10 Most Toxic Anime Couples We Were Told to Root For

10. Sasuke Uchiha & Sakura Haruno (Naruto)

The poster child for "one-sided obsession." Sasuke spent the majority of the series trying to seriously harm Sakura or ignoring her existence, while she spent her youth crying over a man who viewed her as an annoyance. Even with their marriage in the Boruto era, the fact that he is a perpetually absent father and she is still pining for his attention makes this "canon" ship feel more like a tragedy than a triumph.

9. Kirito & Asuna (Sword Art Online)

On the surface, they are the "perfect" couple, but their relationship quickly devolved into Asuna losing much of her independence to become "Kirito’s wife." After the first arc, Asuna once a legendary commander is frequently reduced to a damsel in distress or a stay-at-home cook while Kirito gathers a harem of other girls. Their "perfect" love feels shallow because it requires one partner to completely fade into the shadow of the other.

8. Arisa Uotani & Kureno Sohma (Fruits Basket)

While Fruits Basket is a masterpiece of character growth, this specific pairing has aged poorly due to the concerning age gap. Kureno is 26 and Arisa is 17 when they meet; he is an adult with a complex past, and she is a high school student. The show frames their brief encounters as a "soulmate" connection, but the power dynamic and the implications of the situation make it a difficult ship to root for in hindsight.

7. Saito Hiraga & Louise Vallière (The Familiar of Zero)

Louise literally summons Saito as her "familiar" and proceeds to treat him like a servant, frequently striking him and using magic against him whenever she gets jealous. Because she is a "Tsundere," the audience is told this is just her way of showing affection. However, the sheer amount of physical and verbal mistreatment makes their eventual "romance" feel unearned and unhealthy.

6. Haru Yoshida & Shizuku Mizutani (My Little Monster)

Haru’s "love" for Shizuku is characterized by extreme possessiveness and occasional aggressive outbursts. In the very first episode, he accidentally strikes her, and his social ineptitude is often used to justify his intrusive behavior toward her. The anime uses shoujo bubbles and sparkly effects to mask the fact that Haru has little respect for Shizuku’s personal boundaries.

5. Erika Shinohara & Kyoya Sata (Wolf Girl and Black Prince)

The premise itself is unhealthy: Erika lies about having a boyfriend, and Kyoya agrees to play the part only if she acts as his subordinate. He treats her with utter disdain, gives her orders, and humiliates her publicly. The story tries to "redeem" him by showing glimpses of a soft heart, but the power imbalance and emotional mistreatment are impossible to ignore.

4. Meliodas & Elizabeth (The Seven Deadly Sins)

Their love is literally cursed, but that doesn’t excuse Meliodas’s constant, inappropriate physical behavior toward Elizabeth. The show frames his actions as a "quirky" trait of a devoted lover, and Elizabeth’s passive acceptance of it is meant to show her purity. By standards, their relationship feels deeply uncomfortable, as it relies on the trope that "love" gives you control over another person's personal space.

3. Ryuuji Takasu & Taiga Aisaka (Toradora!)

While beloved for its nostalgia, the dynamic between Ryuuji and Taiga is built on a foundation of aggressive behavior played for laughs. Taiga frequently hits, kicks, and verbally berates Ryuuji, while he takes on a parental role of cleaning and cooking for her. Fans often call it "cute," but the constant physical aggression from Taiga is a massive red flag that wouldn't fly in any healthy relationship.

2. Light Yagami & Misa Amane (Death Note)

Light never loved Misa; he viewed her as a tool with "Shinigami Eyes" to further his ambitions. He consistently manipulated her emotions, intimidated her, and sent her into dangerous situations without a second thought. Misa’s blind devotion to a man who openly disregarded her is one of the most painful "romances" to watch, yet the show often uses their "date" scenes for dark comedic relief.

1. Yukiteru Amane & Yuno Gasai (Future Diary)

Their relationship is effectively a coercive situation disguised as a survival pact. Yuno is a stalker and a highly dangerous individual who abducts and manipulates Yuki, while Yuki only stays with her out of pure fear and a need for protection. The show frames her "yandere" devotion as a dark form of true love, but in reality, it is a masterclass in psychological manipulation.