Watashi ga Motete Dousunda is about Kae Serinuma, a high school student and secret fujoshi. She spends her days fervently shipping two of her classmates, Yuusuke Igarashi and Nozomu Nanashima – until her dreams are ruined when the boys of her class become attracted to her instead! As the boys continue to fawn over her, how will Serinuma deal with the attention when all she wants is for them to be with each other?

This show is a lighthearted reverse harem, providing its audience with plenty of laughs and entertainment. However, if you’re looking for an anime with real character growth and story development, Watashi ga Motete Dousunda might not do it for you, as the characters don’t grow very much. It does have a kind of humorous look at the BL genre that can be quite refreshing and it has plenty of silly moments. The very premise of the show is something unique to itself, combining two genres that don’t normally go together. Even while it may be more simplistic than some anime, Watashi ga Motete Dousunda is an enjoyable watch!

When her boyfriend Hal dies in a plane incident, Kurumi grieves alone in her house. Her grandfather brings in a robot named Q01 to help, taking on the appearance of Kurumi’s Hal. Though Kurumi initially rejects this new version of “Hal,” his continued appearance in her life begins to cause her to slowly open up. A tale of the relationship between android and human, Hal is a beautifully emotional story about what it really means to be human.

Plenty of tales exist about the notion of androids and emotion, but this anime is one of the most poignant explorations of the idea. The emotion in Hal is real in many ways, from the grief and depression of Kurumi to the budding emotions of the android. The movie does a great job of dealing with these difficult emotions, where many shows might shy away from them. We get to know each character closely throughout the course of the movie, allowing us to feel even more connected to their fates. All of these drawn-out moments and emotions seem realistic, even in the short course of the film. With gorgeous art and a thoughtful story, Hal deserves a place on our list!

Though Ash Lynx is an attractive young man, he is also a cold-blooded killer, brought up as the adopted heir of “Papa” Dino Golzine while being used by him. Ash has reached an age where he no longer wants any part of the world he was raised in, rebelling against his guardian. When the innocent Eiji Okumura meets Ash, both of their worlds are about to change. And not just because of their meeting, as Papa discovers the truth behind why Ash’s brother went mad in Vietnam…

Banana Fish is an anime that shows a lot of promise, as both main characters balance each other well. The story also embraces this idea, balancing fast-paced action with the interesting plot points. We can only hope that the anime will continue to get better as it airs this season!

Princess Yona’s life is thrown into turmoil when her cousin Su-won betrays their family and the king is murdered, leaving Yona to flee with her bodyguard Son Hak. Yona discovers that the kingdom of Kouka is not the peaceful place she thought it was, full of poverty, struggle, and corrupt leadership. As the princess learns of these harsh realities, she must stay on the run from the kingdom’s new forces while reaching for a better life for her country.

A coming-of-age tale, Akatsuki no Yona is a serious story of a princess learning the realities of the common people. The soundtrack alone is inspiring and, combined with the animation style and plot, it makes for a great overall anime. Yona is betrayed by someone she trusted, forced to go on the run as the kingdom is broken and remade into something different. The journey she takes is something that stays with you long after the anime is over. It does follow a few common shoujo tropes, but Akatsuki no Yona is well worth the watch regardless!

When Tooru Honda moves in with her grandfather after her mother’s death, she doesn’t stay long, resorting to living in a tent in the woods so as not to be a burden to anyone else. But when Tooru’s tent is buried in a landslide, classmate Yuki Souma and his cousin Shigure Souma happen to pass by, offering Tooru a place to stay at their home. Tooru’s stay at the Souma house uncovers their cursed secret – the members of the family turn into an animal of the zodiac when hugged by someone of the opposite gender!

The way that Tooru and the other characters grow throughout the course of Fruits Basket is what sets this show apart from other shoujo. It may seem like a regular reverse harem show, but the execution of this classic anime is what makes it worth your while. Full of entertaining characters, Fruits Basket is a great example of what shoujo anime can be at its best!

