Anime Love Interests Better Than Bleach’s Orihime
Plenty of shonen anime series feature a female love interest to add emotional depth, friendship, and other kinds of support for the male lead, with Bleach starring Orihime Inoue as the apple of Ichigo Kurosaki’s eye. At first, the anime suggested that Ichigo and Rukia Kuchiki would become an item, only for Ichigo to end up with Orihime instead. That canon pairing had its fans, but it also had many detractors, and not just because fans felt like Orihime “stole” Ichigo from Rukia.
On the plus side, Orihime Inoue had unique spiritual powers and was a brave and loyal ally for her friends, but aside from that, Bleach fans didn’t see that much to like about her. Orihime had a pleasant yet generic personality and character arc, meaning she lacked the “wow” factor that makes other anime girls popular waifus or Best Girls. Orihime’s romantic connection felt a bit weak and forgettable aside from the almost-kiss scene, so anime fans can easily compare Orihime to other, better love interests in anime to show Orihime how it’s done. Such characters have better personalities, love lives, or both.
10 Hinata Hyuga Learned to Be Brave, Like Naruto
She Had a Compelling Arc as an “Ugly Duckling”
With Bleach and Naruto both being shonen “big three” titles, fans may fairly compare Orihime Inoue to Hinata Hyuga, and overall, Hinata is ahead. These love interests are on equal ground as far as marrying the main character goes, but otherwise, Hinata has more appeal with her combat skills and inspiring arc. She was the one who went from zero to hero, with Naruto Uzumaki’s words lighting a fire in her heart during the Chunin Exam.
Hinata kept growing braver, stronger, and more confident since then, and when Pain attacked the Hidden Leaf Village, Hinata put herself between that supervillain and Naruto because of the love in her heart. Hinata may not have won that battle, but it was a braver and more inspiring move than anything Orihime did in Bleach.
Naruto
Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja, struggles as he searches for recognition and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the village’s leader and strongest ninja.
- Release Date
- September 10, 2002
- Cast
- Junko Takeuchi , Maile Flanagan , Kate Higgins
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator
- Masashi Kishimoto
- Production Company
- Pierrot, Staralis Film Company
- Number of Episodes
- 220
9 Ochaco Uraraka Pushed Herself to be More Like Deku
She Was the Anime’s Best Underdog All Along
Ochaco Uraraka soon became one of My Hero Academia‘s best girls thanks to her unique fighting style, her lovable personality, and her incredible grit as a true underdog. She was also noble in a simple yet heartfelt way, wishing to become a pro hero to financially support her parents and thus repay them for all they had done for her.
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On top of that, Ochaco strives to emulate Deku in all the right ways, following his personal example as a homemade hero who has everything to prove. She is braver and stronger than ever by now, risking her life many times not just to save Deku, but also save Himiko Toga from herself. Such an outstanding character arc and ample romantic tension makes anime fans dearly hope that Ochaco and Deku get together in the end.
My Hero Academia (2016)
Izuku has dreamt of being a hero all his life—a lofty goal for anyone, but especially challenging for a kid with no superpowers. That’s right, in a world where eighty percent of the population has some kind of super-powered “quirk,” Izuku was unlucky enough to be born completely normal. But that’s not enough to stop him from enrolling in one of the world’s most prestigious hero academies.
- Release Date
- April 3, 2016
- Cast
- Aoi Yuki , Ayane Sakura , Christopher R. Sabat , Yûki Kaji , Nobuhiko Okamoto , Luci Christian , David Matranga , Justin Briner , Kenta Miyake , Clifford Chapin , Daiki Yamashita
- Rating
- Seasons
- 7
- Franchise
- My Hero Academia
- Characters By
- Kohei Horikoshi
- Distributor
- FUNimation Entertainment
- Main Characters
- Tsuyu Asui, Katsuki Bakugo, Ochaco Uraraka, Izuku Midoriya, Shoto Todoroki, All Might
- Production Company
- Bones
- Story By
- Kōhei Horikoshi, Yōsuke Kuroda
- Number of Episodes
- 113
8 Rukia Kuchiki is Bleach’s Best Girl For Many Reasons
She Had Such Strong Chemistry With Ichigo
Even in her own Bleach universe, Orihime Inoue is not the best love interest whom fans can imagine getting together with Ichigo Kurosaki or shonen leads like him. Orihime had her appeal, but Rukia Kuchiki had even more, starting with the fact that Rukia was a proper fighter who glowed up a few times in the story. That made Rukia feel more like Ichigo’s equal than Orihime ever could.
