Enemies-to-lovers anime are loved for showcasing a popular trope where couples don’t start with love at first sight.
Initially, they feel only anger toward each other, but as they grow closer, they realize there’s more to their relationship than meets the eye.
Enemies-to-lovers tales cherish love rooted in intense emotions and passion, solidifying with deep trust and understanding over time.
Some couples even overcome years of animosity to be together, showing that sometimes, your closest enemy knows you best.
1) Nisekoi
Raku and Chitoge’s fathers, both gang leaders, are on the brink of war. The only thing preventing it is the false love between their children.
But there’s a twist Raku and Chitoge can’t stand each other. They’re only pretending to be in love to deceive their fathers.
Nisekoi blends the fake dating and enemies-to-lovers themes seamlessly. Despite its mafia backdrop, the anime maintains a light and enjoyable tone.
Raku and Chitoge transition from adversaries to realizing they genuinely enjoy each other’s company.
2) Princess Mononoke
Ashitaka is determined not to be seen as an enemy to anyone, as he seeks to help both the humans of Iron Town and the spirits of the forest.
However, San, the vengeful daughter of the wolf god, regards him as a foe, seeing him no differently from other humans.
However, as they both realize, life is filled with complexities and unexpected beauty. Throughout the movie, they find themselves saving each other’s lives multiple times as the danger escalates.
In the end, although San still holds resentment towards humans for their mistreatment of the spirits, she comes to accept and reciprocate Ashitaka’s love.
3) The Devil Is A Part-Timer!
The Devil King and the Hero of Justice are natural enemies. When the Hero, Emilia, pursues Sadao Maou through an interdimensional portal to defeat him, she unexpectedly loses her powers and becomes as powerless as he is.
Instead of fighting, they form an unlikely friendship and learn how to explore life on Earth. The romantic bond between Maou and Emilia is further explored in the light novels, but hints of it are evident in the anime.
As they adapt to ordinary life and contemplate their desires, they realize they complement each other well and are stronger together than as adversaries.
4) Space Patrol Luluco
Space Patrol Luluco is packed with thrilling space adventures. Interestingly, two of the main relationships in the show evolve from enemies to lovers. This includes Luluco’s parents, Keiji and Lalaco, as well as Luluco’s own romantic journey with her sweetheart, Nova.
In the first episode of Space Patrol Luluco, it’s revealed that Lalaco left after a fight with Keiji, taking all their belongings. It’s unclear how a stable family life fits into the lives of a space cop and a space pirate.
However, despite their differences, they chase each other across the galaxy out of love. Similarly, Luluco’s love is what gives emotions to the Nothingling Nova. Even though he has betrayed her in the past, when Nova is lost, Luluco vows to search for him forever.
5) Maoyu
In many top fantasy anime, the clash between good and evil is a fight to the finish. However, in this series, the human Hero and the reigning Demon Queen realize that things aren’t so clear-cut.
They acknowledge that their ongoing war benefits neither side. They strive to forge a path towards genuine peace while concealing their evolving relationship.
As the Demon Queen and Hero collaborate further, they begin to understand each other better. The Hero comes to terms with how his people exploit his immense strength and realizes he must employ cunning to make them heed his words.
Meanwhile, the Demon Queen faces constant threats from war-mongering demons and her own lineage, finding solace and confidence in her bond with the Hero.
6) Whisper Of The Heart
Shizuku Tsukishima and Seiji Amasawa are standout characters in Studio Ghibli’s repertoire, portraying a rare and explicit romantic relationship. Yet, it takes the entirety of the film for them to acknowledge their feelings.
When Shizuku discovers Seiji’s name in the check-out cards of her library books, she constructs a romanticized image of him. However, upon their actual meeting, reality shatters her fantasy.
Seiji and Shizuku may initially annoy each other, but as they grow closer, they realize they’re each other’s strongest pillars of support.
Their burgeoning love and mutual admiration grant them the bravery to chase their aspirations, even when faced with daunting challenges.
