Best Interspecies Romances In Anime

Summary

• Inter-species romance anime defy societal norms and prejudices.
• Romance narratives explore complex relationships and personal growth.
• Themes of acceptance, healing, and overcoming obstacles prevail.

If there is anything to learn from romance anime, it’s that love conquers all, even when the parties involved are of different species. Whether it’s ‘monster girl falls for human boy’ or ‘wolf meets bunny rabbit,’ interspecies romances come in various shapes, stripes, and flavors. It seems that in fiction, the rules of biology are merely suggestions, not rules.

These couples often encounter obstacles and prejudice from those around them, much like interracial and inter-community couples in real life. Taking the concept of ‘star-crossed lovers’ to a whole new level, these romances prove that even the oddest of couples can work.

8

Tsukasa and Yuuki (Devils’ Line)

College Student Catches Feelings For a Half-Vampire

• Release Date: April 7, 2018
• Studio: Platinum Vision
• Creator: Ryo Hanada
• No. of Episodes: 12

Plenty of vampire romance anime exist, but Devils’ Line stands out for exploring the societal stigma against human-vampire relations. The series follows an ordinary college student named Tsukasa Taira and her growing relationship with a half-vampire named Yuuki Anzai.

The romance between Tsukasa and Yuuki is fraught with tension, as Yuuki struggles with his inner demons and vampiric urges. The series’ juxtaposition of brutal violence and tender romance creates a deeply engaging narrative.

7

Sariphi and Leonhart (Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts)

Orphan Girl’s Kindness Breaks a Lion King’s Icy Exterior

• Release Date: April 19, 2023
• Studio: J.C. Staff
• Creator: Yu Tomofuji
• No. of Episodes: 24

Sacrificial Princess and the Beast King follows the relationship between a human girl named Sariphi and the Beast King, Leonhart. In the beginning, their bond is defined by the circumstances of Sariphi’s fate as a human sacrifice. Every few years, the King of Beasts demands a sacrifice to maintain peace between humans and beasts.

Leonhart, expecting the young girl to be fearful and submissive, is shocked and intrigued by Sariphi’s calm demeanor and kindness. Sariphi, in turn, sees beyond Leonhart’s fearsome reputation and encourages him to confront his insecurities.

6

Hana and the Wolf-Man (Wolf Children)

Young College Student Falls for Her Half-Wolf Classmate

The relationship between the main protagonist Hana and the Wolf-Man ends in tragedy, but it forms the emotional foundation of the Wolf Children. Hana meets the unnamed Wolf-Man during her second year of college and falls in love with him after seeing him help a child.

The Wolf-Man eventually reveals his secret — he is the last of a lineage of wolf people who can shift between wolf and human form. While this revelation could have driven the couple apart, Hana accepts him for who he is. Unfortunately, their idyllic life is cut short after their children are born, with the Wolf-Man dying tragically in an accident.

5

Kimihito and His Monster Girl Harem (Monster Musume: Everyday Life with Monster Girls)

Ordinary Man Lets Monster Girls Move in with Him

Monster Musume: Everyday Life with Monster Girls doesn’t just have an interspecies romance; it has an interspecies harem. The life of the protagonist, Kimihito Kurusu, takes a chaotic turn when he is unwillingly roped into the ‘Interspecies Cultural Exchange Act’ — a program designed to help half-human, half-mythical creatures integrate into human society.

Kimihito’s first encounter is with Miia, a lamia who becomes the first monster girl to live with him. As the series progresses, more girls move in with him, each bringing their own unique quirks and challenges.

4

Nagasumi and Sun (My Bride is a Mermaid)

High School Boy Marries a Mermaid Mafia Princess

• Release Date: April 2, 2007
• Studio: Gonzo & AIC
• Creator: Tahiko Kimura
• No. of Episodes: 26

Mermaids are common in interspecies romances, but what happens when the mermaid in question is also the daughter of a yakuza boss? My Bride is a Mermaid follows the relationship between an ordinary high school student named Nagasumi Michishio and Sun Seto, a mermaid.

The two cross paths when Nagasumi visits the Seto Inland Sea and nearly drowns while swimming. Sun saves him, but unfortunately, mermaid law dictates that if a human discovers a mermaid’s identity, the human or the mermaid must be put to death. Sun suggests they marry to save their lives, creating one of the most bizarre and chaotic marriages in anime history.

3

Chise and Elias (The Ancient Magus’ Bride)

Lonely Girl Becomes a Skull-Headed Sorcerer’s Apprentice

• Release Date: October 7, 2017
• Studio: Wit Studio (Season 1), Studio Kafka (Season 2)
• Creator: Kore Yamazaki
• No. of Episodes: 48

The romance in The Ancient Magus’ Bride is subtle, but it still counts. The story follows Chise Hatori, a fifteen-year-old girl who sells herself into slavery hoping to find a sense of purpose. She gets purchased by a powerful sorcerer with a skull for a head at an auction and starts working for him as an apprentice.

The relationship between Chise and Elias Ainsworth, the sorcerer, starts as merely transactional, with Elias seeing the girl as a rare human with magical abilities and Chise viewing the sorcerer as a lifeline from a life of rejection. As the story progresses, the relationship becomes one of mutual respect and healing.

2

Lawrence and Holo (Spice and Wolf)

Wolf Deity and Traveling Merchant Fall For Each Other

Spice and Wolf isn’t just an unconventional medieval economics lesson; it also gives viewers one of the most beautifully crafted romances in anime. Holo, a 600-year-old wolf deity of harvest, and Kraft Lawrence, a traveling merchant, first meet when Holo joins Lawrence on his trade journey.

The romance between the two is a slow burn. Both struggle with loneliness and find solace and a sense of belonging with each other. The tension between Holo’s immortal nature and Lawrence’s human nature also adds complexity to the relationship.

1

Haru and Legoshi (Beastars)

Gray Wolf and Dwarf Rabbit Break Societal Norms and Prejudices with Their Relationship

In the world of Beastars, carnivores and herbivores rarely form bonds, let alone romantic ones. Dwarf rabbit Haru and gray wolf Legoshi have made the impossible happen with their unconventional relationship. Their initial encounter is marked by Legoshi’s carnivorous instincts — he feels an uncontrollable urge to attack Haru due to her scent, but he resists.

This moment plants the seed for their complicated relationship, as it forces Legoshi to confront the duality of his feelings. Haru, who struggles with being seen as weak because of her small stature, finds Legoshi’s shyness and awkwardness refreshing.