Rukia also enjoyed strong and amusing chemistry with Ichigo, since they both acted like hotheaded yet well-meaning tsunderes anytime they came into contact with one another. Bleach fans enjoyed the “star-crossed lovers” vibe between Ichigo the human and Rukia the Soul Reaper, and even if it wasn’t meant to be, this pairing remains a popular one.
Bleach revolves around Kurosaki Ichigo, a regular always-grouchy high-schooler who for some strange reason is able to see the souls of the dead around him.
- Release Date
- September 6, 2006
- Cast
- Johnny Yong Bosch , Michelle Ruff , Stephanie Sheh , Jamieson Price , Derek Stephen Prince , Wally Wingert
- Seasons
- 16
- Creator
- Production Company
- Number of Episodes
- Streaming Service(s)
7 Lucy Heartfilia is Clever and Assertive in Wizard Battles
She Also Made a Better Protagonist Than Natsu Did
For a long time, the Fairy Tail anime has teased “will they, won’t they” with the co-stars, Natsu Dragneel the anime himbo and Lucy Heartfilia, the smart journalist wizard who recently joined the Fairy Tail guild. Even in the sequel anime, the two of them are not officially an item, but the anime has laid a proper foundation for that pairing, and the fandom’s imagination can do the rest.
Lucy’s smart mind and wealthy background make her a perfect foil for the oafish yet kind-hearted Natsu, making them different enough to feel electrifying together, yet similar enough to understand each other. Lucy is a terrific love interest, not just because she’s a clever and skilled wizard, but because she’s kind, loyal, courageous, and has a decent sense of humor while still having a lot of class.
Lucy, an aspiring Celestial Wizard, becomes a friend and ally to powerful wizards Natsu, Gray, and Erza, who are part of the (in)famous wizard guild, Fairy Tail.
- Release Date
- October 12, 2009
- Creator(s)
- Hiro Mashima , Masashi Sogo
- Cast
- Cherami Leigh , Todd Haberkorn , Tia Lynn Ballard , Colleen Clinkenbeard , Newton Pittman , Brittney Karbowski , Monical Rial , Brina Palencia
- Main Genre
- Action
- Seasons
- 9
- Writers
- Hiro Mashima , Masashi Sogo
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
- Franchise(s)
- Fairy Tail
- Directors
- Shinji Ishihira
6 Tohru Honda Healed the Sohmas With Her Inspiring Words
Kyo Sohma Loved Her For Saving Him From Despair
The shojo demographic has a variety of outstanding female love interests, with one of the best being Tohru Honda. She may not be a magical girl like Usagi Tsukino or a warrior-princess like Yona, but Tohru does have remarkable emotional resilience and empathy, making her the perfect person to help save the cursed Sohmas from themselves. It’s actually even more impressive because Tohru has no magical powers or skills.
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Tohru is humble enough to think she’s just some ordinary girl, but characters like Yuki and Kyo Sohma see her as much more than that. She is much more insightful than she gives herself credit for, knowing exactly how to save someone from their misery and empower them to become their best possible self. That is why Kyo fell in love with Tohru, cherishing her as a heartfelt hero who changed his life for the better when all seemed lost.
After Tohru is taken in by the Soma family, she learns that twelve family members transform involuntarily into animals of the Chinese zodiac and helps them deal with the emotional pain caused by the transformations.
- Release Date
- April 5, 2019
- Cast
- Manaka Iwami , Laura Bailey , Nobunaga Shimazaki , Jerry Jewell
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- Production Company
- TMS Entertainment
- Number of Episodes
- 63
5 Azazel Ameri is a Powerhouse Beauty With Fun Hobbies
She’s Equal Parts Strong, Funny, and Sympathetic
The Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-Kun anime may not be big on romance, especially since Iruma Suzuki is such an ahodere, but the anime still has a few solid love interests in its cast. The best of them is Azazel Ameri, the student council president at Babyls. She is an exemplary student with her discipline, leadership skills, and her genuine care for the well-being of all students.
Ameri also has her gentle side, which contrasts perfectly with her powerful and slightly intimidating charisma. She loves shojo manga and the heartfelt stories found inside, which inspired her to pursue a similar love story with the oblivious Iruma. Ameri thus became a perfect blend of a warrior queen and a lovestruck schoolgirl, making her feel more layered than many of her demonic classmates at Babyls.
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun
A human child is adopted by a demon and sent to a demon school. He must find a way to survive in the dangerous but fun world he has entered.
- Release Date
- October 5, 2019
- Cast
- Ayumu Murase , Daisuke Ono , Saori Hayami
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- Bandai Namco Pictures
- Creator
- Osamu Nishi
- Number of Episodes
- 65
4 Yotsuba Nakano Was Always the Right Girl For Futaro
She Cared More About Him Than Her Four Sisters Did
The harem anime The Quintessential Quintuplets gave each of the Nakano sisters their own appeal: Ichika’s big-sisterly attitude, Nino’s tsundere ways, Miku’s bashful personality, Yotsuba’s goofiness, and Itsuki’s determination to follow in her mother’s footsteps. The fandom generally seems to favor Miku Nakano the most, but it was actually Yotsuba who suited Futaro Uesugi the most.
