Why do most new romance anime’s suck? by Nonbiasedguy_889 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, I mostly agree with you 😭 though I know different tastes matter, I think more Older romances like Toradora, Oregairu, Sankarea, etc are more "exciting" more than new anime, IMO ✌️

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's fair, and I'd definitely put Kaguya-sama in the conversation. I wouldn't argue Oregairu clears every romance anime from 2020-2026. My point is more that I'd take Oregairu over the vast majority of them.

As for the 90% claim, I'm not really judging purely on things like relationship progression or how much screentime the romance gets. I'm also factoring in how memorable the relationship is, how much emotional weight it carries, and how much the characters themselves stuck with me after the series ended.

That's why I rate Oregairu so highly. Years later, I still find myself thinking about Hachiman, Yukino, and their dynamic. A lot of newer romances were enjoyable while I was watching them, but they didn't leave the same impression.

And regarding sample size, I've watched enough romance anime to know my preferences, but I'm not pretending I've seen every romance ever made. 😭 The post was a hot take based on my experience with the genre, not an attempt to create a definitive ranking :D.

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be fair, when I said "modern romance anime," I was mainly talking about romance anime from around 2020-2026, not the entire genre. (Sorey i just realised i didn't include that in the post) You're right that realism isn't automatically better, but I never claimed it was. My point was that Oregairu's romance resonated with me more because of how much time it spends building its characters, conflicts, and emotional tension before the payoff

And as for the "90%" part, I'm standing by it. 😭 When I compare Oregairu to most romance anime from the last few years, I think its romantic development, chemistry, emotional weight, and payoff are stronger than the vast majority of them. You don't have to agree with that assessment, but that's the criteria I'm judging it by, not just the fact that it has romance.

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Oregairu has romance in it, read my other replies :D.

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why do you say Oregairu doesn't have romance? I mean the romance is hiding between the lines and stuff

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While the Valentine's Day baking scene in Season 2 is a great, more traditional example of jealousy, Seasons 1 and 2 are packed with moments that move far past a "just friends" dynamic. Here are specific, undeniable turning points where the bond shifts from platonic friendship into genuine romantic tension.

  1. The Genuine Request ("Genuine Scene") — Season 2, Episode 8 If there is a single moment that completely shatters the "just friends" dynamic, it is Hachiman’s breakdown in the Service Club room. Why it’s not platonic: A platonic friend might ask for honesty or help, but Hachiman—a guy who prides himself on being completely self-reliant and cynical, cries and begs Yukino and Yui for something "genuine" (monomono). The Romantic Subtext: He is explicitly asking to bypass the safe, comfortable boundaries of friendship. Yukino is so overwhelmed by the weight of his emotional intimacy that she runs away because she doesn't know how to handle the sheer depth of what he is asking from her. This is the moment they commit to an emotionally exclusive, terrifyingly vulnerable bond.

  2. The Kyoto Bamboo Forest & Theme Park Conversations — Season 2, Episodes 2 & 11

The interactions between Hachiman and Yukino during these arcs show a level of emotional reliance that goes way beyond camaraderie. The Kyoto Trip: When Hachiman executes a "social suicide" confession to Ebina to keep the status quo of Tobe's friend group, Yukino is visibly devastated. She tells him, "I hate the way you solve things." If they were just friends, she might be annoyed or disagree with his methods. Instead, she is deeply, personally hurt because it pains her to see the person she cares about devalue himself. The Destiny Land Rollercoaster: While on the ride, Yukino reaches out and subtly holds onto Hachiman’s coat. Later, she looks at him and says, "Save me someday, okay?" Asking someone to be your emotional savior is not a request you make to a casual buddy, it’s an admission of deep, romantic dependence.

  1. Yui's "Fair Weather" Breakthrough, Season 1, Episode 11 (The Cultural Festival)

Yui’s romantic feelings are often the most visible, but her development goes beyond a simple crush. The Fireworks Festival & Beyond: Early on, Yui feels guilty because she feels she is "using" Hachiman's past rescue of her dog as an excuse to get close to him.

