Top 60 Shoujo Anime Of All Time

With anime’s consistent rise in popularity, some of the genre’s best shows and movies have garnered cult followings. As you might expect, anime falling into that category comes from all genres, even shoujo.

Shoujo anime are typically aimed at young women with a strong focus on romance. However, shoujo can also be combined with almost every genre out there, such as historical fiction, comedy, and action. This wide appeal makes shoujo a fairly popular genre, especially among fans of romance.

For years, shoujo stories have been considered to be exclusively female-focused. Through the years and the inclusion of sub-genres, shojo titles are now loved by all genders.

Here’s the ultimate list of shoujo anime to add to your watch list, ranging from the typical high school romances to sci-fi love stories to heart-wrenching stories. Watchers looking for something different from shounen and seinen works may enjoy these easy-to-access stories.

1. Fruits Basket (2019)

As a child, Tooru Honda was fascinated with the Chinese Zodiac story her mother told her. Unexpectedly, her life is turned upside down by a family tragedy, which leads to other circumstances that leave her alone. Tooru now has to live in a tent, but little does she know that the Souma family owns the property on which she is forced to live.

On one occasion, she came upon Shigure’s home, an older Souma cousin, and Yuki, the “prince” of her school. Tooru tells the Soumas that she lives nearby, but they discover her well-kept secret of homelessness one night as she walks back to her tent.

After hearing about Tooru’s situation, they kindly offer her shelter. Things start looking up for Tooru. However, she is caught up in a fight between Yuki and Kyou, his hot-tempered cousin. She discovers that the Souma family has a secret of their own: when a member hugs them from the opposite sex, they transform into the zodiac animals.

As Tooru discovers this new revelation, she will find that living with the Souma family is an unexpected experience filled with laughter and romance.

At first glance, Fruit Basket appears to be just another Shoujo anime with nothing unique to offer: a beautiful and sweet girl who attracts all the handsome men. While that is true, the way the story develops and the way the characters interact with one another throughout the series add a special touch to the series. There’s a great deal to learn from this anime with its heartfelt themes. It’s got it all.

2. Natsume Yuujinchou

While most fifteen-year-old boys have something they secretly wish to hide, Takashi Natsume has some peculiar and terrifying secrets in relation to youkai: for as long as he can remember, he’s been chased by these spirits. His deceased grandmother Reiko left him the Yuujinchou, or “Book of Friends,” which consists of the names of the spirits she brought under her control.

This book, now in Natsume’s possession, equips him with the same power; thus, these enraged beings now haunt him in an attempt to gain their freedom.

Natsume, without parents and a loving home and constantly hunting by hostile, merciless youkai, seeks solace-a place to call home. The only companion he has is a self-proclaimed bodyguard named Madara. Madara, affectionately known as Nyanko-sensei, is a mysterious feline spirit who is staying with the boy for reasons unknown to him.

The anime series Natsume Yuujinchou follows Natsume as he tries to free the spirits bound by his grandmother’s contract, together with his infamous protector Madara.

Natsume encounters a different youkai in every episode. It may be a youkai seeking their name back or a youkai requesting some other kind of help from Natsume, which he will never refuse.

Although the stories revolve around youkai, Natsume Yuujinchou is ultimately about humans. Both human and youkai bonds are explored in the story.

All of Natsume’s stories carry a deep message that he learns from his encounters.

3. Banana Fish

Aslan Jade Callenreese, better known as Ash Lynx, was a runaway who was rescued from New York City’s streets and raised by infamous mafia boss Dino Golzine.

Ash, who is now 17 and the leader of his own gang, begins to investigate the mysterious “Banana Fish.” Those are the same words his brother Griffin has been muttering since he returned from the Iraq War. His investigations are hindered, however, when Dino sends his men after Ash at an underground bar he uses as a hideout.

As Ash sits at the bar with Skip, he meets Shunichi Ibe and Eiji Okumura, two Japanese photographers reporting on American street gangs. Shorter Wong, Ash’s ally, calls to warn him about Dino, interrupting their conversation. In the chaos that ensues, Dino’s men take Skip and Eiji captive.

With Banana Fish in hot pursuit, Ash must find a way to save them and continue his investigation, but will his past with the mafia hinder his efforts?

Ash Lynx is the protagonist of Banana Fish’s deplorable world filled with death and sexual violence. His story portrays life and love in a way that is incredibly thrilling. Ash and Eiji, the two protagonists at the heart of the story, embody darkness and light, respectively, contributing to a grounded character drama that underscores both the ugly and beautiful sides of human nature.

In a short amount of time, Banana Fish describes its key characters and develops them consistently. As a result, characters and their interactions are both engaging and dynamic.

Today, the vast majority of anime series adhere to successful formulas and character stereotypes, but Banana Fish is one of the few series that bravely takes chances.

4. Nana

Nana Komatsu is a helpless 20-year-old naive to love who easily falls in love and becomes dependent on people around her. Despite her ambitions of escaping her provincial roots and finding her true calling, she ends up traveling to Tokyo for the humble reason of chasing her current boyfriend, Shouji Endo.

Nana Osaki, meanwhile, is a proud, enigmatic punk rock vocalist from a similarly rural background who nurtures the desire to be a professional musician. As she boards the same train to Tokyo as Nana Komatsu, she puts her career with a fairly popular band behind her, as well as her passionate romance with one of its former members.

A fateful encounter on their way to the metropolis brings together two young women with the same name, sparking a chain of events that eventually result in them sharing an apartment. Throughout their friendship, the two are constantly trying to support one another, both having deeply interconnected lives that are filled with romance, music, challenges, and heartbreaks that will ultimately test their seemingly unbreakable bond.

Nana’s characters are great – we see ourselves in some of them and really believe that such people exist. This anime proves that you can live without traditional tsundere, moe, and annoying childhood friends.

The story is one of Nana’s strongest points. In spite of the show’s typical shoujo tearjerker plot, it has a magic quality that makes you cheer unconsciously for some characters and experience emotional events almost as strongly as the characters themselves. It also illustrates the harsh, brutish reality of life, which has no happy endings or pure love.

5. Kamisama Hajimemashita

Nanami Momozono has been experiencing quite a few problems lately, starting with an absentee father who is so deeply in debt that they have lost everything. Homeless and downtrodden, she comes across a man being harassed by a dog. She explains her situation after helping him, and to her surprise, he offers her his home in gratitude.

After discovering that the home is, in fact, a rundown shrine, she attempts to leave, but a fox familiar named Tomoe and two shrine spirits stop her. She is mistaken for Mikage, the shrine’s land god, who Nanami rescued. Tomoe realizes Mikage probably sent her as a replacement god, and he leaves abruptly, refusing to serve a human.

Nanami devotes herself to her divine duties rather than returning to homelessness. In order to maintain a smooth operation, she will need the help of a certain hot-headed fox. As she fumbles to locate Tomoe, she ends up in trouble and ends up signing a contract with him.

As god and familiar, they are now navigating the path of godhood together, but it will not be easy because a youkai wants to devour the girl, a snake wants to marry her, and Nanami herself has unexpected feelings for her new familiar.

It’s a lighthearted story with a dash of supernatural occurrences. This combination is perfect for a fantastic romantic comedy. Overall, the series is lighthearted. As opposed to romance, there is more comedy in the series, especially Nanami and Tomoe’s strange relationship. The comedy is enhanced by characters in scenes where the action is presented.

6. Versailles no Bara

Marie Antoinette was born into a royal family in Austria in 1755 and raised in luxury. However, the future queen of France has already been decided-at the age of 15; she will marry the French crown prince.

The Commander of the Royal Guards in France gives birth to a daughter at the same time. Due to his dissatisfaction with not having a male heir, he decides to raise the girl as a man and names her Oscar. Oscar is trained from an early age to lead the Royal Guards, but she still fails to recognize that the queen’s will does not always equal the good of the people.

In Versailles, no Bara, Marie Antoinette, and Oscar meet in a fateful meeting that will influence history and shape the lives of those facing the French Revolution as the clock ticks down to the end of the French monarchy.

Every character is unique and doesn’t follow the anime stereotypes. Characters grow and develop as they experience life; it’s not difficult to grasp the cast’s personalities. A strong female who raised a man, Lady Oscar has a feminine side to her: she has a balance in her character.

A storyline describing the French Revolution is far more interesting than a history teacher. The plot is accurate, but there are some original characters to spice it up. You feel as if you are living the events at the start of the French Revolution. There are suspenseful episodes with a plot that keeps the viewer on their toes.

7. Hotarubi no Mori e

During a visit to her uncle, Hotaru Takegawa becomes intrigued by the story of a mountain god and loses her way in the ancient forest. Hotaru, exhausted and in need of help, is thrilled to find a masked forest spirit named Gin. She learns the hard way that she shouldn’t touch the boy; otherwise, he would disappear. Hotaru is led out of the forest by Gin, who warns her not to return, despite Hotaru’s promise to return with a gift.

Hotaru and Gin become close friends every summer, despite the distance and different planes of existence that separates them. In the end, however, their relationship and resolve are tested when romantic feelings clash with their one and only rule.

