Summary
Whether it’s the main meat of the plot or part of its sides, romance has played a part in a lot of anime. There are always ups and downs when it comes to building a relationship, so it’s rich ground for adding some extra drama to the story and turning it intoan emotional rollercoaster. Like when a potential romance is forbidden. Whether it’s because of society, a curse, or other reasons, anime’s wanting lovebirds have a lot going against them.
However, their plight makes things more interesting and keeps the viewers engaged. Will they overcome these obstacles and live happily ever after? Or are they doomed from the start? People would have to watch them to find out, with these couples offering some of the strongest, most fraught forbidden romances in the medium.
Update on July 20, 2025, by David Heath:Tales of forbidden love have been tantalizing people around the world since ancient times. It’s produced poems like Layla & Majnun, formed part of folklore like Guinevere and Lancelot, and drove musicals like West Side Story. So, it’s no surprise it’s turned up in anime too, and in a variety of ways. Simon and Nia gave Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, an OTT mecha series, a very bittersweet conclusion, while Snow White with the Red Hair and Beastars had their lovers kept apart by social class and customs. But forbidden romances in anime can get more complicated and painful than that, before ending in disaster or working out for the best. This is why this list has been updated with more of anime’s best forbidden romances, and why they’re so taboo.
19Romeo Montague And Juliet Capulet
Romeo x Juliet
Considering thatRomeo MontagueandJuliet Capuletare based on the characters from Shakespeare’s playRomeo and Juliet, it’s no surprise that these two have a forbidden relationship. ButRomeo X Julietuses the feuding families to tell a different story, as Juliet, the last surviving member of the Capulets,aids the oppressed people of Neo Veronaagainst the Montagues, the tyrannical family that killed Juliet’s family. But things get complicated when she comes face to face with Romeo, the Montague prince.
The two of them should be natural enemies because of their mutual past, but it was love at first sight. At least on Romeo’s part. Juliet is more hesitant because of their families' mutual past, but Romeo also doesn’t care for the tyranny of his father and is a much kinder, gentler person than Juliet thought. But with their families' blood feud and a hidden secret that lies at the heart of Neo Verona, their romance is as star-crossed as their namesakes.
SimonandNia Teppelinhave been through so much that fans were rooting for them to have a happy ending. They started off as teens who met and slowly fell in love as the series went on. They made for a happy couple, as Nia helped Simon with his depressionover Kamina’s death. She even helped defeat her father, Lordgenome, when Simon almost lost the battle. Even after the time skip, it was clear that the two of them loved each other, leading to Simon proposing to her.
At first, Nia didn’t accept because she didn’t know what it meant, but accepted once she was told what being married was all about. Sadly, Nia would turn out to be the Anti-Spiral messenger, who’d herald the arrival of the Anti-Spirals and become an enemy of humanity. She’d eventually recover and help Simon in the final battle, leading to the two finally getting married. But with the Anti-Spirals destroyed, Nia was doomed to fade away with them. As a result, their wedding became the sweetest and most painful part of the show, as she disappeared soon after their vows.
Knowing the future can be a scary thing, and can provide a heavy burden. InOrange, Naho receives a letter from her future self that tells herof a tragedythat will befall her school’s new transfer student, Kakeru, if Naho doesn’t follow the letter’s advice. By contrast, her friend Hiroto also receives letters from his future self telling him he’ll marry Naho, and the two will build a happy family together.
However, ifNahoandHirotowant Kakeru to live, they’ll end up changing their futures too. If they let things play out as ordained, Kakeru will die, but Hiroto will get his happy ending with Naho. If they change things and help Kakeru live on, Naho will end up falling for him instead, leaving Hiroto alone and preventing their future children from being born. No matter what path they take, their fate will end up bittersweet at best.
The relationship betweenShirayukiandZen Wisteriais a classic case of a couple torn by social castes. Shirayuki fled her home nation of Tanbarun because she didn’t want to become a concubine for its ruler, Prince Raj. She was helped by Zen, the prince of the neighboring country of Clarines, who was soon poisoned by an apple meant for Shirayuki. She manages to get an antidote for him and, in return for saving his life, gets the chance to train in Clarines' royal court to become their official herbalist.
But that only proves to be the start of Shirayuki and Zen’s story, as thetwo gradually fall for each other. However, as Prince of Clarines, he isn’t allowed to marry anyone from the lower classes. His family insists he find another princess to marry. In turn, Prince Raj changes his tone and tries to better himself as a person to win Shirayuki over. But despite all the opposition to their union, Shirayuki and Zen only have eyes for each other.