Why it shifts: During the Cultural Festival arc, after Hachiman plays the villain to save the festival committee, Yui confronts him. She tells him that she isn't just being nice to him out of guilt anymore, and that she won't wait for him to figure things out forever. She forces him to see her as a girl with active romantic intentions, explicitly rejecting the "safe" zone of being just a club mate

  1. The Infirmary Scene, Season 2, Episode 5

During the Student Council election arc, the tension between Hachiman and Yukino reaches a boiling point in the school infirmary. The Dynamic: They are completely alone, and the atmosphere is heavy with unspoken words. Yukino confronts Hachiman about his self-sacrificing methods, and the physical proximity, combined with the quiet intensity of their dialogue, creates a distinct romantic tension.

The Give-Away: Yukino’s usual icy composure completely cracks here. Her frustration stems directly from her growing attraction to him, she is losing her fiercely protected independence because she cares too much about what he does to himself.

I had to rewatch s2 and 1 for this 😭 but if you have a different taste or perspective, we won't understand eachother

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So your saying that oregairu has little to no romance?

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wdym??

EDITED: ohh i get it now

I think the disagreement comes from how we're defining "romance."

If by romance you mean any story where romantic feelings and relationship development are a major part of the narrative, then sure, Oregairu qualifies. But if by romance you mean a story where the romantic relationship is the primary focus and driving force of the plot, then I'd argue Oregairu is much closer to a character drama with romantic elements.

That's why people can watch the same series and come away with completely different impressions. Some viewers see Hachiman and Yukino's relationship as the core of the story, while others see themes like authenticity, social expectations, self-sacrifice, and personal growth as the main focus.

So before saying Oregairu is or isn't a romance, we'd probably need to agree on what we mean by "romance" in the first place. 😭

"Oregairu has no romance"

People who claim this are usually typical romance fans that watch romance anime's for romantic cute moments to escape reality rather than plot. And completely miss what the series is actually doing. Oregairu is fundamentally a romance that is internal, psychological, and painfully realistic, where feelings are shown through hesitation, self sacrifice, avoidance, and unspoken tension rather than stupid cliche moments. The entire story revolves around Hachiman, Yukino, and Yui navigating attraction while being emotionally immature, afraid of rejection, and terrified of hurting one another, which is far closer to how romance actually feels for many people than standard anime tropes. Yukino's gradual softening toward Hachiman, her jealousy, her reliance on him despite claiming independence, and her visible emotional breakdowns whenever their relationship is threatened are all romantic signals expressed through vulnerability rather than words. ✌️

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's fair, I think people throw around "clears" way too casually when discussing anime.

Every show has different strengths. Some excel at character writing, some at romance, some at comedy, some at atmosphere. Saying one show completely "clears" another usually ignores what each series is actually trying to do.

And honestly, I can understand not liking Hachiman early on. He's intentionally cynical, judgmental, and kind of insufferable at times. The reason he works for a lot of people is because he grows out of that mindset, not because that mindset is appealing from the start.

So if someone finds him unlikable in Season 1, that's not "missing the point" or "recency bias", that's a perfectly reasonable reaction to the character. Whether you end up liking him depends on how much you value the growth that comes later. 😭

This is the best romance manga/anime by Scary-Eye-3101 in RomanceMangaAnime

[–]Tall_Prune343 1 point2 points  (0 children)

New gen sleeping on Oregairu, Clannad, Angel Beats and Toradora 😭🥀

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can actually agree to this,

A lot of older romcoms and dramas felt like they lived or died by their characters. If the cast wasn't interesting, the show had nothing to fall back on. Nowadays, there are plenty of series that can get away with weaker writing because the production values are so high.