Two people whose lives should never have crossed paths become hopelessly intertwined in the story Hotarubi no Mori e.

Their time together is brief, but it is meaningful, and it ends on a bittersweet note. The beautiful film Hotarubi no Mori e reimagines the topic of forbidden love, which has been overdone and worn out by bad soap operas, in an elegant and refreshing manner.

The anime highlights the more important facets of love that we may have overlooked. It’s like the joy you feel when you’re near them, when you see them laugh for the first time, and when being around them feels oppressive because you don’t know what to say or do. Hotarubi no Mori e beautifully weaves these elements into a heartbreaking first love story.

8. Mimi wo Sumaseba

As a 14-year-old girl, Shizuku Tsukishima loves to read and write poetry in her spare time. One evening, when she glanced at the checkout cards of her books, she noticed that Seiji Amasawa frequently checked out her library books. Shizuku’s curiosity drives her to search for the boy who shares her passion for literature.

She meets a peculiar cat on the train and follows it to a quaint antique shop, where she learns about a cat statue known as “The Baron.” While there, she discovers Seiji, and the two quickly become friends. As Shizuku gets to know Seiji, she finds out that he has a dream that he would like to fulfill, which causes her dismay since she is unsure of her future and is yet to recognize her talents.

Shizuku, however, becomes determined to reach a goal as her relationship with Seiji grows. As she is guided by the whispers of her heart and inspired by The Baron, she resolves to achieve her own potential.

Although it is essentially a slice-of-life film with a hint of “boy meets girl,” the way in which Shizuku is presented to the audience is both relatable and endearing. As adults and children alike, everyone can sympathize with Shizuku.

One of Studio Ghibli’s best-constructed stories shows how a change of perspective can dramatically change someone’s life when presented with beautiful situations. It is clear from the film that you don’t have to go far to find love.

9. Cardcaptor Sakura

A garden-variety fourth-grader, Sakura Kinomoto, stumbles upon a mysterious book that contains a set of cards one day. Due to a magical gust of wind, she accidentally scatters the cards all over the world before she can discern what they mean.

Keroberos, nicknamed Kero-chan, as he emerges from the book, tells Sakura that she has released the Clow Cards, which Clow Reed created. Clow Cards are not ordinary playing cards.

Clown sealed all the Cards in a book because they each possessed incredible powers. Since the Cards have been set free, they pose a grave danger to the world, and Sakura must prevent the Cards from causing a catastrophe now that they have been set free.

After giving Sakura the title “Cardcaptor” and granting her the Sealed Key, Keroberos assigns her the task of finding and recapturing all the Cards. She must balance her new secret duty with the everyday worries of a young girl concerning love, family, and school while she embarks on Sakura the Cardcaptor’s magical adventures with her best friend Tomoyo Daidouji and Kero-chan as her guides.

A large part of the entertainment is provided by the interactions between Sakura and the characters, especially her guardian Keroberos and her best friend Tomoyo, who is frequently accompanying her to each scene to capture it on her camcorder.

Cardcaptor Sakura awakens new life within a genre that is dominated by conventions and inspiration. A timeless classic, it still stands the test of time.

10. Shoujo Kakumei Utena

Utena Tenjou vowed to become a prince after meeting a traveling prince who consoled her after her parents’ deaths. Utena left the prince with only a ring adorned with a strange rose crest and a promise to meet him again one day.

After a few years, Utena attends Ootori Academy, where she becomes involved in a dangerous game. There are many duelists with rings that match Utena’s, but one stands apart: Anthy Himemiya, the Rose Bride. When Utena wins a duel with Anthy, she realizes she has only one option that will free Anthy and reveal the secrets of Ootori Academy: revolutionize the world.

A unique coming-of-age tale, Shoujo Kakumei Utena combines surrealist imagery and ideas with allegories and metaphors to portray themes like idealism, illusions, and adulthood.

Utena is, on the surface, just a duelist of the week series with recurring duelists. Its greatest strength, however, is the level of character development it offers when it comes to the duelists, as well as the recurring minor characters. Every duel reveals something new about them.

Every single character and aspect of this show has layers, and as the episode continues, you begin to see exactly what’s going on at Ootori Academy. A second watch-through will reveal some very heavy symbolism using a few very mundane objects and allegories that foreshadow what will happen way before it ever happens.

This show is a lot of fun to watch and is very engrossing. The oddball-yet-chivalrous atmosphere entices you in and keeps you hooked.

11. Ouran Koukou Host Club

As a scholarship student without rank or title, Haruhi Fujioka attends Ouran Academy, an elite school for high-achieving students of high standing. As Haruhi enters Music Room #3, hoping to find a quiet place to study, she stumbles upon the Host Club.

Tamaki Suou leads the club, which also includes the princely Kyouya Ootori; the mischievous twins Hitachiin, Kaoru and Hikaru; Mitsukuni Haninozuka, better known as “Honey”; and Takashi “Mori” Morinozuka–is where handsome boys who have way too much free time can amuse the girls.

As Haruhi tries desperately to escape her hosts, she breaks a vase worth eight million yen and becomes the eccentric group’s general errand boy in order to repay her tremendous debt.

She is soon made full-time male host due to her convincingly masculine appearance, her naturally friendly disposition toward girls, and her fascinating status as a commoner. Haruhi soon finds herself in the midst of a glitzy world of extravagant cosplay, rich food, and exciting shenanigans that can only be pulled off by the extraordinarily wealthy Host Club.

Anime stereotypes, moe-obsessed fangirls, high school drama, gender differences, and pretty much every nerdy and teen-centric topic imaginable are mocked before settling down for a game of hit the funny French person.

Throughout the show, the fourth wall is rarely standing. It almost always succeeds at tugging at your heartstrings during this show. Despite being corny at times, it’s incredibly heartwarming, thanks to the cast’s likability.

12. Skip Beat!

Kyouko Mogami, a bright, diligent, and yet naive 16-year-old schoolgirl, is determined to help Shoutarou Fuwa, and her childhood crush advance his career and dreams. Kyouko works endlessly at burger joints and tea ceremonies, unaware that all her tireless efforts are taken for granted. Until, one day, she realizes her beloved Shou views her as nothing but a free servant.

Enraged, shocked, and heartbroken, she vows to take revenge against the rookie star by stepping into the ruthless entertainment industry herself. Kyouko will be faced with new challenges as well as people who will push her outside of her comfort zone when she steps into her new life.

Skip Beat documents the growth of a young woman as she learns to stop working herself to the bone for others’ satisfaction, instead takes her future into her own hands.

In this anime, character development plays a major role. The comedy is also well-rounded. She transforms her pain and suffering into something beautiful; in contrast to other female leads who cry over ice cream while rewatching their favorite soap operas, Kyouko transforms her pain and suffering into something beautiful.

One of the things that fuels her journey into the mysterious and sometimes terrifying world of show business is her newfound hatred for Shou. This anime has character motivations for every character, including Kyouko. Whether they are acting, singing, or making their big-screen debut, they all share a common goal.

We are given a realistic and down-to-earth glimpse into their lives through anime.

13. Orange

Naho Takamiya is having a rocky start to her sophomore year of high school. After waking up late, she finds a strange letter addressed to her. It is, however, written by her ten years in the future. Naho is initially skeptical of the note; however, after witnessing several events described, she realizes it is her 26-year-old self.

In the note, Naho describes how her future life is chock-full of regrets, and she sincerely hopes that her younger self can correct her past mistakes. In the letter, she is also instructed to watch Kakeru Naruse closely.

In the letter, she is also warned to keep an eye on Kakeru Naruse, a new transfer student. As Kakeru won’t be around in the future, Naho must be extra cautious when making decisions involving him. Naho can now protect Kakeru using the letter as a guide before she once again regrets it.

Despite the time travel element, Orange is more concerned with regret, drama, and youth than with the ability to change the future. In contrast to many of its kind, Orange is a slow-moving, simple drama.

Because these are teenagers, there will be misunderstandings and teenage insecurities, but the drama makes good use of these moments to gain insight into the characters. Overall, it is a straightforward story with well-developed characters.

While Orange successfully completes its story, it evokes a wide range of emotions, both positive and negative. With Orange, you will laugh, cry, and connect emotionally and personally with the characters.

14. Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

It is not easy being the first female student council president, especially if your school has just converted from an all-boys school to a co-ed school. Known by the boys as “Demon President” for her strict disciplinary style, Misaki Ayuzawa does not back down from using her mastery of Aikido techniques to judge misbehaving boys and defend the girls at Seika High School.

Even though Ayuzawa appears to be perfect, she has a secret – she works part-time at a maid café to support her struggling family. She has managed to hide her job from her fellow students and maintain an image of being a stellar student until one day, Takumi Usui, the most popular boy at school, walks into the maid café.

By finding out about her secret, he could either ruin her reputation or use it as an opportunity to get closer to her.

That’s the wonderful thing about Maid-sama! It stays true to its source material. There is no attempt to change its goofiness, ridiculousness, and stupidity. By not taking itself too seriously, this show succeeds in being a highly entertaining work of art. Maid-sama! is also amusing.