Yotsuba was kinder, sweeter, and more genuinely caring than her four sisters, making her the ideal romantic partner from the very start. She was the one who accepted and supported Futaro right away, and her selfless ways only endeared her more to Futaro and viewers alike. Yotsuba may not have book smarts and feels like she’s not grown up, but Futaro saw something special in her, something he didn’t see in Yotsuba’s sisters.
A poor, straight A student is hired to tutor some rich quintuplets. The story is told as a flashback from a future that shows that he ends up getting married to one of them.
- Release Date
- January 11, 2019
- Cast
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka , Kana Hanazawa , Ayana Taketatsu
- Seasons
- 2 Seasons
- Creator
- Negi Haruba
- Production Company
- Bibury Animation Studios, Tezuka Productions, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)
3 Fern Just Might Become the Love of Stark’s Life
Her Quiet Romantic Tension Adds Charm to the Anime
Overall, the Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End anime keeps the drama to a minimum, with most characters being calm and mature by shonen standards. Still, some of these characters have fierce passion and incredible courage under their cool exteriors, such as Fern. She is Frieren’s apprentice mage, and no matter her outwardly calm ways, she has a vibrant personal life.
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Fern won’t easily admit it, but she enjoys Stark’s company, and Stark definitely likes having her around, too. The romantic tension has been subtle but palpable so far, and it’s likely that the two of them will become an item. Stark would be a lucky man, too, since Fern is the whole package: mature, good-hearted, courageous, and an excellent wizard.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
An elf and her friends defeat a demon king in a great war. But the war is over, and the elf must search for a new way of life.
- Release Date
- September 29, 2023
- Cast
- Atsumi Tanezaki , Kana Ichinose , Mallorie Rodak , Jill Harris
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator
- Tsukasa Abe, Kanehito Yamada
- Production Company
- Aniplex, Dentsu, Madhouse, Shogakukan, TOHO animation, Toho
2 Winry Rockbell Went From the Girl Next Door to Edward’s Bride
She’s Skilled and Idealistic as an Automail Mechanic
Winry Rockbell may not be a fighter, but as Edward Elric pointed out in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Winry’s hands are not made for killing. Some love interests have appeal as warrior waifus, but Winry Rockbell is different, being a nurturer and creator who likes to add to the world, not take things out of it. That was one of many reasons why Edward cherished and respected her so much.
Winry is a charming automail engineer with slight tsundere tendencies and a big heart. She was always there for the Elric brothers on a mechanical and emotional level alike, and she had a fine arc where Winry realized the truth: that she’s no killer. It was shocking, tense, and insightful to see Winry point a pistol at Scar, only to end up healing him later, showing what kind of person she truly was.
Two brothers search for a Philosopher’s Stone after an attempt to revive their deceased mother goes awry and leaves them in damaged physical forms.
- Release Date
- April 5, 2009
- Cast
- Romi Park , Rie Kugimiya , Vic Mignogna , Maxey Whitehead
- Seasons
- 1
1 Nobara Kugisaki is a Wonderful Sorcerer and Friend
She Might Have Gotten Together With Yuji If It Weren’t For Mahito
Even if her character arc was cut short in Jujutsu Kaisen‘s second season, Nobara Kugisaki still proved herself one of shonen’s best girls in the 2020s. She has everything a hero like Yuji Itadori would need in a friend and love interest: strength, courage, trustworthiness, kindness, and self-reliance. Nobara can do it all as a student sorcerer, becoming a key part of Yuji’s team.
Season 2 finally brought in some romantic tension as Nobara felt a twinge of jealousy while a girl from Yuji’s life returned, looking better than ever. Not much came of it, but Jujutsu Kaisen viewers still enjoyed watching this relatable, slightly vulnerable side of Nobara show up before the bloody events of the Shibuya Incident story arc.
Jujutsu Kaisen
A boy swallows a cursed talisman – the finger of a demon – and becomes cursed himself. He enters a shaman’s school to be able to locate the demon’s other body parts and thus exorcise himself.
- Release Date
- October 2, 2020
- Cast
- Junya Enoki , Yuma Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Adam McArthur , Asami Seto
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- MAPPA
- Creator
- Gege Akutami
- Main Characters
- Yuji Itadori, Satoru Gojo, Ryomen Sukuna
- Production Company
- Mappa, TOHO animation
- Number of Episodes
- 47 Episodes
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