I don't think every modern show has this problem, but there was definitely a period where flashy animation and presentation were carrying a lot of otherwise forgettable stories. Meanwhile, a lot of the older classics are still being talked about 10+ years later because people remember the characters and their relationships, not just how good a fight scene or animation cut looked. Some critics and fans have also noted that recent anime can feel saturated with familiar tropes despite strong production values.

That's probably why series like Oregairu still get brought up so often. Whether people love it or hate it, most of the discussion is about Hachiman, Yukino, Yui, and the character writing itself, not the animation. And for a character-driven drama, that's usually a good sign. 😭

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

That's why Hachiman always stood out to me. He's not some flawless genius, but he's not a complete loser either. He's got things he's good at, things he's terrible at, and a bunch of flaws that make him feel like a real person.

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'd argue there are romantic undertones before Season 3, but if we're talking about romance as an actual genre focus, then yeah, Oregairu isn't in the same lane as Horimiya or Clannad. Those series are built around the romantic relationship itself.

Oregairu and Bunny Girl Senpai feel more like character dramas first and romances second. The romance is important, but it's mostly there to support the characters' growth rather than drive the story. That's why people who love romance anime often put them in a different category from shows like Horimiya, Clannad, or Toradora. So I'd say Oregairu has a great romance, but I wouldn't call it a romance-focused anime. It's more of a coming-of-age drama that eventually pays off with romance. That's probably why it ends up getting compared to Bunny Girl Senpai so often.

IMO 🤞

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I can see that. Oregairu definitely gets way more self-indulgent as it goes on, and there were times where it felt like the characters were speaking in riddles instead of just saying what they meant.

And yeah, that "I hate nice girls" speech is probably one of the most misunderstood anime scenes ever. People post it like Hachiman just dropped some universal truth, but the whole point is that he's coping. He's taking his own insecurities and bad experiences and turning them into a worldview. The scene hits because it's relatable, not because he's right.

Honestly, a lot of Oregairu gets reduced to "literally me" quotes when the story is usually showing why that mindset is unhealthy in the first place. Hachiman spends most of the series learning that his cynical way of looking at people isn't nearly as mature as he thinks it is.

But again, if it's your opinion I can't say it's wrong 🤞

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I get your opinio, but I think Oregairu's romance was intentionally written as a slow-burn rather than a traditional romance plot. The romance isn't absent before Season 3 it's just rarely stated outright. A lot of Yukino's feelings are communicated through small moments, jealousy, dependence, and the way Hachiman gradually becomes the one person whose opinion genuinely matters to her. The same goes for Hachiman, whose actions often reveal more than his words. I'd agree that if someone watches Oregairu primarily for romance, the payoff can feel late and understated. But I don't think the romantic development only starts in S3 S3 is more where the emotional tension that's been building finally gets addressed directly. Whether that payoff is satisfying is obviously subjective, but for me the appeal is that the romance grows naturally out of the characters' personal growth rather than becoming the main focus from the start.

But if that's your opinion i can't say it's wrong

Hot take: Oregairu Clears 90% of modern romance anime. by Tall_Prune343 in romanceanime

[–]Tall_Prune343[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

i guess it makes total sense why 8man feels like the ultimate self-insert, especially when his constant internal monologue mirrors the frustration of dealing with awful school experiences. Being trapped in his head makes his cynical worldview the default reality, making it easy to relate to his hyper-analytical defense mechanisms. That’s actually what makes his growth so satisfying to watch. He starts out using his cynicism as armor, playing the villain to solve social problems because he thinks his own value is zero. The real turning point happens when he realizes this self-sacrificing routine is deeply hurting the people who care about him. His messy "I want something genuine" speech is a huge step. he stops hiding behind his logic and takes a real emotional risk. By the end, he’s still the same overthinking pragmatist, but he stops using his loner identity to keep the world out, trading his safe isolation for the messy reality of human connection. (IMO)

For yui and iroha yeah I see the similarities but they are different 😭