This is mostly due to gendered jokes, such as Misaki’s takeover of the boy-dominated school, which is known for being smelly and vulgar. Maid-sama! is also somewhat attentive to the other characters. No matter how odd the characters are, they are portrayed in a loving, tender light, resulting in some warm, fuzzy moments.

15. Kodomo no Omocha

Sana Kurata, a sixth-grader, has a perfect life. In addition to being a successful author, her mother has a young man employed to keep her safe and happy, and perhaps best of all, she stars in a children’s television show called Kodomo no Omocha. Akito Hayama is the only thing bothering her.

In the past few weeks, Akito has been acting out in class, and the other guys have been following in his footsteps. Teachers and students battle every day to keep the class under control and to accomplish some learning. Sana won’t tolerate Akito’s rotten behavior!

It’s up to Sana to figure out what makes Akito tick, so classes can get back to normal and the teacher can stop crying instead of teaching every day. She realizes as she learns more about Akito that he may be more than he appears.

The thing that makes this anime good is, mainly, how perfectly the characters and their personalities are done. With these perfect personalities, the author can easily put the characters together into a masterpiece, despite how simple the storyline is.

Just the right amount of drama is present in this anime. The story isn’t too serious or deep, but it’s not dumb and cliche either. The romance in this anime is exceptional.

Pacing is excellent. This show knows exactly how to pace certain arcs and scenes, so you will never get bored watching it. The story is amazing, has wonderful theme exploration, and is handled in a very mature way.

16. Akatsuki no Yona

In the seemingly peaceful Kingdom of Kouka, Princess Yona lives a life of luxury and ease; however, the murder of her father and betrayal of her loved cousin Su-won put Yona in mortal peril.

When forced to escape only with Son Hak, her childhood friend, and bodyguard, the naive princess soon learns that Kouka isn’t as idyllic as she imagined it to be. As a result of poverty, strife, and corruption, reclaiming the throne is nothing more than wishful fantasy.

Princess Yona is taken on a coming-of-age adventure as she faces the harsh realities of her kingdom in Akatsuki no Yona. While being relentlessly pursued by the forces of the new Kouka King, Yona must find a way to bring Kouka back to its former glory, guided only by a mysterious legend.

As the story progresses, the show appears to be more than your typical shoujo reverse harem; it’s a well-written story about revenge and betrayal. We get a background on the characters and quickly warm up to them before getting gutted by the promise that our title offered.

Our protagonist, Yona, begins as a weak and vulnerable kitten and grows into a brave and independent creature stalking its prey; her character development is executed in such a way that it feels natural.

17. Lovely★Complex

Koizumi Risa and Ootani Atsushi are both looking for their ideal partner in high school. Koizumi is 172 cm tall, and Ootani is 156 cm, much shorter than the average guy. Koizumi and Ootani are comically flustered and heartbroken when their crushes fall in love with each other.

To make matters worse, despite their differences in heights and personalities, their homeroom teacher calls them a comedy duo, and even their classmates think of their arguments as sketches.

Koizumi and Ootani become close friends as they encourage each other to find true love in Lovely Complex. In addition to their ridiculous antics, they soon discover an unexpected similarity in their music and fashion tastes. The mismatched pair may possess chemistry yet unknown, but will love blossom between them?

Slowly, the romance develops, and by the end, you’re totally smitten with them since it was so well done laying the groundwork and showing you how their feelings evolve over time. The show doesn’t show love coming out of nowhere in a haze of fuzzy lighting and rose petals like most other shows. Rather, you see the blossoming of a friendship, the opportunity for a moment to happen, and the awareness that is growing.

In this anime, the characters are the backbone of the plot. Mixing strange and fairly normal teenagers can be very effective. Each character aids the other in their development as they bounce off one another. In an anime about love and complexes, each character has their own set of issues, which are what propels the anime forward and which we grow to love.

18. Kimi ni Todoke

Sawako Kuronuma was nicknamed “Sadako” due to her resemblance to Sadako from the Ring series, despite her timid and sweet nature. Sawako is naturally attracted to Shouta Kazehaya, the most popular boy in her class, as she wishes to make friends and live a normal life. Since their first meeting, Sakato has admired Kazehaya’s ability to be the center of attention and aspires to be like him.

She sees Kazehaya’s initiative to organize a test of courage for the entire class as an opportunity to get to know her classmates, starting with Ayane Yano and Chizuru Yoshida. With each new encounter and emotion, Sawako believes she has become a better person since meeting Kazehaya. Sawako is unaware that her presence has also changed Kazehaya.

It is rare for a series to defy the expectations that its genre has set for it and even rarer for it to stand out. In this way, Kimi ni Todoke is a great example. The story flips all of the traditional shoujo romance stereotypes and plot devices upside down, leaving us with a satisfying romance.

There are no tired clichés here. In Sawako’s case, she is not your typical plain and perky heroine who tries to seduce a grumpy, cruel man. Neither is she seeking vengeance, nor is she being pursued by a harem of bishounens for her affections. We are presented with real emotions and situations, but they are not overly intense. It is a straightforward story, and it revels in it.

19. Akagami no Shirayuki-hime

While her name means “snow white,” Shirayuki is a cheerful, red-haired girl who lives in the country of Tanbarun and works diligently as an apothecary. Prince Raji, the silly prince of Tanbarun, notices her and tries to force her to become his concubine.

Shirayuki is unwilling to surrender her freedom, so she cuts her long red hair and runs into the forest, where Zen Wistalia, the second prince from a neighboring country, and his two aides rescue her. Shirayuki hopes to repay the trio someday by becoming a court herbalist in Zen’s country, Clarines.

As well as Shirayuki’s journey toward the royal palace of Clarines, Akagami no Shirayuki-hime depicts Zen’s attempt to become a prince to match his title. Shirayuki and Zen form loyal friendships and make deadly enemies, but over time they learn to work together as they pursue their own goals.

A variety of perspectives tell the show’s story. There is a particularly notable development in the relationship between Shirayuki and Zen. The two have charming chemistry the moment they meet. The fascination that Zen has with Shirayuki throughout each episode is also interesting to observe.

Each is confident in their abilities, proficient in specific arts, and frequently uses deductive reasoning to solve problems. Additionally, both of them can be stubborn when it comes to achieving their goals. Though it still retains many of the qualities of a traditional shoujo, the series’ relationship dynamics make it very colorful.

20. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

The average student and crybaby klutz Usagi Tsukino consistently scores low on her tests. The humdrum routine of her life is upended when she saves a cat with a crescent moon on its head from danger.

It is later revealed by Luna that their meeting was not purely accidental: Usagi is destined to become Sailor Moon, a planetary guardian able to protect the Earth. She is given a brooch that allows her to transform, and she must use these new abilities to protect the city from evil energy-stealing monsters sent by the malevolent Queen Beryl of the Dark Kingdom.

Her worries are not limited to getting used to her powers and fighting villains. To save the planet, she must find the princess of the Moon Kingdom, the other Sailor Guardians, and the Legendary Silver Crystal.

Sailor Moon is the most influential magical girl series of all time and one of the major pillars of anime. The five sailor senshi, who lived a normal, anonymous life before transforming into a magical team to fight evil, captivated girls and boys.

The real star of Sailor Moon is its characters. Usagi is one of the best characters in anime. Although she starts off as a bit irritating with her crying and silly behavior, she really shines as a comedic character. Through the series, she becomes more courageous and stronger.

People’s weaknesses and frustrations are explored without exaggerating them for comic effect, making all the characters feel real.

Without Sailor Moon, the shoujo market and much of the fantasy market today would be quite different.

21. Full Moon wo Sagashite

Eichi Sakurai, Mitsuki’s friend, moved to America two years ago before she was able to confess her feelings to him. Eichi wants to become an astronomer, and Mitsuki, a singer. They promised to fulfill their dreams even though she cannot reach him. One day, she hopes that her music will reach him around the world with the brilliance of a full moon.

Mitsuki has throat cancer, which makes her voice weak and her singing difficult. Mitsuki’s music-hating grandmother demands that she undergo surgery to remove the cancer, but she refuses due to the risk of losing her voice.

She is told by two shinigami–Meroko Yui and Takuto Kira-that she only has one year left to live. In the time she has left, Mitsuki decides to become a professional singer with Meroko and Takuto’s help.

Full Moon wo Sagashite tells the story of Mitsuki and her shinigami friends as they learn what it means to sing – and ultimately, what it means to live.

It’s refreshing to see an anime dealing with uncomfortable subjects. Full Moon wo Sagashite may appear cutesy on the surface, but it has a deep, moving storyline that touches every emotion in human life.

There are a lot of characters in this anime. Some you’ll love instantly, others you’ll hate immediately. Once you know them better, you might even change your opinion of some of them. You’ll gradually learn more about each character, their motivations, and even their pasts.

22. Ore Monogatari!!

High school freshman Takeo Gouda stands out thanks to his muscular build and tall stature. Due to his courage and chivalry, the boys regard him as a hero despite his intimidating appearance. However, these qualities don’t help his love life much.

Even without Takeo’s looks to frighten away the opposite sex, Makoto Sunakawa, Takeo’s cool and handsome best friend and constant companion, steals the hearts of all the girls — including every girl Takeo has ever liked.

