The 10 Best Enemies to Lovers Anime of All Time Ranked

At the prestigious Hakusenkan Academy, Hikari Hanazono has always been second best to the school’s undisputed genius and rank 1 student, Takeshima Kei.

They have a fierce rivalry, with Hikari constantly working hard to surpass Kei not only in academic exams but also in athletics and extracurricular activities.

Despite their rivalry and competitive nature, Kei and Hikari have an undeniable chemistry, which gradually develops into something deeper.

The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil is set in a world where demons and angels have been in conflict with one another for years.

Akutsu Masatora is a demon in disguise as a student with a mission to find a charismatic individual who can uplift the spirits of his kind against angels.

On his first day, Akutsu encounters Amane Lily, a good-looking student who is an angel. She not only turned Akutsu into her slave, but she also asked him to hunt his kind.

As the plot unfolds, Akutsu and Amane’s relationship goes from sour to sweet as they come to terms with their differences, finding common ground in the process.

Rishe Irmgard Weitzner died six times in the war that the prince of Galkhein, Arnold Hein, started in the 7th Time Loop anime.

Regardless of Rishe’s efforts to change her destiny, she ends up dying in the war—that is, until her seventh chance in life, when she becomes Arnold’s bride-to-be.

At first, Rishe refused Arnold’s offer, but eventually, she accepted it to prevent the cruel crown prince from waging war against the world.

The more Rishe spends her days in Galkhein, the more she gets to know Arnold and his good heart.

She started seeing Arnold in a different light and it didn’t take long before her heart accepted Arnold.

In this sentai manga and anime series, Fudo Aikawa of the superhero team Gelato Five falls in love with the villainess of the shady organization called Gekko.

While their teammates are fighting each other, Fudo and Desumi spend their time bonding with one another and going on picnic dates, like a normal couple.

However, Fudo and Desumi know that no secrets can remain hidden so they have to be ready to confess to the public and, more importantly, to their teammates!

Set in the afterlife, Yuzuru Otonashi wakes up in a mysterious high school-like purgatory where deceased individuals are given a chance to resolve their past regrets before moving on to their next life.

This school has a student council president named Kanade Tachibana, who was initially perceived as an antagonist by the other characters, particularly Yuzuru.

He not only rebels against Kanade’s authority, but he also finds himself in several confrontations with her.

As the plot unfolds, Yuzuru and Kanade develop a deep connection after learning about their tragic past and personal struggles.

Ranma and Akane’s relationship is marked by constant bickering, comedic misunderstandings, and martial arts battles.

Akane initially dislikes Ranma not only because he’s a boy who defeated her in martial arts but also because of his marriage arrangement with her, preventing her from confessing to the man she truly loves.

Even so, Ranma and Akane’s relationship matures, and they learn to rely on each other in times of trouble, resulting in their romantic development.

This list would not be complete without the iconic pairing of Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta, and Bulma.

They are a fascinating example of the enemies-to-lovers trope, in which Vegeta is the proud Saiyan prince who fell in love with Capsule Corporation’s brilliant scientist and heiress, Bulma.

As a Saiyan warrior, Vegeta initially sees Bulma with disdain, labeling her as an inferior being he can kill in an instant.

His relationship with Bulma got better, undergoing significant development during the Namek Saga, where he gradually softened his stance toward her.

Now, they have been married for a long time, and their relationship is rooted in mutual respect, admiration, and, of course, love!

Masamune Makabe had a huge crush on Aki Adagaki back when they were young and innocent.

Aki played a huge role in Makabe’s character development, forcing him to confront his struggles in life as a weak, pathetic child.

At some point, Makabe decided to confess to Aki, only to get an insult in return.

Since then, Makabe has planned the biggest revenge in life: to get back at Aki by making her fall in love.

As the plot progresses, Makabe learns that there’s more to Aki than meets the eye.

Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane show a delightful enemies-to-lovers dynamic in Kaguya-sama: Love is War.

Set in the prestigious Shuchiin Academy, the romance anime follows the intricate romantic dance between the vice president and the president of the Student Council.

Despite harboring mutual feelings for each other, Kaguya and Miyuki engage in elaborate mind games and psychological warfare to force the other to confess their romantic feelings first.

In Romeo x Juliet, the Montague family rules over Neo Verona with an iron fist, while the Capulet family has been eradicated.

The story follows Juliet, the last surviving member of the Capulet family. She disguises herself as the male vigilante, Red Whirlwind, who fights against the oppressive regime.

Along the way, Juliet crosses paths with Romeo and sparks begin to fly. They are drawn to each other, resulting in a forbidden romance that defies the enmity between their families.