Nanami Momozono loses everything when her father’s debt renders them homeless, but her kindness in helping a man on the street causes the man to offer his home to her! This seems like a blessing, but Nanami discovers that the man’s home was actually a dilapidated shrine and, when she tries to leave, she is stopped by two shrine spirits and a fox familiar. Nanami realizes that the land god of the shrine was Mikage, the man she helped, and the group discovers Mikage must have sent Nanami there as his replacement. The fox familiar Tomoe leaves immediately, refusing to serve a human. Nanami struggles to fulfill her new duties at the shrine in order to avoid being homeless, but she must team up with the unwilling Tomoe if she hopes to make her way through this unexpected new world.

Nanami’s adventures in her new role at the shrine are enjoyable and lighthearted, full of interesting supernatural elements. It is a heartwarming tale of finding a home in unexpected places.

As an unusual teenage boy, Takashi Natsume’s secret is that he has always been chased by youkai. His grandmother left him her Yuujinchou, or “Book of Friends,” a book that contains the list of spirits she brought under her control. Natsume now has control of them as well, which is why the spirits flock to him, seeking their freedom – and Natsume aims to give it to them, if he can.

Natsume Yuujinchou is a uniquely beautiful slice-of-life anime. The relationship between youkai and humans is often surrounded by conflict, but this show displays that there can also be friendship and loyalty between the supernatural and natural races. The amount of emotion packed into the anime is astounding. Though it is episodic in nature, Natsume Yuujinchou manages to create a space for itself, one that audiences will remember. And with such a beautiful animation style to lend to its story, it’s easy to see why it is so memorable!

Sakura Kinomoto is an average fourth grader –until she discovers a book filled with magical cards which fly off the page as she opens it! A small beast named Keroberos appears before Sakura and tells her that she has released the Clow Cards into the world, with the potential to cause a great amount of chaos. Keroberos pushes Sakura into becoming the “Cardcaptor,” a magical girl that will set out to reclaim the Clow Cards and put them back in the magical book they were once sealed in.

This show is cute and entertaining, though it does have some deeper meaning behind it as well. Cardcaptor Sakura is an anime that was not afraid to change the tropes and standards for the genre in favor of a better story, and that made it into a classic. One of the best magical girl anime out there, Cardcaptor Sakura deserves its place on our list for its influence on the shoujo genre as a whole!

Chakuro is a resident of the traveling Mud Whale, an island in the midst of endless sand, with “Marked” inhabitants who will perish early at the cost of their special gifts. After six months of nothing, Chakuro and his friends are allowed to go with the scouting group to an approaching island –and what they discover there will change their world forever…

A relatively new anime, Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau is set in an interesting utopian world. With both a beautiful animation style and amazing soundtrack, this anime brings in plenty to wow its audience! The emotion behind the story is brilliant, though it is not for everyone, particularly if you are not interested in the utopian world setting. This shoujo anime adventure is definitely worth a watch if you haven’t tried it yet.

The events in Ouran Koukou Host Club are set in motion when Haruhi Fujioka stumbles upon the unusual members of the Host Club, and breaks an expensive vase while trying to escape, causing her to be indebted to the club. Full of the eccentric shenanigans that only the Host Club could pull off, this is a heartwarming tale about love and choosing your own fate.

Ouran Koukou Host Club is a fun and hilarious anime, one that definitely deserves its spot at the top of our list! The way that each of the characters grows over the course of the show is realistic, and makes us grow to love each one of them in return. Though the show is episodic, each moment builds up to bring it to an enjoyable ending for Haruhi and her friends (but we still wish for that second season)! Ouran Koukou Host Club is a classic for a reason, with plenty of depth and meaning along with tons of laughs.

Takahashi Nanami is starting off at a new school and trying hard at making friends. At this school, Yano Motoharu is the most popular boy in school. Nanami is not even aware of Motoharu until one day when she calls the name of her friend incorrectly thanks to information Motoharu passed to her intentionally. After this, Nanami declares her anger for Motoharu when in fact, it is the start of a love story?