He immediately falls in love with Rinko Yamato after saving her from being molested but believes she is attracted to Sunakawa. Even as he longs for his own love story, Takeo unselfishly acts as Yamato’s cupid, even as his own love blossoms.

The uniqueness of the characters in this series is one of its most intriguing features. The characters aren’t your typical ones who exist solely to further the plot. In order to make the relationship seem as natural as possible, they are there to help the story along.

The show does not contain any tragic moments that make the audience want to cry. Instead, we get a shoujo romantic comedy filled with heartfelt interactions between the characters.

It’s a sweet love story in some ways. Instead of just sharing sweet and sad moments, they created an inspiring love that bloomed in the hearts of people. The show isn’t melodramatic; instead, they let us get to know all the characters until we all fall in love with them. It’s a complex show in more ways than one.

23. Kaleido Star

With its incredible acrobatics, innovative routines, extravagant costumes, and sets, the Kaleido Stage is known throughout the world for captivating audiences. Sora Naegino wants nothing more than to become an acrobat for the famous circus in order to be a part of that magic.

From Japan, she travels to California to audition for the group. For the purpose of bringing joy to the crowd, Sora must learn to rely on much more than her natural talent.

The young woman quickly learns how challenging it is to be a professional performer where the stakes-and the stunts-are higher and mistakes can be deadly. She must endure rigorous training, unconventional assignments, fierce competitions, and foolish antics if she wishes to perform on the Kaleido Stage.

In order to become a Kaleido Star, will Sora be able to reach new heights, make new friends, overcome her fears, and surpass her limits?

Circuses and acrobats are unique ideas, and very few animes have attempted this genre and kept it so magical and engaging. A lot of emphasis is placed on friendship; Sora gets through a lot, mostly because of the people around her. It is not a one-girl show; all the other characters are equally important and shine.

The characters are impossible to dislike since even the bad ones turn out well in the end. Although this seems rather idealistic, it leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling at the end.

24. Gakuen Babysitters

With the loss of both his parents in a plane crash, Ryuuichi Kashima must adjust to his new role as Kotarou’s guardian. Ryuuichi manages to maintain a friendly and kind demeanor; however, Kotarou is an extremely reserved toddler who still cannot grasp the reality of the situation.

During their parents’ funeral, Youko Morinomiya, the stern chairman of an elite academy, approaches them and decides to take them under her wing.

Ryuuichi must, however, fulfill one condition in order to get a roof over their heads, and a spot in the school-he must become the school’s babysitter.

As a means of supporting the female teachers at the academy, a babysitter’s club was established to look after their infants. However, the club is severely short-staffed, so Ryuuichi is not only responsible for his brother but also for a number of toddlers.

You can’t go wrong with Gakuen Babysitters. Neither is it thought-provoking nor action-packed. The anime achieves what it sets out to do: be a relaxing, sweet anime about children and their families, or even what’s left of them.

With a cast of young characters, Gakuen Babysitters creates the feeling of innocence and youth. Kids in this show behave in predictable ways since they are very young. Occasionally, they can say things that are misunderstood or brutally honest. You can expect a lot of shenanigans in their daily lives because of their age.

As it is more of a slice-of-life story, you shouldn’t expect a complex plot. There’s always something new to discover.

25. Kamichama Karin

The life of 13-year-old Karin Hanazono can’t get any worse. She was a child when her parents passed away, and her aunt does not hesitate to call her stupid and useless when she has poor grades. Her only friend, a cat, named Shii-chan, passed away recently, leaving her all alone.

As the only thing left of her parents, she treasures the ring given to her by her mother.

In Kamichama Karin, her life takes a turn for the better when she meets Himeka Kuujou, a cute girl who lost her parents, and Kazune Kuujou, her cousin who finds girls difficult, who are searching for a goddess.

In their presence, her mother’s memento ring sparkles brightly and fills her with radiance, making her smarter, faster, and able to grant wishes. The ring turns out to allow her to become the very goddess they were searching for, and when she awakens her power, others will seek her out.

This anime is both romantic and funny, yet intense at the same time. You won’t want to miss it. You’ll be captivated from the very beginning to the very end. At times, the story is very serious, but that’s one of the reasons it’s so fascinating.

The characters in this story are very thought out because each and every one of them has their own personality and flaws. There is so much variety in their personalities, yet they all seem so alike at the same time.

26. Kageki Shoujo!!

Ai Narata vows never to interact with another man after she is forced to graduate from JPX48 after a controversy with a male fan. Ai auditions for the all-female Kouka School of Musical and Theatrical Arts in order to escape men.

Kouka Theatre Troupe, an all-female troupe, is renowned for producing some of the best actresses in the country. Her background in the idol industry makes her the perfect candidate for the school’s 100th generation class, but her aloof personality alienates her from her classmates.

The only person who wishes to be Ai’s friend is the eccentric Sarasa Watanabe. At Kouka, she intends to become an otokoyaku performer, an actress who plays traditionally male roles.

Sarasa saw a Kouka performance of The Rose of Versailles when she was young, and she dreams of playing Lady Oscar one day. As a result of Sarasa’s inability to read a room, she has a conflict with her classmates, including Ai, whom she reluctantly accepts as a roommate and partner in many classes.

The harsh realities of show business, jealousy, deceit, and the harsh conditions of Kouka will put their mental fortitude to the test. What are Sarasa and Ai’s chances of making it to the top and standing on the silver bridge?

Although the characters might not seem complex at first, they become more complex as the series progresses. There are many well-paced backstories placed throughout the show to help you gain a better understanding of the characters, and by the end, all the characters feel like they have a purpose beyond simply existing.

27. Bokura ga Ita

Nanami Takahashi is looking forward to making many new friends during her first year of high school. In addition to meeting Yuri Yamamoto, she hears about Yano Motoharu, who is popular in their class. Yano is little cared for by Yuri because of his past relationship with her older sister Nana. Nanami is not a fan of his attitude either. Nanami, however, soon warms up to Yano and becomes fond of him.

After spending more time together, the two decide to start dating. Although they love each other, their relationship is not without challenges; Yano struggles to open up to Nanami after his first girlfriend, Nana, was killed in a car accident the year before, and she had been with an ex-boyfriend at the time.

In the shadow cast by Yano’s relationship with Nana, Nanami, and Yano fight to keep their love afloat amid misunderstandings and heartache with the certainty of their love.

The romance and drama lovers will enjoy Bokura ga Ita. As the story progresses, the viewer is introduced to various problems every couple faces, such as past influences and jealousy – at the end, it has a very simple plot outline with gripping dialog.

This anime is great because of its characters. A series’ plot alone isn’t enough to keep you interested; it’s the characters that do it. The characters here make you hate them at some point or feel sorry for them at others.

In this story, there is no antagonist because all of the characters are acting out of their feelings, and when you’re in love, sometimes you cannot see what you did or said was wrong until it is too late.

28. Watashi ga Motete Dousunda

Kae Serinuma is a kind and devoted otaku student in her second year of high school. Her little-known secret is that she’s obsessed with BL, or Boy’s Love. Serinuma enjoys imagining her male classmates falling in love and imagines them together. Serinuma’s more notable characteristic is that she is noticeably overweight.

Serinuma was watching her favorite show one day when she saw her favorite character die. Depressed beyond belief, she lacks the energy to eat her meals, let alone attend school. She finally recovers after an entire week. Yet something has changed about her lately-while refusing to leave her room; she has somehow lost a great deal of weight and became strikingly beautiful!

Suddenly attracting everyone’s attention, she finds herself at the center of attention of four boys she has always known at her school. Despite the fact that they all wish to spend time with her, Serinuma would rather they spend it falling in love with each other. BL-obsessed Serinuma will be pursued by four boys. How will she react?

In conjunction with the humorous moments involving her, Kae is a character any otaku girl can identify with, regardless of whether or not they are a fujoshi like her. Every boy in her reverse harem has his own quirk, and they all get their time in the spotlight.

29. Coquelicot-zaka kara

A boarding house named Coquelicot Manor sits atop a hill overlooking a seaside port. Since the establishment is run by her family, Umi Matsuzaki is responsible for many of the duties associated with managing the small establishment, such as preparing meals for the boarders. She attends the local high school when she isn’t at home. Her school is facing a small crisis right now.

There is a beloved old clubhouse set to be demolished in preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games. In response to this, a large part of the student body has banded together, working tirelessly to prevent this from happening.

In order to spread information about this cause, Umi becomes friends with Shun Kazama, whom she gradually falls in love with. However, Shun is an orphan who has no idea about his origins, and when the two begin searching for clues about his past, they realize that they may have more in common than they thought.

Family, love, and determination are the main themes of the story. The two main characters are strongly portrayed with these elements throughout the movie, and in the end, these elements bring them together. Numerous symbolic themes are shown throughout the movie. As always, the world of the story is beautifully built, and it is a pleasure to watch events unfold, even when they are unfolding cautiously.

The characters’ love is both strong and innocent, and it makes you consider how much you would compromise for the one you love.

