Many love interests from classic anime set the standard for character types down the line. Unique relationship dynamics that stood out to audiences in the past are so loved that they inform later romances. Some characters, love confessions, and romantic scenes are so iconic that audiences want to see them told over and over to varying degrees.
These love interests and the romances they inspire are so well-written and enjoyed that they're not repetitive. Rather, they have become their own tropes or the paragon of trope examples. Even with shonen anime like Bleach and Inuyasha, the love stories are so compelling that they're some of the most memorable parts of the series.
10 Tamaki (Ouran High School Host Club)
Ouran High School Host Club has such a smooth art style and reigning popularity that it's surprising to remember that the manga series was first released over 20 years ago. Though the premise promises many handsome guy love interests, Tamaki is the king. Or at least, a great bishonen.
Tamaki is by no means the first bishonen (a handsome prince of his school); he's preceded by Yuki of Fruits Basket and several others. But Tamaki is a bishonen with a healthy dash of silly himbo energy, which endears him to fans. Tomoe of Kamisama Kiss is another loved romantic lead who is as pretty as a bishonen with a goofball nature.
9 Android 18 (Dragon Ball Z)
Dragon Ball Z has one of the most well-regarded romances where a villainous woman falls for a Best Boy hero. Android 18 is a gorgeous Bad Gal Turned Good who falls in love with the sweet and courageous Krillin despite herself.
Android 18 and Krillin couldn't have more disparate personalities — Android 18 is spiky and sarcastic, while Krillin has a more Golden Retriever-like disposition. Yet, they find harmony with each other. Another, more recent, shonen where the bad gal falls for the good guy is Darling in the Franxx.
8 Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
Rumiko Takahashi's historical fantasy following a dog yokai and a reborn shrine priestess has so many romance tropes that are still popular today. Inuyasha himself is one of the most oft-referenced male tsunderes. He's also part of one of the most infamous love triangles, and his romance with Kagome is such a slow burn that even fans meme how drawn out it can be.
This isn't to say the slow burn isn't popular. Inuyasha was instrumental in popularizing all of these romance tropes. Yona of the Dawnhas a popular love triangle with a tsundere guy who is the endgame love interest, and a thoroughly unlikable third love interest.
7 Tohru (Fruits Basket)
In a way, Tohru loved Kyo Sohma before she even met him in Fruits Basket. Her crying in sympathy for the cat when her mother tells her the story of the zodiac foreshadows her extreme sense of empathy for Kyo.
Tohru is about as deredere a love interest as they come. Her selfless love and kindness aren't just her chief character traits — her love is what saves the day for Kyo and the Sohmas. Characters like Chiyo Sakura from Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun are like spiritual sisters to Tohru, from sweet expressions to hair bows.
6 Orihime (Bleach)
Not all memorable classic romances are a union of opposites; sometimes, two Golden Retrievers fall for each other as Orihime and Ichigo do in Bleach. Ichigo may be a bit of a hothead, but at his core, he's incredibly honorable and thoughtful.
Orihime is Ichigo's perfect match, and they may not have the most dramatic relationship in anime, but there's no doubt that they're perfectly suited for each other. Their relationship is similar to the main Naruto pairing. Naruto and Hinata are both incredibly honorable and wholesome, with a sweet relationship.
5 Rei (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Most iconic anime tsunderes are girls, especially in classic anime. Rei set the tone for many women tsunderes to follow after Neon Genesis Evangelion. Her lack of external expression is almost like a kuudere, but it doesn't come from a sense of self-containment, like it would with a kuudere. Rather, it comes from a storm of self-loathing and doubt raging inside her.
Rei's tsundere characteristics come to the fore when Shinji is around; he's the only person who can get a rise out of her. Kaguya of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War may have more self-worth than Rei, but she's likewise the kind of tsundere that borders on a quiet kuudere-type.
4 Tamahome (Fushigi Yugi)
Tamahome is one of the Celestial Warriors destined to work alongside Miaka in Fushigi Yugi. Tamahome would protect Miaka with his life, a completely devoted bodyguard. He's known to lecture her for making decisions that put herself in danger.
Tamahome's epic love story with Miaka definitely informs characters like Yukimaru in Fena: Pirate Princess and Hak from Yona of the Dawn. It makes sense that Hak and Yona would have so much in common with popular classic anime love interests, as the mangaka Mizuko Kusanagi wanted to write a shojo love letter to '90s anime.
3 Faye Valentine (Cowboy Bebop)
Faye Valentine is Cowboy Bebop's universally adored goofy femme fatale. She's a jaded, scrappy tough girl who has had a rough life leading up to joining the Bebop. She's also widely considered one of the cutest anime waifus, often using her natural charm and wiles to her advantage.
Characters like Shura Kirigakure from Ao no Exorcist are beautiful like Faye, with a swaggering confidence. Boa from One Piece is another tough girl femme fatale who sets hearts aflame. Faye may have her silly moments, but she nearly always comes out on top.
2 Prince Ashitaka (Princess Mononoke)
Princess Mononoke may not be a classic anime series, but the installment from the revered Studio Ghibli left an indelible mark on the anime romance timeline. Ashitaka of the Emishi is a noble, selfless prince fit for a fairy tale. He's as much of a Best Boy as Demon Slayer's Tanjiro.
Ashitaka's relationship with San would be a straightforward enemies-to-lovers arc if Ashitaka would let San be the enemy she wants to be. He refuses to fight San. No matter how many times she tries to fight or push him away, Ashitaka seeks peace and understanding.
1 Mamoru (Sailor Moon)
Sailor Moon and her prince of Earth, Endymion, are inextricably tied by the red string of fate. Though they were star-crossed lovers on the Moon Kingdom, doomed to a tragic end, they get to try again as reborn humans on Earth.
Not too much is known about their personalities in their previous lives as they courted on the Moon Kingdom, just that they quickly became devoted to each other. On Earth, it's a bit of a different story; Usagi and Mamoru have noble hearts, but they take turns acting the tsundere to one another. There's a star-crossed couple in Demon Slayer that also falls in love quickly, meets a tragic end, and finds each other in the next life.