Top 10 Romance Anime of 2016
1. A Silent Voice
After transferring into a new school, a deaf girl, Shouko Nishimiya, is bullied by the popular Shouya Ishida. As Shouya continues to bully Shouko, the class turns its back on him. Shouko transfers and Shouya grows up as an outcast. Alone and depressed, the regretful Shouya finds Shouko to make amends.
(Source: Eleven Arts)
2. Your Name.
Mitsuha Miyamizu, a high school girl, yearns to live the life of a boy in the bustling city of Tokyo—a dream that stands in stark contrast to her present life in the countryside. Meanwhile in the city, Taki Tachibana lives a busy life as a high school student while juggling his part-time job and hopes for a future in architecture.
One day, Mitsuha awakens in a room that is not her own and suddenly finds herself living the dream life in Tokyo—but in Taki's body! Elsewhere, Taki finds himself living Mitsuha's life in the humble countryside. In pursuit of an answer to this strange phenomenon, they begin to search for one another.
Kimi no Na wa. revolves around Mitsuha and Taki's actions, which begin to have a dramatic impact on each other's lives, weaving them into a fabric held together by fate and circumstance.
(Source: MAL Rewrite)
3. Doukyuusei -Classmates-
Sajou is an honor student with perfect scores in every subject on his high school entrance exam. Kusakabe plays guitar in his band that performs at live events and is popular among the girls. These boys would have never crossed paths. But one day Kusakabe offers to help Sajou prepare for their upcoming chorus festival and the two begin to talk. As the two meet after school, they bond through songs and begin to harmonize as their hearts beat together.
It starts out slowly but soon their feelings for one another grow and suddenly they both realize that they are in love. Kusakabe's emotions are frivolous, pure and direct causing Sajou to hesitate at first, but he gradually opens his heart. The boys learn about each other, as well as themselves, as they support one another during this difficult time in their youth.
As the time to start thinking about their futures approaches, what do these young men find as they try to move forward...
(Source: Aniplex of America)
4. Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-
In the story, Subaru Natsuki is an ordinary high school student who is lost in an alternate world, where he is rescued by a beautiful, silver-haired girl. He stays near her to return the favor, but the destiny she is burdened with is more than Subaru can imagine. Enemies attack one by one, and both of them are killed. He then finds out he has the power to rewind death, back to the time he first came to this world. But only he remembers what has happened since.
(Source: Anime News Network)
Notes:
- The first episode aired with a runtime of ~50 minutes as opposed to the standard 25 minute long episode.
- In the Winter 2020 season, Re:ZERO was rebroadcast and re-edited to fit into an hour time-slot. This edit included the first OVA and added slight modifications to certain scenes throughout. It also added an additional scene at the end of the final episode.
5. Kamisama Hajimemashita: Kamisama, Shiawase ni Naru
Bundled with the official fanbook.
6. Snow White with the Red Hair Season 2
Second season of Akagami no Shirayuki-hime.
7. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO! OVA
An adaptation of a story from volume 10.5 about Iroha Isshiki.
After accepting a weekend invitation, Hachiman Hikigaya accompanies Iroha Isshiki around the Chiba Prefecture to brainstorm ideas suitable for an ideal date with Hayato Hayama. As the duo wanders from place to place without a plan, they seemingly enjoy each other's company. Yet, through these straightforward and sincere interactions, the meaning behind what it means to be genuine continues to intrigue Hachiman and his outlook for the future of the Volunteer Service Club and its members.
(Source: MAL Rewrite)
Note: Bundled with the limited edition of the Yahari Game demo Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru. Zoku PlayStation Vita game from 5pb.
8. ReLIFE
The story follows Kaizaki Arata, a 27-year-old jobless man, who fails at every job interview he had after quitting his last company. His life changes after he met Yoake Ryou of the ReLife Research Institute, who offered him a drug that can change his appearance to 17-years-old and to become a subject in an experiment for one year. Thus, he begins his life as a high school student once more.
9. Sailor Moon Crystal Season 3
Third cour of Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Crystal.
The new season will assemble all 10 Senshi — specifically, the popular outer Senshi such as Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, and Sailor Saturn will join Sailor Moon, Sailor Chibi Moon, and the others. The new season will adapt the arc from the fifth and sixth volumes of the complete edition of Naoko Takeuchi's original Sailor Moon manga.
10. Snow White with the Red Hair: Nandemonai Takaramono, Kono Page
The OAD will adapt three chapters from the original manga. The OAD is adapting the 41st chapter of the manga where Shirayuki and Zen go on a date in the castle town. The anime is also adapting a special chapter from volume seven — which follows Prince Raji as a child — as well as a special chapter from volume 11 that chronicles how Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki first met.
(Source: Anime News Network)