30. Itazura na Kiss

Kotoko Aihara, a low-achieving, clumsy, and troublesome third-year high school student, has to share a home with Naoki Irie, perhaps the smartest student in Japan, after her recently constructed home is destroyed by an earthquake. Although Kotoko is not completely new to Irie-kun, a single love letter she tried to send him in her past sealed her fate in his eyes.

Add in a couple of quirky friends and an overbearing mother, and Kotoko may not have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning Irie’s heart. Kotoko remains optimistic that, now that she lives in his house, she is closer to her unattainable crush on the genius she has had since high school started.

Even though the premise isn’t particularly original, the story is quite entertaining. Kotoko tries desperately to communicate her feelings despite Naoki being cold, uninterested, and mean. Itazura’s story is truly distinguished by the romance’s eventual payoff.

A delightful shoujo heroine, Kotoko satisfies all of your shoujo needs. She has all of the characteristics one would expect. Despite being cute, she is clumsy, ditzy, and not very bright. She compensates for her lack of intelligence with determination, hard work, and a singular focus on getting her man.

Itazura na Kiss allows you to experience what the other character does. A character doesn’t become perfect all of a sudden from being nefarious. Kotoko and Irei remain true to themselves throughout the anime, and this is what makes it so enjoyable.

31. Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun

Shizuku Mizutani does not care about her classmates; she only cares about her grades. Haru Yoshida, a troublemaker who stopped attending school, changes her cold view of life. While he does not have any friends, he isn’t much different from her – he understands little about human nature and doesn’t have any friends either. Upon meeting Shizuku, he declares that she will be his friend and confesses his feelings towards her right away.

Due to a lack of friends and social interaction, Shizuku finds it hard to understand her relationship with Haru. Over time, they start to become friends, and she discovers that Haru is not all violence. Her feelings for him start to develop, but she’s unsure of what to expect. Shizuku and Haru explore together the true nature of their love and emotions.

The premise of the anime immediately grabs your attention. A girl who is purely concerned with her studies and a gruff man with a misunderstood soul, their interaction is often entertaining because the girl is the only one who can be close to the guy, and he annoys her to no end. On the other hand, their relationship gradually grows into something truly adorable.

There is plenty of comedy in this anime, as well as themes of togetherness and romance. You can watch it if you’re looking for a lighthearted anime that won’t consume too much of your time. There’s never a dull moment with the lovable characters and always amusing social challenges of high school.

32. Ghost Hunt

Taniyama Mai often shares ghost stories with her friends at school. The campus has an abandoned school building that is the subject of many ghost stories. One ghost story is interrupted by a mysterious male figure. The person is Shibuya Kazuya, a 17-year-old president of Shibuya Psychic Research Company. A principal contacted him to inquire about the abandoned school building.

On her way to school the next day, Mai passes the school building in question. The assistant of Kazuya surprises her while she examines a strange camera inside. As a result of Mai’s unintentional interference in the investigation, Kazuya’s assistant gets injured.

Mai is hired by Kazuya under duress to pay for the camera and replace his injured assistant. As a result, Mai begins learning about the paranormal world and ghost hunting as a profession.

The characters in this series are its greatest asset. One of the greatest selling points of this series is how rich and engaging their personalities are. It’s one of the reasons you keep watching.

Generally, arcs are kept to three or four episodes, and the storyline is excellent. Viewers won’t get frustrated waiting for an arc or storyline to conclude, which keeps the series watchable.

There is nothing scary about this series, but at times it is quite suspenseful. As it does an excellent job at keeping you glued to your screen, it keeps creepiness to a minimum.

33. Ao Haru Ride

A popular and attractive middle schooler, Futaba Yoshioka was ostracized by the girls despite being well-liked by the opposite sex. The only opinion she paid attention to was that of Kou Tanaka, a classmate with whom she had shared a shelter from rain once, followed by a number of other precious and significant memories.

Although she made plans to meet the quiet and innocent boy at the summer festival, a simple misunderstanding, and Tanaka’s disappearance, left her roaming the halls of her school without a friend.

As a high school student, Futaba isn’t your typical adolescent. This time, determined to become a class favorite, she avoids all unwanted attention and, instead of acting cute and feminine, emphasizes her tomboyish behavior and disheveled appearance.

However, everything changes when she comes face-to-face once again with the only boy she ever liked-except he goes by Kou Mabuchi now, and not only his name has changed.

Character diversity is one of the elements that can draw you in. Although almost every character has a unique personality, they all become intertwined in the story. Perhaps the most prominent relationship in the show is that between Kou and Futaba.

It seems unlikely that they could form a meaningful relationship since their characters are so different. Although they are clearly attracted to each other, there is a lot of teasing and sarcasm between them. A simple emotion, jealousy, is one that both characters experience at different points in the show. However, their relationship will pique interest.

34. Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge♥

Sunako Nakahara has been a shut-in ever since her crush insulted her appearance by putting her down, embracing all things morbid and occult-related.

To her dismay, she is sent to live with four exceedingly handsome boys her age in her aunt’s mansion. Sunako’s flighty aunt has also made a deal with these boys. In exchange for living in the house rent-free, they must turn her into a proper lady by the time she returns from a world tour.

Hence begins Sunako’s hectic existence with the abrasive Kyohei Takano, ladies’ man Ranmaru Morii, calm Takenaga Oda, and friendly Yukinojo Toyama. She finds that they are less obnoxious as she interacts with them, and she is not as outcasted as she thought.

If you put a gothic girl in a romantic comedy, what do you get? You might get many things, but you won’t get something as wonderful as this. This show has a lot to offer.

This anime’s characters are undoubtedly one of its strongest points. They are all so unique. In particular, Sunako stands out. She is very likable and a refreshing break from the shoujo protagonist mold. Sunako is ridiculous, cool, and just overall way too funny.

Despite their similarities, boys are also very different. They all have particular backstories but share together a few things: beauty, humor, and ladies.

Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge offers a pleasant adventure from the start, and it’s full of entertainment, fun, and hints of romance and drama.

35. Asagao to Kase-san

In high school, Yui Yamada falls in love with track star Tomoka Kase, who has a passion for plants and gardening. Her personality is shy and girly, and she has never been in a relationship.

As for Tomoka, she is vivacious, tomboyish, and popular among her friends. Although they are so different in so many ways, they try to understand and support each other as they experience the exhilaration that accompanies first love.

In Asagao to Kase-san, two girls deal with their ever-increasing feelings for one another and other issues that plague the hearts of lovers.

With its perfect blending of romance and drama, this anime brilliantly delivers a lesbian love story. It’s a short film about pure feelings and love in its purest form that is an incredible experience.

In and of itself, the story isn’t anything new or special. The story revolves around two girls falling in love – one is more experienced, the other is incredibly naive – and they go through the highs and lows of their relationship. After establishing their relationship in a couple of scenes, the rest of the anime focuses on the nuances of an already established relationship.

The plot is perfectly paced, giving viewers an equal mixture of sweet fluff and substantial drama and conflict. The conflicts come up very organically and feel very natural in the course of the characters’ relationship, and they’re interspersed with sweet scenes that paint the relationship with further detail.

Those who are into this type of romance and appreciate girly love will enjoy this piece.

36. Sukitte Ii na yo

As Mei Tachibana learned in grade school when she was wrongly blamed for the death of a class pet by her so-called friends, friends will always let you down. After that, she has avoided people in order not to be hurt again. Mei’s life changes drastically, however, when she meets popular student Yamato Kurosawa due to a misunderstanding in high school.

Though Mei doesn’t want anything to do with him, Yamato finds her fascinating and insists on being her friend. However, when a dangerous situation ends with Yamato kissing Mei in order to save her from a stalker, Mei begins to have feelings for him.

After discovering that they share the same feelings, they begin dating, and she gains not only a boyfriend but also friends. Mei, however, has a hard time adapting to her new lifestyle, especially when she has to express her true feelings towards Yamato.

Mei and Yamato slowly grow closer as they learn the true meaning of those three little words: “I love you.”

The formula is pretty standard. This anime, however, succeeds admirably and what it stand out is how perfectly it captures how it feels to experience love for the first time. No matter how many times you’ve been in love, there’s something in Mei and Yamato’s relationship that may make you cry.

This is a gem that sparkles and shines, and it’s one of those rare classic shoujos that appeal to drama fans. Because of the way it is presented, the series is quite interesting to look into.

37. 3D Kanojo: Real Girl

Hikari Tsutsui’s world is much simpler in the two-dimensional realm. His classmates constantly ridicule and ostracize him for being socially awkward and immersed in video games and anime. Yuuto Itou, his only friend, is obsessed with the world of games as well and wears cat ears.

Tsutsui meets Iroha Igarashi after being forced to clean the pool for arriving late, but he tries to avoid her as she has a reputation. Being blunt and infamous for experimenting with boys, Tsutsui believes getting involved with her would be a big mistake.

This anime tells the story of two outcasts – a boy who has never felt emotions before and a girl who tries to break him out of his shell.

It is a fantastic story that conveys love in a very real way, giving back story to the characters and giving them distinct personalities. You can see the change in the characters as the story goes on; you laugh, you cry; it’s a whole mix of emotions.

