Overprotective boyfriends and girlfriends are a popular character type in romance, and bodyguards are the zenith point of that trope. Bodyguards are assigned to guard a person who is powerful and precious, or someone who is related to a person in power. They need to be careful because they have a target on their back, and characters like Hagi from Blood+ and Yona Of The Dawn's Hak take their jobs seriously.
The forced proximity is the perfect setting for some great romantic tension. Often, a romance is taboo or forbidden between a bodyguard and the person they're assigned to protect. But there's something about someone who is strong and protective that makes it all too easy to fall in love with them.
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Some of the best waifus will risk their lives to protect their loved ones from harm – doing everything they can to keep them safe.10 Blood+
Hagi is a bodyguard with a princely personality, a sensitive face, and a penchant for classical music in Blood+. The series is great because Saya is incredibly powerful in her own right. Hagi is one of the few beings that truly understands Saya, and he's there for her for whatever she needs.
Hagi may be a devoted bodyguard, but it's obvious that his feelings for Saya extend far beyond his job. Hagi is a typical kuudere – incredibly stoic, stern, and adheres to propriety by nature, but it's different when it comes to Saya. It's pretty telling when Hagi worries over something as simple as Saya being cold, and when he proclaims that she means everything to him.
9 A Girl And Her Guard Dog
A Girl and Her Guard Dog is a new high school romance anime about a yakuza princess and her "guard dog" who happens to be a handsome guy. The manga is extremely tropey and pulpy, while the anime takes on a bit more of a romantic comedy tone.
Keiya is Isaku's grandfather's first lieutenant, but he poses as a fellow student when she wants to attend school like a normal student. This story's romance is taboo in a few ways, because Isaku has a crush on the guy assigned to protect her, and because of their age gap. Fans of yandere characters in romance will love Keiya.
8 Yona Of The Dawn
Hak and Yona grew up together as friends and near-equals in Yona of the Dawn, so their relationship is multi-faceted. Yona is the crown princess, but Hak is the heir to a powerful clan. Hak also earned himself a reputation as a fierce warrior and fair leader, so many respect him.
Hak and Yona are often at loggerheads, though Yona trusts him above all others. Hak loves to tease Yona for her silly behavior and wild red hair because he knows it'll annoy her. Yona needs Hak for his protection, support, and a dose of reality.
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Some initially weak anime characters, like Usagi from Sailor Moon or Deku from My Hero Academia, become incredibly powerful in just a short time.7 Inu X Boku Secret Service
Inu x Boku Secret Service is a beautiful show about beautiful people. Part of the appeal is how farfetched and dramatic it is. It has a more gothic aesthetic and a romantic comedy tone. The romance series adds a dash of the supernatural to the bodyguard subgenre with reincarnations and yokai characters.
Ririchiyo is a kuudere who retreats inside herself and doesn't associate with many people, finding safety in solitude. As is often the case in a bodyguard romance, there's only one person she really develops a close bond with, and it's her Secret Service agent. Soushi cares for Ririchiyo very deeply and he won't let her isolate herself.
6 Witch Craft Works
Witch Craft Works is a fun gender-bent take on the bodyguard romance trope. Ayaka Kagari is so accomplished that she's considered the princess of her school. She's the perfect person to watch out for the second-year Honoka Takamiya.
It's Ayaka's role as a princess that informs her duty to protect Honoka. Though she takes her role very seriously and doesn't even tolerate social slights against him, Honoka is known to protect her, too. Ayaka's protectiveness toward Honoka definitely borders obsessive yandere territory, despite her stoic personality and reputation.
Full Metal Panic is a bodyguard romance with a dramatic love triangle. The premise is fun and the romance is compelling, though to get full closure, audiences would need to turn to the manga and light novels. The series combines school romance with mecha and adventure.
Kaname is the child of a UN official and Sosuke is the mysterious transfer student who becomes her bodyguard. Though Sosuke protects her, his presence in her life upheaves her sense of the everyday. There's plenty of tsundere romance drama to go along with the love triangle between the two protagonists and Teletha Testarosa.
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Tons of anime take place in some sort of high school setting, but there are some truly stellar examples of the genre out there.4 Pretear: The New Legend Of Snow White
Hayate is a Leafe Knight – he and the other Knights are devoted to Himeno as the Pretear in Pretear: The New Legend of Snow White. Hayate is uneasy about Himeno's destiny and doubts her capability, but he just can't seem to stay away from her. He falls in love with her despite himself in the best way. Hayate may be antagonistic toward Himeno, but he still takes a job with her father so that he can watch over her.
Self-sacrifice is a strong theme in this fairy tale-inspired series. Not only do the Leafe Knights protect Himeno, they need to help her fulfill her destiny. They and the Pretear are all part of a system that ensures the essence of life is protected.
3 Fushigi Yugi
Tamahome is one of the Celestial Warriors of Suzaku in Fushigi Yugi, and Miaka is the Priestess of Suzaku. Tamahome protects Miaka from the start after she's pulled into a fantasy realm, away from her schoolgirl life. But he's not exactly coming from an altruistic or selfless place as he immediately demands payment.
Their relationship develops from there. Tamahome has his work cut out for him because Miaka is precocious and brave, as well as a target to their enemies. Often times he has to chase after her and admonishes her for taking risks.
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Anime features many types of love interests, but some have more charisma than others.2 Ceres: Celestial Legend
Ceres: Celestial Maiden isn't exactly a straight-forward bodyguard romance. It's a magical girl anime with some darker elements. Romance is a strong theme and plot, but there's a bit of a love triangle and unrequited feelings.
Aya Mikage bears a heavy destiny as the reincarnated Ceres, and Yuuhi is her bodyguard. Though he cares deeply for Aya and shares a lot of her stubborn qualities, he's refreshingly unpresumptuous.Though he's her bodyguard, he also has interests and life goals outside of that. He's anything but a stock bodyguard character and though Aya needs protecting, she watches out for him, too.
1 Vampire Princess Miyu
An assassination turns into a romantic bodyguard situation in Vampire Princess Miyu. Larva initially wants to prevent Miyu from awakening and becoming a vampire, but his efforts are in vain. Though their meeting started with antagonism, Larva quickly understands Miyu's sorrows and wants to be close to her.
Though the romance in Vampire Princess Miyu is largely left to symbolism, hints, and subtext, Larva is an incredibly romantic character. He's forced to wear a mask for the rest of his days, but he gladly does so and devotes himself utterly to Miyu. He can also access Miyu's powers in a way that practically no other being can.
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