Non-jailbait romance

[butsurigaku]

Hello to all the encyclopedic anime geniuses here at anime-on-dvd! I am coming to you for help. My wife and I really enjoy romantic anime, things like Ai Yori Aoshi, but a lot of what we find revolves around highschool/junior high students. Some of these are great (particularly Kare Kano) but I'm looking for something involving adult couples, college students or older. I'm open to anything, but my wife is not up for mecha or anything horror.

Help me out, please! I've been coming here for years to check things out before I buy, but now I need someplace to start. Thanks!

[treatment]

[ QUOTE ]
butsurigaku said:
Hello to all the encyclopedic anime geniuses here at anime-on-dvd! I am coming to you for help. My wife and I really enjoy romantic anime, things like Ai Yori Aoshi, but a lot of what we find revolves around highschool/junior high students. Some of these are great (particularly Kare Kano) but I'm looking for something involving adult couples, college students or older. I'm open to anything, but my wife is not up for mecha or anything horror.

Help me out, please! I've been coming here for years to check things out before I buy, but now I need someplace to start. Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]

<font color="blue">Maison Ikkoku</font> (http://www.furinkan.com/maison/intro/index.html)

[Spirit Of The Stage]

I feel a bit weird starting this off considering I've only just joined myself, but yeah, definitely a few to recommend.

Kimagure Orange Road and Maison Ikkoku are definitely two of the more 'adult couple' romances (not in a hentai way) and two of the best. Warning - they are both long series, but it is worth it. A couple of love triangles but in both series the main pairings (Godai/Kyoko in Maison and Madoka/Kyosuke) in both series are among the strongest I've seen. That'll do for starters.

[Rhodes]

Kimagure Orange Road is with high school students... you dont get to college till the movies... after 50+ odd tv episodes and ovas.

Not yer released, Kimi ga Nozomu Eien (Title outside JP: Rumble Hearts) from Funi. 1st episode is set in their high school days... but the rest all deals with their adult lives. Very emotional romance triangle story. Looking forward to this release.

[Puppet Master]

Only Masion Ikkoku comes to mind but it is really good.

[Teiresias]

Besides those already mentioned, a few that I've enjoyed:

Sakura Diaries
Video Girl Ai
Kimi ga Nozomu Eien [the principals graduate early in the series]

[aquapermanence]

Ah! My Goddess and Genshiken both take place at college and have romantic aspects involving college students.

Golgo 13, Space Adventure Cobra, and Rose of Versailles, all directed by Osamu Dezaki, each feature adult romantic relationships with varying levels of sexuality.

City Hunter can be seen as a very drawn-out courtship between two mutually attracted adults. Then again, so can Berserk.

Legend of the Galactic Heroes includes, among its many space battles and conversations about tactics and government, a few romances involving adult soldiers. For shows with a similar setup but more focus on the relationship of the leads, there's also Crest of the Stars, Nadesico, and The Irresponsible Captain Tylor.

Finally, Planetes is a show that I can strongly recommend, both for its inclusion of a variety of adult relationships from dating all the way through marriage and raising children, and for its thoughtful exploration of the future of government, business, and the individual as humanity takes steps out into space.

[perigee]

Although romance is only one of several themes and perhaps not the central one, I recommend Miyazaki's Only Yesterday. It tells the story of a 27-year-old OL's encounter with her 10-year-old psyche on a journey of self discovery. The romance is more or less hinted at until the very end.

[JackProton]

There's the If I See You in My Dreams OVA about a shy 24 year old salaryman who has given up on ever meeting someone. And then.....

[fantasydewdrop]

To name a few that haven't been mentioned yet....
Porco Rosso is a pretty good one, a Miyazaki movie to boot. It's a throwback to the old Cassablancaish type of films. It's not centred on the romance per-say, but it has some in it and could be considered a love-story, at least in part.

Does it matter if the characters are straight or not? If not, that opens up a few more options.

FAKE is a pretty fun one about two police officers. One is constantly trying to get into the other one's pants (and failing) when they aren't working on their latest case. Unfortunetly there's only one episode, but if you guys are into manga, there's a seven-volume manga series. The manga is excellent so if you two like to read, you should try it out.

Hnn, Gravitation is a pretty good series (I know straight guys that find it good too, so it's not just the BL fanboy in me talking), though Shuichi's just barely old enough for your requirements; he's 18 (though looks female and younger. In the beginning of the manga, he's just finishing up high-school, but in the anime school is not mentioned, so it's assumed that he's already finished). It can be very wacky and very dramatic (heh, it's a rather bipolar franchise). It's about a band trying to hit it big, and the singer/songwritter falls in love with a writer that has some serious issues.... Things escalate from there. The OVA was made before the TV series was, but the TV series is what you want to start with. The OVA is sort of a sequil, though the story in it doesn't actually parallel any stories from the manga that I can recall (the TV series is seriously condensed and a bit re-aranged, since the manga is 12+ vols and the anime is 13 eps, but the stories in the TV are drawn from events in the manga)....
Actually, the OVA kind of goes AGAINST one of the things in the manga.<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> In the OVA, Yuki (the writer) writes a song for Nittle Grasper (a band rivaling Shuichi's band Bad Luck), and Shuichi is upset because he wanted Yuki to write a song for him. But in the manga, Yuki offers to write some songs for Shuichi, and Shuichi declines because he wants to prove himself as a writer.</span>