Despite its cliched plot, you’re made to feel like you’ve never seen anything like it. The two main characters are great. They feel both real and unique. Despite the fact that they both have typical anime traits, they represent problems that real people face. Knowing this makes you want to watch it even more.

Overall, 3D Kanojo is a really enjoyable watch with its unique premise, story, and character development being its best points.

38. Kyou kara Maou!

Kyou kara Maou! revolves around Japanese teenager Yuri Shibuya. Yuri becomes alarmed when he sees a classmate being bullied. In the process, Yuri becomes the new target of the bullies and gets his head shoved into the toilet as a result of this intervention.

Rather than water, the toilet has a swirling portal that sucks him into a fantasy world resembling medieval Europe. Having black hair and black eyes, only the royal lineage of the demons possess such traits; he is told that he will become the new Demon King.

A few demons are skeptical of Yuri’s arrival, considering him unworthy of becoming their king. When Yuri wins a duel using his magical powers, the demons gradually recognize him as their monarch. In this strange new realm, Yuri must learn what it takes to be a true Demon King, and maintain peace between humans and demons.

A hilarious anime filled with great characters; it’s hard not to pick a few favorites. Especially enjoyable is the interaction between the characters. Despite the humor, however, Kyou kara Maou! does have a serious story and some very intense episodes with a few plot twists and character back story that isn’t so cheerful.

Although the story is ridiculously long, it’s quite worth it in the end. Even the character developments are good; it’s quite rare to find an anime where the characters actually change for the better or for worse over time.

39. Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau

Mud Whale Island floats in a world covered by an endless sea of sand. Its interior is home to an ancient town, where the majority of its residents are “Marked,” a character trait that gives them supernatural abilities but also premature death.

Young and curious, Chakuro spends his time documenting the discovery of new islands. There are still remnants of long-ago residents in each, but they are abandoned like the rest.

Chakuro and his friends return to scouting for the first time in six months after another island crosses the horizon. An archaic civilization is discovered during the expedition. One of its crumbling remains contains a young girl who will change Chakuro’s destiny and the world he knows.

The story is a beautiful, soft tale about discovery, loss, and magic. Everything about this anime is so stunning: the story, the art, the characters. The story relies heavily on silence, emotional beats, and what is left unsaid, but it works rather well. Moreover, the concept of magic, as well as what it does to the people of the Mud Whale, is incredibly unique.

The story tells us that we should never let go of our emotions because they make us special, unique. We should never bury our emotions, but we also shouldn’t let them roam loose within us. A balanced lifestyle is important. It’s necessary for our survival and in our lives.

40. Hana yori Dango

Makino Tsukushi is a middle-class student at an exclusive high school with mostly wealthy students. Tsukushi doesn’t particularly like high school life and doesn’t really want to be there.

However, she attends because of her parents’ insistence and because they have sacrificed a lot to send her there. F4, a gang of 4 guys from wealthy and powerful families, controls the school.

It is basically life or death for the entire school to not get on their bad side and get the “red card,” which means your life at school becomes hell on earth until you transfer out. Until she graduates, Tsukushi just tries to stay unnoticed, leading a rather miserable life. It all changes when the only friend she has accidentally incurred the wraith of the F4. She leaps to her defense and finds herself given the red card.

She doesn’t back down and declares war back on the F4. As Tsukushi fights back and gains the respect of most of her classmates and even begins to befriend some of the F4, we come to learn that they are not as bad as we originally imagined.

Tsukushi emerges as perhaps the best shoujo heroines of all time. She is a tough, practical, and no-nonsense type of girl in a world full of shallow, materialistic people. Viewers will be drawn to her over the course of the series.

Hana yori Dango is a series that should not be missed by anime and romance fans alike. It’s a very intense series likely to stir up just about every emotion there is for the viewer.

41. Gakuen Alice

As a 10-year-old, Mikan Sakura is just like any other girl. Mikan is an energetic, optimistic, and overall very sweet child, the complete opposite of the aloof, intelligent, and somewhat coldhearted Hotaru Imai. Even though their differences are glaring, the two girls have been best friends for a very long time.

Therefore, when Hotaru suddenly transfers to Alice Academy, a prestigious school in the city, her best friend is devastated, especially when she hears the rumors of the harsh treatment the academy gives to its students. Worried, Mikan flees to see her best friend!

Mikan discovers the school is an institution built by the government to train and protect “Alices,” individuals gifted with a variety of supernatural abilities. Mikan discovers that she has unique powers, so she enrolls in the academy and, after a lot of trouble, reunites with Hotaru.

This is a heartwarming comedy that follows Mikan and her friends’ adventures in the academy, as well as their attempts to uncover the mystery surrounding the problematic, fire-wielding student Natsume Hyuuga.

It may even look childish to some, but, to be honest, it doesn’t matter how old you are; you’re still going to enjoy this anime. It has a light, humorous feeling to it that can really brighten up your day.

Some characters are annoying, and some are lovable, but the story is really a nice story of friendship, love, and joy. It tells us that as long as you believe in yourself and work hard, everything is possible. It also tells you that life is easier if you have a friend to guide you along the way.

42. Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii

Sunshine is a part of everyday life for the citizens of the Sun Kingdom, and rain is something they’ve never even heard of. The weather in a faraway land called the Rain Dukedom, however, is reversed, and everyone can create rain with their voices.

In the three short years since Livius Ifrikia was crowned king, the Sun Kingdom has conquered the entire world and expanded its influence. As soon as Livius learns about the powers to create rain, he decides to marry Nike Remercier, a princess of the Rain Dukedom.

As word reaches the princess that Livius is a cruel, ruthless, and tyrannical ruler, she begins to prepare for the worst. Upon meeting her fiancé, Nike realizes that he is totally different from what she had expected.

It’s really admirable that this story isn’t the kind of shoujo that is all about romance and overly sweet moments. There are actions and things you wouldn’t expect a princess to ever do! Despite its simplicity, it has a clearly defined plot and conveys its message without being overly complicated. Simply seeing the development of the characters and how they change gradually is great. It doesn’t seem too sudden, but it’s just right.

The main characters are enticing and colorful, providing a refreshing change. Each of the characters in this anime is interesting and likable; you can’t help but try to understand each of the characters’ feelings and find them reasonable for their act.

43. Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru

As an orphan, Yuki Sakurai questions his purpose in life and his ability to sense a person’s painful memories by simply touching them. Yuki cannot shake the nagging feeling inside him that forms after receiving anonymous notes telling him to die. He is not aware that he is being watched, both by those who want to harm him and by those who want to protect him.

Yuki is saved by a handsome man with silver eyes and jet black hair, who Yuki has never seen before one foggy night. With the arrival of this mysterious stranger, Yuki has been reminded of his forgotten past, and the reason for his existence has become clear to him.

A teenage boy discovers who he is and where he comes from in Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru as he makes friends, experiences betrayal, and slowly pieces together his past.

The story is wonderful, the characters are believable and hilarious, and the art is absolutely breathtaking!

The characters all have believable pasts and are relatable. Yuki is the best part of this anime, however. While he has no defensive or offensive powers of his own, he refuses to stand by and let others defend him. He is not completely helpless, unlike most heroes/heroines in his position. Martial arts are one of his strongest skills, and he utilizes that skill to the fullest!

Overall, this anime is completely spectacular and is recommended to anyone who wants fantasy, adventure, romance, and humor; all rolled into one!

44. Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou

In her high school, Yukino Miyazawa is the female representative for her class and the most popular girl. On top of being elegant and sociable and being good at both academics and sports, she has always been admired. In reality, she is an extremely vain person who strives relentlessly to maintain a good GPA, athletic abilities, and a graceful appearance.

Her only desire is to be the center of attention and praise, which is why she can’t stand Soichiro Arima, the male representative for her class and the only person more perfect than her. It has been difficult for her to steal the spotlight from her new rival since the first day of high school.

Yukino wins the midterm exam and beats Soichiro. However, she was surprised when he congratulated her, leading her to question her deceptive lifestyle. Soichiro confesses his love to Yukino, but she rejects him and gloats about it at home, seemingly without regret.

However, the following day, when Soichiro drops by Yukino’s house to bring her a CD, he sees her uninhibited self in action; now that he knows the truth, he blackmails her into performing his student council duties. After being forced to spend time with Soichiro, Yukino discovers that she is not the only one hiding secrets.

Kare Kano appears to be your typical high school romance story. Thankfully, the odd personalities of the two leading characters prevent this from being just another romance story. Despite the usual elements of a shoujo romance story, there is an element of originality in the way the characters deal with their problems in Kare Kano.

45. Yume-iro Pâtissière

The clumsy Ichigo Amano has never been successful at anything except eating cakes. Ichigo’s amazing tasting abilities are discovered after she meets Henri Lucas, a famous patissier. Henri recognizes her talent and offers her the opportunity to attend St. Marie Academy, a prestigious culinary school that specializes in desserts.

Due to Henri’s recommendation, Ichigo, despite being a beginner without skills, is placed with the “Sweets Princes.”

Sennosuke Andou, an expert in traditional Japanese sweets; Satsuki Hanabusa, who is an expert at candied flowers; and Makoto Kashino, an expert at chocolate, are the princes famous throughout the school for their magical treats. Ichigo and the Sweets Princes, accompanied by their “Sweets Spirits” – fairies who fulfill patissiers’ dreams – all strive to achieve their goals in the sweets world.

