The Best New and Upcoming Romance Anime Movies in 2024

After nearly 20 years, Zegapain STA, the long-awaited successor to the Zegapain mecha and romance anime series, will finally arrive in Japan in summer 2024.

It will adapt the Olta Moda arc, introducing new characters such as Hal Velt, voiced by renowned voice actor Kengo Kawanishi (Toru Kishiri in Fire Force).

Zegapain premiered in 2006 with 26 episodes and follows Kyo Sogoru, a typical student with an ordinary life—until he meets a strange girl named Shizuno, who convinces him to join the school's swimming team.

Kyo eventually finds himself piloting a mecha robot in a video game-inspired world, battling aliens who threaten his home.

The My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! movie premiered in Japan on December 8, 2023, but no definite US release date has been announced yet.

Neofilms, the Hong Kong film distributor, will release the movie in Hong Kong on May 16, 2024, following the release of an English and Chinese subtitled trailer.

Catarina Claes returns to the film, and she's ready to take on the world with her grandiose ideas! It is best to see the anime series before watching the film, so be sure to have it on your list!

On March 14, Aniplex of America showed a special premiere of Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid at Los Angeles' Aratani Theatre.

It then began showing in US theaters with English subtitles on March 24 and with an English dub on March 25.

If you've seen it, you're probably aware that the film project adapted the eighth and ninth novels in the franchise, bringing the high school arc to a conclusion.

The film follows Sakuta, who thought his turbulent high school life was over now that everything had fallen into place, only to wake up one day with no one able to see or hear him.

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out, like Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid, had a special screening on March 14, 2024, thanks to Aniplex of America.

It was also released in theaters in the US with subtitles on March 24 and an English dub on March 25.

The story revolves around Kaede Azusagawa (Yurika Kubo), who had a dissociative break due to the death threats and bullying she experienced online.

She not only lost her memories, but she also began to live as an entirely different person, isolated from the outside world.

Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom takes place in a world where two competing kingdoms have been at odds for many years.

The film follows Sara, a princess, and Naranbayar, a young man, who have voluntarily agreed to become a couple to keep the peace.

The film premiered in Japan on January 27, 2023, and will continue to be released at film festivals in select countries in 2024.

So far, no US release dates have been confirmed, but moviegoers hope that Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom will be shown later this year at their local cinemas.

While the film Hiiragi Mix was released in Japan on January 27, 2024, no US release date has been set yet. Still, most fans of the BL anime and manga series expect to see it later this year.

This BL anime film centered on the growing romance between Mafuyu's former classmates, Hiiragi Kashima and Shizusumi Yagi, childhood friends who had remained in touch for years.

Given the Movie: To the Sea, also known as Given the Movie: Umi e, is set to be released in Japan in the fall of 2024, with voice actor Nakazawa Masatomo (Nakayama Haruki in Given) exclaiming, "I guess I can travel to the sea!"

Fans anticipate that the upcoming Given film will feature cameos from the main cast as well as the newly introduced couple.

It's also possible that the new film may adapt chapters 42 through 51, with fans hopeful that the production committee will do justice to one of the manga's most crucial chapters.