[Yuriko]

Not quite what you're after, but I think that from what you've said you'd both enjoy Geneon's Rumik Theatre release - lots of short stories, several with romantic aspects. They're good in that they're not a long series like most suitable shows mentioned so you can dip in occasionally and watch the odd episode. There's no mecha and I think they'd suit anyone. And a few episodes are quite emotional to this old romantic...

(One story actually made me cry!)

~Y

[JackProton]

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Yuriko said:
Not quite what you're after, but I think that from what you've said you'd both enjoy Geneon's Rumik Theatre release - lots of short stories, several with romantic aspects.

[/ QUOTE ]

Great suggestion, Yuriko! It has lots of married couples, there's stories that actually revolve around something besides teen angst and saving the world and its also funny... and sad and whimsical and wistful and sweet and... Highly recommended!

[DanielJr]

Maison Ikkoku should be your first choice. It's predominantly a romantic comedy, though mostly episodic for the first half of the show or so. Around Box 4 is where the real charm of the show starts to flourish. Charming and innocent romance, I loved it.

If you're open for Sci-Fi, please don't pass up Planetes. It's more than a romance though, it has romance and it's a major part of the anime, but there's so much more to enjoy. It's all about the drama. Make sure you give it a looksie before you pass it up. I think as an adult you'll enjoy it inmensely.

[butsurigaku]

I take it you are referring to the Rumiko Takahashi Anthology series? That does sound good, going by Chris's Review of it. Short stories are good, too. Easier to curl up on the couch and watch over dinner (no kids yet!).

I guess I'll have to check out Maison Ikkoku as well, since everyone seems to be recommending it.

Holy cow, Planetes looks great! And it's not even by Rumiko Takahashi... I do love sci-fi, but so often you get 12 year olds stealing the show (not that there's anything wrong with that sometimes).

Kimi ga nozomu eien also sounds quite nice, but it's not even out yet. Perhaps there will be a preorder discount somewhere? On the other hand, I buy anime so slowly that it is better to get the box set when it comes out, 'cause I can't keep up with the individual discs.

Maybe I'll look into If I See You in My Dreams as well. From what I gather I should go with the OVAs and perhaps pass on the TV series.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'll be broke until the tax return gets here!

[Njr Scrawl]

Misato Katsuragi &amp; Ryohji Kagi in Evangelion. Even perhaps Haruka &amp; Ayato in Rahxephon.

I'd also say Oku-sama wa Mahou had a dodgy romance. Belldandy &amp; Keiichi is adult enough, as is Miyuki &amp; Ken and Natsumi &amp; the Lieutenant in YUA.

Kenshin &amp; Kaoru in Rurouni Kenshin TV is another long romance.

Marriage, is an obvious romance title.

[jecca-neko]

[ QUOTE ]
aquapermanence said:
The Irresponsible Captain Tylor.


[/ QUOTE ]

Depends on what relationship you're talking about. Anything involving Yuriko Star is fine, but Tylor and Azalyn doesn't exactly qualify. She doesn't go to school but she's only 16.

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KasiTL said:
Porco Rosso is a pretty good one, a Miyazaki movie to boot. It's a throwback to the old Cassablancaish type of films. It's not centred on the romance per-say, but it has some in it and could be considered a love-story, at least in part.

[/ QUOTE ]

I second this recommendation. The romance takes a back seat to the adventure of the film, but it's still there.

Ah My Goddess is another. There's college age romance in it.

[Collectonian]

Silent Mobius, which is focused around an all female police force, might work. There are several romances in there, though they are not always front and center, two play major roles with the way the story plays out.

Tempted to also say Chrono Crusade, but I think Rosette was technically "high school" age. Can't remember at the moment, though because of her circumstances, she's fairly mature as well.

[ADC]

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Collectonian said:
Tempted to also say Chrono Crusade, but I think Rosette was technically "high school" age. Can't remember at the moment, though because of her circumstances, she's fairly mature as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Aye, she's 16, but still seconded. It's neither creepy nor juvenile, which some of the 'older' romance-type comedies (Love Hina) can be. In this case, despite her age, Rosette is pretty much an adult, as evidenced by the <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>little red dress in episode 3 /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif</span>.

(I say, who have really enjoyed Love Hina, in large part because, at age 28, I'm still pretty juvenile myself. Which the above spoiler should have proven beyond a reasonable doubt. /images/graemlins/icon_rolleyes.gif)

[Yuriko]

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butsurigaku said:
I take it you are referring to the Rumiko Takahashi Anthology series? That does sound good, going by Chris's Review of it. Short stories are good, too. Easier to curl up on the couch and watch over dinner (no kids yet!).

