Valentine’s Day is coming up, and while some people are planning on watching rom-coms all day, I’m not really into that. I prefer watching anime to get into the romance mentality, so here are my top five (plus honorable mentions) romance animes to watch on the 14th.

#5: “Yuri On Ice” (Crunchyroll)

“Yuri On Ice” is No. 5 on this list. The anime follows professional ice skater Yuri Katsuki and Victor Nikiforov, another ice skater who trains Yuri into winning the Figure Skating Grand Prix. Victor is the love interest, and I love how the relationship progressed. Throughout the entire show, the viewers are given more reasons to believe that there is something more than just a coach-athlete relationship going on.

In every episode, we grow more and more interested in their relationship and what it will turn into next. By the last episode of the 12-episode series, everything is put to rest. 

#4: “Monthly Girls Nozaki-Kun” (Netflix, Crunchyroll)

“Monthly Girls: Nozaki-Kun” is great if you’re looking for a slice-of-life romance anime. We watch Chiyo Sakura, a bow-decorated high school student, get closer with Umetaro Nozaki, another high school student who makes romance mangas based off of his classmates and their experiences. Throughout the show, more colorful characters join the cast. The viewer is shown that things don’t always go the way you’d expect throughout this 12-episode series.

This show ranks so high on my list because it is realistic. Let’s be honest, the very tall but quiet guy in your class most likely isn’t a renowned manga artist, but I’m sure most of us know how difficult it is to confess your feelings to someone, or how good it feels to receive attention from the person you are interested in. I highly enjoyed watching Chiyo and Nozaki build a relationship of respect and trust and watching their overzealous group of friends go through all sorts of unexpected shenanigans while keeping romance in the mix. 

#3: “Your Lie In April” (Netflix)

If you’re a fan of the angsty, friends-to-lovers, bittersweet-type of love, No. 3 on this list is perfect for you. “Your Lie In April” tells the story of child piano prodigy Kousei Arima, whose mental state after his mother’s death keeps him from playing the piano, until he meets Kaori Miyazono, a violin player who goes out of her way to be able to play with him on stage. The show is the definition of bittersweet. In every episode, we find out something new that impacts us as viewers. The characters’ relationships really highlight the love in the show.

Kousei and Kaori’s relationship starts unexpectedly, and they continue on as friends throughout the show. As they get closer though, you start to root for them to get together, even though it seems impossible. We see supporting character Tsubaki Sawabe go through love and heartbreak on the sidelines, and watching it really made me want her and Kousei to get together, too. The movie shows how love is found in the most unexpected places and can grow from nothing.

#2: “A Silent Voice: The Movie” (Netflix)

“A Silent Voice: The Movie” is about Shoya Ishida, who bullied Shouko Nishimiya, who is deaf, in elementary school. Years after, he and the others who tormented her work to make amends. This movie teaches us that hearts can change — some easier than others, and some not at all. I ranked “A Silent Voice” No. 2 on my list because I feel like everyone can relate to at least one of the characters. For me, I relate to Shoya, because I also did things in the past that still haunt me.

The main thing to focus on, of course, is romance. Watching Shoya and Shouko’s relationship blossom from nothing was heartwarming. We see amazing character development as Shoya learns to love himself and others, Shouko learns some things never change and the old group of friends comes together to fix what has been broken. The animation is beautiful and really enhances our sympathy for the characters as viewers.

#1: “Ouran High School Host Club” (Hulu, Netflix)

“Ouran High School Host Club” is a 2006 anime about Haruhi Fujioka, a transfer student, who breaks a vase and ends up in debt to the school’s host club, where boys converse with ladies with costumes and tea. If you’re interested in LGBTQ+ sub-themes, love triangles and every romance trope out there, this anime is for you.

Though there are so many reasons why this show is No. 1 on my list, the main one would have to be that the show has romance in the front of every episode, making it great for Valentine’s Day. And while doing that, the characters develop platonic relationships that make the two love interests’ relationship seem more genuine. OHSHC shows us that love can be unconditional and arrive at the most unexpected times. 

Honorary mentions: “Sailor Moon,” “Love, Chunibyo And Other Delusions,” and “Toradora!”

So regardless of your plans on February 14, these animes have variety and can be comforting for anyone to watch on the day of love.