Personalities are common but likable and fits perfectly within the anime, from the clumsy protagonist to the little fairies named after sweet flavors.

Each episode becomes more addictive, especially after the characters begin to participate in contests that make you get involved with the themes and solutions they come up with.

It’s pretty basic and very innocent, but that’s what makes it such a cute anime! You’ll love Yume-iro Pâtissière if you like feel-good, learn valuable life lessons, and shoujo anime. You have your klutzy heroine who learns valuable lessons about friendship, perseverance, being true to oneself, and maybe even love.

You see sweets you’ve never even heard of, and it may drive you to explore and get into it as well. Overall, again, if you’re into shoujo anime and love cute things, then you’ll love this anime.

46. Sabage-bu!

Draw your weapons and take aim because Sabage-bu! is coming at you!

One day, Momoka Sonokawa was just minding her own business on the train when she encountered a pervert. Two pistols are brandished by a girl named Miou, scaring him off, only to be arrested moments later for possessing firearms.

Momoka later sees the same girl at her school and follows her to a rundown building. The school Survival Game Club is led by Miou, who quickly captures Momoka and forces her to join the club.

The series will feature Momoka and her new “friends” fighting enemies from other schools, a rival from the same school who wants to shut down the club, and even each other. Can Momoka even make it to graduation with these friends and classmates?

The best part of this anime is its hilarious comedy. Each episode never fails to make you laugh. Whether it’s the characters or the main plot, it just brightens your day. There are many types of comedy in anime, whether dramatic or just plain stupid.

It has some similar traits to a typical comedy anime in that the characters are sweet and have nice personalities. Also, there are quite a few other funny supporting characters. Many of them reappear in several episodes, and they enjoy creating chaos or just having fun in Momoka’s club. As a whole, the characters are funny in their own ways.

47. Special A

Throughout Hikari Hanazono’s life, she has been able to accomplish things that others may not. Before she met Kei Takishima, she assumed no one could beat her. She challenged him to a fight, believing she would win. However, things did not go as planned; she lost not once but every time she challenged him. She has since vowed to compete with Kei in all areas, from academics to athletics.

Hikari enrolls in the same school as Kei, Hakusenkan, an institute for the rich. In a class known as Special A, they hold the top two rankings in school and are among seven of the best students in the academy.

Despite the fact that Hikari views Kei as a rival, she completely ignores the fact that he harbors feelings for her. Together, Special A deals with competition, friendship, and just a bit of love.

The other members of the SA also get their own spotlights; the characters are well-developed. In addition to Kei and Hikari, there are a few other pairings that appear and are developed in future episodes.

As a whole, the series is enjoyable to watch and contains all of the essential elements. There isn’t the typical, generic shoujo plot you’re used to seeing in anime. The plot revolves around Hikari’s sincere desire to defeat Kei, her childhood rival whom she has never been able to beat. Still, the shoujo feel remains.

48. Nijiiro Days

Four high school boys share their colorful lives and romantic relationships in Nijiiro Days: Natsumi Hashiba, a dreamer with romantic expectations; Tomoya Matsunaga, a narcissistic playboy with multiple girlfriends; Keiichi Katakura, a kinky sadist who has a whip always with him; and Tsuyoshi Naoe, an otaku who has a cosplayer girlfriend.

Natsuki is left in tears in the middle of the street after his girlfriend unceremoniously dumps him on Christmas Eve. A girl in a Santa Claus suit offers him tissues. Anna Kobayakawa, who attends the same school as him, instantly captures his heart.

To Naatsuki’s dismay, his nosy friends continually meddle in his relationship, hoping to succeed in their own love endeavors.

The story is easygoing, with some comedic moments thrown in here and there. It’s really a breath of fresh air. Nijiro Days is a great romance anime that looks at many stages of a relationship with lots of growth to the multiple relational developments. Nonetheless, Nijiro Days is a soft-fluffy puppy-love anime with some good payoff of relationship growth here and there.

This is one of those animes for people who like just a little bit of relationship drama and realism but don’t really want a soap opera or gritty drama. The characters are not hyper-realistic, but they’re not cartoon versions of high schoolers that you can’t relate to at all.

49. Hakushaku to Yousei

Lydia is gifted with the ability to see spirits and uses this gift to help people with spirit problems as a ‘Fairy Doctor.’ In an increasing modern England, however, fewer and fewer people believe in spirits; thus Lydia does not have much work to do.

She is kidnapped on a boat trip to London but is saved by a mysterious stranger named Edgar. In order to establish his rightful claim to the title of Blue Knight Earl, he needs her assistance.

Edgar is handsome, cultured, and suave, but she’s reluctant to help him because there’s a chance he’s a murderer from America — not to mention, the heir should be able to see spirits. She might not have a choice even if she does not want to help because she would need someone else to protect her against the group that tried to kidnap her.

The romantic shoujo fantasy Hakushaku to Yosei is delightful. The plot is quite creative.

This anime’s two main characters are quite endearing. Lydia isn’t exactly a remarkable character, but she is enchanting, graceful, and kind. As a female protagonist, she has self-respect and will not immediately commit to a guy she likes.

Edgar is an interesting character. Due to his rather pompous personality, his bearing is not mysterious. However, everything about him is a mystery: his past and his identity.

All of the characters are absolutely hypnotizing. The characters do not resemble others; they are their own, which is what makes this anime series very unique.

50. Shugo Chara!

A shy girl named Amu Hinamori has trouble making friends because of the rumors she hears about her “cool and spicy” personality. As Amu wishes that she could show everyone her “would-be” self, she wakes up to the sight of three colorful and ornately decorated eggs on her bed.

The “Hearts Eggs” contain “Guardian Characters” that are manifestations of someone’s would-be self and their dreams. With the help of Ran, Miki, and Su, Amu is now able to express her true self. But things are not always smooth for her.

Seiyo Elementary Guardians, a group of student council-like members who each have their own Guardian Character, notice Amu when her Guardian Characters suddenly appear. Because she has multiple characters, Amu is tasked with helping the Guardians find X Eggs, corrupted versions of one’s Hearts Eggs.

As Amu becomes entangled in the Guardians’ quest, she learns more about these mysterious Characters, the X Eggs, and the mysterious organization at the core of it all.

It has what a lot of Mahou Shoujo seem to lack. A lot of people can probably relate to a young girl’s confusion about who she is, not just about blasting away the enemy.

Early on, the story moves along smoothly, introducing us to the world and the characters while explaining the origins and backstory. Along the way, there is some pretty good magical action. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the story is the depth of the romance and relationships.

51. Vampire Knight

Yuuki Cross and Zero Kiryuu are members of the disciplinary committee at Cross Academy, which houses two distinct classes: the Day Class and the Night Class. They maintain order between classes when they switch out. This task may not seem particularly difficult, but the Day Class does not realize that the Night Class’s utterly gorgeous students are vampires.

Kaname Kuran, a Pureblood vampire, saved Yuuki ten years ago from a vampire attack. Kaname now leads the Night Class, and Yuuki’s role on the disciplinary committee enables her to see him again, complicating her feelings.

While Zero harbors a white-hot hatred for all vampires and believes they can never live in harmony with humans. However, a secret from Zero’s past soon threatens the fragile peace at the academy, and things might never be the same again.

Through the story, the characters face one event after another, which allows for emotional growth, character development, and, of course, some romance. In the anime, you sense something is happening, but you’re unsure of what it is. Additionally, you will notice that the story becomes darker with each episode and that the characters are evolving. Understanding everything takes some time.

It’s a fantastic anime for fans of vampire stories with a romantic element. You’ll fall in love with the characters once you get to know them! In addition to Yuki, Zero, and Kaname, you get to know other Night-Class members and other random characters.

52. Marmalade Boy

Miki Koishikawa enjoys a simple life as a high school student. She may not be able to handle everything that is about to happen to her, however.

The parents of her daughter have decided to get divorced after a very “fun” holiday in Hawaii. Adding insult to injury, the poor girl also discovers that they will soon remarry and swap partners with another couple they met on holiday.

They ask Miki to give the new couple a chance and set up a date with everyone to include her in this shocking turn of events. While Miki may have tried to prepare herself emotionally for her new parents, what she wasn’t expecting was their handsome son, Matsuura Yuu.

Miki develops a crush on Yuu immediately. Their friendship soon develops into romantic feelings that both of them are struggling to control. Miki and Yuu, however, both have admirers of their own who are trying very hard to separate them.

Although Miki has childish traits, she is a genuine, nice, and sweet young lady. Yuu is a nice guy and likes to make fun of Miki, but he also lets her know how much he cares.

A very original love story is told in this anime, and we, the viewers, are shown it from a point of view that makes us cry with the characters, laugh with them, and even get angry with them.

53. Aishiteruze Baby★★

Quite simply, Katakura Kippei is a high school playboy. He spends his days flirting with any female he can see, and responsibility is the last thing on his mind. One day he returns home to discover he has the full-time responsibility of caring for his cousin, a 5-year-old girl.

