It’s day six of Doki Doki Days and we’re spicing it up with some more romance. But today, we’re not just talking about any kind of romance, today we’re going to be talking about educational romance anime. Because if there was one thing we noticed about some of the anime we watched this year, it was that that they had a lot of good lessons to learn. So just in case you missed them, here are a few anime that we really felt like had something to teach you.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
At this point in Doki Doki Days, you have probably realized that we are absolutely in love with this anime. It was part of why we decided to make this an entire post. Rintaro was an excellent character who really showed viewers how to be emotionally available. He was very introspective the whole time and always thought about his own emotions and what he was feeling. But he was also thinking about how Waguri was feeling too. He was processing, thinking — it was very intentional and he was putting a lot of thought into their relationship without overthinking his actions. We thought it was very admirable. Especially when Rintaro finally came to the epiphany that he was truly in love with Waguri.
Honey Lemon Soda
Honestly, the biggest thing that this show taught its viewers was to not a white knight to the princess in trouble. As a main character, Uka’s biggest flaw was her lack of self-confidence. She’d be bullied and not stand up for herself at all. In most shoujo, this would result in a knight coming in to save her by protecting her from the bullies. However, the main character Kai didn’t just swoop in like that. Instead, Kai encouraged her to help herself. He literally spoonfed her self-confidence. Because loving yourself is just as important as loving someone else.
Secrets of the Silent Witch
So when it came to romance, this anime wasn’t exactly brimming with it. However, there was a romance subplot when it came to the prince Felix. See, he had been infatuated with the figure known as the silent witch. Everything about this person he never met was amazing to him and he was through and through a fanboy brimming with love. But through the story we see him start to care for Monica without ever knowing she was the silent witch, and he comes to realize that he doesn’t care that she isn’t the girl of his dreams–he loves her for how amazing she is as Monica herself. It’s a nice sentiment that shows you to fall for who people truly are, not what you chalk them up to be in your mind.
Call of the Night season 2
One of the most thoughtful anime of the year really had viewers asking themselves a lot of questions about romance. It posed the question: how can you love someone and how can you tell you’re in love with someone? What is the difference between caring deeply for someone and being in love with them? This show often feels like a deliberation on what exactly love is. For example, Ko, the main character, is learning these differences throughout the season. He watches his friend fall in love with a vampire and then successfully turn into one. Then he gets to see what it’s like for vampires to love/care for each other as family. From viewing all these kinds of love, and from learning more and more about Nazuna, Ko begins to understand his own feelings. He hasn’t fallen for her fully–he hasn’t just fallen like a fool for her mad-pixie-girl-like energy. Ko is genuinely learning to love who she is as she discovers who she is. I think it’s a truly beautiful series of lessons this show is introducing to its viewers. Love isn’t just about physical attraction. It’s about the person as a whole.
Overall, so many of the anime that we watched and liked this year really made their viewers evaluate their feelings. It encouraged them to look inwards. To think about their own feelings for other people, think about other people’s feelings for themselves. It really questions romance. These anime don’t present you with a fun romantic/comedy like many other love stories we see. These really showcase different kinds of romance and feelings, and certainly display emotionally mature boys. I think these anime really have something for lots of people to learn, if they are willing to. It’s very welcoming. And a great change of pace for romance anime everywhere.
xoxo
Luna
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