Each anime season carries its own distinct vibe, especially in recent years, where the Fall season has become synonymous with the debut of the most eagerly awaited titles on streaming services like Crunchyroll. While trends in anime may shift over time, there is a noticeable pattern emerging: the Winter season tends to whisk viewers away on the most adventures through parallel worlds, making it a standout time for fans seeking escapism and imaginative storytelling.
Is it possible that our observations are merely a result of confirmation bias, or can we confidently assert that specific seasons tend to showcase a greater number of particular genres? In particular, we might wonder if the Winter anime season is more likely to feature romance titles compared to the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons. To delve deeper into this question, we can turn to data from MyAnimeList and analyze trends over the past five years to see if this notion holds any truth.
Laying Out the Investigation’s Parameters
Number of Romance Titles Vs Total Number of Titles
To begin our analysis, it’s essential to gather a substantial amount of raw data. To streamline the process and avoid unnecessary complexity, we will concentrate exclusively on anime that has been released within the last five years. This means we will be looking at titles that debuted from 2020 through Winter 2025. Additionally, to simplify our investigation further, we will limit our focus to television anime, which means that original video animations (OVAs) and films will not be included in our study.
The data we are examining involves tallying the total number of titles released in each anime season, beginning with Winter 2020. We will specifically focus on identifying how many of these titles are dedicated solely to romance, meaning those where romance is the primary theme. This analysis will allow us to calculate the percentage of what we refer to as “romance concentration” for each season from Winter 2020 to the present day.
The Data: Total Number of Titles Each Season From Winter 2020
Determining Each Season’s Romance Anime Concentration
The following table presents data sourced from MyAnimeList.net. It specifically highlights the count of romance anime series that have been broadcast on television. It’s important to note that this information does not include original video animations (OVAs) or any film adaptations.
| Total Number of Anime vs Number of Romance Anime Per Season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Number of New Titles | Number of Romance Titles | % Concentration of Romance Titles |
| Winter 2020 | 45 | 2 | 4.44. |
| Spring 2020 | 48 | 5 | 10.4 |
| Summer 2020 | 25 | 6 | 2.4 |
| Fall 2020 | 52 | 3 | 5.7 |
| Total | 170 | 16 | 9.4 |
| Winter 2021 | 59 | 4 | 6.8 |
| Spring 2021 | 52 | 7 | 13.5 |
| Summer 2021 | 37 | 7 | 19 |
| Fall 2021 | 52 | 5 | 9.6 |
| Total | 200 | 23 | 11.5 |
| Winter 2022 | 46 | 3 | 6.5 |
| Spring 2022 | 53 | 8 | 15.1 |
| Summer 2022 | 49 | 7 | 14.3 |
| Fall 2022 | 50 | 6 | 12 |
| Total | 198 | 24 | 12.12. |
| Winter 2023 | 56 | 11 | 19.6 |
| Spring 2023 | 57 | 16 | 28.1 |
| Summer 2023 | 49 | 12 | 24.5 |
| Fall 2023 | 72 | 8 | 11.1 |
| Total | 234 | 47 | 20.1 |
| Winter 2024 | 58 | 13 | 22.4 |
| Spring 2024 | 60 | 14 | 23.3. |
| Summer 2024 | 60 | 12 | 20 |
| Fall 2024 | 72 | 14 | 19.4. |
| Total | 250 | 53 | 21.2 |
| Winter 2025 | 56 | 10 | 17.9 |
Note:-A period at the end of the percentage denotes recurring decimals.
The table presented above provides a detailed analysis of the number of romance anime titles released each season, starting from Winter 2020. What stands out in this data is the noticeable effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the animation industry, which is reflected in the significantly lower numbers for 2020 compared to the following years. This year not only marked a downturn in production but also recorded the least amount of romance anime within the scope of the study, highlighting the challenges faced during that period.
What Does This Mean?
And the Winner Is…
When examining which season boasts the highest number of romance anime, it turns out that Spring takes the lead, with Summer following closely behind. Interestingly, Winter does not rank as high in this category. In fact, during the analysis period, only one year stood out for its remarkable abundance of romance anime, and that was last year, 2024. However, even then, Spring managed to surpass it, solidifying its reputation as the prime season for romance-themed series.
- Spring 2025 – 40 total titles scheduled* | 8 expected romance anime = 20% romance anime
- Summer 2025 – 16 scheduled* | 2 expected romance anime = 12.5%
While the schedules are still being finalized and may change, it’s clear that Spring 2025 is shaping up to be a season rich in romance anime. To enhance the accuracy of this analysis, it would be beneficial to normalize the data first. This approach would ensure that the focus is not solely on the average percentage of romance titles, as this figure can be significantly influenced by the total number of anime released in a given season.
What Reason Could There Be For the Spring’s Romantic Saturation?
“The Springtime of One’s Youth”
The scheduling and airing of television programs, particularly in the realm of animation, involves a multitude of factors that can potentially delay the release of a title. However, if we entertain the idea that every anime series is released precisely on time, it becomes evident that the Spring season tends to showcase a higher concentration of romance-themed anime. This trend may stem from the widely held belief that Spring is the ideal season for launching such shows. The timing aligns perfectly with the themes of love and new beginnings that are often explored in romantic narratives.
In the realm of romance anime, it is common to encounter characters who are predominantly teenagers navigating the complexities of high school or young adults embarking on their journeys in life. This youthful phase is often a nostalgic time for older characters, who reflect on their own experiences as they watch the younger generation explore love and relationships. The narrative frequently captures the essence of youth, portraying the excitement and challenges that come with discovering one’s identity and romantic feelings.