SaberandShirou’s relationship definitely has its complications, as the two are servant and master respectively. Shirou is a teenager who fights in the Fifth Holy Grail War, while Saber is a Servant, a familiar spirit bound to Shirou that’s considered the strongest in her class. She’s meant to protect Shirou with her power, as he’s meant to be her Master, but he does his best to return the favor and protect her in turn, even if it puts him in danger.
Saber might be a Servant, but she doesn’t hesitate to voice her disagreements with him, as she doesn’t like him jeopardizing himself for her sake at first. But they soon develop mutual feelings, as their relationship goesbeyond their titles. Nonetheless, the two have a war to fight, and the two agree to separate once it’s won. They have roles to play, and they can’t deviate from them, or so they think. The only thing more complicated than their relationship is the overall plot ofFate/Stay Nightitself.
It’s easy to see whyLegoshiandHaru’s relationship inBeastarsis odd. He’s a tall gray wolf, and she’s a tiny dwarf rabbit. Usually, on the show,carnivores and herbivoresavoid each other, but Legoshi and Haru want to make their unusual relationship work despite their complications. For example, Legoshi trains with Gohin, a psychiatrist panda, to help fight his natural instincts to turn Haru into prey rather than into a partner.
In turn, many look down on Haru because of her promiscuous reputation, but Legoshi accepts her as she is, instead of treating her like some dainty creature in need of protection. Haru found Legoshi a little strange because of his mannerisms (like most people who talk to him do), which eventually only added to his charm. It’s not a perfect relationship and many around them believe they shouldn’t be together, but they are determined to make it work.
InThe Duke of Death and His Maid, the titular couple aren’t forced apart by social customs like other noble/servant stories. Nor are they torn apart by race, war, or feuds. Instead, their fates are tested by a curse.Duke Viktorwas cursed by a witch as a child, causing him to kill every living thing he touched. Disowned by his family, he was sent off to live in isolation, with just his butler Rob and maidAlice Lendrottfor company.
Even though Alice knows she can be killed with a single touch, she shows no fear when she’s around him. She openly flirts with the Duke andloves to tease himby getting uncomfortably close without touching him. They do their best to act normal, pretending to high-five, dance, and give each other a pat on the back, but it’s a painful reminder they can’t actually do these little things, let alone hug, kiss, or hold hands. Not until they can break the curse if such a thing is possible.
Spike SpiegelandJulia’s romance inCowboy Bebopdidn’t havemuch time to blossom,but it was clear the two of them loved each other very much. Spike and Julia were part of the Red Dragon Syndicate, where she was in a relationship with Vicious at the time. After she helped nurse Spike back to health, he and Julia began an affair where the two planned to leave the Syndicate together. But Vicious learned of their plans and told Julia either she would kill Spike herself or he’d kill them both.
Instead, she opted to go into hiding, while Spike willingly went into an ambush set up for him as a means to fake his death. He’d go on to become a lackadaisical bounty hunter, drifting through the present because he felt he had no future without Julia. Fate would soon prove him right when both Julia and Vicious come back into his life and remind him of his sordid past.
11Gennosuke Kouga & Oboro Iga
Basilisk
Before makingRomeo X Juliet, Gonzo adapted another ill-fated romance reminiscent of Shakespeare, albeitwith warring ninja clans.Basiliskshows how the Kouga and Iga clans reached a tense peace with each other after decades of waging a bloody war against each other.Gennosukeof the Kouga Clan and the Iga Clan’sOborohoped their engagement would help soothe tensions between their families. While it was an arranged marriage, the two actually fell in love with each other.
But tensions rise once more when Ieyasu Tokugawa has the clans act in a proxy war to determine who he chooses to succeed him as shogun. The side with the most survivors left determines the winner. Oboro refuses to take part in the carnage, while Gennosuke is conflicted over whether to honor his family or his love. Either way, if the two can’t find a way to make their love work, their families will be torn apart by their hatred,
LikeThe Duke of Death and His Maid,the Sohma claninFruits Basketsuffer a curse that complicates their relationships, be they familial, platonic, or romantic. Only instead of death, they get turned into animalsrepresenting the Chinese Zodiacif someone of the opposite sex hugs them. Orphaned schoolgirl Toru finds this out the hard way when she’s adopted by the clan and gets caught between the feuding cousins Yuki and Kyo.
That’s not the only thing affecting them. The curse also means they’re dominated by Akito Sohma, the head of the household and “god of the zodiac”. They control what they can and can’t do, and who they can and can’t hang out with, through physical, verbal, and emotional abuse. In one case, Akito pushed Rin Sohma out of a window for having a relationship with Hatsuharu, which forced Rin to break up with him during her hospital stay to protect him. Until they can break the curse, the Sohma clan will never get to choose who they love for themselves.
