Popular Shojo Anime, including Fruits Basket, Ouran High School Host Club, and Cardcaptor Sakura, has captivated audiences for decades.
Shojo Anime is the ultimate way to experience fantastical worlds and romantic storylines. Shojo, pronounced ‘show-joe,’ is a genre of Japanese animation aimed at teenage girls and young women. It features strong female protagonists who often go on magical adventures, explore exciting new places, and fall in love with handsome male characters.
Shojo Anime provides viewers with escapism and empowerment – something we all need in our lives! Whether you’re looking for intense drama or lighthearted romance (or some combination of both!), Shojo has something for everyone.
Every so often, we receive a romantic comedy series that takes the internet by storm, with a beautiful group of characters who care for each other and an adorable love story that makes you wish the series never ends.
Shojo Anime
Most shojo Anime is known for having a relaxed environment and a story that revolves around its characters—focusing on the individual personalities and their changes throughout the series.
Here is the list of my favorite shows that will make you fall in love repeatedly.
20. Violet Evergarden
There aren’t enough words to describe the emotions you feel when watching Violet Evergarden, the story is beyond impeccable, and its gorgeous animation by Kyoto Animation is enough to take your breath away.
There’s something about the simplicity in Violet’s character, and her innocent desire to know something so simple makes you want to root for the surface on a deeper level.
Every character and every interaction with those characters is just incredible; those unique relations make Violet Evergarden a fantastic anime series.
And the glorious music and the beautiful animation combine to take you to a completely different world.
19. Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid is a blast to watch no matter your mood; this heartwarming series will make you feel better and delighted.
The most memorable thing about this series is undoubtedly the fantastic cast of characters, every one of them is so amazing and loveable in a unique way.
While it may seem like just a comedy series on the surface with all the craziness, there are times when you have to take a step back and appreciate the heartfelt moments.
And the incredibly fluid animations by studio Kyoto Animation help capture every aspect of the series.
18. Tonikaku Kawaii
There has to be a limit to the amount of cuteness you’re allowed to add to an anime series; Tonikaku Kawaii has stolen the hearts of thousands of people with its adorable characters and unique romance story.
You rarely get to see a female protagonist taking the lead in a romance series, but it’s quite a treat whenever you see it. Tsukasa Yuzaki is unique in her way.
The series is famous not for its over-the-top comedy with excessive drama but the exact opposite; it’s a fluffy wholesome rom-com, a simple romance story with no drama.
17. Flying Witch
Another relaxing series that I recommend everyone to watch is Flying Witch, the series has a unique shojo tone to it with the obvious “magical girl” theme, but it’s more of a Slice of Life anime.
The series doesn’t emphasize the little details of the episode; it’s the everyday life of a regular witch who goes about her day, honing her magic skills and just living with her family.
The story is decent and goes exceptionally well, with characters engaging uniquely; the different perspective makes the show feel refreshing.
And let’s remember the obvious winner is the animation studio that holds all these elements together perfectly; they’ve done a great job depicting the magical scenes.
16. Yuru Camp
Yuru Camp is the ideal relaxing Anime with everything you would want, the laid-back vibe is quite relatable, and the characters are just a delight.
The series mainly focuses on camping in the wild; frankly, it teaches you a lot of cool stuff if you ever decide to go camping yourself, and it’s filled with all sorts of shenanigans from the hilarious characters.
The most obvious winner is the animation quality that immerses you in the environment with beautiful landscapes and scenery.
The series takes the slice-of-life genre to a different level; most characters feel natural with their habits and somewhat relatable personalities that make you connect with them.
15. Lovely Complex
While the plot seems interesting, the overall story is generic, it’s all you would expect from a shojo anime, but the series is still quite entertaining with its characters and fluffy moments.
The characters often carry the show with their over-the-top antics, especially the girls, as they are hysterical, overdramatic, and crazy in any given situation.
It makes the show feel more realistic; it’s exciting to see these types of reactions because you would see them in real life.
If we look at it from the shojo perspective, the details in the character’s outfits are unique; their styles change throughout the series each time they go shopping, and so does their personality.
14. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki Kun
There will never be anything more hilarious than a misunderstanding; the first episode sets the tone of the series and introduces a few main characters who can be quite the handful.
