Top 20 Best Shoujo Anime [2024]

The Japanese genre targeted towards young females is also a series for everyone! Although its main focus is on romance—it is not just about lovesick high school girls.

The number of personal relationships and character journeys can reach any heart~! It’s hard not to identify with the characters’ journeys through life that first made shoujo, hands down, one of the most popular anime genres of all time!

Best Shoujo Anime

20. My Daddy Long Legs

Although Judy Abbott is an orphan, she dreams of getting a school education and make something of herself. Someone else believes in her, too—a mysterious benefactor who gives Judy a Lincoln Memorial School scholarship!

When trying to thank the man, Judy sees his tall shadow that casts long legs. Naming him “Daddy Long Legs,” Judy writes to him about her time and journey through her time at school, friends, and a world she never would’ve had without him!

19. Snow White With Red Hair

Even though her name means “snow white,” Shirayuki is best known for her beauty, kindness, and red-colored hair—something that doesn’t be unnoticed by Prince Raji, who forces Shirayuki to become his mistress.

Shirayuki is having none of it and runs away, cutting off her hair as a parting gift to Prince Raji.

On the run from Prince Raji into the neighboring country, Shirayuki has a chance encounter with Prince Zen Wistalia, who helps her escape and takes her in.

To repay her debut to Prince Zen, Shirayuki joins him in the royal palace and stands by his side as a court herbalist…although Prince Zen hopes they can be more~.

18. Gakuen Babysitters

Ryuichi Kashima loses both of his parents in a plane crash and is left to take care of his baby brother, Kotaro, alone.

At their parents’ funeral, the chairman of the elite Morinomiya Academy decides to take the two boys under her wing…sort of.

Enrolling at her school, Ryuichi can give him and Kotaro a roof over both of their heads—as long as he becomes the schooler’s babysitter!

17. My Love Story!!

Despite being a tall and bulky high schooler, Takeo Gouda has a gentle soul. Too bad none of the girls he’s ever liked see that. Instead, all of them fall for his handsome best friend, Makoto Sunakawa.

One day, Takeo doesn’t think twice about saving a girl from getting molested on the train and immediately falls in love with the sweet and cute Rinko Yamato.

But Takeo knows it’s only a matter of time until she falls for Sunakawa. That’s okay; Takeo will push aside his own feelings and get Yamato and Sunakawa together!

16. Kimi No Todoke

Although anxious and shy, Sawako Kuronuma’s classmates mistake her for being scary and wicked. As a result, they give her the unwanted nickname “Sadako.”

All Sawako wants is to have a normal and happy school life and begins to envy and admire the most popular boy in school, Shouta Kazehaya. Sawako wants to be like Kazehaya, although she knows that’s impossible.

Throughout their time in school, Sawako tries to make friends and appreciates times she gets to spend with Kazehaya…and Kazehaya might too~.

15. Maid Sama!

“Demon President” Misaki Ayuzawa works hard to protect her reputation as the first female student council president at Seika High School.

However, she has one big secret that could ruin her reputation at the former all-boy school: she’s a part-timer at a maid café!

Trying to pay off her family’s debt, Misaki can’t afford to quit and can’t afford the school learning her secret. Someone has—and it’s Takumi Usui, the most popular boy in school! Just Misaki’s luck.

Misaki will do anything to keep Usui quiet, and he’s then happy to oblige—as long as he can stick to Misaki’s side like glue. Perfect.

14. Kodocha

Child actress, Sana Kurata’s young life is picture perfect! The only thing wrong with it is her classmate Akito Hayama.

He always acts out in class, and his mischievous nature has started to rub off on the rest of the boys.

The teacher and the girl students try to work together to try to take down Akito! But, to try to get her class back on track, Sana finds herself getting closer to Akito and that he isn’t actually how he appears.

13. Yona of the Dawn

Princess Yona’s life is perfect in her peaceful kingdom—until the hands of her long-time crush murder her father!

To save her own life, Yona and her childhood friend Son Hak escape.

On the other side of their luxurious palace, Yona sees the truth of her kingdom: corruption and poverty.

Yona knows the kingdom will only get worse with her father gone but will do what she can to save her people and reclaim the throne—starting by tracking down the four lost Dragon Warriors to unite the nation!

12. Lovely★Complex

Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Otani have nothing in common—not even their appearance. Koizumi is too tall for the average girl, and Otani is too short.

The only thing that connects them is the people they are in love with—who are dating each other!

At least they can be heartbroken together. Both know they are completely mismatched and are fun of by their classmates for their blatant difference in height. However, Koizumi and Otani can’t deny their unnamed chemistry~.

11. Kamisama Kiss

Highschooler Nanami Momozono’s life has officially hit rock bottom—her dad has ditched her and left her with the family debt and leaves her homeless! Thanks, dad.

Nanami’s life begins to take a turn when she saves a man from a dog. As thanks, the mysterious man gives her his home to take care of while he’s away.

It turns out his home is a neglected shrine, and the residences are a little bit supernatural!

Nanami comes face-to-face with shrine spirits and a fox familiar named Tomoe who mistake her for their land god. It turns out, Nanami is the new land god! What has she gotten herself into?

10. Glass Mask

Maya Kitajima has always wanted to perform on the stage but is trapped working at a restaurant with her harsh and unbalanced mother.

One day, Maya’s talents are discovered by Chigusa Tsukikage, a legendary diva who opens all the doors to Maya.

