whatanimeshouldiwatchnext · Romance

The best military romance anime you can start from the beginning

31 anime that are both romance and military, ranked by MyAnimeList, with none of the sequels, side stories or recap editions you cannot start cold. Top of the list: Versailles no Bara, Kurenai no Buta, Macross.

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The list

1. 1 Versailles no Bara The Rose of Versailles TV · 1979 · 40 episodes · Tokyo Movie Shinsha · #279 on MyAnimeList 88% would recommend
2. 2 Kurenai no Buta Porco Rosso Film · 1992 · Studio Ghibli · #807 on MyAnimeList 88% would recommend
3. 3 Macross Super Dimension Fortress Macross TV · 1982 · 36 episodes · Tatsunoko Production · #955 on MyAnimeList 86% would recommend
4. 4 Jin-Rou Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade Film · 2000 · Production I.G · #1218 on MyAnimeList 85% would recommend
5. 5 Seikai no Monshou Crest of the Stars TV · 1999 · 13 episodes · Sunrise · #1685 on MyAnimeList 81% would recommend
6. 6 Toaru Hikuushi e no Tsuioku The Princess and the Pilot Film · 2011 · Madhouse · #1798 on MyAnimeList 83% would recommend
7. 7 Senjou no Valkyria Valkyria Chronicles TV · 2009 · 26 episodes · A-1 Pictures · #1950 on MyAnimeList 80% would recommend
8. 8 Area 88 OVA · 1985 · 3 episodes · Studio Pierrot · #2134 on MyAnimeList 81% would recommend
9. 9 Kidou Senkan Nadesico Martian Successor Nadesico TV · 1996 · 26 episodes · Xebec · #2150 on MyAnimeList 79% would recommend
10. 10 Uchuu no Kishi Tekkaman Blade Tekkaman Blade TV · 1992 · 49 episodes · Tatsunoko Production · #2261 on MyAnimeList 77% would recommend
11. 11 Otome Youkai Zakuro Zakuro TV · 2010 · 13 episodes · J.C.Staff · #2562 on MyAnimeList 77% would recommend
12. 12 Toshokan Sensou Library Wars TV · 2008 · 12 episodes · Production I.G · #2572 on MyAnimeList 78% would recommend
13. 13 Kumo no Mukou, Yakusoku no Basho The Place Promised in Our Early Days Film · 2004 · CoMix Wave Films · #2594 on MyAnimeList 76% would recommend
14. 14 Oda Nobuna no Yabou The Ambition of Oda Nobuna TV · 2012 · 12 episodes · Madhouse · #2889 on MyAnimeList 76% would recommend
15. 15 Genjitsu Shugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom TV · 2021 · 13 episodes · J.C.Staff · #3445 on MyAnimeList 76% would recommend
16. 16 Grancrest Senki Record of Grancrest War TV · 2018 · 24 episodes · A-1 Pictures · #3567 on MyAnimeList 71% would recommend
17. 17 Kenran Butou Sai: The Mars Daybreak Mars Daybreak TV · 2004 · 26 episodes · Bones · #3998 on MyAnimeList 72% would recommend
18. 18 Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden TV · 2001 · 12 episodes · Gainax · #4065 on MyAnimeList 71% would recommend
19. 19 Saishuu Heiki Kanojo She, The Ultimate Weapon TV · 2002 · 13 episodes · Gonzo · #4132 on MyAnimeList 69% would recommend
20. 20 Gekijou Tanpen Macross Frontier: Toki no Meikyuu Macross Frontier: Labyrinth of Time Film · 2021 · Satelight · #4224 on MyAnimeList 71% would recommend
21. 21 Area 88 (TV) TV · 2004 · 12 episodes · Group TAC · #4799 on MyAnimeList 67% would recommend
22. 22 Z.O.E. 2167 Idolo Zone of the Enders: 2167 Idolo OVA · 2001 · 1 episode · Sunrise · #5610 on MyAnimeList 64% would recommend
23. 23 Tytania TV · 2008 · 26 episodes · Artland · #5892 on MyAnimeList 61% would recommend
24. 24 Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon TV · 2015 · 12 episodes · SILVER LINK. · #6074 on MyAnimeList 62% would recommend
25. 25 Freezing TV · 2011 · 12 episodes · A.C.G.T. · #6173 on MyAnimeList 60% would recommend

Why this is not a MyAnimeList search. Every entry here is one you can start from the beginning. Anything with a prequel or a parent story is left out, as are recaps and compilation editions — about half of what MyAnimeList ranks. Ordered by MyAnimeList position. The percentage is the share of MyAnimeList scorers who rated a title 7 or higher.