It is the simplest of romance tropes, and one of the most classic. You take two people of opposite demeanor or circumstance and craft a love story from them. They grow to understand each other and the bonds of love form. It isn’t uncommon in anime and you will find that two opposites falling in love is actually the foundation for some of the more popular romance anime series.
Best Romance Anime Where Opposites Attract
I Can’t Understand What My Husband is Saying
This romance anime focuses on cultural differences. You have your standard office woman who enjoys social drinking after work married to an otaku man who enjoys anime. They are made out as two completely different people, but found enough similarities to get married. It is proof that couples need not have the same hobbies to make a relationship work. However, this series is a comedy, so don’t expect much relationship drama.
Your Lie in April
At a glance, this doesn’t seem to fit this trope. The pair in love are both musicians after all, but their differences lie in demeanor. Kousei is paralyzed by depression, abandoning music completely, while Kaori is as bright as the sun, forging new paths from convention in classical music.
Toradora
Ryuuji has the face of a thug, but the kind and caring demeanor of a househusband. Taiga is small and as beautiful as a doll, but with a vicious temper. They are both outcasted by preconceived notions, but a chance encounter binds them together in the shared tasks of getting their crushes to notice their affections. Of course, this only serves to build feelings between them.
Gravitation
Opposites attract is a popular theme in yaoi, and it is the basis in Gravitation, one of the more popular series. Shuichi is a vocalist who is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Yuuki is a brooding older novelist. The sheer differences in their demeanor is the set up for much of the show’s drama and passion.
My Little Monster
The romance in My Little Monster is of fire and ice. Shizuku is cold and studious, but Haru has an a personality that burns violently. She is able to control him when no one else can while he is able to melt her. If I am being honest, the anime is woefully cut short and you get much better payoff in the manga for this one.
Say I Love You
This anime series tells a story that everyone is familiar with. The love story between a quiet relatively unpopular girl and an outgoing and popular boy. Of course, you will find that both characters have wounds that are slowly healed by the other. It is a series full of drama, but it does have its quite touching moments as well.
Kimi ni Todoke
Like the aforementioned Say I Love You, Kimi ni Todoke tells rather literally the same story. A popular guy suddenly takes notice of a shy and unpopular girl. The difference is that the pair are more upbeat and generally less wounded below the surface. It makes for less drama and more general wholesomeness. Unfortunately, the romance moves at a snail’s pace.
Mischievous Kiss
In Mischievous Kiss, the main girl is an earnest, albeit spectacularly dim, hard-worker and the main guy is a bit of a fuck face. I have cited the issues I have with this particular romance before, but that sadly doesn’t make it less titillating. The main guy is cold, distant, and just plain mean until it suits moving the plot forward, and it furthers a common misconception that you can change someone’s feelings if you are persistent enough.
Super Lovers
On the topic of anime series I don’t generally like to bring up, Super Lovers, like Gravitation, is a yaoi series that features two opposites with an uncomfortable age gap coming together. This time it is a bit worse though since the main character really charmed his future lover when he was a literal child. That aside, both characters are similarly damaged in different ways, but they are different in their fundamental personalities. Ren is quiet and reserved while Haru is friendly and outgoing.
My Love Story
This the love story between Takeo, brutish and a bit ugly in the face, and the cute girl he saves from a molester on the train. It is not often the big guy that gets the girl, since he is portrayed as the best friend of the handsome guy. It is a welcome twist all around and this series is full of wholesome sappiness.
Citrus
The yuri genre is not immune from this trope, and Citrus takes every advantage of it. You have Yuzu who is vibrant, fashionable, but innocent. Then you have Mei who is stone serious, but seductive. It is a uniquely passionate entanglement full of as much drama as there is passion.
Fruits Basket
While Fruits Basket is something of a reverse harem, though not every man is after the main character, it is clear that two are well interested. One is more mild tempered like the earnest main character. However, the other is a fiery bad boy. Three guesses on who will be attracted to who.
3D Girlfriend
This is the unique romantic tale between a man that prefers 2D girls to 3D girls falling in love with a girl that is a bit of a troublemaker. Of course, she has the exact opposite the attitude of your typical demure 3D girl. Yes, it is a bit meta. Yes, it is a lovely comedy as well. And finally, yes, it is actually quite a good underrated romance.
My First Girlfriend is a Gal
In truth, the main characters may not be as opposite as they think themselves. The main character is your average boy, of course, but he ends up falling in love with a gal. This is a translated term for girls that are tan, fashionable, and a bit loose. However, the gal in question looks like one, but it actually just as innocent romantically.
Beastars
Beastars is a series that takes opposites attract quite literally. It is the romance between a gentle-hearted wolf that fights his own predatory nature and a rabbit that embraces their proclivity for procreation. It you have given Beastars a pass because it is anthropomorphic characters, I highly recommend you reconsider because it is quite the lovely romance and the series as a whole is a dark and surprisingly deep pool.
Do you have more romance anime where opposites attract? Let fans know in the comments section below.
