the Christmas episode or Reawakening Memories better.

[Nate]

Ai Yori Aoshi. Hands down.

Sailor Moon gets a mixed review...Chibiusa wanting her father is pretty screwed up, IMO...and even though Mamoru and Usagi really are destined to be together, he is a whole lot older than her. Also, even though homosexuality is wrong, I was still touched by how much Uranus and Neptune cared for each other.

I still say Ai Yori Aoshi is the best though.

Where's all the Ranma love gone?

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Ranma. Second favorite series of all time. I just don't see it as romantic. Maybe one or two episodes (and the second movie) but other than that, not very romantic.

[Rev. Doc]

I have to agree with the Shoorster. Maison Ikkoku and Kimagure Orange Road are not only at the top of my favorite Anime Romances but are the numbers 1 and 2 of my favorite animes of all time. My library is filled with Romantic and/or Comedic titles.

[Technomancer]

I'd nominate some of Studio Ghibli's work:
'Only Yesterday' and 'Whispers of the Heart'.

[Joshua Christopher]

Voices Of A Distant Star. ^_^
Nothing beats it.

[Mangafanatic]

Voices Of A Distant Star. ^_^
Nothing beats it.

Except that occasional story where the main characters actually end up together and happy in the end.

[shooraijin]

I can't decide whether I like the end of the Christmas episode or Reawakening Memories better.

I go for the Christmas episode]Akane is dragged down by the monster, almost lifeless in the water and presumably to be consumed[/spoiler] always seemed bleak. Even now it's probably the OAV arc I watch the least.