His aunt Miyako had vanished, appearing to have abandoned his cousin Yuzuyu. Kippei’s lack of knowledge about childcare and Yuzuyu’s broken heart caused by her mother’s disappearance means their time together will be bumpy.

The cuteness of the plot catches your attention right away. Like many other animes, each episode will feature a story that will thrust the main character, Kippie, into a situation where he has to broaden his horizons. These situations are things that could happen in real life and reach out to the viewer.

Although the storyline isn’t spectacular, unlike many animes, each episode illustrates the relationship and development of the characters masterfully. The story is not wasted, and you never feel like some episodes are standalone.

From the very beginning, it is clear how the story is meant to unfold, and it does just that. A touching story that captures your heart from the first time you see Yuzuyu until long after you’ve finished the anime.

54. Kamigami no Asobi

Third-year high school student Yui Kusanagi finds herself suddenly transported into a different world after discovering a mysterious sword in her home. During her exploration of her new surroundings, she meets five strange yet handsome men before encountering Zeus, the king of the gods.

Zeus created the academy of the gods to restore the damaged relationship between the gods and humans, and Yui is its sole instructor. Within one year, she must teach the five young and reluctant deities-including the strangers she met earlier-what it is like to be human while getting to know the gods herself; otherwise, they will all be trapped in Zeus’s realm forever.

A lot of thought has also gone into the characters. We can better understand each of them by understanding their unique personalities and issues. The characters are all interesting. It’s true that some of them follow certain cliches/have one outstanding quality, but for the most part, they’re all fleshed out. Unlike most other otome adaptation heroines, the main character gets things done.

It does a good job highlighting each character’s attributes while answering the question posed to the viewers. Each episode is like a little story, which fits together but is also different. The plot is very well thought out. Not once will you feel like they are trying to force stuff to happen. The plot makes sense; it’s interesting, complex, and easy to follow.

Fun to watch and somewhat relaxing, it still gives you enough thrills to keep you interested.

55. Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta

In a game or in another world, most people would rather be the protagonist of a world full of adventure. Unfortunately, one girl is not so fortunate. While regaining memories of her past life, she discovers that she was reborn in Fortune Lover, a game she used to play.

It is unfortunate that the character she reincarnated into-Catarina Claes-is the game’s main antagonist, who faces utter doom in every ending. With her extensive knowledge of the game, she takes it upon herself to escape from this affliction.

While this will not be easy, she must be careful not to set off any death flags that could speed up the impending doom she is attempting to avoid. In spite of this, she strives—not as the heroine, but as the villain—to change the lives of all those around her.

This is another isekai story, but with a unique twist. Otome Game is a great anime. It is an isekai, which we all love. With its relaxing and tranquil story development and pacing, the show shines brightly.

Katarina is not your conceited aristocrat, as she is an otaku who is now a noble. She is bold and helpful, often acts without thinking– that kind of a friend you want to be with and protect.

Each character brings something to the table, but also what you would expect from posh rich families. Someone nervous, someone hard to befriend at first, etc. A good mesh of characters that fit well together.

56. Shounen Onmyouji

Masahiro is the grandson of Abe no Seimei, the great onmyouji. However, he has lost his sixth sense, which enables him to see supernatural beings, which is very important for an onmyouji. As a result, he is left with no choice but to change careers. A strange mononoke appears one day, which he names Mokkun, who shows him his full potential after battling a demon. Mokkun assists him in his quest to become the greatest onmyouji.

Transitions between the arcs are seamless, and there is no obvious ‘break’ point — the story flows naturally throughout the entire season.

At first glance, Shounen Onmyouji may seem like a comedy, but it gradually turns into a serious drama with a romantic subplot that touches upon some of the very important matters — like understanding others, forgiveness, and discovering one’s place in the world.

In addition, there is enough comic relief, provided very cleverly and only when necessary, to give the story a lighthearted atmosphere without becoming too depressing.

Shounen Onmyouji has a number of unique characters. The majority of the story revolves around Masahiro and Guren, as well as their relationship. Every character has individuality and a different ideal, and no one is stereotypical or boring.

It is interesting to observe their interactions with each other and their inner struggles. As a result, they are all depicted very realistically in terms of their behavior; they are easy to relate to, and to see that all living beings feel sorrow and happiness equally, whether they are human, youkai, or shikigami.

57. Uta no☆Prince-sama♪: Maji Love 1000%

Haruka Nanami hopes to become a composer and someday write a song for her favorite idol, so she enrolls in Saotome Academy, a prestigious performing arts school. She will be able to join the Shining Agency after graduation if she succeeds there.

But when Haruka is already surrounded by idols and composers, it won’t be so easy. Additionally, her homeroom teacher is a current idol, the headmaster is a record-breaking singer, and the academy itself is an eccentric place where anything is possible. During the graduation, right before the award ceremony, two students are to be paired up; one will be chosen as the idol and one as the composer.

Upon pairing up, they will perform a song that is both composed, written, and sung by them. They will be the new debut artists for the Shining Agency if they are successful. Additionally, romance is strictly forbidden at their school. Who will be Haruka’s partner? Uta no Prince-sama definitely stands out as a modern-day romantic comedy.

Haruka, the main character, is a strong woman with a goal she wants to achieve. It’s hard not to admire her sometimes. There’s nothing whiny or annoying about Haruka. Sincere, quiet, and humble, she acts on her own sense of right and wrong. Granted, it’s always for other people’s sake. She’s neither self-centered nor nosy; instead, she surprises us by helping others while expecting nothing in return.

For the guys, you’ll get an understanding of what each of them is like and why they wanted to be idols in the first place.

58. Hiiro no Kakera

There are only gods and ghosts in fairy tales, right? Tamaki Kasuga has that impression before she goes to live with her grandmother in the remote village of Kifumura.

After she arrives, she is attacked by strange creatures and discovers that the women in her family carry the blood of the Tamayori Princess, who is responsible for keeping gods and ghosts away from people.

Initially, Tamaki struggles to accept this, but having five beautiful young men follow her everywhere she goes acting as her guardians, does a lot to convince her.

Tamaki soon discovers there’s more to this job than she first thinks, however, and the road ahead is strewn with danger and peril. Is she capable of taking on the heavy responsibilities that have been placed upon her?

As a historical context, it portrays the monsters that the original Tamayori Princess imprisoned using ancient Japanese art.

The characters will instantly capture your heart; they are stunningly beautiful, have delightful personalities, and the way their past is revealed is incredible. Throughout the series, each character’s story is told in a different way.

For an action/magic show, the romance in this show is quite serious. This is probably why it’s so enjoyable. It is interesting to learn more about the Guardians as the show progresses since they have a wide variety of personalities.

There’s a lot to enjoy in Hiiro no Kakera; if you’re looking for a fantasy show with a lot of magic, action, and romance, look no further.

59. Maria-sama ga Miteru

Yumi Fukuzawa never imagined she would fall in love with Sachiko Ogasawara, a beautiful and demure student at the Lillian Girls’ Academy. Now Sachiko has agreed to be Yumi’s soeur, her “sister” and guide during her time at the academy. Yumi is completely flustered by the whole idea. After all, they hardly know each other.

Yumi is conflicted about accepting Sachiko’s offer, but the entire campus is abuzz with rumors about them. As much as she admires Sachiko, being her soeur would also mean constantly being the center of attention!

The story is about girls in a Catholic school. That’s all there is to it. It’s them, their lives, and yet you are sucked into it like nothing else could, become engrossed in their stories and want to learn more.

The series has no defined antagonists. Several characters appear in the story and are initially viewed as antagonists or rivals, but as the story unfolds, you see that their motivations and reasoning are to protect or help someone else.

As the show is set at an all-girls Catholic school, it has a calm, serene, and languid pace that allows us to relax, but it is the rich cast of characters, each with their own unique personality, that add to the overall enjoyment of the show.

Watching the show, you can’t help but become engrossed in Yumi, Sachiko, and the rest of the Lillian girls’ lives as they form those special bonds of friendship and see how those bonds endure through good and bad times.

60. Kiniro no Corda: Primo Passo

Students at Seiso Academy are divided into two majors: General Studies, characterized by distinctive grey uniforms, and Music Studies, characterized by pristine white uniforms.

On her way to class one morning, General Studies student Kahoko Hino encounters Lili, a small fairy searching for someone who can see her. Lili departs, and Kahoko, puzzled by their meeting, continues on her way.

At the end of that day, the participants of a school-wide music competition are announced, and all of them are Music Studies students-at least until Kahoko’s name is called. After tracking Lili down, the small fairy gives Kahoko a magical violin and convinces her to enter the competition.

Kahoko must now face the challenges of the competition alongside Lili, as she navigates a new world of classical music while navigating a new world of competitions.

Throughout the show, emphasis is placed on the characters. It is loosely centered on the Concours, but its purpose is to contribute to character development. In this regard, the character development is outstanding. Music, character designs, and the characters themselves are the strongest aspects of the show.

Due to the fact that this is a harem-type show, each male has a distinct personality. All of the boys are interesting, enjoyable characters. To some extent, every character develops, which is refreshing.

Overall, this series is really good and is definitely one of those series that can be rewatched.