Old romance anime that needs remakes

Important takeaways

• Anime romance often follows a predictable formula with interesting twists and turns, leaving fans wanting more.
• Some iconic romance anime can benefit from remakes to update animations or modernize stories.
• Rebooting classic romance anime with tweaks like age changes or split universes can attract new and old fans.

Stop me if you've heard this one before – two main characters have a sweet encounter and fall somewhat unexpectedly in love. Their relationship hits a few rough spots here and there, but they get through it all and end up together in the end. That's how romantic stories usually go in almost any medium they're told. Well, anime seems to understand this formula, uses it, while still including interesting wrinkles that, more often than not, leave viewers wanting more.

The older the anime, the more likely it might have one, two, or more things baked into it that would benefit from a remake. It could be something as simple as fixing its animation, but there could also be a problem at the core of the show's premise that, if changed in a remake, could make the show perfect for modern-day viewers.

1 His and her circumstances

Has a somewhat dated art style

His and her circumstances is a wonderfully fresh take on the class rep trope common in anime. This time, however, both parties are in the position, with the show focusing on a one-sided rivalry between them, as well as the philosophical nature of what amounts to a Tsundere's denial of her love.

This anime was directed by Hideaki Anno, by Neon Genesis Evangelion fame. As such, beyond things like the interesting depictions of MC Yukino's perceived greatness, there are many wonderful establishing shots throughout the show. Something that would benefit from the kind of facelift that the rebuilds of EVA not so long ago.

2 My wife is a high school girl

Implies a problematic marriage

This would be a tricky remake, as the premise is problematic, with not only an age difference to deal with but a strange power dynamic between a teacher and his student. The core of the show is one that fans of romance anime can get behind, as it's a love that endures against all odds.

If it was remade, the feel of this anime could still remain intact, while pushing the ages of the main characters forward a bit. Instead of a teacher and his student, it could perhaps be a man and a woman with diametrically opposed professions. Surely new and old fans alike wouldn't mind a little progress with their romance.

3 Chobits

Would benefit from today's popularization of shared universes

Romantic plans between humans and AI are nothing new, but then Chobitsthere have been quite a few nuanced ideas, such as in the acclaimed American film, Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix. It is clear that a new Chobits the anime would benefit from several years of further sci-fi advancements.

Comics written by the writing collective CLAMP were known for having a lot of fun, and sometimes quite minor, crossovers between their comics. While Chobits didn't get as much of this as series like xxxHolic and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles did, a remake of it, as well as the entire CLAMP series, would benefit from the hindsight of shared universes like the MCU.

4 School rumble

Would be perfect for short format content

Shows with decently sized episodes that all focus on different themes or gags have to strike an intricate balance between the genres they aim to portray. School rumble does just that, making viewers laugh out loud with its often absurdist humor, while offering plenty of surprises in its romantic drama elements.

At its core, School rumble is a sketch show, which is something that would fit very well with today's love of short-form content. Breaking out new episodes in YouTube shorts or even TikTok clips would help the show bring in loads of new fans.

5 Ai Yori Aoshi

Character designs need a touch-up

The main character, Kaoru, has escaped the machinations of his traditional Japanese family, but it seems fate has other plans for him. This leads to him being drawn into a harem, at the forefront of which is Aoi, a girl who has loved him since childhood.

The anime itself really has nothing special going on in terms of animation or style. Honestly, it looks a lot like a lot of other shows from the era, with the biggest offender being its bland character designs. But it's something that could be fixed quite easily in a remake to accompany its truly special story.

6 Tatchi

Could use modernization in its animation

IN Tatchiknown in English as Move, love blooms on the top of the pot. The show focuses on a love triangle between twins Tatsuya and Kaguya Uesugi, as well as Minami Asakura, as they enter high school and intramural baseball.

Fortunately, the iconic artwork by Mitsuru Adachi doesn't need too much fuss. In fact, the instantly recognizable '80s style would certainly make a remake of this story stand out among the countless rom-coms that dominate every season these days. Just a thorough refresh of the animation itself is all it takes to make this one at home.

7 Maison Ikkoku

The number of episodes could be trimmed down

Originally a manga created by one of the masters of romantic comedy, Rumiko Takahashi, Maison Ikkoku tells the complicated love story of Yusaku Godai and his property manager, Kyoko Otonashi. It's a compelling story, even when many of the key story beats are predictably kicked off by misunderstandings.

The series has seen a number of remasters, re-releases and even movies during its time. But what it could undoubtedly benefit from is a concerted effort to trim the fat from the original 90+ episode. That said, this is an otherwise timeless classic that, frankly, doesn't need much more done to it.

8 Peach girl

An example of anime from the 21st century that lacks animation quality

Momo Adachi is by all accounts a Gyaru, even if that's not her intention. Of course, this comes with life's many highs and lows, which inevitably includes being involved in a classic love triangle with some hot guys. Unfortunately, this leads to some jealousy in Momo's “friend”, Sae, who spends the series complicating things further.

Although not very old, many anime from the early to mid 2000s were often released that looked stiff and as a result a little ordinary. That said, a look at the show's animation with modern sensibilities would be a welcome fix. There is also the sequel manga, Peach Girl Nextthat have yet to be animated and could be incorporated into this new show, making a remake of the original anime a no-brainer.

9 Gravity

The audience would be more receptive to this kind of show

This classic yaoi focuses on the love story between a famous writer, Yuki, and a budding musician, Shuichi. Throughout the series, Shuichi tries to break down Yuki's emotional walls, while also pushing for his own goal of making it big in the music scene.

It's relatively short, but it's the kind of “boy love” story that American publisher Tokyo POP played a big role in popularizing in the West, meaning that a modern-day remake of the anime would go over even better. It would also give creators the opportunity to actually animate the entire story of Gravity, as the original show only covered about the first half of the manga.

10 Mary watches over us

There are tons of light novels to adapt

While a bit dense in its French naming conventions, the essence of Mary watches over us is rooted in the relationships formed between the series' characters who all attend a Catholic school. These relationships range from the official to the romantic, and everything in between, while never feeling taboo, despite the setting of the story.

A reboot of this anime would only make sense. The series began as a light novel that continued until 2012, meaning there is a wealth of content that neither the manga nor the anime ever touched. Also, a retelling could give the creators an opportunity to give the show a little more direction, since the original was more focused on characters than anything else.