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that's the one - teach me to post when half asleep /images/graemlins/happy.gif

~Y

[cjed]

OK, here's another vote for Planetes and Genshiken which are slowly appearing on R1 DVD. Neither are primarily romances, but do feature them.

Fansubbed, I'd certainly recommend Hachimitsu to Clover, which is college based, Emma a tale from Victorian England, REC a recent short series.

Slightly more unusual stuff, but with romantic themes handled in more mature [as in grown-up] ways include Koi Kaze and Someday's Dreamers, both on R1 DVD.

There are of course a whole shed-load of high-school based romances, mostly too shallow and implausible, but if you havn't seen it then Kareshi Kanojo no jijou is a must see (but only the first 3 DVDs, then it gets into recap episodes and just stops).

[Yukino Miyazawa]

I recommend Black Heaven, which is about a middle-aged salaryman going through a mid-life crisis. There's a bit of a love triangle involved, and some fun sci-fi. Don't let the heavy metal cover art and opening sequence fool you; they're very different from the actual story and tone of the series.

Millennium Actress is an excellent movie. It's very romantic in nature, about an actress consumed with searching for the man she loves throughout her life. Very moving.

[Damo]

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butsurigaku said:
Short stories are good, too. Easier to curl up on the couch and watch over dinner (no kids yet!).


[/ QUOTE ]
Boy Be and Diamond Daydreams , might both be well worth checking out, both are made up of several short stories either one or two episodes long. And Romance is their central and posibly only theme, no comic hyjinx/mecha/magic powers and such.

Boys Be is easily the best romance anime I've seen.

Possibly Sentimental Journey as well which is all twelve episodes in one two-disc set, though it is subbed only it's the same sort of style as Boys Be and Diamond Daydreams.

All three shows I think have characters around highschool age but are written far more mature than most romances you'll find in anime.

[Vicserr]

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butsurigaku said:
Hello to all the encyclopedic anime geniuses here at anime-on-dvd! I am coming to you for help. My wife and I really enjoy romantic anime, things like Ai Yori Aoshi, but a lot of what we find revolves around highschool/junior high students. Some of these are great (particularly Kare Kano) but I'm looking for something involving adult couples, college students or older. I'm open to anything, but my wife is not up for mecha or anything horror.

Help me out, please! I've been coming here for years to check things out before I buy, but now I need someplace to start. Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, the only series that I could recommend with some romantic elements (but your wife will object to the Massive Amounts of Mecha) is Armored Trooper V.O.T.O.M.S. the releationship between Chirico and Fyana is very sweet as that is mostly developed from the 2nd half of the 2nd story arc, Kummen Jungle Wars (even with the military of the entire galaxy out to kill them) but nothing says love more than taking a mech and blowing everybody that stands between you and your love to Kingdom Come! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

CPM has 2 story arcs available in 2 dvd sets with 13 episodes (Uoodo City and Kummen Jungle Wars) with the final 2 forthcoming before the year is out (Deadworld Sunsa and God Planet Quent)

[Yuriko]

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Yukino Miyazawa said:
I recommend Black Heaven, which is about a middle-aged salaryman going through a mid-life crisis. There's a bit of a love triangle involved, and some fun sci-fi. Don't let the heavy metal cover art and opening sequence fool you; they're very different from the actual story and tone of the series.

Millennium Actress is an excellent movie. It's very romantic in nature, about an actress consumed with searching for the man she loves throughout her life. Very moving.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just want to give both of these my vote too, the first in particular being a very good selection for what I think you're after. It deals with a lot of relationship issues and they're all adults.

~Y

[sawmill]

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Collectonian said:
Silent Mobius, which is focused around an all female police force, might work. There are several romances in there, though they are not always front and center, two play major roles with the way the story plays out.

[/ QUOTE ]
There is adult romance in SM but it <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>doesn't end well </span> and the entire show is full of silly horror genre nonsense. Fair warning. I wanted to like SM since it was refreshing to have a show of adult characters instead of teeny boppers but couldn't.

[something]

I'm torn on whether or not to nominate Honey and Clover. They *are* college students. They're close to graduating and getting out into the real world (some already are, even). They face rather different challenges than your traditional middle school couple does.

But then there's Hagu, who is like... creepy as hell. She looks like a six year old /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif Granted, she's supposed to be 19 or something. Still, she certainly LOOKS like jailbait but... Heh well, it's not licensed anyway, but if it does get licensed and comes out over here, definitely give it a try. It's a really fantastic show, and while I was left feeling the ending stretch was a tad lacking (sort of), it's getting a second season which should fix that.

As for licensed shows, keep your eyes on Kimi ga Nozomu Eien (Rumble Hearts). Thevast majority of the show takes place when they're out of school, and in the adult workforce. I'm not sure what more I can say without getting into spoilers. Funimation is releasing it on three discs, one a month, starting this Fall or something. Quick and cheap to collect.