Anime with romance between a “villain” and “good guy” (Part 1)
AnimeSpoiler
PLEASE NOTE: I edit this occasionally and want to keep it alphabetized, so entries may jump around.
As the title says, any anime that includes this sort of romantic subplot. Not all of these are reciprocal or end happily. Only thing not counted is if both characters start off good but one turns evil via brainwashing.
This is just one of my favorite types of ships, although I don’t personally support all of these pairings. Please don’t take an entry’s inclusion as advocating. I’m not here to start ship wars. Just wanted to make a list of all instances I could think of in case anyone else is looking for recs.
Part 2: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/31600
As the title says, any anime that includes this sort of romantic subplot. Not all of these are reciprocal or end happily. Only thing not counted is if both characters start off good but one turns evil via brainwashing.
This is just one of my favorite types of ships, although I don’t personally support all of these pairings. Please don’t take an entry’s inclusion as advocating. I’m not here to start ship wars. Just wanted to make a list of all instances I could think of in case anyone else is looking for recs.
Part 2: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/31600
TV, 2014,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Esdeath (female antagonist) is attracted to Tatsumi (male lead). Unhappy ending.
TV, 2024,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Protagonist Yumiella is isekaid into an otome game as the villainess, although is not actually villainous herself, despite initial distrust from much of the cast. Has a canon romance with Patrick, a male hero.
TV, 2010,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Kanade (female, initially seems antagonistic) is canon love interest to Yuzuru (male lead). Naoi (male, also starts as a villain) also has a one-sided crush on Yuzuru.
TV, 2012,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:6
Kagura (male antagonist) has a crush on Mikono (female lead). They do not end up together.
TV, 2010,
52 eps
Me:-
Author:4
Lync (male antagonist) has a crush on Alice (female hero.) Probably unhappy ending but vague enough to be open-ended. This is the second season, but Lync appears only in this season.
TV, 2008,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Masako (female antagonist) and Card Sensei (male hero) are a canon couple with history prior to becoming enemies. Number Nine (male main villain) has a crush on Hayami (female hero).
TV, 1987,
75 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Canon between Phoenix/Rokoko (male hero) and Maria (female villain). This is replicated with their counterparts in Bikkurimen. They also appear in the Shin-Bikkuriman sequel.
TV, 2023,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Implied between Phoenix/Rokoko (male hero) and Maris/Maria (genderbender male/female villain). This is based on their counterparts in Bikkuriman 1987.
TV, 2015,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Open-ended with Kinshirou (male antagonist) and Atsushi (male hero). Has a couple sequels.
TV, 2018,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Open-ended with Ata (male antagonist) and Kyoutarou (male hero).
TV, 1992,
46 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Nephrite (male antagonist) and Naru (female hero). Reciprocated but no happy ending.
TV, 1993,
43 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Prince Dimande (male antagonist) is in love with Usagi (female lead). Completely one-sided. There are also two filler villains Ail (male) and An (female) who have one-sided crushes on Usagi and Mamoru (male hero), respectively.
TV, 2005,
23 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Several. Train (male lead) starts out in an antagonistic role until meeting Saya (female hero). The relationship is ambiguous and can be seen as platonic. Creed (male antagonist) is in love with Train. As is Kyoko (female antagonist) Both one-sided. Leon (male antagonist) has an implied crush on Eve (female hero). Open-ended shiptease between Jenos (male antagonist) and Rins (female hero).
TV, 2017,
170 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Sally (female antagonist) has a crush on Asta (male lead). Entirely one-sided.
TV, 2006,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:6
Lots of subtext between Revy (female antagonist) and Rock (male lead), however Rock gradually becomes an antagonist himself.
TV, 2017,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Himiko (female antagonist) is attracted to both Izuku (male lead) and Ochako (female hero). The former is completely one-sided, while the latter is more ambiguously reciprocated but still has an unhappy ending.
Has several seasons, this is the second but the first where her character appears.
Has several seasons, this is the second but the first where her character appears.
TV, 1983,
73 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Canon between Hitomi (female villain protagonist) and Toshio (male hero antagonist).
TV, 2012,
51 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Canon romance between Haruka (female antagonist) and Shunsuke (male hero).
TV, 2006,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Canon romance between Villetta (female antagonist) and Ohgi (male hero) Open-ended shiptease between Gino (male antagonist) and Kallen (female hero) in the 2nd season.
TV, 2014,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Embryo (main male antagonist) lusts over Ange (female lead). Entirely one-sided.
TV, 2006,
103 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Road (female antagonist) is attracted to Allen (male lead). Open-ended. Also has a sequel.
TV, 2007,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Misaki (female hero-antagonist) crushes on Hei (male villain-protagonist). Completely one-sided.
TV, 2013,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:6
A large premise of the series, as most of the heroines start off as antagonistic until being won over by the male hero, Itsuka. Kurumi is a recurring female antagonist and possible love interest. Has several seasons.