The story is interesting from the get-go, the characters meet unexpectedly, and one simple misunderstanding causes them to become workplace associates for quite a long time.
The characters are entertaining; their unique plots often make the series more fun than the actual couple.
There is always something crazy going on in school or at Nozaki’s house; there is hardly a moment that doesn’t make you laugh.
13. Kiss Him, Not Me
Something about the series makes it different from other reverse harem anime shows; perhaps it’s because the series openly spins a comedic aspect around the BL theme.
The story is captivating and funny, and the dynamic between the characters is always entertaining as the boys try to make moves on Kae, and she turns them down because she has something else on her mind.
The characters are unique with distinct personality traits; the series does a great job depicting the characters with different personality types.
Overall the series is enjoyable, with plenty of comedic elements to make every scene hilarious.
12. Tada Never Falls in Love
Tada never falls in love almost feels like a Disney movie with the heroine being a princess. The guy, obviously in love, realizes his feelings later and chases after her to get her back.
The bubbly story and overall pushed-together plot feel unnatural sometimes, but the continuous photography theme holds it all together.
The art style is the most beautiful thing about the series, the bright, vibrant colors and the general attention to scenery make the scenes feel impactful.
While the apparent focus is kept on the relationship between the main characters, the group of friends makes the series more enjoyable.
11. Golden Time
Golden Time is a must-watch romantic comedy series as it differs from the usual shojo romance tropes because of the mature characters.
It’s refreshing to see a romantic series that doesn’t revolve around the usual anime cliches and drama. As the story progresses, the characters grow, and the plot moves smoothly.
At most times, the show feels like it revolves around a lovey-dovey couple and their relationship troubles, but it’s much more than that. It explores the personalities of different characters and how they change for others.
What sells the show as a masterpiece is a fantastic cast; the characters in Golden time feel real; they’re ordinary people. They react the same way anyone would if they meet an overly enthusiastic clingy girl.
10. Toradora
Toradora is beautiful; it’s an absolute masterpiece that will be remembered for its impressive storyline, great animation, captivating musical themes, and the queen of tsundere, Taiga Aisaka.
The show is more than just an entertaining romantic comedy series, as it explores the mental values of the characters and their motives for taking action despite it opposing their usual self.
Every plot slowly progresses the relationship between these characters and shows how it affects others around them.
The characters are easily the most memorable groups of friends who care for others more than themselves, hiding their true feelings behind a fake smile or a brooding personality only to see the smile on someone’s face.
The animation quality is fantastic; it perfectly captures the antics of every character and the impactful scenes, mix that with the powerful violin music, and you get the feeling that your heart will burst out of your chest.
9. Real Girl
The real girl series is very close to my heart; At the same time, it’s not a masterpiece like some popular shojo series with flawless animation, a great story, or a unique set of characters. However, it is still a lovely romance story between two characters.
The generic plot of an average romance anime feels lackluster and repetitive sometimes, but the series presents itself in a way you’ve never experienced before. The overall execution is good despite the predictable plot.
It’s difficult to describe the emotions you feel when watching the series; it’s like having constant butterflies; you know often know what’s going to happen, yet you’re still excited.
The main characters’ relationship is what makes the show feel unique.
8. Say “I Love You.”
Say I love you is an adorable romance series; the story is not much different from your average shojo Anime with a tall, handsome guy and a reserved girl who lives in her world.
After being wrongfully accused by her friends of killing the class pet, Mei decides never to trust anyone until she meets the school hottie, Yamato, who is interested in her.
The series is filled with lots of drama and over-the-top characters who more often make the series more annoying, which is an expected cliche from a shojo anime. Despite everything in the series, the heartfelt moments between the two characters are worth it.
7. Orange
Orange is a slow-paced anime; the series plot is interesting, with plenty of decent characters and unique personalities. The animation is beautiful when it comes to the environment. While it does feel sluggish, it often blends well with the laid-back tone of the series.
The story of Orange is interesting; receiving a note from your future self is sure to make for a unique story, and it does motivate the characters to take specific actions.
The series is mainly about the relationship between a group of friends, and that’s where it shines; the characters are excited and feel realistic with their personalities.
