If you are brokenhearted, anime can offer some reprieve. Relationships can be rough, and they often end. If you are like me, when I’m brokenhearted I want to watch relationship stories. There’s something comforting in seeing people work through their relationship problems. Of course, sometimes you also want something cathartic. Anger and frustration remain part of the mourning process. So some of the best stories for the brokenhearted combine relationship struggles with violence (not domestic violence like Lifetime shows do!). Here’s my list of anime suggestions to help those of who who may be brokenhearted.
Eureka Seven
Watching the relationship develop between Renton and Eureka in this series provides one of the most rewarding experiences in anime. The main story doesn’t make much sense. Alien corals! Some world-bending thing if they wake up. The story acts as a scaffold for a coming-of-age relationship story and impressive mecha visuals. Renton and Eureka work through relationship and personal problems that still resonate into adulthood.
Hellsing Ultimate
Pure catharsis. There’s no real relationships here. Okay, there are a few between “Police Girl” and Alucard and Alucard and Hellsing. But you watch this show for the violence. Alucard will crucify Nazi vampires. His madness is oddly satisfying. I recommend the dub for this one. Crispin Freeman nails Alucard’s madness.
Love, Chunibiyo, and other Delusions
The story of this one explores how we can use delusions to avoid pain. Many relationships fail because we wrap them in bubble-wrap delusions that eventually pop. Yuta and Rikka’s relationship charms as it develops. Yuta and Rikka have to face their pasts. Only after they both move beyond their delusions can their relationship develop in earnest.
Laid Back Camp
Watching cute girls camp soothes. This anime explores friendship and camping. The story lacks major conflicts. Most resolve easily, but the focus of this anime is to provide healing. It offers calm fun while explaining how to camp comfortably. When you are upset or stressed, Laid Back Camp will help ease you. The calm enjoyment of this series reminds me of Bob Ross’s Joy of Painting. If I’m stressed and can’t sleep, I turn on Joy of Painting. Laid Back Camp can provide a similar ease.
Ai Yori Aoshi
This silly harem story follows the relationship between Kaoru and Aoi. Kaoru accumulates the usual harem, but he always remains focused on Aoi and she on him. Aoi is perhaps too focused on him, but brokenhearted guys may find this comforting. Most conflicts resolve easily, providing enough conflict to interest but not enough to stress. The rom-com falls into the usual tropes. The character interactions charm. Overall, the story uplifts and relaxes.
Inuyasha
Inuyasha remains a classic series because of its combination of romance, action, and folklore. This long series offers a good binge to help you heal. Inuyasha and Kagome have a fun relationship that hits rocky spots that take time to resolve. The action provides some catharsis, but don’t expect violence like Hellsing Ultimate. Inuyasha‘s classic status offers the comfort of nostalgia too.
Spice and Wolf
Lawrence and Holo have a wonderful, fun relationship. It’s a pity this anime has seen only two season. I recommend the light novels. The conflict centers on economics. While interesting, the story may be too slow for many people. However, Lawrence and Holo have the best banter of any anime I’ve seen. Their relationship reflects their age. No high school tropes here.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
Speaking of high school tropes, Kaguya-sama pokes fun at them. The humor of this anime’s relationship antics will dispel your heart-break for a time. It shows how ridiculous relationships and romance can be while pointing out how easy it is to miscommunicate. Normally, comedies leave me cold. This one’s satire had me laughing, even on a second watch.
Twin Star Exorcists
This story offers a fair balance of action and relationship development. The balance makes me think of Inuyasha. Rokuro and Benio’s relationship reminds me of Inuyasha and Kagome. Twin Star offers an interesting story with some entertaining action scenes. Its 50 episodes provides a solid escapist binge.
Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran satirizes the tropes of shojo anime. The antics can be quite funny if you get the jokes. The relationships among Haruhi and all the guys provide good variety and an introduction to reverse harem stories. Haruhi isn’t the standard female protagonist. She doesn’t fall for the guys easily and is mistaken for a guy herself. This story isn’t as widely accessible as the other anime on this list, but if you are familiar with shojo tropes, this satire can provide some laughs.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
Despite the title, this anime offers excellent relationship development and character depth. It shows respect for its female characters, and the main man isn’t a flake. The character-driven tale offers laughs and heart that will resonate with you. I considered it the best anime of 2018.
Dealing with a broken heart can be tough. It takes time for you to get used to the pain. I don’t believe time heals anything. Instead, we get used to the pain of the wound. The wound itself doesn’t fade. During the initial stages, anime can provide help. A good story can provide room for you to escape and process the pain. Good anime can provide solace or lessons relevant to your heart-break. However, you also have to be careful. Anime watching can be healthy or it can become a way of avoiding problems you need to work through. On the whole, anime can offer helpful escape and laughs and lessons while you work through your heart-break.