7) Romeo X Juliet
Juliet Fiammata Ars de Capulet discovers her true identity on her sixteenth birthday after a lifetime of secrecy.
Following a bloody coup by Lord Montague, she emerges as the last surviving member of the royal family, determined to overthrow the oppressive regime in Neo Verona.
One of the best anime adaptations of classic literature focuses on the iconic story of the star-crossed lovers.
Romeo and Juliet. In this rendition, the Montagues and Capulets are portrayed as more explicitly antagonistic, with violent clashes between the two clans.
Despite being sworn enemies, Juliet finds herself falling for Romeo Montague, who stands in obvious contrast to his father.
8) Love After World Domination
Fudou Aikawa, leader of the superhero team, and Desumi Magahara, top general of the world’s most dangerous villains, are secretly in love.
But they had to keep their relationship hidden as they and their loved ones continue to battle against each other.
Fudou, known for his commitment to justice and discipline, experiences a profound and unexpected love for Desumi.
Raised to be a formidable villain, Desumi’s relationship with Fudou marks her first step in determining her own path in life.
9) Toradora!
Ryuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka start on the wrong foot when they meet on their first day of school. Despite a series of mishaps involving home invasion and attempted murder, they team up to help each other win over their respective crushes.
However, as they explore this plan, they begin to realize that they might be more compatible with each other than they initially thought.
In the best episodes of Toradora!, Ryuji and Taiga’s contrasting personalities drive the show’s screwball comedy.
They both grapple with the dichotomy between how others see them and their true selves. What sets Toradora! apart is its ability to deliver heartfelt moments alongside its comedic ones with equal finesse.
10) Food Wars!
The central theme of this anime revolves around elite and often extreme cooking, highlighting the clash between high- and low-class dining and the correct culinary methods and education.
This theme is exemplified in the relationship between Souma Yukihira and Erina Nakiri. At Tootsuki Academy, diner chef Souma is determined to prove the worth of his cooking, which surprises Erina with its brilliance.
As they compete and try to impress each other, they both realize they have much to learn about cooking and each other.
Symbolized by the wild dishes cooked on Food Wars!, their relationship growth underscores the significance of their feelings. This makes Food Wars! home to one of anime’s greatest enemies-to-lovers relationships.
11) Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke’s Mansion
The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion is a much-loved romance anime that has engrossed fans over time.
The story follows Eunha Park, an ordinary woman who, after her mysterious death, reincarnates into her beloved murder mystery novel as the character Raeliana McMillan, who faces an unexpected fate.
McMillan (Credit: Typhoon Graphics)
Raeliana attempts to change her destiny by using her knowledge of the novel’s events, leading her into a fake marriage with the central character, Noah Wynknight, the charming duke.
The mix of drama, denial, and clever exchanges, along with the evident chemistry between Noah and Raeliana, makes this anime top favorite among fans.
12) Kaguya-sama: Love is War
At Shuchiin Academy, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya hold prestigious positions as the top student representatives.
Miyuki esteemed as the nation’s top student and the student council president, is highly respected. Kaguya, the vice president and eldest daughter of the wealthy Shinomiya family, excels in every aspect.
Despite harboring feelings for each other, neither Miyuki nor Kaguya is willing to confess first. In their prestigious school, the one who confesses first risks losing face and being seen as inferior.
13) Masamune-kun’s Revenge
When Masamune Makabe was younger, he faced rejection from Aki Adagaki, a wealthy and beautiful girl who cruelly called him Piggy because of his weight.
Determined to get revenge, Masamune transforms himself into a handsome high school student and plots to make Aki fall for him, only to reject her later.
Surprisingly, Masamune transfers to Aki’s school, initiating his plan. However, his initial attempts to win her over fail.
As he starts making progress, he receives a mysterious letter addressing him by his old nickname. To get back at Aki, Masamune needs to find out who sent the letter before his plan falls apart.
14) Skip Beat!
Day in and day out, Kyouko Mogami works multiple jobs to support her childhood friend, Shoutarou Shou Fuwa, in his rise to stardom as an idol.
