For any true Otaku, the sting of seeing your beloved anime characters not wind up together is all too familiar. Throughout the vast world of anime, fans fervently “ship” their favorite characters, eagerly rooting for their romantic union. But alas, there are moments when our hopes are dashed, and the characters we believe belong together remain apart.
It’s undeniably gratifying when anime couples find their happily ever after, but the disappointment is palpable when deserving characters miss out on their chance at love. There exists a myriad of anime pairs brimming with chemistry and potential, yet fate seems determined to keep them apart.
Listed below are fifteen such anime characters who, in the eyes of many fans, should have become a couple. Whether from movies or series, these characters shared a connection that resonated deeply with viewers, making their failure to unite all the more heart-wrenching.
1. Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye- Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is one of the best animes ever made. In terms of plot development and storylines, there is nothing comparable to it.
Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye are the two main leads after Edward and Elric, the two brothers around whom the show revolves. Colonel Roy Mustang is a state Alchemist. He’s a fire alchemist and one of the strongest characters in the show.
Riza Hawkeye is a lieutenant working under Colonel Mustang and is his bodyguard.
But their relationship is more than that. While maintaining the norms of professionalism, they are very close to each other and understand each other very well. In the manga and anime, it is evident that both of their lives are deeply connected.
The Colonel has made Riza his Adjudant and trusts her with his life. They are both self-righteous in their own way and mentally tortured by their past. But they have each other. The entire fandom ships them to be a couple, but sadly, it doesn’t happen. They fall among the top couples who should have been a couple.
2. Hotaru and Gin- Anime: Hotarubi no Mori e
Hotarubi no Mori e is one of the saddest shojo anime movies ever. It was written as a one-shot anime, which was developed into a 45-minute movie later on. The story revolves around Hotaru. One year, while she was visiting her grandfather’s country house, she wandered into the forest.
There, she meets a strange masked boy known as Gin. They develop a beautiful friendship, and every year after that, they meet during Hotaru’s visit to her grandfather’s country house.
Hotaru gets to know that Gin is a supernatural being, and if she touches him, he’ll disappear. They try to work their friendship through these bounds. As the movie was coming to an end, both of them developed strong feelings for each other.
But a mishap at a festival puts Gin’s existence at stake, and he disappears. This is the saddest ending ever, and fans are eternally heartbroken over Hotaru and Gin’s ending. They were never a real couple, but they had a lot of potential to be one.
3. Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman- Anime: Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is one of the most famous anime in recent times. It’s a well-rounded anime with controversial themes and loveable characters. Two of the main characters, Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman, are shipped as couples eternally. But sadly, they’re the ones that got away. They never got to be together.
Mikasa and Eren have been friends since childhood. It all starts when Eren saves Mikasa from dangerous people and takes Mikasa into his home. Since then, Mikasa has had some feelings for Eren.
It stems from her gratitude and loyalty to Eren. We see them grow together, and they become each other’s confidants. As they join the corps together, Mikasa’s feelings come into view z, but Eren doesn’t really notice that. As the anime progresses through the seasons, we see that both Eren and Mikasa have feelings towards each other.
But their duties to themselves and higher powers meant that they could never be together. Often regarded as the saddest non-couple, people are still heartbroken over them not getting together in the end and not getting a happy ending either.
4. Spike Spiegel and Faye Valentine- Anime: Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is a well-loved 90s anime that has made its mark all over the world with its catchy jazz music, dimensional characters, and progressive storyline.
The story revolves around Spike Spiegel and his band of friends.
They are bounty hunters, and they travel throughout space in their spaceship “Bebop” to catch criminals. One of the members of their group, Faye Valentine, is a very colorful character.
Faye is seen as arrogant at times, but when the time comes, she shows up for her team, especially Spike. Even though Spike and Faye argue and banter all the time, there is an underlying concern that the two of them have for each other.
Their relationship might be the most complex and confusing in the whole show.
This is especially because Spike is portrayed to be still in love with his Amour, Julia, and Faye’s behavior sometimes makes it look like she’s in love with Spike.
However, amidst all this speculation, nothing happens between them. They do not end up together. But fans can’t help but wonder at the possibility of them being a couple. They would have been a power couple, for sure.
5. Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki- Anime: Bleach
Bleach is one of the most-watched animes during the 2000s. Bleach has influenced a lot of pop culture trends over time. But its characters are still loved by the people, almost a decade after the end of the manga and the halt of the show. Two of the main characters, Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki, are extremely loveable.
They have been portrayed as friends through several seasons. However, we can’t wonder if there is more. For instance, when Rukia was taken by her brother to face the judgment of the Soul Society and sentenced to death, Ichigo went to save her.
He single-handedly declared war on Soul Society and went through an entire training arc just to save her. Not only that, both of them are extreme when it comes to protecting each other. During the Fullbringer arc, Rukia comes to save Ichigo after he’s betrayed by everyone he trusts.
So, it seems that their friendship is something more. But they do not end up together. They remain good friends throughout their lives. But fans can’t help but wonder that they would have made such a great couple since they’re so similar and understanding.
6. Tohru Honda and Yuki Soma- Anime: Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket is a well-known shojo anime that has been really popular over the ages. There have been two anime adaptations over the years, both equally famous.
The story, at its core, is a love triangle between Tohru Honda, Yuki Soma, and Kyu Soma. The Somas take Tohru into their home after they find her living in a tent alone. Since then, both the Soma brothers have started developing feelings for Tohru Honda.
Honda is a caring person and cares for both of the Soma brothers. However, her dynamics with both of them are different. Even though she ends up with Kyo, it’s after a lot of ups and downs. Some of the fans wanted her to end up with Yuki, as they thought that he was the best out of the two of them.
7. Nobara Kugisaki and Itadori Yuji- Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen is regarded as one of the best new-gen animes. With a thrilling storyline and charismatic characters, it is an anime worth watching. However, when it comes to couples, Jujutsu Kaisen has been making fans sad for a long time.
Nobara Kugisaki and Itadori Yuki are in the same class. They enrolled at the same time at the Jujutsu High and have been on many missions together. They have a good bond, and even though they bicker a lot, we can’t help but see the care they have for each other.
Fans see the way that their chemistry evolves over the course of a season. They go through life-and-death situations together, and they have each other’s back. Typically, everyone ships them together.
But the manga author and screenwriter do not make them a couple. They both end up with different people. However, fans love to make up scenarios on what could have been if they ended up together.
8. Meruem and Komugi- Anime: Hunter x Hunter
Meruem and Komugi from HxH are very controversial. Both of their characters are on opposite sides of the character spectrum in HxH. Komugi is a lowly human girl, and Meruem is the King of the chimera ants. If you have watched the anime, you would know that the chimera ants were enemies of the humans.
Even though their dynamic is mismatched, we can’t help but be enthralled by both of them on screen. Meruem, the King, becomes a different person around the girl. The girl has no special qualities, but she brings out a side in this creature that is almost human-like.
The care that Meruem shows for this girl will make anyone’s heart beat fast. Meruem genuinely cares for Komugi, someone who is supposed to be his enemy.
And fans can’t help but want them to end up together because their bond is unmatched. But in the end, they don’t end up together. However, they would have made a great couple.
9. Shinji and Kaworu Nagisa- Anime: Neon Genesis: Evangelion
The dynamic between Ikari Shinji and Kaworu Nagisa has been controversial as well. Kaworu’s character was introduced very late in the 1995 version of Evangelion. He is brought in as one of the Children to pilot Unit 2.
His relationship with Shinji has been questioned a lot. He was actually the final Angel, which is a threat to humanity. But when he is introduced, we see a shift in Shinji’s character.
We see him get a deeper understanding of his own character, and he genuinely develops feelings for Kaworu. As he questions his feelings, Kaworu turns out to be an angel.
Regardless, the Evangelion fandom has always wanted Kaworu and Shinji to end up together. It’s not a plausible option, but still, they should have been a couple.
10. Nana Komatsu and Nobu- Anime: Nana
Nana is a very famous anime. The manga is written by Ai Aizawa, and it’s one of her most famous works. The story revolves around two women with the same name yet opposite personalities who become best friends.
Nana Komatsu and Nana Osaki live in an apartment together. Nana Osaki is the lead vocalist of a band, and her bandmates become friends with Nana Komatsu as well. As their friendship grows, Nana Komatsu starts dating Nobu, Nana Osaki’s bandmate.