The show continues to play with your heartstrings throughout the episodes until everything comes to a halt at the end, and you’re left with a bittersweet feeling.
6. My Little Monster
My Little Monster has one of the most iconic anime couples I’ve ever seen, they’re so different, yet they are also alike in so many ways.
Yoshida, the apparent social outcast, has a more bubbly personality than Shizuku, yet they’re both not interested in making friends or hanging out with people.
The story is not unique, but it’s interesting how Haru is initially portrayed as delinquent but is a genuinely lovely person who cares about other people.
Most of the story is interesting because of his odd habits of carrying around a pet rooster and taking care of it in school and his genius at studying.
5. Maid Sama
Maid Sama is easily one of the most impressive high school romance shojo anime; At the same time, the story is exciting and will get you hooked; the comedic side stories and the hilarious characters are a great addition.
The animation quality is one of the series’s plus points; the characters look unique, and their seamless movements really befit their character as it helps make those characters unforgettable.
The characters are just some of the most memorable groups of idiots you will forever remember; their shenanigans throughout the series spice things up.
Overall, the series is a great watch; not only are the characters unforgettable, but everything about the show is entertaining, from the captivating story to the beautiful animation.
4. Akatsuki no Yona
The story of Yona is definitely what sells the show from the beginning; a princess living a peaceful life with no clue on how to deal with real-life problems has to escape with her life as a fugitive when the kingdom is overthrown.
One of the best things about the show is the animation quality and the incredibly well-drawn characters; it gives off a powerful shojo vibe.
It’s not often you see characters like Yona whose character development is off the charts; she goes from being a child who throws tantrums to someone who thinks calmly and strategizes her next move.
3. Kamisama Kiss
Shojo Anime is always better with a strong female lead who doesn’t cry every chance she gets, and while Nanami does complain, the stubbornness of her character makes her fun.
The series does a fantastic job developing the character at a nice pace, both Nanami and Tomoe are stuck-ups who don’t care for one another but soon begin seeing each other in a different light.
The comedic aspects of the show often overtake the romance genre most shojo Anime is based around. While there is romance in the series, it’s mostly just two characters having a strange relationship.
2. The Ancient Magus’ Bride
The most impressive thing about the series is its complex yet beautiful fantasy experience; you can easily find yourself lost in this imaginative world.
It makes you want to believe in a more wondrous place that isn’t as cruel and selfish as the real one, where you can live your life the way you want.
The story is unique; the anime series slowly introduces you to the magical realm’s different aspects that blend seamlessly with everything around it.
Something that sells the beauty of the series is its fluid animations and the detail that went into the beautiful environments.
1. Skip Beat!
It’s always nice to see a female lead who doesn’t cry over emotional stuff; Kyouko Mogami endures her pain, gets back up, never lets anything bring her down, and continues moving forward.
The story is fantastic; you’ll get hooked from the first episode as you learn about Kyouka’s situation and how she manages to stay positive despite her hectic life.
The animation is not on par with some other shojo anime series, but it still manages to entertain you with comedic elements.
The fantastic thing is how the series breaks the illusion of showbiz and shows you what goes on behind the scenes, with actors going through sleepless nights to perfect their roles.
I hope you liked the list of my most amazing shojo Anime of all time; if you feel like I missed one of your favorite shows, let me know, and I might reconsider adding those to the list.
Below is a complete list of popular fantasy or action shoujo anime:
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R;
- Orange;
- Tokyo Mew Mew;
- Kamigami no Asobi;
- Fruits Basket;
- Special A;
- Versailles in Bara;
- Hotarubi no Mori e;
- Donten ni Warau;
- Shounen Maid;
- vampire knight;
- Natsume Yuujinchou;
- Kamisama hajimemashita;
- Vampire Knight: Guilty;
- devilish lovers;
- ghost hunt;
- Magi Madokes magical girl;
- Shugo Chara!;
- DNAngel;
- banana fish;
- Shoujo Kakumei Utena;
- Tenkuu no Escaflowne;
- Donten ni Warau;
- Full Moon wo Sagashite;
- Kamichama Karin;
- Kyuuketsuhime Miyu;
