Top 7 Robot-Human Romances That Will Tug Your Heartstrings

Summary

Robot anime romances mostly focus on humans, not robots.
Gundam series lacks robots with feelings, unlike other anime.
Popular anime couples like Krillin and Android 18 are robot-human love stories.

In the realm of top-notch robot anime, the Gundam series stands out as a notable choice, stretching from its debut in 1979 to more modern adaptations in 2025. Throughout this expansive timeline, these series have showcased romantic relationships spanning various age groups. However, it’s important to note that the majority of these romantic tales within the Gundam universe have focused on humans or humanoid characters rather than robots.

In most cases, the Gundams and other mecha within this series don’t possess sentience, making it impossible for them to experience love. However, there are other anime that feature robots capable of returning affection. But here’s the question: do these mechanical hearts hold onto eternal love or do they shatter like fragments when heartbroken? Let’s examine the strength of these romantic relationships, keeping in mind potential spoilers.

In many instances, the Gundams and other mecha within this series don’t have feelings, making it difficult for them to express love. However, there are other anime that include robots with the capacity to reciprocate affection. But one must wonder: do these artificial hearts sustain eternal love or do they shatter into pieces when heartbroken? Let’s delve into the intensity of these romantic entanglements, taking spoilers into account.

This list contains spoilers!

7. Roger and Dorothy (The Big O)

Cast In The Name Of God, Ye Not Guilty

The anime titled “The Big O” is well-loved by fans of Toonami and Adult Swim alike. Its visual style, reminiscent of 90’s Batman cartoons, features a wealthy man named Roger who moonlights as a crime fighter. Unlike Batman, however, Roger operates a colossal mech called Big O, also known as a Megadeus in the series. In the debut episode, Roger saves a female android named Dorothy, who speaks monotonously and frequently clashes with him. As she becomes a significant character, their dynamic hints at an unspoken romantic connection that is both touching and amusing – although they never formally become a couple.

6. Jean and Melfina (Outlaw Star)

Falling In Love With A Ship

The romantic aspect in ‘Outlaw Star’ isn’t as unusual as the relationship between Joker and EDI from ‘Mass Effect’, which developed between a man and an artificially intelligent entity that eventually acquired a physical form. Contrastingly, in ‘Outlaw Star’, Jean is a human bounty hunter and Melfina is an android blessed with the ability to interface with a spaceship’s system, making their dynamic less conventional compared to the former.

She seems somewhat out of sync with her surroundings and struggles to fit in with typical human interactions. Jean, however, isn’t quite sure how to act around Melfina, but over the course of this one-season anime (which Cowboy Bebop enthusiasts who may have missed it up until now would undoubtedly appreciate), their relationship gradually strengthens.

5. Alita and Hugo (Battle Angel Alita)

Just A Girl And A Boy’s Head

The story of Battle Angel Alita initially unfolded as a comic book series, later evolved into a two-part animated film titled OVA. These adaptations left room for further exploration. In the OVA, Dr. Ido ventures into a scrapyard and discovers the remnants of a young robot girl. He rebuilds her and nurtures her as Alita. The narrative unfolds in a future where the majority of humanity resides in slums, while the wealthy inhabit a city floating above them. As time passes, Alita harbors ambitions to become a hunter-warrior, a bounty hunter, with the intent to combat malevolent robots. During her journey, she encounters a youth named Hugo.

In this animated series, the narrative swiftly moves along, yet it reveals that they develop feelings for each other and even share a kiss, but tragically, Hugo meets his end. All that remained was his head, which Alita kept safe and later presented to Dr. Ido, who transformed Hugo into a cyborg. However, even with this new life, Hugo ultimately perished while trying to reach the floating city, leaving the series on a somber note.

4. Hideki and Chi (Chobits)

If Computers Were Girls

Director: Morio Asaka
Studio: Madhouse
Released: April 2, 2002 (Japan)

Individuals who spent their youth hunting for manga or anime DVDs during the 2000s might have stumbled upon Chobits, a series featuring a girl with artificial ears. This character is named Chi, a humanoid robot that the protagonist, Hideki, discovers unexpectedly. He guides her through understanding humanity and assists Chi in uncovering her past, such as why she was left behind.

Similar to many tales penned by Clamp, it primarily revolves around the themes of romance and humor, crafting amusing and embarrassing predicaments. It’s a quick viewing or reading experience that generally concludes with a positive resolution for characters Hideki and Chi.

3. Misaki and Malcolm (Terminator Zero)

Time Twists The Knife

In the anime version of the property, titled “Terminator Zero,” the story unfolds in Japan, revolving around a scientist named Malcolm who develops an artificial intelligence (AI) named Kokoro with the intention of preventing Skynet. As the plot progresses, it’s revealed that Malcolm was raised in the future and played a significant role in creating and restoring a robot called Misaki. The two developed feelings for each other but had to go back in time to save humanity. This action erased Misaki’s memory.

Unaware of it, she took on the role of their children’s caretaker, discovering later that she was a robot or the object of Malcolm’s affection. The dynamics of this relationship were intricate and tangled, much like many others, further complicated by the puzzling element of time travel.

2. Krillin and Android 18 (Dragon Ball Z)

A Love So Good One Man Decides To Regrow His Hair

The Android/Cell Saga in Dragon Ball Z is one of the most beloved storylines by fans, and it begins when a character named Trunks, Vegeta’s future offspring, travels from the future to alert Goku and his companions about an impending attack by robotic beings called Androids.

Among these invaders, there’s Android 18, the sole female robot character, who typically outmatches many combatants. In a typical twist reminiscent of Dragon Ball, enemies eventually transform into allies as Android 18 forms a relationship with Krillin in subsequent narratives. This marks his first significant romantic interest within the series, leading him to mainly set aside fighting to concentrate on being a devoted spouse and father to their child, Marron.

1. Gesicht and Helena (Pluto)

Netflix’s Greatest Anime Achievement

The manga titled “Pluto” revisited the tale of “Astro Boy,” focusing on one of its most tragic storylines. Intended for an older audience, it delved into the complexities of being a robot in a human-dominated world. Two decades following its release in manga form, Netflix brought it to life as an anime, receiving overwhelming acclaim. The series is filled with romantic subplots, which seems ironic given that the main narrative revolves around a mysterious force eliminating the most powerful robots who have largely retired to start families.

The primary character is named Gesicht, and he cherishes his wife Helena deeply. This narrative explores themes such as war, murder, missing memories, child-rearing, among others. If you’re intrigued by the idea of robots, I recommend checking out Pluto, as it seems to serve as the foundation for manga and anime storytelling much like the Rosetta Stone does for understanding ancient languages.

2025-02-23 14:06