Top 20 Best Anime Kisses of All Time

This unlikely pair may have to hide their true selves at school, but there’s little left to the imagination when they both want a taste of some candy. As far as first kisses go, you’ll be hard pressed to find one as gusty or immediately memorable as this. While their sneaky pining and undercover meetings are certainly sweet, it's these kinds of moments that really sold us on their relationship. If there was any doubt left after Miyamura cut his hair for her, it's clear from this suave exchange that their romance is still in full bloom even though their social circles wouldn’t approve.

Amidst fantastical battles, amnesia, and literal gods, the fact this romance managed to survive at all is a testament to how perfect they are for each other. While they may not see eye to eye, literally, King stood by Diane’s side even through her amnesia, leading to a wonderful reunion when she regains her memories and finally delivers on a long awaited kiss. Seeing these two reaffirm their love for each other after so long apart felt like a pitch-perfect culmination to everything they’d been through. It was a moment so long in the making that we can’t blame King for initially thinking it was a dream - after all, we were right there with him.

As one of five boys sentenced to Hachimitsu Academy’s prison block, you’d think Kiyoshi would get no shortage of female attention. However, his first kiss is anything but romantic. In the middle of a tense breakout, Hana’s quest for vengeance leads to a slobbery embrace that’s equal parts hilarious and exciting. In what becomes something of a literal pissing contest, there’s inherent tension to the exchange since Kiyoshi still needs to finish his part of the plan without drawing too much scrutiny. The captivating intricacies and hilarious character motivations elevate this scene beyond a simple kiss into a delightfully bizarre battle of wills.

You may want to grab a box of tissues for this one. For a kiss that had been built up for an entire season, it’s bittersweet at best to see Kitahara embrace his delinquent bandmate. While it’s satisfying to see them finally act on their true feelings, there’s no losing sight of the fact that Touma is moving to Vienna the next day, and Kitahara is still dating the fragile Setsuna. It’s messy, emotional, and just tragic enough to pull at the heartstrings in what should be a happy goodbye. Instead, the kiss leads into an impassioned airport farewell where nobody leaves happy.

In a high-stakes competition with no rules besides crossing the finish line, we doubt the judges expected love to bloom on the racetrack. Having just finished the race of their lives through their unlikely partnership, there’s no other way we would’ve wanted the film to end than with a kiss that’s not just romantic, but a marvel of animation. “Redline’s” unique psychedelic color palette and intense lighting would make even an ordinary kiss interesting to look at, but with plenty of narrative buildup and a rotating camera angle, this is unarguably one for the record books. Their declaration of love is so moving, it even thaws the hearts of the film’s villains. You can’t get more impressive than that.

For many westerners growing up in the 90s, the adventures of the Sailor Scouts was one of their first exposures to anime. Audiences were enthralled with the blooming romance between the unwitting heroine and the suave gentleman in the mask – who seemed to butt heads outside of battle. Very much fitting with the fairy tale tone of the show, these two share their first kiss at a ball. This is the spark that lit one of the most iconic romances in anime history. Bet Serena wishes she had pulled back on the alcohol though.

For a kiss as quick as this, you’d be forgiven for assuming there’s not much to it. Lelouch and C.C. have always shared an intimate bond, but it's only when the unmasked Zero glimpses her tragic backstory that the two take the next step in their relationship. After realizing they’re both lonely souls, the kiss is a powerful statement that if they don’t have anyone else, at least they have each other. It may be brief, but it doesn’t need to be any longer to convey the deep bond these two have developed over the course of the series. Nobody tell Kallen.

When your life has literally become a video game, you’re bound to try pursuing a romantic option sooner or later. For Kirito and Asuna, that moment comes after narrowly avoiding death when a fellow player tries to launch a sneak attack and slay Kirito. Overcome with the shock of nearly losing each other, the two gamers finally share a kiss with each other, leading to a romance that becomes the centerpiece for the rest of the series. This is also followed by the sudden decision to marry each other. We’ve heard of shotgun weddings but this takes it to a whole other level.

We all have things we’re insecure about, and height can certainly be one of them. Koizumi and Otani are two such people. Taller and shorter than the average Japanese girl and guy, their sensitivity about their stature initially causes them to get off on the wrong foot. Koizumi eventually starts falling to Otani the more time they spend together, and even confesses her affections towards him. While initially rejecting her, he realizes that he too is harboring feelings for the girl double his height, which he manages to cement with a sudden kiss while fireworks fill the sky.

A lot of the kisses on this list are just a way for two characters to finally admit their feelings. And while that’s all well and good, none of them have had to share a kiss that saved the entire world! As Haruhi’s time/space altering power activates, it’s up to the unremarkable and powerless Kyon to restore the old world before everything collapses and they are literally crushed by blue giants born of the reality shifts. Not many people can say they’ve smooched God but kudos for Kyon for a job well done!

