10 Anime Series With Love Stories More Boring Than Twilight

1. "School Days" (2007)

Let's start with a bang – or rather, a whimper. "School Days" is an anime that attempts to tackle the complexity of adolescent love and emotions, only to falter miserably. The protagonist, Makoto Ito, falls for Kotonoha Katsura, a quiet girl he spots on the train. His classmate, Sekai Saionji, decides to play cupid, which, predictably, ends in a love triangle that's about as exciting as watching paint dry. There's a lot of brooding, a lot of angst, but not much actual substance. It's all bark, no bite, and not nearly enough vampire.

2. "My Little Monster" (2012)

Next on the list is "My Little Monster," an anime that could have been a refreshing take on the high school romance genre but instead opted to serve us lukewarm leftovers. The premise seemed promising: a cold, studious girl named Shizuku Mizutani meets an unpredictable, wild boy, Haru Yoshida. You'd think sparks would fly, but instead, it's more like two damp matches trying to ignite. Their relationship is less of a roller-coaster and more like a slow, monotonous train ride through an endless desert.

3. "Junjou Romantica" (2008-2015)

"Junjou Romantica" tries to intertwine three different love stories involving six different men. The primary story revolves around Misaki Takahashi, a young man studying for college entrance exams, and Akihiko Usami, a famed author who also happens to be his tutor. Akihiko harbors feelings for Misaki's older brother, but when that unrequited love isn't returned, he finds solace in Misaki. The series is filled with repetitive misunderstandings, confusing emotional conflicts, and a lack of any substantial progress, making Bella's eternal angst seem like a riveting ride.

4. "One Week Friends" (2014)

Imagine having to fall in love with someone who forgets you every week. No, this isn't "50 First Dates" – this is "One Week Friends." The premise itself is intriguing enough: high schooler Yuki Hase tries to befriend and eventually falls for Kaori Fujimiya, a girl who resets her memory of her friends every week due to a traumatic event. Sounds exciting, right? Wrong. Unfortunately, the story tends to drag on, with the same plot getting recycled over and over. Even Bella waking up next to vampire Edward every morning had more variety.

5. "Nisekoi" (2014-2015)

"Nisekoi," or "Fake Love," is an anime that lives up to its name in all the wrong ways. We follow Raku Ichijo and Chitoge Kirisaki, two high school students from rival yakuza families, who must pretend to be in love to keep the peace. What could have been a thrilling ride filled with tension and genuine character development quickly descends into a series of repetitive antics and forced drama.

6. "My Love Story!!" (2015)

Don't be fooled by the enthusiastic double exclamation points in the title, "My Love Story!!" is about as thrilling as watching a chess match in slow motion. The show centers on Takeo Gouda, a kind-hearted giant with a crush on Rinko Yamato, a petite and delicate girl. While the anime does a great job of breaking away from the classic handsome guy, beautiful girl trope, it falls flat in terms of plot progression. The narrative crawls at a snail's pace, making Bella's agonizing decision between Jacob and Edward seem like a nail-biting cliffhanger.

7. "Say 'I Love You'" (2012)

This anime centers around Mei Tachibana, a 16-year-old who has sworn off friends after being betrayed in her past. Enter Yamato Kurosawa, the most popular boy in school, who, for reasons known only to the scriptwriter, takes an interest in her. The series consists mainly of Yamato chasing Mei, who runs faster than a deer sensing a predator. It's tedious, repetitive, and lacks the depth that the Twilight saga, for all its faults, at least attempted to have.

8. "Hatsukoi Limited" (2009)

"Hatsukoi Limited" might have had limited episodes, but it sure didn't have a limited number of convoluted love stories. The series tries to spin a tale of various adolescent love stories, all interconnected in some way. However, each story appears to be in competition to out-bore the previous one. From a middle school girl falling for an intimidating high school boy to a brother complex that leads to a love triangle, it's like being stuck in an endless maze of bland affections and lukewarm confessions. Even Edward Cullen's stone-faced declarations of love seem emotionally charged compared to this.

9. "Vampire Knight" (2008-2009)

Speaking of vampires, "Vampire Knight" tried to create its own unique blend of Twilight-esque love triangle, complete with its own brooding vampire, Kaname Kuran. The story is set in Cross Academy, where day students coexist with night students, who are, surprise, surprise, vampires. Yuki Cross, the adopted daughter of the academy's headmaster, is torn between Kaname and her childhood friend, Zero Kiryu. Despite having a vampire-filled premise like Twilight, the series lacks an engaging plot, relying heavily on worn-out tropes and predictable twists. Bella's love triangle might be angsty, but at least it has some teeth.

10. "Peach Girl" (2005)

Finally, we have "Peach Girl," an anime series that takes the cake for the most exasperating love polygon ever. The story revolves around Momo Adachi, a high school girl who is constantly misunderstood due to her tanned skin and bleached hair. She is in love with Toji, but her so-called best friend, Sae, also has her sights set on him. Then, there's Kairi, who likes Momo but is liked by Sae. If that sounds confusing and monotonous, that's because it is. The show is one long, winding road of misunderstandings, petty jealousy, and half-hearted confessions. Makes the Bella-Edward-Jacob triangle seem like a finely crafted piece of drama.