Meanwhile, Ayumi Himekawa has always had success but has never been recognized for her true talent. Both have a chance for the lead role in Chigusa’s new play: the Crimson Goddess.

Both girls will be pushed to their acting limits, but only one will get the part. Who will it be, Maya or Ayumi?

9. Skip Beat!

16-year-old Kyouko Mogami has worked hard for years to support the hopes and dreams of her childhood friend’s long-time crush Shoutarou Fuwa, gaining popularity in the pop star world.

However, when Shou finds success, he stops Kyouko without a second thought! Left broken-hearted, all Kyouko wants is revenge!

To get vengeance, she becomes a rookie star and discovers the new world of entertainment.

In this new cutthroat life to get to the top, Kyouko will do whatever it takes to becomes the top pop star and rub her success in Shou’s face!

8. Cardcaptor Sakura

10-year-old Sakura Kinomoto has always been a normal 4^th grader until she discovers a strange book, and curiosity makes her open it. Inside is a set of cards that go flying all over the world! Good job, Sakura.

The Beast of the Seal awakens from the book and demands that Sakura tracks down and return all of the magical and dangerously powerful Clow Cards.

Sakura is given the Sealed Key and “the Cardcaptor” name to find all of the Cards.

With the support of her friends and family, Sakura is determined to hide her new identity and protect them when the magic she accidentally unleashed.

7. Ouran High School Host Club

Haruhi Fujioka worked hard to get her hands on the scholarship. She enrolls her at the elite Ouran High School full of the fairest and smartest students in Japan who will shape their world.

Lost on her first day, Haruhi stumbles upon Tamaki Suou, club president of the Host Club. Trying to escape, Haruhi breaks an $80,000 dollar vase!

Being mistaken for a boy, Tamaki subjects Haruhi to pay off her debt by joining the Host Club.

Now, Haruhi is surrounded by the rich and equally snobby and has no choice but to go along with her clubmate’s bizarre and flamboyant antics. Who knows, it might be fun~.

6. Whisper of the Heart

In her free time, 14-year-old Shizuku Tsukishima loves reading and writing, and her favorite place to go is the public library. Every time she checks out a book, she notices that the same boy already had: Seiji Amasawa.

Curiosity gets the best of her, and Shizuku goes in search of the mysterious boy. She stumbles upon a cat on a train and finds herself following it all the way to a quiet antique shop. It’s there that Shizuku finds a boy named Seiji, and the two become quick friends.

Spending time together, Shizuku learns Seiji’s dream is to craft violins, making her wonder what fuels her and who she wants to become in the future.

With a whisper inside her heart, Shizuku is determined to find her talent and dream, but will she and Seiji be able to reach their dreams together?

5. Into the Forest of the Fireflies’ Light

One day while visiting her uncle in the mountains, 6-year-old Hotaru Takegawa gets lost in a vast forest. She is found by a mysterious man with a mask over his face.

He is Gin, a forest spirit who can’t be touched by a human or will disappear.

Gin guides Hotaru out of the forest and tells her never to return—but she does. Again, and again, and again.

Every summer, Hotaru visits Gin in the forest, and the two have become close friends, but romance has crept its way into their friendship that could make the two of them break Gin’s one rule.

4. Nana

Despite having the same first name, Nana Komatsu and Nana Osaki are complete opposites. Komatsu is a youthful yet feeble 20-year-old who falls in love easily. Osaki is a proud punk who dreams of becoming a professional singer.

Komatsu boards a train to Tokyo to chase after her boyfriend. Osaki gets a train to Tokyo to get a fresh start. It’s a moment of fate that they end up on the same train to Tokyo!

The two form a quick friendship that results in them becoming roommates and supports each other through their dreams, hopes, and heartbreaks. But is this fated bond truly unbreakable, or will their faults tear them apart?

3. Banana Fish

New Yorker Ash Lynx is a gang leader who gets wrapped in his brother’s words he spoke after returning from the Iraq War: Banana Fish.

This catches the attention of mafia godfather Dino Golzine, who sends his men after Ash Lynx.

Escaping into an underground bar, Ash meets Eiji Okumura, a reporter researching American street gangs.

When Dino’s men storm the bar, both of their lives are forever brought together when Eiji is kidnapped, and Ash tries to get him out of his mess.

Maybe Eiji is the person Ashi needs to uncover the truth of Banana Fish.

2. Natsume’s Book of Friends

15-year-old Takashi Natsume doesn’t have the same problems as most teenagers. Instead of chasing girls, he has always been surrounded by spirits known as youkai.

After his grandmother passes away, Natsume is given the “Book of Friends” that has the names of the spirits she befriended in her lifetime. The book grants Natsume the same powers as his grandmother.

This hostile and cruel youkai follows Natsume relentlessly, wanting to use his new power to free them. Thank you for the baggage, grandma.

1. Fruits Basket (2019)

After her mother died in a car accident, Tohru Honda has found herself living out of a tent while trying to get through life in high school. Little does she know, she set up her tent on the private property of the Sohma Family.

Before long, residence Shigure and Yuki Sohma discover her secret and agrees to them her stay with them rent-free as long as she cooks and cleans for them.

Tohru reluctantly agrees, and it is just getting comfortable when a boy with bright orange hair crashes through the roof!

Tohru learns that the Sohma Family has a secret of their own: the family is cursed to turn into the members of the Chinese zodiac whenever hugged by a person of the opposite gender!