Their relationship was the best one in the show because this was Nana Komatsu’s first healthy relationship. However, falling back to her old patterns, Nana Komatsu leaves Nobu for an abusive man. The anime doesn’t show it, but Nobu still loves Nana Komatsu till the end.
Fans were very hurt to see their beloved Nana Komatsu get hurt like that. But they could not do anything. Nana Komatsu and Nobu were definitely a couple who were meant to be together, but fate and bad decisions didn’t let them.
11. Aki Hayakawa and Himeno- Anime: Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man is definitely not a typical new-gen anime. It is gory, with triggering themes and non-typical characters. The show deals with dark tropes as well. Two of the most important characters, Himeno and Aki Hayakawa, have the potential to be a couple.
However, their relationship is very complicated. Both of them are demon hunters. Plus, Himeno is Aki’s senior. But she likes him. Aki, being a self-righteous person, cares for Himeno as a senior.
But sometimes, we feel like that professional line is crossed unknowingly by both Aki and Himeno. They have a very close relationship apart from work, and someone from outside would not understand.
As usual, they did not end up together, but they had a lot of chemistry and the potential to be a great anime couple.
12. Ryo and Akira- Anime: Devilman Crybaby
and Akira are the main characters from the anime Devilman Crybaby. The anime is not for everyone because it deals with triggering themes and extreme characters.
The story starts with Ryo and Akira meeting and growing up as kids in an orphanage. As they grow up, they drift apart. But sudden circumstances bring them together.
Akira turns into a devil, and it is later revealed that Ryo is an angel.
Their relationship changes really fast throughout the anime. They go from being friends to being on the opposite side of the rampage that the demons are inflicting on humanity. But they both care about each other immensely.
In the end, Ryo ends up killing Akira and realizes his mistakes. Their relationship was more than a friendship because the understanding they displayed about each other far exceeded the bounds of friendship.
13. Taki and Mitsuha- Anime: Your Name
Taki and Mitsuha- are the main characters from the famous movie Your Name, directed by Makoto Shinkai. Since they are the main characters, people assume that they ended up together, but this is not the case, as fate separates them.
Taki and Mitsuha are brought together by a supernatural event. They do not exist in the same timelines but are able to communicate. Soon, they develop a friendship that is unnatural as they can surprisingly change bodies with each other
But their friendship turns into something more as Taki discovers the supernatural event and the causes that are bringing them together. They try to beat the odds of nature, and they try to be together till the end, but circumstances and fate do not let them.
As fans expected them to be together at the end of the movie, they were very heartbroken to see that they did not end up together. They are characters who definitely deserve a happy ending.
14. Takaki and Akari- Anime: Five Centimeters Per Second
Takaki and Akari are the two main characters of the movie Five Centimetres Per Second, directed by Makoto Shinkai. It is a very underrated yet tragic movie about soulmates who do not end up together because of time, distance, and circumstances.
Takaki and Akari are childhood friends. They bonded over their mutual loneliness and their fascination with the same interests.
They were best of friends till Akari moved to a different city. Takaki went to visit her, and they realized their feelings for each other and also realized that they would never be together.
They both try to get on with their life and as distance pills them apart, their love for each other grows stronger. But as time passes, Akari moves on with her life, with a fond memory of Takaki, but he still cannot move on because the bond they share is irreplaceable.
This movie shows that some people who seem like soulmates do not end up together because of time and distance
15. Ash and Eiji- Anime: Banana Fish
Banana Fish is a very famous anime that revolves around two entirely different people with opposing lifestyles.
Ash Lynx is a gang leader, and Eiji is a photographer’s assistant. Eiji meets Ash while visiting New York and covering a story on street gangs there. They were completely different people with no similarity, but they bonded like best of friends.
Their relationship developed over the show, but the cruelty of reality brought their relationship to an end. They both loved each other a lot, but Ash died in the end.
They were a potential couple who got ripped apart by their lives. But they deserved to be together more than anything.
Honorable Mention
Kateikyoushi x Saimin
The Book In Which Lovey-Dovey S*x Is Had With Hakari And Karone
The Student Council President’s Hidden Task Is the (S*xual) Development of Female Students Raw
Mitasarete Mezameru Asa Ni, Jimi Na Choushoku O The Animation
College Secrets