Ah, Bokura ga Ita is a shoujo anime that, for many who have seen it, needs no words. Bokura ga Ita shows the complexities of the human psyche and how it interacts in every relationship regardless of its romantic nature. Nanami and Motoharu have a fragile relationship that has viewers on edge, gripping on for dear life to see what will exactly happen. Love is complex in nature and Bokura ga Ita does not hold back.

Gouda Takeo is not exactly popular with the ladies thanks to his bulky physique and gorilla-like appearance, but his heart is pure. Takeo has not given up on the idea of love even though every girl he likes is turned off by his appearance and more interested in his best friend and bishounen, Sunakawa Makoto. One day, Takeo falls for an adorable girl, Yamato Rinko, whom he saves from a pervert on the train. Believing Rinko to be interested in Makoto like the other women in his life, Takeo makes it his mission to help match Makoto and Rinko together.

Ore Monogatari!! is a recent shoujo anime with a great blend of romance and comedy, but mainly comedy. While many may be entranced by the older Kaichou wa Maid-sama, Ore Monogatari!! is an anime that plays with many shoujo tropes with some very unorthodox shoujo characters! There’s a lot of humor, insecurity, and non-standard shoujo scenes that make Ore Monogatari!! a great shoujo anime to watch.

In middle school, Yoshioka Futaba was once the envy of all girls for her beauty and the object of male affection, but none of that mattered because Futaba only had eyes for Tanaka Kou. However, their friendship ended thanks to a misunderstanding and Kou’s disappearance. As a high school student, Futaba has gained attention for her messy appearance and boyish personality. Her life and plans take a turn when the boy who once meant so much reappears bearing the name of Mabuchi Kou. Only, his name is not the only thing to have changed since middle school.

Ao Haru Ride takes a rather cliche shoujo plot and weaves into the story many complexities and twists that make the plot enjoyable for even the more discerning tastes. However, what makes Ao Haru Ride truly stand out are the diverse characters that help to make the anime as intricate as it is. As a school life drama and shoujo romance, there is a lot going on beneath the surface that only watching can help reveal.

Takamiya Naho is surprised one day when she receives a letter from her future self. The letter details everything that occurs on that day. Future Naho declares that she has a lot of regrets and wants to correct all of her mistakes, especially when it comes to the new student Kakeru. She reveals to the present day Naho that Kakeru is no longer alive in the future and she wants to do everything in her power to save him.

As one of the most anticipated drama/shoujo series of the summer 2016 anime season, Orange has not disappointed! It is a great blend of drama, intrigue, and school life that really captures viewers. What do you do when your personal insecurities and fears get in the way of your desire to change and save a life? There’s a lot of inner turmoil that many viewers can truly relate to, but what do you have to do when you want to change something? Well, watch to see how Naho does it! But, do you think you can keep from crying?

Tsukushi Makino is just trying to power through the rest of her high school life. Unfortunately, she decides to stand up against the Flower Four, also known as the F4, the four boys with the boy's wealth and power at school. The boys declare war on her. Not one to tolerate bullying, Makino is ready to fight, but maybe the boys aren’t all bad.

Hana Yori Dango was based on the best-selling shoujo manga of all time. It follows a story rife with complex human emotion, insecurity, and real drama, all of which that has made it such a commercial success that it has spawned several drama adaptations across Asia. The anime itself does a great job following the same course of events in the manga following the course of Makino’s life as she struggles with her emotions and situation. This is a shoujo love story that won’t soon be forgotten.

Yona is a spoiled princess who knows nothing outside her palace walls in the Kingdom of Kouka. Yona’s only concern is marrying her cousin and the love of her life, Su-won. However, one day, Su-won betrays the kingdom and the king is killed in cold blood forcing Yona to flee for her life with her bodyguard and childhood friend, Son Hak. Yona soon learns that maybe life in Kouka is not as peaceful and glorious as she once believed. Now, she will gather the four dragons to help her reclaim her kingdom and help the people of Kouka.