Oh Kamina, you were with us for such a short amount of time but you truly were a heartthrob, and this scene proved that. On the night before a battle with the Beastmen, he’s approached by Yoko who warns him not to charge in and get himself hurt. To prove a point, the two share a passionate kiss, with the promise of a possible relationship following the battle. Unfortunately that never comes to pass since Kamina loses his life in the ensuing conflict, breaking both Yoko and our own hearts in the process.

If this doesn’t leave you squealing with giddy delight, we don’t know what will. It’s far from flattering when the aloof Usui finds the uptight student council president working at a maid cafe, but through a series of awkward hijinks and witty banter, their begrudging friendship turns into something a bit more intimate. It culminates at the summer festival, where Usui certainly gets points for atmosphere, but Misaki walks away the true winner after realizing the depth of Usui’s feelings for her. Backed by gorgeous fireworks and more than a dozen episodes of will-they-won’t they, the kiss is an ooey-gooey payoff only the best romance series can pull off.

#8: Yusuke & Keiko “Yu Yu Hakusho” (1992-94)

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It may have taken until the final minutes of the series, but this kiss was certainly worth the wait. After a hundred episodes of underworld adventures together, Yusuke and Keiko’s reunion in the Human World is everything we wanted and more. Upon seeing him return, she tackles him to the ground and the two share a kiss backed by a gorgeous sunset and the sound of waves. The scenery is beautiful, but what really sells the scene is the superb voice acting and emotional weight of seeing these two finally happy together. Surrounded by friends, a breathtaking locale, and swelling music, the series ends on a romantic and refreshingly light-hearted high note.

This time-traveling hero may know how to deliver the best of emphatic speeches, but it's clear that actions spoke louder than words here. Despite an emotional and honest appeal, it was the kiss from Subaru that truly reminded the half-elf heroine that he believes in her, even when she doesn’t. But we aren’t just told this by Subaru; as the music grows and the lights brighten, the scene masterfully conveys the deep bond between them in a way words would fail to. It may be a kiss, but it’s less about the romantic implications than it is about these characters and why they rely on each other. They’re more than friends, and more than a couple - they’re partners.

In search of a Galactic Leyline that’s said to give endless knowledge and power, there doesn’t seem to be much time for romance, but surprisingly, this series builds the dynamic between the leading outlaw and bio-android Melfina into something we can’t help but root for. When Melfina’s fate becomes tied to the fabled power source, they both reveal that their one wish is to be together. With love strong enough to supersede even a leyline, this is certainly one of the most deserved kisses in all of anime.

Science and sorrow - they go hand in hand. After discovering a microwave that allows them to send messages to the past, these two scientists discover that their actions cause various timelines to shift, resulting in the subsequent death of Okabe’s childhood friend. However, in order to save her they must return to a timeline in which Kurisu is murdered. With the impending tragedy of his choice, these two share a kiss together while declaring their love for one another. Despite the fantastical premise, this moment is so organic and heartfelt that it’s impossible to not choke up at least a little.

#4: Naruto & Hinata “Naruto: The Last Movie” (2015)

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For those of you that supported this ship back in its infancy, you may rejoice in the fact that the entirety of this movie revolves around Naruto and Hinata confessing their love for one another. After stopping the moon from plummeting into the earth, the two shinobi, after god knows how many years of waiting, finally declare that they love each other and share a kiss in a beautiful moment serenaded by moonlight. While we offer our sincere condolences to those that thought our favorite knuckleheaded ninja was going to end up with Sakura, this film boldly declares NaruHina is the ultimate shinobi ship.

#3: Guts & Casca “Berserk” (1997-2017)

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Bloodied, betrayed, and on parallel paths to their goals, these two warriors still can’t deny their feelings for each other. The moment they see one another again and silently reconcile their previous differences never fails to send shivers down our spine. Even so, there’s heavy emotion to their later kiss, underscoring the fact that their relationship is anything but easy. However, it’s because of those struggles their embrace is so welcome. It’s a quiet and fragile kiss, but perfectly fitting the fraught position both characters find themselves in. Beyond how integral their relationship would serve in the series going forward, in a micro sense, it’s refreshing to see them get a moment’s respite with each other amidst everything they’ve been through.

Ever since she first fondled his dog ears, we knew these two were destined to end up together. After finally defeating Naraku, Kagome finds herself trapped in a world of complete darkness, imprisoned by the Shikon Jewel unless she binds herself to its will. In a desperate bid to save her, Inuyasha battles through seemingly endless hordes of demons without pause until he reaches here. Alone in the emptiness, the two finally share that eagerly awaited kiss that ends up freeing them, leading to a happily ever after that feels very much deserved. Seems every dog does have his day.

The gradual shift from enemies to lovers may be something of a tired old cliché, but there is no denying that this anime handles it beautifully! Taiga is short and adorable but has a fierce temper, while Ryuji is actually a pretty nice guy despite his intimidating aura. Needless to say these two start off despising each other, but eventually form an unconventional truce as they attempt to set each other up with their respective crushes. As each of these fall flat, the dragon and the tiger eventually realize that who they really want has been by their side the entire time, resulting in an enchanting kiss that dominates all others in the medium!