She never complains about her way of life, deeply in love with Shou and willing to do anything for him. However, her world shatters when she overhears Shou belittling her as nothing more than a maid he doesn’t care about.
Filled with anger and betrayal, Kyouko vows to seek revenge on her former crush by entering the cutthroat world of showbiz to surpass him.
Despite facing numerous challenges and people trying to bring her down, Kyouko is determined to push herself to the limit and climb her way to the top for the sake of vengeance.
15) Lovely Complex
Love takes an unusual turn for Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Ootani, high schoolers facing a unique challenge. Koizumi is much taller than the average girl at 172 cm, while Ootani is shorter than the average guy at 156 cm.
Their crushes fall for each other, leaving Koizumi and Ootani comically flustered and heartbroken. They’re even dubbed a comedy duo by their teacher because of their personalities and height difference, with classmates finding their arguments entertaining.
As they bond over their quest for love, Koizumi and Ootani develop a close friendship. Beyond their silly antics, they discover unexpected similarities in music and fashion tastes.
16) Maid Sama!
Misaki Ayuzawa is the first-ever girl to become the student council president at Seika High School. She’s known for her hard work and fairness, especially in making things better for the girls in a school dominated by boys.
But her strictness with the boys earned her the nickname Demon President. One day, Misaki sees Takumi Usui, the school heartthrob, rejecting a girl’s love confession, making her cry.
Misaki, angered by this, confronts Usui, but he doesn’t seem to care. Later, Misaki is shocked to find Usui at the maid cafe where she works secretly.
She’s determined to keep her job a secret, but Usui starts teasing her and visiting the cafe often. Misaki worries if Usui will keep her secret or tell others.
17) My Little Monster
Shizuku Mizutani isn’t interested in making friends or socializing. All she cares about is her grades. But everything changes when she meets Haru Yoshida, a troublemaker who’s been skipping class.
Haru decides that Shizuku will be his friend and confesses his feelings for her right away. Because Shizuku isn’t used to having friends, she struggles to understand her connection with Haru.
But as they spend more time together, she realizes that Haru is more than just a troublemaker. She starts to have feelings for him but isn’t sure what they mean.
18) The Ocean Waves
In Kouchi city, high schooler Taku Morisaki rushes to school after a call from his friend Yutaka Matsuno. There, he meets Rikako Muto, a new student from Tokyo.
Despite being smart and talented, Rikako’s unfriendly attitude means she has few friends. As Taku gets closer to Rikako, he feels torn between his loyalty to Matsuno and his developing feelings for Rikako.
19) Boarding School Juliet
In a school called Dahlia Academy, there are two countries, Touwa and the Principality of West, who don’t get along. Romio and Juliet, who lead their dorms, seem like enemies. But here’s the secret they’re actually in love.
They keep their love hidden because if anyone finds out, it could cause big problems. But hiding their feelings means they can’t do things couples usually do. As they spend more time together, Romio and Juliet start to wonder if they can keep their love hidden forever.
20) His and Her Circumstances
Yukino Miyazawa is a star student and the most popular girl in her freshman class. Everyone admires her for her academics, sports skills, and charm.
But secretly, she’s very vain and works hard to keep up her perfect image. She can’t stand Souichirou Arima, who’s even more perfect than her.
After Yukino beats Souichirou in midterm exams, he surprises her by congratulating her. This makes her question her fake life.
When he confesses his love, she rejects him, feeling a bit guilty. But when he sees her true self at home, he blackmails her into helping him with student council duties. Forced to spend time together, Yukino realizes she’s not the only one with secrets.
Honorable Mentions
Yuusha-hime Miria
Junjou Decamelon
Imouto no Sukinamono
The Bully In Charge
The original is not a mature manhwa but there is a new adult version, you might wanna look up.
Goblin no Suana
Memes of the Day
Kare to Watashi to Tenchou no Shinya Kinmu
Hitozukiai ga Nigate na Miboujin no Yukionna-san to Noroi no Yubiwa
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