Despite a strong start to the year, anime has experienced a bit of a lull during the spring 2025 season. Some returning shows have impressed viewers with successful follow-ups to past seasons, while new titles have made strong first impressions on the anime community. However, fans are still waiting for the next big thing to step onto the scene and steal the spotlight, especially in the romance genre.

Series like Honey Lemon Soda and the currently airing WITCH WATCH have flown somewhat under the radar, despite having impressive showings in their debuts, leaving fans wondering when the genre will have its moment. Fortunately, it seems the summer anime season might just bring along what the anime-watching community has been looking for. Power house studio CloverWorks has three anime series scheduled to begin airing in July, and romance fans won't want to miss them.

Major Romance Titles Are Returning This Summer Anime Season

Studio CloverWorks Is Releasing Three Shows Romance Fans Won't Want to Miss

Each year, it seems that only a handful of romance anime become the talk of the community. The most recent was likely the fall 2024 season's Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian, which drew viewers in with controversy in its earliest episodes, before making fans out of many as the season went on. Though 2025 has largely failed to deliver a series that really left its mark in a similar way, fans will be happy to know that two highly successful shows will be returning in July.

Both from CloverWorks, My Dress-Up Darling and the Rascal Does Not Dream series will be making their grand returns after long waits for follow-up seasons. My Dress-Up Darling made quite a bit of noise with its unique first season, which used niche topics like cosplay creation to tell a heartwarming story about two young people growing closer while exploring their interests. Fans have been waiting for Season Two of the series since it initially wrapped up in 2022, and the returns of Marin and Wakana will surely fill a void for countless anime fans.

Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus is also scheduled to arrive in July, and will act as the follow-up to 2018's smash-hit Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, which has become a staple for rom-com fans in the years since its premiere. Fans have waited nearly seven years for the next season, and will surely tune in to see it finally arrive. Though the films which act as direct sequels are still unavailable for streaming in the U.S., the original series was recently dubbed in English, which may be a good sign for future releases.

The third of CloverWorks' major summer releases is an all-new adaptation of a manga that has seen its popularity skyrocket over the last couple of years, and one that may just take over as anime's next big romance hit.

A New Romance Series Is Shaping Up to Be a Must-Watch This Summer

One Hit Manga Is Scheduled to Make Its Anime Debut in July

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity by Saka Mikami has made some noise in the manga sphere in recent times, and in turn, the adaptation by CloverWorks has become one of the most anticipated titles scheduled to air during the summer anime season. The series follows Rintaro Tsumugi, a kind teen with low self-esteem whom others find intimidating because of his size, dyed hair, and earrings. After meeting Kaoruko Waguri, the two, along with their friends, discover themselves while growing closer in the process.

The premise isn't anything groundbreaking, but The Fragrant Flower excels thanks to its cast of extremely likable, well-written characters and the realistic, grounded struggles they must contend with. The anime's debut, alongside the return of both My Dress-Up Darling and the Rascal Does Not Dream series, should have romance fans incredibly excited about CloverWorks' releases in the summer anime season.