Best Anime About Paranormal Romances

Paranormal as a word simply refers to the unexplained and often involves the supernatural in some form or another. Within media, this has captured the imagination of audiences for centuries and the medium of animation is no different.

Paranormal is essentially a plot device that can work within just about any genre. While romance isn’t usually the genre in which the paranormal is used the most, it is one in which it can work really well. There are a myriad of amazing anime stories within this genre, and here are some of the best.

10

Natsuyuki Rendezvouz

A Love Triangle…With A Ghost

The attachment that exists between a husband and a wife is very strong, and it is easy to believe that even in death, the bond still exists. This is the problem facing Ryousuke Hazuki, a young man who has noticed an alluring flower shop owner, Rokka.

The only problem is that Rokka’s late husband, Shimao, refuses to let go of his wife and is completely against the idea of the younger Hazuki stealing his wife’s heart. As is typical with most romance anime, hijinks ensue, but it is a heartwarming look into grief and moving on.

9

Sankarea: Undying Love

Chihiro Only Wants To Be With Zombies

Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies make up something like a trifecta of paranormal popular creatures, so it is unsurprising when a love story involving them comes up. In Sankarea, the series protagonist, Chihiro, falls in love with a zombie, Rea.

The natural difficulties that come from such a relationship are present, but what makes it stand out is how likable all the characters are. The protagonist does fall into the pervert MC trope, but he is actually a pretty nice character that audiences will find themselves rooting for.

8

Dusk Maiden of Amnesia

Dusk Maiden Mixes Romance And Horror Elements Perfectly

Yuuko is a girl whose remains are hidden in the basement of her school. With no memory of how she died, she leads the school’s Paranormal Investigations Club in a bid to find what happened to her amongst other mysteries of the school.

Teiichi is the average boy protagonist who seeks to help Yuuko in her investigations. The two share some truly tender moments, and the contrast between the tone of the show in its lighthearted and darker moments is a delight to the eyes. The show is haunting, and Yuuko is an intriguing character with a dark past that stimulates curiosity.

7

Call of the Night

An Anime About Vampires

When Call Of The Night came out in 2022, it captured a section of the anime fandom with its incredible use of sound, colors, and a tonal resonance of yearning. The story is about Kou Yamori, an insomniac who wonders about love.

Upon meeting the vampire Nazuna , who bites him and tells him he must fall in love with her before he can become one of the undead, Kou decides to try to fall in love. The show really picks up the pace towards its conclusion, but the atmosphere it creates is where its magic lies.

6

The Ancient Magus’ Bride

The Power Of A Fantasy World

Chise Hatori hates herself and truly sees no value to her life, and so when she is sold into ‘slavery’ to a mysterious man, she barely even registers the event. But the man she has been purchased by is no ordinary human, but is a powerful mage.

The world of Ancient Magus Bride is vibrant, colorful and calming and the story manages to hook viewers even without any flashy antics or other devices. Chise and the Magus, Elias, start to understand each other and care for each other. Chise’s world begins to open up and she starts to see her worth.

5

Kamisama Kiss

A Reverse Harem Full Of 2000s Anime Nostalgia

Kamisama Kiss tells the story of Nanami who through a series of events finds herself tasked with becoming the land god of a rundown shrine. At the risk of being homeless, Nanami immerses herself in her new duties.

But there are romantic tensions with the fox familiar, Tomoe, who is initially reluctant to help Nanami, but softens towards her as time goes on. The show does get dark from time to time but is ultimately a fun romantic comedy that reminds viewers of a bygone era of the fun reverse harem.

4

Spice And Wolf

Lawrence And Holo Make The Most Adorable Couple

Spice And Wolf was always one of those shows that ardent anime watchers talked about as an underrated classic. First released in 2008, a newer generation got to experience the magic of the show with its 2024 reboot.

The story centers on the travels of a merchant, Lawrence, and the wolf deity, Holo, who meet various characters on the way, while growing closer in their relationship. While the relationship is perhaps more apparent in the newer version, but older anime watchers will always remember classic Lawrence and Holo with fondness.

3

Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai

Mai And Sakuta Have Some Of The Best Chemistry

Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai is a little different in that unlike many other entries where the relationship is between a human and a supernatural entity, the couple here are both human. The supernatural elements are the things that happen around them which all revolves around the so-called puberty syndrome.

Mai and Sakuta are excellent characters with Mai’s quick wittedness and Sukuta’s dryness, making for peak entertainment. The characters draw the viewers in and the romance is just so adorable.

2

Bakemonogatari

A Tale That Is Confusingly Entertaining

The Monogatari series is a weird one. On one hand, there are those who can truly appreciate it for what it is and enjoy it, while a lot of people don’t get it, but will pretend to do so to seem more cultured. That said, Bakemonogatari, the most famous of the series, is certainly worthy of a watch.

There are many great things about the show from the complex dialogue, to the trippy art style, to the random bits of fanservice. But, an oft overlooked aspect of the show is the chemistry between the love interests, Araragi and Senjougahara. The two just work, and the conversations between the two are some of the best in anime.

1

Fruits Basket

A Timeless Romance That Got Better With The Reboot

There has been a glut of anime remakes over the last decade with some doing better than others. A title that has most definitely done better with the modern treatment is Fruits Basket. Initially aired in 2001, it got a reboot in 2019 which really took the story and animation to another level.

Tohru Honda is a sweet girl who gets caught up with the mysterious Soma family. They have cute boys to the rafters, but also suffer from an ancient curse which makes it so that they turn into animals when hugged by someone of the opposite sex. Tohru seeks to break their chains, and a heartwarming love story ensues.