Episode 166 – An Epic Love

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Episode Summary: 

Anime covers all kinds of stories, from comedies to dramas, fantasy to sci-fi.  But a theme that can be found in any anime is love.  As Valentine’s Day approaches everyone begins to sense the love in the air.  Here are some anime couples that share an epic love that transcend space, time, race, social norms, and distance.

Opening Song: Zeotrope from the anime Amnesia by the artist Nagi Yanagi

Main Topic:

Parn and Deedlet – Record of Lodoss War
Why: A low born human who took up the sword and an elven princess in a fantasy world. It’s an epic love that comes together in spite of war and all odds.

Inuyasha and Kagome – Inuyasha
Why: This is an epic love.  After almost 200 episodes and 4 movies of these two bickering and fighting and falling in love, we finally get the kiss everybody waited for in the Inuyasha films, which seals the deal.

Shizuku Tsukishima and Seiji Amasawa – Whisper of the Heart

Yukino Miyazaki and Souichiro Arima – Kare Kano
Why: Few anime start off with as much of a bang as this one.  Very quickly we are skillfully made to understand the personalities of Miyazaki and Arima and soon after a rich love story develops.  Later, they fight for their relationship as many obstacles get in the way.

Sawako and Kazehaya – Kimi Ni Todoke
Why: Their romance is a realistic imaging of two high school students falling in love. It’s the focus of the series so it has a natural development throughout.

Tamahome and Miyaka – Fushigi Yuugi
Why: Star crossed lovers with the ultimate devotion. These two know they want to be together and literally overcome mind control and people meddling at every turn.

School days ( ^.^)

Kenshin and Kaoru/Tome – Rurouni Kenshin + Samurai X(OVA)
Why: Another epic love that develops over a long series of episodes and OVAs.  A very believable love story is created in the first two OVAs of the Samurai X OVAs but the remained of the content is spent to develop the love between Kenshin and Kaoru, including Kenshin ultimately dying in Kaoru’s arms.

MD Geist ( ^^.^^)

Armitage and Ross – Armitage III
Why: This couple makes the list because of how real they feel in their world. Not only do they fall in love but they have real feelings such as a want to get married and have children. It’s also authentic to the world because they must overcome notions and limitations of a human and an advanced cyborg.

Chii and Hideki – Chobits
Why: The relationship has a full 26 episodes to develop; there are many events during the series in which Hideki demonstrates how much he loves Chii

Yukari and George – Paradise Kiss
Why: Love or hate this show these two have a fleshed out relationship. From infatuation turning into love, to the first time, and the transition into adulthood their romance tackles real issues and feelings people in such a situation face.

Noboru Terao and Mikako Nagamine – Voices of a Distant Star

Holo and Lawrence – Spice and Wolf

Nana Komatsu and Takumi Ichinose – NANA
Why: This romance is one of the best developed in anime because it is not a fluffy everything is perfect world. It starts out as a fling and then is brought together by obligation and a respect between two people that becomes a form of love over time. A realistic situation many people find themselves in.

Lafiel and Jinto – Crest of the Stars
Why: Powerful relationship that develops over the course of many episodes.  A deep love  that is held back by military duty.  However, the two care deeply for each other and often show it through their concern when one is in danger.  A true love story from one of anime’s great space operas.

Takaki Touno and Akari Shinohara – 5cm Per Second

Why: Another example of how a romance doesn’t have to end in a shower of rose petals and rainbows to be epic.  This romance is made epic through Takaki’s endless devotion to Akari.  Throughout the course of his movie – his life – he spends every moment thinking of her, dreaming of her, wanting to be with her.  Even into adulthood his heart belongs entirely to her even though she’s long since moved on.  Making his love for her one of the most epic out there.

Closing Song: Recall from the anime Amnesia by the artist Ray