Akatsuki no Yona is one of the most exciting shoujo anime in the recent years that has a great amount of adventure, comedy, and heart-wrenching romance. As a reverse harem, there is plenty to imagine, but each character’s relationship is so much deeper than any reverse harem will ever have. Yona’s connection with her friends and the four dragons has many intricacies that only make the plot to the anime so much deeper. Let’s not forget the unrest that is churning within the lands of Kouka.

Yuuki Miaka and Hongo Yui have their lives changed when they visit the National Library and are sucked into the world inside a strange book called “The Universe of the Four Gods.” Miaka turns out to be the priestess of Suzaku who must seek out the celestial warriors to summon Suzaku and bring peace to a kingdom rife with turmoil. However, Yui becomes the priestess of Seiryuu for the enemy nation. Yui is determined to prevent Miaka from winning, but what will become of their friendship?

Fushigi Yuugi is one reverse harem shoujo anime that won’t soon be forgotten. With its cast of rather complicated characters, heartbreaking romances, and troubling friendships, Fushigi Yuugi is an anime that won’t soon bore you. At every turn, there is something new that really wrenches you back into the story. Combined with its fair share of action and adventure, this is a shoujo anime that truly belongs on our list.

Kurata Sana is in the sixth grade, but she lives her life in chaos at school because the boys rule the class and create disorder. While the rest of Sana’s life is blissful with her successful mother, her “pimp” Rei, and her popular TV show Kodomo no Omocha, Sana is not content to let Hayama Akito rule the class. Sana decides she’s going to attack back to regain her peaceful school life, but maybe it isn’t that simple.

If you haven’t heard of Kodocha, then you are truly missing out. Kodocha may seem like an anime for children but with its complicated plot devices and deep character backgrounds, there is no doubt that this anime is meant for all ages. At first, Kodocha catches you with its fair amount of comedy, but as the story delves deeper, you will be caught off guard by how intricate each character is and what makes them tick. The characters may be just children, but they learn quite quickly that there is no room for being naive in this world.

Komatsu Nana falls in love easily and is constantly being left behind my a number of boyfriends who cannot stand her clingy and bothersome nature. Still, that doesn’t stop Nana from embarking on a journey to Tokyo to be with her boyfriend Endo Shouji, who seems different than the rest. Osaki Nana is starting a journey to Tokyo to pursue a singing career as a punk rock vocalist. Both Nanas happen to board the same train and sit together, setting off a chain of events which will result in a closer friendship than they had ever dreamt.

Nana is a shoujo anime that catches many viewers off guard with the presence of drugs, sex, and complex relationships. The characters all have their own inner turmoil that drives a great amount of the plot, especially when it comes to both Nanas. Nana is an anime that seems to take every shoujo cliche and destroy it, disillusioning many shoujo fans who are used to cliche romance and happy endings. Then there is the friendship between both Nanas that shows just how fragile friendships and one’s mental wellbeing can be. Nana is an anime that shows that life can get real.

Tsukino Usagi is weak and a crybaby. She is constantly being berated for her bad test scores and clumsy nature. Usagi seems to be no one significant until one day, she stumbles across a cat named Luna who can talk. Luna bestows upon Usagi the power to become Sailor Moon, a moon warrior who has the power to fight against the forces of darkness and save the world!

If you haven’t heard of Sailor Moon, you must be living under a rock because people from all over the world know of the moon warrior that is Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon presents viewers with a character who otherwise has no redeeming qualities, as we can sometimes relate to, and shows that she has the power to change the world. Using the power of friendship, love, and compassion, Usagi works hard to fight off the darkness that lies in many of our hearts.

Let’s not forget that Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon is rife with many social issues that some countries are just too sensitive to address in a time when everything was a social faux pas. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon is a shoujo anime that is meant to make a statement about society, no matter what country you are in, and give viewers the confidence to make a difference. Is there any wonder why this anime has such a cult following?