TV, 2000,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Canon romance between Ken (male antagonist) and Miyako (female hero)
TV, 2011,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:5
Open-ended between Airu (female antagonist) and Yu (male hero).
TV, 2013,
49 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Heavy shiptease between Regina (female antagonist) and Mana (female lead). Ira (male antagonist) has an implied one-sided crush on Rika (female hero).
TV, 1986,
153 eps
Me:-
Author:6
Canon between Bulma (female hero) and Yamcha (male antagonist). However, they break up in the sequel, but Bulma ends up with a different villain.
TV, 1989,
291 eps
Me:-
Author:5
Canon romance between Vegeta (male antagonist) and Bulma (female hero). Another canon romance between Android 18 (female antagonist) and Krillin (male hero). These relationships are also in Dragonball GT and Dragonball Super.
TV, 2020,
100 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Open-ended between Maam (female hero) and Hyunckel (male antagonist). Hyunckel switches sides early on and is a hero for much of the show, but the ship tease begins when he's still an enemy.
TV, 2007,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
LA (male antagonist) is obsessed with Ellis (female lead). Entirely one-sided.
TV, 2005,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Viro (female antagonist) has a crush on Coud (male lead). Unhappy ending. In the manga version, her crush is on Rowen (male hero) instead.
TV, 2009,
175 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Canon between Gajeel (male antagonist) and Levy (female hero) and heavily implied between Juvia (female antagonist) and Grey (male hero). In both cases, the villain in question switches sides early into the story, but the romantic subtext begins while the characters are still enemies.
Has several seasons.
Has several seasons.
TV, 2009,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Subtext between Westar (male antagonist) and Setsuna (female antagonist-turned hero). Open-ended. Possible subtext between Soular (male antagonist) and Miki (female hero) as well.
TV, 2003,
51 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Subtext between Lust (female antagonist) and Scar (male anti-hero). Unhappy ending. These characters never interact in Brotherhood/the manga version.
TV, 2024,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Female protagonist Elise was antagonistic in her previous life until being reverse-isekaid into the real world. After dying again, she is returned to her past life and attempts to do things right this time. Has an open-ended romance with Prince Linden, her executioner in a past life.
TV, 1992,
47 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Canon romance between Yaminorius (male antagonist) and Aiko (female hero).
TV, 2006,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
A sort of romance between Consul/fake Koichi (male antagonist) and Misuzu (female hero). Both were merely using the other. Unhappy ending.
TV, 2013,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Canon romance between Aila (female antagonist) and Reiji (co-male lead). Has a sequel OAV
TV, 2014,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:6
Canon romance between Luin (male antagonist) and Manny (female hero)
TV, 2020,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:4
Open-ended between Riku (male antagonist) and Towa (co-female lead). Has a sequel.
TV, 2005,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Kokuanten (female antagonist) is attracted to Kikunosuke (male lead). Entirely one-sided.
TV, 2013,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:7
The concept of the series itself is a romance between Maou (aka Satan) and Emilia, a female hero. Maou is the lead character and not really portrayed as a villain, however.
Has a sequel.
Has a sequel.
TV, 2023,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
A girl is reincarnated as Pride, the female antagonist of a game. Due to using her outside knowledge she is not evil in this world (though fears that she will turn out like her game counterpart) and becomes a love interest to male heroes Stale and Arthur. She also gets shiptease with Val (male antagonist).
TV, 2018,
49 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Canon romance between George (main male antagonist) and Hana (female lead). That being said, George was not a villain in either timeline where they started a relationship. Also Bicine (male antagonist) has a one-sided crush on Harry (male hero).
TV, 2003,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Canon romance between Saji (male antagonist) and Ryomou (female hero). Has several sequels. Mostly only a thing in the anime, because Saji dies in the manga version.
TV, 2006,
46 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Nero-Queen (female antagonist) has a crush on Phoenix (male hero). Completely one-sided. Additionally, Himiko (female antagonist) has a crush on Genki (male lead). This is mostly one-sided but more open-ended.
TV, 1981,
52 eps
Me:-
Author:6
Sincline (male antagonist) has a crush on Fala (female hero). Completely one-sided. Unhappy ending.
Allegedly the English Voltron dub portrays Lotor (Sincline’s counterpart) more sympathetically, and also has exclusive episodes with additional moments, but they still don’t end up together.
Allegedly the English Voltron dub portrays Lotor (Sincline’s counterpart) more sympathetically, and also has exclusive episodes with additional moments, but they still don’t end up together.
Movie, 1993,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
Canon romance between Tsuge (male main antagonist) and Shinobu (female lead). Unhappy ending. Part of a larger continuity but the romance is only featured in this movie.
TV, 2002,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:10
Canon romances between Athrun (male antagonist) and Cagalli (female hero) as well as Dearka (male antagonist) and Mirialia (female hero). However, both break up in the sequel. Athrun and Cagalli are implied to be together again in the Seed Freedom movie.
TV, 2006,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Elsa (female antagonist) is attracted to Kurou (male lead). Completely one-sided.
